Nevada Day Inc. is calling on Nevada's most creative pumpkin artists to show off their skills at the Pumpkin Decorating & Carving Contest on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, part of the Nevada Day celebration in Carson City. The contest ties in with this year's parade theme, "Pumpkins, Pioneers & Tall Tales." Entrants will show their work to thousands of spectators celebrating Nevada's birthday.

History and health talks, discussions on birds and conservation, a memoir writing workshop, artist reception and more are lined up in October at the Carson City Senior Center, making it a busy month ahead. Be sure to check out the newsletter, activity calendar and menu below. Here's what's happening: History Program: Soiled Doves of the Silver State Explore the complex and often controversial history of legalized prostitution in Nevada — a subject woven deeply into the state’s social and economic fabric on Tuesday, Oct.

Carson Now reader Bob Custer Wilkie provided this photo (unknown when it was taken) as fall colors begin to show around the capital city. He writes: "Almost every year, Mountain Street in Carson City, has spectacular Fall colors. This photograph is of the 400 block of Mountain Street, just south of the Nevada Governor's Mansion." This photo was submitted by a Carson Now reader.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026 beginning at 4 p.m., the Carson City Planning Commission will discuss a number of development projects including the ongoing Parking Garage project that is proposed to serve the similarly proposed City Hall. Parking Garage To be heard after 5 p.m. due to increased public interest. Multiple items are on the agenda relating to the Parking Garage / City Hall project: the garage itself, which includes an exception from downtown design standards, use of the garage to satisfy parking requirements for the future City Hall / office building and hotel-conference-center parcels around it, as well as a street abandonment request relinquishing a number of city-owned streets to the developers in preparation for the larger development project.

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office has made two additional arrests of registered sex offenders for failing to comply with their statutory registration requirements. On Sept. 25, 2026, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Western Command deputies arrested Richard Baker of Dayton. Baker is a Tier III registered sex offender and failed to complete his required registration as required under Nevada law. Baker was arrested for a felony violation of NRS 179D.550 and transported and booked into the Lyon County Jail.

Nevada Health Centers’ Mammovan returns to Carson City this Wednesday and in Northern Nevada in October to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month, giving women access to critically important screenings with affordable exams. Celebrating its 25th year, the Mammovan continually travels the state, stopping in communities to accommodate women who are due for a mammography screening. The Mammovan will be in Carson City at the Sierra Nevada Health Center, 3325 Research Way on Wednesday, Sept.

Good day, star seekers. The week begins just after Mars leaves the uneasy waters of Cancer for Leo, giving action a louder, prouder and more direct quality than we have seen in recent weeks. Wednesday, Mercury leaves diplomatic Libra for Scorpio, and conversations begin digging beneath polite explanations toward motives, money, trust and whatever has been left conveniently unsaid. Friday brings friction between Mercury and Mars, making sharp words particularly easy to reach for and considerably harder to retrieve.

Here are the recent births that occurred at Carson Tahoe Hospital between Sept. 21 and Sept. 27, 2026.  Congratulations to the families from Carson Now! Nathan Warren Dennis, a baby boy, was born Sept. 23, 2026 to Marisa Dennis and Daniel Dennis of Carson City. Ainara Pacheco Ortiz, a baby girl, was born Sept. 24, 2026 to Damaris Ortiz Sandoval and Luis Pacheco Montejano of Carson City.

The Carson City Coroner's Office has identified the woman who died in a structure that happened Friday at a home in the 1500 block of Rolling Hills Way. The deceased woman has been identified as Sandra Denise Marshall, 75, who lived at the residence. Marshall was found within the structure when the fire was extinguished. Final autopsy findings are pending.

Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies responded Monday afternoon to a structure fire in the 1200 block of Beverly Drive. Reported just before 3 p.m. dispatch advises the reporting party stated the home is on fire and that dogs were inside. The reporting party said that a man was attempting to go inside the home to retrieve the dogs.

A couple was arrested Saturday for suspicion of child endangerment and drug offenses after they were found inside the home of an acquaintance who didn't know they were there, according to a Carson City Sheriff's Office booking report. During the investigation, drugs and paraphernalia were located within reach of their two children, with the couple admitting the children were nearby when drugs were used, according to a Carson City Sheriff's Office booking report.

The annual Nevada Press Association's Awards of Excellence contest was held this weekend in Las Vegas, in which Carson Now was honored with a dozen awards including a top honor for Carson Now's Co-Editor Kelsey Penrose. Penrose was selected for the top honor of Outstanding Journalist of the Year for her rural news coverage, joining her colleagues honored in the divisions of urban, magazine and college.

The Coast Guard rescued a kayaker after their kayak overturned approximately four miles west of Glenbrook, Nev. at Lake Tahoe on Saturday morning. At 8:22 a.m. on Sept. 26, Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe received a 911 emergency relay from another kayaker in the group and launched a 29-foot Response Boat-Small (RB-S) boat crew to respond. Station members arrived on scene and brought the person in distress aboard the RB-S.

By the time the Hawk Fire crested Peavine Peak northwest of Reno, Meghan Ebert and her family had barely finished unpacking from evacuating another fire two weeks earlier. Ebert, a Reno city councilwoman, witnessed the sky over Lemmon Valley go black with smoke, then watched flames descend over the ridge above her house. Ash began falling. She loaded her kids, dog and her daughter's two pet lizards into the car while police drove the street with loudspeakers, telling everyone to evacuate.

Just when I thought I must surely have read everything Sam Clemens ever wrote, I stumbled onto a speech delivered in Boston away back in 1888, when Sam described the sleeping habits of Siamese twins: “While one sleeps, the other snores.” Yet again, Samuel brings a smile to my weathered face. I cannot count the times he has done that over the past four decades, and if each smile adds an extra minute of life, well, I should live comfortably to a venerable old age of 157.

The Carson City School District is pleased to announce Kendra Tuttle, Early Childhood teacher at Carson High School, was honored as one of the four statewide finalists for the Nevada State Teacher of the Year, recognized by the Nevada Department of Education. Tuttle was among four other finalists in the state for the award, including Jason Bennett of the Coral Academy of Science Middle School in Reno; Nicole Easley of Spring Mountain Junior/Senior High School (Clark County School District); Katie Emerson of Jesse Hall Elementary School (Washoe County School District) and Brooke Wheatley of Valley High School (Clark County School District).

The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation’s Employment Security Division (ESD) is taking steps to reduce the average unemployment insurance cost for employers in calendar year 2027. The Employment Security Council held a public meeting last week and recommended a 1.35% average tax rate for calendar year 2027 on those businesses with enough experience to pay a variable contribution rate under the unemployment insurance system.

I just returned from a trip to Crescent City, Calif. At the beach, I was delighted to see some of my favorite flowers, "naked ladies," blooming everywhere. When I graduated from college, I lived in a tiny house in Torrance, Calif. JoAnne Skelly Surrounding the house and all along its fence were plants I found unusual, but lovely. These plants had lovely pink flowers shaped like Easter lilies, with burgundy stems, but no leaves.

Nevada is losing more than $5 million in federal funding after the Department of the Interior (DOI) last month refused to issue funding for more than 100 previously approved National Park Service agreements. Nevada parks will lose out on roughly $5.4 million — approximately 20 percent of a nationwide $25.9 million cut in funding — across Southern Nevada's Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, parks in the Mojave Desert and Death Valley National Park, which spans across California and Nevada.

New Beginnings of Carson City will host JesusFest, a praise and worship festival today, Sunday, at Mills Park, from 3 to 7 p.m. JesusFest Carson City is a free community event bringing churches, ministries, families and neighbors together for a day of worship, encouragement and connection. This festival is inspired by the growing Jesus Fest in El Dorado County, Calif.,

During the annual Carson City Mint Coin Show, the Friends of the Nevada State Museum (FNSM) officially drew the winning raffle ticket for an uncirculated 1884 Morgan silver dollar minted right in Carson City. The winning ticket was held by Reno resident Andy Hettrick. Hettrick, a Nevada native who grew up in the Carson City and Douglas County area, expressed his excitement upon learning he had won, noting that this is the very first Carson City-minted coin in his collection.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, 2026. Closures and lane reductions are expected at the following locations due to road and utility work. Go here to view a map of the road closures and lane restrictions happening this week. 7th Street between Stewart Street and Plaza Street will be closed from Monday through Sunday.

Thousands of motorcycle riders have roared into Carson City this weekend for the annual Street Vibrations Fall Rally happening at Battle Born Harley-Davidson on Research Way and elsewhere across Northern Nevada. Beginning Thursday, motorcycle riders of all ages have not only filled Research Way in Carson City, but also local restaurants, bars and lodging establishments throughout the region as the rally extends into Virginia City and Reno areas.

A vehicle pursuit Saturday afternoon involving the Douglas County Sheriff's Office made its way onto I-580 in Carson City briefly with speeds of at least 100 mph before it was terminated by law enforcement due to safety concerns. At around 4:15 p.m. Douglas County Sheriff's Office alerted that it was in pursuit of a vehicle failing to yield and that during chase, the suspect vehicle may have clipped a DCSO patrol vehicle near Topsy Lane.

CHS girls’ tennis qualified for postseason play on Thursday with a home win (10-8) over Reed high school on senior night.  This marks the 3rd consecutive year the girls’ tennis program has qualified for postseason play.  “This one is extra special for us since we started 0-2 and battled through some key injuries, but we finished the last eight games strong going 5-3” said head coach Paul Maguire.

The final countdown is on for a local food drive benefiting the Northern Nevada Dream Center, and community members throughout Carson City and Douglas County are encouraged to help fill the barrels during the last three days of the drive. Gentiva Hospice is partnering with the Northern Nevada Dream Center to collect nonperishable food donations to help support local individuals and families in need.

Carson City Fire Department, sheriff's deputies and the Nevada Highway Patrol responded late Saturday morning to a motorcycle accident on US-50 West, two miles up from the bottom of the valley side Spooner junction. Called into dispatch just before noon, the accident reportedly involves a motorcycle rider who crashed into a guard rail and was injured. Carson City Fire Department personnel on scene are treating the rider and are preparing possible ground transport to the hospital. Eastbound traffic in the area of the accident is being diverted. Motorists can expect delays.

Under partly sunny morning skies, at least 200 walkers and runners of all ages laced up for love and remembrance for Saturday morning's Carson City Walk to Remember 5K and 8K to benefit Northern Nevada Alzheimer's Association. The celebration began at McFadden Plaza with sign-ins, and a pre-warmup guided by KaiaFit and and Carson High cheerleaders. Walkers and runners enjoyed the fall color changes along Carson City's west side, as well as music, vendors, raffle prizes, great energy and more.

Sometimes a cat’s journey to Catmandu is a little more dramatic than others. Sofia’s journey included five kittens, emergency surgery, and not one — but two very close calls with death. Thankfully, this little girl is a survivor! A long-haired tabby about two years old, Sofia wandered into the backyard of one of our Catmandu supporters last winter. She was thin, hungry, and clearly struggling to survive on her own.

Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies responded early Friday evening to a vehicle collision near the intersection of College Parkway and Northgate. Called into dispatch at around 5:50 p.m., a Carson City sheriff's deputy on scene reports the collision is blocking lanes. Dispatch advised there were possible injuries. Carson City Fire Department personnel on scene report moderate damage in the two vehicle collision and that all parties appeared to be out of their vehicles. CCFD is checking on injuries. Deputies are re-directing traffic around the collision scene. Motorists can expect delays. We will update as information becomes available.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office would like to take this time to remind its citizens and visitors of some helpful traffic safety information regarding pedestrians and cyclists on the roadway. This educational message is for the motorists as well as vulnerable road users. Pedestrians have the right-of-way when in a crosswalk or in the roadway. Motorists are required to yield to pedestrians and should be extra attentive and exercise due care when approaching all intersections and crosswalks.

Carson Now reader Rick Pott submitted these photos taken from the Goni Fire on the Carson City side Friday afternoon. Photos were taken from his backyard. He writes: "Great work by the brave firefighters on getting on this so quickly and effectively!" Carson Now thanks all those who submitted photos of the Goni Fire. At 3:08 p.m. forward progress was stopped, according to Carson City Fire Department Chief Kevin Nyberg.

Carson City Fire Department and other agencies were called Friday afternoon to a brush fire in the Goni Hills area. The fire was reported at around 12:45 p.m. and was said to be burning along a hillside. It is unknown at this time if homes or buildings are threatened. Multiple agencies have responded to the brush fire, which appears to be growing in size.

Carson City Fire Department and sheriff's deputies responded Friday afternoon to a structure fire in the 1500 block of Rolling Hill Drive. Called into dispatch at 12:35 p.m., the reporting party advised black smoke was coming from a residence, and that one person at the residence is possibly disabled and was inside. A Carson City Sheriff's Office deputy arriving on scene reports heavy smoke in the residence and one person reportedly inside.

NASA’s newest space telescope could spend nearly the next two dozen years changing what we know about the universe, from the mysteries of dark matter to the search for worlds beyond our solar system. At Western Nevada College's Carson City campus, where students study the night sky through the telescopes of the Jack C. Davis Observatory, those discoveries offer a direct connection between what is being learned in the classroom and one of the most ambitious astronomy missions in the world.

A 15-year-old teen was critically injured and flown to a Reno hospital trauma ward early Thursday evening following a bicycle accident involving a vehicle at a North Ormsby Boulevard intersection. The incident happened at around 5:40 p.m. The male teen, a Carson High student, was taken to the airport where they were flown by air ambulance to Renown hospital's trauma ward.

Gusty winds and low humidity Friday has promoted the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag Warning for Carson City, surrounding counties and portions of the eastern Sierra. The Red Flag Warning is in effect from noon to 10 p.m. and is for Carson City, Lyon, Washoe, Douglas, Storey and Mineral counties in western Nevada and southern Lassen and northern Mono counties in California.

On the morning of Thursday, September 24, 2026, detectives with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit observed this week’s Warrant Wednesday wanted subject, Tracy Conrad Smith, at his last known residence in the 1000 block of Badger Street in Silver Springs. As deputies arrived on scene, Smith fled the area on foot to the south and out of view.

 Nevada Day excitement is already taking off at Carson Mall, where families can participate in a Nevada-themed scavenger hunt for a chance to win a Nevada Day hot-air balloon ride. The Carson Mall Nevada Day Scavenger Hunt invites participants to walk through the mall, solve 12 Nevada-themed riddles and locate corresponding pictures hidden inside participating businesses. The clues celebrate Nevada icons, history and scenery, making the hunt a fun way for families to test their Silver State knowledge while visiting Carson Mall businesses.

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office has made two separate arrests of registered sex offenders for failing to comply with their statutory verification requirements. On September 18, 2026, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Western Command deputies arrested Edward Russell, 63, of Dayton. Russell is a Tier III registered sex offender and was required under Nevada law to complete his required verification by a specified date.

The Brewery Arts Center is heading into fall with a lineup of films, theater productions, live music, art classes and community events running through October, including the return of the Carson Creepy Short Horror Film Competition. Movies & Film Carson Creepy will culminate with three public screenings Oct. 9-10 at the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall. Participating teams received a prop, sound effect and line of dialogue Sept.

Another lawsuit has been filed against Douglas County School District relating to a records request — except this time, instead of being in hot water for withholding information from the public, confidential personal information of DCSD staff and their family members was provided to a man who had been allegedly harassing special education teachers and staff members for some time. …

On Saturday, September 26, Keep Tahoe Blue and the Tahoe Resource Conservation District will welcome volunteers of all ages and skill levels to participate in fun, hands-on projects to help restore Johnson Meadow in South Lake Tahoe to a healthier, more resilient ecosystem that protects Lake Tahoe’s famous water clarity. Guided by restoration professionals, volunteers will stabilize the banks of the Upper Truckee River and restore vital meadow habitat.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating the woman pictured in connection with a theft investigation at a Stateline-area business Sept. 9, 2026. The female is described as approximately 40 to 60 years old, 5 feet, 6 inches tall, with a medium build, blonde hair and glasses. She is wanted for questioning regarding the incident, and investigators are attempting to positively identify and locate her.

Carson Valley-raised country artist Jakota Wass will celebrate the release of his new album, Blue Hour, with a hometown concert Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Corley Ranch in Gardnerville. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The Blue Hour Album Release Concert will feature Wass with his full band and special guest Morgan Mackenzie. In addition to the concert, there will be food trucks, drinks, merchandise, a mechanical bull and VIP experiences.

Happy Thursday, Carson City! Let's see what's on the agenda for today. TODAY'S EVENTS Have an event to share? We want to know! Submit to our calendar at the form below: RECENT ARTS & SPORTS NEWS

Did you know this year the theme for the Nevada Day Parade is Pumpkins, Pioneers and Tale Tales? As we gear up to the Day of Days, we'll be sharing some of the stories that will be appearing in the official Nevada Day Magazine, which will be handed out for free along the parade route day of! As a reminder, because Nevada Day falls on its true birthday this year (October 31), …

The V&T Railway Commission is bringing back The Polar Express Train Ride to Carson City this holiday season. Tickets are now available for the one-hour round-trip journey to the North Pole, where families can step into the story with hot cocoa, cookies, holiday music and a visit from Santa. The adventure begins when the train departs Carson City for a round-trip journey to the North Pole, featuring a fully staged performance with costumed characters, music, narration, hot cocoa and treats.

Nevada State Parks, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance, and the Carson City Parks, Recreation & Open Space Department will host the inaugural Northern Nevada Bird Fest on Saturday, Oct. 3, bringing birders, families, artists, and outdoor enthusiasts together to celebrate Nevada's birds and the habitats they depend on. Juvenile Great Horned Owl. The free event will take place from 10 a.m.

Editor's Note: This is a combination of a Nevada Independent story -- which did all the heavy lifting, data wise -- and a Carson Now story which focuses on the local data. Scroll down to see the local data breakdown, or click the red button below to be taken directly to the Indy story, which has interactive charts and breakdowns of every school and district in the state.