There was an interesting sight at today’s meeting of the Community Homeless Advisory Board.

Former Washoe County Manager Eric Brown — yes, the same Eric Brown who recently exited county government and is reportedly looking for his next professional chapter — made an appearance in the audience.

According to those present, Brown didn’t exactly make a splash.

Memories of the 83rd Nevada Legislative Session came rushing back when we saw a notice for a Regional Fire Services Study meeting scheduled for March 19.

The meeting was pushed out by the City of Reno — which is interesting timing given the city is dealing with the ongoing issues surrounding the Reno Police Department.

This latest discussion stems from the fire services summit involving the City of Reno, City of Sparks, and Washoe County.

Sound familiar?

Washoe Valley Residents Speak — But the Votes Were Already Counted …

At the Tuesday, March 10, 2026 meeting of the Washoe County Commission, the setup on the dais appeared clear from the start.

A trio had formed.

Commissioners Alexis Hill, Clara Andriola, and Mariluz Garcia seemed poised to overturn the earlier denial of the Sierra Reflections development by the Washoe County Planning Commission.

But before that vote arrived, the meeting began with what Commissioner Hill hoped was a dramatic moment.

When Grant Denton talks about accountability in his recent This Is Reno opinion, it’s hard not to laugh — not because accountability isn’t important, but because the people who have been asking Denton for accountability since May 2024 know how little of it they’ve received.

Those were the women who spoke out publicly about concerns surrounding the Karma Box Project Executive Director. Since then, many say they have been dismissed, ignored, or pushed aside by the very community leaders who claim transparency and compassion as guiding principles.

And our readers made sure to point it out.

Specifically, residents of Red Hawk — many of whom oppose the newly proposed housing development — contacted Picon after our story ran to highlight something we should have connected.

Back in 2024, Washoe County Commissioner Clara Andriola reported“in-kind rent” for office space at Red Hawk Golf and Resort on her Nevada Contribution and Expense report.

The inbox at Picon has been busy lately.

Dozens of emails and private messages have come in raising questions about a certain Washoe County commissioner and a private office located at Red Hawk Golf and Resort — and whether that proximity might be helpful to the developers behind a major new housing proposal.

Recently, a formal housing application from the Red Hawk Land Company was submitted to the City of Sparks Government. The project would bring nearly 764 homes to the area — a significant amount of density for that corner of the valley.

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.

Apparently, if you want excitement at your next event in Reno, the formula is simple: make a campaign contribution and suddenly an elected official is thrilled to attend.

Now before anyone gets the wrong idea, this isn’t a knock on the Bonanza Casino. Far from it. The casino’s owners, Russ Sheltra and Margo Sheltra, have been part of the Reno community for decades. They’ve supported countless nonprofits, treated their employees well, and have long been known for looking out for Reno’s senior population. Their reputation as community stewards is well earned. Russ and Margo deserve a round of applause.

If anything, the Shelta's simply had the unfortunate timing of landing in the middle of campaign season.

Enter Devon R

According to a report by the Reno Gazette Journal, Reno mayoral candidate Eddie Lorton has obtained a temporary restraining order against Michael Leonard of Mike’s Reno Report — the same individual who, until recently, had been helping Lorton with campaign-related communications.

The RGJ article notes that the request for the TRO references a “Breaking Bad” meme allegedly sent by Leonard. Yes, a meme.

Credit where it’s due: Mike’s Reno Report resurfaced an old municipal court case involving Angela Gianol — now a candidate for Reno Municipal Court Department 1 and currently a prosecutor in the criminal division of the Reno City Attorney's Office.

In that case, Gianol reportedly urged the court to rely on an undercover officer’s testimony rather than a difficult-to-hear audio recording.

That’s not gossip.
That’s jurisprudence.

Because here’s the real question for voters:
When objective evidence is unclear, how much weight should a judge give to officer testimony?

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.

Phil Tenneon you are a marvel breaking another Karma Box employee arrest.

Let’s rewind.

The Washoe County Republican Central Committee once passed a resolution refusing to support then–Sparks Councilmember Kristopher Dahir. They wouldn’t endorse him. Wouldn’t allow party materials at headquarters. Wouldn’t let him participate in events.

It didn’t remove him from office.
It didn’t change his voter registration.
It didn’t affect a single council vote.

What it did do was spotlight internal party warfare which continues …

Fast forward to today.

Apparently, we’re getting illuminated.

In San Francisco, the iconic San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge was lit up with an $11 million art installation — funded entirely by private donations from more than 1,300 contributors. Not public money. Not fee increases. Not “we’ll bill you later.”

Private. Donations.

Picon has said it before — nothing says “party unity” like Republicans fighting Republicans.

For years, the local GOP has operated like an exclusive club. Loyalty isn’t encouraged; it’s enforced. Support the approved candidate or risk being shown the door. That’s been the pattern.

Enter the curious disappearance of Diana Hoffman.

We’ve been doing something radical lately: reading.

Yes, we dusted off the Rules of Practice for the Second Judicial District Court — you know, the thrilling bedside material governing how things actually work over at the courthouse. And we went straight to Rule 2, because that’s where the magic of the Chief Judge lives.

Today’s Reno City Council meeting should be lively. Vice Mayor Miguel Martinez and Reno’s mayor-in-waiting (at least in his own campaign emails) Devon Reese will be perched on the dais, no doubt refreshed after Reese’s fabulous fundraiser at the Grand Sierra Resort — you know, the same Grand Sierra that benefited from all that generous Tax Increment Financing (TIF) support Reese voted to approve. Pure coincidence, we’re sure.

Meanwhile, local Republicans were busy firing off memes about an alleged DUI involving Sparks Councilmember Joe Rodriguez over the weekend.

But here’s the multi-million-dollar question no one seems to be asking:

That’s right, Chief Judge Egan Walker — we weren’t going to stop asking questions.

On Saturday, we put Judge Connie Steinheimer on the side of a milk carton — not as a stunt, but to make a point: the public deserves to know what is happening inside our court.

Well, there she was.

Councilmember Kathleen Taylor at the microphone last night at the Republican Central Committee meeting at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa.

We’re just trying to keep up.

Isn’t Bruce Parks the same party leader who demands absolute loyalty from Republicans? The one who’s made it clear that crossing the aisle is grounds for excommunication? Ask Ed Lawson, Clara Andriola, Kristopher Dahir, or Colleen Westlake how that worked out.

If timing is everything, then today’s Sparks City Council meeting may feel like the Sparks city manager’s worst nightmare.

Because hanging over the dais is not just an agenda — it’s a question no one seems eager to ask out loud.

On Friday night, Sparks City Councilmember Joe Rodriguez was reportedly at the Reno Events Center attending the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour. Also in attendance? Reno mayoral candidate and councilmember Devon Reese and Reno Vice Mayor Miguel Martinez.

Pendleton Whisky. Velocity Tour. Whiskey.