Author
Nevada faces $56 million Medicaid deficit this year
Nevada Medicaid officials plan to ask lawmakers for a special appropriation to fill a deficit caused in part by an increase in health and behavioral services used by children and adults, the Current has learned. “Yes, we have a shortfall of $56 million for fiscal year 2019,” says Marta Jensen of the Division of Health […]
Laxalt’s hopes dashed for cease fire over background checks
Nevada Attorney General and Republican candidate for governor Adam Laxalt says he hopes a Clark County judge’s dismissal of a lawsuit filed against him and Governor Brian Sandoval will put an end to criticism that Laxalt is bucking the will of the people and forwarding his own pro-gun agenda by refusing to enforce Question 1. […]
Trump’s hand-picked candidate Danny Tarkanian attacks opponent Susie Lee as “wealthy elite”
Republican Congressional candidate Danny Tarkanian, who abandoned his primary challenge of Senator Dean Heller at the direction of President Donald Trump, is chiding his opponent, Susie Lee, for jetting out of state in her “luxurious private plane.” The news release quoting Tarkanian’s campaign spokesman Richard Hernandez says “This week, while middle-class families are busy working […]
Foster parent applicants rarely denied
Author’s note: Earlier this month the Current reported that a longtime advocate for foster parents and adopted father of five children is alleged in a police report and by family members to have a history of sexual assault. The allegations prompted questions about the vetting process for foster parents. Reports of child abuse and endangerment in […]
Michigan: Oops, didn’t mean to sign Nevada on to anti-abortion brief
On Wednesday the Current reported that Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt signed on to a multi-state amicus brief supporting an Ohio law that prohibits Medicaid funds from being used for abortions, even in the event of rape, incest or endangered life. It turns out the Michigan authors of the brief meant “Nebraska,” but typed “Nevada.” […]
Immigrants fill construction void, struggle for pay
September marks the 10th anniversary of the Wall Street collapse that decimated Nevada’s housing market, slashed the construction workforce by more than half and forced thousands of construction tradesmen to hang up their tool belts in search of new careers. Builders who racked up record gains only to have the economy tank in 2008 have […]
Lawyer resorts to public shaming for legislative support
Attorney Stephen Stubbs is out to change a law that prevents prosecutors from filing criminal charges in some cases involving very young or mentally disabled victims who can’t testify that a crime occurred, and he says he doesn’t care what it takes to do it — even if it means resorting to public shaming. Stubbs […]
Alleged parent/child sex pact highlights perils of foster and at-risk children
A popular Christian radio personality, youth baseball official and parent of five adopted foster children has a long history of committing sexual abuse and was plotting a strange virginity pact involving his child and the stepchildren of his girlfriend, according to two close family members. The allegations raise serious questions about the vetting of potential […]
J.D. Smith out at SOS Radio, subject of “multiple investigations”
Las Vegas Christian radio personality, foster parent and Little League official J.D. Smith, who is being investigated by Clark County Child Protective Services and separately by police for his alleged role in kidnapping a Las Vegas woman, is no longer employed by SOS Radio. No arrests have been made and no charges have been filed […]
State’s private “offender services” contractor refers parolee to embattled rehab
A pricey Las Vegas drug and alcohol rehab that is being sued for wrongful death and is owned by a company asked to testify this summer before a Congressional subcommittee about its marketing practices is getting business from an unlikely source — the State of Nevada. The Nevada Division of Parole and Probation frequently refers offenders […]
Alleged kidnap victim, Christian radio deejay under investigation by CPS
The strange case of a Las Vegas woman who says she was abducted at gunpoint in her home by two Hispanic men Thursday night and released in the desert north of the city is getting even more bizarre. Giovanna Perera’s parents say their daughter told family members and police that she was taken from her […]
Clark County D.A. Steve Wolfson sets double standard for grand jury cases
It’s a tale of two prosecutions. One defendant, Kenneth Lopera, is a former Las Vegas Metro Police officer, charged with two felony counts of involuntary manslaughter and oppression under the color of office, in connection with the death of Tashi Brown. The second defendant, Nick Diaz, is the pot-smoking, self-proclaimed bad boy star of the Ultimate […]