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Nevada toad in geothermal power fight gets endangered status

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Nevada toad in geothermal power fight gets endangered status


RENO, Nev. (AP) — A tiny Nevada toad on the heart of a authorized battle over a geothermal energy undertaking has formally been declared an endangered species after U.S. wildlife officers quickly listed it on a rarely-used emergency foundation final spring.

“This ruling makes last the itemizing of the Dixie Valley toad,” the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stated in a proper rule revealed Friday within the Federal Register.

The spectacled, quarter-sized amphibian “is at the moment susceptible to extinction all through its vary primarily as a result of approval and graduation of geothermal growth,” the service stated.

Different threats to the toad embody groundwater pumping, agriculture, local weather change, illness and predation from bullfrogs.

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The short-term itemizing in April marked solely the second time in 20 years the company had taken such emergency motion.

Environmentalists who first petitioned for the itemizing in 2017 filed a lawsuit in January to dam building of the geothermal energy plant on the sting of the wetlands the place the toad lives about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Reno — the one place it’s recognized to exist on earth.

“We’re happy that the Biden administration is taking this important step to stop the extinction of an irreplaceable piece of Nevada’s particular biodiversity,” stated Patrick Donnelly, Nice Basin regional director for the Heart for Organic Variety.

The middle and a tribe preventing the undertaking say pumping scorching water from beneath the earth’s floor to generate carbon-free energy would adversely have an effect on ranges and temperatures of floor water vital to the toad’s survival and sacred to the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe.

The Fish and Wildlife Service cited these issues within the last itemizing rule.

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“One of the best out there data signifies {that a} full discount in spring stream and vital discount of water temperature are believable outcomes of the geothermal undertaking, and these situations might outcome within the species now not persisting,” the company stated.

“As a result of the species happens in just one spring system and has not skilled habitat adjustments of the magnitude or tempo projected, it could have low potential to adapt to a fast-changing atmosphere,” it stated. “We discover that threatened species standing is just not acceptable as a result of the specter of extinction is imminent.”

Officers for the Reno-based developer, Ormat Know-how, stated the service’s determination was “not surprising” given the emergency itemizing in April. In current months, the corporate has been been working with the company and the U.S. Bureau of Land Administration to change the undertaking to extend mitigation for the toad and cut back any risk to its survival.

The lawsuit over the unique plan to construct two energy vegetation able to producing 60MW of electrical energy is at the moment earlier than U.S. District Choose Robert Jones in Reno. It’s already has made one journey to the ninth U.S. Circuit Courtroom of Appeals, which refused in August to grant a short lived injunction blocking building of the ability plant the bureau authorised in December 2021.

However simply hours after that ruling, Ormat introduced it had agreed to quickly droop all work on the undertaking till subsequent yr. Then in late October, the bureau and Ormat requested the choose to place the case on maintain whereas Ormat submitted a brand new plan to construct only one geothermal plant, at the very least for now, that might produce solely 12MW of energy.

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Ormat Vice President Paul Thomsen stated in an e-mail to The Related Press on Thursday that the corporate disagrees with the wildlife service’s “characterization of the potential impacts” of its undertaking as a foundation for the itemizing determination. He stated it doesn’t change the continued coordination and session already beneath technique to decrease and mitigate any of these impacts “no matter its standing beneath the Endangered Species Act.”

“Following the emergency itemizing determination, BLM started session with the FWS, and Ormat has sought approval of a smaller undertaking authorization that would offer extra assurances that the species is not going to be jeopardized by geothermal growth,” he stated.

“As a zero-emissions, renewable power facility, the undertaking will additional the Biden administration’s clear power initiatives and help the struggle in opposition to local weather change,” Thomsen stated.

Donnelly agreed renewable power is “important to combating the local weather emergency.”

“However it could’t come at the price of extinction,” he stated.

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Nevada

Southern Nevada team heading to Atlanta for hurricane response

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Southern Nevada team heading to Atlanta for hurricane response


LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Friday, Nevada Task Force One was notified of possible deployment to assist in Hurricane Helene.

Program Manager Kenyon Leavitt received an alert notification around 3 a.m. Around 8 a.m., it was upgraded to a Type III activation. According to Clark County, that consists of 45 personnel.

Friday, Nevada Task Force One was notified of possible deployment to assist in Hurricane Helene.(Clark County)

NV-TF1 is one of 28 FEMA teams. It includes personnel from the Clark County Fire Department, Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, North Las Vegas Fire Department, Boulder City Fire Department, Henderson Fire Department, and private civilians.

The county says they are headed to Atlanta. It will take the team about 30 hours to travel and the mission could last for 14 days.

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The capabilities of this team consist of: Search, Recovery, Rescue, Heavy Rigging, Water Operations, Rescue K’9s, Intelligence Gathering, etc., and whatever else the community needs.

“We would like to thank all the supporting members on helping get this team out the door,” Clark County says. “We will periodically update Southern Nevada with how their efforts are going.”

Southern Nevada’s Red Cross team is also deploying two volunteers to Hurricane Helene.



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In August, Nevada sportsbooks generated $25 million in sports betting revenue, a YoY increase

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In August, Nevada sportsbooks generated  million in sports betting revenue, a YoY increase


On Thursday, the Nevada Gaming Commission reported $25 million in sports betting revenue. That was a notable year-over-year increase for operators in the state. Compared to their numbers from August 2023, the revenue was up 38.2%. That comfortably outpaced a 5.8% rise in the handle to $455.8 million. 

Revenue was down 3% from their figures in July despite a 21.3% upswing in their betting handle. In August, the $4.86 billion handle was down 3.9% compared to their figures in the first eight months of 2023. However, the $289.9 million is up 15.5%. Their 6.4% hold in 2024 is over one percentage point higher. Nevada’s year-to-date totals for state taxes are $19.6 million, roughly $2.6 million ahead of their pace last year.

Where did Nevada sportsbooks see the most wagers in August?

August has Week 0 of college football, NFL pre-season, MLB, and other various sporting events to bet on. While it’s not as busy as the fall, Nevada still saw increased revenue last month. Operators collected more than $8.7 million in revenue in August from football. That was a 72.9% increase from their figures in 2023. Additionally, Nevada’s $84.6 million handle was up 62.2% last year. That also beat their previous record of $72.3 million in August 2019. 

The “catch-all” category took a jump in revenue for August 2024. This includes golf, tennis, soccer, boxing, MMA, and auto racing. Nevada sportsbooks collected $7.6 million in revenue, a 64% YoY increase. Their betting handle from the “catch-all” category in August was $112.3 million. 

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This helped Nevada sportsbooks offset a negative shift in baseball wagering last month. Their revenue for baseball in August was 1.8% higher at $9.7 million. However, the betting action from April – August has decreased compared to 2023. Nevada’s $1.14 billion handle in that fourth-month span is down 15.4% YoY. Their $$61.5 million in revenue is also 10% lower.

How did mobile sportsbooks fare in Nevada?

Despite $14.8 million in revenue from mobile sportsbooks in August, Nevada’s 4.7% hold on $313 million worth of wagers is their lowest in 2024. Digital wagering accounted for 61.4% of the total revenue. That is on pace to be the highest percentage since the NCGB first published those figures in 2020. Retail sportsbooks had a 7.1% win rate in August, enough for $10.2 million in wagers from $142.8 million in wagers.



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Attorney weighs in on Nevada 'Stand-your-ground-laws' after deadly home robbery

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Attorney weighs in on Nevada 'Stand-your-ground-laws' after deadly home robbery


As Las Vegas Metro Police continue investigating a suspected home invasion case that left a suspect dead early Thursday morning, News 3 talked to local attorney Joseph Gersten of The Gersten Law Firm, who specializes in Criminal defense and Nevada Gun law about the rights homeowners have when it comes to protecting oneself while at home.

Gersten says cases where a victim opens fire against a suspected intruder vary, but in the incident that left an adult male dead, early Thursday morning, Gersten says it could be seen as self-defense.

“You are presumed essentially innocent if you’re in your own home and somebody comes in to commit a crime,” Gersten said.

According to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigators around 7:30 Thursday morning, the residents at a home along Placer Drive near Torrey Pines and Harmon Avenue called 9-1-1 on a suspect who had just broken the glass to their front door and was attempting to break into their home.

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“The male was acting extremely irrationally and was not listening to what they were telling him. As they continued to tell him to leave the property at which time he moved towards the doorway where they were at, at where the homeowner felt the need to shoot the male,” said LVMPD Homicide Lieutenant Jason Johansson.

“As officers were dispatched towards this location, our dispatcher heard a shot being fired over the 9-1-1 call and the people who called 9-1-1 relayed that they had just shot the male who tried to break into their house,” Lt. Johansson added.

Once officers arrived at the scene they located the suspect, who is believed to be around 30-40 years old, suffering from a gunshot wound.

“Medical arrived shortly after and transported him to University Medical Center where unfortunately he was pronounced deceased,” said Lt. Johansson.

Gersten, says when it comes to ‘stand your ground laws’ in the state, Nevada has three main components ensuring homeowners are protected.

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“You’re allowed to stand your ground as long as you’re not the original aggressor. Meaning you didn’t bring the fight to wherever it is, you have a right to be present where the deadly force is used. So you’re not a trespasser or an unwelcome guest, something like that; and lastly you’re not engaged in legal conduct yourself,” Gersten added.

Essentially, Gersten says Nevada law gives victims the presumption of a justifiable homicide if the danger is imminent at the time the incident occurs.

“To avoid any issue all you need to do is close your door right? Close your door and call the police. So, again if the danger comes to you, you’re doing good. If the danger is something that you go to; not so good. That is where the laws will sort of turn on you.” Said Gersten.

LVMPD says no arrests were made in the case. However, police say once the investigation is complete, then it will be up to the Clark County’s District Attorney to determine whether charges will be filed.



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