Here & Now Anytime The 'desperate cry' for affordable housing
Mar 27, 2026
Peter O'Dowd, a national reporter who did on-the-ground reporting in Nevada, explores mining towns hoping for a new boom and Las Vegas grappling with an affordable housing crisis. He discusses mining resurgence, local economic hopes, the strain on hospitality workers, policy debates on housing, and efforts to build workforce homes. Short, on-the-ground reporting about big changes and hard choices in Nevada.
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Two Economies Shaping Nevada
- Nevada's economy splits between fast-growing blue cities reliant on hospitality and vast rural areas dependent on mining and federal land policy.
- Peter O'Dowd highlights Reno/Las Vegas growth versus sparsely populated rurals shaping politics and local fortunes.
Tonopah Betting On A New Mining Boom
- Tonopah is a small mining town betting on a new boom as gold, lithium, and geothermal projects emerge.
- Town manager Joe Westerlund and motel owner Harry Chahal renovate and prepare for incoming mine workers despite fearing future busts.
Policy Helps But Markets And Staffing Matter
- Federal policy can turbocharge mineral development, but market price swings and staffing cuts limit lasting gains.
- State geologist Simon Jowett warns expedited approvals mean little if markets shift or agencies lack personnel.