In The News: Brookings Mountain West
![Nevada Current](/sites/default/files/styles/100_width_25_height/public/news_source/logo/nevada-current.png?itok=6qkI5pf7)
The complex Nevada economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and recession can be explained by one letter of the alphabet – the letter K. The “K-shaped recovery” describes how white-collar jobs are able to prosper during the COVID-19 pandemic, while blue-collar workers are forced out of the labor market or subjected to unsafe working conditions for minimal compensation. Those on the upper half of a K distribution recover at a much quicker pace than those on the lower half. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, sectors on the upper half of the K include technology, retail, and software services; sectors on the lower half include hospitality, travel, and food services.
![Brookings](/sites/default/files/styles/100_width_25_height/public/news_source/logo/brookings.png?itok=QB4W6FnT)
Typically these summary articles open with a statement something like “it’s been an eventful and challenging year”, or something. We will not, hopefully, have to resort to such hyperbole in future years – because in 2020, it has been true. Here in the Center on Children and Families, we continued to develop our work under the Future of the Middle Class Initiative – and there’s lots more to come over the next few months. (Check out in particular our New Contract with the Middle Class, a synthesis of big ideas to help the middle class and featured below.)
![Public News Service](/sites/default/files/styles/100_width_25_height/public/news_source/logo/public-news-service.png?itok=GqUuJ2oF)
The Electoral College meets today, and Nevada's six electoral votes are set to go to President-elect Joe Biden, despite attempts by the Trump campaign to overturn the results.
![Nevada Current](/sites/default/files/styles/100_width_25_height/public/news_source/logo/nevada-current.png?itok=6qkI5pf7)
In November’s election Nevada voters narrowly rejected Question 1. The legislatively referred constitutional amendment proposed to change the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada from a constitutional to a statutory body in order to more effectively facilitate legislative oversight of higher education.
![Nevada Current](/sites/default/files/styles/100_width_25_height/public/news_source/logo/nevada-current.png?itok=6qkI5pf7)
In November’s election Nevada voters narrowly rejected Question 1. The legislatively referred constitutional amendment proposed to change the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada from a constitutional to a statutory body in order to more effectively facilitate legislative oversight of higher education.
![Nevada Current](/sites/default/files/styles/100_width_25_height/public/news_source/logo/nevada-current.png?itok=6qkI5pf7)
In November’s election Nevada voters narrowly rejected Question 1. The legislatively referred constitutional amendment proposed to change the Board of Regents of the University of Nevada from a constitutional to a statutory body in order to more effectively facilitate legislative oversight of higher education.
![Nevada Independent](/sites/default/files/styles/100_width_25_height/public/news_source/logo/the-nevada-independent.png?itok=4YKX2LQb)
The boom or bust nature of the Southern Nevada economy jeopardizes our growing gig economy. “Gig workers” are self-employed individuals who file 1099 forms instead of W2 forms to the IRS, where the employer withholds payroll taxes from their employees’ earnings. Payroll taxes fund government safety-net programs, notably unemployment insurance. However, 1099 workers do not receive many of the benefits that W2 workers do since they do not pay into those safety-net taxes.
As the Christmas and New Year’s holidays loom in less than a month, visitors to Las Vegas are coming at a snail’s pace, prompting some officials to suggest the city needs to diversify beyond just tourism even with the prospect of coronavirus vaccinations pending.
![Las Vegas Sun](/sites/default/files/styles/100_width_25_height/public/news_source/logo/las-vegas-sun.png?itok=zYEkDFQm)
A surge of COVID-19 cases in correctional facilities is not only endangering the lives of tens of thousands of people behind bars in Nevada, it’s threatening the health and well-being of everyone in our communities.
![El Tiempo](/sites/default/files/styles/100_width_25_height/public/news_source/logo/el_tiempo.png?itok=EnZV_MzC)
John Beckmann has been hosting Las Vegas casinos for 20 years, attracting players with free airfare, show tickets, and the like.
![Las Vegas Review Journal](/sites/default/files/styles/100_width_25_height/public/news_source/logo/las-vegas-review-journal.jpg?itok=IX9YBkgU)
John Beckmann has been a Las Vegas casino host for 20 years, luring gamblers with free airfare, show tickets and the like.
![El Tiempo](/sites/default/files/styles/100_width_25_height/public/news_source/logo/el_tiempo.png?itok=EnZV_MzC)
Las Vegas is known around the world as a place for fun and gambling at flashy mega-resorts, with tens of millions of visitors arriving annually.