The R-C Noon Report

- Parent advisor Linda Niday said there were more than 100 projects entered in Jacks Valley Elementary School's science fair on Feb. 13.

- Sixty volunteers from rural Nevada are being sought to participate in a university study on how people deal with gambling problems on their own. Professor Bo Bernhard said the study consists of three phone interviews. To participate in this study, contact Bernhard at (702) 774-2222 or e-mail him at bo.bernhard@unlv.edu

- Small businesses in Douglas County and neighboring California counties may apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Association to offset economic losses caused by the extremely low temperatures from Jan. 6-19 this year. For more information, application forms and a complete list of what counties are available for assistance, go to www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance or call (800) 659-2955.

- The Roman Catholic Church of Reno is requesting a special use permit for the construction of a Knights of Columbus meeting hall and memorial garden, just northeast of St. Gall Catholic Church in Gardnerville. Douglas County's planning commission unanimously approved the permit Tuesday. "I have trouble saying no to the Archbishop in Reno," said Planning Commissioner Mike Olson.