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(Verse 1)

Well, I woke up this mornin’,
With the weight of years upon my soul.
Time slipped through my fingers,
Like sand in an old dusty hourglass.

(Chorus)

Oh, time, oh time,
Why you gotta be so cruel?
You stole my youth, my dreams,
Left me with these blues.

(Verse 2)

I’ve seen lovers come and go,
Promises fade like smoke in the wind.
Memories haunt me like a ghost,
And regrets dance in the moonlight.

(Chorus)

Oh, time, oh time,
Why you gotta be so cruel?
You stole my youth, my dreams,
Left me with these blues.

(Bridge)

I tried to hold on tight,
But time slipped away like water through my hands.
Now I’m sittin’ here, singin’ my sorrow,
As the clock ticks on, relentless and unkind.

(Chorus)

Oh, time, oh time,
Why you gotta be so cruel?
You stole my youth, my dreams,
Left me with these blues.

(Outro)

So I’ll pour another glass of whiskey,
And let the notes of my guitar weep.
Maybe in the next life,
Time won’t be such a heartless thief.

Washoe County Commissioners Alexis Hill and Clara Andriola have certified their election results, raising ethical and legal questions.

The issue is whether a commissioner running for re-election should recuse themselves from certifying election results when serving as the tie-breaking vote. Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) provide the legal framework for this situation.

NRS 281A.400 addresses standards for ethical conduct by public officers and employees, prohibiting conflicts of interest. NRS 281A.420 requires public officers to disclose any conflicts of interest and abstain from voting on matters where they have a significant financial interest. Additionally, NRS 293.387 outlines the procedures for canvassing the vote and certifying election results. The Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) contains regulations interpreting these ethical standards.

Under NRS 281A.420, a public officer must disclose any conflict of interest and abstain from voting when their interests could materially affect their decision-making. A commissioner running for re-election and involved in certifying their election results has a direct personal and monetary interest in the outcome, creating a conflict of interest.

To maintain the integrity and impartiality of the election, the commissioners should recuse themselves from the certification process. This ethical obligation supports public trust and ensures the certification process is free from undue influence or the appearance of impropriety.

The fact that Andriola acted as the tie-breaking vote to certify the election results exacerbates the ethical concerns, undermining public confidence in the fairness and transparency of the electoral process. An independent body or the remaining commissioners without conflicts should handle these decisions.

Despite these concerns, the commissioners did not recuse themselves from certifying the election results, violating NRS 281A.420. Recusal would have been the appropriate action to uphold ethical standards and ensure public trust in the election process.

In cases of conflict, involving an independent entity or following alternative procedural mechanisms is necessary to ensure impartial certification of election results.

District Attorney Mary Kandaras downplayed the significance of the canvass of the vote, but NRS 293.387 clearly outlines the procedures for canvassing returns and certifying the abstract of votes.

The statute ensures the canvassing process accurately reflects the votes cast and mandates actions to correct clerical errors. If a commissioner certifies a canvass with significant errors, it could lead to legal challenges from candidates or voters, court reviews, and possible overturning of the certification.

Ethical violations could lead to investigations by the Nevada Commission on Ethics, resulting in sanctions, fines, or disciplinary actions. Errors in certification can undermine public trust in the electoral process, leading to questions about the legitimacy of the election results.

The county may need to correct certification errors through administrative procedures, potentially reconvening the board to address discrepancies and issue a corrected certification. If negligence or deliberate misconduct is suspected or found, the commissioner may be subject to removal from office under NRS 283.440.

Last Friday, June 21, 2024, Washoe County’s election system faced intense scrutiny when Commissioners Jeanne Herman and Alexis Hill voted against certifying the 2024 Primary election results.

Despite their opposition, the election was ultimately certified due to votes from Commissioners Clara Andriola and Bob Lucey, raising significant conflict of interest concerns as they were certifying their elections. The situation has sparked debates about ethical standards, yet it has gone unchallenged by the Secretary of State, the Ethics Board, or law enforcement.

In response to these events, three candidates, Lily Baran (Democrat), Paul White (Nonpartisan), and Mark Lawson (Republican), have filed for hand recounts of their elections. Furthermore, several injunctions and lawsuits have been filed in the 2nd Judicial Court, aiming to compel the Registrar of Voters (ROV) to conduct hand counts of the votes instead of machine recounts.

The Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) specify that votes must be recounted in the manner cast, necessitating a hand count for proper inspection. The requirement emphasizes transparency and accountability, ensuring each vote gets reviewed.

Despite these legal requirements, the ROV has been accused of attempting to expedite machine recounts over the weekend, avoiding the mandated hand counts. Critics argue that recounting votes using the same machines that initially counted them fails to provide an accurate check, likening it to verifying a cash register tally without an independent audit.

The financial burden imposed on candidates seeking recounts is also under scrutiny. For instance, Lily Baran’s race, with 1,269 votes, required an upfront payment of $50,560. Similarly, Paul White’s race (38,750 votes) and Mark Lawson’s (9,357 votes) also demanded the same upfront fee. These high costs are seen as prohibitive, potentially excluding non-elite candidates from pursuing recounts.

The estimated 645 hours per race for recounts by the ROV and the additional $9,350 per day for the machine vendor have triggered further allegations of inefficiency. Critics argue that this, carried out under secrecy, undermines public trust in the electoral process.

Candidates and their supporters want adherence to the law, pointing to the importance of hand counts to verify the integrity of the election results. The Franklin Project has already covered the costs, ensuring taxpayers bear no additional financial burden. Despite this, the ROV’s reluctance to perform hand counts has raised questions about their motives.

In addition to recount concerns, other election-related issues have surfaced. Marsy Kupfersmith, a nonpartisan candidate for Washoe County District 4 Commissioner, was denied ballot access despite submitting 114 signatures, 14 more than required. The ROV and Secretary of State’s office rejected her candidacy, claiming only 90 signatures were valid without providing specifics. Kupfersmith has filed an appeal, seeking a fair resolution.

Drew Ribar, another candidate, has filed a Writ of Mandamus requesting a new election after being left off the sample ballot in his assembly race. This oversight against a well-known opponent is seen as a significant disadvantage, prompting legal action to rectify the situation.

Nevada welfare offices and other state agencies have reportedly been distributing voter registration forms to individuals who may not be U.S. citizens without requiring proof of citizenship.

The practice has raised concerns about the integrity of the voter registration process and has led to calls for federal intervention to stop it. Surprisingly, federal voting forms do not mandate proof of U.S. citizenship, even though it is illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections.

The 1993 National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) mandated states to register voters at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and other agencies where U.S. citizens apply for public benefits. These offices are required to provide voter registration forms along with application papers. If an applicant declares U.S. citizenship, it is accepted as valid, leading to automatic voter registration.

To address these concerns, the House Administration Committee has approved the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require proof of citizenship when registering to vote by mail, at a DMV, or welfare agency office. Despite this, House Republican leaders have not yet brought the SAVE Act to the floor, but there is a possibility that it may happen before the August recess.

While the bill may pass the House, it faces significant obstacles in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Nonetheless, several Republican senators have already expressed their support for the legislation.

Only Arizona, which recently enacted a law prohibiting the practice for state forms but not federal ones, stands alone.

Dubbed the “Port of Nevada,” a sprawling 224-acre inland port operation and intermodal ramp owned and developed by Industrial Realty Group, LLC (IRG) is set to launch. The venture, undertaken in collaboration with Union Pacific Railroad, CMA CGM Group, and the Port of Oakland, aims to revolutionize freight transport between Fernley and Oakland.

Stuart Lichter, President of the Port of Nevada and IRG, highlighted the significance of the direct rail access linking Reno to the West Coast, which promises to enhance the capacity and efficiency of cargo freight transportation.

“This collaborative venture will provide our clients with a more efficient, reliable, and environmentally sensitive way to transport goods,” Lichter stated.

The Port of Nevada features a state-of-the-art rail facility integrated into Union Pacific’s extensive network. The facility supports a range of operations, including bulk commodity and intermodal trans-loading, storage of diverse commodities, and opportunities for build-to-suit developments and on-site storage solutions.

Direct rail access promises cost savings and supply chain efficiencies but also positions the Port of Nevada as a sustainable solution amidst ongoing supply chain challenges and the weather-impacted and congestion-prone Interstate 80 corridor.

Clients opting for rail transport can expect to reduce their carbon footprint and mitigate impacts from road conditions, trucking regulations, and carbon emissions. Union Pacific notes that transporting one ton of cargo nearly 400 miles consumes just one gallon of diesel fuel while contributing only two percent of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions compared to medium- and heavy-duty trucks’ 25 percent.

French shipping and logistics company CMA CGM Group, the exclusive ocean carrier partner of Port of Nevada through 2024, ensures global connectivity to key markets in Asia and Europe, further enhancing the port’s strategic importance.

Local economic development authorities, including the Northern Nevada Development Authority (NNDA) and the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN), support the project, with each emphasizing its role in bolstering the region’s economic landscape and attracting advanced manufacturing businesses to Nevada.

Taylor Adams, CEO of EDAWN, highlighted the coastal connectivity provided by IRG as a critical asset for companies in Western Nevada, pledging ongoing support for the project’s expansion and growth throughout the region. Jeff Sutich, Executive Director of NNDA, echoed this sentiment, underscoring the project’s alignment with Nevada’s focus on onshoring businesses and its designation as a federally designated Tech Hub.

The 2024 Washoe County primary recounts will commence Friday, June 28, following recount requests by three candidates before the Wednesday, June 26 deadline.

The interim registrar, Cari-Ann Burgess, said the recount would happen over the weekend. According to Nevada Revised Statutes, the candidates who requested recounts are responsible for the costs if the recounts do not change the election results.

Mark Lawson, a Republican candidate for Washoe County Commission District 4, Paul White, a candidate for Washoe County School Board District G, and Lily Baran, a progressive activist who finished just 15 votes behind Frank Perez in the Reno City Council Ward 1 race, have all filed for recounts. Lawson and White, despite being behind by significant margins, also requested recounts.

Drew Ribar, who lost to incumbent Assemblyman P.K. O’Neill in the Republican primary for District 40, has filed a petition for a new election with the Nevada Supreme Court. Ribar argues that his exclusion from the sample ballot distributed to Washoe County voters severely impacted his chances due to lack of name recognition. Ribar, who lost by over 50 percentage points, called for the county to redo the election, citing concerns about “election interference.”

Meanwhile, a renewed debate over election methods emerged as Former Nye County clerk Mark Kampf, invited by Commissioner Clara Andriola, who oversaw hand counts in 2022, presented the benefits and challenges of hand-counting paper ballots to county commissioners. The discussion sparked sharp reactions from public commenters. Some criticized the idea as impractical and prone to error, while others argued that hand-counting paper ballots would increase voter confidence.

Washoe County voting machines automatically digitally record and print a physical copy of each ballot cast.

Andriola did not explicitly support a transition to hand counting but advocated for auditing results by hand with a small sample.

“There’s nothing statutorily in place right now that would prevent that self-audit,” she said.

The Nevada Secretary of State mandates risk-limiting audits of elections. A spokesperson explained that post-election tabulation audits use a random sampling of paper ballots to ensure the accuracy of election outcomes.

COVID-19 was the third-leading cause of death in Nevada from 2020 to 2022, trailing only heart disease and cancer. The pandemic cost working Nevadans a staggering $15 billion. A comprehensive report from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Analytics now examines the broader impacts of the pandemic, spanning lost jobs, economic recovery, substance abuse, suicide, student test scores, and crime rates.

Although COVID-19 might seem like background noise to many, it remains present. New daily cases are rising, with Clark County experiencing an increase for seven consecutive weeks from April 24 to June 12.

However, the number of new daily cases is now a fraction of what it was at the height of the pandemic, with only 38 new cases reported daily and no spikes above 100 since mid-January. At the peak of the Omicron variant in January 2022, Clark County saw a record 6,110 cases in one day.

The report concludes that Nevada’s experience during the pandemic was not drastically different from other states. With over 900,000 cases, more than 12,000 deaths, and nearly 95,000 potential years of life lost, the epidemiological impact was severe. Beyond health, the economic, educational, and behavioral health consequences were significant and may take longer to recover from.

Many Nevadans who lost their jobs suffered greatly from government decisions to shut down “non-essential” businesses. The rush for unemployment benefits led to bureaucratic gridlock and frustration, as the medical community deemed these shutdowns necessary to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.

Between March 2020 and December 2022, Nevada workers lost more than $15 billion in income. While some sectors, like trade, transportation, and utilities, showed growth, the overall economic impact was profound.

Interestingly, the report notes that Nevada’s hospital workforce withstood the pandemic better than other states, with less turnover in public health positions. Initially, wages kept pace with inflation, but inflation outstripped wage growth in 2021 and 2022, exacerbating economic difficulties over the past 18 months.

Housing affordability, a problem dating back to the Great Recession of 2008, worsened during the pandemic. The Nevada home-price-to-income ratio increased by 16 percent, making it increasingly difficult for residents to afford housing. Homelessness also reversed a decade-long downward trend, with the homeless population increasing by 10.4 percent between 2020 and 2022, particularly in Northern Nevada.

The state spent nearly $914 million on housing assistance, the second-highest spending category of COVID-19 relief funds from the federal government. Recent estimates show that in Clark County alone, the homeless population has surged by 56 percent over the past three years, with 7,928 people counted in January 2024.

Drug-related deaths saw a significant rise during the pandemic. Rates increased by nearly 50 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year, reaching their highest level in six years by the third quarter of 2021. The Black population was disproportionately affected by these deaths, a disparity that widened during the pandemic. Emergency room data did not show a significant change in substance abuse deaths, suggesting fewer opportunities for medical intervention in substance-related crises.

Youth suicide rates, which were already increasing before the pandemic, surged further. Suicide attempts resulting in inpatient admissions for youths continued an upward trend from 2016 through 2022. Adult suicide attempts did not show a statistical change, but social isolation and economic impacts heavily influenced mental health across the population.

The shift to remote learning impacted school-age children in Nevada. Although it helped mitigate the spread of COVID-19, it created significant barriers for students, affecting their ability to complete schoolwork and receive a well-rounded education. The report emphasizes a noticeable decrease in fourth-grade National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores, with a 6.2-point decline, ranking as the 13th largest in the nation.

While Nevada’s violent crime rate, particularly domestic violence, did not follow the national trend of an eight percent increase, hate crimes saw a dramatic rise of 168 percent from 2019 to 2022. The majority of these hate crimes were motivated by race, ethnicity, or ancestry bias, with a significant portion involving simple assault and occurring in residences.

Property crimes in Nevada dropped significantly at the start of the pandemic but began to rise again in 2021 and 2022, mirroring national trends.

Nevada Canyon Gold Corp., through its subsidiary Nevada Canyon, LLC, has entered into a binding Purchase Agreement to acquire a 2 percent net smelter returns royalty (NSR) on the Pikes Peak Project in Mineral County for $150,000.

The acquisition is from Walker River Resources, LLC, a subsidiary of Walker River Resources Corp., which owns the project.

“This continues our Nevada-based royalty acquisition roll-up,” Alan Day, President and CEO of Nevada Canyon, said. “The addition of the Pikes Peak increases our royalty portfolio and adds another asset with significant upside. As with all Nevada Canyon royalty purchases, it offers excellent leverage to gold prices and now adds some copper potential.”

The Pikes Peak Project comprises 36 unpatented lode mining claims within the northern section of the Walker Lane gold trend. Historically, the site has seen substantial mining activity, including numerous shafts, adits, and a mill. Recent regional sampling by Walker River returned promising results with values of 9 grams per ton in gold and 2.2 percent copper from outcrop samples.

In 2022, Walker River conducted an initial RC drill program at Pikes Peak to gather geological data for future exploration. Despite the limited data from this program, the company reported a significant discovery of gold mineralization.

Current efforts are on rehabilitating historical underground workings that are presently inaccessible due to minor cave-ins and loose material at the entrances. These efforts aim to collect detailed geological information, which, combined with the 2022 drill results, will guide the next phase of exploration scheduled for 2024.

The Pikes Peak Project is approximately 40 miles southeast of Yerington. Notably, modern-day drilling or exploration activities have not been reported at Pikes Peak until Walker River’s recent involvement, unearthing the project’s untapped potential for significant gold-copper mineralization.

The Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) filed a mandamus petition to compel Washoe County election officials, specifically interim registrar Cari Ann Burgess, to investigate and correct commercial addresses listed on the voter roll.

According to the complaint, a media production specialist for the Registrar of Voters initially responded to their request, submitted in April 2024, but subsequently referred the foundation to Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar. Since before the 2020 election, PILF has notified Nevada election officials about commercial addresses on the voter roll.

Their investigation revealed voters registered at various commercial locations, including casinos, vacant lots, gas stations, strip clubs, and fast food restaurants. Follow-up investigations in 2024 found hundreds of questionable addresses still present on the Nevada voter rolls, with notable examples in Washoe County being the Nevada Gaming Control Board, liquor stores, parking lots, and tattoo parlors.

The PILF writ includes exhibits showing business addresses and vacant lots listed on voter registrations, which violates Nevada law. State statute prohibits listing a P.O. box or a business as a home address, requiring individuals to register to vote where they live. Additionally, state law mandates election officials to maintain the voter list to ensure accuracy.

The petition highlights a voter registered at the Hustler Strip Club in Las Vegas, which aligns with recent discoveries by Drew Johnson, the Republican challenger to Rep. Susie Lee. PILF also published a review of a 2023 report by the Secretary of State detailing mail ballot issues from the 2022 midterm election.

According to PILF President J. Christian Adams, the data shows that “Automatic mail ballots are a disaster and the Nevada numbers prote it.”

The 2023 report indicated 95,556 ballots went to undeliverable addresses, with 8,036 rejected and 1.2 million never returned. Their review concluded that the Nevada 2022 midterm elections illustrate the impact of rejected, unreturned, and undeliverable ballots on close election results.

For instance, the U.S. Senate race was decided by a margin of 7,928 votes, with 8,036 rejected ballots out of nearly 513,000 returned. PILF raised concerns about reducing failure rates in mail voting.

However, Marc Elias, an activist lawyer associated with the Democratic party, has now intervened in the PILF petition, calling it a “disastrous election system fix.”

Elias challenged a Nevada Voter ID ballot initiative earlier this year, and the Nevada Supreme Court refused to hear his argument.

Washoe County commissioners have finally certified the primary election results, but not without a fair share of drama and dissent.

In the three-to-two vote on certification, Commissioners Alexis Hill, Mariluz Garcia, and Clara Andriola were in favor, while Mike Clark and Jeanne Herman stood against it. Interim Registrar of Voters Cari-Ann Burgess reported 80,262 votes cast and counted, representing 24.52 percent of registered voters.

Commissioner Jeanne Herman highlighted personal anecdotes and constituent concerns, calling into question the integrity of the balloting process. She advocated for scrapping the election and starting over, citing numerous irregularities.

Commissioner Mike Clark gave a scathing critique of county leadership and the election process. He pointed to instances where ballots had been incorrectly mailed or not mailed as requested, including his experience of missing a ballot while someone else received one at his address.

“As for mistakes on a ballot or people not receiving ballots, those kinds of things – while they’re regrettable – they don’t necessarily affect a vote that was cast. There are mechanisms all throughout state law and federal law if there were incorrect votes made.”

“That’s the foundational basis of the whole election,” Clark asserted. “You can work as hard as you want and do everything as perfectly as you can, but if the foundation of the system – the voter rolls – isn’t correct, what have you done?”

Burgess, the Interim Registrar of Voters, confirmed that approximately 25,000 ballots were returned as undeliverable, each costing $3.50, for a price tag of $875-thousand in taxpayer money.

“How do I endorse that?” Clark questioned.

The certified results will be forwarded to the Nevada Secretary of State for final approval.