Your Daily Guide

💧Lake Mead Near Record Low

Since March 1, the water level of Lake Mead has dropped by more than six feet — which is near the record low for the same time in 2022. Levels will likely drop even more soon, with a low winter snowpack melting rapidly from the mountains. But water supply managers aren’t sounding the alarm — at least not yet. [KVVU]

• This comes as the Colorado River states are still trying to hammer out an agreement for water allocations, long after their Nov. 2025 deadline. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

🎒 K-12 Enrollment Dip Projected

Clark County School District leaders are expecting to lose more than 2,000 students by the end of the 2027 school year. With that in mind, they’re making tentative budget plans that account for less per-pupil dollars from the state. The district could cut as many as 1,000 teacher positions to account for the downward trends. [Las Vegas Review-Journal]

🗳️ Dems Want More Ballot Drops

Nevada is one of about a dozen states that counts mail-in ballots after Election Day. But if the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in against these laws ahead of the midterms, Nevada Democratic leaders want a backup plan. That’s why they’re urging voters to plan ahead, and are calling for more ballot box locations. [Nevada Current]

📵 Police Could Be Tracking Your Phone

A new contract between Nevada and a data tracking company gives police access to personal smartphone info without a warrant. Police can query the Fog Data Science software to identify users' patterns. The contract — which flew under the radar initially — is causing some heartburn for civil liberties advocates. [The Nevada Independent]

😷 Could the Next Pandemic Start in Vegas?

Last month, health officials confirmed a case of measles at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Did our city get lucky by avoiding a wider outbreak? Today on City Cast Las Vegas, we’re finding out how the Southern Nevada Health District is thinking about measles and other threats, and what public health officials are doing to prepare for the next potential pandemic. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

Your local library isn’t just for checking out books, although that’s pretty cool all by itself. As it turns out, your library card can get you all kinds of free stuff across 25 branches within the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District.

Getting a Passport: The Windmill Library takes appointments for passport services for first-time applicants.

Streaming Music: While the selection isn’t as deep as Spotify or Apple Music, you can use your library card to log into FreegalMusic for ad-free music streaming at no charge.

Listening to Audiobooks: Use your library card to log into Libby to listen to audiobooks, read digital versions of books on a phone or tablet, and read current issues of magazines like The New Yorker or Rolling Stone, which are usually behind a paywall.

Stream Movies: Your library card grants instant access to Hoopla, which has a variety of movies ready to stream. You can even get a “binge pass” for Hallmark romcoms or Ken Burns documentaries. The library system also offers access to Kanopy, specializing in indie films, classics, and documentaries.

Art Galleries: The East Las Vegas, Summerlin, and Sahara West libraries are among a dozen local branches with their own art galleries to host exhibits and receptions.

Learning Programs: The resources are truly endless, from tutoring, homework help, and ACT mentorship for younger visitors to learning programs for adults. Learn a new language or work your way toward a high school diploma. Libraries also offer access to computer stations, laptops, and printers.

Record your own music: Sure, you can send your kids to college, but learning how to DJ is where the real money is in Vegas. Youngsters are welcome to take music production classes at the Clark County Library’s Teen Tech Center. Drop beats and drop knowledge. You can even learn filmmaking and podcasting skills too. The newer East Las Vegas Library is also equipped with music and video editing equipment.

Save Your Old Photos and Videos: Several branches are equipped with a Digital Memories Preservation Lab, which teaches you how to convert media on outdated formats (like VHS, cassette tapes, Super 8 camcorder videos, etc.) to digital spaces like the cloud or a USB drive.

Grow Your Own Food: Las Vegas libraries hold regular hydroponics events, including open houses, Q&A sessions, and demonstrations to teach indoor gardeners how to grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs in water instead of soil.

3D Printing: This is pretty cool. At least 17 branches have 3D printing machines you can operate for free. Some require the supervision of a manager. Either way, you need to take a certification course first — also free. Create prints from a catalog or bring in designs from trusted third-party sources.

Museum and Park Passes: You can check out a pass to places like the Discovery Children’s Museum, Neon Museum’s STEAM Saturdays, Springs Preserve, and state parks like Valley of Fire. Keep in mind, you can’t just show up at the entrance gates with a library card. You need to physically check out a pass — and there’s usually a wait.

• Learn more about unlocking the potential of your Las Vegas library card. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]