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Look for more sun than clouds this week. The high today should be around 50.
Nevada’s higher education regents have approved a multi-year tuition hike for the state’s colleges and universities, following hours of public comment and debate.
Under the plan, tuition at UNR and UNLV will rise a total of 12 percent over the next three years, beginning with a 3 percent increase in the 2026–27 academic year. Community college students will see smaller increases totaling 9 percent over the same period.
Students largely opposed the move, warning higher costs could put college out of reach for some. Regents and faculty countered that the additional revenue is needed to protect hundreds of jobs and maintain academic quality.
State Treasurer Zach Conine says the increases will not affect families already enrolled in Nevada’s Prepaid Tuition program. He says current account holders are locked in at today’s in-state tuition rates, even as the new increases take effect through the 2028–29 school year.
Despite dissent from some board members, the measure passed, with regents saying Nevada’s colleges and universities will remain among the most affordable in the nation.
The Eastern Nevada Narcotics Task Force continued its drug enforcement roundup Monday with two arrests in Ely.
Authorities arrested 43-year-old Jerry Edwards on charges of selling a controlled substance. He is being held on 50-thousand dollars bail.
Also arrested was 38-year-old Brandy Robinson, also charged with sales of a controlled substance. She is being held on 100-thousand dollars bail.
Both are innocent until convicted in a court of law. The investigation remains ongoing.
The White Pine County Board of Commissioners convenes tomorrow in a meeting packed with hot-button procedural and personnel issues.
Newly seated Commission Chair Paula Carson is set to push for tighter public comment rules: restricting opening comments to agenda items only, shifting general public input to the meeting's close (potentially after a four-hour session), and steering away from written submissions in favor of live, in-person testimony—while curbing the practice of reading aloud submitted statements.
The commission will also tackle reassigning duties once managed by the former county manager. Backup documents stress that leaving these responsibilities in limbo risks county liability, project delays, and friction with other agencies.
Ongoing friction in the finance office remains front and center, with the agenda calling for a formal job performance review of Finance Director Kathy Workman. Outcomes could range from retention to outright termination.
The session kicks off at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the White Pine County Library Conference Room
Nevada Congressman Mark Amodei says federal immigration enforcement needs a “pivot” following the fatal shooting of a nurse by federal agents in Minneapolis over the weekend.
Amodei, who chairs the House Homeland Security appropriations subcommittee, told Mini Racker at the Nevada Independent he wants more transparency from the Department of Homeland Security and questioned the agency’s response to the incident. While stopping short of calling for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Amodei criticized what he described as a reflexive defense of the operation.
He says DHS must ensure enforcement efforts focus on serious offenders and rejected calls to defund the agency, noting it also includes the Coast Guard, FEMA, and TSA.
We haven't talked much about fuel prices lately for a good reason. Fuel prices are either stable or inching upward. Prices for 85-octane unleaded fuel are largely stable in Ely, averaging about $2.60 at the Great Basin Shell and Sinclair, and $2.65 to $2.66 at most other stations.
Diesel prices have edged higher and vary widely. Diesel is $3.16 per gallon in East Ely at the Shell, Golden Gate, and Chevron, while the Silver Sage station lists diesel at $3.41. At most other Ely locations, diesel is priced at $3.94 per gallon.
The Bobcats and Ladycats are in action tonight as Lincoln County comes to town. The Ladycats and the Lady Lynx tip off at 5pm with the Bobcats and the Lynx tipping off at 6:30.
Gold prices briefly topped 5,100 dollars an ounce for the first time this week, and that surge is good news for Nevada, one of the world’s top gold-producing regions.
Mining experts say higher gold prices typically lead to more jobs, increased tax revenue, and expanded exploration across the state. Nevada officials say mining already supports tens of thousands of high-paying jobs and remains a cornerstone of the state’s economy.
Analysts point to global uncertainty as investors turn to gold as a safe haven. Silver also hit a record this week, adding to optimism across the mining industry.
Experts say the price surge could especially benefit smaller mining and exploration companies, bringing new investment and job growth to rural Nevada.
The Nevada Commission of Ethics is reviewing conflict-of-interest allegations against Mesquite Mayor Jesse Whipple and has sent the case to a settlement judge.
The claims stem from allegations that Whipple failed to properly disclose a conflict of interest while voting on city matters and that his pest control business, “Got Bugs?” held a city contract. The commission says a settlement conference has already taken place, with the case expected to return to the agenda in March.
Whipple says he disclosed his business ties in financial filings and argues the city is getting below-market rates. The City of Mesquite declined to comment.
Another potential change is coming in Nevada high school football realignment.
The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association will revisit its recently approved football alignment plan during Board of Control meetings Tuesday and Wednesday in Reno. The review follows legal warnings from the Archdiocese of Las Vegas, which claims the board may have violated state and federal laws by approving a new Open Division format last November.
That plan scrapped the HRM rating system and created a 10-team Southern Nevada Open Division, a move that could limit out-of-state games for powerhouse Bishop Gorman. The Archdiocese has threatened legal action unless the board rescinds the vote.
The meetings will be streamed online, and the board could vote to reverse or amend the plan.