By Andrew Doughman
CARSON CITY – Nevada’s rural Republican legislators are struggling to defend the governor’s budget that cuts their communities.
Democrats have been showcasing cuts to the rural counties in order to convince rural Republican legislators that a vote for tax increases is a vote to mitigate the harm to their districts.
Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, said that rural counties are already “cut to the bone,” and in many cases could lose all that they have left.

A donated old home across from the Carson Nugget became an ideal training and staging area for Carson City firefighters today.
The Carson Nugget provided fire personnel an opportunity they seldom get, which is to train inside a home that is already set to be destroyed. In the Nugget's case it was a old gray outbuilding located at the southeast corner of the casino’s property.
Over the next few days firefighters will be given the opportunity to work though training exercises that involve both smoke and fire, including stints like this afternoon's that involve life-saving measures.

Carson City leaders today will review the 2012 fiscal year budget, with overall spending down about 1 percent from 2011 figures.

Looking ahead to 2012, the Board of Supervisors will see a budget that serves 21 government funds with estimated expenditures of $80.5 million and 10 proprietary funds at $39.2 million, City Manager Larry Werner reports.

The Carson City Shade Tree Council will host its annual Arbor Day Celebration on April 29. The hour-long celebration will be held at Governors’ Field (behind Lowe’s) and will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Among those attending will be Smokey Bear who will help the Council plant the Northern Red Maple selected by the staff of Carson City’s Park and Recreation Department. The tree planting is scheduled at 6 p.m. The Council paid for the tree with money it raised at annual Fall Tree Care Seminar.