opinion

Know Your Neighbor: 5 Questions is a series in which local residents are asked five questions so we as neighbors can get to know each other better.

Our first Know Your Neighbor is Karen Abowd, who is in her last term on the Board of Supervisors.

The Battle Born Memorial was unveiled today on the State Capitol grounds in Carson City behind the Nevada State Library and Archives, dedicated to Nevada’s 895 fallen service members.

As Nevadans decide who will be our state leaders for the next four years, we want to highlight the most significant project affecting the controller’s office and many others.

When news of the sudden death of Assembly candidate and brothel owner Dennis Hof reached us last Tuesday, we were quite stunned by it. We had gotten to know Dennis, and James had seen him several times in the weeks preceding his sudden departure.

One of his great gifts was the ability to make you feel you were the most important person in the room. Two occasions involving James come to mind, but Ron felt the same way.

Every year folks ask what day Halloween trick-or-treating occurs in Carson City.

In any other state and in any other Nevada community, there is no question. Trick-or-treating happens each year on Halloween night, Oct. 31.

Please indulge us as we ask you to re-elect Ron as Nevada Controller. If Ron wins, James also gets reappointed Deputy Controller.

Ron’s running on his record and qualifications. When we discuss below things we’ve done, it’s both of us, but also 39 other people in the office. We’re blessed with an outstanding team of professionals led by talented managers.

CARSON CITY — Three quarters of Nevada adults attended a cultural event in the past year and an equal percentage believe the arts improves the quality of life in their communities, according to the poll “Americans Speak Out About the Arts in 2018.”

Question 6 in the coming election asks whether Nevada’s Constitution shall be amended to require that, beginning in 2022, all Nevada sellers of retail electricity increase the amount of “renewable” energy resources they use so that at least 50 percent of their electricity comes from those resources by 2030.

We have long supported increasing diversity in energy supplies via economic development of renewables. But the mandates proposed by Question 6 are a big mistake and we strongly counsel voting against it.

CARSON CITY — Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has proclaimed Oct. 2-5, 2018 the “Week of Respect.” In tow with the proclamation, the Carson City School District’s superintendent has made a Pledge of Achievement to ensure consistent implementation of anti-bullying programs and practices in all schools and work environments.

Money, it’s gotta be shoes! It was thirty years ago that Mars Blackmon, Michael Jordan’s famed fanboy played by Spike Lee in the legendary Nike Air Jordan commercials, opined that it was the shoes that made the man.

Tax Code Section 195 covers when a business begins and when the expenses are deductible. Mr. H. Samadi claimed business driving expenses in 2013 and 2014 in his “real estate sales” business.

Democrats have hit a new low. Beyond Antifa. Beyond plain socialism. Beyond the Clinton lies and corruption. Beyond any reason and decency.

They dug up and then hid an accusation that Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh was involved in sexual misconduct when he was in high school.

Not a series of continuing transgressions. Not an incident ten years ago, or from law school, or from his undergraduate college days. But in high school.

We guess they couldn’t find the girl with whom Kavanaugh played “post office” in kindergarten.

Nevadans, prepare yourselves for lower utility bills. And thank tax cuts for the drop. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Energy Institute, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — passed and signed last year — will save Nevada investor-owned utility residential ratepayers an average of $200 per customer over the next five years.

I had already written out this morning's column ahead of time when I learned of U.S. Sen. John McCain's passing.

His death has changed the course of my day, because now I am writing to remember the man who earned the media moniker of "Maverick," and the reputation of someone who usually went his own way.

I told myself some time ago that I would not infuse my columns with politics, so I will tread lightly here to (marginally) "walk the line," as Johnny Cash once sang.

Several years ago, the movie comedy “Man of the Year”, starring the late Robin Williams, was based on a strange premise. His character, a comedian on the presidential ballot in just enough states to carry a majority of the Electoral College, was elected president via a computer flaw.

In case you are wondering just how great the economy is doing, look no further than job creation.

Since President Trump took office, more than four million jobs have been created, with over 157,000 jobs being added in July alone. Essentially, if you want a job, you get a job, which is refreshing news for hardworking Americans across the country.

Primary and secondary education (K-12) has been the second fastest growing category of Nevada state spending over the past decade, rising from $1.24-billion in fiscal year 2006 (FY06) to $2.22-billion in FY17. It grew 33 percent faster than the incomes of Nevada families and businesses.

Why would someone write an article on buying versus renting a home? What’s in it for the author of the article?
Why would you read one?

What is it you want to hear? Do you just want confirmation and justification for what you already believe and want to do? Or, are you looking to be convinced otherwise?

These are all good questions to ask yourself if you find yourself reading an article on whether it makes more sense to buy a home, or rent a house.

There are “reasons” to buy, and “reasons” to rent.

Recently, we explained why U.S. Appeals Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh is probably the best person President Donald Trump could have picked for the upcoming Supreme Court opening.

We noted his outstanding record as a lawyer and appellate judge and reviewed his glowing recommendations from legal scholars and colleagues. He’s a good and decent man with outstanding credentials and judicial temperament.

With a thoughtful and succinct speech Monday, President Donald Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh to succeed retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. With the most experience of the people Trump considered and a stellar textualist and originalist record, he was considered by many as the front runner for the nomination.

Health and Social Services (HSS) has been the fastest-growing category of state expenditures since Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10). Nevada spent $5.5 billion on these services in FY17, up from $2.2 billion in FY06.

Much of this spending is financed through federal grants for Medicaid, food stamps and other welfare programs. As Nevada spends money on these programs, it gets some reimbursement from the federal government. However, the reimbursements do not compensate Nevada fully for all expenditures, and certain programs such as Medicaid require a matching state commitment.

This month, California Governor Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown signed probably the most restrictive water consumption law in the country. Under the new statute, starting in 2022 every California man, woman and child will be restricted to 55 gallons of water use per day. For a family of four, that’s 220 gallons per day.

The penalties for using more water than your allocation under this newest socialist Democrat program? Between $1,000 and $10,000 per day.

There's a reason why we celebrate moms and dads on different days of the year. Their love, though measured the same, is expressed differently.

Today I'm going to tell you the story of a mother's love.

UPDATE FRIDAY: The Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education voted Friday to name Dr. Vincent R. Solis as the next president of Western Nevada College effective July 1. Go here for the updated story.
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CARSON CITY — The Western Nevada College President Search Committee voted today to recommend Dr. Vincent R. Solis as the next president of the College. Dr. Solis is currently the Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Services at Laredo Community College in Laredo, Texas.

Edwin Lyngar, a freelance writer, penned a “From the Left” piece this week in the Reno paper under the headline, “Trump’s tax policy is an attack on the community”. He hit the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), President Trump and all Republicans and limited government conservatives.

We say “hit” because it was the usual leftwing label-and-bash fest, long on nasty rhetoric and not only devoid of evidence, but in fact contrary to well known facts and data.

His opening sentence calls the TCJA, “terrible … and a massive redistribution of wealth to the already super-rich.”

I used to say, “expectations are pre-meditated resentments.” I used to try to stop myself from having expectations, of myself, others, and outcomes. Every time I tried to stop myself, I waged a private war in my head. What I didn’t realize at the time is that I needed to stop communicating with myself so much and start communicating with others.

Expired contracts of professionals operating Adams Hub, a business and entrepreneurial innovation incubator in downtown Carson City, has prompted the Hop and Mae Adams Foundation (HMAF) to approach the municipality of Carson City with a partnership proposal that includes grant funds to take the local incubator to its next phase, an HMAF press release stated.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-02) released the following statement Friday after Congress successfully passed the Bipartisan Budget Act, a two-year budget agreement that invests in our nation’s military, infrastructure, and health care programs:

UPDATE: After voting in December to come up with a plan, the Nevada Department of Agriculture released a request for proposals Tuesday to identify a new owner of the Virginia Range estray horses.