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We’ve finally done something right by Ma Nature for a change.

After a century of letting salmon stare at a dam wall like a tourist trapped in front of a “road closed” sign, the Klamath River is again rolling free, and the fish are doing the same. Just a few days ago, the largest dam removal project in U.S. history got the final whistle, and the salmon didn’t waste a second—already wriggling their way into stretches of the river they hadn’t seen since Teddy Roosevelt was in the White House.

Now, if you’re a Chinook salmon, that’s like finding out the freeway you’ve been stuck on for 100 years finally opened up a rest stop. And that happened on Thursday, October 3, when those fish started migrating past where the Iron Gate Dam used to sit, likely thinking, “Well, it’s about time!”

This dam removal wasn’t just a weekend project, either. It took decades of protests, lawsuits, and tribal voices hollering to get these dams out.

When PacifiCorp built the four dams last century, it became lights out for the salmon. The dams blocked hundreds of miles of prime fish habitat, and in 2002, the poor fish had it so bad that 34,000 died in one go. That woke folks up, and by 2022, the feds finally gave the green light to take the dams down.

Sure, the salmon are back now, and the river’s healing has a long road ahead. They’re tracking the fish with fancy SONAR technology to make sure all is on the up and up. They’re even using fancy SONAR to track the fish, which sounds like setting up speed traps for salmon.

Let’s hope they don’t start issuing tickets for “unauthorized spawning.”

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in Nevada rose to 6.12 percent, marking the first increase in seven weeks, according to data released by mortgage buyer Freddie Mac.

The rate rose from 6.08 percent the previous week but remains significantly lower than the 7.49 percent average from a year ago. The increase follows a period in which rates had reached their lowest level in two years, providing a temporary boost to home buyers’ purchasing power as they navigated a housing market where prices are still near record highs.

In addition to the rise in 30-year mortgage rates, borrowing costs for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners seeking to refinance, also saw an uptick. The average rate increased to 5.25 percent from 5.16 percent two weeks ago. A year ago, the 15-year rate averaged 6.78 percent, offering some relief to homeowners hoping to lower their payments, though the recent rise may curb that advantage.

Mortgage rates are influenced by movements in the bond market, particularly the Federal Reserve decision on interest rates, which can impact the 10-year Treasury yield. Lenders use the yield as a guide to setting home loan prices, and this week, the ten-year Treasury yield rose to 3.82 percent, up from 3.78 percent last week.

A section of US95 near mile marker 13, between Mercury and State Route 160 in Nye County, was closed following an early morning crash involving two semi-trucks at 1 a.m. on Tuesday, September 17, and one of the trucks, hauling lithium batteries, caught fire.

The Nevada State Police stated that their initial investigation indicates that two trucks, one heading north and the other south, were involved in a side swipe. Both drivers sustained minor injuries.

It is the second major incident in recent months involving a fire caused by lithium batteries transported by semi-trucks. The U.S. Department of Transportation regulates the transport of lithium batteries as hazardous material, requiring strict packaging standards to minimize fire risks during transit.

The regulations require batteries to be individually wrapped in non-metallic materials and secured in a durable container before transportation.

St. Mary’s in the Mountains Catholic Church, Nevada’s oldest church, invites you to its annual Harvest Festival and Fundraiser on Saturday, October 12.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Old Red Freight Depot on E Street. Attendees can enjoy a day with fun activities, including a raffle, silent auction, local food, arts and crafts, and more.

Proceeds will support the historic church, making this a perfect opportunity to celebrate the fall season while contributing to a great cause.

According to an update from the LCSO, Stephenson was found safe on Monday, October 7.

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) is seeking assistance locating Monica Stephenson, a Dayton resident reported missing after leaving her home on Thursday, October 3.

Deputies responded to a residence on Gordon Lane on Saturday, October 5, following a report that Stephenson had left her home at about 2:30 p.m. after an argument and did not return. Stephenson has autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder and may not have her medications.

She was driving a 2003 white Chevrolet Blazer.

Authorities ask anyone with information about Stephenson’s whereabouts to contact the LCSO at 775-463-6620.

Apex Resources Inc. received encouraging analytical results from fluid samples collected at its Lithium Creek Project in Churchill County.

The project spans approximately 4,720 acres across ten noncontiguous blocks of placer claims, situated within the expansive Fernley and Carson Sinks and part of a hydrographic basin covering roughly 1.4 million acres.

The fluid samples came from several sources within the project area, including Lithium Creek, a historic well, and hand-dug auger holes reaching depths one to two meters below the surface. The samples revealed lithium concentrations ranging from 393 milligrams per liter (mg/L) to 4.65 mg/L, with over half of the samples exceeding 50 mg/L, suggesting the presence of lithium-enriched brines across the project area.

The sampling process came from playa environments, where shallow groundwater was accessible using hand tools. Samples came from 20 hand-augered test holes, a remnant well from an old salt works operation, and surface water from Lithium Creek.

Apex also implemented quality control measures by collecting two duplicate samples and one field blank sample, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the analytical results.

The detection of lithium in all samples, with several exceeding the critical threshold of 50 mg/L, points to potentially significant lithium-brine deposits. This threshold is consistent with cut-off grades used in other North American lithium brine projects, including Albemarle’s Silver Peak Project in Clayton Valley and Lithium Bank Resources Corp.’s Park Place Lithium-brine property in Alberta, Canada.

However, a specific cut-off grade for the Lithium Creek Project has not been confirmed.

Further analysis of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in the fluid samples indicates that much of the shallow groundwater in the project area qualifies as lithium brines, reinforcing the potential for the discovery of large-scale, lithium-enriched aquifers or reservoirs within the region.

Apex Resources holds an option to acquire the Lithium Creek Property and is actively conducting lithium brine exploration. The company aims to identify high-potential drill targets that could further define lithium-brine-bearing aquifers and advance the project toward commercial viability.

T2 Metals Corp. has completed its initial field sampling and mapping program at Copper Eagle in Douglas County, near major copper-producing regions like Yerington.

Geologists from T2 Metals collected rock chip samples from 14 pre-existing trenches believed to have been dug by Smith Copper in the 1970s. The trenches and nearby outcrops spanned an area of approximately 1,000 by 600 meters with porphyritic volcanic and metasedimentary rocks with notable breccia textures, quartz veins, and visible copper staining, pointing to the project’s mineral potential.

Earlier assay results revealed a high sulfidation epithermal signature with elevated copper, gold, and rare elements such as tellurium, selenium, and antimony. Additionally, skarn minerals indicate the possible presence of a contact metamorphic aureole around an igneous intrusion.

President and CEO of T2 Metals Mark Saxon expressed optimism about the project’s potential.

“The presence of skarn minerals strengthens our belief in Copper Eagle as a porphyry copper project, and we look forward to continuing exploration to determine its potential for copper, gold, and silver,” Saxon said.

Copper Eagle lies within the Walker Lane Mineral Belt, known for its world-class copper and skarn-type projects. Historically, significant zones of oxidized copper mineralization beneath a shallow alluvial cover and geological mapping from 1971 suggested the presence of sulfide and oxide copper mineralization across at least 500 meters by 200 meters.

Disaster struck at the annual Virginia City Outhouse Races this weekend when the most critical component of any outhouse experience — toilet paper — disappeared faster than a ghost on a Washoe Club tour. The shortage left race attendees desperately clutching old Dayton Day flyers, casino pamphlets, and anything resembling two-ply salvation.

The crisis falls directly on the shoulders of our venerable city fathers and mothers, who somehow failed to grasp the importance of keeping a steady supply of toilet paper for an event centered on, well, outhouses.
“It’s not rocket science,” grumbled one resident. “It’s just bathroom theory.”

In a tragic lapse of judgment, the city’s planning committee outsourced toilet paper procurement to one “Piss Yellow,” an agency whose legacy of cutting corners is matched only by a baffling fondness for fluorescent jumpsuits.

“We thought we had enough,” a Piss Yellow spokesperson explained, waving a single, forlorn sheet of toilet paper in the air like it was a flag of surrender. “Honestly, I thought people would be more… conservative.”

Other conversations went like this:

Mac (from the Literary Latrines): “We demand equal rights for all outhouses! No more discrimination based on porcelain color!”

Jane (from the Royal Flush Express): “And better ventilation! Our outhouses are suffocating in there!”

Gary (from the Turbo Tushies): “And bidets for everyone! It’s time to wash away the old ways!”

The townspeople blinked. The sheriff scratched his head. The mayor, caught off guard, tried to negotiate.

Mayor: “How about we compromise? We’ll install air fresheners and—.”

Mac: “And heated seats!”

Jane: “And WiFi!”

Gary: “And a drive-thru window!”

Adding to the confusion, rumors have swirled that Joss’ Chinese Laundry—positioned at the foot of the mighty Mt. Davidson on Rear Street—played a part in the catastrophe. Locals gathered in the Silver Queen Saloon are convinced that the shortage was not only bad planning but divine intervention.

According to the more colorful theories, Joss’ Laundry somehow caused a critical delay in the delivery of toilet paper by hoarding vast quantities of laundry detergent for unclear reasons. The connection between Tide Pods and toilet rolls is tenuous at best, but that hasn’t stopped the theories from taking on a life of their own.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that we’ve angered the Laundry Gods,” muttered one conspiracy theorist after too many whiskey shots. “First, the detergent goes missing, then the toilet paper runs out? What’s next, we’ll be washing our clothes in tumbleweed juice?”

Meanwhile, the beleaguered citizens of Virginia City, enraged and undoubtedly needing a bathroom break, took to the boardwalks wielding empty cardboard toilet paper tubes as instruments of protest. The impromptu march quickly became a festival, with locals forming a “TP Vigilante Committee” dedicated to tracking down rogue rolls hidden around town.

“We’ve survived mining busts, floods, and even the Great Whiskey Shortage of ’72,” boomed longtime local Pepe Brown, her voice as big as Mark Twain’s mustache. “But running out of toilet paper during the Outhouse Races? Now that’s a low blow. And don’t get me started on the detergent.”

As the Outhouse Races descended into chaos, toilet seat jockeys zoomed down the street while clutching hastily scribbled promises of future toilet paper restocks. The crowd gasped as the Grand Poop-ah of the festivities was unceremoniously extracted from his royal throne after a tragic incident involving a pothole, a rogue tumbleweed, and the mysterious disappearance of the Silver Plunger of Destiny.

City officials, now desperate to shift the blame, pointed fingers in every direction, including at the seemingly innocent Joss Laundry.
“It’s too coincidental,” whispered one city mother, clutching a roll of two-ply she’d scavenged from the Delta Saloon bathroom. “First, the detergent shortage, now this? There’s something fishy going on, and it’s not just the smell near the outhouses.”

With the town’s pride in tatters and its bathroom supply chain in ruins, city leaders have vowed to launch a full investigation into the toilet paper fiasco and the detergent conspiracy. Rumors abound that next year’s event will feature not just stockpiles of toilet paper but a citywide detergent rationing program to ensure no laundromat gods are angered again.

For now, everything—like the tumbleweeds and the dignity of the outhouse pushers—is rolling downhill.

For years, illegal homeless camps lined the banks of the Truckee River in Reno and Sparks, causing environmental damage and raising safety concerns. On Tuesday, March 26, Washoe County passed an ordinance prohibiting public camping along the river, making it against the law to sleep in tents, cars, or RVs on county-owned property.

The new law, designed to preserve the cleanliness of the Truckee River—Washoe County’s primary water source—was seen as a long-overdue solution to an escalating problem. Under the ordinance, violators can be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor, but only if they refuse services.

It also prohibits obstructing sidewalks and roads and bans unsafe use of open flame devices near the river. Most significantly, it prevents camping within 1,000 feet of the Truckee River to stop the pollution and environmental damage caused by years of illegal encampments.

Since the ordinance took effect, Sparks police, with backing from the city council, have actively enforced the law. Daily patrols have cleared the riverfront of campers, ensuring the area remains safe, clean, and free of crime.

The Reno side, however, tells a different story.

Homeless camps remain, and the area continues to suffer from crime, trash, and pollution. According to homeless individuals still camping on the Reno side, Reno police rarely enforce the camping ban.

When officers appear, campers say they drive by, occasionally asking them to move but taking no further action. As a result, the camps persist, and the contrast between the Sparks and Reno has become frustrating for many.

Despite the passage of this new law, residents are concerned about the continued environmental impact on the Truckee River, especially on the Reno side, where sewage, garbage, and hazardous waste are still entering the water. The Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) has previously raised alarms about the contamination, pointing out instances of homeless individuals polluting water treatment areas.

Testing the river water downstream from homeless camps has revealed human fecal contamination. Several years ago, water from the river showed contamination was so severe that the equipment could not fully measure the extent of the pollutants, and the water was deemed “unsafe for human contact.”

Guided by Bill Miles, CEO of Miles Construction in Carson City, a curious group of onlookers ventured into the historic Sutro Tunnel on September 12.

Armed with a trusty flashlight, Bill illuminated the tunnel progress, shining a light on the improvements thus far. ‘Our goal is to reach 1,500 feet,’ he shared, acknowledging the ongoing work to clean and restore the site.

Miles and partner Simerson Construction have taken a personal interest in the project. As a former resident of the Victorian mansion on the tunnel land in the 1980s, he feels deeply connected to its history.

The turnout for the event, which celebrated the work of local partners and volunteers, was especially gratifying for him.

“We have a lot of good construction people involved…this is awesome. It’s exciting to see,” he added.

The second annual “Meat and Drink” event, hosted by the Nevada Builders Alliance and Friends of Sutro Tunnel Charity, attracted more than 400 visitors. Attendees enjoyed self-guided tours, exploring the refurbished pond and buildings, and indulging in barbecue from Carson City BBQ, with drinks from local vendors.

John Cassinelli, Executive Director of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, emceed the event and expressed optimism about the tunnel’s future as a tourist destination for Lyon County.

“It’s 100 feet back into the tunnel, rebuilt now, and the timbering work that’s been done by Simerson Construction is absolutely fabulous,” Cassinelli said.

The project has united local enthusiasts of Nevada history, volunteers, and businesses, all dedicated to preserving the Sutro Tunnel’s architectural and historical significance.

“To get 400 people to go to anything is a tall order,” said Rob McFadden, Friends of Sutro Tunnel board member. “There’s not many tourism draws in the Dayton Valley or Lyon County, so I think this is going to be a pretty big opportunity.”

Reenactors from Virginia City’s Silent Riders, dressed in Victorian, Edwardian, and Old West costumes brought the event to life. Michelle Buckman, one of the Silent Riders, played Mrs. Curry, the wife of Stephen Curry, Virginia City’s mayor from 1873 to 1875. Buckman and her husband, Jason Virdman, who played Mayor Curry, expressed their passion for sharing the region’s history.

Jeff Sutich, Executive Director of the Northern Nevada Development Authority, was pleased to see the tunnel becoming accessible to the public.

“There’s a lot of history here in the Sutro Tunnel and with the mining…this is really good for the community,” Sutich said.

Carson City Mayor Lori Bagwell also praised the collaboration between regional businesses, churches, and artists, saying, “We’re proud of our past and confident of our future, but you’ve got to hold onto that pride of that past.”

Spencer Davidson, the Sutro Tunnel’s caretaker, tour guide, and volunteer has dedicated over 30 years to maintaining and promoting the site. Davidson, who first learned of the tunnel at age 17, stepped into his role as caretaker after a chance encounter during a gunfight reenactment at the tunnel.

He has since worked tirelessly to preserve the site, overseeing tasks from installing ductwork to maintaining the ponds.

“A little more than 85 gallons comes from the tunnel every minute, totaling about 140,000 gallons per day,” he explained.

The event also featured local musician Carson Chandler, who called the Sutro Tunnel restoration a “great cause.” Nevada Builders Alliance CEO Glen Martel echoed the sentiment, noting that the event promotes Northern Nevada’s mining history and raised funds for workforce development programs.

Martel expressed confidence in the project’s future.

“We’ve got the permits, we’ve got the partnerships in place, and we’re really just looking forward to getting that tunnel back and getting a piece of Northern Nevada history,” he said.

Proceeds from the event will benefit students at Western Nevada College, Carson High School, and other educational institutions across the state.