💢 Nevada challenges Colorado River plan

Nevada is the first state to file suit over the federal government’s plan to divvy up the Colorado River. While the Silver State has played nice so far — voluntarily reducing Colorado River water consumption by more than 40% since 2002 — those efforts don’t seem to be rewarded. The lawsuit argues that Southern Nevada already uses a relatively meager allotment, and our water supply could eventually be cut by more than 70% under the new rules. [KTNV]

• The Department of the Interior released its finalized plan on Friday, cutting 1.25 million acre-feet of water annually over the next two years for the Lower Basin states of Nevada, California, and Arizona with warnings of additional reductions over the next decade. The Upper Basin states of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming weren’t required to make any cuts. [ABC News]
• Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the largest reservoirs on the river, both hit record low water levels this year. [NPR]

Hope for Prisoners Pondered Action Against Founder

A judge set bail at $200,000 for Hope for Prisoners founder Jon Ponder, who is accused of sexual assault and using his position to solicit sexual favors from women trying to assimilate back into the community after serving time in prison. [KLAS]

• One of those women is speaking out, saying Ponder tried to entice her with the promise of a job with Station Casinos while at the Casa Grande Transitional Housing Center. [KSNV]
• Ponder was pardoned for previous crimes by President Trump in 2020, around the same time he was under investigation by his own Hope for Prisoners board for allegations of sexual impropriety. The board, which includes high-profile names like former Metro sheriff and current governor Joe Lombardo and Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson, declined to take action following the investigation. [Nevada Current]
• City Cast Las Vegas takes a closer look at the case during today’s news roundup. The episode also has the latest on the financing of a new plaza at Allegiant Stadium and a fond look back at the Riviera. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]

👮 Uh Oh … What Happened?

Henderson’s police chief and deputy chief are both under investigation. We just don’t know why yet 🤔 Mayor Michelle Romero urged everyone to “let the process play out.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal]

🚌 Riding the Bus Just Got Better

Time for all that road work to pay off. The new RTC red line is now operating between the Medical District and the airport with a long stretch of improvements on Maryland Parkway, including shared bike lanes, widened sidewalks, and 60-foot zero-emission hydrogen fuel-cell buses. [Smart Cities Dive]

🎭 ‘Awakening’ Calls It a Night

Awakening ends its run at the Wynn on Oct. 10. The production took over the in-the-round stage once home to Le Rêve four years ago, opened to lukewarm reviews, and took time off to revamp its confusing storyline before returning in its current form. (I actually liked the first version better.) [Casino.org]

• Will you miss it? 📬