Episodes

On IndyMatters this week, reporter Riley Snyder talks with Sandra Rodriguez and Amy Koeckes from UNR’s Center for Student Engagement to discuss an increase in student voter participation at the university. Later Joey sits down with reporter Daniel Rothberg to talk about his big story on the Anaconda Copper Mine outside of Yerington, including how it’s been leaking uranium and arsenic into the water supply there. Finally, we have a little poll for listeners at the end of this week’s episode.

On IndyMatters this week, intern Shannon Miller chats with Ely Times reporter Shadrach Michaels about a situation involving the city council that has the whole town abuzz. Later on in the episode, reporter Michelle Rindels sits down with reporter Riley Snyder to discuss his story on the state’s fleet of private planes. Later Joey and reporter Daniel Rothberg talk about a new movie Daniel saw.

On this week's IndyMatters podcast, reporter Michelle Rindels sits down with Elena Vanko of the Vera Institute of Justice to talk about solitary confinement in Nevada prisons, the effects it has on prisoners and the frequency and length of solitary confinement. Later on the podcast host/editor Joey Lovato chats with KUNR reporter Paul Boger about the Area 51 event that has taken the internet by storm. How many people are there, what has Paul heard and how is it affecting small towns around Area ...

On this episode of IndyMatters, Managing Editor Elizabeth Thompson sits down with the outgoing CEO of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, Tina Quigley. Elizabeth asks Tina about tech-driven projects at the RTC, what her biggest disappointments were along the way, what criticisms of the RTC she thinks are unfair — and gets a hint at what Tina’s next endeavor in life might be. Later in the episode Elizabeth chats with reporter Megan Messerly about the state sending children ...

On this week’s episode of IndyMatters, Editor Jon Ralston sits down with reporter Megan Messerly to talk about the Democratic presidential candidates visiting the state, what she has observed in terms of campaign staffing and organizing, and which candidates are sticking out by doing something different. In a later segment, Jon and Jackie talk about the complex issue of school funding — and how one tax that may help increase funding ended up being voted on at a recent Clark County Commission mee...

On this week's episode of IndyMatters, Joey sits down with education reporter Jackie Valley to talk about all of the commotion during the first few weeks of the school year in Clark County including threats of a strike over teacher pay. Later, our man in Washington D.C., Humberto Sanchez, tells us about what’s going on with Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto.

On this week’s IndyMatters episode reporters Riley Snyder and Michelle Rindels sit down with Bailey Bortolin from Washoe Legal Services and later with Keith Lynam, the president of the Nevada Association of REALTORS® to talk about tenants rights and eviction legislation that just went into effect. After that, Michelle talks a bit about an opioid addiction forum in Las Vegas last week.

In this week's episode, you’ll hear a rundown of a few of the big stories we published on the site this week from multimedia editor Joey Lovato. Then reporter Michelle Rindels sits down with the Executive Director of the Nevada Board of Massage Therapy, Sandy Anderson, to talk about sex trafficking in the industry. Later on, Michelle and reporter Riley Snyder sit down to discuss Riley’s story about a big lawsuit challenging cash bail.

We are back from break! On this week’s episode of IndyMatters Editor Jon Ralston sits down with reporter Megan Messerly to chat about the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Democratic candidate forum that Jon co-moderated with Huffington Post Washington Bureau Chief Amanda Terkel. They chat about the different candidates and how they responded to a broad swath of questions. Later in the episode Managing Editor Elizabeth Thompson sits down with Jon to talk about...

Editor Jon Ralston and reporters Megan Messerly and Jacob Solis sat down with Congressman Steven Horsford this week to talk about a variety of topics including possible impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, Medicare-for-all and fixing the health care system.

The podcast is on its summer break, but we still wanted to talk about some of the stories The Nevada Independent published this past week. In this episode, Managing Editor Elizabeth Thompson and intern Michaela Chesin parse through her recent reporting on a civil lawsuit brought by 11 marijuana companies who say the state unfairly doled out dispensary licenses last December. They also talk about some of Michaela's other recent stories including teenage charity founder Kyler Nipper.

The podcast is taking a summer sabbatical but we still wanted to talk about some of our stories so Managing Editor Elizabeth Thompson and Reporter Megan Messerly sat down for a half hour to do just that. Topics include Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo's post-Oct. 1 report on improvements the department needs to make, the City of Las Vegas vowing not to pay hacker ransoms and the 2020 elections including the call-in rather than caucus option for Democrats.

On this week’s episode of IndyMatters, we hear from the team in the north (Riley, Michelle, Daniel and Joey) and most of the Las Vegas team (Jon, Jackie and Jacob) as they strive to answer your questions. This is a special edition of the IndyMatters Podcast celebrating our 100th episode. It is a bit longer and a bit of a departure from our usual format. We hope you enjoy it. If you did not a question submitted for this episode and have burning queries for us, don’t worry — there will be an episo...

On the 99th episode of IndyMatters, education reporter Jackie Valley sits down with Nevada System of Higher Education board of regents member Trevor Hayes to talk not about higher education but about reporting she has done on primary school students struggling with dyslexia. Hayes’s daughter struggles with dyslexia, and Jackie has been following her journey as she learns to read. Later on in the episode, we shift gears; our new reporter Jacob Solis comes into the studio to chat with Jackie about...

With the 80th session of the Legislature behind us, The Indy’s Multimedia Editor Joey Lovato sits down with reporters Megan Messerly, Michelle Rindels and Riley Snyder to recap what happened. They talk about the big bills that passed (and died), the last-minute drama between the Democrats and Republicans, bills that will have effects you may have missed and more. There is also a surprise guest at the end of the episode so listen for that. Also, be sure to send your probing questions to joey@then...

This week on IndyMatters, reporter Megan Messerly talks with the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Tom Perez, about how the party sees Nevada as the 2020 election draws ever nearer. Perez talks debates, the Democratic party’s focus and goals both in the state and nationally.

On this week’s episode of IndyMatters, reporter Michelle Rindels sits down with Amanda Morgan, Michelle Booth and Michaela Tonking of Educate Nevada Now, an advocacy group powered by the Rogers Foundation that aims to reform Nevada's school funding formula and also increase funding for education. They talk about the formula, how it relates to education and how the group thinks the state should spread out funding to districts and schools.

On this week's episode of IndyMatters, we play the audio from a forum we had in Reno, hosted by Indy editor Jon Ralston with panelists Jeffrey Berns from Blockchains, Reno Land CEO Chip Bowlby and Center for Regional Studies project manager Brian Bonnenfant. The forum covered development in northern Nevada as well as the impact large private companies will have on the region and what they need in order to succeed.

This week Michelle Rindels and Megan Messerly sit down to talk about the Economic Forum, a panel of five business professionals and economists that helps predict revenue for the state budget. They also talk about the impact the forum's projections are likely going to have on spending on everything from education to health care to a railroad museum as the Legislature moves into its last month.

Just past the halfway mark and the week of first house passage where hundreds of bills were voted on, Riley sits down with Democratic Assemblyman Howard Watts to talk about the bills he has going through the Legislature. Which ones are moving on and which ones died after first house passage. They also talk about the minimum wage bill, the ICE holding bill that Watts co-sponsored and if he sees a divide in the Democratic caucus this session.

On this week's episode of IndyMatters, reporters Michelle Rindels, Riley Snyder and Megan Messerly sit down for a round table discussion in Carson City. They talk about what bills will be going to the first house passage next week and what bills have died, as well as the reason some legislators introduce bills they know won't make it to a vote.

A panel discussion moderated by Indy Editor Jon Ralston and reporter Jackie Valley on the state of education in Nevada with the people directly involved: teachers, students, parents and administrators.

On this week's episode of IndyMatters, Michelle and Riley talk about the "mass liberation" and no cash bail movements, as well as the death penalty and reform efforts to reduce Nevada's growing prison population. Michelle also talks with members of the no cash bail movement to hear their stories of incarceration along with their goals lobbying lawmakers in Carson City.

This week on IndyMatters the producer, Joey Lovato, steps out from behind the soundboard to chat with reporter Daniel Rothberg about his new weekly newsletter, Indy Environment. Daniel talks about what subscribers can expect, as well as what bills he has been watching in Carson City. Later in the podcast, Joey pulls back the curtain and asks Daniel about his reporting process — and what he likes about reporting on the environment, plus what challenges he faces. If you would like to subscribe to ...