Nevada Receives Federal Energy Funds

Nevada received $11.8 million from the federal government to help low-income families pay for energy costs through The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The average benefit for Nevada households is expected to increase from $732 to $1,024. To be eligible, a family income must be below 150 percent of poverty, equating to $2,650 per month for a family of four.

Republicans Requesting Apology from Reid

Senator Harry Reid says opponents of health care reform are like supporters of slavery. Reid says, “When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said ’slow down, it’s too early, things aren’t bad enough.’” Republicans are blasting Reid for the comparison, calling for an apology from the Senate Majority Leader.

Nevada Business Tax Rate to Remain Same

The tax paid by Nevada businesses to finance the state’s unemployment insurance fund will remain unchanged through next year. However Division of Employment Security Administrator Cindy Jones says businesses will have to pay more in the future to repay hundreds of millions being borrowed from the federal government for jobless benefits.

Reno Man Pleads Guilty to Insurance Fraud

A former Nevada insurance agent has pleaded guilty to felony insurance fraud and could face up to four years in prison after receiving a $27 check from the scheme. Bradley Buchanan admitted his guilt in Washoe District Court for writing fake insurance policies for friends and relatives without their knowledge, and will be sentenced Feb. 5.

Attack on O.J. Simpson False

Reports that O.J. Simpson is hospitalized after being attacked in prison are unfounded. Officials at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Nevada say Simpson remains at the facility and say nothing had happened to him. Both The Drudge Report and celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton quoted sources saying Simpson was seriously beaten in a racially-motivated incident and had to hospitalized.

Nevada’s Governor Briefs State Legislators

Governor Jim Gibbons held a telephone conference call with legislative leaders as he tries to decide if a special session is needed to balance the troubled state budget. The call came after a video session was canceled because of a winter storm that shut down most state agencies in northern Nevada. No decision was made as the state’s revenue remains about $60 million below projections for the year.

Nevada’s V&T Gets New Passenger Car

The Virginia and Truckee Railroad is getting a 1910 Harriman smoker railroad car. The nearly 100-year-old car was originally salvaged from a junkyard in 1964 by a motorcycle club near Tehachapi, Calif., purchased by LA Times writer Bob Smaus in 2003 and finally bought this year by Tom Gray, of the V&T Railroad. Gray says after restoration, the 60-foot car will making runs between Virginia City and Gold Hill.

Northern Nevada Hit by Major Snow Storm

A winter storm is dumping heavy snow in the Sierra and western Nevada, closing schools and government offices and creating slick, hazardous driving conditions. The National Weather Service in Reno say up to 3 feet of snow fell. The Nevada Highway responded to dozens of spin-outs but no major accidents and has set up a chain control checkpoint on several roadways including U.S. 395 and Interstate 80.

BLM in Nevada Underfire by Wild Horse Advocates

A federal advisory panel meeting in Sparks is trying to decide whether to okay the relocation thousands of wild horses from Northern Nevada. The Bureau of Land Management says as many as 25,000 horses need to be removed from public lands because of over population and a lack of forage. Meanwhile, dozens of wild horse advocates testified before the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board requesting the animals remain in their natural habitat.

Charged Dropped Against Nevada’s Lt. Gov.

Nevada’s Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki and his aide Kathryn Besser have been cleared of charges of mishandling a $3 billion college savings program. Clark County District Court Judge Valerie Adair says the four-count felony indictment failed to say which funds were used, which transactions were wrong and what duty Krolicki violated. The charges came after a 2007 audit of the program reporting Krolicki had spent more on an advertising campaign than allotted by the legislature when he was Secretary of State.