April Rubin and Sara Fischer at Axios:

Former Las Vegas county politician Robert Telles was found guilty Wednesday of murdering a local journalist who had written critically about him.

The big picture: The 2022 murder of Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German underscored growing concerns about press freedoms in the U.S., especially at the local level.

  • Following an 11-day trial, the jury concluded the murder was “willful, deliberate and premeditated.”
  • “Any attempts to silence the media or to silence or intimidate a journalist will not be tolerated,” Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, said.

Context: German had reported on Telles’ office, disclosing bullying, favoritism and a relationship with a staffer.

  • Telles was Clark County Public Administrator.