Estimated read time: 8-9 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
REDISTRICTING-NEVADA
Panel conducts Nevada redistricting process
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Unlike some other states where Republicans used their gains in statewide elections to seize control of the redistricting process after the 2010 census, the re-drawing of Nevada's voting districts was done by a court-appointed panel and overseen by a judge.
Politics was still at play as Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval twice vetoed maps approved by Democratic lawmakers.
Republicans and Democrats accused each other of trying to manipulate the boundaries for political gain under the guise of benefiting Hispanics.
Republicans insisted one congressional district should include a Hispanic majority to allow them to elect someone of their choosing. Democrats countered that amounted to "packing" and was an attempt to isolate Hispanics and minimize their influence in other districts.
A special court panel concluded there was no justification for a Hispanic-majority district.
AMTRAK-TRUCK CRASH
Sanctions denied over deadly Nevada Amtrak crash
(Information in the following story is from: Reno Gazette-Journal, http://www.rgj.com)
RENO, Nev. (AP) — A state judge has found no proof two rail companies tampered with evidence after a tractor-trailer and an Amtrak train collided in 2011, killing six people and injured dozens in northern Nevada.
Washoe County District Judge Scott Freeman, in a ruling handed down late Thursday, denied a motion for sanctions against Amtrak and Union Pacific Railroad.
Lawyers for John Davis Trucking Co. asked Freeman to punish the rail companies, claiming they tampered with a gate-crossing arm and a video to make it appear its driver was to blame.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that Freeman ruled the allegations are based on "mere conjecture and speculation."
His ruling stems from a consolidation of about 20 lawsuits filed by victims against all three companies.
The companies also have sued each other in federal court.
DIGITAL BILLBOARDS-RENO
Judge upholds Reno digital billboard ordinance
(Information in the following story is from: Reno Gazette-Journal, http://www.rgj.com)
RENO, Nev. (AP) — A state judge has upheld a city of Reno ordinance allowing billboard companies to remove four existing "static" billboards in exchange for installing a new digital billboard.
Washoe County District Judge Patrick Flanagan found the city's ordinance struck a proper balance between protecting economic freedom and honoring the will of the voters to prevent scenic blight.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that in his ruling handed down Thursday, Flanagan struck down two competing lawsuits.
One suit was filed by Saunders Outdoor Advertising, a small billboard company that claimed the ordinance violated its First Amendment rights and favored larger companies with more of an inventory of signs.
The other suit was filed by the group Scenic Nevada, which argued the ordinance violated the ban on new billboards within the city approved by voters in 2000.
Scenic Nevada is appealing Flanagan's ruling to the Nevada Supreme Court.
RED ROCK-OFFICERS SHOOTING
Funeral set for man shot by BLM rangers in NV
(Information in the following story is from: KSNV-TV, http://www.mynews3.com/index.php)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A funeral service will be held Monday for a 20-year-old man fatally shot by federal Bureau of Land Management rangers near Red Rock Canyon about 20 miles west of Las Vegas.
The service for D'Andre Berghardt Jr. will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at Nehemiah Ministries Christian Church, with burial to follow at Palm Downtown Cemetery.
Berghardt was moving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to begin working with his brother when he was shot and killed Feb. 14.
A lawyer representing the family told KSNV-TV that various delays, including the forensic examination of Berghardt's body, contributed to the delay of the funeral and burial.
Community leaders have worked to give Berghardt a respectful burial, and numerous donations were received to assist with funeral costs.
According to BLM officials, Berghardt made threats to kill and tried to grab a rifle from a Nevada Highway Patrol vehicle before he was shot.
The slaying on State Route 159 drew wide attention after dramatic witness cellphone video was obtained and posted online by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
SHOWDOWN ON THE RANGE
Nevada rancher fighting federal cattle roundup
(Information in the following story is from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A turf battle between a southern Nevada rancher and federal land managers is heading for a showdown on remote public land northeast of Las Vegas.
Cliven Bundy of Bunkerville says he watched federal Bureau of Land Management agents and hired hands move cattle round-up equipment Friday past his melon farm, but says he plans to keep fighting to keep grazing in the Gold Butte area.
The BLM posted notice this week that it will collect what it calls "trespass cattle" from more than 900 square miles of hardscrabble land about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas.
Federal authorities tried before to remove Bundy's livestock, in April 2012.
But Bundy refused to budge.
He's lost federal court rulings since then, and BLM officials say they're ready to resolve the long-standing dispute.
ARTS GROUP FOLDING-VEGAS
Las Vegas area's oldest arts organization folding
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Las Vegas area's oldest arts organization is shutting down after 25 years in operation.
The Contemporary Arts Center's board of directors voted to dissolve the organization effective Saturday, citing a lack of funds and the "changing arts climate."
Its leaders, in an online statement, said funding is no longer available to support the group and its gift of rent-free space at Alios in Las Vegas will soon expire.
The Contemporary Arts Center, operated by one part-time staffer and over a dozen volunteers, worked over the last year to raise funds and increase membership.
Its Juried Show will still take place from April 3-25 at Alios. The show has allowed the group to expose international, national and local artists to a wider audience for 25 years.
SIERRA STORM
Storms give boost to dismal Sierra snowpack
RENO, Nev. (AP) — A string of storms is giving a much-needed boost to a dismal Sierra snowpack just before the traditional peak of the snow season.
The Squaw Valley ski resort just north of Lake Tahoe reported 20 inches of new snow over a 24-hour period ending Sunday morning and 3.5 feet of new snow over the last week.
According to the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, the storms have boosted the water content of the Tahoe basin's snowpack to 43 percent of average for the date.
Elsewhere, the figure stands at 32 percent in the Truckee River watershed, 59 percent in the Carson River basin and 45 percent in the Walker River watershed.
Another storm is expected to bring up to a foot of snow to higher elevations around Lake Tahoe primarily on Monday night.
NHRA
Female NHRA racers DeJoria, Enders-Stevens win
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Alexis DeJoria won in Funny Car and Erica Enders-Stevens topped the Pro Stock field Sunday in the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals for the second female double in NHRA history.
Enders-Stevens and Courtney Force also accomplished the feat in the 2012 Northwest Nationals.
Tony Schumacher won in Top Fuel for his division-record 73rd victory and eighth at Las Vegas.
DeJoria, also the winner this year in Chandler, Ariz., beat Robert Hight with a 4.026-second pass at 309.98 mph in her Toyota Camry. She also topped Hight in the final in Arizona.
Enders-Stevens, the K&N Horsepower Challenge bonus event winner Saturday, beat Jason Line in the final for her seventh career victory, finishing in 6.612 second at 208.78 mph in her Chevy Camaro. She became the first female driver to lead the Pro Stock points standings.
HEALTH OVERHAUL-RURAL VS URBAN
Rural residents confront higher health care costs
DENVER (AP) — Bill Fales wants a new baler and a better irrigation system for the 700-acre ranch where he raises grass-fed beef cattle, but after seeing his new health insurance premiums, those plans have been set aside.
His Cold Mountain Ranch is in western Colorado's Rocky Mountains, a rural area where outpatient services are twice as expensive as the state average. Fales recently saw his monthly premiums jump 50 percent.
Health care has always been more expensive in far-flung communities, where data show fewer doctors, specialists and hospitals, as well as older residents in need of more health care services. But the rural-urban cost divide has been exacerbated by the Affordable Care Act.
HISTORIC MORMON GATHERING-WOMEN
Female Mormons gather for historic meeting
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Female members of the Mormon church gathered around the world Saturday night for what leaders called a historic meeting of the faith.
The church's General Women's Meeting for the first time brought together all female members from the age of 8 and older.
More than 20,000 girls and women gathered in Salt Lake City while millions more watched in Mormon meetinghouses worldwide for the united meeting of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' three female auxiliaries.
They are the Relief Society for adult women, the Young Women group for 12- to 17-year-olds and the Primary organization for 18-month- to 11-year-olds.
Young Women group general president Bonnie Oscarson called it "one of the most faith-filled and powerful assemblies in the history of the church, if not the world."
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
