USA

The film "Atlas Shrugged Part 1," opened Friday night at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City. The opening was overshadowed by the first-night celebration the V&T's No. 18 steam locomotive in "Water for Elephants," an average romance-plus-disaster film.

Harry Meyer, 12, of Carson City trains in Canada for snowboard competitions. He competed last weekend in the USA Snowboard Association's free ride competition in Copper Mountain, Colo., in the h...

The Carson City Shade Tree Council will host its annual Arbor Day Celebration on April 29. The hour-long celebration will be held at Governors’ Field (behind Lowe’s) and will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Among those attending will be Smokey Bear who will help the Council plant the Northern Red Maple selected by the staff of Carson City’s Park and Recreation Department. The tree planting is scheduled at 6 p.m. The Council paid for the tree with money it raised at annual Fall Tree Care Seminar.

Skiers and riders can enjoy a full month of Lake Tahoe spring skiing for less than $7 per day with Squaw Valley's Spring Pass, on sale now for $199. In addition to spring skiing and riding starting April 11, 2011, this year’s Squaw Valley Spring Pass includes free access to the High Camp Swimming Lagoon and Spa for Spring 2011 and free Summer Cable Car access — all for less than the price of three full-day lift tickets. Squaw Valley’s Spring Passes are on sale now at www.squaw.com.

(Press Release) LAKE TAHOE — From spandex to black tie — set your sights on some of the world’s top cyclists for an elegant evening celebrating the overall start of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California, the largest cycling event in North America. Wine, dine and mingle during the Opening Gala and Official Team Introduction, Friday, May 13 at MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa’s Theater in South Lake Tahoe.

The 2011 Amgen Tour of California will feature 19 elite teams, including:

For businesses looking for exposure with active domestic and international market audiences, the opportunity is the Amgen Tour of California and the time is now. The largest sporting event hosted in California includes 27 hours of national television coverage and live broadcasts outside the U.S. in more than 90 countries and billions of worldwide impressions from television, print and online sources.

By the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation on Sunday wrapped up its largest annual conservation fundraiser with gross revenues topping $2.5 million.
Those dollars will help support many RMEF initiatives to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. RMEF is a major supporter of new elk restoration efforts in Missouri and Virginia.

The 2011 Amgen Tour of California, the largest cycling event in North America, recently announced that volunteer opportunities have been posted on their official website, www.AmgenTourofCalifornia.com, for the race, including opportunities for Stage 1 and 2 at Lake Tahoe.

Here's the latest from 1960 Olympics host resort, Squaw Valley. I'm sure much of the same can be said for other resorts. My Carson Cirty patio got about two feet of snow over the last couple of days. Maybe I'll get my x-c skis out and try the rose garden run!

— Sam Bauman

A midnight candy room with collections of sweet and salty treats for late-night creative sessions. A handcrafted ice bar buffet atop the mountain accessible only by snowshoe or ski followed by overnight camping in a snow cave. A chef escorting guests to the local organic grocer to assure specific dietary needs are met. What’s that, gluten free? No problem. Kosher? Got it nailed.
 

Organizers of the the 2011 Amgen Tour of California, the largest cycling event in North America, announced today the Stage 1 and Stage 2 race routes for Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe’s first-ever involvement in the race as the official Overall Start is Sunday, May 15 and begins at South Lake Tahoe at 6,300 feet, the highest start elevation in the six-year history of the competition. Stage 1 wraps up in North Lake Tahoe at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, with the Stage 2 Start taking place nearby at Squaw Valley USA on Monday, May 16.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noZSi7ccd08

Teams of super heroes, penguins, pirates and other eye-catching characters jumped into Lake Tahoe last winter. On March 19, they’ll do it again, and you’re invited to join them as Special Olympics Nevada co-hosts the “Freezin’ for a Reason” Polar Plunge® 2011 at Zephyr Cove, South Lake Tahoe. The event is open to all and will include entertainment, a costume contest, prizes, and Special Olympics athletes, coaches, and volunteers who will share their experiences with the organization’s inspiring programs.

Joe Conforte, the former owner of the Mustang Ranch brothel a few miles east of Reno, has produced his autobiography as an ebook, his publisher has announced.

Titled “Breaks, Brains & Balls: the story of Nevada’s fabulous Mustang Ranch” the 464-page book details Conforte's adventurous life from his birth into the poverty of a Sicilian fishing village to a life of luxury in Rio De Janeiro.

Carl Kuhl, a state Parole and Probation employee of six years, has created a plan that he claims will eliminate Nevada's budget deficit within two years.

In a news release issued on Tuesday, Kuhl said his plan not only will reduce the budget deficit but also help repair Nevada's economy at the same time. It is a pretty big claim, he admits, coming from an Accounting Assistant I, an entry level position.

Nevada Highway Patrol troopers have been busy today responding to four dozen motor vehicle crashes on area roads and highways.

Some 47 accidents were reported between 6 a.m. and noon today throughout the Northern Nevada region, said Trooper Chuck Allen.

The accidents happened as a result of falling snow, slippery roadways and motorists traveling too fast for the roadway conditions, Allen said in a press statement. There were also dozens of spin-outs and slide-offs on many highways as well. Click here for the last road controls in Nevada and in the Sierra and carsonweather.com for the latest weather alerts.

Geothermal Development Associates of Reno received the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Export Achievement Certificate today.

The award recognizes businesses that have achieved significant success in the global marketplace and have also benefited from the programs and assistance of the International Trade Administration’s U.S. Commercial Service. Chuck Alvey, president/CEO for the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada made the presentation.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – A campaign report filed by the Senate Democratic Caucus shows the group’s political action committee received about $20,000 before ending a short-lived proposal to give lobbyists access to lawmakers in exchange for campaign contributions.

Squaw Valley USA will have a new owner after a Denver-based equity firm bought virtually all of its shares.

KSL Capital Partners LLC of Denver, which owns stakes in resort-related businesses, announced Tuesday that it hopes to complete the sale by the end of the year and that it will put $50 million into the exclusive Lake Tahoe area resort, home of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games.

Squaw was opened in 1949 by the late Alexander Cushing. It has about 4,000 acres and 2,850 vertical feet that spans over six peaks.

A handful of Lake Tahoe ski resorts prepare to open for the season this weekend thanks to an early snowfall, snowmaking guns and a fairly large storm set to punch the Sierra.

Around a foot or more of natural snow across the Sierra earlier this month certainly helped get things moving. With this weekend's anticipated storm, which may bring anywhere from 2-4 feet of snow to the Sierra, resorts should get a nice healthy boost just in time for the holiday season.

Here's what we know:

LOCAL AUTHOR SCORES TOP HONORS IN THE 7th ANNUAL USA BOOK NEWS “BEST BOOKS 2010” AWARDS

LAKE TAHOE — The 2011 Amgen Tour of California, the largest cycling event in America, will start at Lake Tahoe, officials announced today.

Lake Tahoe’s first-ever involvement in the race will feature more than a lap and a half around the Lake beginning at the California/Nevada border in South Lake Tahoe with the Stage 1 finish at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort in North Lake Tahoe. North Lake Tahoe also hosts the Stage 2 start at Squaw Valley USA, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics.

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation at Lake Tahoe has opened registration for the 2010-2011 Alpine, Freestyle and Snowboard Programs. With a variety of options from the One-Day Program to the Full-Time Competitive Program, the Foundation has something for all ages and levels of skiers and riders. Registration packets are available online, at the HSSF building, or by calling the HSSF administration office.

Squaw Valley USA at Lake Tahoe has announced the appointment of JP Martin as the mountain’s new terrain park manager.

JP comes to Squaw Valley with 19 years of experience in the ski and snowboarding industry and a resume that includes experience at Whistler, Mt. Hood, Jackson Hole and many resorts in Japan. Most recently, Martin worked as the terrain park manager at Sugar Bowl Resort on Donner Summit in Lake Tahoe.

Storey County law enforcement officers are investigating an incident tonight in which a female motorist was found dead.

Details are sketchy, but the woman was found in a vehicle in the area of USA Parkway in Storey County, said Jerry Antinoro, Storey County assistant sheriff. It is not known at this time by law enforcement if it was a vehicle accident.

The woman was found past where the pavement ends, Antinoro said.

Four representatives from The Winnemucca Community Garden (WCG) will be the only delegates from the state of Nevada to represent the United States when 5,000 representatives from the worldwide Terra Madre network meet in Turin, Italy this October. This event, in its fourth year, coincides with the international Slow Food Fair.

Watch the sky light up on Thursday, Aug. 12, at Squaw Valley USA during the annual Perseid Meteor Shower Family Camp-out.
Families can camp under the stars and watch the night sky light-up at the best viewing location in Lake Tahoe, Squaw Valley USA's High Camp, el. 8200 feet. Reservations are necessary. Call (800) 545-4350.

CARSON CITY – Nevada officials are racing the clock to get their full share of federal foreclosure relief dollars.
Some states and local governments elsewhere around the country are at risk of losing millions in foreclosure relief funds. But officials with the state of Nevada and local government entities who are managing the programs say they are on track to obligate their full allotments by September deadlines.
Even so, several Nevada officials said the funds are only a drop in the bucket to address Nevada’s foreclosure crisis.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office will host the Nevada State DARE Officer Conference June 8-9. It is the second time Carson City has been selected to host the annual event, which brings DARE officers together from around the state to discuss programs, curriculum and prevention issues.
There will be around 35 officers who will attend the Carson City event.

CARSON CITY — Despite cool weather and Friday night's snow showers, hundreds of children and their parents turned out today for the seventh annual Cops and Kids Sheriff’s Open House safety, crime and substance abuse awareness fair held at the Carson City Sheriff's Office.

CARSON CITY — Despite cool weather and Friday night's snow showers, hundreds of children and their parents turned out today for the seventh annual Cops and Kids Sheriff’s Open House safety, crime and substance abuse awareness fair held at the Carson City Sheriff's Office.