News

(News Release) — In a lakewide study, a team of scientists lead by University of Nevada, Reno limnologist Sudeep Chandra has found a considerable decline in native fish species density at Lake Tahoe since 1951. In their final report, they are recommending establishing and implementing a management plan to protect the nearshore zone habitat, which is critical to native fish.

Snow and icy roads made for slick travel today as the Nevada Highway Patrol reports having responded to some 23 weather-related accidents, Trooper Chuck Allen reports.

In a 10-hour span that began just after midnight until about 10 this morning, nearly two dozen accidents were reported on the highways. Nineteen of the crashes were property damage only resulting in damage to the involved vehicles, adjacent roadway fences, and sections of guardrail, with the remaining four events having some type of injuries sustained, Allen said.

Here's more photos of today's demonstration at the Nevada State Capitol building.

Students from across Nevada gathered by the thousands today at the Nevada Legislature and at the Governor's office demanding the state's education system be spared from huge cuts proposed under Gov. Brian Sandoval.

Early estimates had the crowd of mostly college students at 1,500 but the numbers have begun to swell as students, faculty and parents from around the state arrive from various locations around the state. Now early estimates among officials on the ground has the number of more than 2,000 demonstrating.

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Click here for a more photos and gallery of today's event.

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One high school, Cheyenne in Las Vegas, had 400 students in a convoy of more than a dozen buses. More than 500 students from University of Nevada Las Vegas boarded tour buses last night for the road trip.

University of Nevada, Reno students also arrived by the busloads. Students from Western Nevada College campuses were quite visible, many expressing fear that education programs vital to the state's economy such as nursing, will be slashed under the governor's budget proposal.

Chanting "SOS Save Our Schools" and "No More Cuts" students walked peaceably through the Legislative Building, making it known that they fear deep cuts to education will damage the state's already shaky economy.

Several spinouts have been reported tonight and this morning, including a semi-truck blocking traffic near Lakeview and Highway 395 in Carson City and an injury accident reported at about 12:30 this morning in the eastbound lane of Highway 50 at Spooner.

A two-vehicle accident in the eastbound lane of Highway 50 involves a hit and run driver. Authorities are looking for a red PT Cruiser which left the scene. The extent of the injuries are unknown.

By Andrew Doughman /Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – In what could be the largest rally ever held at the Legislature, more than 1,000 students, parents, teachers and activists are expected today to protest education budget cuts.

(This article is from AroundCarson.com/)
Not this morning, obviously. We are in the grips of winter again, snow as far as we can see. Happy first day of Spring!

Gusty winds and rain will develop early this morning for the Carson City region, prompting the National Weather Service in Reno to issue a wind advisory through 5 p.m. this afternoon.

The storm looks as though it will be heaviest in areas outside of Carson City with a winter storm warning for Lake Tahoe and the Sierra and a high wind warning for areas east and south of Carson City, especially in Mono, Mineral and southern Lyon counties, according to CarsonWeather.com.

Anne Hansen from Western Nevada College talks about how the state's budget problems are affecting the school.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3SlUYYiuLQ

The outside northbound lane on Carson Street will be closed between 5th Street and Robinson Street from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday and Tuesday.

Clearview Drive is closed between Edmonds Drive and Line Drive for construction on the next phase of the NDOT freeway project. Detours are marked. The road is expected to reopen by November of 2011.

A Carson City Alternative Sentencing probation officer was charged today in a 22-count complaint that alleges he asked females he supervised to undress, in among other places their home and in his patrol car, or face jail. He also allegedly touched the females inappropriately. Read the full Reno Gazette-Journal story here.

CARSON CITY – Assembly Speaker John Oceguera testified today in support of a bill that would expand health insurance transparency for consumers so they can shop for the best coverage.
Assembly Bill 309, reviewed by the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee, is opposed by many companies offering health insurance in Nevada. Only one insurance representative testified against the bill at the hearing, however.

UPDATE 4PM: Power was restored to about around 3,900 NV Energy customers in south Carson City and north Douglas County at about 3:30 this afternoon.

NV Energy reports crews continue work at the substation where the outage happened but managed to get electricity back on to the affected areas. Officials also revised the number of homes and businesses affected during the outage to around 3,900.

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A power outage this afternoon is affecting about 6,000 NV Energy customers in southern Carson City and northern Douglas County.

A winter storm will move into the Carson City, Northern Nevada and Sierra regions today with snow expected to lower along all valley floors by tonight.

The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a winter storm watch for Carson City and valley regions throughout Northern Nevada, with gusty winds in front of the storm of between 20 to 30 mph. The watch is expected to turn to a warning by 5 p.m. Lake Tahoe is already under a winter storm warning.

Meanwhile, a high wind warning is in effect for the Washoe Valley. Trucks, buses, trailers, and RVs are prohibited.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – When Amanda Collins testified before a Senate committee, she recounted an emotional story of her brutal assault at University of Nevada, Reno campus.
Collins said she was defenseless when serial rapist and convicted murderer James Biela attacked her in a UNR parking garage.

A 21-year-old Carson City woman died this morning in a vehicle accident 10 miles east of Dayton on HIghway 50.

The Nevada Highway Patrol reports that at 6:48 a.m., troopers were dispatched to the collision that involved a blue Honda two-door passenger vehicle and a red Ford Ranger pickup truck, said Trooper Michael Edgell. Alcohol may have played a factor in the accident, he said.

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – The city of Henderson is seeking legislation that one critic says would make it more difficult for Southern Nevada residents to challenge land use decisions by local governments.

LAS VEGAS – The ability to carry a firearm on Nevada’s college campuses could have prevented her brutal rape, says a victim who will testify before the Senate Government Affairs Committee tomorrow in Carson City.

Dino DiCianno, director of the Nevada Department of Taxation, resigned last week after admitting that the department can't audit the tax deductions claimed by the state's mining industry. But in this 2006 video, he does a short comedy routine about how well they collect taxes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFWFbWuVCd8

Perhaps Dino should have had 'Bear' auditing the mining companies.

By Andrew Doughman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Legislators would have to attend legislator school under a bill from Speaker John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas.
Assembly Bill 260 would make it mandatory for all new legislators to attend classes before the official start of the legislative session.

News Release — The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Nevada Department of Public Safety — Division of Emergency Management (DPS-DEM) are collectively working to address the public’s concerns surrounding the potential impact to the State of Nevada and the rest of the United States from the Japanese nuclear reactor crisis.

Eric Matus, Radiation Physicist for the Nevada State Health Division, has compiled an overview of information addressing the concerns and speculation that continue to linger.

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval today signed the first two public policy bills of the 2011 legislative session.

Open burning will be permitted by the Carson CIty Fire Department between March 26 to April 24. Permits can be obtained at the local fire stations and online.

An open burn period allows residents the chance to dispose of weeds and yard debris. For safety reasons, the fire department will again require residents to obtain permit before burning is allowed. Permits will be issued on a walk-in basis beginning March 21 at the following locations:

All Carson City Fire Stations:
— Station 1 Headquarters at 777 S. Stewart St., Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Watch the live video here, and join in the discussion.

Carson City Supervisor Shelly Aldean talks about the Carson City Center/Nugget Project.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV3qETrL7DY

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s General Counsel Nicole Rinke resigned from her post today, according to an agency news release.

“We are grateful for Nicole’s four years of extraordinary service to TRPA and the Lake Tahoe Basin.” said Norma Santiago, TRPA Governing Board Chair, “On behalf of the Board, I’d like to thank Nicole for the energy and expertise she brought to the General Counsel position during a time in the Agency’s history when legal challenges are becoming more frequent and complex.”

Carson City firefighters attend to a woman who drove through a fence into the backyard of a Northridge home early Wednesday morning, March 16, 2011, in Carson City, Nev.
Photo by Cathleen Allison / NevadaPhotoSource.Com

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval was briefed on the Japan earthquake and Nevada’s readiness to deal with any local effects from the disaster during a visit today with the state’s emergency responders at the state Emergency Operations Center.

Responding to last week’s devastation in Japan, Charter Communications will waive all charges for direct dial long-distance calls to Japan from residential and business Charter Phone customers through April 30.

The free offer will be retroactive for calls placed to Japan from March 11, according to a statement from its Reno office.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying two suspects who cashed fraudulent checks at the Carson Valley Inn last month.

The pair entered the cashier's cage at the casino on Feb. 24 and cashed fraudulent checks for an undisclosed amount of money. The incident was reported to the sheriff's office on March 11, according to Douglas County Sheriff's Sgt. Jim Halsey.

The suspects are believed to be part of a group of suspects who have recently cashed counterfeit paychecks at several Northern Nevada area casino, he said.