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Look for a mostly fair sky today, the high around 95.
One word you probably won’t hear much during Nevada’s gubernatorial campaign is “Uprise.”
As Governor Joe Lombardo and Attorney General Aaron Ford compete for your vote, neither is expected to focus on the nearly nine million dollars in state funds that disappeared during a failed Uprise fiber-optic project in 2024.
According to Joe Hart of KRNV-TV in Reno, Lombardo was newly elected when the NDOT Board of Directors approved the Uprise contract in early 2023. Lombardo’s staff says the deal was negotiated under former Governor Steve Sisolak.
Ford’s office also has ties to the case. His deputy attorney general signed the contract allowing Uprise to receive the nine-million-dollar payment up front. Ford’s office is now prosecuting one criminal case involving former Uprise owner Steven Kromer, while also defending NDOT in a civil lawsuit involving Kromer and the missing money.
Ford says there is no conflict because the criminal and civil divisions operate separately.
Both Lombardo and Ford have cited ongoing litigation when asked about the case.
Hart reports that nearly nine million taxpayer dollars remain unaccounted for, with questions still unanswered about how the money was allowed to disappear—and what the state will do to prevent a similar situation in the future.
But Hart says voters shouldn’t expect either candidate to make Uprise a major issue on the campaign trail.
The White Pine County Commissionwill meet next Wednesday, August 26th, at the White Pine County Library Conference Room in Ely.
The meeting begins at 9 a.m., with a number of issues up for discussion and possible action.
The commission is scheduled to consider accepting a five-thousand-dollar donation from Ampry Solar doing business as White Pine Solar Project for promotion of Yelland Field Airport.
The Road Commission will also provide an update on primary and secondary roads, county facilities, completed projects and future road work.
County commissioners are expected to consider appointments to several committees, including a Building Official Dispute Resolution Committee and the State Land Use Planning Advisory Council.
The commission will also consider submitting a report prepared with the White Pine Chamber of Commerce outlining the area's strengths and opportunities for state and federal support.
Other agenda items include a proposed public hearing on the Charters of Freedom project, and a bill draft request for the 2027 Nevada Legislature concerning quarterly investment reports from county treasurers.
County Clerk Nichole Stephey is asking commissioners to consider a ten-thousand-dollar grant application to help cover costs of upgrading or replacing election equipment to meet federal voting-system guidelines.
The commission will also consider changes to its November and December meeting schedules around the holidays and the 2026 general election canvass.
Other items include awarding the White Pine County Golf Course bar and grill contract to Perigo’s Corner Market and JT’s Steakhouse, changes to personnel policies, advertising for a district attorney's office investigator, and a proposal to spend up to twenty-five thousand dollars for an artificial intelligence program designed to identify grant opportunities.
The meeting is open to the public and will be broadcast live on KELY.
Nevada’s unemployment rate dipped slightly in July, while the state added about four thousand jobs.
The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation reports the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point from June to five percent.
Nevada’s labor force declined by more than five thousand people, while total nonfarm employment reached one-point-six million jobs—up one-point-one percent from a year ago.
Las Vegas added about twenty-three-hundred jobs during the month, while Reno gained nine-hundred.
Carson City saw employment decline by about two-hundred jobs.
DETR Chief Economist David Schmidt says Nevada’s labor market remains steady, with professional services and health care leading year-over-year job growth.
The public has one month to comment on a Trump administration proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule, which protects more than 44 million acres of national forest from new development, logging and mining.
The proposal could affect more than three million acres in Nevada, including areas of the Humboldt-Toiyabe, Inyo and Tahoe national forests and the Spring Mountains.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says removing the restrictions would improve access for wildfire prevention and forest management.
Wildlife advocates argue the roadless areas protect clean water and wildlife habitat, and say roads can actually increase wildfire risk.
Public comments are being accepted through the federal rulemaking process.
Fall High School Sports season gets underway tonight as the Bobcat Football team hosts the Battle Mountain Longhorns. Kickoff is at 7 tonight. That’ll wrap up a full day of sports with the winless Boys Soccer team hosting Moapa Valley at 7 this morning. The Boys fell in earlier action this month to Elko, Virgin Valley, and West Wendover.
Meanwhile, the Coronado boys soccer team has been stripped of its 2025 Class 5A state championship.
According to the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association record book, Coronado’s championship is now listed as “vacated.”
Coronado defeated Hug two-to-one last November to win its third consecutive state title. The Cougars finished the season 25-and-oh, and their championship-game victory was their 55th straight win—a Nevada record.
The NIAA has not said why the title was vacated or when the decision was made. A spokesperson says the organization does not comment on actions involving member schools.
Coronado coach Dustin Barton says the program has moved on and declined further comment.
The decision comes after Coronado’s baseball team was also removed from the 5A Southern Region tournament in May, although no reason was publicly given for that decision.
Coronado’s soccer team suffered its first on-field loss since 2023 this week, falling two-to-one to Palo Verde.
The White Pine County Horse Races and County Fair returns to Ely this weekend, with three days of rodeo action, horse racing, live music, food and family entertainment.
Things get underway Friday, with exhibit registration at nine a.m. and the Ranch Rodeo at nine. Livestock activities begin at two, followed by horse racing at three and team roping afterward. Friday night features a volunteer firemen’s barbecue and live music from “Most Wanted.”
Saturday, the fair opens at nine, with four-H, vendors, livestock shows and kids’ activities. Horse racing begins at one, including the Governor’s Quarterhorse Stakes, followed by team roping and live music Saturday night.
Sunday features a livestock sale, dinosaur mascot races, barrel racing and more horse racing.
The White Pine County Fair runs Friday through Sunday at the White Pine County Horse Races grounds on Aultman Street in Ely.
That’s your morning news from White Pine County and the state of Nevada