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The Nevada Supreme Court has overturned a lower court ruling that had deemed the classification of cannabis as a Schedule I Controlled Substance unconstitutional. This decision came in response to a legal challenge from the ACLU of Nevada, which argued Schedule I status should be for substances deemed to have no medical use and high potential for abuse.

The ACLU of Nevada had taken the Board of Pharmacy to court, arguing that cannabis’s inclusion in Schedule I contradicted its recognized medicinal value, as established by Nevada voters in previous referendums. Although the Supreme Court’s procedural decision indicates that constitutional matters should be addressed in criminal cases, the controversy remains unresolved.

Athar Haseebullah, Executive Director of the ACLU of Nevada, criticized the decision, stating, “The Nevada Supreme Court’s procedural decision that unconstitutional criminal policies like the one here can only be raised during a criminal case doesn’t actually resolve this constitutional controversy and doesn’t advance justice for all.”

Haseebullah pointed to the disparity between the profitable cannabis industry and the potential legal risks faced by individuals for cannabis possession.

The classification of cannabis as a Schedule I substance, alongside drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine, continues to conflict with the state’s recognition of its medicinal value. The scheduling discrepancy allows for felony prosecution despite the clear intent of voter-approved measures.

The ACLU of Nevada remains hopeful that the U.S. government will act to shift cannabis out of the federal Schedule I list following requests from a majority of Nevada legislators. They plan to challenge the scheduling loophole in criminal cases and seek a definitive ruling from the Supreme Court on this critical issue.

Legal Director Christopher Peterson of the ACLU of Nevada said there needs to be a consistent classification across state laws. He noted that the court is expected to issue a formal order regarding the classification change in the coming weeks. Additionally, Peterson advocates removing cannabis regulation authority from the Board of Pharmacy, suggesting that other executive agencies, like the Cannabis Compliance Board, are better suited for this role.

Nevada, Arizona, and Mexico will continue to face water reductions from the Colorado River, as the U.S. government announced existing water cuts will remain in place.

The measures are part of ongoing efforts to address long-term challenges for the 40 million people who depend on the water. Spanning 1,450 miles, the Colorado River is a crucial resource for the U.S. West, supplying water to cities and farms across the region and in northern Mexico.

The river supports seven Western states and 24 Native American tribes and irrigates millions of acres of farmland. Additionally, it produces hydropower throughout the region.

Each year, the Interior Department announces water availability months in advance to allow cities, farmers, and others to plan accordingly. The announcement on water levels at Lake Mead, one of the two main reservoirs, are chief indicators.

Arizona will again experience an 18 percent reduction in its total Colorado River allocation, while Mexico will face a Five percent cut in the coming year. Nevada, which receives significantly less water than Arizona, California, or Mexico, will continue with a seven percent reduction. The cuts are part of the “Tier 1” category that went into effect in 2022.

Despite the challenges, heavier rains and various water-saving efforts by Nevada, Arizona, and California have improved Lake Mead and Lake Powell’s water levels, located upstream on the Utah-Arizona border. Officials reported that both reservoirs are currently at 37 percent capacity.

Water officials praised the ongoing conservation efforts, which will continue until 2026, with much of it funded by the federal government. While measures remain in place, states, tribes, and others are negotiating to determine how they will share the river’s water after 2026, when many of the current guidelines governing the river expire.

Ahead of the 2024 general election, Nevada has initiated a significant update to its voter rolls, resulting in some voters moved to ‘inactive’ status, following a statewide effort by all 17 counties to clean up voter registration lists.

The process began after election officials sent postcards to over 150,000 voters whose previous election mail had been returned as ‘undeliverable’ during the primary elections earlier this year. The group represents nearly 8 percent of Nevada active registered voters.

Voters who did not return the postcard by the Tuesday, August 6 deadline were placed on ‘inactive’ status. While the status does not preclude them from voting, they will not automatically receive a mail-in ballot unless they update their registration information before the election.

Voters are encouraged to verify and update their registration at registertovote.nv.gov.

“It is the responsibility of the Secretary of State’s office to maintain accurate voter rolls, but we need the help of voters to ensure that every person receiving a mail ballot is correctly registered,” said Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar.

The maintenance initiative aligns with the National Voter Registration Act, which mandates that states regularly update their voter rolls. Federal law restricts voter roll changes within 90 days of an election, which is why the deadline for this maintenance was Tuesday, August 6.

Aguilar is also leading the transition to a new state-led Voter Registration and Election Management System. This system, scheduled to launch this month, aims to enhance the speed and accuracy of voter roll management by consolidating data reporting from the 17 counties into a centralized state database.

The update comes amid broader scrutiny and controversy over voter registration and election integrity. Conservative groups, including the Republican National Committee, have challenged voter registration data through door-knocking campaigns and lawsuits.

Nevada Copper Corp. and Southwest Critical Materials have agreed to a $128 million price tag for much of Nevada Copper’s assets.

The agreement comes after Nevada Copper filed for Chapter 11 on Monday, June 10, initiating a sales process managed by Moelis & Company LLC. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court and the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario have approved the bidding procedures.

As part of the approved procedures, the Stalking Horse APA will serve as the initial bidder, setting a minimum purchase price for Nevada Copper’s assets. The process will maximize the proceeds from the sale, with other interested bidders still actively participating.

The deadline for binding offers is Friday, September 6, with a potential auction to follow if higher or better bids are received. If there is an alternative transaction, Nevada Copper must pay a fee to Stalking Horse APA. If the agreement ends under other conditions, the company may also need to reimburse the buyer’s transaction expenses.

The bid’s completion depends on meeting the closing conditions outlined in Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, including following the bidding procedures and obtaining court approval. However, there are no guarantees that the transaction will be completed, even if no better offer is received.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) has ordered the company’s shares to be delisted by Wednesday, August 21.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford is under fire for how he has handled public records requests related to the Nevada opioid litigation settlements.

The issue revolves around allegations of substantial legal fees paid to a firm connected to Ford and delays in providing requested documents to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. In July 2023, the newspaper submitted a public records request seeking details about the settlements and associated costs after Ford announced a $1.1 billion opioid settlement deal.

Ford had publicly praised the settlements as a significant achievement. However, there are new concerns about how his office spent the funds and the involvement of his former law firm, Eglet Prince.

Ford hired Eglet Prince to manage the opioid litigation after taking office. The contract, signed in 2019, stated that if the state recovered between $1 billion and $1.25 billion, the fees to the firm would be $240 million.

Critics argue that the fee is excessive, especially considering the 2015 law capping outside legal fees at $10 million, which is lower than the sum Eglet Prince will receive. The cap was lifted in 2017, a year after Ford, a state senator at the time, settled his own IRS debts.

The timing of these events has raised questions. In 2015, Ford had substantial back taxes, and shortly after settling his debts, he held a role in passing legislation to remove the $10 million fee cap, replacing it with a 25 percent limit.

While Ford did not involve himself in the selection process for the outside counsel, the committee, which consisted of individuals from his office, reportedly gave Eglet Prince the highest score, while external panelists favored another firm. Despite his assertion that hiring outside counsel led to higher recovery amounts, the process and financial arrangements remain suspect.

The LVRJ public records request, submitted in July 2023, has experienced repeated delays. While Ford’s office has stated an opioid settlement website would be launched, the delay in providing records has intensified suspicions of transparency issues.

A spokesperson has acknowledged the delays but has not provided a clear explanation as to why. The lack of timely access to documents has amplified scrutiny of Ford’s handling of the opioid settlements and the associated fees.

A Yerington teenager reported missing and endangered since late June has been located, according to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).

Natalie Mays, who had been missing since Sunday, June 23, was found in the Reno area on Wednesday, August 7. The LCSO’s Major Crimes Unit in the Investigations Division searched for Mays since her disappearance.

The Regional Human Trafficking and Exploitation Unit (HEAT) played a crucial role in locating her. Following her recovery, authorities took Mays to the Jan Evans Juvenile Justice Center in Reno. The case now goes to the Juvenile Division of the Lyon County District Attorney’s Office for further legal action.

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to the Regional HEAT Unit, the United States Marshals Service, Special Operations Finding Kids (www.findingkids.org), and Elite Investigations for their assistance in the case.

Allegedly, Mays was in the company of 19-year-old Matthew Bishop, whom authorities believed may have helped her run away. Authorities have not released additional details at this time.

Perhaps he was still tight from the bender he partook of the night before. Whatever the case, he stumbled into the restaurant and sat at a table nearest the wall.

With a sudden jerk of realization, he saw the man seated to his left and apologized, “So sorry, I didn’t see you sitting here, please excuse me.”

The other man quickly said, “You are fine. Sit and stay. It’s nice to have the company.”

The pair sat quietly, waiting for the waitress to see them and bring a menu to their table.

“What are you having?” the new arrival said.

“I think I have the two eggs over easy with a piece of toast and a cup of coffee.”

“Ah, a light breakfast,” the other responded. “Great idea. I hope you don’t mind.”

The waitress came and took the order.

“Please don’t mind me if you don’t want to talk,” the second man said. “I have a problem and could use some sound advice.”

“Sure, if I can help.”

“I want to quit.”

“Quit? I don’t understand. Quit what?”

“Everything. Just quit it all.”

“Odd that you’d say such a thing, I have had the same thought.”

“Yeah, what makes you wanna quit?”

“People. People and society. It isn’t like it used to be.”

“I know what you are saying. I find it hard to fight back against all the negative that seems to be swirling around the bottom of the toilet bowl of life…”

“…and you’re afraid if you keep at it, you might get sucked down with it.”

“Exactly! And I’m tired of fighting against it.”

Just then, their meal arrived, and they ate in silence. Meager as it was, the two enjoyed every morsel, even sliding the toast around the plate to collect the last bit of yellow egg yolk.

“I must be going,” the first man said as he reached for his wallet.

“I do too,” the later arrival said. “Let me get your breakfast. It’s the least I can do for your hospitality.”

“Thank you. As for giving up, neither of us can, you know. We are the last bastions of desency in this depraved world.”

“You’re right. Again, thank you for the company, the conversation and your advice.”

“My pleasure,” the man said as he stood up.

After paying for the meal and the one man had gone, the man who had stumbled in left the way he came.

With window cleaner and rag in hand, the waitress shook her head and chuckled as she wiped down the mirror the drunk man was talking to.

After being convicted in May, a Pennsylvania man, John Matthew Chapman, has been sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping and subsequent murder of 33-year-old Jaime Rae Feden, whom he drove to Nevada and killed in the desert of Lincoln County.

The case began on November 14, 2019, when the Bethel Park Police Department in Pennsylvania conducted a welfare check on Feden at the request of a concerned friend. Neighbors reported not having seen the victim for approximately two months, although they had observed Chapman entering and exiting her residence.

During the search of Feden’s residence, police discovered an ID card with Chapman’s name and photo, the victim’s cell phone, multiple zip ties, and a roll of duct tape. The following day, police arrested Chapman.

During his interview with the police, Chapman revealed that in September 2019, he had driven Feden from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, to Las Vegas under the pretense of going on vacation before purchasing a residence there. However, Chapman had premeditated the murder, confessing to driving the victim out to the desert.

Once there, he deceived her by suggesting a bondage photo shoot. He then bound Feden’s hands and feet with plastic zip ties and secured her to a signpost.

Chapman applied duct tape to her mouth and nose, causing her to die from asphyxiation. After committing the murder, Chapman returned to Pennsylvania and continued to impersonate Feden by using her Facebook Messenger account, residence, and money.

After a racial altercation at the Hot August Nights classic car festival in Virginia City on Friday, August 2, the Storey County Sheriff’s Office arrested three people. The incident involving a Black man, Ricky Johnson, and resident Gary Miller has sparked widespread social media outrage and drawn condemnation from local and state officials.

The argument occurred as Johnson was collecting signatures for a ballot measure. When Johnson approached a group of men, including Miller, he asked if they were registered to vote. One of the men said they were, and another added that they were voting for Trump.

Johnson allegedly responded by calling the group “a bunch of racists,” which escalated the situation. Miller then directed Johnson to find the “hanging tree,” down the road.

According to Johnson, Miller, a 74-year-old white man from Minden who owns property in Virginia City, directed a racial slur and a threatening comment referencing a “hanging tree” at him. Johnson began recording the interaction after Miller made the alleged comments, capturing a heated exchange of profanity between both parties.

Janis Miller, 67, reportedly told Johnson to leave her property, and the confrontation moved to C Street. Johnson also claimed she had assaulted him by touching him as she tried to calm him down.

Although the specific “hanging tree” comment and racial slur are not on video, Johnson posted the footage to TikTok on Friday, August 2, igniting public outrage. The Storey County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) launched an investigation, leading to the arrests of Gary Miller, Janis Miller, and their daughter, Tiffany Miller, 45, from Carson Valley.

Gary Miller faces a charge of breach of peace, a gross misdemeanor that includes making threatening comments based on race. Janis Miller faces a misdemeanor battery charge for allegedly pushing Johnson during the altercation, while Tiffany Miller is charged with misdemeanor obstruction or delaying a peace officer.

During an interview with the SCSO, Gary Miller admitted to making the “hanging tree” comment but did not address the alleged racial slur. In a hand-written statement, Miller accused Johnson of trying to “draw a crowd and escalate the situation” and claimed that Johnson later threatened him and his wife with harassing phone calls.

The Hot August Nights (HAN) organizers have banned the Millers from all future events and condemned their behavior. They also stated that they would evaluate the situation to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all participants.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford praised the arrests, emphasizing the importance of accountability for racist and unlawful actions.

“The public outcry was heard loud and clear, and steps have been taken to hold these individuals accountable for their racist and unlawful actions,” Ford said.

Johnson, working for Texas-based Advanced Micro Targeting Inc., expressed that the experience left him shaken.

The incident prompted a broader investigation by the SCSO for an act of vandalism and several threats against local businesses and residents in connection with the video. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Gary Miller is not facing hate crime charges as a result of the investigation.

The Millers were booked into the Storey County Detention Center and released on bond. It remains unclear if they have secured legal representation, as each declined a public defender. Each could face a maximum penalty of six months in jail if convicted.

Meanwhile, Johnson may have broken a previous agreement with the Houston District Attorney’s office. Johnson allegedly faced charges related to an incident with a 14-year-old child and was barred from using online apps or social media. His use of TikTok may have violated this agreement.

A crash occurred in Fernley, resulting in the death of a 29-year-old man in a rollover on US-50A near Inglewood Drive just before 4:30 p.m. on July 22.

The Nevada State Police said a silver 2018 Hyundai Tucson with two occupants was traveling westbound when it veered off the roadway and entered the right dirt shoulder. The vehicle’s left front struck a light pole, causing it to overturn multiple times.

The driver, identified as Sergion Aquino-Almanza from Fernley, was ejected from the vehicle, and authorities indicated he was not wearing a seatbelt. He was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.

A juvenile passenger in the Hyundai sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.