CARSON CITY – State Treasurer Kate Marshall said today she sees some evidence to suggest that Nevada’s economy has stabilized, although that stability remains “tenuous” and “fragile.”
Marshall, in an interview on the Nevada NewsMakers television program, cited a rebound in state general fund cash on hand as evidence of that stabilization.

by Sadge Source: http://aroundcarson.com/2010/04/01/casting_call

City Supervisors on Thursday agreed to a new four year labor contract between Carson City Firefighters and the City that is a substantial departure from previous contracts.

To further demonstrate the dire budget situation Carson City City Hall is in, City Supervisors Thursday agreed to set up a program to pay "less important" city workers to quit. Payments include money, on their behalf, to the Public Employees Retirement System to help departing workers with their retirement situation. If PERS isn't an issue, the city can pay them cash or some sort of deferred compensation, or a combination of all of the above.

Chris Bayer talks about events to support Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SgFbzoUBrQ

Facing a budget shortfall about half of what Carson City faces over the next two years, Sparks City Council members say they will cut their own pay just like they've asked city workers, including police, fire fighters and their engineers that their pay be cut 7.5% each year for the next two years. Meanwhile, Carson City Supervisors have laid down the law that there will be layoffs in both the Sheriff and Fire Departments although the deputies labor association says it would prefer furloughs or pay cuts instead. There's been no mention by the Superivsors that their own pay should be cut.

A Carson City woman has been tracked down in suburban Seattle and jailed on charges she stole nearly $100,000 from her Minden employer, then skipped town although she earlier had agreed to turn herself in.

You may have heard that there are some big financial incentives for slapping energy-generating solar panels on the roofs of your home and/or business. There are. But time to apply to get those incentives was running out. So NV Energy extended the deadline to apply. So, you now have until April 21st to get those applications in to NV Energy in Reno. Call them for an application or e-mail NV Energy at RenewableGenerations@NVEnergy.com.

The federal Bureau of Economic Analysis offers a bleak picture on Nevada's general economic condition. The BOE reports that Nevada workers suffered an average income decline in 2009 that was the worst of any state in the country. Workers' earnings in Nevada fell by 7.6 percen., Rents, interest and dividends fell by 9.3 percent. And payments from government for unemployment and other safety net programs rose by nearly 20 percent.

A dozen community and labor groups from Nevada have signed onto a letter to Attorney General Catherine Cortez-Masto urging her to support, not file suit, over federal health care reform.
Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons this week demanded the Attorney General join a lawsuit filed by 14 other Attorneys General to block implementation of federal health care reform, a package of changes that critics of the lawsuits claim are needed in Nevada, where an estimated 400,000 men, women and children lack health insurance coverage.

Unemployment in the Reno-Sparks area in February was unchanged at 13.4 percent according the state Department of Employment and Training. According to state figures, six hundred people found work during the month. The unemployment rate in Carson City inched down .1% percent to 13.7% in February. One indicator of outward migration from western Nevada to points east, the unemployment rate in Elko rose 0.2 percent to 8.3 percent in February as jobseekers continue to arrive in eastern Nevada hoping to find work in the mining industry.

Sales tax collections in Carson City plunged again in January, falling 16.2% from January of 2009. Sales tax collections statewide were down 8.1% in January. They were off 4.8% in Washoe County, down 2.2% in Douglas, minus 22% in Lyon and down 12.7% in the Fallon area.

Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong says his department has launched a new website that all Carson City internet users can use to track crime trends throughout Carson City. Just go to CCSheriff.com and scroll down to: CrimeMapping for your neighborhood: Click here .

Click on the headline to see video of the meeting, and join the live discussion, starting at 8:30 a.m.

The Nevada Commission on Tourism has updated its strategic plan for attracting visitors, combining cost-effective new initiatives and time-tested programs with proven track records, Lt. Gov. Brian K. Krolicki said Tuesday.

The agency (http://travelnevada.com) will target U.S. consumer markets that have large populations with convenient driving distance or easy air access to Nevada and international markets whose travelers have a strong likelihood of visiting Nevada, such as Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Germany, said Krolicki, Nevada's tourism commission chair.

CARSON CITY — An Arizona man is due in court April 7 and faces multiple felony charges after allegedly making terrorist threats to citizens and public officials in Nevada, according to the Department of Public Safety.

The Nevada Department of Public Safety – Investigation Division obtained an arrest warrant on March 9 for Douglas Hoffman, 63.

Nevada is preparing to compete in round two of the federal Race to the Top grant program. Only two states that applied, Tennessee and Delaware, received funding from the first phase of the competition.

A letter by an extremist group that told Gov. Gibbons and other governors to resign forced the partial closure of the capitol building in Carson City this morning, multiple news agencies are reporting.

According to the Nevada Appeal www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20100331/NEWS/100339911/1070&ParentProfile=1058 and the Las Vegas Sun, http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/mar/31/state-capitol-security-tightened-after-police-rece/ Nevada Capitol police implemented security measures this morning after law enforcement officials received letters.

CARSON CITY – The Nevada Highway Users Coalition has announced its support for moving forward with a study on Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) as a potential alternative to the current gas tax paid by motorists at the pump to fund road improvements and maintenance.
According to those involved in the study, the consequences of inaction could include the deterioration of roads and highways, increased vehicle wear and tear, increased congestion and accidents and longer commute times.

CARSON CITY — Northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and the capital city have seen a share of vehicle accidents largely due to weather from today's winter storm. Nevada Highway Patrol spokesman Chuck Allen reports the following:

"This morning between 6:00 and 11:00 am, troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol responded to a total of 15 accidents throughout the region. 3 accidents involved injuries while the other 12 were property damage only. Although I don’t have details concerning every wreck, I wanted to at least provide some preliminary numbers concerning the commute this morning.

CARSON CITY – A federal judge has dismissed seven of the 10 claims filed against Gov. Jim Gibbons and his budget director by an employee who believes she lost her job after leaking information about the governor’s excessive use of calls on his state cell phone to a female friend. Read more by clicking here: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/mar/30/judge-dismisses-7-claims-gibbons-texting-case/

Strong, damaging winds are expected for the region tonight into Tuesday. For the latest Carson City weather information go to and bookmark: www.carsonweather.com.

Carson Lanes Retail Center is pleased to announce the opening of Classic Billiards. This upscale billiards room features 3 Regulation 8' Tables and 1 Tournament Grade 9' Table. All the tables are available by the hour (not coin-op). You must be 16 and above to rent a table (equipment available at the front desk. A driver's license, state i.d. or credit card is required). Kids twelve and above can play if accompanied by an Adult or Guardian. Food and Drinks are available and allowed in the Billiards Room.

Carson City fire investigators have not yet determined what started a fire late this morning that nearly destroyed a building that housed a mattress supply business and a hair salon.

The investigation shows the fire began at around 11:45 this morning on the east exterior of the building, said Carson City Fire Chief Stacey Giomi. The two businesses, Mattress King and High Desert Hair, won't be able to operate anytime soon, Giomi said.

CARSON CITY – A study showing how well Nevada’s students perform on achievement tests, released today by the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, concludes they fare no better than mid-range, and often well below, students in other states.

Here is some more raw video footage from the fire at 445 Fairview today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv4_0SBvqTk

Firefighters assigned to a structure fire at the Mattress King building on Fairview Drive in Carson City, apparently had problems with a water hydrant at the corner of Idaho and Industrial streets.

In fact witnesses watched firefighters trying to tap into the hydrant without luck as the fire raged on, growing hotter with the smoke becoming a dense black, a sign of rising temperatures within the building.

Firefighters are busy putting out a fire in a building housing a mattress warehouse and a beauty salon on Fairview, across from Lowe's. Here is some video shot live. We'll have more in a minute: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5810750 A witness who lives behind the building said it appeared that the fire started in the beauty salon in the rear of the building. She also said she heard an explosion shortly after the fire started. Traffic is being rerouted around this area because of the smoke, so if you're driving around, stay away.

Multiple firefighters are battling a blaze at 445 Fairview, the home of Mattress King and High Desert Hair in Carson City.

According to witnesses near the business, there was some kind explosion.

"There was a loud pop and it caused an electrical shortage, a small blackout for a few seconds," said Shasta Mathews, who works at Dog Eared Books.

"This is upsetting considering that both of these stores are brand new to the area," she said.

Developing ...

Firefighters are responding to a large fire on Fairview at Mattress King. The fire was reported around 11:45 today.



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