Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoed a bill aimed to protect such infertility treatments as in vitro fertilization.

Senate Bill 217, sponsored by Democratic Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, would have established a statutory right to IVF treatment under Nevada law. It also would have increased protections for providers of fertility treatments and expanded coverage requirements for diagnosis and treatment of infertility.

Cannizzaro announced her intent to bring the bill last fall following the Alabama Supreme Court ruling on infertility treatments.

The legislation passed the Assembly on a party-line vote and passed the Senate 15-5, with Republican state Sens. Lori Rogich and John Steinbeck joining Democrats in support.

In response to the veto, Cannizzaro accused Lombardo of bowing to pressure from anti-abortion activists who want to outlaw IVF nationwide.

“Even Donald Trump has backed efforts to expand IVF, but Lombardo is picking out-of-state extremists over protecting Nevada doctors and patients,” she said in a statement. “By vetoing this bipartisan bill, Lombardo has turned his back on ordinary Nevada families who need a little help to overcome the hardships of infertility in order to experience the joy of parenthood.”

In his veto message, the governor said he supports efforts to make IVF more accessible, but he said the legislation is not feasible because of the mandate requiring coverage for IVF.

“Without dedicated and sustainable funding this mandate is fiscally impossible considering the current posture of the state’s budget, specifically in terms of Medicaid resources,” he wrote in his message.

He encouraged agencies to collaborate with interested parties to find alternative and financially sustainable ways to expand access to IVF.

Contact Jessica Hill at jehill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @jess_hillyeah on X.

Hantavirus, the disease that killed Gene Hackman’s wife, Betsy Arakawa, earlier this year, is on the rise.

The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services and the Nevada Department of Wildlife announced on Thursday, June 12, that the state recently found two confirmed cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Hantavirus is a respiratory disease caused by exposure to the droppings, urine or saliva of deer mice. The condition is a severe and potentially deadly disease that affects the lungs, per the CDC. Symptoms can include fatigue, fever, muscle aches, headaches, dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Symptoms can begin to occur one to eight weeks after coming into contact with an infected rodent.

The Department of Wildlife encouraged the public to be cautious in areas where mice could have nested and left droppings, including sheds, barns, trailers, garages and cabins.

“We urge people to be aware of any signs of rodent activity and to take precautions to reduce the risk of exposure to hantavirus,” state medical epidemiologist Melissa Bullock said in a press release. “Anyone who has been in contact with rodents, nests or droppings and subsequently develops symptoms consistent with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome should see a health care provider immediately.”

Hantavirus made headlines earlier this year as it was Arakawa’s official cause of death. In February, Us Weekly confirmed that Arakawa and Hackman were found dead inside their shared Santa Fe, New Mexico, house. The classical pianist was 65, while the Oscar winner was 95.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, Gene Hackman, and his wife, Betsy,” Hackman’s daughters, Elizabeth and Leslie, and granddaughter, Annie, said in a statement to Us at the time. “He was loved and admired by millions around the world for his brilliant acting career, but to us he was always just Dad and Grandpa. We will miss him sorely and are devastated by the loss.”

Dead Rodents and Feces Found on Gene Hackman Property: Reports

Dead rodents and feces were found on the late Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s property following their deaths, per multiple reports. Hackman and Arawaka were found dead inside their Santa Fe, New Mexico, home on February 26. Arakawa, who was 65, died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease that can be contracted from rodents. […]

During a March press conference, it was revealed that Arakawa’s death was ruled natural and due to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Officials believe she was the first to pass. Hackman died due to hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributing factor. Authorities believed that he died one week after his wife.

The following month, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office released photos of Hackman and Arakawa’s property that revealed the pair’s main house was messy. The outbuildings, meanwhile, were rodent-infested.

Hackman and Arakawa were laid to rest during a private memorial service in New Mexico in April.

The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a fire weather watch for much of western Nevada and northeastern California, in effect from Friday morning through Saturday evening.

The watch is prompted by forecasts of gusty winds and low humidity levels that could lead to rapid fire growth.

In an X post, the National Weather Service warned of a moderate risk, or 3 out of 5, for critical fire weather conditions in the region.

Wind gusts are expected to reach 35 to 40 mph, with afternoon relative humidity ranging from five to 15 percent.

The fire weather watch includes several fire weather zones:

• Zone 270: Surprise Valley, California

• Zone 278: Eastern Lassen County

• Zone 458: Northern Washoe County

• Zone 420: Northern Sierra Front including Carson City, Douglas, Storey, Southern Washoe, Western Lyon and Far Southern Lassen Counties

• Zone 423: West Humboldt Basin in Pershing County

• Zone 429: Lahontan Basin including Churchill and Eastern Mineral Counties

Winds in the affected areas are expected to range from 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

Minimum afternoon humidity could fall as low as 5 percent, with limited recovery overnight between 20 and 50 percent.

According to the alert, “The combination of gusty winds and low humidity can cause fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity before first responders can contain them. These dry and windy conditions could also rekindle fires in areas which received lightning in recent days.”

The weather service also noted that dry conditions and shorter periods of gusty winds today and Thursday could produce elevated to locally critical fire weather conditions.

Residents are urged to avoid outdoor activities that could cause sparks near dry vegetation, including yard work, target shooting, or campfires.

Fire restrictions and preparedness tips can be found at weather.gov/reno and livingwithfire.info.

(The National Weather Service Reno contributed to this story.)