Amid a $27 million budget deficit, Washoe County's funding of the Tahoe Prosperity Center raises serious questions about fiscal responsibility and potential conflicts of interest.

Key Concerns:

• Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill sits on the board of the Tahoe Prosperity Center

• The county previously allocated $47,500 in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to the organization on July 18, 2023

• A proposed $10,000 funding allocation remains under consideration? Or is it?

Recent weeks have seen two separate incidents involving public figures and law enforcement reports in Washoe County and Reno, highlighting questions about media coverage and public discourse.

Last weekend, reports emerged about a Reno City Council member involved in an incident with a 73-year-old resident at a local wine bar, resulting in a police report. The coverage of this incident sparked significant online debate, particularly on social media where numerous local figures weighed in.

Washoe County's telecommuting policy reads like a meticulous rulebook—except nobody seems to be following the rules.

The timing raises eyebrows: updated October 15, 2021, roughly nine months after Chief Information Officer Behzad Zamanian began working remotely. Was the policy conveniently rewritten to accommodate the person overseeing the county's digital security working from... somewhere else?

Look who's sliding into our mentions. The City of Reno's official Facebook page just couldn't help themselves, publicly thanking Picon Press for sharing their content.

We're blushing. After years of what we assumed was unrequited tension from Mayor Hillary Schieve and Wannabe Mayor Councilmember Devon Reese, it seems City Hall has finally acknowledged our special relationship. Nothing says "we've been secretly reading everything you publish" quite like a passive-aggressive social media thank you.

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.

While Washoe County happily cashes your tax checks, they've blown past legal deadlines to answer a simple question: Where are your public servants actually working?

The public records request Picon made is straightforward asking about a specific employee. We are asking for a copy of County Manager Eric Brown’s approval for remote work. Much like the Washoe County IT Director Behzad Zamanian.

In a remarkable display of selective memory, a Washoe County Assistant County Manager is now assuring commissioners they're "staying on top" of the Tertiary Counsel Group program. This sudden vigilance comes due to Commissioner Mariluz Garcia's pointed questions at the March 11th meeting.

What the reassuring email conveniently omits? This is the same administrator who was supposedly "overseeing" the Alternative Sentencing/Justin Roper/Sober 24 program—you know, the one where US Marshals showed up with warrants and seized records. Apparently, federal raids fall outside Washoe County’s definition of effective oversight.

Look closely at Senator Daly and Taylor's SB-319, or you might miss the burning hole it's about to put in your wallet. This isn't just legislation—it's a blank check written in your name.

The bill creates a Fire Protection District with truly spectacular taxing power by the Washoe County Commissioners: no limits on property assessment values and the ability to keep raising taxes. Miss the first tax hike? Don't worry—there's always round two, three, or ten.

Is the City of Reno's checkbook only open to those with the right connections? The ReStore Reno Program's spending pattern suggests an uncomfortable truth.

First, there's the curious case of Crak N' Grill on Wells Avenue. Despite never opening its doors, the restaurant received taxpayer funds through ReStore Reno for roof repairs, new doors, windows, and paint—essentially giving the property owner a free building upgrade courtesy of Reno residents.

Are Ward 5 and 6 residents getting the silent treatment from Reno City Council? While Wards 1, 2, and 3 have been actively discussing hot-button Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), meetings for Wards 5 and 6 are mysteriously missing. (We'll take the city's word that Ward 4 actually met at the far-flung Stead Airport—who's driving all the way out there to verify?)

Today, the City of Reno agenda includes appointing residents to the Ward 5 and 6 Neighborhood Advisory Boards. But is this just for show? A quick check of Reno's April calendar reveals no scheduled meetings for either ward—this month or next.

Just hours after we questioned Sparks councilmembers' panda-viewing trip amid an $18 million deficit, a reader provided us with an eye-opening document from Reno City Manager Jackie Bryant that reveals deeper regional tensions.

Bryant's letter to Washoe County demands an "equitable fiscal framework," exposing significant financial disparities between the county and cities. While the timing might raise eyebrows—with both cities facing deficits—Bryant's carefully constructed argument raises legitimate concerns that deserve attention.

Pandas Over People at the City of Sparks ???

While the City of Sparks drowns in an $18 million deficit, two city councilmembers somehow found it essential to jet off to Washington DC—with a special stop to snap panda selfies at the National Zoo.

That's right. As the city offers early retirement packages, freezes positions, and whispers about upcoming layoffs, Councilmembers Bybee and VanderWell were busy cooing at Bao Li and Qing Bao at the Smithsonian's National Zoo—presumably on the taxpayer dime.

In what can only be described as fiscal gymnastics, Mayor Ed Lawson delivered a somber State of the City address on February 24, 2025, while riding his motorcycle—because nothing says "we're in a budget crisis" quite like a mayoral motorcycle moment. Perhaps the motorcycle was necessary to keep His Honor awake during his own speech, much as it kept us from slipping into a complete video coma.

"We're going through some hard times now," Lawson gravely intoned after the video ended. "We're going to have to have some layoffs in the future. We're just going to have to buckle up."

Someone at the county is singing like a canary. What prompted the RGJ to suddenly request badge data for IT Director Behzad Zamanian? Our sources inside the 9th Street building tell all.

It seems Zamanian's IT staff have had ENOUGH of their boss's ghost routine. Five years in, and he's still playing the "remote work" card with zero effort to actually move to Nevada. But wait—there's more.

The plot thickens at Washoe County, where Manager Eric Brown seems awfully eager to defend his CIO's unusual work arrangement. But why rush to defend if there's nothing to hide?

Let's follow the breadcrumbs: Someone "prompted" Greater Reno/Mark Robison to look into Behzad Zamanian's hybrid work situation. Who's the mysterious deep throat feeding tips to journalists? And more importantly—why? And how did Brown learn of this?

Talk about a fashion faux pas. While reading to children at Glenn Duncan S.T.E.M. Academy, a school board trustee apparently thought it was appropriate to sport a Gucci jacket worth more than most families' monthly rent.

Let's put this in perspective: Glenn Duncan serves a student population that's 100% economically disadvantaged according to data from US News. Only 17% of students are proficient in reading or math. These kids face real struggles daily—and in walks a trustee wearing what amounts to several months of grocery money on their back.

Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson is trying to shut down public records access with AB 51. Hiding behind the "National League of Cities" like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Don't be fooled—this bill has Lawson's fingerprints all over it.

His brilliant idea? Nobody gets public records without photo ID. Apparently, the mayor needs to know exactly WHO is asking questions. Planning to shame them on social media later, Ed? What ARE you so desperate to hide?

Reno's city leadership puts on quite the show pretending everything's fine while facing a budget crisis. Yesterday's budget meeting revealed the ugly truth.

With the city drowning in red ink, would it kill council members to take a 25% pay cut? After all, they created this mess. They blew through ARPA funds like sailors spending on shore leave, and now residents face service cuts (though it's hard to imagine services getting worse).

Please read to the bottom of this article and look at the complaint filed by criminal attorney Theresa Ristenpart. You’ll want to note the troubling information about Sober 24 and their testing methods “Including Forcing Pretrial Client to Strip Search Before Testing” - say what? Was County Manager Eric Brown and his staff aware this was taking place at Sober 24?

Has County Manager Eric Brown suddenly morphed into a legal expert, "warning" commissioners to keep quiet about the Justin Roper investigation. His excuse? Speaking might "risk of possibly interfering" with the law enforcement investigation or is it an "HR matter." Keep up Eric, choose one.

Former Sparks City Manager Neil Krutz has finally filed his long-awaited lawsuit against Mayor Ed Lawson and Councilmembers Vanderwell, Bybee, Abbott, Anderson, and Dahir. After much anticipation, we expected a juicy complaint packed with explosive exhibits and salacious allegations.

What did we get instead? A document so bland it could put an insomniac to sleep.