DA nepotism allegations, a facial recognition lawsuit update and the downtown policing controversy

This week's This Is Reno podcast covers a range of Reno and Washoe County news, from a whip craft art exhibit at the Holland Project to local political and legal developments. 

Hosts Bob Conrad and Kristen Hackbarth discuss the Washoe Republicans' decision to endorse primary candidates despite criticism, a months-long investigation into alleged nepotism in the Washoe County District Attorney's office and a federal lawsuit filed by former interim Registrar of Voters Carrie Ann Burgess alleging retaliation. 

🎨 "Whip Craft" exhibit and Reno’s whip ban
A new exhibit called "Whip Craft" has opened at the Holland Project, highlighting the art and craft of whip making. Reno has a whip ban in place, but incidents of whip cracking continue, including one observed recently near the Wells Avenue bridge. 

🏛️ Washoe Republicans and primary endorsements
Commissioner Mike Clark raised concerns that the Washoe County Republican Central Committee — roughly 120 members out of approximately 100,000 registered Republicans in the county — voted to endorse candidates in primary elections, a practice both Clark and the national group Red Move discourage. 

⚖️ DA's office nepotism investigation
Bob details a months-long investigation into alleged nepotism in the Washoe County District Attorney's office. The series centers on DA Chris Hicks and his wife, Nicole Hicks, who was promoted to a chief deputy position in December 2024, placing her in a direct reporting line under her husband. 

📋 Carrie Ann Burgess lawsuit
Former interim Washoe County Registrar of Voters Carrie Ann Burgess has filed a federal lawsuit alleging retaliation and discrimination after she was terminated the day after the county appointed a permanent replacement. Burgess's legal team has moved to disqualify the DA's office, noting it previously represented her in a related matter.

🤖 Facial recognition false arrest lawsuit update
A federal judge dismissed the false arrest claim in the Jason Killinger lawsuit against a Reno police officer, finding no legal precedent establishing that a facial recognition-based arrest is unlawful. However, the judge allowed a municipal liability claim to proceed, and the city of Reno is now a defendant in the case. 

🚔 Downtown policing and redevelopment funds
Mayor Hilary Schieve has pushed to use Reno Redevelopment Agency funds to pay for downtown policing, despite legal analysis indicating that use would likely conflict with state law governing how redevelopment funds may be spent. A proposed workaround involves splitting Assistant City Manager Ashley Turney's salary between city and RDA funds and charging police time spent on blight-related calls to RDA accounts. 

📹 Re-Secure program and surveillance concerns
The city is preparing to introduce a pilot program called Re-Secure, which would offer grants of up to $5,000 to properties in redevelopment areas to upgrade security infrastructure such as cameras. Any cameras installed must be approved by the Reno Police Department and integrated into the FUSUS surveillance system. 

📰 AI in journalism and reader support
We close by discussing the role of AI in This Is Reno reporting, noting it is used to assist with writing community information pieces but does not replace original reporting. We mention the tension between paywalls and accessibility, arguing that direct reader support reduces reliance on advertisers and potential conflicts of interest. 

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