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.

February 11 is the opening day of the 2012 fishing seasons for the following waters in Lyon County:
01. The Fort Churchill Cooling Ponds, near Wabuska.
02. Applicable open waters (Bass Pond, Beaver Slough, Crappie Pond, Hinkson Slough, North Pond and the Walker River), all on the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area (MVWMA), near Yerington.
All of the waters listed above will close on Sept. 30.
If you are interested in fishing at any of those waters on Opening Day, here is some miscellaneous information:

Fort Churchill Cooling Ponds:

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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A guard has been flown to Renown in Reno after being attacked at Warm Springs Correctional Facility in Carson City late Tuesday afternoon.
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Carson City Sheriff's deputies arrested Cody Thompson, 20, an unemployed Carson City man, at 9 a.m. Monday near the intersection of Northridge Drive and Table Rock Drive. Thompson was arrested for the felonies of possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of a controlled substance, a gross misdemeanor of possession of a dangerous weapon, and misdemeanors of possession of a hypodermic device, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to maintain a single lane, violation of a suspended sentence, and not having a valid drivers' license. Bail is set at $35,150 plus administrative fees.

Adele's is a Carson City landmark. This long-time restaurant — located in one of the oldest homes in town — attracts discriminating diners with its classical ambiance and reputation of its renown chef Charlie Abowd.

But now the restaurant is doing something new that will likely shake things up in Carson City early in the morning. They are serving breakfast.

Jacob Robert Owens, 30, passed away January 25, 2012 in Reno, Nevada. Jake was born February 23, 1981 in Reno, Nevada to Walter and Rita Owens. He attended Carson High School, graduating in 199...

The movie "Haywire,"currently screening at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City, is a spy thriller with a twist. The top spy is a woman, Mallory Kane, played by Gina Carano, in her first major starring role.

Those who know the Northern Nevada area might recognize the name Carano from the casinos the family owns and operates. Gina's father Glenn Carano was a backup quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, and no doubt passed on some toughness to his daughter.

Mallory opens the movie with a expletive that is repeated at the close. Can't say director Steven Soderbergh isn't neat.

CARSON CITY – Nevada’s unemployment rate fell by four-tenths of a percentage point to 12.6 percent in December, the second consecutive monthly decline that saw the number of jobless drop to 166,300, a state agency reported today.

A year ago, the rate, which is adjusted for seasonal fluctuations in the labor market, hit a record high of 14.9 percent.

On January 7, 2012, Janet Sylvia MacDonald died peacefully surrounded by her family after battling Parkinson’s disease.

Born Janet Sylvia MacDonald May 6, 1941 in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Jan moved to Nevada in 1959. As a single mother with a young son, she attended the University of Nevada, Reno during the day and worked evenings to support her family. It was during this time that Jan danced and performed with famous Bertha the Elephant in the main showroom at John Asquaga’s Nugget.

"The Accelerating Expansion of the Universe - 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics"

First in the 2012 Reno Skeptics Science Cafe' series, presented in association with NOVA ScienceNow.

Physicist Dr. Thomas Herring of Western Nevada College will discuss the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the universe. This is widely considered the most important scientific discovery of the last quarter of the 20th Century.

The presentation begins at 3:00 pm, is free and is open to the public. Science Cafes' are participatory events, so bring your inquisitive mind and invite your friends.

Fire officials at a news conference this evening in Reno said the Washoe Drive Fire totally destroyed 29 dwellings and damaged five others, burning a total of 3,177 acres. The fire is 65 percent contained.

They also said that a person has come forward claiming he improperly disposed of fireplace ashes, which started the blaze.

The Nevada Department of Public Safety says that U.S. Highway 395 may reopen after 10 p.m. tonight after crews worked all days repairing damage to make the roads safe.

Officials reported this morning that the Washoe Drive Fire destroyed 26 homes, and has currently consumed 3,900 acres.

At a 9 a.m. press conference, officials reported the blaze is 50 percent contained, and that 700 firefighters are working to extinguish hot spots in advance of the high wind that are forecast for this afternoon.

There were 20 homes reported lost last night, but in the light of day, personnel working the fire were able to get a better count of the structures that burned.

The Nevada Highway Patrol advises Highway 395 through Washoe Valley, from SR 431 Mount Rose to Carson City will remain closed through Friday and possibly Saturday. Motorists should find alternative routes to Carson City as agencies continue to work on the fire.

Stoked by 80-mph winds, a brush fire surged through a valley between Reno and Carson City on Thursday, charring at least three homes, threatening more and forcing Vice President Joe Biden to truncate his visit to a local high school.
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Here is the latest from Washoe County on evacuations. Go here as this list is being updated.

View Washoe Drive Fire (1/19/2012) in a larger map

UPDATE 510PM: Fire burns more than 3,000 acres with zero containment; 4,000 evacuated; no count on home and structure losses.

At 4:40 pm this afternoon, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, under his constitutional and statutory authority, made a state declaration of emergency which qualifies local governments for federal assistance associated with this event. The National Guard is on standby at the request of Sandoval and Washoe County. California has also provided fire assistance as part of a Governor to Governor agreement with Jerry Brown. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been and are being affected by this fire,” Sandoval said. “Declaring a state of emergency ensures that every resource from the local, state and federal level is available to assist. The Nevada Division of Forestry and the Department of Public Safety have also engaged with local responders.” Additionally, Nevada has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). As a result, Nevada is eligible for up to 75 percent funding assistance for eligible costs. The request was made by the Nevada Division of Forestry on behalf of Washoe County at the onset of the fire.

More below the fold.

CARSON CITY – Nevada’s charter school law was strengthened in 2011, seeing its ranking among the states moving to 20th from 23rd as a result, a national group reported this week.

Nevada’s overall score improved from 97 points to 111 out of a potential of 208 points in the report issued Tuesday by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

Truck sales in Reno and Carson City also have rebounded, despite high gas ... In Carson City, sales of Ram pickups has rebounded more than 25 percent from ...

CARSON CITY – A panel of key gaming figures and state officials will begin meeting next month to consider the impact of Internet gaming and other technological advances on Nevada’s major industry.

Gov. Brian Sandoval announced his five appointments to the Gaming Policy Committee yesterday. The full 11-member committee has not met since 1984. Sandoval will serve as chairman.

Here is the fishing report through Jan. 17 for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra and Southern Oregon.

RENO, Nev. – Kate McGee has joined 88.7 FM KUNR – Reno Public Radio – as a broadcast journalist, coming to northern Nevada from the East Coast. She recently graduated from Fordham University in the Bronx, N.Y., with a dual bachelor's degree in American studies and history. She started her public radio career at Fordham’s WFUV Radio as a reporter, anchor and producer, where she covered everything from Mayor Mike Bloomberg to stickball tournaments.

Dolores 'Dee' Bowman, passed away in Reno on December 28, 2011 at the age of 78. Dee was born at home on March 21, 1933 in Virginia City, Nevada, the daughter of Dorothy Haffey who was born in Gol...

CARSON CITY – Nevada’s major casinos saw total revenues increase to $22 billion last fiscal year, but the 256 properties reported a net loss of just under $4 billion, the Gaming Control Board reported today.

It was the third year of losses in a row. The only other loss since records have been kept came in 2002.

The report, called the Nevada Gaming Abstract, analyzes those casino properties grossing $1 million or more in gaming revenue for the year ending June 30, 2011.