Emergency

CARSON CITY – While some critics may never be convinced that Gov. Brian Sandoval should have agreed to support new tax revenue to balance the budget, the collection of reforms approved as part of the deal finalized this morning cannot be ignored.
From changes to Nevada’s collective bargain law allowing the reopening of labor agreements in emergencies to limiting teacher tenure to eliminating health insurance for newly hired state employees upon retirement – the changes approved in the 120-day legislative session by Democrats and Republicans could have far reaching impacts.

By Steven R. Lasco
As many of you know, May is National Bike Month. Here in Carson City, several events and rides were held, capped by Bike To Work Week from May 16-20 and the celebration on the 20th outside the Firkin & Fox. As reported, about 150 people came by to visit, enjoy others’ bikes, and get a chance to win a raffle prize. The Nevada Legislature passed two bills in its current session that benefit cyclists (see sidebar below).

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval and legislative leaders from both parties announced a budget agreement today that will see tax increases and restorations of funding to public and higher education in exchange for significant policy reforms in education and collective bargaining.
The agreement came on the 115th day of the session, and virtually guarantees that lawmakers will adjourn the 2011 session by Monday as the constitution requires.

By Lisa Davis
Carson City Sheriff’s Office has joined the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to participate in the Take 25 national child safety campaign which takes place during the month of May.

What would you do if there was a public health emergency here in Carson City? With an upcoming Mass Dispensing Exercise, Carson City Health and Human Services hopes to take a step towards answering that question.

By Jake Sunderland
CARSON CITY — The recent earthquake activity around the Hawthorne area in Northern Nevada should act as a reminder to Nevadans to check that they have adequate earthquake coverage for their home or business. Nevada is one of the most active states for earthquakes and ranks third in the country for earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or higher.

It’s that time of the year for a widely-distributed and widely-read annual publication, Fishing The California Alps. Do yourself a favor and pick one up.

The outdoor newspaper is your personal guide to the fishing, camping, sightseeing and vacationing world in our general area and it has 56 pages of detailed, in-depth information provided by lots of experts in their specific areas of knowledge and experience.

By the Nevada Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
The State of Nevada announced today that it has reached agreements between the Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF) and Eureka County, Elko County and Clark County (Mt. Charleston) to continue to provide “all-risk” emergency services to these counties.

These services were scheduled to be transferred back to the respective counties June 30, 2012, per Gov. Brian Sandoval’s recommended budget now being considered by the Nevada State Legislature.

The board of supervisors will discuss and hear a presentation about the Emergency Management function in Carson City when it meets Thursday. The special item is scheduled for 2 p.m. in the Sierra R...

By Andrew Doughman
CARSON CITY – The governor has found $50 million that could erase some of the most controversial cuts in his $5.8 billion proposed budget.
The new revenue projections could mitigate an array of budget cuts to autism, mental health, emergency medical services and rural counties. Those services would have been eliminated or transferred to cash-strapped counties that may not have been able to fund them.
Added to a Mar. 28 amendment of $25.8 million, that leaves the budget about $86 million larger than when the governor submitted it.

By Mike Wolterbeek
With more than 20 earthquakes in several hours Saturday night, and 400 in the past week, Nevada Seismological Laboratory members have mobilized from the University to the Hawthorne area to step-up monitoring efforts for the region. The highest in the sequence occurred at 5:45 p.m. on Saturday. It was a magnitude 4.6, followed 10 minutes later by a 4.1.

CARSON CITY – The Nevada Tax Commission today agreed to undertake a review of the exemptions granted mining companies to ensure the proper amount of taxes are being paid by the industry to the state and county governments.
The request for the review came from Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, acting in the capacity as a private citizen, using a state law to request the commission to undertake an emergency rule-making process.

The Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey hosts special speakers during public meetings held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 9am at the Silver Springs Community Center at 2945 Ft. Churchill Road. Each meeting also includes resource sharing, updates and discussion on issues of regional importance such as health and wellness, substance abuse prevention and recovery, education, workforce development, etc. On May 12, the featured speakers will be from the Tobacco Cessation Helpline.

DAYON, Nev. — Dozens of local groups have taken the challenge to fight hunger here this spring. When the Dayton Food Pantry issued an open invitation to partner with them for The Feinstein $1 Million Dollar Challenge to fight hunger, dozens of individuals, businesses, schools, nonprofits and clubs stepped up to help.

CARSON CITY – The Nevada Legislature finally took up the issue of reforms to the state’s public employee retirement system today, but the proposed changes from Democratic Assembly Speaker John Oceguera are modest.

The following is a news release issued by the Carson City School District:

Stephen Anderson age 16, and Keegan Aiazzi age 17, died in a scuba diving accident in the Monterey Bay, California area on Saturday, April 9, 2011. The two were part of a scuba diving event that was organized and sponsored by a scuba diving business in Reno.

Following successful dives on Friday evening and Saturday morning, both young men who had recently become certified scuba divers, did not surface with the rest of the group during the second dive on Saturday morning.

A big spring yard sale to raise funds for the busy nonprofit, Dayton Food Pantry, will be held on May 7 from 8am to 3pm at 4 Enterprise Way in Dayton. Director Freida Carbery said donations of items for the yard sale are welcome, and can be dropped off at the Food Pantry Monday-Friday between 10am and 4pm.

Emergency Food: Dayton Food Pantry is open for emergency food needs Monday through Friday from 10am to 4pm at 4 Enterprise Way on Highway 50. The building space is generously donated by BCB Ventures.

Dozens of local groups have taken the challenge to fight hunger in Dayton this spring. When the Dayton Food Bank issued an open invitation to partner with them for The Feinstein $1 Million Dollar Challenge to fight hunger, dozens of individuals, businesses, schools, nonprofits and clubs stepped up to help.

With warm temperatures ahead this week, Lyon County has initiated preparations for possible flooding on the Walker and Carson rivers.

Lyon County Emergency Management recommends those with homes in low lying areas along both the Carson and Walker rivers take necessary precautions to prepare for possible moderate to major flooding in the coming weeks, according to the county's website.

Heavy snowfall around Lake Tahoe has kept the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team busy, most recently having rescued six skiers on Sunday just outside the boundaries of Heavenly Mountain Resort.

According to a news release, search and rescue was dispatched at about 1 p.m. for a lost 16-year-old snowboarder in the Palisades area, off Lower Kingsbury Grade in Stateline.

A Carson City woman who had a revoked driver's license faces a felony hit and run charge that caused injury following an accident at a grocery store parking lot.

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.

By Thomas G. Chase
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a repeal of Health Reform. Additionally, they passed budget cuts of $1.3 billion to existing funding for Community Health Centers (CHC’s).

Over the last 45 years, CHC’s have grown to provide primary care access to 20 million Americans. Study after study has shown that primary care in a CHC is less expensive and provides more reliable health outcomes than any other alternative for those with access challenges. Who is speaking for the needs of these patients?

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.

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.

Open burning will be permitted by the Carson CIty Fire Department between March 26 to April 24. Permits can be obtained at the local fire stations and online.

An open burn period allows residents the chance to dispose of weeds and yard debris. For safety reasons, the fire department will again require residents to obtain permit before burning is allowed. Permits will be issued on a walk-in basis beginning March 21 at the following locations:

All Carson City Fire Stations:
— Station 1 Headquarters at 777 S. Stewart St., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval was briefed on the Japan earthquake and Nevada’s readiness to deal with any local effects from the disaster during a visit today with the state’s emergency responders at the state Emergency Operations Center.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford has requested emergency legislation to conduct a performance audit of the revenue collection functions of the Department of Taxation following questions last week about the thoroughness of the agency’s review of mining tax payments.

(Updated at 2:12 p.m. on March 14, 2011 to include new comments from Sandoval Administration)
CARSON CITY – Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford has requested emergency legislation to conduct a performance audit of the revenue collection functions of the Department of Taxation following questions last week about the thoroughness of the agency’s review of mining tax payments.

A report this morning of a single vehicle accident in the westbound lane near the top of Spooner Summit on Highway 50 has Carson City deputies and paramedics responding.

The accident was reported at about 7:40 a.m. A vehicle apparently flipped with the driver being able to get themselves out. The driver is reportedly uninjured. Officers report black ice on the road. Traffic has slowed as emergency personnel from both Carson City and Douglas County respond.