A reader reached out to us after enjoying lunch at Marcolino's Italia a couple of months ago and witnessing what they described as a rather interesting political meeting. According to the diner, Devon Reese and Bill Thomas sashayed into the restaurant together for what appeared to be a private meeting with the restaurant owner.

Now on its face, maybe that means nothing. Public officials eat lunch too. But here’s where the story starts smelling more like backroom marinara than innocent pasta.

fourth-place finish for mayor—it may have been the defeat of his preferred Ward 2 candidate, Vanessa Vaupel. Had she won, Reese would likely have had that fourth vote on the Reno City Council. Instead, the primary left him with diminished political influence. Reese can generally count on support from colleagues like Brandy Anderson and Miguel Martinez, but three votes don't pass measures before the seven-member council. The primary may have transformed Reese from a political power broker into an ordinary councilmember who now has to persuade colleagues rather than rely on a dependable voting bloc.

Politics can be unforgiving.

Just ask Reno City Councilmember Devon Reese.

Picon Ponders: Was the Fourth on the Fourth Parade Really About Patriotism... or Just Marketing?

Picon ponders whether this entire 4th on Fourth parade saga was really about celebrating America—or whether patriotism was simply the backdrop for one giant marketing campaign.

According rumblings from Landon Miller with the City of Reno, Mayor Hillary Schieve is expected to serve as Grand Marshal for the 4th of July parade. We don’t know.

Some had floated the idea that Eddie Lorton should get the honor after publicly saying he would pay whatever the City couldn't raise to keep the parade alive. That promise generated plenty of headlines. This Is Reno ran an article about the parade still needing $15,000 - so Eddie where’s the check you promised?

When Eddie Lorton pushed the City of Reno to support a Fourth of July parade celebrating America's 250th anniversary, he presented it as a community event that deserved city backing. The Reno City Council agreed to support the concept, and Lorton publicly stated that if fundraising fell short, he would personally cover any remaining costs.

Picon is always surprised when members of the media don't take a moment to verify campaign claims.

Ward 2 Reno City Council candidate Vanessa Vaupel reportedly told KOLO she knocked on 1,000 doors. But did she really?

Based on what we've heard from readers, it appears a more accurate description may be that she dropped literature at 1,000 doors.

Remember how former Washoe County District Court Judge Bridget Robb pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor stalking charge stemming from allegations that she repeatedly followed and monitored a Reno attorney over an extended period. As part of a plea agreement reached in Sparks Municipal Court, Robb admitted guilt to the charge and avoided a trial.

We enjoy a good pair of pink hot pants as much as anyone, but this may be the funniest thing we've seen all political season.

Found on Nextdoor, this gem immediately caught our attention, and the only thing we could think was:

"Somewhere in Reno, a campaign consultant just fell to their knees."

Free Press Frenzy: Devon and Eddie Chase Headlines

Picon is amused that today the City of Reno is holding a gathering to discuss data centers.

Why? Because suddenly City Councilmember Devon Reese has discovered concerns about data centers after voting for them and accepting campaign contributions from people connected to the industry. Then, after apparently noticing he might be struggling in the mayoral primary, he called for a moratorium.

Picon's guess is that Devon is simply chasing headlines.

We ponder why Devon Reese keeps changed the number. First it was “5th generation Nevadan.” Now suddenly it’s “6th generation.”

So naturally people are asking: why does it matter so much?

Will adding another generation make him a better mayor?
Will it get more votes?
More likes on social media?
More trust from voters?

Let’s stop pretending the current version of the Save Lakeridge effort is anything close to grassroots—because it’s not.

Back in 2021, many of us supported them when they took their fight to the Reno City Council. At the time, it felt like a real community-driven effort. Fast forward to today, and it’s hard to ignore what it’s become: a tightly controlled campaign driven by insiders, attorneys, and political maneuvering—not broad community engagement.

Why does Michael Leonard and Mike’s Reno Report matter? Simple: people actually read it — and they act on it.

In less than a year, Leonard has built a growing, loyal audience — especially among Republicans — and that influence is very real.

Just ask Eddie Lorton.

Leonard was once in Lorton’s corner, even helping him behind the scenes. That didn’t last. Turns out, working with Lorton is one thing — dealing with the fallout is another.

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day—and after a court hearing, that might be especially true.

Because if you ask Picon, the real story always happens before… or after… the main event.

And yesterday proved it.

After the Lorton vs. Leonard hearing in Washoe County Justice Court, presided over by, we can’t believe it either, Judge Pierre Hascheff, both sides apparently needed to decompress.

We have had a bunch of readers asking us to post this application. Here you go.

We absolutely love the optics here…

Last night when the Republican Central Committee lined up behind Eddie Lorton, standing right next to him was his buddy, his pal, his mentor — Robert Beadles.

Yes, that Robert Beadles.

The same guy who has now confirmed he hired a private investigator tied to tracking Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve’s vehicle back in 2022.

Every time a meeting gets delayed, our inbox lights up.

“What aren’t they telling us?”
“Who pulled the strings?”
“What’s the hidden agenda?”

And right on cue, here we are again.

The Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Commission was supposed to hear the Duncan Golf Management / Save Lakeridge matter today. Instead, the meeting was pushed. And just like that, fingers started pointing—mostly at the commission itself.

That familiar rat-a-tat-tat has returned to the Reno City Council meetings.

Once again, Eddie Lorton has been showing up during public comment demanding that a Fourth of July parade be placed on a future council agenda.

Now Lorton says he’ll personally cover the $25,000 cost to make it happen.

Isn’t the judiciary supposed to be impartial?

That’s the standard the public is told to expect: judges stay above the political fray, particularly during election season. At the very least, they’re expected to avoid the appearance of political favoritism or entanglements that could raise questions about their neutrality.

Which brings us to Dixie Grossman, the chief judge of the Family Court division within the Second Judicial District Court.

Credit where it’s due: Jackie Bryant showed a measure of appropriate gravity during yesterday’s press conference in Reno regarding the suspension of Chief Nance. Bryant appeared visibly affected—almost a little verklempt—which conveyed that the situation was serious and unsettling for the city’s leadership.

By contrast, Hillary Schieve came across very differently. Rather than projecting the same sense of gravity, her presentation felt more like another stop on a promotional press tour—something closer to selling her Spooge sunscreen line than addressing a moment of institutional concern. Whether intentional or not, that contrast underscores a basic rule in public life: optics matter.

Public comment at Reno meetings comes with a familiar rhythm: step up, state your name, watch the clock, and wrap it up before the buzzer.

Three minutes.
No back-and-forth.
No “asks.”
No extended dialogue.

Citizens are reminded regularly that public comment is for input — not interrogation.

So it was hard not to notice what unfolded at the March 2, 2026 meeting of the Reno Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board.