Sandoval says he’ll funnel $3.5M to mental health; Losing Dem governor hopefuls looking into recount

Sandoval says he’ll funnel $3.5M to mental health

(AP) — Nevada state mental health services would get a $3.5 million boost from tobacco settlement money under a proposal that Gov. Brian Sandoval says he’s taking to the administration’s Interim Finance Committee on Thursday.

Sandoval said Tuesday he wants the state Department of Health and Human Services to act on five recommendations from his Governor’s Behavioral Health and Wellness Council.

Just under $2 million will go to provide resources to address needs of children in crisis.

Other proposals include putting officials with police on the streets, and adding funds for housing through Mental Health Court programs to identify and treat frequent mental health services users.

Sandoval is calling for increased capacity at the short-term Westcare community triage center in Southern Nevada, and increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for inpatient psychiatric medical care.

Losing Dem governor hopefuls looking into recount

LAS VEGAS (AP) — An obscure candidate for governor who won less than 5 percent of the Democratic vote last week is looking into a possible recount.

Allen Rheinhart says he and four other candidates are exploring the option, and asks whether fraud occurred in the primary won by Robert Goodman.

Scott Gilles of the Nevada Secretary of State’s office tells the Las Vegas Sun he received a request from Rheinhart and will provide him information about recounts. Each county must canvass the final vote by Wednesday, and candidates must submit their request for a challenge by June 23.

Rheinhart received 4.9 percent of the vote, well behind Goodman’s 24.7 percent. Nearly 30 percent of voters chose “none of these candidates.”

Gov. Brian Sandoval is widely expected to win against Goodman in November.