Government

Many Nevadans are adjusting to the proliferation of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing, stocking up on supplies and staying at home. The Nevada Independent is sharing their stories each day.

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners on April 16 approved 3 to 2 a bond issuance for the Tahoe South Event Center, the final step in the project’s approval process.

The COVID-19 outbreak doesn't represent the first quarantine order implemented in Nevada to combat an infectious disease. Similar to COVID-19, the 1918 Influenza Epidemic spread around the world. The epidemic arrived in Nevada in the spring of 1918 and returned even deadlier in October and November that year before tapering off in the spring of 1919.

The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation’s March 2020 economic report released Wednesday shows the beginning of the COVID-19 grip on jobs in the Silver State, with losses that all but wiped out any over-the-year employment gains.

While many things have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 shut down, which has essentially ground our normal daily lives to a halt, one thing that it has affected positively have been homeless animals.

The State of Nevada is set to receive a total of $1.25 billion in support from the Coronavirus Relief Fund set up through the U.S. Department of Treasury. Congressman Mark Amodei, NV-02, made the announcement via a news release Monday.

MINDEN — Douglas County continues to provide access to Board of County Commissioner and Planning Commission meetings online, streaming through YouTube and is reminding the public about two upcoming meetings. The process for public comment is available in two formats; written comment or by phone.

With confirmed Nevada cases of the coronavirus rising above 2,000 this week, state officials continue grappling with how to coordinate their response. The coronavirus crisis cuts across agency silos, straining not only the health system but social services and the supply chain.

Cecilia Gonzalez made her first call to Nevada’s unemployment office last Friday at 7:59 a.m., hoping that she might snag an open line the minute the agency opened to resolve a sticking point in her claim about her work history and eligibility.

Hello fellow anglers. As many of you know, there is an important date coming up. April 25 was to be the opening trout season opener for many Sierra lakes, rivers and streams. This year because of the outbreak of Covid-19, the California Fish and Game Commission has proposed a new regulation that may temporarily suspend or delay the opener to protect public health.

The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) is cautioning filers to be aware of websites that appear to look like legitimate government websites offering assistance in filing for Nevada unemployment insurance.

Gov. Steve Sisolak said Nevada’s peak of COVID-19 cases could come anywhere from early April to mid-June, saying he was more focused on lessening effects of the pandemic while warning that the state might need to “tighten the faucet” if people don’t heed social-distancing recommendations.

A tenant getting tased and forcefully removed. Landlords changing card readers and locking people out of their apartments. A coronavirus patient sitting in her room, terrified of being thrown out because property managers will not let her come into the office to pay.

The question of whether the general public should wear masks when heading outside has lingered for weeks as health officials across the country have scrambled to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus — a pandemic that worsened through the month of March and with no end yet in sight.

Nevada’s request for a major disaster declaration, opening up additional paths for federal assistance under the national emergency proclamation, has been approved, Gov. Steve Sisolak announced Saturday afternoon.

The declaration, which was requested by the state on Tuesday, will allow federal dollars to flow to Nevada to support Carson City and local governments’ ongoing responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal funding is expected to be made available to governmental agencies and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures.

Gov. Steve Sisolak is asking state agencies to identify “potential areas for reductions” in their budgets — with up to $687 million in possible cuts over the next two years — as the state deals with an expected financial crunch created by the coronavirus crisis.

Regent Sam Lieberman passed away Friday morning, according to Nevada System of Higher Education officials. He was 58.

No other information was immediately available.

“We were devastated to learn of Sam’s death,” NSHE Chancellor Thom Reilly said in a statement. “He was so passionate about Nevada’s public higher education system and he cared very deeply about bettering our system for our students.”

Lieberman took office as a Board of Regents member, representing District 5 in Clark County, in 2015. Last month, he had filed for re-election.

The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the 2020-2021 county’s Tentative Budget on April 1, 2020. The County Manager and Comptroller have recommended the budget with no salary increases and a projected 6.6% ending fund balance which is lower than the 16.67% authorized by Nevada Revised Statutes.

The County Manager also recommended that the Board not fund any of the 35.8 positions requested by the various departments including:

24 Personnel for the Sheriff’s Office
1 Information Systems Technician
1 Community Development Director
1 Public Works Director

Even though Friends In Service Helping or FISH, has been part of the community for over 40 years, a lot of people still don't know that FISH is more than just a thrift store.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to threaten local economies across the country, the U.S. Small Business Administration has increased efforts to alleviate the hardship experienced by small businesses.

An update was given to the Carson City Board of Supervisors regarding emergency operations being provided by Carson City Health and Human Services as well as the quad county Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

During the discussions, Tom Raw, Deputy Emergency Manager for the EOC, said they do not want to publicly disclose the amount of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) the city has. Carson City Health and Human Services Director Nicki Aaker also said they have stopped putting in orders for PPE since orders were not fulfilled in the past.

CARSON CITY — On Tuesday, Gov. Sisolak submitted a formal request to President Donald Trump for a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Nevada. If approved, this declaration will provide additional federal assistance and emergency protective measures available under the nationwide emergency proclamation.

The Nevada Division of Emergency Management and the state's Department of Health and Human Services will be temporarily aligned with the Nevada Office of the Military for the duration of the COVID-19 public health crisis to ensure the entirety of Nevada’s state government is used effectively and efficiently in response to this unprecedented emergency situation, Gov. Steve Sisolak announced Monday.

Nevada’s physicians and healthcare professionals are on the frontlines of treatment and prevention of COVID-19. In support of Gov. Steve Sisolak and public health officials’ recommendations, the Nevada State Medical Association encourages all Nevada to practice social distancing, use expanded telehealth options to contact medical professionals, continue to avoid emergency rooms unless absolutely necessary and Stay Home For Nevada.

On Monday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it is withdrawing a 2013 proposed rule to list the bi-state distinct population segment of greater sage-grouse as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The bi-state sage-grouse population is an isolated group of sage-grouse living along the California-Nevada border at the southwest edge of the species’ range.

Gov. Steve Sisolak has announced a moratorium on evictions for both residential and commercial tenants for the duration of the state of emergency, providing relief for renters who, in many cases, are facing the first of the month without a job and are under orders to try to stay at home for their own health.

Million Women Mentors Nevada Introduction Webinar to be held Tuesday, March 31 at 2 p.m. Please join to learn more about Million Women Mentors and be a part of the MWM-NV steering committee. Starting in 2015, Million Women Mentors is a national movement to spark the interest and confidence of girls and women to pursue and succeed STEM careers and leadership opportunities through the power of mentoring.

Editor’s Note: Patt Quinn-Davis is adviser for the Carneta yearbook. She also teaches Honors American Literature and English IV. Before jumping into teaching, Quinn-Davis worked many years at The Nevada Appeal as city government reporter, columnist, and city editor. She was also editor of The Nevada Appeal and previously was editor of The Daily Democrat newspaper in Woodland, Calif.

Now that the filing period for political candidates is over it is time for voters to consider the qualifications and politics of the filed candidates. What sort of person do you want representing you in the various seats that are up for election this cycle?

Sierra Lutheran High School has launched a COVID Care site to assist the community by providing a single source of commonly-searched resources and information on coronavirus topics to one site for ease of access.