CARSON CITY – A national Republican official said today Nevada’s economic landscape has changed dramatically since the state went for President Obama in 2008, and increasing GOP voter registrations in the battleground state are evidence of dissatisfaction with his administration.

Don't mistake Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval's invitations to the Republican presidential contenders as anything more than a hospitable gesture. The governor is staying out of the nomination fight despite his rising stature in the GOP — or perhaps because of it.

Sandoval has invited the candidates to his office this week as they campaign ahead of Saturday's caucuses. If they make the trip to Carson City, the four — Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum — can count on a smile and a firm handshake but no public stamp of approval.
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CARSON CITY -- Steps have been taken to prevent any more DMV window clerks from accepting bribes in exchange for issuing driver's licenses to illegal residents, the Nevada agency's director said Thursday.

"We do (think the new procedures are sufficient), but we always are on guard that somebody will try to beat the system," said Bruce Breslow, chief of the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, after a meeting of the Legislature's Audit Subcommittee.
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CARSON CITY — Gov. Brian Sandoval on Thursday recommended the repeal of 654 Nevada regulations over a wide range of industries that he says are either unneeded or a drag on economic growth.

Among them: a rule requiring labels on toilets in manufactured buildings advising of maximum water use per flush. The state Manufactured Housing Division concluded the regulation is duplicative and unnecessary.
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RENO – Former Sparks resident and George W. Bush presidential adviser Karl Rove predicted today the both houses of Congress will go Republican in the November general election, but said the presidential election is up in the air even with President Barack Obama’s low approval ratings.

CARSON CITY – When state Sen. Greg Brower asked the Attorney General’s office earlier this month about the $6 million in outside legal costs incurred so far in defending the state in a freeway construction dispute, he said his motives were purely fiscal in nature.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California and Southern Oregon. This report is for the week of Feb. 1-7.

RENO – Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich told a cheering crowd here today that he is the only GOP candidate with the knowledge and experience to get the U.S. back on track after what will be four years of failed policies by President Barack Obama.

Gingrich, a former speaker of the House, is in Nevada ahead of Saturday’s First in the West Republican caucus.

RENO, Nev. — Things haven't gotten much better for Newt Gingrich since he alighted here early Wednesday from a stinging defeat in Florida's primary.

The former House speaker abruptly canceled a meeting with Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval after his campaign had arranged the photo opportunity at Sandoval's office in Carson City. Not even Gingrich's campaign advisers know why the campaign scheduler called it off, irking them and those in Sandoval's office who had helped set up the event.
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As the Republican presidential hopefuls arrive in Nevada, I want to take some time to welcome them to our fair state and graciously provide some helpful pointers:

CARSON CITY – A group called Nevadans United for Fair Mining Taxes filed a constitutional amendment initiative today with the Nevada Secretary of State’s office that would allow the cap on mining taxes to increase from 5 percent to 9 percent.

“This initiative is not a tax increase,” said Las Vegas businessman Monte Miller, who heads up the group. “It simply raises the cap on mining taxes and leaves the issue on whether to raise the tax in the hands of the Nevada Legislature and governor.”

Newt Gingrich is kicking off his Nevada campaign on Wednesday, one day after Florida's primary election. Gingrich and his wife, Callista, are expected to visit Reno, Carson City and Las Vegas.

We are trying to confirm the details on when and where the former speaker will be in Carson City.
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On February 5th, 2012 The Carson Sheriff's Office and The Nevada Highway Patrol will be joining forces together in the Carson area. This will be a Joining Forces Grant Event. The primary objective is to patrol the Carson area and enforce the impaired driving and speed laws. This is Super Bowl Sunday and we want everyone to have a good time, but remind everyone to use a designated driver or cab service. Our primary concern is to keep the Streets in Carson City safe for all citizens. The Carson City Sheriff's Office has a zero tolerance for impaired driving.

The Nevada State Board of Education will no longer allow students to take a controversial Carson City human sexuality class for high school credit.
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CARSON CITY – Nevada’s taxable sales rose 9.6 percent in November over the same month a year ago, driven in large part by car sales and improved business at bars and restaurants, the state Department of Taxation reported today. Taxable sales totaled nearly $3.4 billion for the month.

For the fiscal year that began July 1, 2011, taxable sales are up 8.5 percent through November.

Clark County sales were up 8.6 percent. Washoe County sales were up 5.3 percent.

The U.S. Metro Economy report puts Carson City and Reno-Sparks last on the list for jobs regained, but local economic officials say the numbers just don't add up.

The report says Carson City will be the only metro area that won't create new jobs in 2012, but Rob Hooper with the Northern Nevada Development Authority says the numbers he's seeing tell a different story.
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CARSON CITY – Nevada state Republican Party officials today announced they expect all the major GOP candidates will visit the state ahead of the Feb. 4 first in the West caucus.

The Nevada GOP is also introducing social media into the process, using the Google and Twitter platforms to report the caucus results beginning about 5 p.m. that day from 16 of the state’s 17 counties.

A new branch of the Carson City Library opened Thursday in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada — a branch powered by robotics.
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CARSON CITY – Five finalists for Nevada’s top public education job were submitted today to the state Board of Education.

The names of three finalists will be forwarded to Gov. Brian Sandoval for his final selection after interviews are conducted by the Board of Education next month.

The five finalists, picked from 15 applicants who sought the position of state superintendent of public instruction, are:

President Barack Obama visited Las Vegas today on a swing through the West, talking up energy development to create jobs and reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil.

In comments delivered at the United Parcel Service hub on East Arby Lane, President Obama said development of natural gas reserves would serve both these purposes.

The president jogged out to loud, enthused cheers from a clearly friendly crowd.

Gov. Brian Sandoval today announced $500,000 in new funding for the Nevada Microenterprise Initiative, aimed at expanding small-business entrepreneurship among low and moderate-income people throughout Nevada.
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CARSON CITY – Treasurer Kate Marshall announced today that a request for proposals for a manger to oversee a new investment program using up to $50 million from the state Permanent School Fund has been issued by the Nevada Capital Investment Corporation (NCIC) Board of Directors.

While some reactions to the State of the Union Speech fell predictably along partisan lines, three members of Nevada's congressional delegation echoed President Barack Obama's call for job creation and his plea for members of Congress to work together.
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Here is the fishing report through Jan. 31. The report covers rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra and Southern Oregon.