IN BRIEF

SALT ALSO PLAYS ROLE

Long drought takes toll on Tahoe trees

Many trees are turning brown along roadways in the Lake Tahoe basin, and experts think it's because of a combination of drought and road salt.

Thor Dyson of the Nevada Department of Transportation says the lingering drought and the winter use of salt have taken a toll on trees along roadways such as State Route 28.

He says his agency has tried to reduce its use of salt at Tahoe over the last 20 years, but still must use it for public safety on icy roadways.

In the 2008-09 fiscal year, NDOT put down a total of 213 cubic yards of salt on State Route 28 in Washoe, Douglas and Carson counties.

In 2002, officials said studies found road salt played a minor role compared with drought and insects.

'DARK AND UNSPOILED'

Stargazers to gather at Great Basin park

Nevada's Great Basin National Park, which features some of the darkest night skies in the United States, will hold a special event for stargazers Saturday night.

The public will have a chance to view the night sky with the help of astronomers and telescopes.

The event, scheduled to start at 8 p.m. at the visitor center, is being sponsored by the National Parks Conservation Association.

Low humidity and light pollution combine with high elevation to create a unique chance to view stars at the park, located along the Utah border about 60 miles east of Ely.

The National Park Service's Night Sky Team recognizes the park's skies as the darkest and most unspoiled in the lower 48 states.

PUBLIC HEARING SOUGHT

County fights effluent plan by oil company

Churchill County officials have opposed the state's tentative decision to issue an oil refining plant a temporary permit to spread treated effluent on its property.

The county plans to send a letter to the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection requesting a public hearing on the matter concerning Bango Oil. Residents have long maintained a noxious odor emanates from the plant.

The division's permit allows 14,000 gallons of effluent per day to be discharged onto the ground for a six-month period.

TEEN, OFFICERS INVOLVED

Oakland shooting incident leads to arrest

Police say a Berkeley teen is under arrest on suspicion of shooting at two Oakland, Calif., police officers, who were not injured in the incident.

The 16-year-old, whose name is not being released, was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer and other charges.

Oakland police Sgt. Jim Rullamas says two officers checking out a reported robbery saw the teen acting suspiciously and tried to stop him. Police say the teen ran behind a car wash, and shortly thereafter the officers heard a gunshot.