The annual Las Vegas Book Festival returns Saturday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with workshops and sessions for students and educators. The free event is held downtown at the Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St., and is open to all ages.      This year’s festival headliners include “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” author Terry McMillan, bestselling author and terrorism/counter-terrorism/extremism consultant Malcolm Nance, “Fourth Wing” author Rebecca Yarros and Reese’s Book Club pick Ana Reyes.      At noon, popular children’s authors Daria Peoples and Ken Lamug will lead an exciting game of draw-off moderated by Nikki Bylina-Streets. Middle-grade readers can hear from authors Shelly Brown, Michael Leali, Lindsey Leavitt, Chad Morris and Lakita Wilson at 1:15 p.m.      The festival is offering continuing education workshop opportunities for educators including: Those interested in receiving up to eight hours of continuing education credit must register for workshops online.      Graphics for these sessions are available here. A full schedule of festival activities is available online. For updates and more information on the book festival, visit www.lasvegasbookfestival.com. Keep up with festival news on Facebook and X (#VegasBookFest).      Produced by the city of Las Vegas, Nevada Humanities and The Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas LIFE, the Las Vegas Book Festival also is supported by media sponsors, including the Las Vegas Review-Journal/Las Vegas Sun, Audacy Radio and The CW/News 3. For updates and information, visit lasvegasbookfestival.com.

Dear Friend,  Thank you for following our updates at City Hall. September was exceptionally busy, and I don’t foresee a slowdown for October with many events around the city. We have community events, Access City Council features, and news stories you won’t want to miss. Please follow our social media to catch our weekly Small Business Saturday and Adopt-A-Pet episodes.My office is always here to help and update you on Ward 2 and City of Las Vegas topics. If you have any questions, please get in touch with my office (702) at 229-2420 or Ward2@lasvegasnevada.gov. Victoria SeamanCouncilwoman, Ward 2

Las senadoras Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) y Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) anunciaron más de $31 millones en nuevos fondos federales para que los departamentos de policía, los tribunales, las organizaciones sin fines de lucro y las tribus de Nevada apoyen programas de seguridad pública y servicios a las víctimas. Cortez Masto y Rosen han votado consistentemente para financiar estos programas, y la lista completa de fondos del Departamento de Justicia (DOJ) obtenidos por las senadores está disponible AQUÍ. “Para mantener seguras a las familias de Nevada, debemos asegurarnos de que nuestras autoridades locales tengan los fondos y el apoyo que necesitan para combatir el crimen, hacer responsables a los perpetradores y apoyar a las víctimas”, dijo la senadora Cortez Masto. “Siempre apoyaré a nuestra policía y apoyaré su trabajo para mantener seguras a nuestras comunidades”. “Los agentes del orden son los héroes que mantienen segura a Nevada”, dijo la senadora Rosen. “Me enorgullece ver que estos fondos llegan a Nevada para mantener seguras a las familias, las pequeñas empresas y las comunidades trabajadoras. Siempre trabajaré de manera bipartidista para apoyar los programas de seguridad pública y servicios a las víctimas”. Las senadoras Cortez Masto y Rosen han sido firmes defensoras en el Senado de nuestros agentes de policía. Cortez Masto lidera el trabajo bipartidista anual para asegurar fondos para el programa de subvenciones Byrne JAG, la principal fuente de financiación de la justicia penal en el país. Sus proyectos de ley bipartidistas para combatir la crisis del suicidio policial y proporcionar recursos de salud mental a los agentes de policía han sido promulgados por presidentes de ambos partidos, y está luchando para combatir la actividad ilegal de drogas y proporcionar más fondos a los pequeños departamentos de policía.

Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen signed a letter led by Congresswoman Susie Lee (D-NV-03) calling on Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan to adopt a rule to crack down on business impersonation fraud and enact new protections for small businesses in the wake of a concerning uptick in this type of fraud.  Business impersonation fraud causes significant economic losses in Nevada and across the country. The letter highlights the damage already caused by business and government impersonators—estimated at $2.6 billion in economic losses in 2022 alone, for a nearly 50-percent increase over 2021. Particularly for cities like Las Vegas, which has been the top trade show destination, rampant impersonation fraud threatens the success of trade show venues and the many small businesses that rely on them. According to the Consumer Technology Association, which owns and produces the annual Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas, their customers reported at least 70 incidents of fraud via email solicitations alone in 2021, 2022, and the month leading up to CES 2023.  “Too many businesses in Nevada and other states across the country have felt the economic and reputational damage impersonation fraud can cause,” wrote the Members. “The proliferation of impersonation fraud has proven especially damaging to the face-to-face business events industry, as impersonators have more and more regularly sought financial gain by advertising for fake exhibitions, trade shows, and other business events. This targeted fraud threatens to put a damper on an industry that has long been a driving force for economic growth—for event organizers, host venues, and surrounding communities.”  “In order to protect this critical industry that’s under great threat, as well as to support associated small businesses and consumers in Las Vegas and beyond, there can be no delay at the FTC in rolling out a strong rule to stem this economic damage,” they continued. “We encourage you to act with all due haste to adopt and implement a finalized rule and to lead the Commission in moving swiftly to combat impersonation fraud and to provide relief to small business owners nationally.” The full letter can be found here.

U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) attended a roundtable discussion with members of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement Las Vegas Chapter (LCLAA) to talk about their priorities – including health care, housing, and public safety – and discuss her work in the Senate to address them. The roundtable consisted of members of the Transport Workers Union; the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers; the Laborers’ International Union of North America; the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons Association; and the Sheet Metal, Air Rail, Transportation Union. “Thanks to unions and their fight for living wages and better working conditions, hardworking Nevada families are able to pursue the American Dream,” said Senator Rosen. “I was glad to meet with members of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement Las Vegas and hear their stories and the issues that are top of mind. From creating more good-paying union jobs to fighting for paid family leave to lowering costs for families, I am committed to helping hardworking Nevada families thrive.”  “Latino workers make important contributions to Nevada’s economy every single day, and they deserve quality working conditions like a living wage and paid sick leave,” said Vince Saavedra, President of LCLAA. “We’re grateful to Senator Jacky Rosen for sitting down with the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement Las Vegas to discuss our priorities and the work she’s doing on behalf of workers in our state.” Senator Rosen has been a champion for Nevada workers and the Latino community in the state. Earlier this year, Senator Rosen helped introduce the PRO Act to strengthen protections for workers’ rights to form a union and bargain for benefits. This comes in addition to the FAMILY Act that Senator Rosen co-sponsored to provide all workers with twelve weeks of paid parental, medical, and caregiving leave. Senator Rosen has also helped introduce legislation to gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. Last Congress, she introduced two pieces of legislation to support Latino-owned and other minority-owned businesses in the wake of the pandemic.

The U.S. Census Bureau today announced it will establish a new federal advisory committee focused on the 2030 Census.   The 2030 Census Advisory Committee is another way the Census Bureau is engaging with diverse voices as it prepares for the next decennial census and seeks external perspectives on its plans to address census undercounts, communicate with different communities and collect census information in an easy and efficient way. The Census Bureau invites the public to nominate panel members representing stakeholder organizations, groups, interests and viewpoints to:   Members will serve as representatives of their respective group or viewpoint. Instructions for submitting nominations are available in the Federal Register notice. The Census Bureau plans to convene the first meeting of the new committee late this year or in early 2024. More information about the committee is available in this blog post, Submit Your Nominations for Our New 2030 Census Advisory Committee by Census Bureau Director Robert L. Santos.

New plan widens opportunities to higher education.  Washington, DC— Mauricio Garcia, Senior Vice President of Programs for UnidosUS—the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization—issued the below statement following today’s unveiling by the Department of Education of the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan:  “The Department of Education’s Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan is another step toward meaningful debt relief for millions of student borrowers in our country. Mountains of student debt are obstructing the economic potential of Latinos pursuing higher education and keeping many graduates from being able to buy a house, start a family, or build generational wealth. This plan will further enable Hispanic students to contribute more fully to our country’s shared prosperity while building their own economic resilience. We commend the Biden administration for their commitment to increasing accessibility to higher education and paving the way for Latinos to widen their place in America.” This week, UnidosUS joined a nationwide coalition that includes Civic Nation, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Urban League (NUL), Rise, the Student Debt Crisis Center, and Young Invincibles to engage borrowers with information about the actions they can take to obtain student debt relief under this program. As part of these efforts, UnidosUS will mobilize our national network of Affiliates, allies, and supporters via targeted communications to ensure the Latino community is aware of the SAVE plan and other student loan resources.   About UnidosUS UnidosUS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that serves as the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Since 1968, we have challenged the social, economic, and political barriers that affect Latinos through our unique combination of expert research, advocacy, programs, and an Affiliate Network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico. We believe in an America where economic, political, and social progress is a reality for all Latinos, and we collaborate across communities to achieve it. For more information on UnidosUS, visit unidosus.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

SEPTEMBER 24 – 26, 2023, ORLANDO, FLORIDA The 2023 USHCC National Conference is the largest gathering of Hispanic business leaders in America. Our annual conference brings together local Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, Hispanic business leaders, and corporate partners to foster Hispanic economic development for the greater American economy. Register today and lock-in the early bird rate! MEET THE SPEAKERS ISABELLA CASILLAS Dr. Eugenio J. Aleman JAMILA GILBERT AdministratorU.S. Small Business Administration Chief Economist Raymond James Senior Manager, Internal Communications and Mission SpecialistVirgin Galactic Arveice Washington Michael Brown Gaby Ortigoni Deputy DirectorU.S. Navy Office of Small Business Programs President & CEOTravel & Leisure, Co President & CEOHispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando For more info, click here

Every Friday, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors releases its report on the Assets and Liabilities of Commercial Banks in the United States (H.8 data) for the previous week. The most recent report includes the percent change for bank credit during the second quarter of 2023, which fell by 0.9 percent.

Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) announced that up to $195 million in funding has been made available from the Department of the Interior to support drought resiliency projects, water management planning and design improvements, and cooperative watershed management projects. Congresswoman Lee fought to secure these funds by championing and voting to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as through her work as a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.   “Last Congress, I helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act to ensure that your taxpayer dollars get to work for Nevada, and that includes tackling the drought,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03). “Southern Nevada continues to face the worst drought in 12 centuries, and we need bold solutions to protect our precious water, natural resources, and the hardworking families who depend on them. Today’s announcement reflects a strong investment in those solutions and helps put our state and the West on a path to long-term sustainability.”  This funding comes primarily from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s WaterSMART program. As a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Lee ensured this program was properly funded by helping to secure $124 million more than what was initially requested by the Biden Administration for the current fiscal year. In Southern Nevada, WaterSMART funding has helped support initiatives ranging from the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s landscape rebate program, which incentivizes residential property owners to replace turf with water-efficient landscaping, to the ongoing restoration of the Las Vegas Wash, which returns more than 200 million gallons of water a day to Lake Mead from the Las Vegas Valley.  Today’s funding announcement includes up to $55 million for drought resiliency funding to develop projects that can increase water management flexibility, and up to $35 million for planning and design grants to support water management improvements, including efforts to enhance water supplies and create comprehensive drought contingency plans.  You can read more about this announcement here.