Rural

Bars and taverns across Washoe County as well as in the town of Pahrump in Nye County will soon be allowed to open following a surprise decision from the state’s COVID-19 Mitigation and Management Task Force on Thursday.

President Donald Trump’s campaign is narrowing its focus in a lawsuit against Nevada’s expanded use of mail-in ballots for the 2020 general election, now specifically challenging a provision allowing ballots received up to three days after the election to be counted if their postmark is unclear.

CARSON CITY — Finalized data from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation show initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) totaled 8,032 for the week ending August 29, down 826 claims, or 9.3 percent, compared to last week’s total of 8,858 claims. This is the fewest initial claims filed since the week ending March 14. Through the week ending August 29, there have been 670,400 initial claims filed in 2020, 662,368 of which have been filed since the week ending March 14.

CARSON CITY — USDA Rural Development Nevada State Director Phil Cowee announced Tuesday a $344,000 loan to Storey County to cover the costs of replacing water storage tanks in Virginia City, one of the last phases in $23 million worth of water and sewer improvement projects in the historic mining town.

Nevada Democrats have, for years, been fine-tuning their political machine. Two years ago was, perhaps, their best proof of concept. Democrats spirited away a key U.S. Senate seat, took control of the governor’s mansion for the first time in two decades and secured a veto-proof majority in one chamber of the Legislature while retaining a majority in the other.

Finalized data from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) show initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) totaled 8,858 for the week ending August 22, down 2,080 claims, or 19.0 percent, compared to last week’s total of 10,938 claims.

This is the fewest initial claims filed since the week ending March 14. Through the week ending August 22, there have been 662,510 initial claims filed in 2020, 640,716 of which have been filed since the week ending March 14.

Officials trying to get $60 million out the door by the end of the year on behalf of Nevadans who have fallen behind on rent have disbursed about $2 million so far, according to progress reports provided to a state housing committee.

CARSON CITY — On Monday, Gov. Steve Sisolak launched the new State of Nevada Climate Initiative to further advance Nevada’s efforts to address climate change.

For Sierra Nevada Realtors, election season is over. The association, whose members serve rural Northern Nevada areas including Carson City, Minden, Gardnerville, Dayton and Fallon, recently held elections for its 2021 Board of Directors.

Finalized data from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) show initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) totaled 10,938 for the week ending August 15, down 6,817 claims, compared to last week’s total of 17,755 claims.

Through the week ending August 15, there have been 653,510 initial claims filed in 2020, 631,858 of which have been filed since the week ending March 14.

A COVID-19 mitigation task force on Thursday denied requests from the state’s two urban counties to reopen bars, expressing doubt about whether doing so would stem the tide of outbreaks tied to house parties and concern about a lack of buy-in from all local jurisdictions in Southern Nevada.

The Nevada State Treasurer’s Office and Clark County announced Monday that new applications for the CARES Housing Assistance Program have been paused in Clark County.

CARSON CITY —The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development is partnering with StartUpNV, Entrepreneur’s Assembly, Northeastern Nevada Regional Development Authority, business leaders, and other government entities, in a new statewide initiative to foster entrepreneurship in Nevada’s smaller cities and towns.

Finalized data from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) show initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) totaled 17,755 for the week ending August 8, up 4,028 claims, or 29.3 percent, compared to last week’s total of 13,727 claims. Through the week ending August 8, there have been 642,572 initial claims filed in 2020, 620,920 of which have been filed since the week ending March 14.

The featured speaker at Monday's Democratic luncheon will be Patricia Ackerman, Democratic candidate for Nevada's 2nd Congressional District (CD-2). An Emerge Nevada graduate, Patricia ran an aggressive Assembly campaign against District 39 Republican Jim Wheeler in 2018.

Nevada DMV will offer extended hours on weekdays but close Saturdays at its Reno and Las Vegas offices, officials announced Wednesday. DMV says the changes will offer more appointments while maintaining COVID-19 health and safety protocols. The plans do not affect Carson City and rural Nevada offices.

Finalized data from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) show initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) totaled 13,727 for the week ending August 1, down 4,663 claims, or 25.4 percent, compared to last week’s total of 18,390 claims.

This is the first decline in weekly initial claims since week ending June 20. Through the week ending August 1, there have been 624,817 initial claims filed in 2020, 603,165 of which have been filed since the week ending March 14.

Stacey Giomi, Ward 1 Supervisor, former Fire Chief, and Regional Director of Operations for Rural Programs and Director of Facilities & Emergency Preparedness at Nevada Health Centers, will be the featured speaker at Monday's Carson City Democratic Men's Committee's tele-luncheon. Nevada Health Centers is a state-wide organization that provides medical and dental care to over 50,000 low-income, uninsured, underinsured and geographically isolated residents of Nevada. It is the largest community health center in Nevada, with locations in seven different Nevada counties.

Nevada Rural Housing Authority has completed renovations at one of its subsidized, single-family rental properties in Carson City.

President Donald Trump’s campaign has sued Nevada over a contentious bill recently approved in the ongoing special session of the Nevada Legislature that expands mail-in voting for the 2020 general election, saying it would make voter fraud “inevitable.”

CARSON CITY — Hundreds of Nevada National Guardsmen will remain on duty for the remainder of 2020 in support of the state’s COVID-19 response, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak announced Tuesday.

CARSON CITY — In the first two weeks of Nevada’s residential rental assistance program, 8,404 applications have been received statewide.

Historic Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City, Nevada, is opening its doors once again for what it was meant to be — a performing arts venue. “Murder at the Gin Joint” premiers this August and is a murder mystery presented by the Piper’s Players.

State lawmakers have taken the first steps to amend a cap on mining taxes in the state Constitution, a process that could raise hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue but was staunchly opposed by Republicans and the mining industry representatives who warned it would be a “death knell” for rural Nevada.

Finalized data from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) show initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) totaled 18,390 for the week ending July 25, up 2,842 claims, or 18.3 percent, compared to last week’s total of 15,548 claims.

CARSON CITY — Nevada motorists who have been unable to make an appointment at DMV offices before their expiration date will benefit from two new initiatives announced by the Department of Motor Vehicles on Tuesday.

Gov. Steve Sisolak is rolling back orders to close bars in three rural counties but keeping closure orders in place in Las Vegas and Reno, while signaling a new emphasis on interventions that are narrowly tailored to noncompliant businesses and hotspot regions rather than entire industries.

CARSON CITY — Last week, the Emergency Nurses Association announced that Carson Tahoe Health Emergency Department received the esteemed Lantern Award for 2020, which will span until 2023. The ENA recognizes just 25 emergency departments worldwide that exemplify exceptional practice and innovative performance in the core areas of leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research.

CARSON CITY — After the first week of the State of Nevada’s rental assistance program, significant funds remain available for renters who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the launch of the program last Monday, a total of 3,085 statewide applications had been submitted by tenants seeking assistance.

In the midst of COVID-19, several local non-profits, churches, homeless shelters and social services are helping those in need. Community food resources in the Carson City, Minden, Silver Springs, Yerington, Gardnerville and Dayton areas have put together plans and options during these unprecedented times.