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Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson recently expressed concerns about the potential urbanization of Sparks, echoing fears of emulating the challenges facing larger cities while on Nevada Newsmakers.

Lawson emphasized the critical need for a federal land transfer to accommodate the city’s burgeoning population and prevent the onset of urban problems. He pointed to the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center (TRIC) in neighboring Storey County, an economic hub attracting thousands of workers to the region.

With the increasing influx of residents seeking employment opportunities in the burgeoning tech industries at the TRIC, Lawson sees a pressing need for housing and infrastructure development. He highlighted the urgency of securing a land transfer from the federal government to facilitate residential construction closer to the TRIC, ensuring convenient access for employees while alleviating pressure on neighboring communities.

The proposed acquisition of approximately 2,000 acres of federal land would address the housing shortage and provide essential amenities, such as sewer systems, to accommodate anticipated growth.

As the population of Sparks continues to swell, reaching an estimated 107,000 residents, the strain on housing resources becomes more pronounced.

Despite the efforts between Sparks and Storey County officials to address housing needs, challenges persist in navigating federal regulations and legislative processes as the proposed land transfer remains contingent on congressional approval.

With time running out to secure congressional approval for the land transfer, Lawson said there is a need for swift action by U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei and U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, who are pushing for its approval.

My Cousin Elmo says, “I can’t decide if I want to be feral or fabtabulous.”

In the upcoming Nevada Presidential Preference Primary (PPP), Democrats seem to be resorting to familiar tactics to tilt the scales in their favor. The recent voter turnout in Washoe County during the early voting period raises eyebrows, hinting at a potential failure in an orchestrated effort to manipulate the democratic process.

Currently, the voter turnout stands at 16 percent, with nearly 51,000 ballots cast by mail or in person out of the 319,000 registered voters. It is not unusual for Democrats to outpace Republicans in early voting.

During the early voting period, 29,698 registered Democrats cast their votes compared to 21,276 registered Republicans. However, it’s crucial to note that many Republicans have chosen to participate in the Nevada GOP caucus on Thursday, February 8, where the only candidates on the ballot are former President Donald Trump and Ryan Binkley.

The preference for mail-in ballots is another cause for skepticism, with 92 percent of votes cast through this method. While voting by mail is a legitimate option, such an overwhelming reliance on it raises questions about the security of the process and the potential for abuse.

What adds to the suspicion is the historical context surrounding Nevada’s PPP. The state last implemented this system in 1980, as Democrats were motivated by a fear of Ronald Reagan and desperate, tried to confuse voters and sway the outcome, they resorted to the PPP. Fast forward to the present, and it appears that Democrats are pulling the same old trick out of their bag to secure an advantage.

Add to this the mailing ballot for the PPP, which warns the voter that voting twice is against the law. While truthful, it can provide a sense of fear in anyone who exercises their right to vote “None of the Above” in the PPP and desire to exercise their right to caucus.

Judging by the early voting numbers, many voters are more intelligent than some believe.

The Biden administration’s potential backing of a proposal before the World Trade Organization (WTO) has sent shockwaves through Nevada’s bioscience sector, raising concerns about job losses and economic repercussions.

The proposal seeks to dismantle patent protections for COVID-19 tests and treatments, which could have dire consequences for Nevada’s workforce. With an announcement expected in the coming weeks, Nevada’s congressional delegation faces mounting pressure to oppose the measure.

The proposal follows the WTO’s decision last year to waive intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines, a decision supported by the White House. However, critics argue that such waivers undermine innovation and fail to address the root causes of global supply shortages.

Nevada’s biotech industry has emerged as a vital component of the state’s economy, supporting over 15,000 jobs and generating billions in economic output. The sector’s rapid growth underscores its significance, with research and development investments surging by 27 percent between 2018 and 2020.

Moreover, Nevada’s life sciences jobs offer competitive salaries, averaging nearly $100,000 annually. Coupled with the state’s favorable tax environment, it has positioned Nevada as an attractive destination for biotech talent.

However, the proposed WTO waiver threatens to unravel these achievements by stifling investment in research and development. With an average cost of $2.8 billion to bring a new therapy to market, the absence of patent protections could deter companies from pursuing innovation, leading to job losses and stalled progress.

Additionally, concerns loom over the potential implications for national security, particularly regarding China’s role in the global biotech landscape. Despite pledges to refrain from exploiting vaccine waivers, China’s history of intellectual property violations raises doubts about its intentions.

Furthermore, China’s “Made in China 2025” strategy, aimed at achieving technological dominance across industries, underscores the strategic significance of intellectual property protection. The prospect of China gaining access to critical mRNA technology poses serious geopolitical risks and threatens U.S. economic interests.

A search of the city council’s discretionary spending by This is Reno has revealed a series of potential violations of Reno’s city travel policies by council members and city leaders. Documents obtained through a public records request indicate discrepancies in travel requests and expense reports, prompting concerns about adherence to regulations and accountability.

Expense reports under scrutiny are ones primarily approved by City Manager Doug Thornley. His role in approving expenses is interesting as he is hired and evaluated by council members whose travel expenses he approves, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.

Some violations include council members and staff purchasing first-class or upgraded airline tickets, charging for extra hotel nights without evidence of conducting official city business, collecting per-diem reimbursements when meals came as part of conference registrations, and submitting travel requests long after trips ended.

Clarification from city officials has been slow in coming, with city council member Devon Reese and Mayor Hillary Schieve implying blame on city staff for errors on travel requests and expense reports. However, council members and the mayor are required to sign off on these documents before submission to Thornley for approval.

One policy violation concerns reimbursements for meals and lodging at U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) rates. While GSA rates are guidelines for travel expenses, Thornley often signs off on requests after travel, allowing excessive expenses beyond the GSA rate.

Furthermore, council members and some city staff have been reimbursed for daily meals, or “per diem,” despite meals provided as part of conference registrations. This practice, considered double-dipping, violates the city’s travel reimbursement policy.

Despite apparent violations, Thornley’s signature appears on most expense reports, while Schieve has also signed off on documents that seem to breach policy. Requests for explanations from city officials have met with refusals to respond to questions or provide additional information.

The Nevada Secretary of State’s Office has acknowledged discrepancies in online voter histories following the Presidential Preference Primary on Tuesday, February 6.

The issues, attributed to technical errors, have prompted investigations and responses from state officials and political parties. Secretary Francisco V. Aguilar attributed the discrepancies to a “miscommunication in code,” clarifying that the glitch did not affect election results or compromise voter Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

Reports of erroneous voter history prompted swift action from the Secretary of State’s Office, with staff working to resolve the issue in collaboration with county clerks and registrars. Despite the technical glitch, election results posted on official platforms remain accurate and unaffected.

The Nevada Republican Party raised concerns about the discrepancies, particularly regarding reports of online votes that mail-in ballots for individuals who did not participate in the primary. The party said it would investigate with the Secretary of State’s Office.

Aguilar reiterated the state’s commitment to secure, fair, and accessible elections, as his office provided a memo outlining the steps taken to address the issue and gave plans to implement a top-down Voter Registration and Elections Management System (VREMS) before the June 2024 primary election.

The VREMS system, according to Aguilar, will enhance data accuracy and streamline election administration processes, ensuring transparency and reliability in Nevada’s electoral system. The testing of the VREMS system will happen during a recall and mock election in March, allowing for public scrutiny and feedback before full implementation.

Early spring and winter runoff filled the tributaries and emptied into an already swollen and fast-moving Mad River. Uncle had tasked a 13-year-old me with fetching the water for the dried-out leather bellows for the old hand pump from which we drew our water.

Somehow, over the winter, the Bell jar of water we left buried in the dirt, with heavy rock atop it and at the base of the metal pump, had gone missing. It had always been right where it was left the last three summers.

With hurt feelings, because I wanted to help unload the horses and mules, I grabbed the large metal bucket off the back porch, walked to the river’s edge, and dipped it into the swift flow. Already slightly off balance, the water slammed into the bottom of the container and yanked me forward off my feet and into the water.

The next thing I realized, I was speeding down the river, banging and bumping into submerged rocks that jutted up from the river bed. Some people might say that the intelligent thing would be to have let go of the bucket, but I was afraid to do that because I didn’t want an ass whipping for losing it.

Eventually, I traveled about two miles before I struck a sand bar and was able to pull myself and the bucket from the water and onto the dry bank. I was shaking from hypothermia, but by the time I got back to Uncle’s cabin, my clothes were bone dry, and I was sweating.

“Why the hell didn’t you let go of the bucket?” Uncle asked. “You could have drown.”

“I know,” I answered. “I am more afraid of getting a whippin’ than I was of drowning.”

He walked up to me, grabbed me by the shoulders, looked me in the eyes, and just as tears formed in his eyes, he hugged me.

“Christ, kiddo, I thought I’d lost you,” he said. “Next time, if that ever happens again, let go of the bucket, ’cause I’d rather lose a bucket than try to explain to your mom how I lost you.”

We both laughed.

My Cousin Elmo says, “My cell phone never stopped working, but I heard many of you got lucky.”

A recent analysis of U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey data by Help Advisor revealed that Nevadans spend the second highest price for groceries in the U.S.

The national weekly average for food spending is $270.21, while Nevada residents spend $294.76 per week on groceries, ranking as the second-highest in the continental U.S., excluding Alaska and Hawai’i. Only California leads the way in higher pricing.

The top five states where households spend the most on groceries each week, on average, include California ($297.72), Nevada ($294.76), Mississippi ($290.64), Washington ($287.67), and Florida ($287.27.) On the lower end of the spectrum are Indiana ($239.11), Michigan ($236.38), Nebraska ($235.12), Iowa ($227.32), and Wisconsin ($221.46.)

As the median home price in Nevada approaches half a million dollars, residents are grappling with the pressing issue of housing affordability, prompting calls for action from state leaders.

U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen convened a roundtable discussion to address the escalating housing costs, bringing together Reno Councilwoman Kathleen Taylor, Ann Silver from the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Hilary Lopez of the Reno Housing Authority, Maurice Page of the Nevada Housing Coalition, and Andrew Rivas, a resident impacted by housing expenses.

The roundtable participants highlighted the multifaceted impact of unaffordable housing, emphasizing its repercussions on community cohesion, education systems, workforce development, and business operations. Rivas underscored the critical link between housing affordability and the overall health of a community, stressing the importance of ensuring that residents can afford to live in the areas where they work and raise families.

Rosen’s proposed legislation, the Housing Oversight and Mitigating Exploitation (HOME) Act, aims to address housing affordability by targeting price gouging by corporate investors. The bill seeks to empower the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to investigate price manipulation and gouging by investors, making it illegal to rent or sell units at unreasonable prices during housing emergencies.

Fines collected from institutional investors found violating the legislation would be directed toward the National Housing Trust Fund, which supports the development and preservation of affordable housing for low-income families.