The ACLU of Nevada is considering filing a civil suit against the Clark County School District (CCSD) over a February incident in which a school police officer used force against Durango High School students.
The potential litigation comes as the ACLU of Nevada has been pushing for months for the district to release body camera footage and other records around the incident. In April, the organization filed a writ of mandamus to try getting the court to compel the district to release those records. But the district has argued that the ACLU of Nevada’s request is “overly burdensome”.
During a press conference before a Tuesday hearing in the Eighth Judicial District Court in Las Vegas, ACLU of Nevada Executive Director Athar Haseebullah argued that School Police Chief Mike Blackeye spoke publicly about the incident even while the investigation was ongoing. He said if his organization is unable to get the records into the incident through the writ of mandamus, it will have to get them by filing a civil suit.
“Depending on how this comes back, that might, in fact, be the only way to move forward,” he said. “So what in effect the district is saying is unless you’re seeking money from us, there’s no way we’re turning over records, which it just doesn’t make any sense.”
A video from the February incident near Durango High School shows a police officer pushing a Black student to the ground, and pin the student down by placing a knee behind the student’s back. The district has said police officers were in the area investigating a reported firearm. The district has not disclosed whether the students seen in the video were connected with the reported firearm.
Kash Williams, a Black student at Cheyenne High School, spoke out against the district during the press conference.
“Justice needs to be served and the video cam footage needs to be released,” she said.
During a Tuesday court hearing, attorney Jackie Nichols, who’s representing the district, said it denied the ACLU of Nevada’s public records requests while the investigation into the incident was ongoing, and argued that the Nevada Public Records Act (NPRA) doesn’t require a government agency to keep a request open after it’s been denied.
Nichols also argued that some of the records contain sensitive information on juveniles that is “so inextricably commingled” that it cannot be redacted.
The investigation into the incident concluded in April, and last month the district said the school police officer involved was not fired and the district will not change its use-of-force policy.
Haseebullah said neither the students nor their parents were interviewed by the district as part of the investigation. Williams raised concerns about the district’s decision to keep the officer on staff.
“It shows how CCSD doesn’t care and it shows that they view students as such a threat that they put police officers in our schools that hurt children,” she said. “As a student returning back to a CCSD high school this fall, I’m scared. I don’t know if that will one day be me or another one of my peers that I’m close to.”
Judge Danielle “Pierper” Chio did not immediately rule on the matter, but ordered a review of the juvenile records. More arguments on the case are expected to be scheduled for the end of August.
This evening, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo will provide the 2025 State of the State address ahead of the incoming 83rd legislative session, which begins Feb. 3, 2025.
Lombardo is anticipated to cover a number of topics including the economy, inflation, education, housing, and more.
In addition, Carson City 5th grade choir students will be performing at the address, and a Seeliger Elementary student will be singing a solo.
Watch the full address here, which will begin at 6 p.m.
CARSON CITY — Gov. Joe Lombardo will give his 2025 State of the State Address at 6 p.m. today in Nevada’s capital, where he will share his goals and priorities ahead of the upcoming legislative session.
“I look forward to sharing the progress my administration has made since my inaugural address, and I’m excited to outline my common-sense vision for our state ahead of the upcoming legislative session,” Lombardo said in a statement, highlighting efforts to keep taxes low, balance the state budget and bring investments to education and the workforce.
“As we look ahead, I’m eager to build on our progress in education, economic development, healthcare, housing, and public safety,” he said.
Every biennium, two weeks ahead of the legislative session, the governor delivers a State of the State Address that outlines his agenda and provides a framework for what lawmakers can expect over the course of the 120-day session.
In last November’s election, Lombardo successfully fended off a possible Democratic supermajority in both chambers that would have allowed Democrats to override any of his vetoes, greatly reducing his power. While Democrats still hold majorities in both the Assembly and Senate and can set their own agenda, any bill they pass must ultimately be signed into law by Lombardo, who is accustomed to wielding his veto power — having vetoed a record 75 bills in the 2023 session.
Ahead of the governor’s address, the Nevada State Democratic Party launched an ad titled “Expensive,” accusing Lombardo of raising costs for families due to his 2023 vetoes. The party pointed to housing bills that would have capped rent increases for seniors and would have established a new summary eviction procedure for tenants, as well as bills that would have guaranteed school meals to public school students and lowered the price of Medicare-negotiated prescription drugs.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Contact Jessica Hill at jehill@reviewjournal.com and McKenna Ross at mross@reviewjournal.com. Follow @jess_hillyeah and @mckenna_ross_ on X.
None of the Mountain West Conference games are going to be easy and Air Force proved that to Nevada on Tuesday night.
The Falcons took Nevada to the wire before the Pack recovered and came away with a 68-62 win in front of 7,430 fans at Lawlor Events Center on Tuesday.
Tre Coleman led Nevada with 18 points and nine rebounds and Kobe Sanders had 11 points as the Wolf Pack improved to 2-0 in the Mountain West, 10-7 overall. Coleman also had four assists and Sanders had five.
The six-point margin at the end was Nevada’s largest lead of the game.
Next, Nevada hosts San Jose State, at 3 p.m. Saturday. The Spartans upset New Mexico, 71-70, on Tuesday.
There were 10 lead changes and seven ties. Air Force led, 60-59, with 3 minutes, 21 seconds left.
Kobe Sanders hit a bucket to give Nevada a 61-60 lead with 2:36 remaining, then Daniel Foster hit a 3-pointer to give the Pack some breathing room.
Ethan Taylor led the Falcons (3-14, 0-6) with 22 points and Kyle Marshall added 12.
Nevada coach Steve Alford said he liked his team’s fight. saying they won the last four minutes of the first half, 12-4 and the last four minutes of the second half, 12-2.
Nevada was dismal from the free throw line, connecting on 10-of-23. including four straight in the final minute.
The Pack missed the front end of four free throws, which Alford said actually made them 10-of-27 from the stripe.
“If we make our foul shots, then this game is a different look,” Alford said. “It’s really an odd deal because we started out the year so well (on free throws) and now we’ve got to be one of the worst fouls shooting teams in the league. It was an ugly game because of our foul shooting.”
Nevada had 30 points in the paint, to 18 for the Falcons.
Nick Davidson was 0-for-5 from the free throw line and he stayed well after the game Tuesday night shooting free throw after free throw. He had nine points and four assists in the game.
Air Force hit 10-of-27 from 3-point rahge and Nevad awas 6-of-014 from the arc.
Foster started and played 29 minutes, scoring five points on 2-of-4 from the field.
Alford said Foster does what the coaches want him to do.
“Daniel has a incredibly competitive mind. He wants to win and he knows he can influence wins without scoring. He guards like crazy. He rebounds. He gets loose balls,” Alford said. “And now we’re asking him to play some point (guard) to help Kobe out.”
Air Force led 35-33 at the break after the Wolf Pack tied it at 33 . The Pack trailed by 11 (31-20) with 5:06 left in the half.
Nevada made just 2-of-8 free throws in the first half, including three misses on front ends of one-and-ones. The Pack was 3-of-9 from the arc. Air Force made 5-of-6 free throws and 6-of-12 from 3-pont range.
Nevada leads the overall series with Air Force 18-3 and has won five straight in the series.
San Jose State plays Nevada at Lawlor Events Center at 3 p.m. Saturday.
The Spartans (9-10, 2-5) beat New Mexico 71-70 on Tuesday night.
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