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CARSON CITY — On Monday, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak signed into law the final bills of the 31st Special Session of the Nevada Legislature.

Members of the Assembly took the first step to formally slash hundreds of millions of dollars from state budget accounts to close a $1.2 billion budget gap Saturday evening.

The combined 29th Annual America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride, that was postponed to merge with the 18th Annual Tour de Tahoe, scheduled for Sunday, September 13, 2020 has been postponed to their traditional dates in 2021.

Thursday afternoon at the Carson City Board of Supervisors the Carson City Board of Health convened and provided an update on the Health Officer’s Report, and engagement with the Carson City Health and Human Services (CCHHS) Department.

According to the Carson City Health Officer, Dr. Susan Pintar, immunization rates have been falling since the COVID-19 shut down, some places in the country as much as 40 percent, due to the fear of seeking medical help during the time of COVID-19.

UPDATE: While the businesses at Topsy Lane have Carson City addresses, Topsy Lane is technically within the jurisdiction of Douglas County, bringing Carson City's fined businesses to 1, and Douglas County's to 2.

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According to the Nevada Division of Industrial Relations, six Northern Nevada businesses were cited for failing to comply with COVID-19 safety guidelines, three of which were in Carson City.

Waste Management announces an expected pricing change in Carson City trash service that went into effect this month and issues a correction for a misprint on the most recent bill.

In an effort to protect Nevada’s workers and educate businesses on the latest requirements so that Nevada can stay safe and stay open during the pandemic, the Division of Industrial Relations Occupation Safety and Health Administration is conducting ongoing field observations and inspections at establishments where patrons congregate for longer periods of time, which can lead to a heightened risk of spreading COVID-19.

There’s been a lot of confusion and discussion since Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak mandated that everyone must wear a face covering while in public, and one of the points of confusion was which agency is handling reports of non-compliant businesses.

CARSON CITY — Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak announced Monday that Nevada will remain in Phase 2 of the Nevada United: Roadmap to Recovery plan, consistent with public remarks made late last week.

With thunderstorms developing well to the south of Carson City earlier this afternoon, the National Weather Service is advising storms remain a possibility in the region into Thursday evening.

Since launching a statewide testing initiative in May, the Nevada Department of Corrections has tested 10,329 offenders for COVID-19, or 83 percent of its total population of 12,368. Of those tested, only nine — or .08 percent of all offenders — have tested positive for the virus, one of the lowest rates in the nation.

The Carson City area added 300 new jobs in May over April, but is down in jobs overall for the year due to the COVID-19 shutdown as is Reno and Las Vegas, according to figures released Tuesday by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

A Public Utilities Commission of Nevada telephonic consumer session will be held Thursday to discuss NV Energy rate reductions for customers. For Northern Nevada electric customers, the utility proposes to decrease rates an estimated $24.1 million or 3.47 percent across all rate classes, which would result in an estimated decrease in the average monthly residential bill of $2.09, or 2.92 percent.

The Carson City School District is making plans to re-open school this fall and is seeking parent and family feedback through an online 10-question survey. Given various school-related experiences caused by the pandemic, the school district is inviting families to take a few moments to share their thoughts, ideas and suggestions about returning to school. Participation is voluntary and responses are anonymous.

The Office of the Labor Commissioner reminds Nevada employers that the minimum wage will increase effective July 1, 2020. Assembly Bill 456, passed by the 2019 Nevada Legislature, increases the minimum wage in increments of 75 cents annually through 2024.

With assistance for small businesses related to the pandemic constantly changing, many of Nevada’s small businesses are finding it hard to keep up with what assistance is available, as well as the requirements and how to apply. University of Nevada, Reno Extension is offering a free webinar June 19 to help small-business owners learn about one form of assistance, the Paycheck Protection Plan.

Democrats competing in the Congressional District 2 primary have poured tens of thousands of dollars into the race in the hopes of pulling off a historic first: winning a Northern Nevada seat no Democrat has ever won.

In April, Carson City lost 3,800 jobs at a rate of 12.4 percent, giving the capital city an unemployment rate of 21.4 percent for the month compared to March’s rate of 7.1 percent and 4 percent in April 2019, according to figures released Wednesday by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.

Nevada will move into Phase 2 of its reopening plan on Friday amid downward trends in COVID-19 positivity test rates and hospitalizations — a transition that will allow additional venues including churches, gyms and bars to reopen.

The number of Nevadans who died last month after contracting the novel coronavirus was more than four times the number of those who died from influenza and pneumonia over the same period in each of the last two years, according to an analysis by The Nevada Independent of a state report on causes of death and the state’s COVID-19 dashboard.

Besides needing funds available for small businesses during the COVID-19 crisis, small-business owners need additional support and guidance, as well as opportunities to talk with other small-business owners.

Each decade, Nevada grows by about two basketball courts. It’s hard to quantify, state geologist Jim Faulds says, but the comparison is about right.

Thanks to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recent $3 billion purchase and distribution of agricultural products under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Nevada’s two regional food banks began distributing food from the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program this week.

NV Energy’s longstanding plan to woo back large businesses and other major electric customers from leaving utility service now has a name, structural outline and a promise by the utility that the program won’t cost residential and other ratepayers.

The spring warm up will take a brief hiatus this week around the Carson City region as a weather system will move through the area, bringing gusty winds, with showers and high elevation snow late Monday into Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

The Carson City School District is pleased to announce Carson High School’s graduation ceremony plan for the Class of 2020.

Carson High School will hold a drive-through ceremony Saturday, June 6, with varying times throughout the day where graduating seniors and their families will stay in their single vehicle until it's time for the graduate to exit their car, have their name announced on the loudspeaker as they walk across a stage erected on the northwest lawn (near the blue and white concrete ‘CHS’ sign), collect their diploma, have their picture taken, return to their vehicle and then proceed to the exit.

Gov. Steve Sisolak says the state will enter “Phase 1” of business reopenings on Saturday, but that establishments allowed to open their doors will be subject to strict capacity requirements that could be even more stringent if leaders in counties want them to be.

Gov. Steve Sisolak has signed a directive easing some coronavirus-related restrictions starting Friday, May 1, including allowing golf, drive-in worship services and curbside pickup at marijuana dispensaries and other retailers.

Gov. Steve Sisolak will extend the state’s shutdown order to an as-yet undetermined date and close schools for the rest of the academic year, but he will allow some businesses to reopen if the state sees a consistent downward trajectory of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

CARSON CITY — Employment stats in early March, before the COVID-19 shutdown, shows Carson City having gained 400 jobs over March 2019 figures but had decreased significantly since February of this year, according to data released Tuesday by Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. Carson City's unemployment also swelled to 6.7 percent, up from 4.1 percent in February, and up from 4.5 percent a year ago.