NEED A MAMMOGRAM? The mammovan is in Northern Nevada this month checking women for breast cancer. They take insurance, but they also see people who don’t have it. All you need to do is make an appointment, or just pop in. For the mammovan schedule, visit nvhealthcenters.org.
WHOOPING COUGH WARNING — With 3400 cases of whooping cough in California, pregnant women in Nevada are urged to get a Pertussis vaccination or a booster shot. New CDC research says this may protect babies vulnerable to the disease. Infants can’t be vaccinated for Whooping Cough until they’re two months old, so anyone who has contact with newborns or children in general is encouraged to get a shot.
RENO’S NORTHWEST POOL OPENS THIS WEEKEND — The City of Reno’s Northwest Pool reopened to the public over the weekend. The pool, which has been closed for the last six months, has been re-plastered, and the locker rooms have been upgraded to meet standards outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
SOCCER “SCORES” IN RENO — Professional soccer is FINALLY coming to Reno! A United Soccer League expansion team will be ready to play at Aces Ball Park in 2017. The team will be owned by the same people who own the Aces baseball team. A formal announcement is expected next Wednesday at the ball park. Richard Jay, Commissioner for Nevada Youth Soccer Association, says this is exciting news for kids who play soccer in northern Nevada and everyone who loves the game.
SOME WASHOE SCHOOLS EXCEED CAPACITY — We’re barely into the new school year, and some schools are already at maximum capacity, especially Brown and Double Diamond Elementary. An RGJ study shows that at Brown, the buildings are only able to accommodate 644 kids, but enrollment stands at 866 students, with 10 portables being used to house them all. Double Diamond is over capacity as well, with room for 738 kids and 849 enrolled. Superintendent Davis says they’re already working on the problem. Several other schools are at capacity, and each one will provide an action plan for the district.
COULD VOUCHERS SOLVE THE SCHOOL OVERCROWDING PROBLEM? The “100 Day Rule” that prevents parents who already have kids in private schools from tapping the Education Savings Account is becoming a big issue. State Treasurer Dan Schwartz says it needs to be changed to prevent the chaos of parents pulling their kids out of private school for 100 school days, and then putting them back in, just to get the funds. The savings accounts provide about $5K per student, the rough equivalent of “per pupil” spending for parents who want to leave public schools for other options.
MORE PROBLEMS FOR SCHOOL CHOICE VOUCHERS — Another lawsuit has been filed against Nevada’s new “Education Savings Account” program, this one from seven parents who say the law undermines public school funding. The group filed the lawsuit in district court in Carson City. Education savings accounts allow parents to take a portion of their child’s state “per pupil” spending and use it at a private school. A separate suit from the ACLU argues the program illegally diverts money to religious schools. The ACLU says ESAs violate the Nevada constitution, but NPRI’s Victor Joecks told KOH’s Dan Mason it’s the parents’ money, therefore Nevada’s constitution can’t dictate their school choice. To hear more of The Dan Mason Show, go to: http://bit.ly/1IRe2dV
GOOD NEWS IN YOUR POWER BILL — Your power bill may be lower next month. NV Energy is sending out $110 million in rebates to its customers. Homeowners will see $2-3 knocked off their bills. The rebate is the result of NV Energy paying less than projected for fuel.
NET METERING RATES STAY FIRM… FOR NOW — Even though the state hit a cap on net metering, Nevada regulators have voted to keep existing rates in place for rooftop solar customers. The Public Utilities Commission voted to keep the status quo until permanent rates are adopted at the end of the year. Rooftop solar companies want to keep existing rates, but NV Energy says it needs new rates to avoid shifting costs to non-solar customers. Solar companies say that could kill their business.
NORTHERN NEVADA WATER USERS “JUST CONSERVE IT” — Truckee Meadows Water Authority says water users have done a good job conserving this summer. TMWA customers reduce their water use an average of 13% per month since May… about 1.5 billion gallons of water. TMWA Chief Hydrologist Bill Hauck says every gallon we save now can be held in upstream reservoirs to help next year.
LAKE TAHOE ROAD PROJECTS BEGIN — The Nevada Department of Transportation kicks off two projects this week along the shores of Lake Tahoe, in Incline Village and the Cave Rock area. The Incline project targets pedestrian safety and includes new street lights, sidewalk ramps, and left hand turn lanes from Country Club Drive. The Cave Rock project will ready the area for an extension of the tunnel in the westbound lanes. Both projects will wrap up at the end of fall, and the tunnel extension construction will pick back up in the springtime.
FAMILIES NEED TO TALK ABOUT ALCOHOL RISKS — September is National Recovery Month, a great time to make sure kids know the dangers of alcohol before they start drinking. According to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics, children start to think positively about alcohol between the ages of nine and 13, mostly because they see family members drink. In Nevada, 21% of adolescents have had their first drink before age 13. In 2013, nearly one in five Nevada high school students reported binge drinking in the previous 30 days. Addiction counselor Sheena Williams says the younger people are when they start to drink, the higher the risk they will become addicted to alcohol.
HEAVENLY OFFERS CLIMBING FOR ADULTS & KIDS — Heavenly Mountain Resort unveiled a new, permanent climbing wall last week, and a new children’s ropes course and zip line over the weekend. The climbing wall, which sits near Tamarack Lodge, is 35 feet high and offers 15 different climbing routes. The new kids’ course is a mini version of Heavenly’s adult ropes course with similar obstacles. To check out Heavenly’s new fun things to do, visit skiheavenly.com.
Book it now: Sept. 25 VETERANS MEMORIAL DINNER — Help build Nevada’s first Veterans’ Memorial Plaza and support our local troops by attending the inaugural Nevada Veterans Memorial Benefit Dinner, September 25, at the Peppermill Resort Spa and Casino. The event will feature speeches by Army General John Abizaid, a senior U.S. military officer of direct Arab descent and the head of CENTCOM, and Brigadier General Robert T. Herbert, a pilot and leader with executive management for the Nevada Army National Guard. To get tickets, log onto nevadaveteransmemorial.org.
