Nevada briefs: Sandoval wants accountability for agencies; Marijuana sales exceed expectations

Sandoval calls for agencies to disclose federal reviews

(AP) — Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval plans to require state agencies to disclose all U.S. reviews after he learned from The Associated Press about problems at rural public health clinics that have cost the state hundreds of thousands of federal dollars over the past two years.

Sandoval’s office told the AP that he and state finance officials will rescind the discretion of high-ranking state employees to either tell their bosses about unflattering reports or to stick them in a drawer indefinitely — a change that could lead to the unveiling of hundreds of U.S. reviews done to maintain federal funding.

The state lacks requirements for officials to disclose possible problems in hundreds of grants and programs, because in most cases, they are not forced to share federal or internal reviews outside their office.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found misused grant funds, sloppy record-keeping and undertrained staff at state-run reproductive health clinics in 2015. Officials denied Nevada’s application for $600,000 in annual funding for the clinics eight months later.

Marijuana sales in Vegas exceed expectations

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Recreational marijuana sales have exceeded the expectations of Las Vegas area store owners.

Eager pot customers on Monday again lined up before dispensaries opened their doors. That’s after thousands swarmed the pot stores over the weekend.

Nevada on Saturday became the fifth state with shops selling pot to the public, jumpstarting a market that is expected to be fueled by the tens of millions of visitors that Sin City welcomes each year.

Jim Ferrence is the marketing coordinator for Euphoria Wellness dispensary, which had about 50 customers in line Monday morning. He says budtenders helped at least 1,000 customers during the first two days of legal recreational pot sales.

Those 21 and older with a valid ID can buy up to an ounce of pot. Consuming the drug in public remains illegal.