Nevada is one of America’s most diverse states for insect life but many of these species are at risk of extinction with no statewide protections. And as the City of North Las Vegas begins planning for a new development on 7,000 acres of land received from the Bureau of Land Management, how should we ensure the safety of endemic species? Could these protections actually streamline development? Co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with Amy Alonzo from The Nevada Independent. Alonzo explains a proposal in the legislature to radically reclassify insects so they can be protected as imperiled wildlife — and why this bill has had trouble passing before.

Want to comment on a bill being heard in the legislature? Find out more here.

Learn more about the sponsors of this April 8th episode:

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.

For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas.

Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Why Protecting Insects Could Speed Up Home Construction