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US agency ends use of `cyanide bomb` to kill coyotes and other predators, citing safety concerns

RENO, Nev. (AP) — The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has halted the use of spring-loaded traps that disperse cyanide powder to kill coyotes and other livestock predators, a practice wildlife advocates have tried to outlaw for decades due to safety concerns. The M-44 ejector-devices that critics call "cyanide bombs" have unintentionally killed thousands of pets and non-predator wildlife, including endangered species, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture`s Wildlife Services. They have a scented bait and emit a poisonous cloud when triggered by a physical disturbance.

BLM seeks public comment for oil and gas lease sale

RENO — The Bureau of Land Management Nevada State Office today opened a 30-day public scoping period to receive public input on two oil and gas parcels totaling 2320 acres that may be included in a June 2024 lease sale in Nevada. The comment period ends December 27, 2023.

NDOT confirms bridge repair on I-80 at last, drivers should expect delays and closures in December

After a year of disarray, repairs to the bridge which carries West Winnemucca Boulevard over I-80 at exit 173 is anticipated to begin in the coming weeks, according to Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) officials. The repair requires special engineering which was originally approved back in the spring 2022, but due to the complex nature of the repairs needed — known as heat straightening — a specific type of engineer and sub-contractors are required in order to rehab the scraping and slight misalignment of the bottom of the bridge girder, which were reportedly difficult to secure.

USDA Rural Development announces telemedicine funding in eight Nevada counties

CARSON CITY — USDA Rural Development Nevada State Director Lucas Ingvoldstad announced two Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grants funding Churchill County’s Central Nevada Health District and Nevada Health Centers for $70,925 and $41,768 respectively. These investments will enable Central Nevada Health District and Nevada Health Centers to expand remote medical access in rural areas through the purchasing of hardware and software, including telehealth carts and tablets. Medical professionals will be able to deliver primary care and other services to rural residents in Elko, Storey, Nye, and Lander Counties through Nevada Health Centers, and to Churchill, Pershing, Eureka, and Mineral Counties through Central Nevada Health District.

Ruby Mountain protections: Where we’ve been, where we are going

The Ruby Mountains in northeastern Nevada stretch for nearly 100 miles in Elko County, with 10 peaks towering over 10,000 feet. These rugged, glacier-carved mountains and their cold, clear streams serve as a stronghold of native cutthroat trout and other wildlife, while providing an abundance of world-class public land opportunities for hunting, fishing and other forms of outdoor recreation. They are also the origin of one of the most important big-game migration corridors in the state, utilized by one of its largest mule deer herds, and home to many other fish and wildlife species, including the Lahontan cutthroat trout.

Nevada Department of Education secures $10 million grant for Innovative Project to Improve Outcomes for students with disabilities

The Nevada Department of Education (NDE) is thrilled to announce it has secured a $10 million dollar grant from the United States Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services for a project that will help young people with disabilities as they transition into adulthood. NDE will work in partnership with the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation’s (DETR) Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), centers for independent living, and other organizations to support the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) - Pathways to Partnerships Innovative Model Demonstration Project, known as the Nevada Transitions Roadmap through Innovative Partnerships (Nevada TRIP) initiative.

Nevada Association of Conservation Districts meets in Winnemucca

Nevada Association of Conservations Districts (NvACD) held its annual meeting at the Boys and Girls Club in Winnemucca, Nevada on November 8, 2023. The NvACD advocates for the 28 Conservation Districts (CDs) in Nevada. More information can be found at NvACD.org. CDs are comprised of locally elected residents who work together to address local natural resource concerns in their communities. They are a division of the state government and hold and manage grants to promote on-the-ground, locally-led conservation activities.

NV Energy reminds customers to remain vigilant of scams ahead of holiday season

As we move into the holiday season, NV Energy is reminding customers to remain vigilant and be on the lookout for scams - which tend to increase during the holiday season. “We want all of our customers to have a safe and enjoyable holiday season, and make sure customers are aware of practices to protect themselves and their families and avoid falling victim to a scam,” said Antoine Tilmon, NV Energy Vice President of Customer Operations.

As Nevada farmers retire, few taking their place as number of farms continues to shrink

For more than 50 years, Rick and B. Ann Lattin operated Lattin Farms in Fallon, a 400-acre farm that started in 1909. But this year, the Lattins, both in their late 70s, laid down their tools, leased their land and stepped back from agricultural production. Their retirement marks the end of an era for the Fallon agricultural community. It also highlights a larger trend in Nevada agriculture — the state’s farmers are aging without a steady stream of young farmers stepping in to replace them, and the number of small-to-medium-sized growers is declining. Compounding the problem, farmland in the state — as in much of the West — is being developed into industrial spaces and housing.

Protecting Northern Nevada residents from contractor scams during harsh winter weather

As harsh weather approaches Northern Nevada, it is crucial to raise awareness about the potential risks’ residents face in the aftermath of natural disasters. Illegal contractors often prey on vulnerable homeowners during these challenging times. The Nevada State Contractors Board is committed to protecting our community, particularly vulnerable individuals, such as senior residents, from contractor scams.

Medicaid seeks public comment for new State Innovation Waiver

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Division of Health Care Financing and Policy (Nevada Medicaid) announced the beginning of a 30-day public comment period for a State Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver application. The public comment period is open from Nov. 20 through Dec. 20, 2023.

Precarious rocks may be used to map seismic hazards

RENO — After a 6.0 magnitude earthquake rocked Antelope Valley near the border between Nevada and California in 2021, researchers were surprised to find that several boulders, precariously perched above a cliff less than four miles from the epicenter, hadn’t tumbled to the ground. The researchers now think they know why. The earthquake, which struck a series of fault lines in an area along the California-Nevada border known as the Walker Lane, had a 6.0 magnitude.

USDA/U.S. Small Business Administration strengthen partnership to create jobs and economic growth in rural America

RENO — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced that USDA is strengthening its longstanding partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to create jobs and expand access to new and better market opportunities for people in rural America.

Speaker Johnson makes Jan. 6 footage available to public

WASHINGTON — Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is making good on his promise to House Republicans to release more than 40,000 hours of U.S. Capitol Security tapes from Jan. 6, 2021.

A's owner 'gratified' as Las Vegas relocation approved by MLB owners

When Oakland Athletics owner John Fisher began exploring Las Vegas as a potential relocation option for his Major League Baseball franchise, he was enthused by the number of people he saw wearing team gear for the Vegas Golden Knights and Las Vegas Raiders. But it was a brief conversation with a couple of military members stationed in Las Vegas that sold him on the city. “They were talking about how great Las Vegas was and it was a place where you would want to live,” Fisher told The Nevada Independent in a brief interview Thursday. “That kind of was the start, about two-and-a-half years ago.”