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Safety committee discusses lithium battery dangers in Nevada schools

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Safety committee discusses lithium battery dangers in Nevada schools


LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Lithium battery fires are extremely hard to put out and can last for hours, even days. Two in the last few months have shutdown major interstates in and around Nevada. The lithium battery fires on Interstate 15 and Interstate 95 ignited conversation on battery transport and regulations.

Lithium batteries power everything from electric vehicles to cell phones and batteries of all sizes have led to fires. FOX5 has reported on an e-bike starting an Arizona housefire, a vape pen exploding in a New Jersey mall, and a lithium-ion battery blamed for an e-bike repair shop fire that killed four people in New York City.

“Here at NDEP we are actually doing new regulations regarding lithium-ion batteries,” shared Cierra Peters with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, a guest speaker at a recent meeting of the Nevada Department of Education Statewide School Safety Committee during a discussion on lithium-ion batteries.

“How big is this issue that we are facing within schools?,” Peters questioned.

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Back in December, a fire at a CCSD storage building near Flamingo and McLeod was caused by an exothermic reaction from lithium batteries.

For Nevada schools, one major safety issue is vape pens.

“Vape pens do have lithium-ion batteries…they are considered a hazardous waste,” Peters explained.

In 2019, Austin Adams, then 17, was using an e-cigarette at his Ely home when it exploded, fracturing his jaw and causing him to lose several teeth. Educators say they are constantly taking the devices away from children.

“If at Elko High School where we only have 1,400 kids and I’m taking away four, five, six in a day, God only knows at a school 3,500…I think the most recent young age one I saw was a fifth grader,” shared CJ Anderson, Superintendent of Schools for the Elko County School District.

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“I did speak with a couple of schools…they called up here and said they had a whole draw full of like 30-40 vape pens,” Peters reported.

While having a large number of the devices is a danger for schools, it’s also against state regulations.

“It is difficult because if you guys were to collect over 2.2 pounds, you would have to be held liable as a large generator,” Peters revealed. Educators asked how to dispose of their unwanted waste, one even suggesting schools should be given special containers. Throwing lithium batteries in the trash is not an option but something many people do anyway.

“When they go into a trash truck, it compacts it, so we have had several landfill fires and trash truck fires that way. That has been a big issue as well,” Peters described.

A fire broke out at Republic’s recycling plant on the northside of the Vegas Valley in September 2021. The cause is believed to be a lithium battery. How to best dispose of unwanted batteries is a question not just for Nevada schools but anyone who no longer wants one.

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“How are we recycling these batteries? Is it correct? Is it incorrect? In the industry as a whole, not just in Nevada but the whole world there isn’t really a great way to recycle lithium-ion batteries,” Peters asserted.

According to Peters, NDEP has proposing changes to Nevada’s hazardous waste regulations. It will be up to the State Environmental Commission to approve them November 19th.



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Nevada high school football head coach steps down

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Nevada high school football head coach steps down


Mojave (Nev.) head football coach Wes Pacheco announced on Sunday morning that he’s stepping down from his position, according to a social media post.

Pacheco announced his resignation after six seasons at the helm of the Rattlers, putting together a 29-22 overall record from 2020-2025.

“I have officially stepped down as Head Coach of the Mojave Football Program,” Pacheco said in his social media post. “Thank you to Principal Cole for giving me the opoortunity make an impact on the lives of Mojave Student-Athletes. I am grateful and blessed to have labored through a 6-year journey of successes, failures, life lessons, character building and growth with the student-athletes myself and my coaching staff have served. I will forever love my Mojave Family, the Mojave Community and believe in the notion that SUCCESS can be attained by showcasing character, treating everyone with respect, and always have the courage to dream big and trust that “ATTACKING THE HARD WORK” & “HIGH MOTORING EVERYTHING” can yield SUCCESS that you want to achieve in life!”

During Pacheco’s half dozen seasons leading Mojave, his best record came in the 2024 season when the Rattlers finished with a 12-1 record. Located out of North Las Vegas, Mojave had to compete against the likes of national high school football powerhouse Bishop Gorman during the regular season.

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Mojave ended the last season with a 4-6 record and as the state’s No. 23rd ranked team, according to the final 2025 Nevada High School Football Massey Rankings.

More about Mojave High School

Mojave High School, located in North Las Vegas, NV, is a dynamic public high school that fosters academic excellence, personal growth, and community involvement. Home of the Rattlers, MHS offers a wide range of academic programs, athletics, and extracurricular activities. With a strong commitment to student success, Mojave emphasizes leadership, college and career readiness, and a supportive school culture that prepares students for life beyond graduation.

For Nevada high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Silver State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across Nevada.



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IN RESPONSE: Cortez Masto lands bill would keep the proceeds in Nevada

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IN RESPONSE: Cortez Masto lands bill would keep the proceeds in Nevada


A recent Review-Journal letter to the editor mischaracterized Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, also known as the Clark County Lands bill. As the former executive director of the Nevada Conservation League, I wholeheartedly support this legislation, so I wanted to set the record straight.

Sen. Cortez Masto has been working on this bill for years in partnership with state and local governments, conservation groups like the NCL and local area tribes. It’s true that the Clark County lands bill would open 25,000 acres to help Las Vegas grow responsibly, while setting aside 2 million acres for conservation. It would also help create more affordable housing throughout the valley while ensuring our treasured public spaces can be preserved for generations to come.

What is not correct is that the money from these land sales would go to the federal government’s coffers. In fact, the opposite is true.

The 1998 Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act is a landmark bill that identified specific public land for future sale and created a special account ensuring all land sale revenues would come back to Nevada. In accordance with that law 5 percent of revenue from land transfers goes to the state of Nevada for general education purposes, 10 percent goes to the Southern Nevada Water Authority for needed water infrastructure and 85 percent supports conservation and environmental mitigation projects in Southern Nevada. This legislation has provided billions to Clark County and will continue to benefit generations of Southern Nevadans. Sen. Cortez Masto’s lands bill builds upon the act’s success.

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So here’s the good news: All of the money generated from land made available for sale under Sen. Cortez Masto’s bill would be sent to the special account created by the 1998 law. Rather than going to an unaccountable federal government, the proceeds would continue to help kids in Vegas get a better education, bolster outdoor recreation and modernize Southern Nevada’s infrastructure.

I know how important it is that money generated from the sale of public land in Nevada stay in the hands of Nevadans, and so does the senator. That’s why she opposed a Republican effort last year to sell off 200,000 acres of land in Clark County and other areas of the country that would have sent those dollars directly to Washington.

Public land management in Nevada should benefit Nevadans. We should protect sacred cultural sites and beloved recreation spaces, responsibly transfer land for affordable housing when needed and ensure our state has the resources it needs to grow sustainably. I will continue working with Sen. Cortez Masto to advocate for legislation, such as the Clark County lands bill, that puts the needs of Nevadans first.

Paul Selberg writes from Las Vegas.

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Las Vegas High beats Coronado in 5A baseball — PHOTOS

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Las Vegas High beats Coronado in 5A baseball — PHOTOS