Goicoechea

Joe Biden maintains the slimmest of leads in Nevada over President Donald Trump, while the other major congressional, statewide and local races significantly narrowed early Wednesday morning.

Gov. Steve Sisolak said it’s not yet clear what the week-old effort to reopen some Nevada businesses has done to infection metrics or when the state will move to Phase 2, but he said health indicators are pointing in the right direction.

Gov. Steve Sisolak announced an “active transition” in the next 15 days toward reopening a moribund economy, giving the clearest guidelines yet as to how the shuttered state will take steps to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of Wednesday, May 1, the Nevada Department of Agriculture has lifted all quarantines for Equine Herpes Virus – Type 1 (EHV-1) in the state. One positive case related to an aborted horse was confirmed in Humboldt County; no quarantine has been issued for this case because the incubation period has passed, and no horses have been moved to or from the property.

Nevada Department of Agriculture has received reports that two horses that were in attendance at the National Reined Cow Horse Association Stallion Stakes event have tested positive for the respiratory, non-neurologic form of Equine Herpes Virus – Type 1. One horse was from California, and the second was from Clark County and is under quarantine order by State Veterinarian JJ Goicoechea.

The Nevada Department of Agriculture Animal Disease Laboratory has confirmed six positive rabies cases found in bats in Clark and Washoe counties to date this year. Rabies is common in bats throughout Nevada, and bat activity tends to increase between the months of May and October.

SPARKS — As horse owners travel to equine events and rodeos with their animals, the Nevada Department of Agriculture is reminding owners to exercise caution and use best biosecurity practices to minimize risk of spreading disease.

The Nevada Department of Agriculture has confirmed three horses tested positive for West Nile Virus in western Nevada in the last two weeks. All three horses were not vaccinated. Two of the horses were located in Lyon County, one in Dayton and one in Yerington, and the other in Washoe County.

With the recent report of a human case of West Nile Virus in southern Nevada, the state's Department of Agriculture urges horse owners throughout the state to vaccinate against the disease. West Nile Virus can cause severe illness in a horse’s brain, spinal cord and nervous system.

The Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) began receiving accounts of horses exposed to equine herpes virus type 4 (EHV-4) and Streptococcus equi bacterial infection — also known as strangles or equine distemper — as of Saturday, Feb. 18, NDA public information officer Rebecca Allured said in a press release late Wednesday.

The Capital City Arts Initiative announces its exhibition, Print Project, at the Community Development Building [the Brick], 108 E Proctor Street, Carson City. Ten University of Nevada, Reno [UNR] student artists created the art posters in class earlier this summer. The building is open to the public daily, 8am – noon, 1-4pm. The free exhibition will remain in the building’s lobby exhibition space through August 29.

"Republicans own the education issue in Nevada right now. Let's cash in on that ownership!"
-Pat Hickey on Ralston Live, June 3, 2015

Pat Hickey always begins his blog entries with a quote that resonates with the theme, and I've learned from the master. I've become one of Pat's fans, both because he talks more like a human being than a politician (e.g. calling KOH's Dan Mason's Show "right wing" before pretending to correct himself), and because he has an extremely wry sense of humor.

The Nevada Senate voted on Gov. Brian Sandoval's tax plan today, with 18 yes votes, to three against. The legislation passed the Assembly Sunday night and now goes for the governor to sign.

The Senate on Saturday gave final passage to the bill creating a special account for the protection of Stewart Indian School at the southern border of Carson City.Sen. Pete Goicoechea said the account would collect ca...

Sen. Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, told fellow members of Senate Finance on Thursday the bill putting $500,000 into cloud seeding efforts this coming biennium is vital because of the drought.“We already recognize that, a...

Sen. Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, told fellow members of Senate Finance on Thursday the bill putting $500,000 into cloud seeding efforts this coming biennium is vital because of the drought.“We already recognize that, a...

Senators James Settelmeyer and Pete Goicoechea on Thursday introduced a proposed constitutional amendment they say would clean up Nevada’s overly complex and disjointed property tax system.SJR13 would implement some o...

Sen. Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, Monday introduced legislation that would require any local government collective bargaining agreement be made public before getting final approval.He said under Senate Bill 158, “they c...

Sen. Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, Monday introduced legislation that would require any local government collective bargaining agreement be made public before getting final approval.He said under Senate Bill...

At least three Carson City residents and a Genoa resident were entered to run in the Boston Marathon, according to the official website. Listed as participants are: Brett Long, 35, and Kari Long, 34, of Carson City; Kirsten Sherve, 43, of Carson City; and Colleen Powers, 29, of Genoa. Les Wright of South Lake Tahoe, organizer of the Lake Tahoe Marathon, reports that he and and his wife and daughter are fine.

by MOLLY MOSER

The Senate Committee on Transportation discussed whether Nevada is ready for drivers to put their “pedal to the metal” by increasing the maximum speed limited on Nevada Highways to 85 mph.

CARSON CITY – The 63-member Nevada Legislature will see quite a few new faces when it convenes Feb. 4, including 11 members in the Assembly and 10 members in the Senate, although several newly elected state senators have moved up from the Assembly.

CARSON CITY – Several lawmakers raised questions today about a proposal put forth by Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto to spend $33 million over three years on outreach, counseling and legal assistance to homeowners who are facing foreclosure.

CARSON CITY – Reno Republican Assemblyman Pat Hickey was unanimously elected today to be the new GOP Assembly Caucus Leader.

The former minority Leader, Pete Goicoechea, R-Eureka, stepped down because of his intention to run for the Nevada State Senate in District 19.

Assembly Republicans currently hold 16 seats in the 42-member Assembly, while Democrats control 26 seats.

Hickey, who represents District 25 in Reno, returned to the Assembly in 2010 after an absence of several years.

CARSON CITY – Republican state Senator Michael Roberson said today he expects the GOP to retake control of the Senate in the 2012 general election, citing the quality of candidates recruited for two key Clark County races.

His optimism was countered by Sen. Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas, who said he is confident Democrats will maintain control of the Senate come Nov. 7.

CARSON CITY – Starting with the annual campaign contribution and expense reports due Jan. 17, elected officials and candidates must now file their information electronically with the Secretary of State’s office.

State lawmakers say they have not heard of any major concerns with the new requirements from their colleagues.

Reading the newspaper this morning is like deja vu. First, there is the story about Carson City being recognized as a top ranked digital city, which we published last month. Then there is the report about the Gardnerville man who was shot by a Douglas County Sheriff's deputy next to his own grave site, an apparent act of "suicide by cop." There's also the story about the fundraiser at J's Bistro to benefit the Dayton Food Pantry that we had yesterday. It reminds me of that line from the movie "All The President's Men" where they talked about a new feature for the paper, yesterday's weather forecast, "for those who got drunk and slept all day."

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In politics, Judge Todd Russell finalized the state's redistricting case, refusing to add language allowing current office holders from using the words “incumbent” or “re-elect” in their campaigns if their districts had changed. None of the parties in the case objected to the new political boundaries, which closes this chapter of political wrangling.

Secretary of State Ross Miller filed a suit to force conservative advocacy group Citizen Outreach to register with the state and file contribution and expense reports. Miller cited that the group ran ads targeting Assembly Speaker John Oceguera during the 2010 election, which means the group must comply with laws governing political activities.

Although Citizen Outreach has not responded to the suit, its president Chuck Muth has a column today attacking Assembly Minority Leader Pete Goicoechea for not being conservative enough. Goicoechea, a Republican from Eureka, announced that he will run for state senate.

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In other news from behind the wall, Lisa Hoeppner will represent Carson City in the upcoming Mrs. Nevada-America Pageant in Las Vegas, Local's BBQ has closed its doors, and there is a club for table tennis fans in town.

Have a great Friday!

CARSON CITY – State Treasurer Kate Marshall today announced the appointees to the board of the Nevada Capital Investment Corporation (NCIC), a new group charged with overseeing the investment of school funds to improve returns while promoting economic development statewide.

Nevada lawmakers today approved money to cover the costs of the upcoming special election, received an update on the progress of the state’s health care insurance exchange and complained repeatedly that state agencies were thumbing their noses at the legislative process.

CARSON CITY – Some GOP lawmakers say a bill introduced late in the just-ended 2011 session appears to be an attempt to move the Nevada Legislature more toward a full-time operation in the period in-between the biennial sessions.
Republican lawmakers critical of Assembly Bill 578 also say it would limit participation on interim policy panels by many of the 63 state lawmakers.