Cy Ryan

Carson City Bureau Chief

Cy has been a reporter at the state capitol in Carson City for a half-century. He has reported on nine governors. He has worked for the Sun 21 years.

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775-687-5032

Story Archive

Lawmakers leery of plan for company to run juvenile detention center: Friday, March 15, 2013; Assembly leaders were leery of the state’s recommendation to use a private company to reopen and operate a detention center for juvenile offenders in Las Vegas.
Nevada sees unemployment fall to 9.7 percent, sheds No. 1 ranking: Friday, March 15, 2013; Nevada’s unemployment rate fell to 9.7 percent in January, and the state no longer has the highest rate in the nation. That’s down from 9.8 percent in December and lower than the rate in Rhode Island, officials said.
Commissioner: Energy programs are tapping out NV Energy customers: Thursday, March 14, 2013; A member of the state Public Utility Commission has complained that electric ratepayers in Las Vegas and Reno “are maxed out” to pay for the laws passed by the Nevada Legislature.
Nevada's top justices want a more secure work environment: Wednesday, March 13, 2013; Justices of the Nevada Supreme Court don’t want personal bodyguards but they want higher security at the courthouse in Carson City and the adjoining office.
Nevada lawmaker says ‘speed kills’ a myth, wants higher limits on interstates: Wednesday, March 13, 2013; The phrase “speed kills” — often posted along Nevada freeways — is a myth, says a state senator who wants to raise the maximum speed limit from 75 to 85 mph. Sen. Donald Gustavson said more people are killed in 45 mph speed zones than on freeways.
Water research center at UNLV gets OK: Tuesday, March 12, 2013; Creating a Center of Excellence at UNLV for advanced research on water won approval of $3.8 million in contracts by the state Board of Examiners Tuesday.
Nevada refuses to settle $30 million lawsuit brought by bank: Tuesday, March 12, 2013; The state Board of Finance refused Tuesday to settle a $30 million lawsuit filed by Lehman Brothers Commercial Bank, which lost the state’s business when the company’s financial status was downgraded.
Las Vegas physician assistant among those disciplined by medical board: Monday, March 11, 2013; A physician assistant who made some big money selling controlled substances in a drug scheme in Las Vegas has been fined $5,200 by the state Medical Examiners.
Transportation Board questions $2.8 million for consultants on highway project: Monday, March 11, 2013; The Nevada Transportation Board isn’t happy about spending $2.8 million for out-of-state legal and financial consultants for the giant Neon project to expand Interstate 15 along the Las Vegas Strip.
Small casino agrees to $3,500 fine over hiring errors: Monday, March 11, 2013; The state Gaming Control Board says a Las Vegas casino has agreed to pay a $3,500 fine for hiring workers and not notifying authorities.
Washoe County prosecutor named district judge: Friday, March 8, 2013; A prosecutor in the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has been named to succeed retiring District Judge Steven Elliott.
Silver State may go to the blue Weimaraners: Friday, March 8, 2013; Admid good-natured barking from fellow lawmakers, Sen. Ben Kieckhefer introduced a bill to designate the blue Weimaraner as Nevada’s official state dog. Of those senators interviewed, none have a Weimaraner and Kieckhefer says he owns a pug and a Labrador. But he said he’s doing it as a favor for a 9-year-old student at a Reno school.
Late Chinese New Year factors into 12.4 percent drop in gaming revenue: Friday, March 8, 2013; Nevada casinos suffered a 12.4 percent drop in their gaming win in January due in part to a loss in football betting and a later Chinese New Year’s.
State senator's bill calls for background checks for private gun sales, mental health reporting: Thursday, March 7, 2013; A bill to tighten the law on gun sales and for improved mental health reporting has been introduced by Sen. Justin Jones, D-Las Vegas.
Senate committee approves bill adding attacks on transgender individuals to hate crimes list: Thursday, March 7, 2013; A bill adding attacks on transgender persons to a list of hate crimes and stiffening the penalty for offenders was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee today.
Lawmaker seeks to clamp down on death row appeals in Nevada: Wednesday, March 6, 2013; Nevada’s last execution was in April 2006 and there are now 82 inmates in death row. Some of their convictions date back to the 1980s as these killers launch numerous court appeals.
Nevada welfare division, citing high turnover, wants to add 470 new employees: Wednesday, March 6, 2013; There’s a nearly 25 percent employee turnover in the agency that manages the welfare and other public assistance programs and that’s due to the stress and the higher wages paid elsewhere.
Top Nevada court takes up Steven Brooks case, seeks response from Legislature: Wednesday, March 6, 2013; The Nevada Supreme Court has directed the Legislature to answer a petition filed by Assemblyman Steven Brooks to stop his potential ouster from the lower house.
Steven Brooks asks Nevada Supreme Court to give him a seat at Legislature: Tuesday, March 5, 2013; Assemblyman Steven Brooks, D-North Las Vegas, who has been banned from the legislative building following multiple arrests, has petitioned the Nevada Supreme Court to reclaim his seat at the Legislature. Brooks says the Assembly does not have the power to bar him.
Safety inspections of Nevada dams too infrequent, audit finds: Monday, March 4, 2013; Safety inspections by the state Engineer’s Office are lagging on dams whose failure could result in deaths, a legislative audit determined.
Nevada Senate passes bill revising concealed weapons law: Monday, March 4, 2013; A bill revising Nevada’s law on concealed weapons has been unanimously passed by the Senate and forwarded to the Assembly. The bill revises the definition of a firearm and permits a person to get one concealed weapon permit for multiple handguns.
Bill would replace presidential caucuses with primary elections: Monday, March 4, 2013; Nevada would be first state in the West to hold a presidential primary election, giving overseas military members a voice in choosing a candidate, under a bill introduced in the state Senate on Monday.
Nevada Supreme Court upholds killer’s conviction: Monday, March 4, 2013; The Nevada Supreme Court has rejected the petition of convicted killer Richard Walker who claims his lawyer was ineffective in at least 20 instances at his Las Vegas trial.
Bill would add gender identity to Nevada’s hate crime law: Monday, March 4, 2013; With her 7-year-old transgender son — he was born as a girl but identifies as a boy — sitting on her lap, a Sparks mother urged the Senate Judiciary Committee today to pass a bill to expand the law on hate crimes.
Judge rules sales tax applies to comped meals for gamblers at Caesars casinos: Friday, March 1, 2013; A district judge has ruled that Caesars Entertainment must pay the sales tax on complimentary meals it provides to high rollers and other gamblers.
Nevada chief justice pushes for appeals court: Friday, March 1, 2013; Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice Kristina Pickering said Friday the number of appeals filed with the state’s high court is growing faster than justices can turn out decisions.
Lawmakers told teachers frustrated with oversize classes: Friday, March 1, 2013; Teachers are becoming more frustrated with the large number of students in the classroom in the primary grades, Clark County school officials said at a legislative budget hearing today.
Nevada's unemployment rate dropped to 11.1 percent in 2012: Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013; Nevada’s unemployment rate fell to 11.1 percent during 2012, signaling a slow economic recovery. The state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation reported Thursday that the rate fell 2.1 percentage points from 2011.
Sandoval says no immediate impacts in Nevada from sequester cuts: Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013; Gov. Brian Sandoval said Nevada could see at least $40 million in budget cuts from the federal government during the next seven months.
Final briefs filed in Nevada medical marijuana case: Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013; While the state Senate has started debate on medical marijuana, the final briefs have been filed with the Nevada Supreme Court on a decision that the current law is unconstitutional.
Parole denied for man who killed teen wife: Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013; The state Parole Board has denied for a seventh time the release of a man convicted of stabbing his 19-year-old wife to death in Henderson and dumping her body in the desert.
Moped licensing bill gets lukewarm reception: Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013; An Assembly committee gave a lukewarm reception to Metro Police on Tuesday on its bill to require licensing and insurance coverage for mopeds.
Auction of recluse’s gold fortune nets $3.5 million to pay taxes: Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013; Nearly half of the $7.4 million in gold coins found in the house of a reclusive man were auctioned off Tuesday, and one of the winning bidders said they will be put on the open market.
Nevada taxable sales up 3 percent in December: Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013; Taxable sales in Nevada for December were up 3 percent over the same month the previous year, with strong performances in car purchases and bar and restaurant sales.
Petition aims to block some NV Energy rate increases: Monday, Feb. 25, 2013; The state Bureau of Consumer Protection wants the rules changed to head off some future rate hikes by NV Energy, which announced last week its profits nearly doubled in 2012.
Proposed bill would make English official language of Nevada: Monday, Feb. 25, 2013; A bill introduced by state Sen. Don Gustavson would designate English as the official language of Nevada. It would require certain government documents, transactions, proceedings and publications to be in English.
Bill would up speed limit to 85 mph in Nevada: Monday, Feb. 25, 2013; A bill was introduced Monday in the state Senate to raise Nevada’s speed limit to 85 mph on sections of major freeways.
Director of Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline retiring: Friday, Feb. 22, 2013; David Sarnowski, general counsel and executive director of the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline, is retiring after 32 years in state service.
Nevada passes online poker bill, but gaming software not yet approved: Friday, Feb. 22, 2013; Even though the Legislature rushed through a bill on Internet poker Thursday, the state has yet to approve the software to allow the game to be offered to the public.
Tax incentives bill to lure filmmakers to Nevada meets resistance: Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013; A Senate Democratic bill to give tax credits to lure the film industry to Nevada has raised questions from Republicans that it might result in less revenue for public schools and local governments.
Despite $42 million spent, state computer system still not done: Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013; A high-ranking lawmaker has complained that $42 million has been spent over the years on a computer system for the public schools, and it has never been completed.
Bill aims to squash cigarette smoking by teens: Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013; A bill to clamp down on teenage smokers has been introduced by Sen. James Settelmeyer, who says students at middle and high schools are puffing cigarettes off campus without penalties.
Governor names members of 150th Anniversary Commission: Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013; Gov. Brian Sandoval has named 13 members to the 150th Anniversary Commission to the headed by Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki. The commission will plan events to mark the 150th birthday of Nevada’s addmission to the Union in 1864.
GOP resolution aims to seize greater sovereignty for Nevada: Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013; The federal government has become a bully and is passing regulations costing citizens thousands of dollars without consulting with the states and local governments, a legislative panel was told Tuesday.
Lawmakers skeptical of plan to merge Nevada parole division, prison system: Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013; Gov. Brian Sandoval’s proposal to merge Nevada’s parole division with the prison system got a rugged reception Tuesday from legislators who said they didn’t see any savings or improved services for inmates.
Bills would reduce emissions testing, repeal motorcycle helmet law: Monday, Feb. 18, 2013; Bills introduced in the Nevada Senate on Monday would reduce vehicle emissions testing in Clark and Washoe counties and repeal the state’s motorcycle helmet law for riders 21 and older.
Plan unveiled to let Nevada Legislature convene in Las Vegas: Monday, Feb. 18, 2013; A plan has been unveiled to permit the Nevada Legislature to hold part or all of its sessions in Las Vegas, to meet every year instead of every other year, to jack up the pay of lawmakers and to give them the power to confirm the appointments of the governor. Sen. Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, on Monday sponsored a proposed constitutional amendment — Senate Joint Resolution 8 — to increase the power of the Legislature, now a part-time body. He said the 120 day limit on regular sessions every two years does not allow enough time to handle all the issues.
Nevada returns millions of dollars in unclaimed assets: Monday, Feb. 18, 2013; Nevada Assembly Speaker Marilyn Kirkpatrick learned Monday she is $5 richer. She is one of four legislators who were informed Monday they had money in the state’s unclaimed property account.
Court upholds special education teacher’s child abuse convictions: Friday, Feb. 15, 2013; The Nevada Supreme Court has upheld the child abuse convictions of a Clark County special education teacher who slapped her verbal autistic students, put one student’s head in a trash can and forced food into the mouth of another.
Governor’s higher education budget geared toward student performance: Friday, Feb. 15, 2013; Gov. Brian Sandoval’s $413 million general fund budget for the Nevada System of Higher Education is geared toward distributing money based on student performance rather than solely on enrollment.