Stories by Ilana Williams

Ilana Williams

Environmental Reporter

Email »

702-948-7836

• Legislation plants seeds for community gardens statewide

  Apr 11, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  With thousands of Nevadans struggling to access fresh food in their neighborhoods, a new bill seeks to transform vacant lots across the state into ...

  

• La legislación siembra semillas para huertos comunitarios en todo el estado

  Apr 11, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Con miles de habitantes de Nevada que luchan por acceder a alimentos frescos en sus comunidades,” un nuevo proyecto de ley busca transformar los terrenos baldíos de todo el estado en prósperos huertos comunitarios y granjas urbanas.

  

• Nevada lawmakers consider bill to protect workers from poor air quality

  Apr 7, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Senate Bill 260 would require employers to implement safety measures for outdoor workers when air quality deteriorates due to wildfire smoke, which contains dangerous fine particulate matter known as …

  

• Legisladores consideran proyecto de ley para proteger a los trabajadores de la mala calidad del aire

  Apr 7, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Una propuesta ante la Legislatura de Nevada tiene como objetivo establecer protecciones para los trabajadores al aire libre durante los períodos de mala calidad del aire causada por el aumento de la actividad de los incendios forestales en toda la región.

  

• How much is rain worth? Lawmakers weigh continued funding for cloud seeding

  Mar 31, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  In a state where every raindrop counts, scientists in the Desert Research Institute’s Cloud Seeding Program have mastered the art of enhancing natural precipitation, transforming wispy clouds into meaningful rainfall and snowpack across Nevada’s parched landscape …

  

• Stability of well water levels in Las Vegas may be cause for optimism

  Mar 24, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Groundwater wells in Southern Nevada have maintained stable water levels over the past two years, officials said, defying a trend of decline observed in other basins across the state ...

  

• Estabilidad de niveles de pozos en Las Vegas puede ser motivo de optimismo

  Mar 24, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Los pozos de agua subterránea en el sur de Nevada han mantenido niveles de agua estables durante los últimos dos años, dijeron las autoridades, desafiando una tendencia de deterioro observada en otras cuencas en todo el estado ...

  

• 'Burro Palooza' adoption event set for Red Rock Canyon

  Mar 7, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  The BLM’s inaugural Wild Horse and Burro Week runs through Sunday, including the “Burro Palooza” adoption event featuring several burros at Oliver Ranch within Red Rock Canyon ...

  

• With focus on technology and energy efficiency, the future is now for homebuilders

  Mar 3, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  A smart home can be as simple as one equipped with a Ring camera and alarm system, said George Kypreos, president of the Las Vegas Realtors trade group. It could also be a luxury home prewired for doors to open and unlock, and ...

  

• Lake Mead layoffs highlight strain on workers and the National Park Service

  Mar 2, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Haajrah Gilani , Ilana Williams

  Riley Rackliffe stared at the ceiling of his home and weighed the pros and cons of the federal government’s severance package offer. The government offered ...

  

• Nevada bill would keep water rights buybacks going through 2035

  Feb 26, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  A proposal being considered in the Nevada Legislature would allow the state to continue buying back water rights from willing sellers to conserve water and reduce ...

  

• Nevada bill would push cities to further account for heat mitigation

  Feb 18, 2025 (4:54 p.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  A proposal being considered in the Nevada Legislature calls on local governments with more than 100,000 residents to include heat mitigation efforts like cooling spaces, public drinking water and shade over paved surfaces in their master plan.

  

• Las Vegas’ long dry spell ends with rains today

  Feb 13, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Las Vegas today broke its second-longest dry spell in history, as rain fell across the valley. The National Weather Service said the last time its official Las Vegas climate station at ...

  

• Law on septic systems turns plans for dream homes into nightmares

  Feb 11, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Some properties around the Foothills of Henderson are more than 3,000 feet away from the sewer and would cost more than $2 million to connect, said Lauren Huff ...

  

• Water pipeline protection offer could save Las Vegas customers money

  Feb 1, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  The Las Vegas Valley Water District is offering customers a water line protection program that would make repairing and replacing leaking pipes more accessible at $3.99 a month, or $48 a year.

  

• As solar farms sprout up in Southern Nevada, concern for desert tortoises grows

  Jan 28, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  As solar energy farms continue to pop up across the Mojave Desert, some residents are being squeezed out of their homes: the threatened desert tortoise. And while developers take steps to find them new places to live, sometimes the tortoises don’t want to leave.

  

• Nevada officials stress being proactive to prevent wildfires

  Jan 28, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  As devastating wildfires that scorched large areas of Los Angeles and vicinity finally appear to be under control, federal and local officials here in Nevada continue to urge homeowners in fire-prone areas of the state to be proactive in their …

  

• Program to offer grants to assist in helping stem wildfires in Nevada

  Jan 20, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  The Nevada Fire Chiefs Association and Bureau of Land Management Nevada are teaming together in a program to provide grants to agencies that can assist in the reduction of the risk of ...

  

• Electric vehicle charging infrastructure still evolving in Nevada

  Jan 20, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Wendy Green and her husband travel to Las Vegas from Los Angeles at least twice a year in their Tesla. 

  

• Program helps Las Vegas homeowners pay for water leak repairs

  Jan 19, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  The City of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Valley Water District are teaming up on a drip repair program for homeowners to assist with remediation of active water leaks. The leak repair assistance program will help low-income homeowners make ...

  

• Rare Nevada species could gain endangerment protections

  Jan 17, 2025 (3:42 p.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Three rare Nevada species may warrant protections under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said ...

  

• Exhibitors tout sustainability in their advanced technology at CES

  Jan 10, 2025 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Visitors come to the CES show in Las Vegas for a peek at the newest gadgets, salivating over the latest technological advances to make everything from transportation to health care more efficient. Officials with ...

  

• Proposal would withdraw Ruby Mountains from energy development for 20 years

  Dec 30, 2024 (11:30 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  The Department of the Interior is considering a 20-year withdrawal of the Ruby Mountains from future geothermal and oil and gas development, according to a news release. The area in Elko County, referred ...

  

• $2.6M project to reduce erosion on Las Vegas Wash to begin in January

  Dec 30, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  The Southern Nevada Water Authority will begin work on a $2.6 million project in January to fix a series of ...

  

• NV Energy's plan approved for $573 million natural gas plant

  Dec 20, 2024 (12:17 p.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  NV Energy must submit a plan every three years outlining its strategy for meeting future energy needs while considering the cost for customers. The natural gas peaking units were proposed to be ready for summer 2028 and ...

  

• Feds to analyze proposed plans for Colorado River water use

  Dec 18, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Federal water officials are expected to provide further details in the coming weeks on four proposals for managing the dwindling Colorado River water supply. The current agreement among ...

  

• Nevada's Titus continuing push for extreme heat proposal in US House

  Dec 11, 2024 (2:26 p.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Clark County residents suffered through a deadly summer heatwave, where the average temperature in July was 107 degrees to challenge the region’s response in assisting vulnerable residents.

  

• Colorado River talks tackle users’ competing water demands

  Dec 8, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Before the Colorado River Water Users Association conference started Wednesday in Las Vegas, some attendees trekked out to Boulder City for a tour of Hoover Dam ...

  

• As clock ticks down on deadline for new Colorado River agreement, Lower Basin states pound the table for conservation

  Dec 6, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  John Entsminger, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, stressed to colleagues during the Colorado River Water Users Association ...

  

• Las Vegas conference to tackle urgent Colorado River water management issues

  Dec 4, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  One of the focuses of the Colorado River Water Users Association conference starting today at Paris Las Vegas will be discussing paths forward ...

  

• Student recognized for effort to save fish species from extinction in Colorado River

  Dec 2, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  The class at West Career & Technical Academy works with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife to bring back endangered fish species to the Colorado River ...

  

• Caesars introduces AI to monitor and manage food waste in its kitchens

  Nov 29, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Caesars Entertainment is testing artificial intelligence technology that embraces the taboo principle of garbage in, garbage out ...

  

• Water authority board still considering septic tank policy

  Nov 21, 2024 (5:29 p.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  The Southern Nevada Water Authority board is delaying a decision on a policy allowing waivers for homeowners seeking a septic tank.

  

• Clark County strives to meet clean-air standards with updated ozone emissions plan

  Nov 20, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Air quality, as measured by average ground-level ozone emissions, has improved considerably in Clark County from as recently as ...

  

• Senate committee passes conservation, economic development bill for Southern Nevada

  Nov 19, 2024 (12:26 p.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources today passed a bill promoting conservation and economic development in Southern Nevada. “We have been working on ...

• Charities serving Las Vegas families get help with water filtration

  Nov 18, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  A Las Vegas company is providing free water filtration systems to local nonprofit groups that serve ...

  

• Could ruling in Utah case set precedent for Nevada to take ownership of public land?

  Nov 18, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  A billboard in support of Utah’s lawsuit challenging federal control over Bureau of Land Management land in the state hangs over Interstate 15 from Las Vegas to ...

  

• Federal money will bring clean water to Nevada tribe

  Nov 16, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  When some members of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe of the Duck Valley Reservation turn on their faucets, rust-colored water appears. This is the problem for about 80 of the 1,200 people who live on the reservation on ...

  

• Nevada extends agreement to help combat risk of wildfires

  Nov 15, 2024 (3:15 p.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  A conservation agreement aimed at reducing the risk and impact of catastrophic wildfires in Nevada has been extended.

  

• Charity walk raises awareness on water needs in Las Vegas

  Nov 8, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  The One Drop Foundation, an organization focused on water initiatives, is bringing back its Walk for Water in Las Vegas on ...

  

• Clark County to enhance 2 parks with Department of Interior funding

  Oct 31, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Clark County received $67 million of the funding, county officials said. Almost $63 million will be for two Clark County parks ....

  

• Company shows off all-electric jet at Las Vegas exhibition

  Oct 26, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Lilium, a German aerospace company, introduced an all-electric jet at an aviation exhibition this week in Las Vegas. The jet, which takes off vertically like a helicopter and ...

  

• Deputy Secretary of the Interior visits Northern Nevada to tout investments

  Oct 25, 2024 (1:01 p.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working on a collaborative ecosystem restoration project to support the recovery of the Lahontan cutthroat trout and the Cui-ui sucker, according the release. 

  

• National Park Service opens bid for concession contract at Lake Mead

  Oct 22, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  The contract includes guided raft tours to Hoover Dam, a marina, boat rentals, houseboat lodging, food and beverage stand, retail and campgrounds at Willow Beach and Black Canyon.

  

• F1 is helping pioneer sustainable water solutions with MGM Grand system

  Oct 21, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  The Las Vegas Grand Prix track was doused with about 30,000 gallons of water to keep the course clean and ready for ...

  

• Winter weather projection: Warmer-than average temperatures across southwestern states

  Oct 18, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  There was a strong El Niño in 2023 that brought 1.27 inches of rain and helped Lake Mead water levels rise a little over 11 feet through December and February.

  

• 66 parcels sold at BLM's geothermal lease sale in Nevada

  Oct 9, 2024 (9:21 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Using geothermal energy is critical to meet Biden’s goal of achieving a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 and net-zero emissions economy no later than 2050, the news release said.

  

• UNLV professor: Asteroid has likely been visiting Earth orbit for billions of years

  Oct 7, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  Although it’s hard to spot without a decent telescope, the mini moon is here through Nov. 25; The only similarity between the mini moon and Earth’s moon ...

  

• Community garden in Clark County town cultivates connections and produce

  Oct 5, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  The community garden in Searchlight grows magic. Not really, but residents of the southern Clark County town like to think so ...

  

• Harvesting water from air, UNLV engineer’s device could have global appeal

  Sep 30, 2024 (2 a.m.)

  By Ilana Williams

  The system captures the condensate produced by an air conditioning unit and turns it into a sustainable solution through harvesting.

  
• Load More Content
• Loading More Content...