This Is Reno Radio

Kristen and Bob recap the latest Reno news headlines, such as the not-so-shocking news that “John Doe” in the GPS tracker case is Robert Beadles. We also award ourselves two “dookies,” clarifying a Verdi TV district budget gap and misleading school spending reporting. A $1.4 billion road repair backlog could lead to increased fees on electric and hybrid vehicles, plus the dramatic rise in the cost of living and Reno’s beleaguered downtown. 

Recorded Nov. 3, 2025

GPS tracker case update

The “John Doe” behind the trackers is Robert Beadles. We review the 2022 case of a GPS device secretly placed on Mayor Hillary Schieve’s car and another on former Commissioner Vaughn Hartung’s vehicle.

Verdi TV district and WCSD budget reporting

We award ourselves “one dookie” for implying actual spending at the Verdi TV district, clarifying the roughly $100,000 shortfall is projected and covered by reserves. Another dookie is awarded for WCSD reporting on the $275,000 facilities consulting contract versus the main operating budget and teacher contracts.

Road funding and EV fees

A Washoe RTC presentation shows the region faces about a $1.4 billion 10-year road maintenance deficit and new discussions focus on having EVs and hybrids contribute, by way of new fees, because they do not contribute—or contribute less—to fuel taxes. 

The city’s economic outlook

An economist told Reno’s council the area’s cost of living is up 29% since 2018, and a young family would need about 33 years of saving to afford a home, up from eight years in 1990. We also touch on AI’s job impacts, a need to build talent in healthcare and the growing interest in changing Nevada’s property tax structure.

Enforcement and quality-of-life downtown

Council member Kathleen Taylor pressed for stricter enforcement of ordinances downtown, including against jaywalking. We cover complaints about loud music and other deterrents from visiting downtown.

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In the latest Reno news podcast, Kristen and Bob walk through a packed week: Washoe County got a new manager among four finalists for county manager, while the county commissioners put the little-known Verdi Television District on the hot seat.

Jacobs Entertainment dangles a downtown youth sports complex that was met with some environmental concerns. The Truckee Meadows Water Authority says our long-term water picture is better than people often think. Sparks faces a lawsuit over a teen suicide response, and Reno city staff offer candid criticism of their own city leadership.

Recorded Friday, Oct. 24, 2025

Washoe County’s next manager

• Washoe County launched a nationwide search after former county manager Eric Brown left in June after nearly five years. They received about 900 applications and narrowed it to four finalists.

Verdi Television District grilled by the county

The Verdi TV District is a small government subdivision — like other GIDs — that collects taxpayer money but no public-facing information. 

A legislative amendment, prompted by KOLO-TV’s reporting on the district, now basically requires these TV districts to post the basics: agendas, minutes, members, financials. Assemblymember Selena La Rue Hatch said even her office struggled to find any info on the district. Right now, a difficult-to-find website has only a couple of 2025 agendas. 

Jacobs Entertainment’s new play: a downtown youth sports complex

In its regular update to the Reno City Council, Jacobs Entertainment brought a new shiny proposal: a 12-field youth sports complex downtown, to be built over six years, with four fields open by next June. Council members loved the tourism angle and the potential hotel demand. 

Council members Naomi Duerr and Megan Ebert raised concerns that plastic turf will worsen the urban heat island downtown — some turf can get well over 120°F — and kids could literally burn sliding across it. There were also flags about PFAS or “forever chemicals.”  

Water outlook: surprisingly solid

Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) released its latest water resource plan. It’s long, but the headline is positive: The region has adequate water supplies for the next 20 years and, likely through the end of the century

Sparks lawsuit after teen suicide response

Newly released 911 recordings in a November 2024 incident show Sparks responders were told to stand down because the call didn’t yet meet a “medical emergency” threshold. REMSA arrived 28 minutes after a mother’s first call expressing concerns about her song’s wellbeing; by then a firefighter neighbor had already forced entry and started CPR. The teen later died. The parents, Sarah Toliver and Christopher Schatz, filed suit Oct. 7 alleging wrongful death and negligent training/supervision against the city of Sparks. 

Reno city staff’s blunt internal comments

The city released a batch of staff comments about how Reno is being run — and they sound a lot more like what residents say than what city PR says. Complaints included:

• “Reckless spending” and approving raises without revenue to cover them
• Top-heavy management: “too many managers and analysts and not enough worker bees”
• Manual, broken payroll system for a city this size
• Short city-manager tenures leading to inconsistency
• Hiring based on relationships versus qualifications
• Departments operating like “island countries” instead of one organization 

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Kristen and Bob give a rundown of the latest big news in Reno. We discuss the nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations, a regional child-exploitation sting that led to the arrest of a former deputy police chief, Washoe County’s move to dissolve its Department of Alternative Sentencing, an ethics case resolution involving a Sparks council member and questions over the library system’s funding. 

Recorded Oct. 20, 2025.

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“No Kings” rallies

• Large protests were held nationwide for the second time this year; organizers’ figures were debated, but Reno’s turnout was described as “thousands,” with no reported violence. 
• Demonstrators criticized what they said was increasingly authoritarian rhetoric and policies from the Trump administration.
• Notable visuals included inflatable-costume groups; online reactions were heated and, often, racist and unnecessarily antagonistic. 

HEAT sting & former deputy chief’s arrest

• A two-day regional operation by the Human Exploitation and Trafficking team and partner agencies led to 13 arrests, including retired Reno Police Deputy Chief Tommy Robinson. 
• Tactics described included undercover online interactions posing as minors; charges cited included solicitation, attempted sexual assault, luring, attempted kidnapping and drug offenses. 
• Discussion touched on Nevada’s age-of-consent law, how online conduct can alter legal exposure, and defense claims of potential entrapment—claims local judges have not generally embraced. 

Department of Alternative Sentencing to dissolve

• Washoe County commissioners voted to begin dissolving DAS after audits and investigations sparked months of turmoil; officials framed the move as efficiency-driven. 
• Employees and union reps argued staff were being penalized for leadership failures; public defenders supported consolidating pretrial supervision in one agency for consistency. 
• Next steps include ordinance actions and administrative work; Jan. 1 was mentioned as a target to finalize changes, though legal and political hurdles could extend the timeline. 

Ethics & Elections: Sparks Councilmember cleared in ethics probe

• Rodriguez, who faced an ethics complaint for appearing in uniform during a prior school-board campaign, was effectively cleared in a settlement following court proceedings. 
• The conversation contrasted his case—use of an existing job photo—against Governor Joe Lombardo’s separate matter involving a uniformed campaign production, which resulted in a payment to the state’s general fund. 
• Broader context questioned whether the state ethics commission acts with sufficient teeth compared with standards in other professions. 

Library system’s uncertain horizon

• The Washoe County Library system advanced a budget that relies on the remaining “expansion fund” to keep branches open and fill vacancies in the near term. 
• Concern centered on what happens after those dollars are exhausted (around FY27), while there is leadership instability. 

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Kristen and Bob return with a new discussion on the latest Reno news headlines. This episode covers Washoe County’s plan to dissolve its Department of Alternative Sentencing, results from the city of Reno’s community survey, the sewer-rate debate and feedback, Stonegate’s zoning appeal and Nevada DMV’s new tool for reporting unregistered vehicles. 

Episode recorded Oct. 13, 2025

County moves to dissolve Alternative Sentencing
Commissioners were expected to advance dissolving the Department of Alternative Sentencing (DAS) after a year marked by an investigation tied to former chief Justin Roper and a federal raid of the office. An internal review released mid-year flagged numerous issues, including unauthorized traffic stops, misuse of county vehicles and weak controls. The audit committee counted roughly 70 findings. If dissolution proceeds, an ordinance would be drafted for final approval, aiming for a January 1, 2026 effective date. 

Survey reveals mixed views of downtown, city services
Top perceptions among respondents: Reno as a good place to live (about 64%), visit (57%), and work (52%); fewer than 4,000 people responded, above the city’s target but not presented as a representative sample. Lowest ratings were for travel by public transportation (10% “good/very good”), micromobility (~20%), and walking (16%). Downtown perceptions skewed negative: 9% “good” and 1.3% “very good,” while 65.3% rated the downtown experience “poor/very poor.” Services faring better included Reno Fire (72%), 911 (63%), and city activities (53.3%). 

Sewer rates: vote delayed after public pushback
The Reno City Council postponed a proposed 8% annual sewer-rate increase for the next two years, seeking more information. Public comments—just under 300 submissions—were overwhelmingly against the hike; only about a dozen supported it. 

Governing board reverses StoneGate rezoning denial
After the TMRPA Planning Commission twice said no, the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency Governing Board approved Stonegate’s appeal, allowing the rezoning to proceed. The board chair emphasized the decision addressed whether the prior denial was “legal and just,” not a specific project approval. The conversation also noted that data centers in Reno currently require a Conditional Use Permit. 

Devon Reese ethics case update
The Nevada Commission on Ethics dismissed complaints against Council member Devon Reese for not meeting the evidentiary threshold of proving personal enrichment when spending city of Reno taxpayer funds. During public comment—after the agenda item—Reese criticized the commission and threatened its director. 

DMV launches unregistered-vehicle reporting tool
The Nevada DMV introduced an online form for reporting unregistered vehicles. The tool drew heavy early use. 

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Kristen and Bob this week give a straight-ahead rundown of the major Reno-area news stories: a federal letter about the University of Nevada, Reno’s UndocuPack program, what was said at a community-led summit on data centers, a high-stakes Nevada Supreme Court dispute over police investigations, and major funding losses for LGBTQ+ programs at Our Center. 

Recorded on Saturday, Oct. 4. 

UNR’s UndocuPack under federal scrutiny

• A U.S. Department of Justice attorney sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education urging an investigation into whether federal funds support UNR programs aiding undocumented students. 
• UNR temporarily disabled related web pages and officials said the program is supported with non-federal dollars, not federal aid prohibited for undocumented students. 

Data centers press conference

• After a city of Reno meeting was canceled, advocates held an alternate forum and press conference. 
• Speakers highlight power demand such as a 30-megawatt facility—roughly the energy needed for 21,000 homes. 
• Many agencies and local officials attended.
• Reno says the issue is regional; Sparks has already directed staff to explore code changes for data centers. 

Nevada Supreme Court fight over access to police investigative files

• A case stemming from a Reno officer accused of photographing intimate images from motorists’ phones has ballooned into a push for a “bright-line rule” making any open investigative file confidential under the Nevada Public Records Act. 
• Attorney General Aaron Ford and multiple police agencies support the change; press and civil-liberties groups oppose it. 
• Critics warn the practice already trends toward blanket secrecy and could erode transparency. 

Sparks firefighter-senior confrontation: civil case settled

• The case involving Maureen Vegholm and Sparks firefighter Timothy Egan—captured on security video—has been settled. 
• Family members expressed anger at Sparks agencies; an official statement said the city hopes to bring closure. 

Our Center loses key grants for LGBTQ+ programs

• The LGBTQ+ community center says state-channeled federal grants—used for suicide prevention, mental health and substance-use prevention—are no longer available due to federal policy restricting programs serving LGBTQ+ youth exclusively. 
• Lost funding totals about $240,000 per year for four years plus another $129,000 previously under review. 

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On today’s show, Kristen and Bob break down a packed local news week: The ongoing Lear Theater debate, a fresh round of NV Energy refunds and climate grades, the city of Reno scraps a much-anticipated data-centers meeting while Sparks presses ahead. There was also an ADU ordinance hiccup, and we do a rundown of our Nevada Press Association awards for the year. This episode was recorded Sept. 27, 2025.

Lear Theater proposal sparks process questions

• Reno City Council discussed an unsolicited proposal to renovate the historic Lear Theater; the city previously estimated at least $17M in repairs and must coordinate with the State Historic Preservation Office. 
• Confusion over the agenda language—specifically a “potential sale” reference—prompted criticism from the Historical Resources Commission chair; historian Alicia Barber noted “sale” wasn’t in the proposal. A public “Lear Summit” is now being planned to broaden input. 

NV Energy’s refunds, billing errors and a climate grade

• After misbilling residential categories for years, NV Energy issued $5.4 million in initial refunds and now says about $32M more will be credited to overcharged customers, roughly $40 million total.
• In Sierra Club’s “Dirty Truth” report, NV Energy received a “B,” amid discussion of coal retirements and added natural gas power. 

City of Reno cancels Oct. 1 meeting; Sparks presses forward

• A long-anticipated Oct. 1 meeting on data centers was removed from Reno’s calendar; the city cited a need for a “regional approach.”
• Those partners already meet via the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency. 
• In Sparks, council members discussed a pause/moratorium and directed staff to draft development standards; business voices urged a single regional rule set. 

ADU ordinance delayed by drafting error

• Reno’s accessory dwelling unit ordinance—recently amended to remove a short-term-rental ban—was postponed after an entire section was accidentally struck between readings; an attentive public commenter spotted the mistake. 

In our newsroom: awards roundup

• We discuss our seven Nevada Press Association honors this year, including Editorial of the Year, plus prior SPJ recognition and photo/story awards. 

This summary was generated with the assistance of AI and edited by us.

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Kristen and Bob break down the latest Reno news headlines. This week, we discuss the Lear Theater’s future, a federal lawsuit tied to Burning Man, patient safety concerns at a Saint Mary’s Hospice, worker-safety allegations at UPS in Sparks, the city’s new arts board naming flap. We also give a nod to Nevada historian Guy Rocha, who recently passed away.

Lear Theater: What’s Next?

• The Reno City Council was slated to discuss unsolicited proposals to buy the long-closed Lear Theater, despite a February directive to keep it off the “for sale” list.
• Reno bought the property from Artown for $875,000.
• Restoration remains unfunded; prior estimates top $17 million for any work that must meet state historic-preservation standards.
• Council could reject proposals, entertain them, or issue an RFP. (They rejected it; more later.)

Burning Man Sued Over Alleged Trespass on Public Land

• Two local YouTubers filed a federal lawsuit after being told to leave the Black Rock Desert post-event during cleanup in 2024.
• The dispute centers on whether Burning Man’s BLM permit allowed exclusion of the public during cleanup and the scope of First Amendment access on public lands.
• Defendants include Burning Man, BLM, and local sheriffs’ offices. Burning Man calls the complaint “frivolous.”

Saint Mary’s Hospice Care and Compliance Concerns

• State inspections documented multiple deficiencies, including hygiene lapses and medication record issues at Saint Mary’s Hospice.
• Parent company LHC Group (a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary, associated with Optum) says a temporary admission hold was due to staffing shortages, not failed surveys.

UPS Sparks Facility: Worker Safety Allegations

• Employees and Teamsters Local 533 cite ongoing hazards: welding sparks near active work areas, excessive noise, and nonfunctioning conveyor “start-up” buzzers (workers say some only resumed after media inquiries).
• Roughly 10+ OSHA complaints over three years; formal records are delayed amid a state cyberattack.
• UPS says alarms are operating and emphasizes safety; union maintains conditions are substandard.

Crisis Comms in the AI Era

• Observation from recent stories: local institutions often issue brief, generic statements.
• We note AI-generated responses can be more effective.

City Arts Boards Merge … and an Acronym Problem

• Reno merged its arts bodies into the Arts and Culture Advisory Board.
• The chosen acronym, ACAB, drew public mockery and confusion due to widely known alternate meaning.
• City is recruiting members while the name and acronym remain.

In Memoriam: Guy Rocha

• Nevada historian and former state archivist Guy Rocha has died.
• Remembered for myth-busting columns, public talks and advocacy that helped move Nevada Day to a three-day weekend format.
• Segment closes with reflections on Nevada Day traditions and the state’s identity.

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Kristen and Bob break down the top stories in Reno. This episode is first heard by This Is Reno’s paying members, who get this before it is published anywhere else. Get first access and exclusive content by subscribing at https://thisisreno.com/subscribe/

Post‑Burning Man garbage littering northern Nevada generated a lot of online chatter. It appears the Burn’s longstanding “leave‑no‑trace” ethos has morphed into mass dumping of garbage at places like WalMart and Staples. While the event still injects cash into the local economy — airfare, hotels, retail, etc. — some say the financial benefits may be outweighing the environmental fallout.

After numerous comments bemoaning the prices at the annual rib fest, Kristen did a deep dive into pork market data. She found a near‑20 % jump in St. Louis‑style rib costs over the past year. Trump tariffs on Canadian piglets and feed, and broader supply‑chain pressures that have been nudging food prices upward for several years, account for high rib prices. That’s causing some folks to grill in their own backyards instead of getting their samplers from Rasta Joe’s.

By reconnecting its ticketing system to the DMV, the city of Reno unearthed — think of the bureaucratic equivalent of Raiders of the Lost Ark — thousands of old parking citations, raking in roughly $265,000 in just two months. But at least one  motorist received a city-issued parking ticket dating back to 2021 for a car he had sold the year prior. 

The situation was further muddied by a recent state‑wide cyber‑attack, including on the DMV, which delayed processing. Alas, the city is so far in the hole, because of lack of tax revenue and dramatically increased costs in recent years, particularly on employee salaries, that the cash infusion is only a drop in the bucket.

Washoe County’s “State of the County” meeting resembled a glossy PR reel more than a substantive overview of what’s going on at the county. Critics noted glaring omissions: no discussion of the CARES campus, homelessness initiatives, crime statistics or upcoming fire‑service consolidations. 

Meanwhile, residents of west Washoe Valley have a fire‑station deficit. Building a new station could cost upwards of $17 million — a sum the financially strapped Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District can’t secure, despite attempts at state and federal grants. 

Lastly, congrats to Ed Pearce with KOLO TV for his lifetime achievement award.

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This episode is the second podcast in a two-part series. Kristen Hackbarth and Bob Conrad discuss the recent This Is Reno investigation Kristen did into spending at Reno City Hall. After months of digging, getting public records and combing through large amounts of information, we published a voluminous ten-part series about what we found.

This Is Reno subscribers got access to this podcast before anybody else. If you value local, independent journalism and appreciate Kristen’s extensive work in this series, please consider becoming a paying subscriber.  Subscribers get access to all articles and extra benefits, such as getting behind-the-scenes information, like this podcast, before anyone else.

In this two-part podcast, we discuss how we approached this story, what we found and what prompted us to start looking into city council spending in the first place.

Read the series: https://thisisreno.com/investigation-city-hall-spending/

Support the show

Stay current on Reno news by subscribing to our free daily newsletter: https://thisisreno.com/newsletter/

This episode is our first podcast in more than a year. Kristen Hackbarth and Bob Conrad discuss the recent This Is Reno investigation Kristen did into spending at Reno City Hall. After months of digging, getting public records and combing through large amounts of information, we published a voluminous ten-part series about what we found.

This Is Reno subscribers got access to this podcast before anybody else. If you value local, independent journalism and appreciate Kristen’s extensive work in this series, please consider becoming a paying subscriber.  Subscribers get access to all articles and extra benefits, such as getting behind-the-scenes information, like this podcast, before anyone else.

In this two-part podcast, we discuss how we approached this story, what we found and what prompted us to start looking into city council spending in the first place.

Read the series: https://thisisreno.com/investigation-city-hall-spending/

Support the show

Stay current on Reno news by subscribing to our free daily newsletter: https://thisisreno.com/newsletter/