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Cloudy skies on tap but no precipitation in the forecast at all now. Here, partly cloudy today, the high 47
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In news from the special legislative session:
Nevada lawmakers made history Wednesday as the 36th Special Session continued in Carson City. In a rare two-thirds vote in both houses, legislators agreed to expand Gov. Joe Lombardo’s agenda so they could take up corporate buyouts of Nevada homes. That opened the door for Senate Bill 10, which has failed in two previous regular sessions. The bill limits corporations to purchasing no more than 1,000 homes statewide per year. Supporters say one in four homes in Clark County is now bought by large corporations—often with cash—pricing out local families. Opponents warned of unintended consequences, but SB10 cleared the Senate with bipartisan support, and Lombardo backs the proposal.
Lawmakers also approved Assembly Bill 4, a major criminal justice package that increases penalties for crimes including DUI, assault, domestic violence, and adds a new felony for burglaries involving property damage.
But another high-profile measure failed. Assembly Bill 5, which sought to dramatically expand Nevada’s film tax credit program, collapsed after opponents argued it would strain the state budget, despite supporters claiming it would create thousands of union jobs and bring billions in new economic activity.
Gov. Joe Lombardo is thanking lawmakers after the 36th Special Session wrapped up, saying he called the session because Nevadans “could not wait any longer” for action on public safety, jobs, healthcare access, small-business protections, school safety, aid for vulnerable families, and cybersecurity reforms. Lombardo said the issues demanded immediate attention, not years of delay, and praised legislators for what he called bipartisan work as the session came to a close.
White Pine County deputies handled a range of calls on Tuesday. A driver hit an elk on a state highway, with the case turned over to Nevada State Police. School-related issues made up several calls, including a student refusing to attend class, a welfare check on an absent student, and a report of a student attacking a staff member. That case was forwarded to Juvenile Probation.
Deputies also investigated phone threats from an out-of-state family member, harassment at a workplace, threats outside a local inn, and property damage after a vehicle window was broken at an apartment complex. A domestic disturbance in the city remains under active investigation, and a reported sex crime is also being investigated. No new bookings were reported.
Mt. Wheeler Power is calling on the community to help support its annual Santa’s Elves Christmas Assistance Program. More than 120 ornaments are hanging on trees in the Ely and Eureka office lobbies, each representing the holiday wish of a local child in need.
The program has supported families for more than 30 years, providing toys, clothing, and essentials for households facing financial challenges. Residents can stop by either office Monday through Thursday to pick an ornament and shop for a child. Monetary donations are also accepted through the end of the year to help cover remaining needs.
The utility says the program relies entirely on local generosity, and every contribution helps brighten the holidays for families across the region.
Nevada OSHA is pushing back against claims it pulled a safety citation against Elon Musk’s Boring Company because of political influence. The citation stemmed from a 2024 training exercise where two Clark County firefighters suffered leg burns inside a tunnel. OSHA now says the citation was legally insufficient, finding that key requirements—such as proof of a violated standard and employer knowledge—weren’t met. The agency says Boring Company records showed firefighters didn’t use all required protective gear and ignored safety protocols. OSHA has since implemented four new inspection policies and says two unrelated inspections of the company remain open. Officials insist neither Gov. Joe Lombardo nor his staff pressured them, calling the withdrawal a legal decision, not a political one.
The NIAA Board of Control has finalized a new high school football realignment for the 2025 season after months of debate and a last-minute reversal this week. In an 8–3 vote, the board approved collapsing the 5A into a single statewide classification, ending the three-tier 5A system used the past two years. The 5A North will now include six schools, as will the 4A North, while the 5A and 4A South divisions will include far more teams.
Six state champions will be crowned under the new model, including a newly created “Open” division for the South’s top four teams based on a combined rating system. Northern Nevada teams will not participate in that bracket, avoiding potential matchups with national powerhouse Bishop Gorman.
The 5A and 4A North and South champions will now meet in true state title games, with regional tournaments added in the South. The realignment will run from 2025 through 2027 and includes promotion and relegation between the 5A and 4A divisions. Other fall and winter sports will remain largely unchanged, with minor adjustments in girls golf alignment.
White Pine County will remain in the 2A Southern league except for Golf which will be in the 2A North.