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Look for cloudy skies today ahead of a weather system pushing through tomorrow that could bring rain on Friday. Look for highs today around 62.
Northern Nevada residents were treated to a rare sight Tuesday night as the northern lights lit up the sky in shades of green, purple, and red. The display was caused by the strongest solar flare of 2025, pushing the aurora well south of its usual Arctic range. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a G4 geomagnetic storm watch, warning of strong solar activity through the week. The northern lights were even visible as far south as Alabama.
If you missed it – like I did – a couple of photos of what Ely resident Lori Drew and McGill resident Brian Pay saw are up on our web page at kely1230.com
Will the County Commission finally get the Duck Pond project right? The White Pine County Commission will consider a new contract with Reck Brothers for a redesign of the previously bungled project, with a full project review expected in December. The original contractor went out of business before completing the job.
Also on Today's agenda, commissioners will hear from three agencies on property and liability insurance under the state’s Public Insurance Pool. They’ll also revisit a new water use agreement with the City of Ely for the golf course, after the previous deal expired October 31st. The county has been exploring ways to use existing water sources instead of treated city water for more than a year.
Roads Superintendent Martin Troutt will ask approval to purchase a rock crusher for $455,000, a move he says will save money over leasing equipment. The county has spent more than $300,000 on rentals in the past three years.
Commissioners will also look to hire a realtor to market county property at 27 Connors Court and discuss shifting landfill billing from city utility bills to the county property tax system.
The meeting starts at 9 a.m. this morning in the Library Conference Room.
The Ely City Council will take up the proposed land swap with the White Pine County Commission at its meeting on Thursday. That land swap would give the County the back 9 of the current Golf Course in exchange for a plot of land in the city which could be developed for housing. Council members will also discuss the idea of shifting landfill billing from city utility bills to the county property tax rolls.
The agenda also includes accepting the resignation of Building Official Don Hendrickson and considering the hiring of Chris Flannery as his replacement. Flannery previously served in a similar role with White Pine County from 2006 to 2014 before moving to Las Vegas to start a home inspection business.
The City Council meets Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Volunteer Fire Hall.
Governor Joe Lombardo could call Nevada lawmakers back to Carson City as soon as tomorrow for a special legislative session. The governor announced plans last month to address what he called “unfinished business,” but the final agenda is still being worked out.
Sources tell The Nevada Independent Lombardo’s crime bill, which failed in the final minutes of the regular session, is expected to be revived. Other possible topics include health care funding, brewery regulations, and cybersecurity.
Lombardo’s office says the official proclamation outlining the session’s timing and agenda will be released once details are finalized.
Nevada’s largest teachers union is backing Governor Joe Lombardo for re-election. The Clark County Education Association, which represents more than 18,000 educators, announced its endorsement Monday. CCEA President Marie Neisess called Lombardo an “education governor,” citing his $2.5 billion investment in public schools, teacher pay raises, and 21 bills aimed at improving educator safety.
The seven states that depend on the Colorado River missed Tuesday’s deadline to reach a new water conservation agreement. The river has faced more than two decades of drought, losing over a million acre-feet of water to evaporation each year.
Negotiators from Arizona, California, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming have spent two years trying to reach a deal before current water use guidelines expire at the end of the year. The Bureau of Reclamation says it will step in and set allocations if no agreement is reached.
Southern Nevada Water Authority spokesman Bronson Mack says the federal government is allowing more time for talks and credits Nevada’s strong conservation efforts for keeping the state’s water supply secure.
Still, the possibility of another Water Grab from our water remains top of mind.
The Nevada DMV is warning residents about a fake website posing as the agency’s official site. Officials say the fraudulent page uses a chatbot to trick users into booking appointments, asking for Social Security numbers, ID information, and even charging a fee — something the DMV never does.
Director Tonya Laney reminds Nevadans that all DMV appointments are free and urges people to verify they’re on a “.gov” website before entering any personal information. Anyone who encounters the scam is asked to report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
A new study shows Nevada drivers see some of the biggest insurance rate hikes in the nation after a speeding ticket. LendingTree ranks Nevada third behind California and Michigan for the largest premium increases.
Nationwide, rates rise an average of about $525 a year after a ticket, but in Nevada, that jump averages nearly $875. Younger drivers are hit hardest, with 20-year-olds seeing premiums rise more than $1,100.
Experts recommend shopping around for quotes, raising deductibles, or using diversion programs to reduce costs.
The Mega Millions jackpot is nearing the billion-dollar mark again. No one matched all six numbers in Tuesday’s drawing, pushing Friday’s jackpot to an estimated $965 million, or $445 million cash. It’s the eighth time in the game’s history the prize has approached a billion dollars.
In Tuesday’s drawing, more than 800,000 tickets won smaller prizes totaling nearly $28 million. The top secondary prize went to a ticket in Arizona worth $5 million, while two others in Iowa and New York won $3 million each. Friday’s drawing will be the 40th since the last jackpot was won in June.
