In a display of concern for suffering patients they'll never meet, local religious leaders have taken out a full-page RGJ ad celebrating their victory over terminal patients' bodily autonomy. How generous of them to volunteer others for excruciating pain.

The financial saga unfolding at Washoe County Library raises more questions than a mystery novel. With a base budget of $12 million annually, the library system has accumulated additional funding requests to stay “whole” $1.3 million from the Washoe County General Fund and $3.2 million from the Library Expansion fund — and now we’ve got Baker & Tayler $850,000 and OverDrive, Inc. $300,000 asks from recently-resigned director Jeff Scott on the commission agenda on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

The Washoe County District Attorney's Office and their Public Information Officer are certainly vocal when celebrating their wins—like the recent four life sentences handed to a child abuser. Press releases, media alerts, perhaps even a congratulatory social media post or two.

Yet a deafening silence surrounds questions about a more recent tragedy: the April 2025 death of five-year old Izabella Loving whose father now faces charges with the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office is investigating. What's conspicuously missing from the DA's outreach efforts is any transparency regarding Washoe County Human Services Agency's potential involvement with this family. The information we are being sent is shocking but nothing can be verified due to the investigation, but Human Services Agency must be accountable if any of the information we have been sent turns out to be factual.

What better way to celebrate Older Americans Month than by telling seniors at the last minute: “Never mind”?

The much-anticipated reopening of the 9th Street Senior Center — originally scheduled for May 1st as a kickoff for Older Americans Month — has been delayed. No explanation. No apology. Just silence from Washoe County. Because who needs clarity when you’ve got chaos?

In a rare display of unified resistance, Washoe County's independently elected officials have issued a pointed letter to the Board of County Commissioners expressing serious concerns about proposed budget reductions. The April 22nd letter—representing the County Clerk, Recorder, Treasurer, Public Administrator, and Assessor—reveals deepening tensions between these constitutional officers and County Manager Eric Brown's administration.

In most cities, it’s considered a public service when a resident takes time out of their day to speak during public comment at a city council meeting. In Reno, Nevada, it’s starting to feel more like a public risk — especially if you say something that rubs Mayor Hillary Schieve the wrong way. Because these days, challenging Schieve’s decisions doesn’t just get you a polite nod — it might get you publicly accused, publicly shamed, and publicly dragged for… well, daring to participate in democracy.

Looks like we’ve got a bit of a sunscreen scandal unfolding in Reno, Nevada. Mayor Hillary Schieve, who has been busy protecting citizens from the dangers of sunburns, might want to turn her SPF 50 on herself, because her latest moves are starting to leave a bit of a stinging rash on her reputation.

Let’s break it down. In the latest episode of "Reno’s Most Transparent Leaders," Mayor Schieve and her business partner, dermatologist Dr. Whitney Hovenic, are basking in the sun with their sunscreen brand, Spooge—yes, you read that right. Spooge. Not exactly the first name we’d go with for a sunscreen product, but hey, not our product to judge.

It seems Richard Jay—best friend to Mayor Hillary Schieve, collector of prestigious appointments (Airport Authority, RSCVA), and self-appointed Facebook municipal code enforcer—might need to check his own address.

Commissioner Clark frequently reaches out to us at Picon since the other three commissioners give us the silent treatment. As for Commissioner Herman? After eleven years of being ignored on the commission, who knows if she's still engaged or has mentally checked out.

In a move that surprised absolutely no one familiar with his history, Washoe County Library Director Jeff Scott resigned moments before his potential termination—repeating his 2015 Berkeley playbook when faced with similar circumstances. Now, as predictable as the sunrise, those who haven't bothered to examine his performance record are rallying with cries of impending book banning.

In a stunning display of leadership humility, Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson has graciously informed constituents that their feeble minds simply cannot comprehend his superior intellect and vast knowledge. Apparently, the same voters who were smart enough to elect him are simultaneously too stupid to have valid opinions on city matters.

Lawson's "Smartest Guy in Nevada" tour continued as he took aim at state legislators, who clearly lack his remarkable "fortitude" to implement his brilliant ideas. It seems inconceivable to the mayor that his proposals might be rejected not because legislators lack courage, but because—brace yourselves—they might actually be bad ideas.

Mayor Hillary Schieve has heroically drawn her mightiest weapon—the strongly worded letter—after Renown already closed the Crisis Care Center doors. With the timing precision of someone showing up with a fire extinguisher after the house has burned down, the mayor is now "questioning" Renown's decision to shutter vital mental health services.

Is County Manager Eric Brown and his handpicked, by secret employee committee, Registrar of Voters awaiting the results of the Nevada Secretary of State and Attorney General multistate lawsuit against Trump Administration executive overreach in elections, before they take any action on Trumps executive orders?

As local governments scramble to patch their leaking financial ships—with Washoe County, Sparks, and Reno all millions in the red—they've settled on the usual solution: deeper dives into taxpayer pockets. Increased fees, passed on charges, some say, sales tax hikes are circling the drain, and "fire consolidation assessments" have become the preferred alternative to actual fiscal responsibility - (translation: moving money around so Reno - Sparks - Washoe County can spend fire budgets to run the city/county, because if State Senator Skip Daly, Mayor Ed Lawson, Commissioner Alexis Hill, and Mayor Hillary Schieve have their way, residents will pay an assessment to fund fire services - slick, right).

As the Reno Gazette Journal reported the City of Reno voted on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 to shift the credit card processing fees back to the citizens of Reno. The taxpayers get to absorb yet another fee due to poor city fiscal management.

In a display of municipal mathematics, the City of Reno has brilliantly introduced passing on to residents the processing fee for credit card payments, apparently without calculating that this might prompt citizens to... write more checks.

Last week County Manager Eric Brown took a vacation and left one of his Assistant County Managers in charge - seems like lack of transparency has a trickle down effect at Washoe County.

In what has become Washoe County's standard operating procedure, deflect, deny, hide the facts, officials sat on news of a deputy public defender's Las Vegas arrest for four days—miraculously finding their voices only when the Las Vegas Review-Journal prepared to publish the story. Apparently, the county's definition of "public information" is "whatever we can no longer hide."

Remember when local elected officials trembled at the thought of being lampooned at Sheep Dip? When the annual roast served as Nevada's political pressure release valve, where officials' blunders were immortalized through exaggerated comedy sketches and no one was safe from public ridicule?

In a stunning display of political self-sabotage, Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson expressed shock—SHOCK!—that his $500 million toll road bill died in the Nevada Legislature after he publicly insulted most of its members as self-serving public employees and union cronies.

While the media circus twirls around Governor Lombardo's Lincoln Day Dinner comments, Picon is asking the question no other media seems interested in: who exactly brought the recording device to Club Fandango? In a room packed with the Governor's devoted supporters, someone clearly came prepared to capture more than just memories.

Is the sudden discovery of library funding a genuine miracle or convenient timing? After five months of dire warnings about reduced hours, staff cuts, and service reductions due to tax reallocation, the library system has mysteriously found sufficient funds to maintain operations—just days before trustees might show the Library Director the door for performance issues.