In a dizzying twist of local political irony, Washoe County Library Trustee Marie Rodriguez — once a recipient of Commissioner Mike Clark’s support — appears to be smearing him as the secret ringleader of a so-called “mob” that attends commission meetings for about a year now.

In a public email to Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam, Rodriguez paints a scene fit for a made-for-TV thriller: she claims that emotionally charged public commenters, whom she labels as followers of political figure Robert Beadles, descend on county meetings and — get this — are silenced only when Commissioner Clark allegedly gives a “gesture.”

Let’s rewind the tape on a little episode of government dysfunction that Washoe County officials would now really prefer we forget — but we won’t.

At center stage is Sober 24 Testing Services, the county-run operation that was supposed to ensure accountability in the courts but instead became a hub of questionable leadership, opaque operations, and now — surprise — the focus of multiple investigations.

Try Seven Layers of WTF.

We almost let out a sigh of relief when Washoe County Manager Eric Brown packed up and rode off into retirement. Not because we're ungrateful (well, maybe a little), but because we thought one particular pet project might quietly fade into the bureaucratic sunset: the Washoe Leadership Academy.

You remember it — the program dusted off and rebranded under Brown’s watch, pumped full of self-congratulatory rhetoric and framed as the next great investment in “leadership.” A noble idea on its surface, sure. But let’s not kid ourselves — this thing wasn’t designed to nurture leaders so much as to cultivate admirers, and it would seem you need to be a graduate of the academy in order to be appointed to a county board of commission. Brain-washing anyone?

If you’ve spent five minutes on Nextdoor lately, you’ve likely seen the name Shaun Mullin—keyboard warrior, neighborhood watchdog, and unofficial spokesperson for everyone sick of seeing Reno carved up like a real estate buffet.

This week’s target? The Hello World project—an ironically named development that’s about to say goodbye to sanity in Ward 1. The proposal? 50 units and just 32 parking spaces, conveniently crammed onto Reno Avenue. Because apparently, the new urban planning motto is: If they don’t have a place to park, maybe they’ll just disappear.

July 15, 2025 will go down in history—not for anything civic, legislative, or remotely government-related—but because SPOOGE officially launched its line of ultra-premium, sparkle-infused skincare products, including one we didn’t know we needed: glossy sunscreen for your butt cheeks.

Yes, you read that correctly.

And leading the glittery charge is none other than the Mayor of Reno herself—who, is also one of SPOOGE’s co-founders.

Yes. Chris Hicks’s office has a full‑blown Public Information Officer (PIO)—paid by you, the taxpayer—spitting out press releases like pros. From launching a Twitter account in 2015 to promoting “felonious rioters” and Reno High pandemonium, it’s slick spin 24/7.

The Punch Line: When you've got budget shortfalls and big regulatory battles brewing, rolling the dice on lobbying is sometimes seen as the smarter bet than silent suffering—or public backlash.

Recent court documents filed by Jory Mack, Darren Mack’s son, allege that Joan Mack, now 88, has been subjected to religious coercion orchestrated by her son in prison. The complaint claims Joan:

• Was “forced to join” her son's religion.

• Is being made to fast twice weekly, exercise, and wake up at 2 AM.

• Has been effectively cut off from those who refuse to conform—using faith as a tool for discipline.

Spending Spree? Alexis Hill’s $75,000 discretionary blowout raised a few eyebrows. If Washoe County taxpayers are wondering where fiscal responsibility went, they might find it buried under a pile of discretionary receipts. On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, just seven days into the new fiscal year, Commission Chair Alexis Hill reportedly spent $75,000 of her $100,000 discretionary fund—a bold move, especially with the county staring down the barrel of a $27 million budget deficit.

Let that sink in: while departments are keeping positions vacant, taxpayers are being warned of potential service reductions, and the county floats ideas of tax hikes, the Chair of the Commission is spending taxpayer funds like it's Black Friday in July.

Picon had been told by an employee inside City of Reno Government the announcement there would be employee layoffs would be coming in early July 2025 - sure enough our intel was correct and the press release was issued yesterday regarding eight city employees positions being cut. Our inside intel said they knew all along these cuts were necessary but Mayor Hillary Schieve and Councilmember Devon Reese didn’t want the announcement to come until the council was on their summer break. Basically the City of Reno let the City of Sparks climb out on that limb with layoffs alone, while Reno allowed the scenario to appear they would not have any layoffs. We ponder if Sparks City Manager Dion Louthan will have a few harsh words for Jackie Bryant the next time they have coffee.

Why was the Media excluded from "transparency" effort following years of quality concerns

Nothing says "we take senior nutrition seriously" quite like scheduling a crucial kitchen tour with two days notice during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, then excluding the media from what's supposed to be a transparency initiative.

That's exactly what Washoe County pulled off this week with their Senior Advisory Board kitchen tour of the TRIO facility where senior meals are prepared. The county sent out their notification on July 2nd—two days before a major holiday.

Tonight's developer-sponsored meeting promises all the transparency political contributions can ensure.

Ladies and gentlemen, step right up to tonight's 5:30 PM spectacle at Lakeridge Golf Course, where the fine art of "developer-sponsored community engagement" takes center stage. Yes, it's another one of those mandatory dog-and-pony shows where deep-pocketed developers get to explain why their latest vision for your neighborhood is actually a gift to humanity.

Tonight's headliner? None other than the consulting maestros at Wood Rodgers, who we're pretty sure will be pitching the merits of allowing yet another Master Plan amendment. Because if there's one thing Reno needs more of, it's surely more amendments to plans that were supposedly well-thought-out the first time around.

Washoe County’s budget crisis reveals some twisted priorities, putting staff over services, and politics over public health. Despite $27 million deficit, officials choose to cut mosquito control, deny a fire station, and ignore radon concerns rather than trim administrative bloat

Washoe County residents are about to learn a harsh lesson about government priorities: when push comes to shove, protecting bureaucratic jobs matters more than protecting public health and safety.

The Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation (TMPF), once a staple of local conservation and community programming in Northern Nevada, has announced it is shutting down operations effective immediately. Staff have been laid off, programs are ending one by one, and the community is being left without services that once thrived under the organization’s stewardship.

The cause? What’s being described as significant financial mismanagement by former Executive Director Heidi Anderson.

If you happened to stroll through Caughlin Ranch tomorrow and catch a “Concerts on the Green” show, you may have noticed a curious name among the sponsors: Beth Smith, Washoe County School Board Trustee.

Now why, exactly, would a school board trustee be sponsoring a concert in an upscale neighborhood?

Back in November 2022, the public learned something both unsettling and bizarre: a GPS tracker had been found on Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve’s car. Cue the political fireworks. Fingers were pointed fast, and one private investigator we’d worked with was thrown under the bus—by the mayor herself.

But facts are facts. The Sparks Police Department did their job and cleared him of any involvement in anyway - his name should have never come up. They told the mayor straight: the tracker had been planted by another private investigator—David McNeely—a man Picon has never hired, never spoken to, and frankly, wouldn't recognize if he walked by us.

Let’s call it what it is: a developer-funded PR push disguised as a community forum. And much like the City of Reno Ward 1 and Ward 3 forums we bet this won’t be recorded or documented either.

Wood Rodgers, the consulting firm paid by the owners of Lakeridge Golf Course, is hosting a “community meeting” to talk about proposed changes to the site—including a Master Plan amendment that could reshape the neighborhood. But here’s the real story: this same firm is a major donor to multiple Reno City Council campaigns.

Recently, Reno’s Ward 1 and Ward 3 councilmembers held community forums—but don’t bother asking for a recording or meeting notes. There aren’t any. That’s right: no recordings, no transcripts, no official records.

These forums are pitched as chances for residents to connect directly with their elected officials—sort of like NABish meetings, but stripped of any formal accountability. And without documentation, what’s discussed simply vanishes into thin air. No public record. No follow-up. No way to hold anyone to their word.

Just when you thought your local government couldn't get any more tone-deaf, Washoe County delivers again — this time with a $27 million deficit and raises for county elected officials. Because nothing says “fiscal responsibility” like giving yourself a pay bump while the ship is taking on water.

Thanks to legislative magic from Skip “Spin” Hansen and Commissioner Alexis Hill, a bill made its way through Carson City ensuring that county commissioners (yes, the ones running multimillion-dollar deficits) get more money — every year, for the next few years. Public service never paid so well, right?