The U.S. Supreme Court just handed down a decision in the case of the United States Forest Services versus Cowpasture River Preservation Association — ruling 7-2 that natural gas pipeline developers may proceed with building a tiny portion of their Atlantic Coast Pipeline across the path of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. And while it is a big win for the pipeline developers — Duke Energy DUK, Dominion Energy and Southern Company SCCO — the line still faces seven other lawsuits in federal court.

The Trump administration has expressed little concern over climate change as it pursues its goal of American dominance in the energy market. Federal judges say it should be concerned.

The Nevada Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a case weighing how state regulators should consider “public trust” values — the environment or recreation — when the sustainability of lakes or rivers could be harmed by how the state has allocated water rights.

It’s common to hear about property disputes among neighbors. But what happens when your neighbor is the federal government?

HARI SREENIVASAN: Deep in Nevada’s Mojave Desert — 100 miles from the Las Vegas strip — the rocks provide glimpses into the lives of Native Americans who inhabited this area for thousands of years. Hundreds of their petroglyphs, or etchings, are carved on the rocks in this area, now known as Gold Butte.

The story begins almost 250 million years ago, with the ocean and geology and gypsum. It starts with the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area under an ancient sea, at a time when what is now Utah marked the continent’s coastal boundary.

UNLV Boyd School of Law Professor Bret Birdsong will put theory into practice in his new role as senior lawyer at the Bureau of Land Management, giving advice to the Secretary of the Interior and members of the BLM. Birdsong says he won’t directly make policy, but in his role as a lawyer, he will directly influence it.

Water fight • A return to the negotiating table with Nevada would likely leave Utah with a stronger hand; another option is court.