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.

It's good to know the owners of the Moana West Shopping Center have found another tenant for a space at 3366 Lakeside Drive.

Swill Coffee & Wine closed in December 2025 after a rent increase. Swill wasn't just a coffee shop—it was a gathering place for nonprofits, seniors, community meetings, and local organizations. Losing spaces like that has a real impact on Reno. The void Swill left when they closed has still not been filled in Reno

Seven months later, the space has a new tenant Between The Covers Bookbar, Nevada's first romance and fantasy bookbar.

A photo says a thousand words.

In this case, we encourage everyone to take a look at the video posted by Reno Cop Watch regarding District Attorney Chris Hicks.

And after this “We Support F” photo was taken we're fairly certain Governor Joe Lombardo won't be taking Joey Gilbert's calls anytime soon.

If you’re looking for a little excitement tonight, look no further.

There’s a fundraiser for Devon Reese, reportedly backed by a room full of attorneys — and really, what could be more fun than that combination?

But while the wine is flowing and the speeches are polished, the real action might be happening somewhere else entirely.

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

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?

Apparently, December 14, 2025 is now campaign season in Reno — at least according to four-time mayoral candidate Eddie Lorton, whose campaign signs began popping up months before candidates are even allowed to file for office.

Beefy’s Burger Joint says it plainly: the building needs major repairs — plumbing, flooring, and essential maintenance that simply can’t wait. Because of it, they’ve had to temporarily close their doors. For a neighborhood spot with loyal customers, that’s heartbreaking.

Last week, Picon’s publisher received an anonymous letter outlining deep concerns about the pace, impact, and lack of oversight surrounding growth in Washoe County. While the author chose not to sign their name, the frustration and urgency are unmistakable — and frankly, shared by many residents who write to us daily.

The letter describes a “web of uncontrolled growth,” decisions being made without transparency, and the growing feeling that ordinary residents have lost their voice in shaping the future of their own communities. The final line of the letter asks a simple but powerful question:

So, Devon Reese accidentally let it slip – by listing the wrong office on an amended Nevada Secretary of State contribution and expense report – that he’s running for mayor. But while the ink is still wet on that paperwork, Reese is already using his platform to peddle feel-good talking points about “compromise,” “collaboration,” and “problem solving” in a Reno Gazette Journal op-ed on data centers.

It’s that time again, Reno.

Time to dust off your “Save Our Neighborhood” signs, round up the neighbors, and once again remind Reno City Hall that residents actually live here. Because—surprise!—another developer with deep pockets and shallow plans is back with a dream: to turn part of Lakeridge into a cash cow dressed up as “community improvement.”

On August 5, 2025 at 6 p.m., head over to Bartley Ranch and hear the latest from the folks at SaveLakeridge.com about Duncan Golf Management’s shiny new revised application. The pitch? Rezone 12.5 acres for a hotel, villas, restaurants, bars, outdoor event space, six pickleball courts, two tennis courts, a pool, and a spa. All that’s missing is the monorail.

Reno Councilmember Kathleen Taylor is hosting a public forum, but don't call her "Councilmember"—she's billing herself as "Vice Mayor Kathleen Taylor."

Here's the thing: nobody elected her to that position. Vice mayor isn't a democratic choice—it's a rotating assignment that gets passed around the council like a ceremonial gavel. One day you're Councilmember Smith, the next day you're Vice Mayor Smith. It's not exactly a mandate from the people.

When your city is drowning in a $25 million deficit, every dollar counts—except, apparently, when it comes to conference travel.

Mayor Hillary Schieve jetted off to the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Tampa, Florida, leaving Renoites to wonder about the city's spending priorities. While residents have been told the budget crisis is so severe that neighborhood advisory board meetings—those pesky forums where actual citizens get to voice concerns—had to be axed to save on employee time costs, somehow there was still room in the budget for a Florida excursion.

The Republican Women of Reno have been stirring more than coffee at their monthly meetings. Whispers of mandatory background checks for members, you know to keep the bad actors out of the club, caused such a ruckus that it might've been heard all the way to Sparks — which, ironically, might soon be rising from the ashes like a conservative phoenix.

Eliminating citizen input while brewing up council coffee klatches at the City of Reno.

The City of Reno has discovered a brilliant new approach to public engagement: eliminate it entirely under the guise of fiscal responsibility. The city's moratorium on Neighborhood Advisory Board (NAB) meetings represents a masterclass in democratic doublespeak—claiming to save money while simultaneously launching a replacement program that serves the same purpose but with far less citizen input and accountability.

The official line is cost savings, but the real savings appear to be in avoiding the inconvenience of actually listening to residents who might have opinions about how their neighborhoods are managed.

Three Candidates, Two Spots, Zero Citizen Representation

The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority board nominations currently under consideration perfectly illustrate everything wrong with how Northern Nevada's political establishment operates. Three candidates are vying for two open City of Reno positions, and each one raises serious questions about whether anyone is actually representing the interests of Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County residents—or if this is just another exercise in political back-scratching and insider dealing.

Let's examine this trio of candidates and ask the uncomfortable questions that our elected officials apparently hope we're too distracted to notice.

n a decision raising eyebrows across Nevada’s political landscape, the Nevada Commission on Ethics has cleared City Councilmember Kathleen Taylor of any wrongdoing—despite substantiated concerns over her use of her campaign email address and involving her campaign infrastructure for official city business.

The ethics complaint, notably initiated by the commission’s own Executive Director Ross Armstrong, pointed to instances where Taylor allegedly blurred the lines between her campaign activities and official duties.

Ever notice how certain companies seem to have the Midas touch when it comes to project approvals? At Reno City Council and Planning Commission meetings, one name keeps popping up with suspicious regularity: Wood Rodgers.

This engineering firm has mastered a fascinating civic magic trick. 

Step 1: Become developers' go-to representatives. 

Step 2: Sprinkle generous campaign contributions across the electoral landscape. 

Step 3: Watch as those same elected officials mysteriously forget to mention these financial relationships before voting "yes" on your projects.

Congratulations. The City of Reno has unveiled its latest performance art piece: a citizen feedback survey carefully engineered to gather the information the city wants to feature, not what is truly concerning to residents.

This City of Reno survey is the municipal equivalent of asking "how are you?" while already walking away. Reno officials have mastered the art of claiming "residents don't care" while ensuring exactly that outcome. Their latest online survey represents strategic disengagement disguised as outreach.