Articles by Sam Metz and Felicia Fonseca

Deadline for Western States to Cut Colorado River Use Looming

Banks along parts of the Colorado River where water once streamed are now just caked mud and rock as climate change makes the Western U.S. hotter and drier. More than two decades of drought have done little to deter the …

Gabby Petito’s Family Plans to File Utah Lawsuit Alleging Police Failed Her

Gabby Petito’s family this week notified Utah officials of plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that police failed to recognize their daughter was in a life-threatening situation last year when officers investigated a fight between her and her …

Fewer Crashes After Utah Sets Nation’s Strictest DUI Law, Study Shows

Traffic deaths decreased in Utah after the state enacted the strictest drunken driving laws in the nation five years ago, new research published by a U.S. government agency shows. The findings, which pertain to fatalities involving and not involving alcohol, …

Nevada Maintains Mandate for Higher Ed Staff, Fires Unvaccinated

Hundreds of unvaccinated employees who work at public colleges and universities in Nevada were fired Friday, a day after state Board of Regents voted to keep a staff vaccine mandate in effect, officials said. The Nevada System of Higher Education …

Lake Tahoe Residents Glad Homes Spared from Massive Wildfire

Connor Jones sunbathed with his dog on the otherwise empty beach at Ski Run Marina on Monday, as residents trickling back into town filled up their cars at a gas station behind him and employees of a water sports rental …

Progress Against Flames from Massive Wildfire Near Lake Tahoe

Firefighters reported progress in the battle to save communities on the south end of Lake Tahoe from an approaching forest fire after the stiff winds they had feared failed to materialize in the California-Nevada alpine region on Wednesday. “We lucked …

California Wildfire Threatens Lake Tahoe Area

Some 14,000 firefighters facing changing weather conditions battled more than a dozen large wildfires across California, including a growing blaze that was slowly pushing toward the Lake Tahoe resort region. Winds and temperatures were expected to pick up in coming …

California, Nevada Governors Tour Site of Massive Wildfire

The governors of California and Nevada called for more federal firefighting assistance Wednesday as they toured a region blackened by one of several massive wildfires that have destroyed dozens of homes in the West. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak and California …

Nevada Lawmakers Weigh Fire-Fighting Liability, Coordination

Nevada lawmakers on April 28 heard three proposals about changing liability laws and helping fire-fighting agencies coordinate their responses. As fire seasons become longer and more dangerous, the Legislature is one of many throughout the U.S. West that is considering …

Nevada Counties Prepare to Manage Own Virus Rules

Nevada officials are preparing to cede decision-making power over the state’s coronavirus measures to county officials. In the five rural counties that have passed resolutions condemning the restrictions, it’s unclear how much will change. “We just plan to continue as …