The Old Blog in the Desert

A growing wave of concern and frustration is sweeping through Washoe County as accusations emerge regarding the actions and decisions of the District Attorney’s office, particularly Deputy District Attorney (DDA) Mary Kandaris, in the aftermath of a contentious election recount. The issue has raised concerns about whether the DA’s office is serving the public.

The controversy began when Kandaris allegedly informed observers, including Drew Rebar, that the press would not be allowed to film or witness the election recount process. This decision sparked outrage, especially after local media outlets reported on the exclusion, leading to a reversal of the decision and eventual press access hours after the recount had already begun.

Further fueling dissatisfaction, the DA’s office charged over $152,000 for a recount of three races, which was expected to be conducted by hand but instead utilized the same machines that had initially tallied the votes, resulting in identical outcomes. The speed with which this recount was conducted, in mere hours rather than weeks, has led to accusations that the high cost was to dissuade others from demanding recounts in the future.

On Tuesday, July 9, DDA Nate Edwards advised county commissioners to vote according to their conscience on whether to certify the recount of the canvass. However, when Vice Chair Jeanne Herman and Commissioners Clara Andriola and Micheal Clark voted against certification, they were criticized by the press, labeling them as “election deniers” and “threats to democracy.”

The situation escalated when, the following day, Commissioner Andriola called for a revote under pressure, which led to the recount being certified. The move is opposite from the previous week’s advice from Edwards, with Kandaris providing what many believe was poor legal guidance by insisting the commissioners had no choice but to certify the recount.

Clark later revealed that he felt compelled to vote to certify under threats of criminal prosecution, fines, and removal from office. However, his explanation failed to address substantial evidence suggesting vote tampering and improper setup of counting machines.

Only Vice Chair Jeanne Herman stood firm, refusing to certify the recount, stating, “There are hills to ride on and hills to die on; I guess this will be the hill I die on as I cannot certify this recount.”

Her stance highlighted what she described as a lack of appetite for election integrity within the board and the at-large county.

The DA’s office is also under fire for not addressing voter rolls with nearly 11,485 illegal addresses, according to the county’s records still on file. Despite the DA’s office having the authority to investigate and address these issues, Kandaris has reportedly told those raising concerns to sue the county if they are dissatisfied with her responses.

The series of events has led to a call for accountability, with many questioning whether Hicks is aware of or supports the actions taken by his office.

The first court date for a family involved in a widely publicized incident in Virginia City, which gained national attention on TikTok over allegations of racism, is scheduled.

A pretrial conference is on Thursday, November 14, for Gary Miller, his wife Janis Miller, and their daughter Tiffany Miller. The hearing happens at the Justice Court in Virginia City, as confirmed by the Storey County District Attorney’s Office.

Storey County Sheriff deputies arrested the Millers on Wednesday, August 7, following an altercation on August 2 during the Hot August Nights classic car event in Virginia City. The incident involved a confrontation with Ricky Johnson, a Black canvasser gathering signatures for a petition to cap attorney’s fees in Nevada.

Johnson posted a video of the incident on TikTok, getting over a million views before being removed.

The video captured a heated exchange in which Johnson accused Gary Miller of using a racial slur and making a violent threat. Johnson claimed that Miller told him to “get out of my face with the N-word” and mentioned having “a hanging tree in my backyard for [racial slur] like you.”

The video also showed Janis Miller touching Johnson’s arm, which he described as an assault. Tiffany Miller was reportedly involved in obstructing the peace officer during the incident. However, acts like the use of the ‘N’ word by Gary Miller do not appear in the video.

The confrontation met widespread condemnation from several Nevada figures, including Governor Joe Lombardo, Attorney General Aaron Ford, officials from Virginia City, and Hot August Nights. The latter organization permanently banned the Millers from attending future events.

Gary Miller faces breach of the peace charges, a gross misdemeanor, and an unlawful act due to perceived race. Janis Miller faces a battery charge, and Tiffany Miller is charged with obstructing and delaying a peace officer, both misdemeanors.

The Storey County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) is still investigating and has urged witnesses to come forward. Also under review by the SCSO are threatening and harassing phone calls received after the incident while working with state authorities to determine whether further investigations are warranted.

During a recent podcast, Democratic Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager (AD-9) reflected on Nevada’s 2019 criminal justice reform bill, AB 236, calling it a “landmark” achievement and expressing pride in its passage.

Yeager emphasized that reforming the criminal justice system was one of his motivations for entering politics after his tenure as a public defender. The bill, crafted by a Democratic majority and signed into law by former Governor Steve Sisolak, was aimed at reducing Nevada’s prison population through modifications in sentencing, bail, probation, drug offenses, and felony classifications.

AB 236 lowered penalties for certain drug offenses and raised the amount required for felony charges related to methamphetamine and fentanyl possession. The legislation also increased the threshold for felony theft from $600 to $1,200, meaning those who steal goods valued under $1,200 would now face misdemeanor charges rather than a category D felony.

Yeager previously defended this change, noting on Nevada Newsmakers that the state’s low felony threshold was out of step with other states.

“Your average iPhone is going to be $1,200,” Yeager said. “So if you take an iPhone, you are looking at having a felony.”

Despite Yeager’s intent to modernize the justice system, the law has sparked significant controversy. Property crime rates have surged 15 percent in Nevada since AB 236 went into effect, while drug store thefts have jumped by 39 percent.

If this was not enough, Nevada is seeing a dramatic increase in car thefts as the crime rose 33 percent, becoming the ninth highest in the nation. Data shows that there were 11,481 vehicle thefts in Nevada in 2020 and 15,279 vehicle thefts in Nevada in 2022. Las Vegas finished among the top metros for increases in auto thefts with a 38.3 percent increase.

Attorney General Aaron Ford was involved in developing the bill and endorsed the reforms, which he and other supporters argued would promote fairer and more effective justice. However, critics argue the reform has had unintended consequences.

Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks publicly criticized the bill, describing it as a “rubber stamp” for drug use in Nevada. In a presentation earlier this year, Hicks expressed concern over Nevada’s growing crime rate, particularly in Washoe County, and warned the state could become “another California.”

Hicks linked AB 236 to the rising crime statistics, citing cases like Debora Redden, a repeat offender facing charges of attempted murder after attacking a Las Vegas judge. Redden, who has multiple violent felonies on record, did not meet the seven-felony threshold for enhanced sentencing under the new law.

According to Hicks, Redden’s case showcases the dangers associated with AB 236 and reflects the broader issues tied to the bail reform movement. The bill, Hicks asserted, has allowed repeat offenders like Redden to continue committing crimes without facing heightened consequences.

Nevada families spent an estimated $525.1 million on back-to-school preparations this year, according to the Retail Association of Nevada (RAN), a slight decrease of 0.5 percent compared to last year.

Of the total spending, $369.1 million was on K-12 students, marking a 0.7 percent decrease from the previous year. Electronics was the highest amount, at $130.5 million. Clothing and accessories accounted for $106.9 million, followed by shoes at $71.9 million and school supplies at $59.8 million.

Nationally, households with K-12 students spent $38.8 billion, averaging $874.68 per family, a 1.7 percent decrease from the 2023 average of $890.07, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).

For college students, who number approximately 114,000 across Nevada’s public and private institutions, RAN estimated that back-to-school spending reached $156.1 million. Electronics again topped the spending list at $41.1 million, followed by dorm and apartment furnishings at $22 million, clothing and accessories at $19.6 million, and food expenses at $17.1 million.

Nationally, college students’ spending totaled $86.6 billion, with an average of $1,364.75 per household, reflecting a minor 0.2 percent decrease from last year.

In shopping preferences, 57 percent of back-to-school shoppers and 50 percent of back-to-college shoppers turned to online retail sites. Department stores were popular among 50 percent of K-12 shoppers and 35 percent of college shoppers.

Other preferred shopping destinations include discount stores, favored by 47 percent of K-12 shoppers and 31 percent of college shoppers, and clothing stores, which were popular with 42 percent of K-12 shoppers. Meanwhile, 23 percent of K-12 shoppers preferred electronics stores, while college students frequented office supply stores and college bookstores, with 26 percent shopping both.

A Reno City Council meeting sparked a heated controversy over the fate of the former Community Assistance Center (CAC), as accusations of misinformation and questionable decision-making have led to demands for investigations from city and county officials.

During the meeting, Councilmember Jenny Brekhus revealed an email from a Washoe County employee to County Commissioner Mike Clark, which claimed that the City of Reno was not interested in a county proposal to rehabilitate the former CAC building to provide housing and services for the homeless population. The email stated, “The City of Reno is not interested in selling the building to the county to house people experiencing homelessness.”

Brekhus expressed concern, noting that Mayor Hillary Schieve had confirmed that “no one in the county spoke to anyone up here,” suggesting that high-level decisions were made without proper communication. Brekhus called for an investigation and proposed a 90-day delay before any vote to sell the building to an affordable housing developer.

However, the council denied her request.

The CAC, originally designed to house up to 175 people and provide wrap-around services for the homeless population, was closed in 2020 due to social distancing requirements during the pandemic. Since then, the building has fallen into disrepair, with a recent appraisal valuing the once $20 million facility at approximately $3.4 million due to damage and deterioration.

This spring, the City of Reno opened a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to determine the future of the building. Out of four proposals submitted, three were deemed viable, with the council ultimately approving a motion to enter into exclusive negotiations with Ulysses Development Group, a Denver-based affordable housing developer.

Clark has also called for an investigation, questioning the integrity of the information he received. In a statement, Clark demanded answers: “I would like to know if it is against policy for one county employee to direct another county employee to give disinformation to an elected official… Are there any consequences for intentionally sharing disinformation?”

The situation escalated when Clark forwarded an email exchange with Brown to the media and his attorney. In his email, Brown defended county staff, stating that the decision not to pursue the CAC for additional shelter operations is due to Reno zoning restrictions and resource limitations. Brown also criticized Clark’s accusations as “sensationalized, baseless rhetoric,” stating that county staff had not lied about the CAC, pointing to public discussions and articles.

The dispute between Clark and Brown has further complicated the already tense relationship between city and county officials. As both sides continue to exchange accusations, the controversy over the city’s approach to addressing homelessness and affordable housing remains unresolved, with potential legal and political ramifications on the horizon.

DEF CON, recognized as one of the oldest and largest hacking conventions, happened in Las Vegas recently.

The event featured a “Voting Village” where hackers tested the security of electronic voting systems used in numerous states and municipalities. The findings from DEF CON will be published soon, but because there are less than 90 days until the election, there is insufficient time to address the discovered vulnerabilities.

According to POLITICO, many in the election security community are concerned that the lack of a rapid response system for fixing these issues could undermine trust in the election results. Historically, DEF CON has revealed several voting machine issues, but the findings are often ignored by the government and manufacturers.

The findings revealed numerous vulnerabilities consistent with those discovered in previous years. Voting machine vulnerabilities have been a topic of concern for over a decade, with Democrats and Republicans raising alarms about these issues in elections they have lost.

In 2016, Democracy Now warned about electronic voting machines, citing claims that such machines have historically been unreliable and have led to election manipulation.

The issue of election security has seen notable political figures also raising concerns. Democratic Senators Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, and Ron Wyden challenged the security of voting machines before the 2018 midterm elections, questioning their integrity.

The recent DEF CON findings are particularly concerning in Nevada, where close tabulations can significantly impact state and city leadership. The persistent and unresolved nature of these vulnerabilities raises questions about the effectiveness of any fixes that may have been implemented or reported by election officials.

Further complicating the situation is the rushed validation process for a new election reporting system, Voter Registration and Election Management Solution (VREMS), being implemented by Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar. Concerns remain about the rapid rollout of VREMS and the impact on election integrity following a glitch in the Presidential Preference Primary that led to public backlash and an emergency meeting.

Aguilar has since apologized for the glitch, attributing it to a technical error, and reassured voters of Nevada’s commitment to secure and fair elections. However, the rapid changes to election laws by Nevada Democrats during a pandemic and ongoing concerns about election security and unaddressed vulnerabilities have eroded confidence in the election process.

A multi-car crash in Lyon County resulted in the death of 71-year-old Donald Marquise from Madison, Ala. The crash occurred on Wednesday, July 24 at approximately 8:20 a.m., involving a 2016 Toyota Rav4, a 1996 Freightliner, a 2024 Ford Edge, and a 2017 Ram 2500.

The Nevada State Police say the collision took place at the intersection of U.S. 50 Alternate and U.S. 95 Alternate. Marquise, the driver of the Ford Edge, was taken to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

The driver of the Ram 2500 was hospitalized with minor injuries, and two juveniles in the Ram sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The drivers of the Toyota Rav4 and the Freightliner did not report any injuries.

The initial investigation revealed that the crash occurred when the driver of the Rav4 attempted to overtake the Freightliner by driving southbound in the northbound lane. To avoid a head-on collision, the driver of the Ram swerved to the right.

However, the left side of the Rav4 collided with the left side of the Ram, causing the Ram to spin out. The Rav4’s right side then struck the left side of the Freightliner’s trailer.

The Ram veered onto the dirt shoulder of northbound U.S. 50 Alternate before re-entering the roadway and crossing the northbound lane while spinning. It eventually struck the front left side of the Ford Edge.

The Edge rolled down an embankment and came to rest on its wheels. Meanwhile, the Ram overturned onto its right side, and both the Rav4 and the Freightliner made controlled stops on the right side gravel shoulder of the southbound U.S. 50 Alternate.

In July 2024, Storey County experienced a dramatic decline in single-family home sales and prices.

The county recorded only one sale of an existing single-family home, a staggering 80 percent decrease from the previous year and no change from last month. The median sales price for an existing single-family residence in Storey County dropped to $377,450, marking a 20.5 percent decrease from the prior month.

In contrast, Carson City’s real estate market showed more activity. The city saw 75 sales of existing single-family homes in July, reflecting a 47.1 percent increase from the previous month and a 23 percent rise from the same time last year. Despite this surge in sales, the median sales price for these homes fell to $527,405, a decrease of 5.8 percent from June, though it increased by 3.8 percent from the previous year. The median sales price for existing condominiums and townhomes in Carson City also decreased to $300,000, down 2.5 percent from June and 6.3 percent from the year before.

Washoe County, excluding Incline Village, saw 549 new listings and 434 closed sales. The median sales price for existing single-family residences in Washoe County rose to $607,500, a 1.3 percent increase from June and a 6.6 percent increase from the previous year. The median sales price for existing condominiums and townhomes in Washoe County was $362,500, reflecting an 8.2 percent increase from the prior month and a 9.8 percent rise from the previous year.

Lyon County’s market showed mixed trends. The county had 106 sales of existing single-family homes and manufactured properties in July, a 4.5 percent decrease from June but a 2.9 percent increase from the previous year. The median sales price for these properties was $386,845, an increase of 3.2 percent from June and a decrease of 0.6 percent from last year.

Douglas County experienced a 19.1 percent increase in sales from June, though it remained 11.1 percent lower than the previous year. The median sales price for existing single-family residences rose to $760,325, a 5.6 percent increase from June.

Churchill County reported 19 sales, a 9.5 percent decrease from June but an 18.8 percent increase from the previous year. The median sales price was $395,000, down six percent from the prior month but up 21.5 percent from the previous year.

After months of public feedback and nearly 1,000 responses to an online survey, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) has decided on a solution to address the mismatched sound walls along Pyramid Highway in Spanish Springs.

The chosen remedy involves an artistic cover-up, estimated to cost taxpayers between $300,000 and $400,000. It includes painting wave patterns on the walls and adding metal artwork featuring fish and pelicans to conceal areas where the original artwork does not align due to a design flaw.

NDOT spokesperson Meg Ragonese noted that this approach is significantly more cost-effective than replacing the walls. She also mentioned the cost overrun would be part of the project’s taxpayer-funded budget.

Local artists will create the artwork.

Transportation officials explained that the mismatched artwork occurred due to a reversal in the design layout, which caused inconsistencies in the natural river scenes across various sections of the sound wall. NDOT publicly acknowledged their mistake only after the installation of the sections.

The 1954 film Johnny Dark, directed by George Sherman, offers a thrilling glimpse into the world of automobile engineering and racing. Starring Tony Curtis as Johnny Dark, Piper Laurie as Liz Fielding, and Don Taylor as Duke Benson, the film follows the ambitious journey of an automobile engineer who builds a unique sports car and races it from Canada to Mexico.

The film follows Johnny Dark and his colleague, Duke Benson, who work at Fielding Motors, a company known for its family-friendly vehicles. They become dissatisfied with the company’s direction and plan to develop a new sports car. Their plans are overheard by Scotty, the chief engineer, and Liz Fielding, the granddaughter of Fielding Motors’ owner, James Fielding, leading to trouble.

Tensions rise as Duke’s jealousy over Liz’s affection for Johnny leads to his dismissal after a crash during a practice run, which he blames on brake failure. As Johnny and Liz work on the car, a race from Canada to Mexico gets planned to showcase their creation. Despite initial setbacks and a breakdown that forces Johnny to push the vehicle into Las Vegas, with support from Scotty, Liz, and Duke, who returns to help, it culminates in a dramatic race to victory.

Filming for Johnny Dark occurred at various locations, including Universal Studios in California, Virginia City, and Reno. Many scenes were shot on Second and Center Streets and Mount Rose Highway in Reno, adding authentic Nevada landscapes to the film.

The cast includes Paul Kelly as William H. ‘Scotty’ Scott, Ilka Chase as Abbie Binns, Sidney Blackmer as James Fielding, and a range of uncredited roles such as Scatman Crothers, Brett Halsey and Nevada Senator Pat McCarran as himself. The movie is notable for being the final film featuring actor Lorin Raker, who portrayed a reporter.

Johnny Dark combines high-speed racing with a personal story of ambition and romance. It is set against the stunning backdrop of the Nevada landscape, making it a memorable classic in the car racing genre.