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Look for sunny skies over the next seven days with a high of 76 heading to near 90 by the weekend.
The White Pine County Commission approved a temporary contract Wednesday with accounting firm Eide Bailly LLP to handle county accounts payable duties after officials were unable to hire a new accounts payable clerk.
The vote was unanimous, although some commissioners raised concerns about the cost. Commissioner Tim Pauley in fact blamed the need for the contract on another elected official.
All but one member of the Finance department resigned following the commission’s firing of the former finance director.
Commissioners also said they are awaiting completion of a background check for Reno Finance Director applicant Alicia Berkbigler after an earlier drug test was reportedly lost by a contractor. New Human Resources Director Michael Halsey has started work, while the search for an accounts payable clerk continues.
In other business, Golf Advisory Board member James Linney urged the commission to reconsider plans for a golf course director position and instead return to using a seasonal golf pro as an independent contractor.
Attention now turns to a court case involving the White Pine County Commission Chair.
An evidentiary hearing is scheduled in the 7th District Court, where County Treasurer Catherine Bakaric and Recorder Christina Shady have filed suit against Commission Chair Paula Carson.
The lawsuit alleges malfeasance and repeated violations of Nevada’s Open Meeting Law. Central to the case is the January firing of the county’s finance director, which plaintiffs claim was carried out to bypass public meeting requirements.
Additional allegations include unauthorized attempts to access county financial systems, approval of a consulting contract through emergency meetings, and withholding a taxpayer-funded payroll study.
Carson remains in her position as the case moves forward.
Read the Courty documents here.
Read about the supressed payroll study here
The White Pine County Sheriff’s Office handled a variety of calls Monday across Ely and White Pine County, including two arrests.
Deputies arrested 68-year-old Carl Lutze of Ely on a trespassing charge at a city apartment complex. In a separate case, 37-year-old Michael Mike of Ely was taken into custody on an Ely Justice Court warrant for child abuse, with bail set at 50-thousand dollars.
Deputies also investigated a hit-and-run crash involving a parked vehicle, a theft of building materials from a residence, and a welfare check involving possible self-harm.
Other incidents included reports of a drone flying over a mining claim and a suspicious person allegedly tampering with a Nevada Department of Transportation camera. No problems were found.
And finally, deputies safely returned a wandering duck to the county duck pond.
Bobcats Baseball and Ladycats Softball teams are in Las Vegas at the Meadows today in the first round of the 2a Southern League Tournament, with both teams taking on Lincoln County.
The Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline has filed ethics charges against suspended Nye County Justice of the Peace Michele Fiore, despite her recent presidential pardon.
The commission says Fiore still faces possible judicial penalties after a federal jury convicted her on fraud charges tied to donations collected for a fallen officers memorial. Investigators alleged the money was instead used for personal expenses.
Fiore was suspended with pay last year and is currently seeking reelection in Pahrump. President Donald Trump pardoned Fiore last month, ending the federal criminal case. A U.S. presidential pardon only applies to federal offenses. It cannot erase, stop, or forgive state criminal charges or convictions.
Gas prices across the nation and across Nevada continue to surge. Statewide, the average price for a gallon of self-serve regular is up 22 cents in just one week. Triple-A says Washoe County continues to pay the highest average price with gas going for 5-dollars and 56-cents. The least expensive gas can be found in Eureka County where gas is 4-43. In Clark County gas is now 5-29.
Nevada is suing the social media platform Discord, alleging it doesn't do enough to protect kids from child predators. The Nevada Independent was first to report that Attorney General Aaron Ford believes the company is aware of its flaws. He says Discord is knowingly violating Nevada law. Kids under 13 are banned from Discord, but Ford claims the company does not enforce that rule in any meaningful way. The company called that an unfair characterization.
Politicians in Box Elder County say they're receiving death threats after approving a controversial data center. The three county commissioners tell KSL they're also getting false accusations about accepting bribes. The trio says the debate over the proposed data center is understandable. They also say the development is not on zoned land, so they don't have a lot of control over the project. It's being proposed by Canadian billionaire Kevin O'Leary. On X, he claimed that 90-percent of the people who protested the vote were bussed in from out of state. He offered no evidence to back up that claim and his post was flagged by users on the site.
The final casino-resort operations in Primm are set to shut down July 4th, impacting more than 340 employees.
According to a WARN notice, Primmadonna Company LLC will close Primm Valley Resorts, along with Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino, Whiskey Pete’s Hotel & Casino, two major gas stations, and The Lotto Store.
County officials say they’re working to keep fuel services operating along Interstate 15, a concern for long haul truckers concerned about an already shrinking lack of parking for 18 wheelers, while social services are being mobilized to help displaced workers and residents living in employee housing near the resort properties.
The closures leave uncertainty over the future of Primm’s tourism corridor, long known as a gateway stop between Las Vegas and Southern California.
And of course, where folks in Las Vegas will get their lottery tickets…
Meanwhile Nevada is emerging as a major hub for data centers, but a new study warns the rapid growth could strain the state’s power and water supplies.
Researchers with the Desert Research Institute say Nevada’s data centers already consumed about 22 percent of the state’s electricity generation capacity in 2024. By 2033, that figure could rise to more than half of the state’s current power output.
The study also found water use is climbing, with a dozen major data centers projected to consume as much water annually as 31 average golf courses.
Researchers say Nevada’s low-cost energy, available land, and tax climate continue to attract new development despite the growing resource concerns.