Nevada Briefly Dec. 5

Sandoval: Yucca nuclear site still a no

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Nevada Governor-elect Brian Sandoval says President Barack Obama assured him he would not support a nuclear waste site at Yucca Mountain during their first meeting since the November election.

The Republican joined 22 other incoming state leaders for a policy meeting with Obama Thursday.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal says Sandoval was told that the White House would continue to block the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

Sandoval opposed the project during his former stint as Nevada attorney general because he said it was unsafe.

Report: Handling of roundups praised

RENO (AP) - The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has released a report by four independent equine experts that praises the handling of three wild horse roundups over the summer.

The experts from major universities across the country observed government gathers in the Owyhee Herd Management Area of Nevada, the Stinking Waters area of Oregon and the Twin Peaks area of California.

Among other things, they found horses "did not exhibit undue stress or show signs of extreme sweating or duress" while being herded by helicopter to holding pens.

The American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign criticized the report, branding it as "biased and politically motivated."

The campaign, a coalition of 40 groups, says the report glosses over the humane issues that have triggered congressional concern.

The observers were selected by the American Horse Protection Association.

Trapping ban rejected for now

RENO (AP) - Nevada wildlife commissioners have rejected a plan to ban trapping near residential areas of Washoe County, but say they remain open to the idea.

Commissioners on Friday voted 5-3 against the petition sought by the citizens group TrailSafe after pest control professionals and agricultural officials complained they were left out of discussions.

A Reno newspaper reports the board referred the issue to a committee for additional discussion, with possible approval coming at a later date.

TrailSafe is seeking to ban leg traps within 3,000 feet of occupied homes in Washoe County, saying dogs and cats are being caught and injured by traps.

The Nevada Trappers Association has endorsed the idea.

NV registered voters grow in November

(AP) - Nevada's voter registration numbers grew by more than 30,000 in November as thousands of people categorized as "inactive" turned out to vote in the Nov. 2 general election.

The secretary of state's office on Friday said thousands of new voter also signed up after registration for the general election closed Oct. 12.

Statewide, the number of active voters rose by 32,441 to a little more than 1.15 million. Active registered Democrats outpace Republicans by 68,000.

Counties last month also updated their rolls by removing tens of thousands of voters who had been listed as inactive and failed to vote in 2008 and 2010. In Clark County alone, total voters shrank by about 63,000.