RENO, Nev. (AP) -- A new report predicts "disastrous" economic consequences unless Nevada invests more in higher education to train skilled workers and attract new businesses and industries.
The report released this month by the Institute for Higher Education Policy said that in 2006, only 28 percent of Nevadans between the ages of 18 and 24 were enrolled in college, compared with 41 percent in top states.
Worried about a growing number of changes, miscalculations and a worsening economic forecast, Democratic lawmakers want Gov. Jim Gibbons to tell them how he plans to address the ever expanding budget deficit that has opened since he submitted his proposed budget.
The Nevada Department of Transportation's board of directors will hold a special meeting March 12 to discuss economic stimulus projects, according to Gov. Jim Gibbons' spokesman.
Includes story on higher education stimulus funding.
At first, Nevada expected little revenue from gaming. Here's how that changed over time.
When Nevada legalized gaming in 1931, it was almost an afterthought.
The modest levies on card games and slots would be the garnish. The main course through tough economic times, state leaders believed, would be looser divorce laws adopted during the same legislative session to lure unhappy spouses to spend time - and money - in Nevada.
The gaming bill's author, freshman legislator Phil Tobin, couldn't know that 78 years later the quality of Nevada's schools, public safety and services to the poor would depend on how much tourists drop in the slot machines and bet at the tables.
The report, Shaping Nevada's Future: What the State Can Do to Invest in College Access and Success, reveals an investment in Nevada's higher education can lead to significant economic benefits for the state and its residents. The report uses a variety of existing data sources-along with interviews with state and local policymakers, K-12 and higher education officials, students, and citizens of Nevada-to explore the barriers that Nevada students face in their pursuit of postsecondary education. The study shows that many students-particularly those from low-income families and minority groups-are finding it difficult to gain access to and succeed in college.
Yes, it has, but the economic meltdown in much of the country has been a boon to the county and its 5,000 residents, 4,000 of whom live in the Battle Mountain area.\n\nThe reason: They mine gold in Lander County, a mineral-rich area that is a major reason Nevada, nicknamed the Silver State, is also the world's fourth biggest producer of gold.
There might be a silver lining in the economic crisis, at least for students tired of taking tests.
State Superintendent Keith Rheault is proposing eliminating a state-mandated exam as a way of cutting $1 million from the state budget.
Carson City - Nevada has handed out tax incentives worth an estimated $45 million to lure solar and geothermal projects to Nevada over the past four years.
So far, the state has received in return promises that the projects' developers will create 89 permanent jobs.
It's a number so small that some lawmakers are questioning whether taxpayers are getting a good return on their investment in the incentives.
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