By Marcus Lavergne

INTERNATIONAL

Former Russian anti-doping chief passes amidst Russian doping scandal

According to a statement released by a Rusada spokeswoman, the former chief died from what is being called a massive heart attack on Sunday, Feb. 14.

Nikita Kamayev retired just two months ago as the acting chief of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency or Rusada, after allegations of widespread, state-sponsored cheating among pro athletes surfaced.

Ramil Khabriev, the former general director for the agency, told TASS Russian news agency that Kamayev, 52, was complaining about chest pains after cross-country skiing.

Rusada saw the organization’s leaders resign in 2015 after a report produced by the World Anti-Doping Agency revealed cheating and corruption on a national level along with the cooperation of state officials. It revealed cover-ups and the close interaction between Russian government agencies and testing labs where samples were destroyed.

Kamayev’s death came just two weeks after the death of Vyacheslav Sinev, Rusada’s general director from 2008 to 2010. The causes of his death are still unknown.

NATIONAL

Oregon State Representative faces backlash after Oregon standoff shooting

Oregon Rep. Jeff Barker added an amendment to H.B. 4087 last week that would allow officials to withhold the name of an officer involved in the death of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupier Robert “LaVoy” Finicum.

Finicum was shot and killed in a clash with FBI agents on Jan. 26 at a roadblock. The Oregon State Police officials requested that Barker issue the amendment after receiving death threats against the officer in question.

Under the amendment, courts could withhold the names of officers who use deadly force in the event of a “credible threat of danger” for up to 90 days. This sparked criticism over social media by groups like Oregon Wide Open, which told its Facebook followers to contact their state legislators in opposition of the bill.

The fate of the bill is expected to be revealed during Oregon’s shortened 2016 legislative session that began on Feb. 1 and lasts until March 5.

LOCAL

Nevada courts to speed up decision on education savings account

Nevada’s new school choice law is expected to be under scrutiny by the state Supreme Court by mid-April due to a motion to accelerate decision-making.

State Treasurer Dan Schwartz sought the action, which is set to shave about three months off the process. This comes after his office appealed an injunction issued by Carson City District Judge James Wilson.

Wilson sided with a small group of parents who argued that the implementation of the Education Savings Account Program could hinder their children’s public school education. Parents that apply to the program would be able to use more than $5,000 in funds to send kids to private schools or other educational institutions.

Schwartz’s office is accepting applications for the ESA throughout the appeal process up until March 31. applications will not be processed, however, until a decision is reached to lift the injunction.

Marcus Lavergne can be reached at mlavergne@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @mlavergne21.