Her voting record closely aligns with that of Democrats, raising questions about her true political allegiance. Despite being a Republican, Democrats are financing the campaign of appointed Washoe County Commissioner Clara Andriola, following the distribution of two mailers across County Commission District 4, funded by the New Day Nevada PAC.

Affiliated with Riley Sutton, founder of Changing Dynamics, The New Day Nevada PAC, a campaign management firm with a history of working for Democrats. Their clients include Angie Taylor for State Assembly, Hillary Schieve for Reno Mayor, Beth Smith for School Board, Mariluz Garcia for County Commission, Devon Reese for Reno City Council, and Alexis Hill for Washoe County Commission.

Given these connections, the heavy financial backing for Andriola suggests a concerted effort by Democrats to influence her candidacy. It is especially puzzling considering no Democrats are running for County Commissioner District 4. The absence of Democratic candidates, combined with the support from Democratic-aligned PACs, raises the question of whether Andriola is a Democrat masquerading as a Republican.

Further, the “Conservatives For Clara” campaign gets its funding from “Every Eligible Nevadan,” a PAC sharing an address with numerous Democratic PACs in Washington, D.C., run by Owen Berger, a political consultant for Democrats. The support from Democratic operatives and the lack of Democratic challengers suggest that Andriola may not be the conservative Republican her campaign claims.

If Andriola truly represents Republican values, why are Democrats investing so heavily in her campaign, and why are there no Democrat candidates opposing her?

The pattern of support and the financial investments from Democrat-linked organizations suggest that Andriola could be a Democrat in all but name. Her voting record and the backing of RINOs and Democrats point to this conclusion.

Midnight at the Oasis, by Maria Muldaur, is playing on the radio as I glide around the final curve before Virginia City. There is something at that moment that gives me butterflies with the usual palpitations I get every time I see the town.

Up and over the hill and down, in the southbound lane of C Street, I drive to the newspaper office tucked inside the little clothing store. Here, I do my Friday thang, delivering papers and visiting with some of my favorite people.

The vehicle loaded with two boxes of papers, I take a third one to the post office next door, remembering to look before I cross the driveway between the two buildings. A Jeep bounced me into the street one early morning as I stepped onto the cement leading to the parking lot behind the post office.

Papers dropped for mailing done, I return to my vehicle and collect more for the paper box sitting kitty-corner from the post office’s front doors. Once I get the box loaded, I begin my race with time.

Heading south, I drop papers here and there, up the hill to B Street, Howard, and down Union to C Street again. Here, I park because there are several places to go, and it is here that I will knowingly fall behind, owing to the many people to stop and talk with.

It is the best part of the job.

Then it’s back to the vehicle and down the street, making three more stops before I blow out of town through Gold Hill and Silver City, where I drop a bundle of papers before hitting Dayton. Though the box in front of the post office in Silver City is in Lyon County, they get the same paper as Virginia City, which is in Storey County.

Again, I will lose time waiting for traffic to clear on S.R 341 and U.S. 50 at an unprotected left turn. The traffic is light today because of the pending holiday weekend, so getting across is easy this morning.

Usually, I have ten places on my route to deliver to in the valley, but today, for the third week in a row, it is nine as I can’t get the paper box near the Smith’s grocery store to open. I need to find someone who knows how to repair the damned things.

Out towards Stagecoack, then back to Riverboat, I need to make a pit stop at Maverick’s to fuel up, as gas is cheaper in Lyon County than Washoe County by nearly fifty cents. They also have clean restrooms that I will take advantage of right now.

Then comes my second favorite part of my day, especially with nice weather upon us, the drive up Six Mile Canyon and back into Virginia City, where I have five more stops to make before I can call it quits. There is something akin to spiritual as I pass the tree budding, the flowers waving in the breeze that fills the canyon, and the multitude of historic, squared-off rock foundations of homes and factories beyond ruined.

North on C Street, back around to D Street, a quick jog to E Street, back across Mill Street, what Six Mile Canyon becomes once back inside the city limits. I zip around from St. Mary’s in the Mountain, jogging once again one street down the hill to F Street and by the Virginia and Truckee Railroad Depot, and passed the wooden mining shack where we used to print the newspapers.

F Street ends at State Route 341, so making a righthand turn, I pass by the historic Fourth Ward School, returning to C Street and going north for the second to last stop. Finally, I go left on Union since Taylor remains blocked, turn right on B Street, and make my last delivery of the day.

It is early afternoon, and the rest of the day is mine, and I can do with it as I will. I need more conversating, which is in endless supply in Virginia City.

And I know just where to go for that. I left Virginia City for home around 6 p.m. tonight, my head filled with good words and great stories.

Multiple fire departments joined forces to combat a fire that broke out in an auto recycling yard located in Mound House around 2:10 p.m. on Friday, May 3.

The incident at B&R Auto Wrecking off Newman Lane saw at least half a dozen vehicles engulfed in flames. Emergency responders swiftly reacted to the blaze as firefighters from Lyon and Storey counties, personnel from Carson City, and the Nevada Highway Patrol converged on the scene to tackle the flames.

Central Lyon County Fire Chief Rich Harvey reported the fire was under control within just 20 minutes of their arrival, but the cause remained a subject of investigation. Harvey emphasized the importance of thorough investigation, stating that determining the cause involved interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence, noting that the fire’s origin, possibly east of the property on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, was being examined closely.

Commenting on the incident, Harvey urged residents to take proactive measures to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season. Stressing the significance of creating defensible space around structures, he emphasized the need for readiness, stating, “Wildfire season is coming… we’d like your house to survive.”

Fortunately, no injuries came as a result of the fire.

The Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) has generated over $4 billion in revenue from land sales in the Las Vegas area for conservation, park enhancement, and wildfire prevention initiatives across Nevada and the Lake Tahoe Basin, with an additional $348 million in federal taxpayer funding ready for allocation.

Congress passed SNPLMA in 1998, granting the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) the authority to sell public land within a defined boundary around Las Vegas for development. A portion of Nevada’s revenue includes five percent going to the state general education fund, 10 percent to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, and the 85 percent remaining earmarked for statewide projects.

Over 1,500 projects around the state have benefited from SNPLMA funding since its inception, spanning 19 rounds of auctions. In the latest round of proposals, totaling $625 million, agencies submitted project plans seeking a share of the $298 million recommended for allocation, with an additional $50 million to cover any supplementary project costs.

Proposals include a request for $14.9 million to revitalize Mills Park in Carson City, fire mitigation and restoration in the Whittell Forest and Wildlife Area west of Washoe Valley, and Churchill County’s proposal for $32.4 million to develop the 3C Recreational Complex in Fallon.

Email snplma@blm.gov. to leave a comment through Monday, June 6.

Barrick Gold Corporation has announced its first-quarter results, aligning with guidance and positioning the company well to achieve its full-year targets.

The company expects gold production to increase steadily throughout the year, supported by the completion of the Pueblo Viejo plant expansion and the resumption of operations at the Porgera mine. Furthermore, copper production should meet 2024 guidance.

In its Q1 results, Barrick cited lower production and higher costs due to the delayed ramp-up at Pueblo Viejo following the reconstruction of the conveyor, now completed, along with planned maintenance at Nevada Gold Mines (NGM) and mine sequencing at other sites. Despite these challenges, the company is progressing on its four major organic growth projects — the Goldrush gold mine near Yerington, the Pueblo Viejo expansion, the Super Pit project at the Lumwana copper mine in Zambia, and the development of the Reko Diq copper-gold mine in Pakistan.

Financially, the company reported a year-over-year 143 percent increase in net earnings per share, a 36 percent rise in earnings, and a seven percent increase to $907 million. Operating cash flow for the quarter reached $760 million, with the quarterly dividend maintained at $0.10 per share.

Operational highlights included the accelerated ramp-up of Goldrush following its final permitting late last year. Additionally, drilling has commenced at the Fourmile project, a significant asset wholly owned by Barrick. Exploration efforts have identified promising high-grade potential at Turquoise Ridge in Humboldt County and Kibali in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

My twice-broken back,
I’ve got a Biden Shuffle,
Pain clouds my foggy mind,
In an exquisite scuffle.

Let’s not argue left or right
And do the Biden Shuffle.

My chores are all completed,
The front yard is all mowed.
The laundry washed and all dry,
Folded and neatly stowed.

Let’s watch a master at work
And the Biden Shuffle.

Now I can go sit down,
With but a moment to spare.
Damn, I forgot ice cream.
Some days, life just is not fair.

Let’s not worry about his words,
But do the Biden Shuffle.

Doing the Biden Shuffle,
Share in my painful sight.
I’ll laugh at my effen plight
As you drink through the night.

Forget about the stairs, mister,
And let’s do the Biden Shuffle.

The brain thinks I’m still twenty,
Brain freeze, no kerfuffle.
It’s my back that slows me down,
Doin’ the Biden Shuffle.

Let’s stop playin’ politics,
Just do the Biden Shuffle.

After more than four years since events unfolded, a federal grand jury trial, which commenced on April 22, has rendered its verdict, finding John Matthew Chapman guilty on Wednesday, May 1 in connection with the kidnapping and suffocation murder of his girlfriend, Jaime Feden.

The events that led to the decision began on Thursday, November 14, 2019, when authorities started investigating Feden’s whereabouts following concerns raised by her loved ones. They say that after killing her in September 2019, Chapman pretended to be her on her Facebook messenger account and lived at her residence.

Bethel Park Police (BPP) conducted a welfare check and found identification cards with Chapman’s name and photo, the victim’s cellphone, zip ties, and a roll of duct tape, they said. A search by authorities uncovered Feden’s body in the desert of Lincoln County on Saturday, October 5, 2019.

During subsequent interviews, Chapman told detectives he had planned Feden’s murder, even assembling a “kill kit” before embarking on their journey westward. Chapman confessed to orchestrating Feden’s abduction from Bethel Park to Las Vegas under the guise of a vacation for a photo shoot and a prospective home purchase.

Chapman faces life in prison at a sentencing hearing scheduled for Friday, August 2.

Lyon County officials are searching for qualified attorneys and law firms interested in contracting for public defender services.

The sought-after public defenders would primarily represent indigent defendants appearing in various courts within Yerington. The courts specified include the Walker River Justice Court, the Third Judicial District Court, the Drug Court, and the City of Yerington Municipal Court.

Additionally, the contract will entail providing conflict counsel for cases in the Canal Township Justice Court in Fernley, Nevada, and the Dayton Justice Court in Dayton, Nevada. Commencing on July 1, 2024, the initial term of the contract spans three years, with a conclusion set for June 30, 2027.

The contract amount is $480,000 annually, payable in equal monthly installments. Additionally, extra weekend work on bail hearings pays $900 while funded by the State of Nevada.

Furthermore, a separate contract, amounting to $24,000 annually and payable in equal monthly installments, is designated for indigent defense services specifically for the City of Yerington Municipal Court. Interested parties can access the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on the County’s website or obtain it directly from the Lyon County Clerk Treasurer’s Office at 27 S. Main Street, Yerington, Nevada, 89447.

Responses to the RFQ must be submitted by noon on May 28. Lyon County emphasizes that faxed or telephone applications will not be accepted. Following the timeline outlined in the RFQ, a selection of a public defender by June.

Donna Inversin, President of The Historic Virginia & Truckee Trail, is set to deliver a lecture at 6:30 p.m. on May 23 about the nonprofit’s mission to preserve and revitalize old rail bed routes, creating a multi-use path spanning 60 to 80 miles.

Her lecture aims to echo the legacy of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, offering both citizens and visitors of Northern Nevada a historical and recreational experience. The presentation will delve into the history, aspirations, progress, and coming plans of The Historic Virginia & Truckee Trail, offering attendees insight into the organization’s vision and impact.

The in-person lecture promises an engaging exploration of the trail’s significance and the ongoing efforts to bring it to fruition. Admission is $10 for adults, while members and children aged 17 and under can attend for free.

The event happens at the Nevada State Museum at 600 N. Carson Street in Carson City. To secure a spot for the lecture, interested individuals can register at carsonnvmuseum.org/event/frances-humphrey-lecture-series-historic-virginia-and-truckee-trail-by-donna-inversin.

Panasonic Energy of North America (PENA) has partnered with the Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada (GSSN) to introduce the pioneering “Manufacturing for Clean Energy” patch program.

The innovative initiative, a first of its kind, aims to inspire girls aged nine to 18 towards science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields while creating an interest in green energy manufacturing careers. Conducted on Saturday, April 20, and Saturday, April 27, at both GSSN and PENA campuses, the program marked a significant milestone for the Girl Scouts nationwide.

Kaitlin Walsh, Senior Community and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Specialist at Panasonic Energy of North America, says the company is committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in STEM and manufacturing.

“At Panasonic, we are dedicated to cultivating a more diverse and inclusive future in STEM and manufacturing,” Walsh stated. “Through hands-on experiences and exposure to clean energy manufacturing, we aim to empower the next generation of female leaders to drive positive change in their communities.”

The event, hosted at GSSN headquarters and the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center, featured educational videos showcasing the diverse roles of women in manufacturing, hands-on activities, and factory tours. Participants had the opportunity to interact with female PENA employees, gaining insights into their career journeys and opportunities in STEM fields.

Girl Scouts CEO Ann Nelson expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to empowering young women in various fields. She hailed the “Manufacturing for Clean Energy” patch program as a significant step towards providing opportunities for growth and success in traditionally male-dominated industries.

The program, which introduces participants to clean energy manufacturing and careers in fields such as EV batteries, will be offered bi-annually in collaboration with the PENA RISE Women’s Group, aligning with Girl Scout programming.