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State law enforcement agency changes NHP name to Nevada State Police

If you've recently noticed references to the Nevada State Police instead of Nevada Highway Patrol, you're not alone. The Nevada Department of Public Safety has changed its official designation for the Nevada Highway Patrol and other state law enforcement departments to Nevada State Police.

Authorized by the recent passage of SB58 in the Nevada State Legislature, the name change affects law enforcement divisions of the Highway Patrol, Parole and Probation, Capitol Police, Investigations, and the State Fire Marshal. The announcement was made last week.

According to a NSP public information officer, the agency has a large scope of service to Nevada’s residents and visitors. The Department of Public Safety name as well has the Nevada Highway Patrol has resulted in some misunderstanding of the mission, purpose, and authority of the department.

By using the "state police" designation, the department can realign into a more effective and efficient entity that clarifies the role of the Nevada State Police and assists in branding for marketing and recruitment efforts, according to the public information officer.

While the DPS remains the umbrella name for the Department, for simplification purposes, Nevada State Police will is now being used in media releases, social media, on vehicles and on collateral and recruitment material.

The change costs the state no money, an agency spokesperson told 8 News Now in Las Vegas. Instead, new Nevada State Police cruisers will be painted with the new logo. Existing NHP and DPS vehicles will keep the logo until the vehicles are phased out.

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In a matter of minutes, the parking lot at 511 West King Street in downtown Carson City went from a couple dozen to several dozen people participating in the new Wheeled Food Wednesdays community event organized by the Brewery Arts Center.

CARSON CITY, Nev. – Officials will celebrate the upcoming opening of the Nevada Department of Transportation’s USA Parkway extension with an Aug. 28 ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Brewery Arts Center will continue an unforgettable season of free concerts under the stars in Carson City. It’s time again to grab your family, friends and neighbors and head on down to Brewery Arts Center, Carson City's newest community treasure, and enjoy this week’s family-friendly free outdoor concert, Dusty Green Bones Band and The Cherry Pickers.

It’s official! Wheeled Food Wednesday at the Brewery Arts Center is a success. Hundreds of people have come out to enjoy the community atmosphere, as well as the variety that Carson City’s Food Trucks offer. The BAC creates a long table so families and friends can get to know their neighbors as they break bread.

These photos are from Emily Carrasco who moved to Carson City recently from Oakland, Calif., and is thoroughly enjoying exploring all that Nevada has to offer and all of the beauty it encompasses. She especially loves the thunderstorms and wild horses.

A Las Vegas man died early Tuesday morning in a single vehicle rollover on Old Highway 395 in Washoe Valley north of Bellevue Road, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Achievements in preserving Lake Tahoe were celebrated Tuesday during the 21st Lake Tahoe Summit at Tallac Historic Site, but it was clear there is a lot more to do and the work will never be over.

A 26-year-old Carson City man was arrested Tuesday for a warrant alleging sexual assault, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

With firefighting efforts focused Tuesday on the Voltaire Fire in Carson City, a small fire two miles south of Spooner Summit continues to burn, but has not had a rapid spread, fire officials said Wednesday.

Tuesday's Voltaire Fire in south Carson City off of Curry Street is contained at 135 acres and currently in mop-up phase with crews remaining to watch for hot spots, said Carson City Fire Department Chief Sean Slamon.

I’m really hoping for rain. Unfortunately, rain brings thunder and lightning with it, and we are already suffering the effects of lightning. Thanks and praises to the men and women fighting the fire in Voltaire Canyon and for all of your hard work keeping those neighborhoods safe. Smoke may be bad around the valley, so find something indoors to enjoy: our plethora of art exhibits and galleries offer up something beautiful. Hit the road with Smokey and the Bandit at Galaxy Theater. If you have an interest in the digital arts, the Wired Wednesday group meets tonight at Paradise Salon. On the agenda is a discussion of their upcoming short film competition and a recap of last week’s Jukebox International Film Festival.

WEDNESDAY:

UPDATE 9:55AM: The Lyons Fire burning in the Pine Nut Mountains northeast of Sunrise Pass in Douglas County has grown to 1,176 acres, according to Sierra Front.
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A fire that began Tuesday afternoon southeast of Stagecoach in Lyon County exploded to 1,100 acres overnight, according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center.

Several Carson Now readers captured on photograph and video a tornado-type wind phenomenon produced amidst the fire currently burning off South Curry Street near Voltaire Canyon in South Carson City.

Attached is a compilation of witness photographs as well as a video of the wind phenomenon, which appeared with a combination of thick smoke and winds in the area.

Watch the video below or here to watch it on YouTube.

Minutes after the Voltaire Fire started, the Carson City Fire Chief and Battalion Chief were arranging air strikes such as the one in the video below. By Tuesday night, incident commanders on scene report excellent progress on the fire, which is estimated at approximately 135 acres. Structure protection remain on scene.

UPDATE: Lightning strikes on Tuesday afternoon may have contributed to several fires burning in the region, including the I-80 fire near Vista Boulevard in Sparks, the Micro Fire in central Lyon County southeast of Stagecoach, the Lyons Fire, which is in Douglas County but seen as far away as Dayton and Yerington. That fire as of early Wednesday morning was reported to be around 500 acres. It is located northeast of Sunrise Pass in the Pine Nut Mountains.

UPDATE 7:15PM: All evacuations have been lifted in the Voltaire Canyon Fire, said Carson City Fire Chief Sean Slamon. Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center estimates the fire to be around 150 acres.
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UPDATE 6:29PM: Carson City Fire Chief Sean Slamon said conditions are looking better this evening, with the fire around 70 to 75 percent contained. There is not acreage estimate yet but it is likely around 100 acres and probably less than 200 acres, he said.
“Around 100 firefighters are on scene battling the blaze as well as two airplanes and two helicopters. We have released some resources now so they can go to other fires in the region.”
Evacuations remain in place for now in Voltaire Canyon and Carson Colony areas. The cause of the fire is believed to be a lightning strike.
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UPDATE 6 PM: Carson City Fire Department Chief Sean Slamon addresses Tuesday's fire in a video here. The main concern now is the winds and terrain which is making containment difficult.

UPDATE 5:30PM: The evacuation at Galaxy Theater off of Curry Street has been lifted, according to the Carson City Sheriff's Office.
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UPDATE 5:03PM: From Carson City Fire Department: Crews are staging to protect the homes and businesses west of Curry Street. For those outside of the immediate fire area, but nearby, you might consider what documents, medications, and valuables you would prioritize in an evacuation. There is currently 0 percent containment, winds are still erratic. Those evacuated from the Carson Colony are advised to go to the Carson Colony Gym.
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UPDATE 4:53PM: From the Carson City Fire Department: No structures have been lost and efforts are concentrated on strucutre protection north of Koontz and west of Curry. Additional resources are continuting to arrive and the fire is estmated to be approximately 100 acres.

Reader submitted photo.

A funnel cloud formed inside the fire area Tuesday afternoon in Voltaire Canyon.

Photo taken from East Clearview Drive.

Carson City Fire Department dispatched a medical helicopter to Carson Middle School following an accident Tuesday afternoon involving a bicycle rider in the Kings Canyon area.

Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called Tuesday afternoon to a rollover accident in the southbound lane of North Carson Street near Nye Lane.

Nevada’s metro areas of Las Vegas, Reno/Sparks and Carson City saw slight increases in the July unemployment rate, however the overall numbers have decreased year over year, according to figures released Tuesday by the state's Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

Organizers of the annual Night in the Country Music Festival held at the Lyon County Fairgrounds in Yerington last month say this year's fundraising efforts garnered more than $74,000 that will be distributed to 40 area nonprofit organizations.

Trash Mobs are a grassroots community effort coordinated by Muscle Powered volunteers to keep the walkways and bike paths around Carson City free of litter.

The monthly, one-hour events take place at various locations around town that are in need of cleaning. Volunteers, who are supplied with work gloves and trash bags by Muscle Powered staff, remove litter from areas often used by citizens for recreational purposes such as walking, jogging or cycling.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop Tuesday and Wednesday across the Sierra and portions of western Nevada, according to the National Weather Service.

You can convert your regular IRA to a ROTH IRA. The value converted is taxable income. If the value goes down after conversion, you can change your mind and cancel the conversion if you do it by Oct. 15th of the year following the conversion.

We are starting to see a little bit of a cool down, which makes a summer stroll all the more enjoyable. Join the Friends of the Nevada State Museum for a walking tour along the blue line; you’ll learn more about this historical district and the people who lived there. The Kings Canyon Waterfall is always spectacular, and today’s Muscle Powered Conditioning Hike will take you there and show off some amazing views of our valley. Thinking caps are optional at the Fox Brewpub during tonight’s DJ Trivia.

TUESDAY:

A transient faces multiple charges including attempted murder, two counts battery with a deadly weapon and two counts assault with a deadly weapon following Friday night's stabbing of a Carson City deputy in which the deputy fired five shots at the suspect, Sheriff Ken Furlong said Monday.

UPDATE 8:48PM: The injured driver of the vehicle that slammed into a building at 4th and Curry Monday night has been flown by Care Flight to the trauma ward at Renown Medical Center in Reno. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
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Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies were called Monday night to a vehicle that crashed into a building at 4th and Curry streets.

Rock Steady Boxing Northern Nevada, a Carson City-based exercise program for persons suffering from Parkinson's Disease, has named club member Ron Olson as its August Boxer of the Month.

Here is his story: