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.

A new and free 7-12 grade public secondary charter school in Carson City, The Nevada Performance Academy, will open in August. There will be a creative emphasis on academic requirements informed by the performing arts.

CARSON CITY — For the fourth consecutive year, Western Nevada College will graduate its largest class in history. The class of 2013 is 505 students strong, with 530 degrees and certificates being issued.

Four students will receive Bachelor of Technology degrees in construction management, and three students will graduate with bachelor’s degrees as part of WNC’s teacher preparation partnership with Nevada State College. The graduates span 60 years, from the youngest at age 17 and the eldest at 77.

Nevada lawmakers hosted a town hall style meeting to discuss how to use the Silver State's tax dollars in the best way possible.

Three major topics were discussed at the town hall forum, the PERS Preservation Act, Public Works and Opportunity Scholarships for low income students.

Enrollment at Nevada Performance Academy, a Nevada tuition free charter school in Carson City that will serve grades 7-12, begins Wednesday. In an effort to ensure high quality teaching and learning, and because of predicted space constraints, the Academy will limit first-year enrollment in the blended components of its academic program, which is face-to-face instruction and participation in extracurricular classes.

Legendary rock band “War” will headline this summer’s Concert Under the Stars taking place Tuesday, July 9 outdoors behind Café at Adele’s. The annual event benefits Carson City’s Greenhouse Project. The gates open at 5 p.m. and the music begins at 6:30 p.m.

In a career that has spanned more than four decades War has sold more than 50 million albums. The band’s unique mix of Funk, Jazz, R&B and Rock and Roll has produced numerous top ten singles including “Low Rider”, “Cisco Kid”, “Why Can’t We be Friends” and many more.

More than a decade ago, a Western Nevada College physics professor’s dream, a desire by college students to learn about astronomy, and the Carson City community's willingness to help make dreams come true, all converged to create the Jack C. Davis Observatory.

Now, WNC and the observatory staff and volunteers have planned a stellar celebration from May 2-15 to commemorate 10 years of science and discovery in Nevada’s capital city.

Outstanding Western Nevada College students and faculty have been honored for outstanding scholarship and teaching during the 2012-2013 academic year.

Awards were presented to students for academic excellence, tutoring, peer mentorship, athletics, those in the Latino cohort and in student government, as well as to faculty for outstanding teaching and service during the 2012-13 academic year.

Faculty of the Year honors went to Mathematics Professor Michael Hardie, Ed.D. and English instructor Ryan Stryffeler, Ph.D.

“Always Lost: A Meditation on War” has returned home to Carson City and was given full honors Wednesday at the Nevada Legislature.

Western Nevada College’s acclaimed creative writing/photographic exhibition about the costs of war will be on display in the Nevada Legislative Building’s second-floor atrium weekdays through May 3.

by PAUL GEORGE and LINDSAY TOSTE

Earlier today, Reno City Councilman Oscar Delgado testified before the Senate Committee on Finance. Delgado spoke in favor of Senate Bill 398, a measure that would help fund the implementation of the AfterSchool KidzLitz literacy program in Nevada Boys and Girls Clubs.

“Education does not stop at three o’clock,” Delgado said.

An action-packed week filled with music, arts, books, Nevada political history and more will be featured as Carson City Library celebrates National Library week.

Special events kick off Monday, 6 p.m., at the library auditorium with “The Lure of Music, a Human Universal” presented by internationally-recognized music scholar Fredric Lieberman, Ph.D., a distinguished professor of music at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

“Always Lost: A Meditation on War” is returning to its roots. Western Nevada College’s acclaimed creative writing/photographic exhibition about the costs of war will be on display in the Nevada Legislative Building’s second-floor atrium on weekdays, April 17 to May 3.

This is a story about history and Hollywood. Art imitating life. Often times when the two met, history took a back seat to hype and drama in order to insure good attendance at the box office. This time however, the story was so good, and so strong, that not even Hollywood could screw this one up. The year was 1950 and the film was titled: “Mister 880.” It was based on ten years in the life of Emerich Juettner, who was also known as Edward Mueller.

Are you wondering what this yoga thing is all about?

4-SESSION YOGA 4 BEGINNER'S WORKSHOP

Bill Martell has written over nineteen produced films, including three HBO Premier movies, is the West Coast Editor of Scr(i)pt Magazine’s Independents screenwriting column, is a contributor to Writer's Digest Magazine and a past columnist for Hollywood Scriptwriter Magazine. He’s been interviewed by Variety, featured in The Hollywood Reporter’s first Writers Special issue, and continues to teach around the world.

This day-long seminar is presented in two parts for both beginning and advanced screenwriters. Attend either session – or BOTH!

The United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra has chosen several Carson City area nonprofit organizations and agencies to help with funding in areas that address crime and substance abuse prevention among youth.

The partnerships, announced Monday, are aimed to address the complex conditions that are putting youth at risk, said Karen Barsell, CEO and president of United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra.

The Carson City Symphony, conducted by David Bugli, will perform "A Celebration in Two Sharps" on Sunday, April 28, 4 p.m., at the Carson City Community Center's Bob Boldrick Theater, 851 E. William Street. Guest soloist Stephen Framil will play the Cello Concerto by Antonín Dvořák.

The program also features Wagner's Overture to "Rienzi" and Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony. All three compositions are associated with keys having two sharps, D major and B minor.

A contest designed to give financial rewards to 12 Nevada students is now underway. The Nevada College Savings Board and State Treasurer Kate Marshall have launched the fifth annual Nevada $529 College Savings Day Contest, open to students from kindergarten through the fifth grade.

by RILEY SNYDER

Carson City Symphony's Strings in the School ensemble concert on Tuesday is an undertaking the community will be proud of, explains Education Director Sue Jesch in this presentation of It's Your City.

by SCOT JENKINS

One month ago, I was in a mad scramble trying to find a class for spring semester. Today, I was holding the elevator door for a Senator so we could both attend his committee hearing in a timely fashion. Tonight, as I look over my first article while awaiting the publication of my second, I can’t help but catch things that would make Paul Mitchell give me that clairvoyant look, the one where he doesn’t say anything but I can actually hear the bass of his voice in my mind saying: you are capable of doing better than this, right?

by MOLLY MOSER

On Mar. 20, the Senate Committee on Education discussed Senate Bill 164 in order to clarify the definition of bullying and to provide safe and respectful learning environments of Nevada schools.

UPDATE: Tonight is your night, Carson City. Free admission for all, plenty of chili and refreshments and an opportunity to win some pretty impressive prizes are in store at Carson Middle School beginning at 6 p.m. during its huge Family Bingo and Chili Night party.

With well over $7,000 in total prizes to be won in 15 exciting bingo games, the Carson City community will see the mother of all bingo parties, organizers promise. Recently added to the prize list are:

Have a fun time learning to play your fiddle, mandolin,
bass and/or guitar from Cindy Gray, faculty member of the
“Steve Kaufman Acoustic Camp” in Maryville, Tennessee.
Learn to play “mountain music” on your instrument, so that
you can join-in on the many bluegrass and/or old time jam
sessions that take place in our area. All students will receive
individualized training.

Tuition: $150 ($120 BAC Members)
Saturdays 11:00am-1:00pm
April 20–June 1 (6 weeks, no class May 25th for Memorial Day)
Instructor: Cindy Gray
Location: Ballroom