CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - A state judge has approved Nevada
redistricting maps drawn by a panel of special masters after making
some tweaks to a few legislative districts but leaving the rest
essentially unchanged.

District Judge James Todd Russell issued a ruling from the bench
Thursday. A written order will be filed by Monday.

Democrats were in general acceptance of the proposed maps drawn
by three special masters that will realign the 21 state Senate and 42 Assembly districts and carve out a fourth congressional district from the existing three.

Republican lawyers disputed the panel's findings that Nevada's growing Hispanic population doesn't require a congressional district encompassing a majority of Hispanic voters. They also argued that some state Senate boundaries were unfair to some GOP incumbents.

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