Steve Robinson, a deputy chief of staff and legislative director for former Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons and previously the state's top forestry and fire official, has been appointed to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency governing board.

“As a former at-large board member myself, I know Steve Robinson’s experience as a natural resource consultant will be invaluable to the TRPA,” said Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval. “Lake Tahoe is one of our most precious state and national treasures, so it is important to me that Nevada has a strong voice on the TRPA.”

Heavenly Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe is on top of safety on the slopes under the management headed by Pete Sonntag. An the new lodge up at the top of the Gondola is doing fine. We'll have complete report on the new million-dollar refuge this week. Here's the latest from Heavenly:

Heavenly Mountain Resort and the National Ski Areas Association are reminding skiers and snowboarders that they play a critical role in slope safety during National Safety Awareness Week, January 15 – 23, 2011.

Next time you try the Chutes at Mt. Rose you can feel a little safer if you take a tumble. Here's what Mt. Rose says about medical care there:

Through a cooperative agreement between Mt. Rose - Ski Tahoe, the Regional Emergency Medical Service Authority (REMSA) and North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, the Mt. Rose Ski Patrol is now able to provide Paramedic level Advanced Life Support for sick and injured guests.

The Bill Raggio State Senate seat sweepstakes is over, and former Assemblyman and U.S. Attorney Greg Brower has been selected by the Washoe County Commissioners take his place.

Brower was a member of the Assembly until he lost in the 2002 Republican Primary to Sharron Angle.

Newly elected Nevada Assemblyman Pete Livermore talks about the upcoming legislative session.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDnbSVWfNpA

KOLO-TV Channel 8 Reporter Terri Russell speaks with Jasmine Perez, 21, the victim of the horrific 2006 child abuse case that involved she and her younger brother who were confined to their Como Street apartment, starved and beaten for years. The children were discovered Jan. 19, 2006. Click here to read the story and view the video.

Looks like Spring is trying to make an early appearance this year. Of course I’m not fooled. We’ll get cold and snowy again, probably before the month is out. But the weather this weekend has kind of been a taste of what we’ll be in store for in a few months. It sure did the job of cleaning up the last of the remaining snow quickly. We’ve had huge snow patches all over town that have been in place since our last big snowstorm, weeks ago. Now they’re all gone, in a matter of just a couple of days.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
Retired state Sen. Bill Raggio said in an interview aired today that he does not favor granting local governments complete home rule because of the potential for tax disparities between more affluent communities and those with fewer resources.

Meta Tags out, SEO in from Jonathan Denwood on Vimeo.

Here is the road construction and maintenance report for the Carson City area, beginning Monday and lasting through Jan. 23.

Clearview Drive will be closed between Edmonds Drive and Line Drive in Carson City for construction on the next phase of the Nevada Department of Transportation freeway project. Detours are marked. The road is expected to reopen by November of 2011.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that a 3.2 magnitude earthquake rattled the southern part of Douglas County at about 8:35 this morning. No damage was reported. Click here for an update on this and other quakes, including the aftershocks from the U.S. Geological Survey.

Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong announced law enforcement statistics for the year, including a 4 percent drop in most felony crimes.

A Carson City man was arrested after he allegedly failed to complete domestic violence counseling, a felony violation of his probation.

Officers arrested John Adam Henry, 29, after running his registration through the DMV that generated a hit at around 1 p.m. on Thursday. He was stopped at the corner of Northridge Drive near Southridge Road, according to the arrest report.

According to New River Justice Court records, a no-bail felony warrant for Henry's arrest was issued after he failed to complete court-ordered domestic violence counseling. He was booked without incident.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval will seek a constitutional amendment in the upcoming session of the Nevada Legislature to allow for public tax dollars to be used in a school voucher program that would include religious schools, a staff member said this week.

Proscenium Players rise again with a murder mystery on the menu starting Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. when cast members mingle with the audience to gather clues about the upcoming murder story "Eat, Drink and Be Merry." Some pre-show music will be offered by Sweet Vocal Renditions featuring Sweet Molly McGee. Irish fare dinner begins at 6:30 with the show starting at 7:15 p.m.

Prizes will be given to the firs three audience members who solve mystery.

The Washoe County Republican Party board unanimously endorsed former Assemblyman Greg Brower and former Assemblywoman Patty Cafferata to replace retiring Sen. Bill Raggio.
In a statement released Jan. 13, the board agreed that Brower and Cafferata were the most-qualified candidates because of their prior legislative experience.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval’s staff today clarified that the proposed five percent salary reductions announced yesterday includes teachers and higher-education employees.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
Retiring Sen. Bill Raggio today criticized the governor’s “rigid stance” in holding fast to a promise not to raise taxes. While stopping short of saying he would support raising taxes, he did say that increases may be likely despite the governor’s pledges to the contrary.

I wish my drive home was this quick every day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU7C2JXo0xY

Ramping down Nevada’s dependence on the gambling industry (and associated consumer spending) through developing new job-creating industries was the main topic at last Friday’s Nevada 2.0 economic forum at UNLV.
Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki used the word “retooling” as he spoke of the need for diversity in his opening remarks, adding that he did not believe the vision of  an economically robust Nevada was “Pollyanna-ish.”

Those who have warrants for their arrest in Carson City will now be able see them online and those with some warrants — mainly minor traffic tickets — will be able to pay them without having to be thrown in jail or have to appear before a judge.

Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong today announced plans designed to enhance crime prevention efforts by making better use of its website, which means going public with those who have active warrants for their arrest.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Secretary of State Ross Miller today appointed Scott F. Gilles as deputy elections officer. He steps into the role after his predecessor, Matt Griffin, resigned this past December to return to private practice.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – It didn’t take long for Gov. Brian Sandoval to encounter controversy in his new job.
At his first Board of Examiners meeting as governor today, Sandoval had to deal with a vendor dispute over a massive $177 million Medicaid contract.