By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – State Sen. Steven Horsford asked the Nevada Tax Commission today to act immediately to tighten up regulations on the deductions allowed to mining companies before they must pay the net proceeds on minerals tax to the state and counties.

(This article is from Around Carson, at http://aroundcarson.com/2011/03/21/legislature_rally_videos/) My full photo gallery from this morning’s protest/rally at the NV Legislature will have to wait for another day. But I was able to get a bunch of videos uploaded from the event, so you can get a sense of what the atmosphere was like.

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

(This article is from Around Carson, at http://aroundcarson.com/2011/03/21/rally_at_the_legislature/)

Snow and icy roads made for slick travel today as the Nevada Highway Patrol reports having responded to some 23 weather-related accidents, Trooper Chuck Allen reports.

In a 10-hour span that began just after midnight until about 10 this morning, nearly two dozen accidents were reported on the highways. Nineteen of the crashes were property damage only resulting in damage to the involved vehicles, adjacent roadway fences, and sections of guardrail, with the remaining four events having some type of injuries sustained, Allen said.

Students from across Nevada gathered by the thousands today at the Nevada Legislature and at the Governor's office demanding the state's education system be spared from huge cuts proposed under Gov. Brian Sandoval.

Early estimates had the crowd of mostly college students at 1,500 but the numbers have begun to swell as students, faculty and parents from around the state arrive from various locations around the state. Now early estimates among officials on the ground has the number of more than 2,000 demonstrating.

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Click here for a more photos and gallery of today's event.

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One high school, Cheyenne in Las Vegas, had 400 students in a convoy of more than a dozen buses. More than 500 students from University of Nevada Las Vegas boarded tour buses last night for the road trip.

University of Nevada, Reno students also arrived by the busloads. Students from Western Nevada College campuses were quite visible, many expressing fear that education programs vital to the state's economy such as nursing, will be slashed under the governor's budget proposal.

Chanting "SOS Save Our Schools" and "No More Cuts" students walked peaceably through the Legislative Building, making it known that they fear deep cuts to education will damage the state's already shaky economy.

By Andrew Doughman /Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – In what could be the largest rally ever held at the Legislature, more than 1,000 students, parents, teachers and activists are expected today to protest education budget cuts.

While I fully respect Kirk's decision to link comment posting to facebook, and also understand the reason he gives, I don't think it is the right step.

I've never heard about the major site "Techcrunch" which he mentions as having successfully implemented this, but I am sure everybody has heard about the major sites Los Angeles Times and CNN that implemented it as well and have since gone back to offering the traditional method of sign-up. Simply because too many participants refused to open a facebook account just to be able to comment; they simply don't trust this social network.

Gusty winds and rain will develop early this morning for the Carson City region, prompting the National Weather Service in Reno to issue a wind advisory through 5 p.m. this afternoon.

The storm looks as though it will be heaviest in areas outside of Carson City with a winter storm warning for Lake Tahoe and the Sierra and a high wind warning for areas east and south of Carson City, especially in Mono, Mineral and southern Lyon counties, according to CarsonWeather.com.

Some of the upcoming Mt. Rose events have been re-scheduled due to impending weather. Here is the revised calendar:

March 20: Bobo's Demo Day
Try out next year's ski and snowboard gear! This Demo Day will be held at the Winters Creek Lodge. It's open to the public but people are highly encouraged to pre-register at Bobo's Mogul Mouse in Reno. www.bobos.com

April 2: Ho-Downhill Ski Race & Cookout
Live country music, ski race, chili cookout and more held at the Winters Creek Lodge.

April 9: Spring Pond Skim Party

Join us every Sunday @ 3pm for Kids Karaoke with hosts Kathy and Robert. All ages and spectators welcome. Huge 7,000 song library. No Cover and Smoke FREE!! Bring the whole family!! See us on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/f1mejp

Join us this Friday for Live Music with the "Tracy Bing Band". This very popular, high energy group offers something for everyone including Classic Rock, Country, Oldies Ÿ& Contemporary Hits. No Cover and Smoke FREE. See our events calendar on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/f1mejp

Plenty of good snow up there, but if you're in the mood for a fine crime thriller you could certainly enjoy "The Lincoln Lawyer," currently playing at the Casino Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City.

The cast is solid, with craggy Matthew McConaughey as criminal lawyer Mickey Heller, who runs his law practice from the back seat of a Lincoln Town Car driven by a former client who is working off his legal fees.

There is a marvelous shot of today's supermoon on the landing page of the Carsonist. Check it out.

The outside northbound lane on Carson Street will be closed between 5th Street and Robinson Street from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Clearview Drive is closed between Edmonds Drive and Line Drive for construction on the next phase of the NDOT freeway project. Detours are marked. The road is expected to reopen by November of 2011.

Courtesy of GrandViewOutdoors.com
A caribou herd shared by Alaska and northwest Canada has rebounded after a near one-third decline, according to a photo census announced by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

State biologists said the Porcupine Caribou Herd has grown to an estimated 169,000 animals.

"People on both sides of the Alaska-Canada border are pleased,'' said Jason Caikoski, an assistant area biologist.

CARSON CITY – Assembly Speaker John Oceguera testified today in support of a bill that would expand health insurance transparency for consumers so they can shop for the best coverage.
Assembly Bill 309, reviewed by the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee, is opposed by many companies offering health insurance in Nevada. Only one insurance representative testified against the bill at the hearing, however.

By the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) announced on March 15 that the sturgeon retention season on the lower Willamette River downstream from Willamette Falls, including Multnomah Channel and the Gilbert River, is now closed.

ODFW closed the season following creel survey analysis that indicated harvest was at or near the pre-season guideline of 2,550 sturgeon, following the last fishing day on March 12.

The season had been open three days a week since Feb. 17.

A winter storm will move into the Carson City, Northern Nevada and Sierra regions today with snow expected to lower along all valley floors by tonight.

The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a winter storm watch for Carson City and valley regions throughout Northern Nevada, with gusty winds in front of the storm of between 20 to 30 mph. The watch is expected to turn to a warning by 5 p.m. Lake Tahoe is already under a winter storm warning.

Meanwhile, a high wind warning is in effect for the Washoe Valley. Trucks, buses, trailers, and RVs are prohibited.

A 21-year-old Carson City woman died this morning in a vehicle accident 10 miles east of Dayton on HIghway 50.

The Nevada Highway Patrol reports that at 6:48 a.m., troopers were dispatched to the collision that involved a blue Honda two-door passenger vehicle and a red Ford Ranger pickup truck, said Trooper Michael Edgell. Alcohol may have played a factor in the accident, he said.

Chris Graham will be doing play-by-play for the Western Nevada College Wildcats doubleheader today against the College of Southern Nevada from Henderson, starting at 1 p.m.

Click here for the live audio broadcast.

By the Nevada Department of Wildlife
Sometime in mid-March the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) will release the last load of rainbow trout for the agency’s annual stocking season at Lake Mead and Lake Mohave.

But unlike years past, the release of these final truckloads of fish will mark more than the end of a trout stocking season.

They will mark the end of an era, the end of NDOW trout stocking efforts along the Lower Colorado River.

LAS VEGAS – The ability to carry a firearm on Nevada’s college campuses could have prevented her brutal rape, says a victim who will testify before the Senate Government Affairs Committee tomorrow in Carson City.

Dino DiCianno, director of the Nevada Department of Taxation, resigned last week after admitting that the department can't audit the tax deductions claimed by the state's mining industry. But in this 2006 video, he does a short comedy routine about how well they collect taxes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFWFbWuVCd8

Perhaps Dino should have had 'Bear' auditing the mining companies.

News Release — The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Nevada Department of Public Safety — Division of Emergency Management (DPS-DEM) are collectively working to address the public’s concerns surrounding the potential impact to the State of Nevada and the rest of the United States from the Japanese nuclear reactor crisis.

Eric Matus, Radiation Physicist for the Nevada State Health Division, has compiled an overview of information addressing the concerns and speculation that continue to linger.