GREATEST HITS. Art Schallock turns 100 on April 25. In addition to joining the fastest-growing demographic in America, he is the oldest living major league baseball player. Andrew Barbano Commentary In recent years, I’ve been starved for baseball news here in the High Desert Outback of the American Dream. Apparently the San Francisco Giants are no longer relevant given the expensive transplantation of the Corporate Welfare Oakland/Sacramento Athletics. To Gomorrah South. In three or more years. If they can beat back a November statewide vote to scuttle their $380 million freebie from Nevada’s ..read more

By Gabby Birenbaum The Nevada Independent Almost a year after major pharmacy chains began waffling at the prospect of filling mifepristone prescriptions, Walgreens and CVS began dispensing the abortion pill in Nevada during the last few weeks. The decision comes after a concentrated push by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), who called on the chains to follow through with Food & Drug Administration (FDA) guidance updates finalized in 2023 allowing mifepristone to be dispensed and sold at pharmacies. Now the most common means of terminating a pregnancy, mifepristone is the first of a two-p ..read more

The following are highlights from the April 22, 2024, Sparks City Council Meeting. Announcements/ Presentations Mayor Ed Lawson proclaimed the following: May 4, 2024, as International Firefighters Day to honor the work, heroism, and sacrifices made by professional firefighters. May 5, 2024, as National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service Day to honor the brave men and women who have died in the line of duty. April 26, 2024, as Arbor Day to celebrate and support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands. April 27, 2024, as National Rebuilding Day to honor the thousands of community volunteer ..read more

Briefs from the Nevada Independent Washoe County superintendent finalist withdraws A former Florida superintendent with ties to the Clark County School District, Christopher Bernier, has withdrawn himself as a finalist in the Washoe County School District’s superintendent search. The district didn’t specify why Bernier decided to drop out. As a result, the district’s search firm added Chief Student and Family Supports Officer Paul LaMarca to the list of finalists. LaMarca is the third internal candidate among five finalists under consideration for the job. According to his résumé, LaMarca has ..read more

The Nevada Department of Transportation’s Pyramid Highway widening and improvement project has reached a milestone, with project construction 50 percent complete. The project launched in May 2023, and construction is currently on schedule. Courtesy photo The Pyramid Highway widening and improvement project that began in May of 2023 is 50 percent completed according to NDOT. Major project construction completed thus far includes: Approximately 225,000 cubic yards of earthwork removed to make way for highway widening Earthwork and new roadway paving on the west side of the highway between Queen ..read more

Paul Mendive passed away suddenly on March 9th in Graeagle, California. His family and friends are deeply saddened and shocked by his death. Paul was the youngest of his siblings, born on June 12, 1955, in Reno, Nevada, to parents Louis and Madeleine Mendive. Paul attended Sparks schools, graduating from Sparks High School in 1973. Following that he attended Everett Community College in Everett, Washington, on a football scholarship. During his time in Washington, he developed several close friendships and became a lifelong Seattle Seahawks football fan. After two years in Everett, Paul trans ..read more

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Time to celebrate our recently announced water rate increases. Break out the best gray water champagne! Andrew Barbano Commentary I tried to obtain information from the Nevada Public Utilities Commission about the 2001 sale of the local water system by NVEnergy’s predecessor, Sierra Pacific Power. I received everything but what I asked for. When I pushed to get the price us peons paid, I was refused the info and referred to the Truckee Meadows Water Authority. I’ve been waiting for weeks for a response from TMWA, so I guess I’ll just go with the flow. On March 19, I sent this to TMWA’s PR depa ..read more

By Eric Neugeboren The Nevada Independent Nevada lawmakers last week assigned around $39 million in repurposed American Rescue Plan (ARP) money to various projects, putting about half of that money into mental health efforts a month after Gov. Joe Lombardo said the state should prioritize spending in that area. State legislators approved $14.5 million in ARP funds to renovate a shuttered mental health facility in Washoe County that local officials say will be a lifeline to youth in need of mental health care. Lawmakers also voted to provide $3 million to a Carson City company to relocate its s ..read more

The Nevada Independent The State Board of Education is preparing to launch a survey gathering feedback on later high school start times, but is no longer planning to pursue a regulation that would have allowed for the concept to be put into practice. It’s the latest setback for an idea that, while supported by doctors and implemented in neighboring California, has failed to get off the ground in Nevada despite multiple attempts in the last decade. Last year, the board faced backlash from superintendents over draft regulation language that would have required public high schools that begin prio ..read more