Governor

CARSON CITY — Western Nevada College students will have more opportunities to prepare for skilled technical jobs in the coming years, following Wednesday's announcement of a $1,567,530 grant workforce training grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. It is part of $474.5 million in grants to community colleges and universities around the country for the development and expansion of innovative training programs.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval today issued the following statement on the 12th anniversary of 9/11:

“Twelve years ago today, our nation experienced the most callous attacks on our soil in history. While we were shocked, saddened, angry and shaken, over the last twelve years, we have remained vigilant, resilient and grateful for the sacrifices made that day and after. On this anniversary, we gather to remind ourselves of the responsibilities of being a free and enduring nation – we are proud, patriotic, optimistic and resolute.

This Mystery Dinner Show, “Murder on the Lust Boat” is sponsored by the Carson Tahoe Health Auxiliary and presented by the Proscenium Players, Inc.

The Murder Mystery Dinner will be held on Saturday, October 5th in The Nevada Room at the Governor’s Mansion. The Dinner starts at 4:00PM and cost is $45.00 per person, which includes: Dinner, Dessert, Coffee, Tea and an Evening of Mystery and fun! ‘No Host’ wine and beer will be available.

Business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to access resources and learn more about overcoming the issues and challenges of launching or expanding a business during the Governor’s Conference on Small Business 2013. The annual statewide conference, taking place in Reno for the first time on August 28 at the Grand Sierra Resort, will provide a comprehensive one-stop resource for information on funding, licensing, regulatory compliance and much more.

Organizers of the 30th annual La Ka Lel Be Pow Wow to be held in Carson City during the Nevada Day weekend say the event is taking shape and are looking for sponsors and raffle donations to help bring the event to its fullest.

The pow wow began 30 years ago at the Carson Indian Colony. It is and has always been a part of the Nevada Day celebrations, said co-organizer Brandi Colunga.

However, through the years, some of those who participated in organizing it have stepped down. So, along with Martin Montgomery, the two are hoping to continue the tradition.

It has been 17 years since President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore stood on the shores of Lake Tahoe and issued a challenge. They urged the frequently fractious perspectives in the region to come together in support of the restoration of Lake Tahoe.

Nevada Senators Harry Reid and Dean Heller and U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-2) met Wednesday with top officials from the U.S. Department of the Interior to discuss actions that can be taken to help prevent the Endangered Species Act listing of the sage grouse, as well as the negative impact such a listing would have on the economic growth and development of the Silver State.

I attended a meeting of the Sagebrush Ecosystem Council July 30 (my third) in Carson City. Like a lot of things that go on in government, few readers will have heard of the council.

It was set up late last year by Gov. Sandoval in an effort to forestall the feds' putting the sage grouse on the endangered species list, a measure that would declare large swaths of Nevada off limits to business and recreation.

The Legislature earmarked $304 million to fund the council.

Carson City will be featured on the C-SPAN network's two channels this weekend after their visit to the capital city earlier this month.

In addition to having feature stories sprinkled in throughout the weekend on the respective networks, both American History TV and Book TV, there will be a block of programming where all of the respective Carson City pieces for their networks will air, said C-SPAN spokeswoman Laura Finch.

A 1,000 ounce bar of silver mined from 4,000 tons of Nevada ore is a rarity by far, but visitors to the Nevada State Museum in Carson City can catch a glimpse of the spectacular ingot now on display in preparation for the state’s 150th birthday party.

Site of the historic U.S. Mint, the museum still operates the original Coin Press No. 1 on the last Friday of each month. When the bar is melted into 1000 1-ounce round medallions, the celebrated press will stamp commemorative editions, with the “CC” mint mark, honoring the state’s sesquicentennial which is Nevada Day, 2014.

With the Bison Fire reaching 65 percent containment by Wednesday afternoon, fire officials have notified the Lyon County Office of Emergency Management that it can lift the evacuation in Smith Valley.

The Incident Command Post has confirmed with Lyon County officials that it is safe for evacuees to return, said County Manager Jeff Page.

Firefighters worked the fire along a ridge above the evacuated homes early Wednesday. The weather forecast calls for evening thunderstorms and dry lightning, said BLM spokeswoman Dorothy Harvey.

Gov. Brian Sandoval informed reporters on Tuesday that he will finish his four-year term and seek another four-year term after that.

However, he did not indicate whether or not he would serve out a full four years if re-elected.

Sandoval’s announcement confirms recent political speculation that he might challenge Democratic Sen. Harry Reid in the 2016 election.

Voluntary evacuations of a Smith Valley subdivision are underway as firefighters held flames along a ridge above to stop them from spreading into homes, the Bureau of Land Management reports this morning. Firefighters overnight were able to reinforce the line, with the day shift continuing its efforts today.

More than 1,060 firefighters continued efforts Tuesday battling the Bison Fire in the Pine Nut Mountains east of Gardnerville, which has prompted a voluntary evacuation of the Pipeline Canyon area in Lyon County. As of early Tuesday evening, the fire has burned 25,733 acres and is 25 percent contained.

The Bison Fire burning in Douglas County grew to 25,733 acres by early Tuesday morning, with 25 percent containment and Douglas County declaring a state of emergency to allow for more resources. More than 700 personnel are assigned to the fire.

Overnight the fire burned actively from the north side until about 3 a.m. the on the northeast and southeast sides. The night crews were able to make significant progress, said Lisa Ross, spokeswoman for the Bureau of Land Management.

Great Basin Management Type 2 Team, operating under Incident Commander Mike Whalen, reports fire fighters made progress today even though the fire increased in size to 21,337 acres, with almost all of the acreage increase on the north side of the incident. The fire is now 25-percent contained with a revised full containment target date of July 15.

The Nevada Rural Counties Retired Senior Volunteer Program Board of Directors has named Susan Haas as Executive Director and chief executive officer. Haas began work with the RSVP, based in Carson City, in 2007 as program director after serving for 8 years as Deputy Chief of Staff for Lt. Governor Lorraine Hunt.

In 2012 she was promoted to Director of Marketing and Development.

Mills Park in Carson City is alive today with carnival activities and more for a good cause — to help change lives for hungry children in our community — one meal at a time.

Food for Thought is a Carson City nonprofit whose mission is to provide nutritious meals to chronically hungry school children in our community.

The May unemployment rate in Carson City fell from 10.1 percent to 9.5 percent, marking the lowest number of unemployed in the capital city since 2008.

Statewide, unemployment rate fell from 9.6 percent to 9.5 percent, seasonally adjusted, with 131,400 people looking for work, marking the 29th straight month of private-sector job creation on a year-over-year basis and the lowest number of unemployed since the worst of the recession hit the Silver State beginning in 2008.

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval signed a new bill legalizing needle exchange programs and nonprescription pharmacy sales in Nevada.

CARSON CITY — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded Nevada's Department of Public Safety Emergency Management a $3.4 million grant, an increase of $700,000 given to the state in a similar grant awarded in 2012, officials announced Tuesday.

“I am pleased Nevada has been awarded this grant, with an increase,” said Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval. “I thank Secretary Napolitano for her work and I thank NDEM for facilitating work around the state to ensure that these funds are applied to areas of importance that Nevada public safety officials deem critical.”

Private citizens in Nevada can keep selling firearms to each other without doing background checks. Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval vetoed SB221 Thursday.

CARSON CITY — In a press statement released on Monday, The Nevada State Treasurer’s Office announced that $15 million allocated to the Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship program during the 2013 Legislative Session will allow the program continue through at least...

CARSON CITY — On late Tuesday, Gov. Brian Sandoval signed a bill that will create a tax incentive program to lure film productions to Nevada.

Introduced by Sen. Aaron Ford, Senate Bill 165 would provide up to $20 million in tax breaks for production companies that spend at least 60 percent of their money toward making movies in Nevada.

CARSON CITY — Just over one week after the end of the 77th legislative session, Nevadans are still waiting for Gov. Brian Sandoval to take action on the controversial universal background check bill.

It is believed that the Governor will veto Senate Bill 221; however, it’s been nearly a week since the measure was enrolled and delivered to his office, and Sandoval has yet to announce his final decision.

CARSON CITY — Nevada Senate members became emotional Monday evening as they honored those who would not return for another session.

Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, who serves as Senate president, faces a term limit that does not allow him to serve again in the Senate. That makes the last day of the session his last day in the Legislature.

The senators took time out of the floor session to honor their colleague saying that they were proud to have served with him, and even giving him a coffee machine as a parting gift.