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High Wind Warning has been issued today with wind gusts up to 50 MPH, look for isolated showers and a high of 69.
White Pine County says normal operations have resumed at the Historic Courthouse in Ely following last week’s flooding incident.
Officials now clarify the issue involved the building’s fire alarm system—not the fire suppression system as initially reported. After an inspection, the courthouse at 801 Clark Street has been cleared to reopen during regular business hours.
The building had been temporarily closed after a plumbing failure caused significant flooding, prompting safety concerns.
County leaders thanked staff, contractors, and the public for their patience as cleanup and inspections were completed.
A legal battle is intensifying in White Pine County, where Commission Chair Paula Carson is facing a court challenge that could remove her from office.
The complaint, filed by County Treasurer Catherine Bakaric and County Recorder Christina Shady, alleges malfeasance and ongoing violations of state law.
Central to the case is the January firing of the county’s finance director, which the complaint claims was used to bypass Nevada’s Open Meeting Law. It also alleges Carson sought unauthorized access to financial systems and pushed through a costly consulting contract using emergency meetings.
The filing further claims a taxpayer-funded payroll study showing underpaid county employees has been withheld.
Carson is scheduled to appear in Seventh Judicial District Court on April 23rd. She remains in her position as the case proceeds.
White Pine County commissioners face a pivotal and potentially lengthy meeting tomorrow, with several major decisions on the agenda.
At the top of the list is hiring a new finance director after a previous candidate turned down the job. The board plans to interview five applicants—Alicia Berkbigler, Joann Musinski, Adam Thompson, Ettie Schwartz, and Koreen Hyde—and could make an offer by the end of the day.
The meeting also marks a period of transition, as longtime Roads Superintendent Martin Troutt prepares to retire after 26 years, and commissioners consider naming an interim golf course director.
Other key items include a proposed police protection agreement with the City of Ely and a funding request for the August horse races.
The meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the Historic Courthouse and will be broadcast live on KELY.
Here's a link to the meeting agenda.
The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office handled a range of calls in its April 18th and 19th blotter.
Deputies responded to several disturbances and family-related incidents, including a domestic situation where a resident was advised on a protection order and another where a subject was trespassed from a home. A reported poisoning case was investigated and found to be unfounded.
Child welfare calls included one case where a child was briefly left unattended and later reunited with a parent, with the case referred to state services.
Other activity included reckless driving, suspicious behavior, and a report of a death in Ruth. Authorities identified the man as Michael Stolk, who died of natural causes.
Two arrests were made: Tyler Jackson on child neglect and probation violation charges, and Carl Lutze of Ely for trespassing.
The White Pine County School District is moving closer to building its first new K-through-8 school in Ely in more than 20 years.
State officials have approved a 98 million dollar grant to help fund the project, which will replace aging facilities at David E. Norman Elementary and White Pine Middle School—both more than a century old and facing issues like asbestos, mold, and high maintenance costs.
Superintendent Adam Young says the district has already begun design work and is gathering community input, with the new school planned near White Pine High School.
The funding comes through a state program aimed at helping rural districts tackle major infrastructure needs.
If the timeline holds, the new school could open as early as the 2028-2029 school year.
A new opinion piece in the Nevada Independent is raising questions about the changing experience on the Las Vegas Strip, arguing the city’s business model has shifted away from value and toward spectacle.
The example highlighted is the “Beef Case” at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, where a thousand-dollar steak is served with an elaborate presentation. The writer says customers understand they’re paying for the show—not just the food.
But the broader argument is that modern Las Vegas no longer offers the same transparency. In the past, casinos balanced losses at the tables with perks like inexpensive rooms, free meals, and low-cost buffets designed to keep visitors playing.
Today, the piece argues, rising resort fees, higher table minimums, and less favorable game odds have replaced that model, leaving visitors paying more while getting less in return.
The result, according to author Bryan Driscoll, is a shift away from the classic Las Vegas experience—where visitors felt valued—to one where they feel priced out, as resorts focus on higher-end customers and profit margins.
Attendance dipped for WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, but tourism officials still call the event a success.
The two-night total came in at just over 106 thousand fans—down nearly 19 thousand from last year’s record-setting WrestleMania 41.
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority president and CEO Steve Hill says the drop was expected after last year’s unusually high turnout, noting factors like rising travel costs and shifting tourism trends.
Despite the smaller crowds, Hill says spending remained strong, with merchandise sales and fan engagement still hitting high marks.
Officials say while the numbers are down year-over-year, the event continues to deliver a major boost to the Las Vegas economy.
And one more loss for that value experience on the strip.
The MGM Grand Las Vegas will permanently close its buffet on May 31st, marking another shift in dining on the Las Vegas Strip.
Resort officials say there are no immediate plans to replace it. The move reflects a broader trend away from traditional all-you-can-eat buffets, which were once a staple of Las Vegas.
In recent years, many resorts have replaced buffets with higher-end restaurants and food halls, a change accelerated by the pandemic and rising operating costs.
While a handful of buffets remain on or near the Strip, the classic Vegas buffet is becoming increasingly rare as resorts focus on more profitable dining options.