7-28 News - Water becoming another flashpoint in Southern Nevada

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The clouds kept temperatures down yesterday as we only got up to 88 at Yellend Field, with a trace of precipitation.  Look for mostly fair skies today with the heat returning.  Look for today’s high around 95.

Nevada is expected to give up 28 percent of its Colorado River water allocation under a new agreement favored by the federal government. The plan, negotiated by Nevada, Arizona and California, calls for the three states to reduce their combined river use by 3.2 million acre-feet through the end of 2028. Arizona would cut its allocation by 31 percent, while California would reduce its use by 12 percent. The proposal is less severe than earlier federal options that could have reduced Nevada's share by as much as 40 percent. The U.S. Interior Department is expected to release the final operating plan for the Colorado River later this week.

A trial with potential costs exceeding $1.5 billion is now underway in Clark County over the stalled Coyote Springs development. Developers claim Nevada improperly blocked the planned community by denying enough groundwater for the project. State attorneys argue water is a public resource and say the decision was necessary because supplies weren't available. The lawsuit follows years of legal battles after the Nevada Supreme Court upheld the state's groundwater ruling in 2024. The trial is expected to last several months.

The White Pine County Sheriff's Office investigated a reported battery involving juveniles at a sporting event in Ely Sunday, and a report was filed.

Deputies also identified a suspect in the theft of a package from an Ely residence. The investigation remains active.

Other calls included a lost wallet, complaints about juveniles riding off-highway vehicles in an alley, and a reported fight at a local casino that deputies determined was unfounded.

Deputies also investigated the death of Kelly R. Foremaster of Lund, which was determined to be from natural causes.

A lightning-caused fire in the county was referred to the Bureau of Land Management, and the Sheriff's Office reported no new bookings for the day.

Firefighters are battling five active wildfires across Elko County. The largest is the Chimney Fire near Midas, which has grown to 12,000 acres with no containment and continues to threaten to expand. The Secret Pass Fire has reached 4,500 acres, while the Hoppie Basin Fire near Montello is 304 acres and 85 percent contained. The Long Canyon and Boyd fires remain smaller but are also uncontained. Governor Joe Lombardo has activated two Nevada National Guard helicopters to assist firefighters as crews work to slow the fires' spread.

To our west, firefighters continue battling two wildfires north of Austin. The New Pass Fire has grown to 7,811 acres and remains 0 percent contained. Crews say hot, dry, and windy conditions fueled significant growth to the east and southeast, with active fire behavior continuing. Meanwhile, the Cornin Fire has been remapped at 84 acres and is now 50 percent contained after firefighters strengthened containment lines and continued mop-up operations. Officials urge the public to avoid active fire areas and use caution when traveling near the incidents.

And to our south, the lightning-caused Quail Springs Fire in Lincoln County has grown to 4,450 acres and remains 0 percent contained. The fire is burning on the Nevada Test and Training Range near Bald Mountain and Area 51. No evacuations or threats to public structures have been reported, although smoke could affect travel on Highway 375. Fire crews continue using indirect suppression tactics as hot, dry, and breezy conditions fuel the blaze.

After a significant delay and just 99 days before the election, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo has endorsed David Flippo in the race to succeed Congressman Mark Amodei. Lombardo says Flippo will be a strong partner in advancing conservative priorities, including releasing more federal land for housing, lowering costs for working families, strengthening Nevada's economy, and ensuring rural Nevada continues to have a strong voice in Washington and Carson City. The endorsement comes ahead of the November election.

U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto has reintroduced the Fairness for Immigrant Families Act. The legislation would create new pathways for some long-term immigrants without criminal records to obtain legal permanent residency, strengthen penalties for immigration fraud, limit deportations for certain immigrants, including DACA recipients with pending applications, and increase transparency in the immigration system. Cortez Masto says the bill offers what she calls practical reforms to help fix the nation's immigration system while protecting law-abiding immigrant families.

No one matched all the numbers in Monday night's Powerball drawing, sending the jackpot soaring to an estimated $663 million, with a cash option of about $290.4 million. The jackpot has been rolling over for nearly three months and will continue to grow until a winning ticket is sold.

That’s your morning news from White Pine County and the state of Nevada

7-27 News - Wildfires all around us

KELY News sponsored by Sahara Motors.   The Kawasaki KX450 is built out of the box with everything you need to dominate the track. Check it out today at Sahara Motors and let the Good Times Roll. 

We got up to 96 yesterday at Yellend Field, which tied the record for July 26th set back in 1943.  Look for mostly fair skies today with the heat returning.  Look for today’s high around 94.

Cornin Fire near Austin.  Photo courtesy BLM

Wildfires continue to burn across northern Nevada following lightning storms. The Long Canyon Fire, south of the Long Canyon Mine and Interstate 80, is estimated at 80 to 100 acres with no containment as firefighters continue suppression efforts. Meanwhile, the Chimney Fire near Midas has grown to about 3,500 acres. Fire officials say there are no major threats to larger communities, but crews are protecting several nearby homesteads. A separate lightning-caused fire also sparked about 15 miles north of Midas near the Humboldt-Elko county line. Motorists are asked to avoid the area and watch for responding fire equipment.

Two lightning-caused wildfires are keeping firefighters busy north of Austin. The New Pass Fire, about 30 miles northwest of town, has grown to an estimated 1,500 acres and remains 0% contained. The smaller Cornin Fire, 10 miles northeast of Austin, is estimated at 100 acres and is also uncontained. Crews on the ground and in the air are working under a full suppression strategy to slow the fires and protect nearby communities and infrastructure. No evacuations or injuries have been reported, but hot, dry, and windy conditions are expected to make firefighting efforts more difficult.

And yet another wildfire in Lincoln County: A lightning-caused wildfire burning near Area 51 in Lincoln County has grown to more than 2,000 acres and remains 0% contained. The Quail Springs Fire is burning within the Nevada Test and Training Range, a restricted military area with no threat to homes or public facilities. The Bureau of Land Management says firefighters from the U.S. Air Force and Wildland Fire Services are battling the blaze while warm, dry weather and possible thunderstorms with gusty winds could make containment more difficult through Tuesday.

The White Pine County Sheriff's Office stayed busy from Thursday through Saturday, responding to a wide range of calls. Deputies investigated a domestic disturbance, several traffic crashes, an active embezzlement case, and multiple brush fires sparked by lightning. Other incidents included welfare checks, a hit-and-run involving a semi-truck, a diesel fuel spill, and reports of reckless drivers and intoxicated pedestrians. Over the three days, deputies made several arrests, including two drivers accused of driving with revoked licenses and a 26-year-old Nixon man arrested on suspicion of DUI, driving with a canceled license, and failure to yield.

Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus is asking Governor Joe Lombardo to halt tax breaks for data centers built on federal land. Titus says the request is prompted by the proposed Townsite Data Center near Boulder City, the only data center approved by the Bureau of Land Management on public land. The project could receive more than $24 million in state tax abatements that were originally approved for a solar energy project. Titus wants those incentives paused until state lawmakers can review data center policies during next year's legislative session. Meanwhile, Boulder City is appealing the federal approval of the project.

If you're dreaming of becoming a millionaire, the jackpots keep getting bigger. Mega Millions has climbed to an estimated $800 million, while Powerball is now up to about $633 million after no one matched all the numbers in the latest drawings. Just a reminder for Nevada players: Powerball and Mega Millions tickets are not sold in Nevada. For White Pine County residents, the closest place to buy a ticket is across the Idaho state line in Twin Falls—if you decide to try your luck.

 

7-24 News - Horse Races to get City EMT support

 KELY News sponsored by Sahara Motors.   The Kawasaki KX450 is built out of the box with everything you need to dominate the track. Check it out today at Sahara Motors and let the Good Times Roll. 

We got up to 92 yesterday, and another 1/100 of an inch of precipitation at Yellend Field overnight.  Look for mostly fair skies today with the heat returning.  Look for today’s high around 91.

The Ely City Council voted to donate 18 hundred dollars from contingency funds to support the 2026 White Pine County Horse Races by covering costs for Paramedic and EMT standby. The Council also voted to seek listing of Ely City Hall on the Nevada State Register of Historic Places, and tabled the awarding of the construction contract for Phase Three of the Steptoe Valley Trap and Skeet Range Hunter Education Building as the bids came in over $40,000 over projections. 

Here's a look at Wednesday’s activity from the White Pine County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies are investigating the death of Bohe D. Gleave of McGill, who was found deceased at a county residence. The cause of death remains under investigation.

Other calls included the theft of two cameras from an Ely property, several reckless driving complaints, including one involving a semi-truck that allegedly forced another vehicle off the road, and a domestic disturbance where the parties agreed to separate for the night. Deputies also responded to reports of suspected fraud, harassment, suspicious activity, and a traffic hazard. No arrests were reported.

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A strengthening El Niño in the Pacific has climatologists watching closely for signs of what this winter could bring to Northern Nevada. Nevada State Climatologist Baker Perry says strong El Niño years have historically brought wetter-than-normal winters and heavy Sierra snowfall, but they can also produce warmer storms that increase flooding risks at lower elevations. Perry says it's still too early to predict exactly how this winter will unfold, but a wet season could also lead to increased wildfire danger next summer by producing more vegetation that can later dry out and burn.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford has filed a new lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging new federal grant conditions tied to billions of dollars in Homeland Security and FEMA funding.

Ford says the administration is illegally attempting to require states to help enforce federal immigration laws and make changes to election procedures in order to receive emergency preparedness and counterterrorism funding. Nevada is set to receive more than $4.3 million this year for terrorism prevention and emergency response efforts.

The lawsuit, joined by attorneys general from 24 other states and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, argues the funding conditions violate federal law and the U.S. Constitution. The Trump administration has not yet responded to the latest legal challenge.

Nevada election integrity is back in the spotlight after President Donald Trump claimed thousands of non-citizens remain on the state's voter rolls. Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar disputes the claim, saying the state has safeguards to prevent ineligible voting. Meanwhile, Chuck Muth at Nevada News and Views says the Citizen Outreach Foundation claims it has documented a case in Clark County where a non-citizen received a voter registration card and a primary election ballot after reportedly declining to register. The organization says it has submitted the case to the Clark County Registrar of Voters for investigation. State election officials have not publicly commented on that specific allegation.

In Data Center news, A proposed $10 billion data center in California's Imperial Valley is at the center of a legal battle over Colorado River water. Developer Sebastian Rucci has sued the Imperial Irrigation District, claiming it unfairly denied his request to use river water after local cities rejected his plan to use recycled wastewater. The project has drawn strong opposition from environmental groups and residents concerned about water use, pollution and power demand, while supporters say it could create much-needed jobs. The lawsuit is pending in California Superior Court. 

That’s your morning news from White Pine County and the state of Nevada

Pay study the Commission wants buried...and the Treasurers comments the Commission wouldn't let her make...

Originally published in February 2026.

 The County Commission wants to bury this study that they commissioned.  We won't let them.  This is the story we reported on February 4th.  

----

White Pine County employees are being paid well below market rates, according to a new compensation and classification study.

KELY Radio has obtained a copy of the report commissioned by the county.  The independent review found county wages average about seven percent below comparable public employers across Nevada, with some departments falling much further behind. Human Resources pay was more than 30 percent below market, while Emergency Management and Fire Protection were each nearly 20 percent under market rates.

The study reviewed pay for 154 employees across 89 job classifications and found no positions paid above market levels. Consultants say the gaps are contributing to recruitment and retention challenges.

To address the issue, the report recommends phased salary adjustments totaling about 922 thousand dollars, with no wage reductions proposed. The largest increases would go to positions currently well below market and those affected by wage compression.

At the January 14th County Commission meeting, Commissioners approved a 2% cost-of-living increase for elected officials on a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners Vogler and Pauley voting no.  Included in the Cost of Living increase was approval of the Legislative-approved 35% increase in pay for commissioners from $24,513.60 to $33,660.  But Commissioners opposed a similar increase for rank-and-file employees on a 4-1 vote, with former Commissioner Janet Vancamp voting no.  

County leaders will now decide whether and when to implement the recommendations, weighing budget impacts alongside workforce stability, or even acknowledge the study they themselves commissioned!

Decide for yourself - click here for the study!

And during closing public comment, the County Commission "accidentally"skipped White Pine Treasurer Catherine Backaric who was waiting to make Public Comment.  While we aired CBS News, I called Catherine and offered her the opportunity to make her comment over the air - and she agreed.  Listen below.  

And if you didn't hear our commentary on the Commission and this study, listen below!

7-23 News - Commissioners claims to have never seen Pay Study

 KELY News sponsored by Sahara Motors.   The Kawasaki KX450 is built out of the box with everything you need to dominate the track. Check it out today at Sahara Motors and let the Good Times Roll. 

We got up to 84 yesterday, and 1/100 of an inch of precipitation at Yellend Field yesterday afternoon.  Look for mostly fair skies today, with a high around 91.

The White Pine County Commission voted to accept a proposed temporary moratorium on new data center development applications at their meeting yesterday while the county develops zoning regulations specifically tailored for future projects.

Map of proposed renewable energy projects on BLM land.  Commissioners and the general public have minimal input on these projects. 

Perhaps the most controversial part of the meeting was during consideration of a raise for county IT employees, which Commissioners claimed they had never seen the pay study the Commission ordered back in 2025, despite KELY publishing the study in February of this year.  The study revealed that on average, county employees were paid seven percent below market rate, with some positions being paid as much as thirty percent below market rate.  During the meeting, Commission Chair Paula Carson claimed that the board had never seen the study.  Former Roads Supervisor Martin Troutt shared on Facebook that he felt they were not telling the truth, saying the study showed his position was paid 10% less than it should have been, and that this was part of his reason to retire.  

Read our previous reporting on the pay study and see the pay study here.

Commissioner Jose Noriega was appointed to replace Commissioner Pat Robison as liaison to the Golf Advisory Board following the recent conflict between Robison and the Advisory Board.  The Commission also mandated that the Golf Advisory Board move their meetings away from the Golf Course to another location, likely the Library Conference Room.  Commissioner Noriega voted against the motion, citing the potential effects on other Advisory Boards. 

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The Ely City Council meets tonight at 5 at the Ely Volunteer Fire Hall with several action items on the agenda. Council members are expected to consider donating 18-hundred dollars from contingency funds to support the 2026 White Pine County Horse Races, decide whether to seek listing of Ely City Hall on the Nevada State Register of Historic Places, and award the construction contract for Phase Three of the Steptoe Valley Trap and Skeet Range Hunter Education Building. A public hearing on Community Development Block Grant priorities is scheduled for 5:30.

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The White Pine County Sheriff's Office made two arrests Tuesday while investigating a storage shed burglary in Ely. Deputies arrested 52-year-old Irene G. Duran and 70-year-old Vickie L. Peterson, both of Ely, on suspicion of burglary of a structure, possession of a controlled substance, and petit larceny. Bail for each was set at $20,000.  They are innocent until convicted in a court of law. 

Deputies are also investigating the reported theft of property from a vehicle at a local casino after the incident was captured on surveillance video. Other calls included suspicious activity at a storage shed, several disturbances at local casinos, a brush fire referred to the Bureau of Land Management, and a reckless driver turned over to the Nevada State Police.

Nevada's unemployment rate edged down to 5.1 percent in June, improving by one-tenth of a percentage point from May, according to the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. Here in White Pine County, the unemployment rate was 4.4 percent, down from 4.6 percent in May. The county's labor force totaled nearly 3,800 people, with 3,633 residents employed and 166 unemployed. Statewide, Elko County had Nevada's lowest unemployment rate at 3.5 percent, while Mineral County recorded the highest at 8.7 percent.

In news from Southern Nevada:

While White Pine County is likely to impose a moratorium on Data Center projects, a major Southern Nevada city isn’t. 

The Henderson City Council has decided not to impose a temporary moratorium on new data center applications. Instead, the city will evaluate each proposal through a separate development agreement requiring developers to address concerns such as noise, heat, water use, power demand, and impacts on nearby neighborhoods. Mayor Michelle Romero says there are currently no data center applications pending, and any future project would face a detailed review before it could move forward.

Primm Valley Resort and Casino has reopened after a 17-day closure under new management by Terrible's. Employees and longtime customers welcomed the reopening, which restores about 300 jobs at the Stateline property. Terrible's says it plans to invest in the resort by bringing back concerts, slot tournaments, and other amenities to attract visitors from Las Vegas and Southern California. Primm Valley Hotel and Casino is now open, but there's still no announcement on the future of Whiskey Pete's or Buffalo Bill's Resort and Casino.

As Lake Mead heads toward record-low water levels, Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus is joining a bipartisan group of Western lawmakers in calling for billions of dollars in new federal drought funding. The lawmakers say the money would support water conservation projects, infrastructure upgrades, and other efforts to protect the Colorado River system. Federal projections show Lake Mead, which supplies about 90 percent of Southern Nevada's drinking water, could reach historic lows within the next two years, prompting lawmakers to call the situation an emergency.

A new Democratic-affiliated poll shows Nevada's 2026 race for governor is tied. The survey, obtained by the Nevada Independent, found Republican Governor Joe Lombardo and Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford each with 44 percent support, while 12 percent of voters remain undecided. The poll of 558 likely Nevada voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points. The results underscore what analysts say is shaping up to be one of the nation's most competitive gubernatorial races heading into the final months before Election Day.

And Nevada Congressmen Steven Horsford and Mark Amodei are introducing bipartisan legislation today aimed at banning sports betting through prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket. The lawmakers say the bill would require sports wagering to follow the same state regulations, taxes, and consumer protections as traditional sportsbooks. Supporters argue the measure protects Nevada's gaming industry and the jobs and tax revenue it generates, while opponents say prediction markets operate under a different federal regulatory system.

That’s your morning news from White Pine County and the state of Nevada