THUMBS DOWN to semantics, and legislators’ involvement in the subject.
Did you know that one of the new state laws that took effect on Jan. 1 removes the word “accident” and replaces it with “crash” in state statutes? The legislative intent is to let Nevadans know that many car crashes are preventable and drivers need to be responsible. So please keep a copy of Nevada Revised Statutes in your glovebox on your next trip.
THUMBS UP to the organizers of the annual program to recycle Christmas trees, which are ground into mulch.
The project is overseen by the Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful organization with an assist from the city of Sparks, Washoe County and the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District. The mulch is put to good use at parks, for projects to prevent erosion and even as feed for goats.
THUMBS UP to perseverance and compromise. It took about 27 years, which one official jokingly referred to as fast-track for government. The Truckee River Operating Agreement is now fully implemented, with the last remaining legal issues resolved.
The historic agreement for divvying up water from the river provides much-need certainty for managing the river for a variety of benefits while ending costly and time-consuming legal battles. Perhaps most importantly, the agreement provides Reno and Sparks with a lot more water in upstream reservoirs for use during drought. THUMBS UP to U.S. Sen. Harry Reid for his steadfast leadership on the agreement.
THUMBS UP to Dick Trachok, University of Nevada, Reno athletic director emeritus and former football player and coach of the Wolf Pack, who turned 90 on Dec. 26. Trachok was honored at halftime during UNR’s game against Wyoming. Happy Birthday.
THUMBS DOWN to the state for giving the thumbs down to homeowners who installed rooftop solar units. The Nevada Public Utilities Commission has decided to increase the fixed charge for rooftop solar users and decrease what they receive for the electricity they send to the power grid. It’s hard to argue with a solar-industry representative who said: “Nevada passed incentives to attract residents to go solar. But after baiting homeowners with incentives, the state switched the rules, penalizing solar homeowners to deliver additional profit to NV Energy.”
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