Nevada Legislature

University Medical Center administrators are proposing to reduce or eliminate half a dozen hospital services to offset an estimated $8 million shortfall anticipated with the first wave of Medicaid cuts. The county's only public hospital already has dropped its outpatient oncology service, sending 400 people by year's end in search of other chemotherapy providers. Today, administrators will propose to Clark County commissioners making cuts to select programs and services...

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.

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.

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The House and Senate conferees have reached a deal on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The agreement was reached late last night and has cut the total value of the bill to US $789 billion. The bill will be a boon for the renewable energy industry. All of the provisions that were contained in the Senate version of the bill were retained. In addition, the grants in lieu of tax credits clause that the House version of the bill contained made the final package.

The House passed the conference report (246Y/183N) on Friday, February 13, with the Senate taking a vote at some point this weekend. President Obama will then sign the legislation on President's Day. Information is slowly emerging on the details of the conference report between the House and Senate. NCSL will update this page as information becomes available.

Revises provisions relating to funds to stabilize the operation of local government.

The appointment on Rep. Dina Titus' calendar last Saturday didn't appear controversial at first glance. Yet Titus soon realized that she was wading into a political firestorm.

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.

The Sun reported last week on growing doubts among state and local politicians about the need for another quarter-cent sales tax increase sought by Metro Police to pay for more officers.

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.

The Nevada Tax System: The Short-Run Dynamics and Long-Run\nDynamics of Nevada Taxes\nA Framework for Public Policy Analysis\n

CARSON CITY -- The Public Employees Retirement System has lost more than $4 billion on its investments since July, according to system executives who also told Nevada legislators Monday that they cannot legally cut benefits to existing participants.

Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, and Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley chided Sparks city officials today for the Legends redevelopment project that they say has cost the state tax revenue.

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.

Carson City - So long, balanced budget. Hello, deficit spending. Legislators and Gov. Jim Gibbons announced on Tuesday a tentative agreement to bridge the state's $300 million budget shortfall by making $150 million in cuts and - to spare agencies even deeper cuts - borrowing $150 million from a local government investment account. If the plan is approved by the Legislature during a special session set for Dec. 8, it would be the first time since at least the Great Depression that Nevada has balanced its budget by borrowing money, according to state government observers.

CARSON CITY -- Although the amount of money the Nevada Department of Transportation spends in Clark County is increasing, the state's most populated county still receives much less in transportation spending than its citizens pay in fuel taxes. During the past five years, the department has spent an annual average of $325 million on Clark County construction, maintenance and other types of highway projects. Share & Save Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites What is this? Most Popular Stories # POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Freedom's Watch effort winding down # THE FACES OF HARD TIMES: 'We put our trust in people' # NORM: Olympic medalist shows other skills # NORM: Gans closes out tonight at Mirage # NORM: New restaurant serves up Sinatra # NORM: Make room for new, bigger clubs # NORM: Britney-LV buzz hard to nail down # Beltway interchange opens # LV police find body, suspect homicide # 'Straw' buyers land loans That is 61 percent of the statewide average annual spending of $530 million. Nearly 73 percent of the state's 2.8 million residents are from Clark County. They contribute 70 percent of the state's motor fuel taxes.