CARSON CITY – A proposal in Gov. Brian Sandoval’s budget to raise $190 million in revenue by securitizing the state’s insurance premium tax was called “questionable fiscal discipline” today by Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford.
Sandoval Chief of Staff Heidi Gansert said the proposal is a “last resort” to be employed if needed to maintain essential services in health and human services and public education.

Join us this Friday, January 28th for the "Unusual Suspects" in our beautiful new Eleventh Frame Winner's Lounge from 8pm-Midnite. No Cover and Smoke FREE!! http://www.carsonlanes.com/Cocanutz_Lounge.html

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY — Nevada’s primary education system would change dramatically under the proposals Gov. Brian Sandoval delivered tonight in his State of the State address.
He would use student achievement data to evaluate educators, provide merit pay for effective teachers and end extra pay for longevity and advanced degree attainment.

A Carson City man who called authorities saying he was sent a threatening text message from a gang member, was arrested on a felony child abuse warrant.

According the the arrest report, officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Hot Springs Road on Jan. 20 after the man contacted authorities to report threats were being made.

Carson City firefighters knocked down a small fire this afternoon inside the Stewart Title office building in the 1800 block of College Parkway.

Employees evacuated the building after an alarm had gone off shortly after 3 this afternoon. Firefighters arriving on scene reported there was a fire burning and that they had it contained at about 3:15 p.m.

A sprinkler system had been activated, according to firefighters on the scene.

Here is the second part of our interview with Carson City Manger Larry Werner about the Carson City Center/Nugget Project:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoQy5DYXEso

One piece of new information in this portion is that Werner said they would delay final approval of the project until they know what happens with the state's budget, and if that will impact the city's finances.

Dr. Robert E. Herst, author and historian, opens his saga with a story about childhood memories of post-war Nevada and California in the book "Destiny's Children: A Saga of Early California with Parallels to Nevada History." Herst shares his mesmerizing tale in a lecture and book signing for Destiny's Children at the Nevada State Museum at 7 pm. Regular admission fees apply. Doors open at 6:00 pm for exhibit viewing in the main building. For more information call (775) 687-4810 x237.

Here is a video ahead of Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval's State of the State address on Monday, 6 p.m. at the Assembly Chamber of the Legislative Building in Carson City.

The video is from Bob Fulkerson, executive director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada speaking on behalf of the Nevada Values Coalition, a new group of activists and organizations formed to propose innovative strategies to create balanced solutions to the state's budget crisis. The Coalition represents or provides services for more than 600,000 Nevadans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_Kq3t6zYGI&feature=player_embedded

Here is the Coalition's view on the State of the State.

Social Media: Why Bother? from Jonathan Denwood on Vimeo.

An single-vehicle accident on Highway 50 this morning in Lyon County provides a good opportunity for the Nevada Highway Patrol to warn motorists to wait for authorities to arrive before leaving the scene.

Troop Dan Lopez reports that NHP is looking for the driver of a yellow Pontiac Aztek who wasn't at the accident site when authorities arrived. The car went down an embankment on Highway 50 east around mile marker 15 about seven miles east of Dayton. The vehicle accident was reported at about 7:15 a.m. Saturday morning.

A Carson City woman faces multiple charges including child neglect and possession of methamphetamine after officers learned drug dealing was being done out of the garage of her Robinson Street home.

Deborah Ellen Duffy, 24, was arrested Thursday in the 1100 block of East Robinson Street after the Special Enforcement Team of the Carson City Sheriff's Office received information that meth dealing was being done in the garage of the home.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
New state legislators got the low-down this past Friday about how to deal with the press. The theme woven throughout the legislative training seminar was one of transparency.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Nevada’s unemployment-insurance benefit fund could be in the red until 2018 as the state continues to borrow from the federal government to keep sending unemployment checks.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
One year later, the impacts of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United case are plain to see.
On Jan. 21, 2010, the court ruled that corporate and union donations to political candidates cannot be limited under the First Amendment.
The impact?

City Manager Larry Werner discusses the Carson City Center/Nugget Project:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc8pljVhmVU

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
Gov. Brian Sandoval has appointed a veteran administrator to keep up the fight against placing nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain in Southern Nevada.
Joseph C. Strolin, formerly a planning division administrator for the Agency for Nuclear Projects, has agreed to be acting director of the agency until the governor can find a permanent director.

A 27-year-old Douglas County man faces multiple misdemeanor charges after being stopped in Carson City for reckless driving and then using the opportunity to confront an officer with a stream of obscenities.

According to the arrest report, the man was stopped at around 10 p.m. Monday after driving his 1999 Buick Century erratically, weaving in and out of traffic and following too close to another vehicle. He was paced doing around 40 mph in a 25 mph zone.

The Tahoe side of Douglas County not only lacks a full-time lake resident to serve on the Board of County Commissioners, but now it no longer has a planning commissioner either.

On Jan. 3 the Douglas County Board of Commissioners yanked three members from its planning commission including Lawrence Howell of Stateline.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval has proposed spending an estimated $60 million to repay interest on hundreds of millions of dollars in federal loans.
That $60 million would come out of the general fund, said Dale Erquiaga, the governor’s senior adviser. This would leave less money for health care, education and other vital state functions in the general fund.

A 19-year-old Stateline woman driving a Jeep Cherokee crossed the center line early Wednesday and crashed into a vehicle driven by a Carson City man, the Nevada Highway Patrol reports.

The accident was reported at 8:49 a.m. near Juniper Lane about a third of a mile from Highway 50 on Kingsbury Grade. The woman was flown by Care Flight to Renown Medical Center in Reno, said NHP Trooper Dan Lopez.

Carson City Manager Larry Werner sat down for an interview on OurTown yesterday, and we hope to have that video up soon. But in the meantime, I do want to share a couple of newsworthy items from that interview.

The biggest item was that Werner said there has been a change — or at least a clarification — in the question of who would own the land under the public portion of the Carson City Center/Nugget Project.

Join in on the fun and experience great food, wine and local arts during the March Wine Walk. Stroll around Downtown Carson City and enjoy wine tasting with a commerative wine glass and map. Visit the art galleries, gift shops, casinos and restaurants. Purchase your glasses at the Carson Nugget, Cactus Jacks, HorseShoe Club, Carson Jewelry & Loan or Bella Fiore. Turn in your map at the Carson Nugget at 5 p.m. for prizes.

Diamond Peak Ski Resort at Lake Tahoe's Incline Village will host its second annual Ullr Fest beginning Friday and lasting through the entire weekend.

Rock to your favorite oldies at Good Vibrations. Western Nevada Musical Theater Company offers an exuberant night of rock & roll and comedy. The fun begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William Street. Call (775) 445-4249.