State Briefly Aug. 23

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A national survey says Nevadans are less likely to volunteer their time to community service than their counterparts in any other state except New York.

Nevada ranked second to last in volunteering in a report by the federal Corporation for National and Community Service. The survey found fewer than 21 percent of Nevadans volunteer.

Utah had the highest volunteer rate at 45 percent. New York had the lowest rate at 20 percent.

In all, more than 421,000 Nevadans volunteered last year. That amounts to 37 hours a year of community service per resident.

People in Reno volunteered an average of 60 hours per resident. Las Vegans volunteered 49 hours per resident, a 20 percent increase from 2009.

Nevadans were most likely to volunteer with a religious or educational service.

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A sociology researcher says tea party voters are more likely than other voters to fear change and harbor negative attitudes toward immigrants.

The study, called "Cultures of the Tea Party," is being presented Monday in Las Vegas at the American Sociological Association's annual meeting.

Sociology professor Andrew Perrin of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill is the lead author of the study.

He says researchers noted that voters who felt favorably toward the tea party movement also valued deference to authority and libertarianism.

The voters also told the researchers that they felt "things are changing too fast."

The findings are based on a telephone poll of registered voters in North Carolina and Tennessee conducted last year.

The researchers also conducted interviews at a tea party rally in North Carolina.

(AP) - Gov. Brian Sandoval is inviting Nevadans to nominate individuals and organizations for an annual volunteer award.

Nevadans can make nominations until 5 p.m. Aug. 29 for the 10th Annual Governor's Points of Light Award.

The award recognizes notable volunteers in six different categories, including individuals from northern, southern and rural Nevada. Residents can also nominate a nonprofit, a volunteer manager, or a corporate volunteer program.

Winners will be recognized at a luncheon Oct. 27 at the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Nomination packets are available online at www.nevadavolunteers.org.