rgj

Its been 20 years since Sonny Bono died skiing at Heavenly

Twenty years ago this week, Sonny Bono went missing.

He was a Palm Springs icon, born Salvatore Phillip Bono to a Sicilian peasant and a second-generation Italian-American whose marriage was arranged when his mother was 14. In Washington D.C., he was the Honorable Sonny Bono, Republican member of the House of Representative for California’s 44th District. But, to everyone else, he was Sonny.

What's killing Nevadans? The top 10 causes of death in the Silver State

Like Americans nationwide, Nevadans were more likely to die from heart disease or cancer in 2016 than other causes.

But one cause of death in the Silver State stands out compared with national trends: suicide. The number of suicides increased by 13 percent from 2015 to 2016, according to data provided by the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health.

It's a trend Washoe County's chief medical examiner and coroner, Dr. Laura Knight, has noticed locally.

Sales of land meant for public beach access in Incline Village brought into question

Five years ago, Washoe County handed 87 parcels of land over to the Incline Village General Improvement District, forgiving more than $800,000 in unpaid property taxes on the land in exchange for a promise from Incline Village to use the land as publicly owned open space.

The lots, most of them unbuildable scraps of land, had wound up on Washoe County's delinquent tax rolls because the owners hadn't paid property taxes for at least three years. Under state law, those parcels can be given to another government agency if that agency will use the land for a specific public purpose.

South Lake Tahoe couple launches award-winning BumpBar

No, BumpBar is not a new watering hole in South Lake Tahoe. Instead, BumpBar is a nutritious bar with the pregnant or nursing woman in mind, and is the creation of local couple Dr. Amanda Weavil, MD and Scott Weavil.

BumpBar began in 2015 when Amanda, a South Lake Tahoe OB/GYN wanted to develop a nutrition bar for her patients who were either pregnant or nursing. Something they have and not worry about the ingredients.

Scott researched the large nutrition bar market and found there were no options for sale like they had in mind, something people could eat on the go that was healthy.

Washoe County Sheriff reacts to Reno newspaper story

In 2015 and 2016 the Washoe County Detention Facility was faced with a spike of in-custody deaths. Each of these resulted in a thorough and thoughtful investigation to help us better understand and mitigate critical community-wide issues that permeate our facility. These investigations helped lead to changes and pursuits aimed at prevention.

Reno Gazette Journal files lawsuit against Sparks over pot business licenses

The Reno Gazette-Journal filed a lawsuit Friday against the city of Sparks in an effort to compel them to release the names of medical marijuana business licensees.

As the newspaper expands its coverage of Nevada’s burgeoning medical marijuana industry, the RGJ has requested and collected copies of current business licenses for cultivation centers, dispensaries and production facilities in the area. Reno and Washoe County both have policies to release all of the information that the licenses entail.

The bomb that shook Lake Tahoe

A twisted chunk of metal, a file of yellowing newspapers and a million memories from 35 years ago are constant reminders of the Harvey’s Casino Resort bombing for retired FBI agent Bill Jonkey.

“It’s something you never forget,” said Jonkey, the FBI’s lead investigator on the $3 million extortion case, who lives in retirement in Carson Valley.

BLM wants government officials to get VIP treatment at Burning Man

U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) officials are asking Burning Man organizers to provide "excessive" comforts such as flushing toilets, washers and dryers, and vanity mirrors in a compound for high-level government officials staying in Black Rock City.

A Burning Man spokesman estimated the compound would cost the event more than $1 million, bringing its 2015 permit fees to about $5 million. The renderings of the compound obtained by the RGJ also show various accommodations set aside for VIP visitors but don't indicate who the visiting dignitaries will be.

Saber-toothed cat fossils found near Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS - Researchers say a pair of fossils unearthed in the hills north of Las Vegas belonged to a saber-toothed cat.The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports (http://on.rgj.com/SyeHtn) a team from C...

Washoe County deputies defend actions against RGJ photographer

RGJ: Apple looks at Northern Nevada to invest $1 billion in facilities

The Reno Gazette-Journal is reporting that Apple is planning on opening a data center east of Sparks and a business and purchasing center in downtown Reno, part of a $1 billion investment the company plans to spend in Northern Nevada over the next 10 years.
The deal includes tax abatements from the city and state, including sales and property tax. The Reno City Council will consider the deal on Wednesday.

RGJ photographer on assignment roughed up by deputies

Memorial Saturday for legendary broadcaster, hellraiser and satirist Travus T. Hipp

Services for legendary radio commentator Travus T. Hipp will be held this Saturday, May 26, in Silver City. Hipp died early Friday morning, May 18, at his Silver City home. He was 75, as old as the Golden Gate Bridge in his beloved San Francisco.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 26, in Silver City. Gathering, gnoshing and remembering will begin at the Silver City Community Center, 385 High Street, at 10:00 a.m. Food and refreshments will be provided. Those who wish may bring more.

RGJ: At least 9 confirmed dead in Reno air race crash, 6 critically injured (W/VIDEO OF CRASH)

The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that at least nine people have died in the Reno Air Races crash. Among the dead include pilot Jimmy Leeward, for whom a memorial is planned today. Go here for the latest. A Victim Information Line has been established. Call (775) 972-6663.

Friends recall Florence Donovan-Gunderson; witness describes shooting as tragedy hits South Lake Tahoe

A gunman who opened fire inside a Carson City restaurant has torn a hole through the South Lake Tahoe community, taking the life of a long-time local woman, maiming her disabled husband, and sending shock waves in the community after learning the gunman has family business ties in town.
The brutal murder that happened inside the International House of Pancakes this week claimed the lives of three U.S. Army National Guard personnel and Lake Tahoe Keys resident Florence Donovan-Gunderson, 67. Shooter Eduardo Sencion, 32, of Carson City turned the automatic weapon he was packing on himself and left both communities stunned and asking questions about why such a senseless act of violence happened.

Carson City IHOP shooting: Gunman named, four confirmed dead, eight wounded; shooter worked at South Shore

5:30 p.m. Update: Press conference concludes with a few more details. Officials state that shooter Eduardo Sencion had two other weapons at his vehicle, another rifle and a handgun. Neither were used in the incident. The FBI stated that there doesn't appear to be any connection to terrorism.

Sencion was born in Mexico, and had a U.S. passport. The Lake Tahoe News reports Sencion, 32, of Carson City is the owner, along with two brothers, of Mi Pueblo market in South Lake Tahoe on Pioneer Trail. Click here to read the story.

Three victims were killed inside the restaurant, two male National Guard members, and a civilian woman. Two female and one male National Guard members were wounded. Ten of the victims were shot inside the restaurant, while one woman standing outside next to a motorcycle was shot and wounded.

Sheriff Kenny Furlong said they are still working to determine the shooter's motive, saying it is too early to tell if the National Guard members were intentionally targeted.

****

3:30 p.m. Update: Carson City Sheriff Kenny Furlong released the name of the person suspected of shooting 11 people at the IHOP restaurant on South Carson Street this morning.

The person's name is Eduardo Sencion, 32, of Carson City. He allegedly shot himself after shooting 11 people, and died about two hours later.

Furlong said he works at his family's business in South Lake Tahoe, and that he might have had some "mental issues."

Three of the 11 victims have died, including two uniformed National Guard members. Three of the wounded were also National Guardsmen.

The other victim who died was a civilian female, according to Furlong.

The investigation into why Sencion carried out the shooting is still underway.

More stories about today's shooting

If you have any information about this incident, or would like to share your story, photos or video, please go here.

Congressional debate live tonight at 6 p.m. on public radio and television

Three Reno news organizations are teaming up to provide a debate tonight, two days before early voting begins for the Congressional District 2 Special Election. The debate begins at 6 p.m. and will be aired in a collaborate effort between Reno Public Radio 88.7 FM (KUNR); KNPB-TV Channel 5 (PBS) and the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Syndicate content