Trump’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities is part of his Economic strategy to make the rich richer at the cost of lives and economic sustainability for everyone else.
After Netanyahu dog-walked Trump into illegally dropping bombs on Iran’s nuclear facilities, we must dismiss his allegations of a total distribution of Iran’s atomic ability; he has delayed but accelerated their ability to make at least low-yield nuclear weapons.
While it is unlikely, but possible, that Trump has committed us to a full-out nuclear or conventional war, what he has essentially done is strengthen Russia and China’s ties to join with Iraq in taking economic actions against the US, in addition to supporting their proxies (primarily Shiite militants) in terrorist activities both abroad and on US soil, thus creating a need for more military-industrial complex spending.
Fighting terrorism is an economic gain for the military-industrial complex, and Trump spent over $22 billion on conflicts in the Middle East over the past year, including military aid to Israel and American operations in the region.
However, other Presidents have also contributed to the total cost of the US global war on terror, which stands at $8 trillion in taxpayer funding and 900,000 deaths.
Regardless, Trump’s 2026 federal budget proposes cuts to domestic programs and a 13% increase in military spending, including $127 billion for a virtually useless missile defense system (Golden Dome).
Both Israel and Iran have a range of missiles capable of reaching each other. However, the US stands uniquely apart from such a threat, unless, of course, Mexico and Canada perceive Trump as a military threat.
Even if such a threat exists, at best, a multi-layered missile defense system would have a 50% interception success rate, which could cost anywhere from $430 billion to $5.3 trillion, prompting experts to question whether the system is worth the cost.
And because of Trump’s antagonism and meritless Tariff actions against Western Allies, it is highly questionable whether NATO, under Article 5, would aid the US in combating terrorism, essentially arguing that the Article only applies to an armed attack, leaving the US to bear the problem alone.
All in all, US citizens can now look forward to massive defense spending, a lower gross national product, and higher death tolls for military members and citizens alike.
“The water of all sources of water supply within the boundaries of the State, whether above or beneath the surface of the ground, belongs to the public.” Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 533.025
On June 3, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo signed into law Nevada Assembly Bill 104 (AB 104), which strengthens the authority of the Nevada Water Engineer to address groundwater over-appropriations.
The bipartisan-supported legislation provides current Nevada Water Engineer Adam Sullivan with additional regulatory power to address the issue.
There is nothing new about the demand-appropriation problem. On January 30, 2018, during a Nevada Water Law Summit, then-Nevada Water Engineer Jason King referred to over-appropriations. He said, “Most (Basins) was already over-appropriated before establishing the perennial yield.” He noted, “Popular thinking suggested that not all rights would be put to their maximum beneficial use, so it was acceptable to over‐appropriate.”
Then, on June 29, 2018, King told the Legislative Committee on Public Lands that: “The goal is not to allow the consumptive use of Groundwater rights and domestic wells; to exceed the basin’s perennial yield.”
However, in 2020, Tim Wilson (replaced by Sullivan), who replaced King, stated that the Nevada Water Law does not mandate calculating the perennial yield for water rights administration.
To illustrate the issue, consider Mesquite, Nevada, which has a groundwater perennial yield of 3,600 acre-feet annually from its Basin (222).
In 1990, Mesquite had a population of 1,960 and an annual groundwater use rate of 811 acre-feet per year. The population reached 24,232 in 2024, with an anticipated growth rate of 3.08%. In 2020, the groundwater use rate was 7,137 acre-feet annually, nearly twice (1.98) the perennial yield.
Nevertheless, on September 18, 2012, King informed the Virgin Valley Water District Board members —Karl Gustaveson, Ted Miller, Sandra Ramaker, Kenyon Leavitt, and Richard Bowler — that the Water Engineers had permitted [over permitted]12,000 acre-feet per year (AFY) for underground use by the Water District from Basin 222.
During the same meeting, Mike Moran from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Henderson, NV, suggested a water budget that would account for all surface and Groundwater for $972,544, with the cost split between the USGS and the water district, starting in 2014 over five years. The effort never materialized.
Then, on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, Micheline Fairbank, the former Deputy Director of Nevada’s Division of Water Resources, appeared before Mesquite Mayor Allan S. Litman, Council members Wes Boger, Karen Dutkowski (Called In), George Gault, Sandra Ramaker, and Brian Wursten.
She told the Council that Nevada water law (NRS 533.024) requires the State Water Engineer to prepare a “water budget” for Groundwater and must manage water resources “conjunctively” with all sources of surface water.
Ms. Fairbank also informed the Council that 2019 legislation, SB150, requires county or city governments to develop an all-source water resource plan. She also addressed the issue of conjunctive (all-source) studies.
She said that historically, the Division of Water Resources managed surface and underground Water separately. Nonetheless, she confirmed that the Water Engineer was required to prepare a “water budget” and manage water resources conjunctively. She acknowledged that the Water Engineer did have a conjunctive water model but lacked the financial resources to implement it locally.
As with the USGS water budget proposal, this effort likewise never received funding from either the City Council or the Water Board.
The 2025 legislation, if enforced: • Requires the State Engineer to retire certain groundwater rights: This means the State Engineer can permanently remove some water rights from use, especially in over-appropriated basins. • Revises provisions relating to temporary permits for Groundwater: AB 104 updates the process for issuing or managing temporary groundwater permits, likely tightening rules to prevent further overuse. • Creates the Nevada Conservation and Recreation Program: This new initiative provides grants to state agencies and local governments to protect natural resources, including Water and wildlife. • Creates the Account for Retiring Water Rights: This is a dedicated fund for purchasing and retiring water rights from willing sellers. It’s part of a broader effort to reduce groundwater withdrawals and stabilize aquifers. • Establishes the Nevada Voluntary Water Rights Retirement Program: This program enables water rights holders to sell their publicly owned but appropriated rights to the state.
The bill also includes provisions to prevent the reappropriation of retired water rights, thereby securing long-term water sustainability.
Retiring overappropriated water rights is ambitious at best and impossible to enforce in areas such as Mesquite, where demand continually exceeds the Basin’s perennial groundwater yield.
Without an objective, all-source water budget from the USGS, along with a plan to reduce demand from excessive growth to water budgeted levels, the economic future of Mesquite remains questionable.
Legislation Will Expand Local Control, Diversify Economy & Increase Economic Growth in North Las Vegas
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) released the following statement today as the U.S. Senate passed legislation he previously passed unanimously out of the House of Representatives: The Apex Area Technical Corrections Act.
Rep. Horsford authored the legislation to allow Clark County to acquire certain federal land (referred to as the Apex Site). The legislation now moves to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
“I’m thrilled to see the U.S. Senate advance legislation that is critical for my constituents and community in North Las Vegas,” Rep. Horsford said. “This vote will help solidify our community’s autonomy in making critical investments without unnecessary hurdles from Washington. Local control of the Apex Site means more jobs, more industries, and more economic growth for our community.”
Under Rep. Horsford’s legislation, the City of North Las Vegas would no longer need approval from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to further develop existing electric power, water, natural gas, telephone, railroad, and highway facilities on the Apex Site.
More information about Rep. Horsford’s Apex Area Technical Corrections Act is available here.
Video of Rep. Horsford speaking on the Apex Area Technical Corrections Act is available here.
“He that filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him And makes me poor indeed.” (Shakespeare’s Othello)
Three and a half years into a defamation and wrongful termination civil suit, on May 27, 2025, former City of Mesquite, NV Police Chief Joseph MaQuade Chesley and his wife sat quietly behind his attorney as Clark County, Nevada District Judge Timothy Williams in referring to continued discovery delays told the City defense attorney:
“I would have expected better from a municipality, the City of Mesquite. “I have not seen anything like this coming from the city government. I find that shocking.”
Defamation
Chesley and his wife, Shayla May, are defending themselves against the aftermath of what his attorney, Phillip Trenchak, described as unsubstantiated:
“Sustained, vicious series of attacks involved the dissemination of false and defamatory statements of a criminal sexual nature by Mesquite’s former City Attorney Bob Sweetin.”[i]
In a September 2023 civil suit against The City of Mesquite, Aaron Baker, Robert Sweetin, Davison Van Cleve PC [Sweetin’s law firm], and various unnamed individuals, Trenchak outlined the serious nature of defamation against the Chesleys.
Trenchak pointed to the extreme economic and emotional harm, headaches, sleeplessness, and various physical and mental distress imposed on his clients by the defendants, adding that such emotional distress impacted Shayla Chesley’s ability to conceive and required fertility treatment.
The attorney added that the serious nature of the allegations impacted Chesley’s ability to continue his career since Sweetin’s unsubstantiated charges portraying him as a sexual deviant called into question his professional and personal conduct, seeking to impugn his reputation and standing in the community.
2007: Chesley hired
On June 18, 2007, Joseph MaQuade Chesleyleft the St. George, Utah, Police Department to join the Mesquite Police Department. He first served under then-Police Chief Doug Law and later under Troy Tanner, who replaced Law upon his retirement.
2014 Sweetin rose to City Attorney
In January 2014, Mayor Allan Litman, Council members W.Geno Withelder, George Rapson, Kraig Hafen, Rich Green, and Cynthia’ Cindi’ Delaney promoted Deputy City Attorney Robert Sweetin to replace
Retiring city attorney Cheryl Hunt. Sweetin moved quickly to eliminate the deputy position and consolidate legal power for the City.
2014 Chesley-Sweetin Business Partnership
In late August 2014, the Chesley brothers, MaQuade, MaClinn, and MaKay, entered into a partnership with Courtney Sweetin, Robert Sweetin’s wife, to open “The Splash Pad” in Mesquite, serving snow cones, drinks, cookies, and other refreshments. According to Courtney Sweetin, her family has been friends with Chesley’s since moving to Mesquite. [ii]
2017 The Tobler Case
While not directly involved in the Chesley issue, Sweetin’s handling of the Tobler Case raised concerns.
In 2017, 16-year-old Kylie Tobler of Mesquite met 19-year-old Broc Smith, which eventually led to a relationship during which Tobler claimed Smith sexually assaulted her, after which her father, Shawn Tobler, a member of the Mesquite Fire Department decided to press criminal charges. According to Tobler, he met with the Chief of Police Tanner, after which Tanner agreed to send the case to Sweetin.
The resulting court proceeding ended with Smith pleading guilty to a charge of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor and a Temporary Protective Order forbidding Smith from having any further contact with Tobler until she reached 18.
2019, Chesley became the Chief, and Baker became the City Manager.
Following Tanner’s retirement, Mesquite Mayor Litman and City Council members Annie Black, George Gault, George Rapson, Brian Wursten, and Sandra Ramaker met on Tuesday, February 12, 2019. They appointed Chesley as the new Chief of Police.
When appointed, City Manager Andy Barton said that Chesley had the respect of the men and women throughout the department and that “he will do an excellent job as chief.” [iii]
However, following Chesley’s appointment, Sweetin, in referring to the police officers attesting to Chesley’s hearing during the appointment meeting, sent text messages to police officers under Chesley’s command which read: “Kiss ass” and “Were you guys threatened with your jobs? Adding that, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a turnout like this for an appointment.”
Shortly thereafter, Barton retired, and Litman recommended that Deputy City Manager and long-time employee Aaron Baker replace him. Council members Gault, Rapson, and Wursten agreed.
However, Councilwoman Ramaker supported the appointment of Christian Clegg, the Deputy City Manager of Stockton, California, whom a hiring committee had interviewed as part of a replacement search after learning that Barton would retire.
2020 Sweetin vs. Litman and Chesley meets with Baker
In 2020, Sweetin filed to run against Litman for the Mayor’s position. In reporting his source of income besides the City Attorney position, Sweetin’s ownership interest is in the local Splash Pad, and he earns income as an attorney from Davison Van Cleve, LLC, while also serving as a counselor for the Small Business Development Corporation.
Among smaller donations, on June 15, 2020, Sweetin received $10,000 in contributions from Mesquite Gaming, LLC, and on August 26, 2020, Litman received $5,000 from the same source.
As the political rivalry between Sweetin and Litman continued, Chesley asked City Manager Baker to stop Sweetin’s attacks against him.
After that failed on September 24, 2020, Chesley filed a charge with the Director of Human Resources, which resulted in Mayor Litman, along with Council members Black, Gault, Rapson, Ramaker, and Wursten, contracting with Littler Mendelsohn to investigate the allegations made by Chesley against Sweetin. Littler Mendelsohn found that Chesley’s complaint against Sweetin was substantiated. [iv],[1]
2020 MPOA supports Litman
In September 2020, two MPD officers made claims of harassment against Sweetin, which were deemed legitimate. However, despite a recommendation for disciplinary action, none was taken.
Also in September, the Mesquite Police Officers Association (MPOA) [2] endorsed Litman. In a series of mailers, the association detailed the Tobler case and reported the belief that Sweetin abused his powers in prosecuting Smith years earlier.
The authors of the mailer said, “We believe this young man [referring to Broc Smith] was criminally charged [in the Tobler case] for an offense he should never have been charged with.”
2020 Litman retains Mayor Position
Litman retained his seat in the November 3, 2020, election with nearly 67 percent of the vote, or 6,271 votes, vs. 3,098 votes for Sweetin.
Robison reported that the letter criticized Sweetin in several areas where the MPOA membership had disagreed with Sweetin over the years. Robison wrote that the letter sparked a community political battle that became emotional, bitter, and contentious over the final four weeks leading up to the election.
2020 Sweetin fired
Shortly after being reelected as Mayor on December 8, 2020, Litman, along with Council members Wes Boger (who replaced George Rapson), Gault, Ramaker, and Wursten, held a special meeting to consider Sweetin’s retention.
After hearing pro and con comments about Sweetin, Wursten moved to retain Sweetin as the City Attorney. The motion went without a second, followed by a motion by Councilwoman Ramaker to terminate Sweetin without cause. Councilman Gault seconded the motion, which passed with Mayor Litman and Councilman Boger joining Ramaker and Gault. Wursten, of course, voted against the termination. [vi]
Simultaneously, Ramaker, Gault, and Boger agreed to terminate the retainer agreement with Sweetin’s Law Firm, Davison Van Cleve PC, with Wursten opposing.
2021 Rumors and Lawsuit
In the meantime, the unsubstantiated allegations against Chesley continued as rumors.
In April 2021, Barbara Ellestad reported on her local news website, [Mesquite Citizens Journal (MCJ) (now closed) [3]], that an investigation by the Nevada Attorney General was underway into allegations of inappropriate conduct by Chesley.
Ellestad alleged that unnamed sources accused Chesley of authoring questionable texts, holding conversations, and exchanging photos with teenage girls in the community between 2015 and late 2019. Ellestad did not name sources or accusers in her MCJ article.
Chesley denied the accusation, and without substantiating evidence, Ellestad removed the article from her website.
On April 27, 2021, Mayor Litman, Council members Boger, and Karen Dutkowski (who in 2020 filled the vacated seat formerly held by Black, Gault, Ramaker, and Wursten (via Phone) held a council meeting during which they heard from individuals concerned about attacks against Chesley.
Amanda Adams addressed the anger she felt about the accusations against Chesley. She said she had worked with him at the Splash Pad and found him an exceptional, professional, and respectful boss. She said the working environment was like a family, and she never felt intimated or uncomfortable around him.
Tayler Mayer, who also worked with Chesley and his wife Shayla at the Splash Pad, joined Adams in commending Chesley for his thoughtfulness, polite, and courteous behavior.
Brooke Lee joined Adams and Mayer in appreciating Chesley’s professionalism while she worked at the Splash Pad as a high school student.
Mesquite police officers who worked with or knew Chesley spoke highly of his kindness and professionalism, not only during his tenure with the St. George Police Department before joining Mesquite but also as an Officer and Chief of the Mesquite Department.
Wyatt Oliver, a Mesquite Police Officer with a long-standing working relationship with Chesley, said there is nothing remotely factual in the allegations against the Chief. Oliver said that as an MPOA member, he was “sick and tired of the City Manager’s office bulldozing us in every aspect and everything we try to do.”
Others spoke on behalf of Chesley, including Rabbi Arthur Zuckerman, who reported on the number of times he had met with Chief Chesley, whom Zuckerman described as above reproach. Zuckerman added that ruining someone’s name is “the worst thing you can do to someone.”
Following the numerous accolades, Baker addressed the group. He informed them that he had received a complaint from a citizen and referred the issue to the Attorney General’s office for investigation.
A month later, on May 12, 2021, Baker resigned as Mesquite City Manager. According to Robison of the Mesa Valley Progress, poor relations between Baker and the Mesquite Police Officers Association (MPOA) boiled over when Ellestad published unsubstantiated allegations against Chesley.[vii]
Thirteen days later, on May 25, 2021, Mayor Litman addressed the issue of the Chesley rumors.
“There are a few in Mesquite that live by rumors and ignore the truth,” Litman told those attending the May 25, 2021 City Council Meeting.[viii]
“Rumors were spread about our Police Chief by some of those haters. I know these are harsh words, but this is the truth,” Litman said. “Let me dispel all these rumors once and for all,” he continued, adding, “What was ever alleged about our Police Chief MaQuade Chesley or even hinted about were always false, but the haters didn’t care, the fools that read those rumors and believed them were idiots.”
Litman went on, “If I offended some of those that I referred to, I meant to. The rumor mongers hoped to open a can of worms even though they knew there were no worms in the can.”
Litman further addressed the rumors by reading into the public record a May 18th letter to City Manager Aaron Baker from Attorney General (AG) Aaron Ford in which the AG said,
“Dear Mr. Baker, thank you for contacting the office of the Nevada Attorney General regarding your complaint. Since your communication with our office, your complaint has been forwarded and reviewed by our investigative unit. We conducted a preliminary investigation but found no evidence of any criminal violation. As such, we believe that this matter has been addressed at the appropriate levels within the law enforcement system. Accordingly, we have closed our investigation concerning your matter, and no criminal prosecution will be pursued.
Litman said that:
“This letter should put to rest the falsehoods that were alleged about our Chief forever. No one, and I mean no one, whitewashed anything”. He continued, “There was never anything to investigate, not in the past, not in the present, not ever, just rumors; they were not even firsthand or secondhand.
2021 Pack appointed City Attorney
During the October 12, 2021, City Council meeting, Mayor Al Litman nominated Bryan Pack as the City Attorney to replace Interim City Attorney Adam Anderson, who served since the termination of Sweetin. Councilmembers Boger, Dutkowski, George Gault, Ramaker, and Wursten agreed.
Before the appointment, Pack served on the Ivins, Utah Planning Commission for several years. He has also served as Assistant City Attorney for the City of St. George, Utah.
2021 Chesley goes to Court
Nine days later, on October 21, 2021, Chesley, through his attorney Phillip Trenchak, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada against the City of Mesquite, Ellestad, and Baker, alleging defamation, discrimination based on religion and sex, retaliation due to religion (LDS) and sex, and intentional negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Trenchak emphasized that: “Chesley didn’t want to sue his employer.”“He loves his job, and he loves working in Mesquite.”
However, Tranchak said the onslaught of attacks just kept going on, “So this was what we had to do to protect MaQuade and his family,” the attorney said.
In December, Ellestad filed a motion to dismiss all claims against her in the case. The motion cited a Nevada law preventing Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP). [4]
A week after Ellestad’s motion, Chesley’s attorney filed a separate motion to dismiss Ellestad, which Judge Anne R. Traum, a Biden appointment, granted but “without prejudice.” [5]
On January 27, attorney Marcus Lee, managing partner of the O’Hagan Meyer) and Inku Nam (of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, LLP), representing the City and Baker, filed a motion to dismiss the claims. The motion claims that even presuming all the allegations made by Plaintiff were true, there were “no actionable claims for discrimination or retaliation based on gender or religion, deprivation of civil liberty….or defamation.”
Furthermore, the defense attorneys asserted that Chesley has not shown any substantial burden on his Free Exercise Rights. The harms he alleges—a “destroyed” reputation at his church and consummate discomfort worshipping there—are subjective, and the Ninth Circuit is clear that “a subjective chilling effect on free exercise rights is not sufficient to constitute a substantial burden.”
2022 Jankowski as City Manager
During the July 12, 2022, Mesquite City Council meeting, council members Boger, Gault (via Phone), Ramaker, Brian Wursten, and Dutkowski. Ratified the appointment of Peter Jankowski as the City Manager to replace Andy Barton, who had returned to the City manager seat after the resignation of Baker
Additionally, during the meeting, Adam Leverenz, who frequently addresses the Council, discussed the City’s consideration and approval of contracts for its insurance renewals for fiscal years 2022 through 2023.
Leverenz informed those attending the council meeting that the Dixie Leavitt agency and the Travelers Companies, as insurers, provided seven types of liability insurance, including general liability, public entity management liability, and law enforcement liability.
Leverenz pointed to an estimated cost of $1,900,668 for fiscal years 2021 and 2022, with Premiums for the upcoming period for fiscal years 2022 through 2023. $1,126,186. He said he hoped that the coverage would address issues surrounding the Mesquite Police Department. Boger, Dutkowski, Gault (via Phone), Ramaker, and Wursten approved the insurance coverage.
2022 Elections
The November 3, 2022, elections resulted in the election of Paul Wanlass to replace Dutkowski, Karen Fielding to replace Ramaker, and Pattie Gallos to take the seat previously held by Gault. They joined Councilman Boger, Wursten, and Mayor Litman.
2023 Civil Rights Action dismissed, actions filed in district court.
On August 14, 2023, Judge Traum granted a motion, with prejudice, [6] to dismiss allegations of federal civil rights violations that she deemed unsubstantiated. However, the Judge declined to address potential state law violations which were beyond her Court’s jurisdiction. [ix]
Therefore, on September 23, 2023, Trenchak, along with co-counsels Victoria C. Beasley, took the Joseph and Shayla Chesley defamation case (A-23-877738-B) against the City of Mesquite, Aaron Baker, Robert Sweetin, Davison Van Cleve PC, and other unnamed individuals to the Nevada District Court. [x]
In addition to those named in the civil action, Trenchak reported that: “City Councilmen Brian Wursten was actively communicating with former disgraced City Attorney Robert Sweetin, which may or may not have been related to the dissemination of flyers further imputing Chesley of serious sexual criminal activity victimizing minors, which was documented as occurring as recently as April of 2023.”
Chesley’s attorney added that: “The former City Attorney’s dissemination of false criminal accusations, which were a key component in Robert Sweetin’s campaign to destroy the career and reputation of MaQuade Chesley, without a shred of evidence, continues. “
In an amended complaint filed on January 5, 2024, Tremchak added Wursten to the list of defendants.
In this case, Trenchak for the Chesley asks “For compensatory damages in the principal amount above fifteen thousand ($15,000) dollars to be proven at trial; For punitive damages in the principal amount in excess of fifteen thousand ($15,000) dollars to be proven at trial; For special damages in the principal amount in excess of fifteen thousand ($15,000) dollars to be proven at trial; For attorney’s fees and costs incurred; For all damages in an amount to be proved at trial; For costs of suit herein incurred; For reasonable interest on amounts due; and any such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.”
This move by Chesley and their attorneys had the immediate impact of increasing Pack’s workload while also raising the cost of litigation, as represented by Travelers Insurance and the O’Hagan Law firm, in the dispute involving the City, Baker, and Wursten. At the same time, Laura, Elizabeth Rios, from Kemp Jones LLP, defended Sweetin and his Davison, Va., Cleve law firm in litigating issues.
As a practical matter, continuing the disputes in the legal system brought forth a series of costly complaints, amendments, summons, affidavits, numerous motions, default judgments, rule compliance hearings and conferences, stipulation oppositions, orders, and notices, all of which potentially lead to a trial set for September 8, 2026.
Table 1 Defense firms in Chesley case.
2024 Mesquite administrative shakeup
On February 20, 2024, Mesquite City Manager Peter Jankowski presented a letter of resignation to Mayor Litman, effective immediately.
Two months later, in April, Bryan Pack left his position as the City of Mesquite’s City attorney to return to Ivins as their city attorney.
Two months later, on June 25, 2024, Edward O. Dickie III was sworn in the City Council Chambers.
Then, on July 23, 2024, the Council appointed Michael Branum to fill Pack’s position. Branum has served as Deputy City Attorney for the City of Mesquite since October 2022.
2024 Mesquite Council rejects settlement
On October 18, 2024, the Mesquite City Council held a special meeting to consider a settlement-mediation offer in Chesley’s litigation against the City, former City Attorney Sweetin, former City Manager Baker, City Councilman Wursten, and others.
In attendance was Mayor Pro Tem Gallo, who chaired the session in the absence of Mayor Litman. Council members Wursten, Boger, Fielding, and Wanlass (via Phone). Dickie and Branum also attended.
Daniel Miller, during public comments, asked why Wursten, a litigant in the case, did not recuse himself from voting on the issue. Gallo agreed that Wursten should recuse.
Mike Benham asked the Council to “do the right thing. Settle it and move on,” adding, “We have had enough of this adding that we are taxpayers here, we put you guys up to do the job, get it settled.”
Boger agreed, pointing to payments to the insurance company totaling $78,000, with another fee of $25,000 due in June, for which the insurance company would cover the representation of Wursten and Baker. “Everyone knows,” Boger said. “This is just leftover stuff from the 2020 (Sweetin vs Litman) Mayoral race.”
Boger motioned to accept the offer, with judgment contingent upon the insurance company’s payment [undetermined] of the claim. “If they do not,” he said, I propose mediation. Gallos seconded the motion.
Wursten said, “For me, for multiple reasons, we absolutely should not accept this offer, and I don’t believe we should go to mediation.”
With Boger and Gallo accepting, Wursten, Fielding, and Wanlass voted against the motion to accept the offer.
Boger, for the record, protested that the meeting should have been held in closed session “for doing more deliberating, not in a public forum.” Wursten agreed.
Boger motioned to go to mediation and not accept the offer of judgment. Gallo seconded the motion, but it failed with three votes against. [xi]
2024 City Council Elections
A month later, in the November 2024 election, Jesse E. Whipple defeated incumbent Al Litman, and Kevin Parris took the seat previously held by Wursten. Wanlass and Boger, despite their competition, retained their seats.
2024 MPOA no-confidence vote
In an apparent reversal of support in November 2024, Del Schlosser, the president of the Mesquite Police Officers’ Association (MPOA), stated that the Association had voted no confidence in Chesley.
Schlosser noted that Chesley had been retaliatory toward people “because of comments that they made or things that they’ve brought forward.”
He added, “There has been some hiring that is believed to be close friends, based on his comments that they were, it’s the perception that it was rushed through, if you will, in the hiring processes.”
Following the no-confidence vote, Dickie placed Chelsey on administrative leave.
2025 Chesley Termination Process
On Friday, January 10, 2025, Dickie sent an email to Chief Chesley, removing him from administrative leave based on conversations he allegedly had with the independent investigator tasked with investigating the multiple allegations of misconduct made against the Chief.
A few days later, on Wednesday, January 22 Dickie stated to Channel 8 NEWSNOW reporter James Schaeffer that he terminated Chief MaQuade Chesley on Tuesday.
Dickie said in the statement that “The city’s internal investigation into Chesley has been a topic of discussion during recent city council meetings, with officials fielding questions and concerns surrounding the police chief in recent months.“[xii]
On January 29, 2025, the City served Chesley’s counsel with a “Notice of Meeting to Consider Character, Misconduct, Competence, or Health” under NRS 241.033, scheduled for February 11, 2025.
A few days later, the City Council rescinded the notice pending a City Council scheduled for March 17, 2025.
In a widely distributed February recording, Dickie said, ‘Guys, I’m going down to Louisiana, I’m going back to the back parishes, and I’m going to find me a 6 foot 5 Black woman chief…'”
In another recording, he asserts he’ll bring back an “Aunt Jemima” should the need arise to replace then-Chief of Police Maquade Chesley. In a third recording made by Chesley, Dickie used the ‘N’ word.
2025 injunctive relief A-25-913815-C
On March 3, Chesley, through his Reno, Nevada attorney Ronald J. Dreher, Esq., filed a complaint against the City of Mesquite seeking declaratory relief and injunctive relief (A-25-913815-C), claiming that the City deprived him of any procedural protection by terminating him without notice or a hearing and failed to implement safeguard Chesley’s due process rights.
The lawsuit claims that the City acted in “bad faith” and violated NRS 289.057 by using a non-law enforcement agency during the investigations into Chesley’s alleged misconduct. It also claims that his termination was done at least in part due to the City’s “questionable, discriminatory and retaliatory employment practices.”
Chesley’s lawsuit also claimed that the City violated the terms of his contract by terminating him without cause, as he was not an at-will employee; “therefore, the termination process required a pre-termination hearing, a post-termination hearing, and a reasonable opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner.”
Chesley, through Dreher, also claims that his termination was done at least in part due to the City’s “questionable, discriminatory and retaliatory employment practices.”
2025 Chesley Hearing
On March 17, 2025, Mayor Whipple and Council members Gallo, Fielding, Wanlass, and Parrish heard arguments both for and against Chesley. [7]City Manager Dickie and City Attorney Branum also attended the meeting.
However, Councilwoman Gallo refrained from ratifying the meeting, arguing that, as a police officer, Chief Chesley had certain rights under the Peace Officers Bill of Rights (NRS 289), which the City ignored.
Councilwoman Gallo argued, among other things, that as a result of Branum’s poor advice, the legal entanglements will likely be costly.
Gallo said, “This all could have been avoided if we had proper and competent legal counsel, which we do not. The result now is that the City is in a ridiculously costly litigation that will cost us tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees.”
The Councilwoman continued: “That’s not the lawsuit; we will wind up paying and out, including the real strong opportunity that Chief Chesley is going to be very successful with this.”
I really would like not to be a part of any of this. I don’t blame Wes for leaving because this is not worth it, she added.
For his part, Branum said that Chesley, who was not present, “now has the opportunity to present information to the Council, which could be considered in closed session.”
Council member Parrish, despite numerous evidentiary and other hearings in three separate actions, wrongly argued that none of the evidence against former Chief Chesley had been presented to either Judge. Again, Parris wrongly said, “The only thing that has been argued is whether he should obtain an injunction to halt these proceedings.”
Former Mayor Litman told those attending the meeting that this meeting should not take place, as a Federal Judge had ruled that the City of Mesquite had violated NRS 289, along with allegations of an illegal investigation by the City Manager and City Attorney, which will be presented in Chesley’s state court litigation.
“The agenda item to consider the character, misconduct, competence, or physical or mental health of Chief Chesley should die with no second of the motion,” Litman said.
“Don’t go down the same rat hole as your two employees [Dickie and Branum} have done, Litman urged, adding that “I have followed the vilification of the Chief for approximately six years. When those who wanted him out failed, it started again with rumors, and those of the police union that have sided with the Chief and those who had sided with a handful of enemies who would stop at nothing to have him removed.”
“Let me remind you,” Litman added, “anyone commits no crime until formal charges have been brought up, and they have not. If the Chief committed a felony, why has he not been arrested, arraigned, and tried? The reason why? There was no crime.”
“Thankfully,” Litman concluded, “I am no longer here to serve you, and I can sleep peacefully at night, and I seriously wonder how most of you can.”
Councilwoman Fielding moved to ratify the termination of Chesley, with Wanlass adding the second. Parrish joined with the two, and the motion passed. Gallo abstained. [xiii]
2025 Dickie fired
During an April 22, 2025, City Council meeting, Councilwoman Gallo noted a string of “bad decisions” by Dickie, including firing Chesley at the behest of the local police union. “It’s time for this city to start healing,” she said before making the motion to terminate Dickie.
Council members Bill Ennis (who had replaced Boger) along with Wanlass, and Parrish agreed Councilwoman Fielding supported Dickie and blamed the public outcry to fire him on the individuals who recorded his comments,
Dickie’s February “racist” remarks, along with the handling of the termination of Chesley, played a part in the decision to terminate the city manager.
According to Bobbie Green, reporting for the Mesa Valley Progress, Dickie apologized for what he characterized as a poor choice of words and stated that he was not a racist.
Green, in her reporting, said that Council members stated this was a difficult decision to make since Dickie was well-liked, but the majority sided with termination for the sake of the City.
In addition, Green wrote that the City can’t have a city manager who speaks that way and that the City has already received too much negative publicity due to the handling of the Chesley termination.
Green noted that Chesley attended the council meeting and said, “Dickie should be held accountable for what he said.”
2025 Injunctive relief Hearing and order A-25-913815-C
On May 15, 2025, Clark County District Court Judge Nadia Krall heard Chesley’s declaratory and injunctive relief charge (A-25-913815-C) from March 3, regarding Chesley’s claim that the City terminated him without notice or a hearing, thereby violating his due process rights.
At that hearing, Dreher for Chesley made a motion for an order to Show Cause and a Motion for Attorney’s Fees and Costs.
Additionally, the Court heard Defendant City of Mesquite’s (“City”) Motion for Reconsideration of a previous Court’s Order (1) Granting a Restraining Order, a Motion for Preliminary Injunction, and a Motion to Enforce Injunction, and Defendant’s Amended Motion for Reconsideration of Court’s Order Granting Plaintiff’s Motion for Order to Show Cause.
Twelve days later, on May 27, the Mesquite City Council had scheduled, among other things, an action to consider City Attorney Michael Branum’s performance. He resigned before the hearing.
2025 Definition Case Default
On May 30th Trenchak for Chesley filed a motion in Chesley’s defamation case (A-23-877738-B) against the City of Mesquite, Aaron Baker, Robert Sweetin, Davison Van Cleve PC, and other unnamed individuals asking District Judge Timothy Williams to issue a default against the City of Mesquite, former city manager, Aaron Baker and former City Councilman Brian Wursten for “severe pernicious and continuous discover abuses under Nevada; s Civil Procedure ruling 37”.
Judge Williams expressed his concern that the litigation costs of Chesley’s civil cases against the City of Mesquite and other former employees impact his attorneys’ ability to represent him.
Moments later in the hour-long hearing, the Judge awarded attorney fees [without regard to recovery] to Chesley’s attorney.
In awarding attorney fees without regard to recovery, Judge Williams essentially signaled a belief that the City of Mesquite officials and the defense attorneys they represented maintained, without reasonable ground, various delaying actions to harass the attorneys in presenting Chesley’s case. 2005 order A-25-913815-C
Then, on June 3, Judge Krall granted the Plaintiff’s Motion for Order to Show Cause and Motion for Attorney’s Fees and Costs. Additionally, the Judge denied the Defendant’s Motion for Reconsideration of the Court’s Orders and previous motions.
Court Order
The Court granted the Plaintiff’s motion for an order to show cause and attorney’s fees.
The City of Mesquite and its attorneys were held in contempt for violating a court order.
The Court denied the defendant’s motions for reconsideration regarding previous orders.
Findings of Fact
The Plaintiff’s motion for attorney’s fees met the criteria established in Brunzell v. Golden Gate National Bank.
The City of Mesquite failed to respond to the Plaintiff’s motion within the allotted time.
The City violated a clear court order by holding a prohibited agenda item.
Conclusions of Law
The City of Mesquite, as a law enforcement agency, is required to comply with Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapter 289 regarding investigations of peace officers.
The Court found that the City acted in bad faith by fabricating criminal allegations against the Plaintiff.
The City was fined $500 for contempt and ordered to pay the Plaintiff’s legal fees.
2005 Interim Mesquite City Attorney.
Also, on June 3, the Mesquite City Council unanimously appointed Adam Anderson from Barney McKenna & Olmstead as the interim attorney for the City of Mesquite.
This is not the end.
To quote Churchill, “It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
Meanwhile, Judge Williams outlined the costly schedule for the continuation of the Joseph and Shayla Chesley defamation case (A-23-877738-B) against the City of Mesquite, Baker, Sweetin, Davison Van Cleve PC, and other unnamed individuals.
The schedule, which concludes with a Jury trial on September 8, 2026, includes a litany of Plaintiff motions essentially designed to compel the City of Mesquite and the insurance company’s defense attorneys to produce documents that will aid in presenting the case to a jury.
It is common for a defense to use such delaying strategies to prepare for trial, gather evidence, or explore potential weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
However, Judge Williams, in reviewing the delays from October 21, 2021, when Chesley, through his attorney Phillip Trenchak, filed the lawsuit, to May 27, 2025, when he told the defense that he expected “better from a municipality, the City of Mesquite, “I would have expected better from a municipality, the City of Mesquite. “I have not seen anything like this coming from the city government. I find that shocking.”
Potential plaintiff attorney fee awards (estimated in 2024 at more than $100,000) would mitigate the fiscal impact on the Chesleys.
Table 2 Litigation strategy to 2026
However, the defense strategy of delay, while enriching defense attorneys, may place a potential long-term burden on the Mesquite taxpayer.
It was former Mayor Al Litman who urged Mayor Whipple, Council members Gallo, Fielding, Wanlass, and Parrish, “Don’t go down the same rat hole as your two employees [Dickie and Branum} have done, and reminding them that, “anyone commits no crime until formal charges have been brought up, and they have not. If the Chief committed a felony, why has he not been arrested, arraigned, and tried? The reason why? There was no crime.”
While the damage to Joseph MaQuade Chesley’s career and his wife’s health is virtually irreversible, it remains for Mayor Whipple, Council members Gallo, Fielding, Wanlass, Ennis, and Parrish to heed Litman’s advice, accept the consequences of the City’s failures, and end the charade now rather than later.
Endnotes
[1] The City of Mesquite attempted to minimize the City’s involvement by explaining that the statements were not made in Mr. Sweetin’s official capacity as the former City Attorney. Therefore, they argue, the City Attorney cannot make a criminal allegation against another City Official, as just another ordinary civilian citizen.
[2] The MPOA is a separate organization apart from the Mesquite Police Department and not under the authority of the Police Chief.
[3] On May 13, 2021, the Mesquite Citizens’ Journal ceased operations.
[4] The anti-SLAPP statute aims to prevent lawsuits that would censor, intimidate, or silence critics by unnecessarily burdening them with the high cost of legal defense.
[5] “Without prejudice” means that a statement, communication, or action is made without affecting or waiving a legal right or claim.
[6] “With prejudice” means that a case is dismissed permanently and cannot be refiled.
[7] Councilman Boger had left the Council on March 3 for personal reasons.
[i] Joseph Maquade Chesley, Shayla Mae Chesley vs. City of Mesquite, Aaron Baker, Robert Sweetin, Davison Van ClevePC, Doe Individuals 1 through 300; and Rose Business or Governmental Entities 1 through 300, Case No. A-23-877738B, filed 9/13/2023 Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County, Nevada.
According to Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 533.025, all water sources in Nevada, above and below ground, are publicly owned. This principle underpins the State’s legal and ethical obligations to water management entities.
On April 24, 2025, Nevada Supreme Court Justice Lidia S. Stiglich, with Ron D. Parraguirre and Linda Marie Bell concurring, gave the Virgin Valley Water District Board (VVWDB) in Mesquite, Nevada, sole and absolute discretion to set the rental rate on irrigation water they delivered after January 1, 2020, and by default giving the same rate-setting authority to SNWA authorities to divert the Water to Lake Mead.
Public Ownership of Water in Nevada
The disputed publicly owned water was initially appropriated under the 1927 Virgin River Decree to Mesquite Irrigation Company (MIC) and Bunkerville Irrigation Company (BIC) stockholders for local area irrigation.
A Dying Irrigation Market
However, by the early ’90s, a dying dairy and agriculture market required rebuilding the community economy into a retirement area and tourist and gaming mecca, thus shifting the water demand from highly polluted Decreed water for declining irrigation to somewhat cleaner groundwater for rising domestic requirements.
As golf courses, gaming, and homeowner associations replaced irrigated lands, much of the undiverted Water flowed freely downstream to Lake Mead.
Virgin Valley Water District as stock brokers
In 1993, the Nevada Legislature established the Virgin Valley Water District (VVWD), requiring it to deliver better-quality groundwater from Virgin River Basin 222 for Mesquite-Bunkerville’s domestic needs.
Nonetheless, once formed, Decreed Water stockholders took control of the Virgin Valley Water District Board. They began acquiring Water at a baseline price of $900.00 per share for one MIC stock.
They argued that such share purchases of stocks were necessary for a future time when they would tax the rate holders to pay for the cleaning of the Water essential for domestic use.[1]
Thus began the Water Board’s practice of joining the Irrigation Companies as a leasing agent, effectively making the Water Board a stockbroker.
Raising Rates
As stockholders continued to dominate the Board, they increased the share price to $5,524.90 for a BIC stock in 1996, rising to $8,287.00 in 1997 with a MIC stock at $6,000. By 2005, stockholders on the water board had gifted $31,500 for BIC stock and $22,806 for MIC, a stock share.
Also, in 2005, the Southern Nevada Water Association entered the Virgin River market and paid $11,686,500.00 for 350 BIC water stocks at $33,390.00 per share.
In 2008, the VVWDB raised BIC stock price to $86,000 per share while establishing $65,000 as the per-share value for MIC stock shares. [2]
Also, in 2008, under a federally authorized contracting program, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) began using its public funds to pay Virgin River stockholders for unused irrigation water, arguably increasing the amount of Water flowing into Lake Mead.
In 2009, SNWA authorities purchased 1 BIC stock share at $80,056.23 and partially purchased 5 BIC shares for $400,281.15, amounting to $80,056.23 per share.
By 2010, the SNWA had moved to replace the VVWDB as a rate-setting stock broker by purchasing and leasing MIC and BIC stock shares to, on paper, show them reallocated from irrigation diversions in the Mesquite-Bunkerville areas as authorized under the 1927 Virgin River decree to flow into Lake Mead, thus servicing the beneficial use of SNWA customers in the Las Vegas Metropolitan area.
VVWD ended its activities due to potential profits from the SNWA reallocating program. By then, the VVWDB had spent $12,159,670.86 of ratepayer funds to acquire 549 stock shares they subleased (rented) (but did not deliver)[3] to local golf courses and occasionally to a local farm.
Legal dispute
In 2018, the owners of Paradise Canyon (DBA the Wolf Creek Golf Course) alleged that the members of the Virgin Valley Water District Board violated the covenant of good faith and fair dealing in raising their irrigation water rate from $250 to $1,115 per share an increase of 346%.
While the trial proceeded, on September 17, 2020, Nevada Supreme Court Justice Lidia S. Stiglich, who authored the Paradise Canyon Ruling, this time with Mark Gibbons, James William Hardesty, and Ellisa F. Cadish, ruled after oral arguments in the Walker Case, that the public trust doctrine does not permit reallocating water rights already adjudicated and settled under the doctrine of prior appropriation. Nonetheless, SNWA authorities continued applying VVWDB rate-setting standards to acquire and reallocate MIC and BIC stock shares to Lake Mead, a process arguably denied by Stiglich and other Justices in the Walker Case.
On June 5, 2023, the Jury concluded that when the owners of Paradise Canyon signed a contract with the VVWDB in June 2011, they had a justified expectation that the local market around the City of Mesquite on and after January 1, 2020, would exclude rates paid by The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) upon which the Water District claimed they based its increased price to $1,200 per share. The Jury then set a fair rate of leased irrigation shares at $300 and awarded the owners of Paradise Canyon $811,000 in damages.
Then, on April 24, 2025, Nevada Supreme Court Justice Lidia S. Stiglich, with Ron D. Parraguirre and Linda Marie Bell concurring, gave the Virgin Valley Water District Board (VVWDB) in Mesquite, Nevada, sole and absolute discretion to set the rental rate on irrigation water they delivered after January 1, 2020, and by default giving the same rate-setting authority to SNWA authorities to divert the Water to Lake Mead.
Questions of ethics, public Trust, and fiduciary responsibilities
The Justice Stiglich, Parraguirre, and Bell rulings suggest gifting $12,159,670.86 in public funds to those holding stocks in MIC and BIC through rate setting, which set the terms for SNWA to gift another $56,423,220.73 in public funds to the stockholders of MIC and BIC for a total of 68,582,891.59 funds for publically owned but not longer used appropriated irrigation water complies with fiduciary ethical requirements, as governed by the Nevada Commission on Ethics.
Further, the Justices seem to feel that contrary to the Walker ruling, the WVWDB has sole and absolute discretion to set rates that ultimately allow for reallocating appropriated water rights away from the Decreed area to benefit the population of the Las Vegas Metropolitan area.
Future options
If approved by the Wolf Creek Golf course owners, the attorneys for Paradise Canyon have several options. First, they can appeal to the entire Supreme Court for a review of the three Justices’ ruling.
Since the three judges remanded the case to the lower court, it could result in a new trial.
In either case, the potential may exist to define the VVWDB rate-setting strategy as a violation of the covenant of good faith, leading directly to SNWA’s question of purchasing and leasing of Decreed water for reappropriation to Lake Mead an explicit public trust and fiduciary violation as stated by Stiglich, and the other Justices in the Walker Case.
[1] Current plans project cleaning the Decreed river water for domestic use in 2035, continuing to 2061, for $60 million in capital expenses. The effort remains highly speculative for several reasons, including costs and overappropriation of surface water primarily by the Southern Nevada Water Authority.
[2] The difference between BIC and MIC stock shares comes from an assumption that more water comes from BIC shares thn from MIC shares.
[3] The VVWDB does not deliver the water; they profit from leasing (renting) stock shares paid for with ratepayer funds. Local delivery of that source comes via traditional ditches and pipes constructed by the Irrigation Companies.
On April 16th, four Western state Attorney Generals (AGs) met in Denver, Colorado, to hear a range of fears concerning Trump’s disastrous Make America Great Again (MAGA) strategy.
Colorado Attorney General Philip J. Weiser introduced his fellow AGs, including Nick Brown of Washington, Anne Lopez of Hawaii, and Aaron Ford of Nevada. He told a packed house of concerned citizens that “nobody is above the law” and that “we live under the rule of law, not the rule of whim.” [i]
AG Brown followed Weiser, telling those assembled that not one of Trump’s actions, including his orders, is the law. Things we worry about, he said, like education, transportation, and health, are under threat and require actions by federal, state, and local governments and the people to resist Trump’s drive towards oligarchy.
A speaker taking to the microphone expressed concerns about losing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds in Denver. She told the crowd that, in addition, hiring freezes were reducing farm support, impacting families with children, people with disabilities, and transgender individuals.
The four AGs heard about Trump’s reduction of housing eligibility. A speaker told the AGs that the historical focus on the needs of homeless adults meant providing “Housing First” across all elements of the homelessness response system.
However, Trump moved to criminalize homelessness by appointing Robert Marbut to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Marbut proposed the “Housing Fourth” approach to criminalize panhandling, banish homeless services to city outskirts, and treat food and shelter as privileges, thus following Trump’s agenda of criminalizing homelessness.
The AGs and those attending heard that Trump’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) approach denies life-saving programs to transgender individuals while forcing Businesses to drop DEI programs out of fear of Trump’s retaliatory nature.
Ola Kukoyi, the Executive Director of the Good Shepherd Organization, expressed her concerns about the acts of Immigration Enforcement to hinder free speech and their illegal deportation actions, which are creating a Constitutional Crisis leading to the end of fundamental human rights not seen since the Holocaust crisis.
When asked what they [AGs] are doing, AG Brown expressed his fear and that of his family, but said that none of that can match those fearing ICE snatching them off the streets. He pointed to Trump, Vance, Steven Miller, Kristi Noem, and Marco Rubio as lying. Brown said, “We cannot get used to it, even though we know it is going to happen,” adding, “We will continue to tell the truth, bring actions, and support people and organizations without a voice.” [ii]
The AGs heard concerns about Small business owners who depend on international cooperation feeling defeated, people going without homes, and a mental health crisis in the short and long term. They heard about Trump’s strategy to undermine transgender health needs.
The crowd and the AGs heard that the current federal administration emboldens a white national agenda while pushing bills to undermine fundamental human rights for millions, all of which require people to hold our federal government accountable to the law and increase awareness of these power abuses.
A speaker told of his friend who lived in a car with his wife and small child. Then, the Speaker said his friend got a job working in construction, but when two men attacked him, those assaulting him blamed him for the altercation, and ICE intervened, took his phone, and put him into custody while being denied legal help. Now, the Speaker said, the man’s wife and child are on the streets.
Continuing, the Speaker reminded the crowd that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to take people without due process under the guise of Christianity. The law is a social contract, the Speaker added, that when broken, fascism takes root. The Speaker said that’s where we are right now, then he asked, “Will anyone hold this administration accountable? The Speaker concluded by saying that we have no protection if we don’t do this right now.”
A Federal Firefighter Management Team member told those assembled that they had 44 teams last summer, reduced to 41 now, raising concerns about further drops. Trump has terminated 37% of the Forest Service firefighters, she said.
Of course, speakers raised concerns about the Supreme Court’s decision to return the authority to regulate or ban abortion to individual states, resulting in criminal penalties in many of the states.
[i] President George W. Bush created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2002. He formed the largest, most extensive spy and enforcement ring in our Nation’s history. Before its creation, intelligence gathering fell into two separate domains under the National Security Act of 1947, including 1: Defense Agencies and the CIA, and 2: Domestic (FBI). Under that umbrella, powerful national intelligence assets (for example, the National Security Agency) were, with rare and judicially approved exceptions, not available for use within the borders of the United States, primarily to ensure that Constitutional rights remained inviolable and enforceable.
With the formation of DHS came the consolidation and merging of data records (Including recently IRS records), helicopters, planes, drones, Predators, and, most importantly, fusion centers across the country, allowing local and federal law enforcement to collaborate on intelligence gathering and surveillance. The internet also provides a significant source of information for U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Federal agencies monitor social media platforms for investigations and threat identification. However, the internet can also be used for propaganda, misinformation, secret operations, and counterintelligence.
DHS has a workforce of 260,000 employees and 22 components, including the Transportation Security Agency (TSA, Customs and Border Protection, Cyber Security and Information Security Agency (CISA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Coast Guard, Secret Service, Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and the Science and Technology Directorate.
With a Budget of $52.2 billion, Congress confirmed Trump’s pick of Kristi Noem, former Governor of South Dakota, with experience staging phony political stunts, to head HHS in January 2025
Buried in the disturbing Trump news, along with Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo’s “F— you” message to anyone criticizing Republicans, lies assembly bill AB419 in the Nevada legislature. It is designed to give Vidler Water Company more power in advancing its portfolio of premium water rights in Nevada.
Vidler Water Holdings in Nevada. Source, Nevada Division of Water Resources, D. R. Horton.
The Assembly bill, primarily sponsored on behalf of the Vidler Corporation by Republicans Rich DeLong, Lisa Cole, and Bert Gurr, with Republican cosponsors Jill Dickman, and PK O’Neill, aims to reduce the discretion of the Nevada Water engineer, thereby creating a faster, but damaging, regulatory system more favorable to Vidler and its parent company, D.R. Horton, Inc.
In April 2002, D.R. Horton, Inc., the Arlington, Texas-based homebuilder, acquired the Vidler Water Company to advance its portfolio of premium water rights and other water-related assets in the southwestern United States. This covers markets where D.R. Horton operates that require water for development but lack adequate supply.
Vidler doesn’t deliver water to people or own any water treatment or desalination facilities. Instead, they profit by speculating on untapped water acquired from rural communities and marketed to developers and corporations in growth communities.[1]
Vidler has made 203 applications to the Nevada Water Engineer. Of those, 67.98 % have been abrogated (repealed), denied, protested or withdrawn. Of those, 2.96 % are ready for action (RFA) but delayed.
Vidler Water Applications. Source Nevada Water Engineer, April 13, 2025.
Passing the bill fast-tracks water rights approvals, thus reducing the number of carefully considered actions by water regulators unfavorable to Vidler and its parent company, D.R. Horton.
In addition, attempting to fast-track water applications increases the staff load necessary for the Division of Water Resources to carefully consider them, estimated at $10,146,271 this fiscal year and growing to $24,613,100 in future years (see Fiscal Notes).
Ackman likened Trump’s April 9 scheduled tariff launch to an economic nuclear war on every country in the world. Ackman argued that business investment will halt, consumers will close their wallets and pocketbooks, and we will severely damage our reputation with the rest of the world, which will take years and potentially decades to rehabilitate.
According to The Washington Post, Elon Musk, an investor in China’s market, held direct “private talks” with the President, hoping to convince him to scale back the measures.
Yesterday, Trump obeyed Ackman and put a 90-day pause into effect; he ignored Musk’s concerns and raised China’s tariffs to 125%.[i]
On Tuesday, in Las Vegas, DR. Stephen M. Miller, a University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) professor of economics, told Sky 3 News reporters that uncertainty drives everything while simultaneously warning of a potential tariff war with China and the possibility of stagflation, characterized by slow economic growth, relatively high unemployment, and rising prices.
[i] China is the world’s second-largest economy by nominal GDP and since 2016 has been the world’s largest economy when measured by purchasing power parity (PPP). Chinese companies invested 28.04 billion U.S. dollars into firms in the United States in 2023 when calculated on a historical-cost basis. That year, the total foreign direct investments in the U.S. were valued at approximately 5.39 trillion U.S. dollars.
In addition, Musk’s cutting National Park Service employees across the state, including more than a dozen at Nevada’s Lake Mead National Recreation (the ninth most-visited site in the country), has an economic impact of $358 million on Nevada’s economy. – Some of them were responsible for testing for toxicity levels in the water.
Musk’s DOGE is cutting an Indian Health Service center and Bureau of Indian Affairs location in Elko that provides primary care to over 11,000 patients from four Native colonies and three reservations.
And, of course, Musk is firing Forest Service workers who work to prevent and manage forest fires, increasing the risk of deadly wildfires.
