state agencies

The Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District and the U.S. Forest Service will continue prescribed fire operations this week on Kingsbury Grade near Buchanan Road, Ski Run Boulevard near Heavenly, Luther Pass and Spooner Summit. Operations will last through the next several weeks as conditions allow.

CARSON CITY, Nev.– A specialty Nevada license plate supporting safe bicycle and pedestrian programs is now available for purchase through the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.

The specialty plate displays a “Share the Road” message and bicycle and pedestrian image. The plates will cost an initial $61 and $30 for renewal. Proceeds of $25 per plate will provide grant money for non-profit and government organizations to plan and construct bicycle and pedestrian facilities, as well as support bicycle and pedestrian safety, education and other programs.

Deonne Contine will be the executive director of the Nevada Department of Taxation effective Friday, Gov. Brian Sandoval announced Thursday.

“Deonne has served as a smart and steady deputy within the Department of Taxation. Her wide breadth of experience within state government will enable a smooth transition and ensure continuity and stability within the Department. I am pleased she has agreed to serve the state in this manner and look forward to having her in my Cabinet,” said Sandoval.

I recently received an overly large mailer from PK O'Neill, a candidate for Assembly District 40. What he says is disturbing. He pontificates without solutions. He seems more concerned with cliches than real issues.

PK is not alone when making political claims. For another example, see Maizie Harris Jesse's letter “Candidates need to research lt.gov.job duties” in 17 October Nevada Appeal.

PK on the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS)

State agencies are urging caution when driving on highways, public roads and in neighborhoods near the Virginia Range. The range includes the areas east of Carson City, Fernley, Dayton, Lockwood, south Reno, Silver Springs and Virginia City.

Northern Nevada Development Authority, Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, and Nevada Industry Excellence have partnered again to bring the 2014 Manufacturing in Nevada Conference.

This year’s conference will be held on Oct. 1-2 at John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks. The event has been expanded to feature an Unmanned Aircraft Systems/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles conference with some of the field’s top experts, as well as showcasing exhibit booths both days.

Three northern Nevada development agencies have partnered to bring the 2014 Manufacturing in Nevada Conference to Sparks, Oct. 1-2. The event will coincide with a Unmanned Aircraft Systems/Unmanned Aerial Vehicles conference.

The events are being hosted by the Northern Nevada Development Authority, Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, and Nevada Industry Excellence. The conferences feature the field's top experts, as well as showcasing exhibit booths both days.

The Comstock History Center in Virginia City, in partnership with the Comstock Cemetery Foundation, is pleased to announce the opening of a new museum exhibit entitled Deathways of the Comstock Chinese.

The exhibit, which highlights the death and burial practices of the Chinese, features artifacts, photographs, video and an accurately reproduced, life-sized Chinese gravesite. The free exhibit will open to the public on Thursday, August 14, 2014 at 11 a.m.

The IRS has conferred nonprofit status on the Nevada State Prison Preservation Society, a significant step in the group’s effort to save the historic structure. The first donation to NSPPS under its designation as a public charity was made this week by Carson City Assemblyman Pete Livermore.

Livermore’s legislation in 2013 set the stage for planning by state agencies on the 152-year-old prison’s future as a historic site and museum, as well as possible uses for other buildings on the property.

Gov. Brian Sandoval, Chairman of the Nevada Commission on Homeland Security, along with 16 voting members recently approved the funding allocations for Federal Fiscal Year 2014 Homeland Security Grant Program projects.

Former Tahoe Rim Trail Association director Mark Kimbraugh and Carson City Muscle Powered's Kelly Clark were among several Silver State cycling and hiking advocates recognized recently by the Nevada Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board.
 
Awards were presented at the 12th annual Nevada Bicycle and Pedestrian Summit in Reno. The board praised individuals, agencies and groups for improving bicycle and pedestrian facilities, safety and advocacy.

Read the full text of Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell's State of the City speech, after the jump.

RENO, Nev. – The University of Nevada, Reno’s Seismological Laboratory reports an ongoing swarm of earthquakes near Virginia City, Nev. since Tuesday, Jan. 21. To date, over 100 events have been located. Four have been larger than magnitude 3.0, in the past two days.

There have been no reports of damage. The larger events have been felt in Virginia City about 8 miles to the southwest and in Reno about 10 miles west of the swarm.

Beginning Thursday current Lake Tahoe license plate holders are eligible to win free lift tickets through the Tahoe Fund’s “Plate Spotter” program.

Owners of Tahoe plates who post photos of their plates to the Tahoe Fund Facebook page are entered to win two free lift tickets from one of eleven participating resorts. Winners will be drawn randomly bi-monthly through March.

This owner of this plate is this week's Plate Spotter winner and will receive two tickets to Heavenly Ski Resort.

CARSON CITY — State agencies appear to have dramatically reduced their frequency of contracting with current and former employees since a law regulating the practice took effect in July 2011.

Agencies and schools throughout Carson City will participate in an earthquake drill Thursday morning. Along with millions of people worldwide, Nevadans are encouraged to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” at 10:17 a.m. on Oct. 17 for the 2013 Great Nevada ShakeOut.

State agencies throughout the Carson City area, as well as the Public Health Preparedness Program of the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, the Nevada Division of Emergency Management, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources plan to participate in the earthquake drill.

Western Nevada College President Carol Lucey announced that she is retiring from her post Wednesday, following more than 14 years at the helm of the Carson City and Northern Nevada-based college system. The announcement followed an earlier notice to the college community in the summer in which she relayed her intention to retire at some point during the 2013-14 academic year.

Pursuant to Board of Regents Policy, Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Daniel Klaich has designated WNC Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services Chet Burton as the Officer in Charge for WNC.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval issued an executive order this week that directs all state agencies to make a concerted effort to include persons with disabilities in the preliminary and final group of candidates considered for employment.

The executive order is intended to allow people with disabilities greater opportunity to enter the workplace and to lead the way for businesses and other organizations to do the same, according to a news release from the governor's office.

Business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to access resources and learn more about overcoming the issues and challenges of launching or expanding a business during the Governor’s Conference on Small Business 2013. The annual statewide conference, taking place in Reno for the first time on August 28 at the Grand Sierra Resort, will provide a comprehensive one-stop resource for information on funding, licensing, regulatory compliance and much more.

Nevada Senators Harry Reid and Dean Heller and U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-2) met Wednesday with top officials from the U.S. Department of the Interior to discuss actions that can be taken to help prevent the Endangered Species Act listing of the sage grouse, as well as the negative impact such a listing would have on the economic growth and development of the Silver State.

VIRGINIA CITY, Nev. – The Comstock History Center welcomes renowned Nevada art collector Wally Cuchine to speak during a two-hour presentation on Saturday, August 3, from noon to 2 p.m.

Cuchine will be discussing his love and talent for collecting Nevada art as well as each of the 35 pieces in Wally’s World: The Loneliest Art Collection in Nevada, an exhibit currently featured at the History Center.

WHAT: Presentation by Nevada art collector Wally Cuchine.

WHEN: Saturday, August 3, from noon to 2 p.m.

by NATASHA VITALE

As the last day of the 77th session of the Nevada Legislature was coming to an end Monday and the clock ticked closer to deadline, legislators were becoming more and more burned out, as well as the technology they rely on.

The Assembly floor session became a perfect example of this.

The latest legislative funding proposals for Nevada’s rural community colleges will do serious harm to the economic development work now employed through a partnership between Northern Nevada Development Authority and Western Nevada College.

Saturday’s committee vote in the Nevada Legislature would result in a General Fund cut of 11.42 percent in the budget of Western Nevada College. This comes on top of more than 27 percent in reductions over the past five years, which led to a significant loss of academic programs, faculty, staff, and services.

The state's first brand has officially been launched: "Nevada. A world within. A state apart."

Gov. Brian Sandoval, Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki and state tourism officials launched the first-ever statewide brand Tuesday that will be used for marketing programs by appropriate state agencies.

Go here to see the overhauled Travel Nevada website. Below is a television commerical featuring the Las Vegas band The Killers singing "Don't fence me in." It will be used for Nevada's summer tourism campaign.

When Gov. Brian Sandoval’s administration relented to public pressure and released agencies’ full budget requests, the total was stunning - $419 million, a 6.5 percent increase over what agencies had officially requested under Sandoval’s strict limits.
Quickly, the left and right tried to define these requests.

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval today released budget data that had been sought by state lawmakers after a weeks-long disagreement over whether the information was public.

With the official start to the Tahoe ski season just around the corner, the Tahoe Fund is launching the popular “Plates for Powder” promotion to drive sales of Lake Tahoe license plates.

CARSON CITY – A dispute has emerged between Gov. Brian Sandoval and the Legislature over what information in the initial state agency request budget should be made available to legislative staff and the public.

At a meeting of the Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee today, state Budget Director Jeff Mohlenkamp was asked about what is considered by legislative staff to be a departure from past practice regarding the budget information provided to legislative fiscal staff and the public.

CARSON CITY – An annual review of funds distributed to charitable groups from the sales of special license plates has found that the University Medical Center Foundation in Las Vegas failed to provide required documentation on the use of the money, and some inf

CARSON CITY – Nevada’s next two-year general fund budget would grow by $279 million to $6.46 billion based on the initial spending requests submitted by state agencies, information released today by the Budget Division shows.