NevadaLabor.com: Breaking News & Bulletins 24-25

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Breaking News & then some—>

UPDATED on 10-9-2025 GMT

UPDATE: WORLDWIDE LEADER? ACT OF GOD OR JUST A GARDEN-VARIETY IMPOSSIBLE DREAMER? ALL OF THE ABOVE?
VERY POSSIBLY. Was Andrew Barbano the only advocate for an American pope? Google apparently says YES!
At minimum, the Barbwire stumped and broke Google trying to find out.
See for yourself. And please lemme know what you think.

Prayers answered: Pope Leo takes T-Rump head-on
Trashes iL Dittatore’s Signature Policy

Suggests that T-Rump administration isn’t as “pro-life” as president’s supporters seem to think.

Pope Leo Ramps Up His Trump Feud With Order to American Bishops
By Leigh Kimmins / Reuters via The Daily Beast 10-8-2025

Conservative Clergymachistae: "SANTA MERDA! SANCTUS CACAS! Mama Mia!"

Barbwire Pope Leo XIV Roundup
(Where were you last April?)

Make love, not war / 8-31-2025
Windy City Showdown: Pope Leo vs. the American Mad King/8-27-2025
Pray for deliverance from the dogs of war
ANGELS FOR AMERICA: Leo-14 & Lech Walesa for the good guys/6-18-2025
Confessions of an altar boy / 5-14-2025
Barbwire first in the world to call for an American pope—>
Let it Be: An American Pope Francis2
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 4-23-2025

WORLDWIDE LEADER? ACT OF GOD? JUST A GARDEN-VARIETY IMPOSSIBLE DREAMER?
ALL OF THE ABOVE? VERY POSSIBLY.
Was Andrew Barbano the only advocate for an American pope? Google apparently says YES!
At minimum, the Barbwire stumped and broke Google trying to find out. See for yourself.
And please lemme know what you think.

First We Take Manhattan
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 10-8-2025

Defrocking the dictator
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 10-1-2025

Where are the holy men?
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 9-24-2025

TRANSITIONS

Barbwire nominee Norman Cardoza, 95, inducted into Nevada Press Assn. Hall of Fame

BOXCARS!
Barbwire wins 12th Nevada Press Association award

Hi yo Silver 2025
3-12-2025
4-17-2024
4-3-2024

2024 honorees say goodbye

Guy Louis Rocha, 73, dies one year after hall of fame induction
Guy Louis Rocha 'Never knew a stranger'
By Siobhan McAndrew and Jason Hidalgo / Reno Gazette-Journal 9-19-2025

Saturday 9-27-2025 memorial service for Mary Highton-Foxton, 102
Widow of 2024 honoree Jake Highton

Requiescant in pace

The seasons, they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captives on the carousel of time
We can't go back, we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round in the Circle Game
— Joni Mitchell

Who will answer?
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 9-17-2025

FRIDAY 9-12-2025 —> STATEWIDE SOLIDARITY ALERT: MAGA moonhowler unelected Nevada System of Higher Education Regents are trying to kill union representation statewide. Hie thee to Nevada Faculty Alliance facilities in Reno, Elko and Las Vegas 9:00 a.m. PDT TODAY! Call (702) 530-4632. Tell them the Barbwire sent you.

1984 in 2025
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 9-10-2025

Cupcakes in CasinoLand
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 9-3-2025

Happy Labor Day!

RENO LABORFEST '25
LABOR DAY/Monday 9-1-2025/Idlewild Park on the Truckee River
Be there or be square!

Labor Day brings protests, picnics across Nevada & the nation
ThisIsReno.com 9-1-2025

Culinary Union Workers' Labor Day Rally celebrates 90 years of fighting and winning for Nevada working families
Labor Day in Las Vegas 2025

Trump Is Wiping Out Unions. Why Are They So Quiet?
By Erik Loomis / The New York Times / Labor Day 9-1-2025

Pope Leo demands end to ‘pandemic of arms’
By Michael Sainato / The Guardian/UK 8-31-2025

UPDATE: WORLDWIDE LEADER? ACT OF GOD OR JUST A GARDEN-VARIETY IMPOSSIBLE DREAMER? ALL OF THE ABOVE? VERY POSSIBLY. Was Andrew Barbano the only advocate for an American pope? Google apparently says YES! At minimum, the Barbwire stumped and broke Google trying to find out. See for yourself. And please lemme know what you think.

Windy City Showdown: Pope Leo vs. the American Mad King
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 8-27-2025

Lampoons & harpoons for poltroons, dragoons and buffoons
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 8-20-2025

Blame Nevada for T-Rump cancer
37th anniversary Barbwire
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 8-13-2025

The Confederacy has finally won the Civil War
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 8-6-2025 / Updated 8-10-2025 GMT

Nevada Press Assn. Hall of Fame
BREAKING NEWS—> 5 down, 3 to go
7-31-2025 Barbwire Winner
Congratulations to Barbwire nominee & Pulitzer Prize winner Norman Cardoza
Reno Gazette-Journal

Ignore the jesters and you fester
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 7-30-2025

Payback Time: Colbert to PBS
Never gonna happen? Neither was an American pope. See above.
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno
Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 7-23-2025

Guess what? 2-time Pulitzer winner Ann Telnaes went to Reno High School

Her 'toon the Bezos WaPost censored

Left: "Dead Puck" © 2025 Ann Telnaes
(Also a bit of a self-portrait)

Monsters of our own creation
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 7-16-2025

T-RUMP TRAVESTY TRILOGY HAT TRICK TRIPLE PLAY
Lisa Murkowski got publicly porked
And hit us with chops on July the 4th
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 7-9-2025

T-RUMP TRAVESTY TRILOGY PART DEUX
We become what we despise
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 7-2-2025

T-RUMP TRAVESTY TRILOGY PART 1
We don't need no stinking badges!
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 6-25-2025

LET LOOSE THE DOGS OF WAR

Dear Friends & Gentle Hearts:

6-22-2025 — I posted the following promo on LinkedIn and Facebook before the Persian Perversion. What the hell, we've been basically at war with Iran since 1953 and we are still looking for a 51st state, right? All we need is a congressional rubber stamp to legitimize this bastardized obscenity of a special military operation.

ANGELS OVER AMERICA
Pope Leo & President Lech Walesa
God knows we need lotsa help

Walesa starts U.S. tour in August, Leo14 already sold out Chicago White Sox stadium — via satellite! Read all about it at Barbwire.US

Barbwire by Barbano, the ONLY advocate for an American pope — immediately last April, long before the conclave. Proof positive posted at April 23 column.

Be well. Raise hell. Stay safe.

SOLIDARNOSC! Subscribe at BallotBoxing.US

Sometimes I regret my chutzpah when I occasionally guess right. I've said for months that when T-Rump saw his political support at home slipping, he'd start a war. an oft-successful ploy employed by his Russian mentor. So he did. (Maybe that's why they were on the phone so long a few days ago.)

There's only one thing left—> Remember when the Mad King said this in 2024 to the precious snowflakes looking for simple solutions: "Re-elect me and you'll never need another election."

More with the Barbwire this week. Working title: We Don't Need No Stinking Badges — or democracy. (Props to Humphrey Bogart and Alfonso Bedoya.)

We apparently need intervention from elsewhere (see below) as the nation feels "Helpless, Helpless, Helpless". (Props to Crosby, Stills Nash & Young.)

Where be our better angels?

ANGELS FOR AMERICA
Pope Leo-14 and President Lech Walesa for the good guys
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 6-18-2025

Pope Leo demands end to ‘pandemic of arms’
By Michael Sainato / The Guardian/UK 8-31-2025

That's great TV!
"It's interesting when people die" — Don Henley, "Dirty Laundry" 1982
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 6-11-2025 / Expansions in blue
Updated Friday the 13th 2025. Chainsaws optional. Don't tell Freddie Krueger.

ORPHANS OF THE STORM
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 6-4-2025

Never, ever forget that name
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 5-28-2025

GEORGE WENDT, 1948-2025

ADIOS, NORM. Beloved actor George Wendt, the most recognizable and entertaining face of the legendary Cheers TV series, died on May 20 at 76. May the great actor rest in peace and live forever in eternal reruns.

Alas and alack, the producers, who made countless millions off the series, never corrected a macabre error in the Emmy-winning opening sequence. The Barbwire first broke the story in 2018. View the gruesome insult to the memories of exploited young American workers and judge for yourself by clicking above..

BE THERE—>TGIF TRASH T-RUMP 2FER
FOR FDR & ARMED FORCES
Friday May 30 Statewide

Double down on demonstrations AND save gas! Just zip west on Vassar Street from the Reno SSA to the Reno VA

10:00 a.m. Reno—>Do something anti-social against Social Security slashes
Rally to Support Seniors and Social Security
Northern Nevada Friday, May 30 2025
10:00 a.m. Public sidewalk outside RENO Social Security Administration offices
1170 Harvard Way @ Vassar Street across from TV-4 / TV-11 and Reno Main Post Office 89502

IF YOU'RE IN GOMORRAH SOUTH
8:00 a.m. on public sidewalk outside Las Vegas Social Security Office
10416 S. Eastern Ave. [] Las Vegas, NV

PROTEST AGAINST T-RUMP AND MUSKATEL MOB BUDGET CUTS FOR VETS
INDIVISIBLE & UNION RALLY IN SUPPORT OF THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION

WHAT The American Federation of Government Employees (AGFE) Local 2152 and members of Indivisible Northern Nevada (INNV) will hold a rally to demonstrate their opposition to the Trump Administration’s planned cuts to the Veteran’s Administration and to fight to keep Reno’s local VA hospital open and fully staffed.

WHEN: Friday, May 30 from 11:30am – 1:30pm
WHERE: Reno Ioannis A. Lougaris Veterans Medical Center, 975 Kirman Ave.
(across the street from the hospital’s main entrance)

CONTACTS: Kimberly Carden indivisiblenorthernnevada@gmail.com
Dr. Jeanine Packham, AFGE Local 2152 afgelocal2152@gmail.com

Be well. Raise hell. / Esté bien. Haga infierno. (Pardon my Spanglish.)
être bien, élever l'enfer (Pardon my French.) Stammi bene. Scatenare l'inferno. (And Italian.)

Or, as they say in Poland, SOLIDARNOSC!

GET VAXX-JABBED AND STAY SAFE
no matter what twisted RFK the Lesser says!

What's in it for him?
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 5-21-2025

Appeals court allows Trump’s anti-union order to take effect
By Lindsay Whitehurst / Associated Press 5-19-2025

Confessions of an altar boy
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 5-14-2025

UPDATE: WORLDWIDE LEADER? ACT OF GOD OR JUST A GARDEN-VARIETY IMPOSSIBLE DREAMER? ALL OF THE ABOVE? VERY POSSIBLY. Was Andrew Barbano the only advocate for an American pope? Google apparently says YES! At minimum, the Barbwire stumped and broke Google trying to find out. See for yourself. And please lemme know what you think.

Pope Leo demands end to ‘pandemic of arms’
By Michael Sainato / The Guardian/UK 8-31-2025

Spring chickens and old buzzards
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 5-7-2025

MAYDAY! Black genocide tonight, Labor Day tomorrow

Uploaded c. 7:50 p.m. PDT 4-30-2025

Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts:

This one's personal. At 9:00p.m. PDT (like right now) in Northern Nevada/Eastern California, PBS TV-5 will air "Critical Condition: Health in Black America." It repeats tomorrow (MayDay) at 1:00a.m. and 2:00p.m. PDT. Finally, this coming Sunday, April 4 at 2:00p.m. PDT. Or online at PBS.org/

The show "traces the roots of systemic racism in our medical system." (Just websearch the play "The Death of Bessie Smith" which really sets the stage. Years after the great blues singer was allowed to die because deep south physicians would not treat her after an auto accident, a fan -- the legendary Janis Joplin -- bought a headstone for her burial site.)

I grew up in west Fresno, Calif., on the "black side of town." I didn't know until recently why the feds cut a freeway through my Italian immigrant family's neighborhood. The West Side was as multi-ethnic as you could get, so they cut off the brown side from the white side. White power abides.

The promo for NOVA showed a black person standing in front of an oil refinery. Old story, new treatment on PBS this week starting tonight. Check local listings. (Support your local station and fight the moonhowler defunding.)

MAYDAY: Thursday, May 1, Silver State organized labor and Washoe Democrats celebrate international Labor Day tomorrow, 5:30p.m. in front of the Bruce Thompson Federal Building at S. Virginia and LIBERTY streets in downtown Reno, Nevada.

Check NevadaLabor.com for coverage. Speaking of which, Nevada's premier labor website now takes you from the Holy of Holies to the Den of Iniquity.

See Barbwire by Barbano, starting with "Let it Be: An American Pope Francis2" (apparently only God can save the U.S. from the Mad King). This week, tune in for a plethora of Nevadian depredations against the little people, "Conniving Corruption Contortions, Conniptions & Contradictions"

¡Sí se puede!

Be well. Raise hell. Stay safe.

Andrew Quarantino Barbano
CesarChavezNevada.com
MississippiWestNV.org
NevadaLabor.com
Subscribe to Barbwire Confidential at BallotBoxing.US

CWA 9413/AFL-CIO

-30-

Conniving Corruption Contortions, Conniptions & Contradictions
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 4-30-2025

Let it Be: An American Pope Francis2
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 4-23-2025

UPDATE: WORLDWIDE LEADER? ACT OF GOD OR JUST A GARDEN-VARIETY IMPOSSIBLE DREAMER? ALL OF THE ABOVE? VERY POSSIBLY. Was Andrew Barbano the only advocate for an American pope? Google apparently says YES! At minimum, the Barbwire stumped and broke Google trying to find out. See for yourself. And please lemme know what you think.

Pope Leo demands end to ‘pandemic of arms’
By Michael Sainato / The Guardian/UK 8-31-2025

FROM DOGE TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE?

PBS: NLRB whistleblower says key files stolen, nuked and possibly passed to Russians
PBS NewsHour video & transcript / 4-16-2025

NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO: Top House Democrat says malfeasance
NPR 4-15-2025

Twin terrorists run tax-paid American gulag
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 4-16-2025

CWA 9413 PRESIDENT: Don't miss once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make sure every home and business has access to true high-speed internet service.

LEGISLATIVE ALARM

Sen. Dina Neal needs our support of Senate Bill 391. ACT NOW to help Nevada tenants by capping predatory Wall Street speculation

On her first day back on the job!

On 2025-04-09 05:19, Sen. Dina Neal wrote:

Hello. I would like your support to call in or physically testify on this bill, please. This bill limits corporate investors buying up property in Nevada.

Wednesday Date: April 9, 2025 Start Time: 1 p.m. Room 1214 of the Legislative Building, 401 South Carson Street, Carson City, NV.

Videoconferenced to Room 6 of the Nevada Legislature Hearing Rooms, 7120 Amigo Street, Las Vegas, NV. Room: 1214

Call-in information
To provide public comment or testimony telephonically, dial (888) 475-4499 on the date of the meeting.

When prompted, provide Meeting ID 88399534749 and then press #. When prompted for a Participant ID, press #.

Call (775) 684-1300 for assistance.

MORE USEFUL INFORMATION

Please submit all documents in support of your testimony to this email address: SenJUD@sen.state.nv.us

Bill text and info
https://legiscan.com/NV/bill/SB391/2025

WATCH ON SENATE WEBSITE (Closed captioning available)
https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00324/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20250409/-1/?fk=15962&viewmode=1

WATCH ON YOUTUBE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZQDmWPx1Ww

We are pleased to make reasonable accommodations for non-English speakers or people with disabilities. If special arrangements for the meeting are necessary, please notify us by email at accessibility@lcb.state.nv.us or by phone at (775) 684-6903.

Senate Committee Members
• Melanie Scheible, D-LV - Chair
• Edgar Flores, D-LV - Vice Chair
• James Ohrenschall, D-LV
• Roberta Lange, D-LV
• Rochelle T. Nguyen, D-LV
• Ira Hansen, R-Sparks & rurals
• Lisa Krasner , R-Reno
• John Ellison, R-Elko

Contact Information for Senate Judiciary Committee staff
E-mail your support to <SenJUD@sen.state.nv.us> anytime.

Sen. Dina Neal plans 2025 bill to rein in rampant Wall Street speculation on single family homes
Barbwire by Andrew Barbano / Sparks Tribune 12-25-2024

SEN. DINA NEAL, D-North Las Vegas, remains in Reno's Renown Regional Medical Center where she was admitted last week to undergo emergency heart surgery.
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 2-26-2025

Thanks to all who attended or called in suppport.

Before the Nevada State Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Testimony of Andrew Barbano / April 9, 2025

Mme. Chair, committee members and honored guests:

My name is Andrew Barbano. I am the editor of Rentvolution.org, NevadaLabor.com and SenJoeNeal.org among others. I am a former first vice-president of the Reno-Sparks NAACP, member of statewide Communications Workers of America Local 9413/AFL-CIO and a former member of Culinary Local 226.

I have been involved in renters' rights and housing equity issues since the 1970s.

I have written a column for the Sparks Tribune and other publications since 1988 and have resided in Nevada since 1969. I rented in both Las Vegas and Reno before I bought my Reno home.

It is good to see Sen. Neal standing tall on her first day back on the job. I congratulate Sen. Neal for introducing AB 391, SB 121 (homeowner assocation reform) and others and welcome her back with today after more than a month of recovery. She has been in my prayers and emanations.

Nevada renters have always had precious few rights in law and even fewer when they need to assert them.

Wall Street is awash in cash and outbidding actual homebuyers who need housing — and turning them into exploited renters.

This bill is a modest attempt to right the ship and I wholeheartedly support it.

You may read decades of research on these issues at Rentvolution.org, including the seldom-told tale of how the Reno City Council actually passed rent control back in the 1970s and quickly repealed it.

I will upload these comments to my websites. media and labor e-lists, social media accounts and to the committee members.

Thanks for the insight from my former longtime Sparks Tribune colleague Sen. Hansen. Nice to be on the same side for a change, Ira.

And thanks to Sen. Neal. I am sure your father is watching over us and smiling.

Please support SB 391.

Andrew Barbano
(775) 747-0544
<barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us>
Reno, NV [In the districts of Sen. Angie Taylor (D) and Assemblymember Goulding (D)]

UPDATE 4-17-2025: In the committee work session later on 4-9-25, SB391 was sent to the Senate floor with a "do pass as amended" recommendation. All Democrats and Sen. Hansen supported the bill. Thanks to all who testified. On April 21, the amended bill was referred to the Senate Finance Committee. It has been granted exemption from automatic "pass or die" deadlines. Follow progress here.

Toxic sludge is good for you
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 4-9-2025

Pinky & the Brain taking over the world
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 4-2-2025

MAYDAY! T-Rump executive order will kill the registrations of 21 million voters for 2026
By Greg Palast / 3-27-2024

Send back the Statue of Liberty
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 3-26-2025

Donald Trump's Death Sentences
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 3-19-2025

Be There or Be Square—>
Where? The UNR Square, natch!
(Actually, the Quad. Which ain't square. Do they even teach jeeommertree* anymore?)

Reno, NV USA 3-11-2025 GMT —> Nevada System of Higher Education Graduate Assistants Rally Wednesday 3/12
Urge NSHE to Recognize Their Union and Support Bill to Grant Collective Bargaining Rights

In Reno and Las Vegas, workers and allies will urge administrators to
recognize their union and work with them to pass Assembly Bill 191,
which would formally extend collective bargaining rights to graduate workers.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Reno: 11:00 AM - Outside of the Joe Crowley Student Union on the UNR Campus
Las Vegas: 1:00 PM - UNLV Alumni Amphitheater in front of the FDH

This Wednesday, March 12, Graduate Assistants at the NSHE will hold rallies in Reno and Las Vegas to call on NSHE officials to respect their democratic choice to form a union, and to work with them to pass Assembly Bill 191, which would formally extend collective bargaining rights to Graduate Assistants and other NSHEemployees. Press is welcome.

The following is an excerpt of testimony given Friday, March 7 before the State Assembly Government Affairs Committee, in support of AB 191
and grad worker unionization:

“I graduated summa cum laude from UNLV with my bachelor’s degree,
and when it came time for graduate school, UNLV was the only university I applied to,” said Evelyn Ariam, a Graduate Assistant in the School of Integrated Health Sciences at UNLV. I chose to stay because I believe in this institution and its potential to provide an exceptional education and do cutting-edge research.

“But despite my and my coworkers’ valuable contributions to NSHE, we
lack a real voice to address the challenges we face. In a recent survey,
1 in 4 GAs said that they have experienced or witnessed harassment or
discrimination in the workplace. 1 in 4 have experienced or witnessed
retaliation for raising workplace issues. And 79% of GAs stated they do
not feel that their pay covers their living expenses.

"I personally have been forced to skip meals, sell blood plasma on a weekly basis, and have worried if the gas in my car was enough to make it to work and classes.

“In order to maintain UNLV and UNR’s R1 Carnegie status, we must
attract and retain top-tier scholars. But how can we do that when wages
don’t cover rent, when there’s no independent recourse for
mistreatment, and when GAs’ positions are constantly insecure?”

A supermajority of 2,500 Graduate Assistants have signed union
authorization cards to form Nevada Graduate Student Workers-UAW. In
November, GAs announced their majority and requested that University
administration recognize their union and begin negotiations for a first
contract. But since then, officials have not yet agreed to support
recognition of their union or count the authorization cards to verify GA
majority support.

UNR DETAILS
Who: Graduate Assistants, Nevada State AFL-CIO Executive
Secretary-Treasurer Susie Martinez, and more.
When: 11am, Wednesday, March 12
Where: Outside the Joe Crowley Student Union on the UNR Campus

UNLV DETAILS
Who: Graduate Assistants, community allies, and more.
When: 1:00 pm, Wednesday March 12
Where: Alumni Amphitheater in front of the Student Union

Background: NGSW-UAW is a group of Graduate Assistants (GAs) at UNR, UNLV and the Desert Research Institute working together to form a union to improve our working conditions. GAs make critical contributions to teaching and research at the University but lack secure rights and protections in the workplace, and struggle to afford housing and other basic expenses. GAs formed a union because we believe the best way to make progress on these issues is through negotiating a collective bargaining agreement, as 3,000 NSHE classified staff have done.

––––––––––
CONTACT : Bergen Kenny Woodbury
BrightLine Communications
(415) 819-0959

* Gee, Ometry. Why did your parents name you Ometry?
(Ancient kiddy joke.)

How to become a Nevada welfare queen
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 3-12-2025

Czar Dastardo Donaldov to Congress 3-4-2025: "America is back!"
INDEED, flat on her back.

March comes in with a lion —> from Ukraine

Red Scares and Nobel Red Flags
Warnings from Walesa and Ressa
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 3-5-2025

Pope Leo demands end to ‘pandemic of arms’
By Michael Sainato / The Guardian/UK 8-31-2025

Zelenskyy for President!
Washington DC 2-28-2025 —> So refreshing, heartening and energizing to see a leader with brass balls in the Oval Office as opposed to the Russian traitor with three gold balls hanging in his pawn shop
Be well and raise hell, President Volodymyr / America is with you and our democracies

Let's kick some ass! Sign up at BallotBoxing.US

Stay tuned for much more!

DISTRIBUTED TO THE WESTERN WORLD. FEEL FREE TO FORWARD.

Penalty Flags at the State of the Union

3-2-2025

Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts:

Czar Dastardo will give his State of the Union sermon Tuesday evening, March 4.

Please contact your senators and congresscritters to engage in a dignified critique. After all, we owe the moonhowlers one after some Confederate yahoo screamed "you lie!" at President Barack Obama in 2009. (The stunt made that cracker a quick million in contributions. There's one born every minute.)

Several others have followed. We can do better. Ask your lawmakers to bring little American flags with them. Every time the Orange Crusher tells a lie Tuesday night, politely wave your flags. If the GOP controllers try to stop you, they will be caught on camera preventing displays of patriotism. Should they bar flags after they see this, bring several large white handkerchiefs. If they try to grab the hankies, tell your reps to first blow their noses. And blow their noses at every lie thereafter. Loudly. But politely. It's allergy season.

Czar Dastardo and his consigliere Hillbilly JD Clampett tried to ambush Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in front of cameras they invited into the Oval Office last Friday. Instead, the little guy ambushed them and kicked their arrogant asses.

The embarrassing U.S. team and their Russian handlers gloated. These guys don't know when they've lost. T-Rump had set Zelenskyy up to grovel before worldwide TV. It was so refreshing, heartening and energizing to see a leader with brass balls in the Oval Office as opposed to the bleached blonde Russian traitor with three gold balls hanging in his pawn shop.

T-Rump was quoted as saying it was "great TV," the same thing he said while watching his treasonous mob trying to hang V.P. Mike Pence and anyone else they could grab on Jan. 6, 2021.

Our wannabe dictator was correct. Last Friday was indeed great TV. But not for him. Forget what was said. Concentrate on what you saw: Two overweight six-foot rich studs in $5,000 suits beating up on a poor little guy trying to save his country from more wholesale murder, mayhem, rape and pillage.

Z didn't grovel and did not cave to the shakedown.

Be well and raise hell, President Volodymyr. America is with you and our democracies.

ZELENSKYY FOR PRESIDENT!

PRAYERS FOR POPE FRANCIS TODAY. Nevada ecumenical religious activist Rajan Zed has a announced service, including candlelight vigil and special multi-faith prayers, for the full and swift recovery of Pope Francis hospitalized in Rome,

It will include prayers from Christian (various denominations), Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Baha’i, Native American and other traditions in English, Spanish, Arabic, Sanskrit, Pali, Persian, Hebrew and Paiute.

WHERE: Unity Center of Reno, 2207 Kings Row, Reno, NV 89503
WHEN: STARTING AT 10:00 a.m. PST today.
CONTACT: <rajanzed2@aol.com>

All are welcome. Coffee and snacks will be available after the service. No charge to attend.

MEDIA MODERNIZATION STARTING NOW. Biden and his punctilious A.G. Merrick Garland insisted on playing by outdated rules. Look where they left us.

OLD RULES: If the president says it, then it's news.

NEW RULES: HELL, NO. Grant standard coverage to important issues, not gratuitous grandstanding. Otherwise, use text-only graphics and perhaps audio recordings of T-Rump's mental meanderings if you must.

Cut down his face time, the thing he craves most when not playing golf. In his bestseller "Audience of One," NY TImes TV critic James Poniewozik reported that our pixelated president thrives by "keeping the red light on." No, not Stormy Daniels' house, but the red lights on TV cameras. When the lights go off, he knows he must pivot to another outrageous stunt. Alas, multitudes of voters think his performance mania is for real. Time to control the truculent little bully boy. After all, he wants to put all fake news media he can't control out of business.

OSCAR GETS A BRAZILIAN: Should "I'm Still Here" win an Oscar Sunday night, I predict you will the see headline of this item go viral. The film from Rio is about the largest country in South America becoming a brutal dictatorship half a century ago.

Nothing like that could ever happen here, right? Right?

Much more about all of the above in this week's Barbwire by Barbano in the Sparks (Northern Nevada) Tribune and NevadaLabor.com/

Be well. Raise hell. / Este bien. Haga infierno.

For all the news you never knew you needed to know 'til now, get on the Z-Train by signing up for Barbwire Confidential at BallotBoxing.US/

CWA 9413/AFL-CIO

-30-

Down there among the swamp critters
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 2-26-2025

Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 2-19-2025

Rise of the Reptilian Brain Trust
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 2-12-2025

HIGH NOON IN CARSON CITY

Hundreds gather in Nevada state capital to protest Trump policies
By: Kelsey Penrose / ThisIsReno.com / 2-5-2025

Hundreds protest Trump administration actions at rally in Nevada capital
By Mark Robison / Reno Gazette-Journal /2-5-2025

Anti-Trump protesters voice concerns at Capitol, dispute draws investigation
Driver points gun at demonstrators
By Scott Neuffer / Carson City Nevada Appeal / Fallon Lahontan Valley News / 2-5-2025

RENO NV 2-5-2025 —> RAISE HELL ON HUMP DAY! Please distribute.

50/50 demonstration in front of Nevada Legislative Building, Carson City, NV 12noon Feb. 5.

The depredations of Czar Dastardo Donaldov and Prime Minister Elon Mush must not stand. (See today's Barbwire in the Sparks Tribune: "The Spaghetti Wall." Up shortly at NevadaLabor.com.)

TRULY A GRASS ROOTS UPRISING STARTED BY ONE GUY. Google "50 in 50 feb 5 demonstrations" for more info. Story has gone viral. My union brother Paul Lenart tipped me about this yesterday. One guy in, of all places, Missoula MT, started this off, he said. A local non-profit jumped in resulting in today's 50/50 (plus the provinces and DC, I hope)

Endorsements of today's Carson event include the Democratic Party, Indivisible Nevada, the National Nurses Union and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), according to Bro. Lenart.

Watch NevadaLabor.com for updates as they arrive. Spread the word.

Be well. Raise hell. Stay safe.

Andrew Quarantino Barbano
CesarChavezNevada.com
NevadaLabor.com
Barbwire.US
(775) 882-TALK

T-Rump CONSIDERS GAZA HIS LATEST REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITY. WHOM TO BLAME? HOW ABOUT ME.
From the Barbwire in the Sparks Tribune of 3-27-2024:

"THE JOKE I DARED NOT PRINT. Not long after the 2023 start of the Gaza War, I wrote a gag ad for a new high rise luxury condo on cheap balmy beachfront Mediterranean property. The BibiHamas Towers would be immunized against missile and artillery attacks because they would be jointly owned by Israel and Iran. I never developed the item because all that death and destruction are not fair game for satire.

"Until...the fake news New York Times reported on Israeli real estate developers hosting shows in New Jersey and Toronto offering choice investment opportunities in the Holy Land. Complete with protestors, of course.
"I'm on the mailing list of evangelicals promoting tours of Israel even in wartime. US fundamentalists are Israel's most solid tourist base, supporting the country in anticipation of the prophecy of Armageddon being fulfilled.
"We're getting close."

ALAS AND ALACK, life imitates art. In his White House meeting with BibiYayhoo yesterday, Czar Dastardo Donaldov proposed exactly that, only with him as developer. Moving more than a million Palestinians somewhere? Piece of cake. Or halvah. Hitler moved over six million very efficiently, right? And we're already building U.S. concentration camps. Might as well expand the business. Watch for Bitcoin investment offerings.

Gaza can be the 52nd state after Canada caves. Greenland and Panama, maybe. Puerto Rico, HELL NO!

El Presidente thinks they talk funny.

"We become what we despise" — Goethe

CWA 9413/AFL-CIO
CC2/5 50/50/BallotBoxing/opsn25a

The Spaghetti Wall
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 2-5-2025

Dastardly depredations of Czar Dastardo
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 1-29-2025

Inattention abstention on coronation day
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 1-22-2025

Happy MLK Day. Sorta.

Happy MLK Day anyway

27th ANNUAL MLK DAY COMMUNITY CARAVAN
On the Northern Nevada Martin Luther King. Jr. Highway
All are welcome

Monday January 20, 2025
Caravan gathers at 10:30 a.m. PST
Departure 11:00 a.m

Rehoboth Holy Temple
700 Smithridge Drive / Reno, Nevada 89502

Info: Don Gallimore / Reno-Sparks NAACP
donaldgallimore1@gmail.com
(775) 303-1057

Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts

On January 16, 1959, two babies were born. They became sisters in both life and death.

My daughters would have turned 66 today, senior citizens bouncing grandchildren on their knees. Alas and alack, 'twas never to be.

Debra Joyce Donlevy and Donna Leslie Cline remain instead forever young, victims of the monster that stalks Nevada until this very day.

Our dark desert highways are dangerous and deadly, as is the emergency medical care available outside of the metros. I have been writing about it for decades. (Do a websearch for "NevadaLabor.com Cline Donlevy".) Until I did so just before I composed this memento, I had not realized how many times and many ways I have told their story. Any change in cowboy cartoonland is slow, stingy and grudging.

Memories both bale and beautiful reside hereat.

The cliché goes that once something's up on the Internet, it's there forever. I will so mandate in my will that their story be funded in perpetuity.

Remember them in your travels and in the tales you tell. See their pretty faces and read about their lives and those they touched.

Stay safe and take care of each other.

Andrew Quarantino Barbano
Barbano.net
NevadaLabor.com

-30-

MEDIA ADVISORY: THURSDAY, JAN. 16
-PRESS CONFERENCE-

Letter Signed By Majority Of State Legislators In Support Of Thousands
Of Graduate Assistants Asking To Unionize To Be Delivered To NSHE

In Reno and Las Vegas, state legislators, Nevada State AFL-CIO officials, and frontline workers will highlight Nevada System of Higher Educastion failure to recognize the union.

Thursday January 16, 2025
Reno: 12:00 PM PT - Outside Clark Administration Building on the UNR Campus
Las Vegas: 12:30 PM PT Outside NSHE Building (4300 S. Maryland Pkwy)

Las Vegas & Reno, NV. — This Thursday, January 16, Graduate Assistants at the NSHE will hold press conferences in Reno and Las Vegas to deliver
letters signed by the majority of both NV legislative chambers that call on NSHE officials to respect the democratic choice of graduate assistants to form a union. Press is welcome to attend.

A supermajority of 2,500 Graduate Assistants have signed union authorization cards to form Nevada Graduate Student Workers-UAW.

In November, GAs announced their majority and requested that the University administration recognize their union and begin negotiations for a first
contract. But since then, officials have not yet agreed to union recognition.

“As Graduate Assistants, we perform the majority of research andteaching at the University of Nevada. The university works because we
do,” said Keely Rodriguez, Chemistry Graduate Assistant at theUniversity of Nevada, Reno. “But too many of us have been subjected to
discrimination and harassment and struggle to pay for housing and food. We formed a union to have an equal say to address these pressing issues. This Thursday we are coming together with our allies in the community and the legislature to tell NSHE to respect our democratic choice to
unionize, and come to the bargaining table now."

We are asking for the same collective bargaining process that other NSHE employees currently possess,” said Evelyn Airam, a Graduate Assistant in the School of Integrated Health Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

“In a recent survey distributed by GAs across NSHE, 7percent of GAs stated they do not feel that their pay and benefits are sufficient to cover their living expenses. We love our jobs and we want them to be sustainable, so that we can focus our energies on teaching and research, instead of how to make ends meet. A strong union contract is the best way to achieve this.”

UNR DETAILS:
Who: State Senator Angie Taylor, Assemblywoman Erica Roth, Frontline
Graduate Assistants, and more.
When: 12pm, Thurs, Jan 16th
Where: Outside Clark Administration Building on the UNR Campus.

UNLV DETAILS:
Who: State Senator Fabian Doñate, Graduate Assistants, Nevada State
AFL-CIO officials, and more.
When: 12:30 pm, Thurs, Jan 16th
Where: Outside NSHE Building (4300 S. Maryland Pkwy.)

Background: NGSW-UAW is a group of Graduate Assistants (GAs) at UNR, UNLV, and the Desert Research Institute working together to form a union
to improve our working conditions. GAs make critical contributions to teaching and research but lack secure rights and protections in the
workplace, and struggle to afford housing and other basic expenses. GAs formed a union because we believe the best way to make progress on these
issues is through negotiating a collective bargaining agreement, as 3,000 NSHE classified staff have done.
________
CONTACT: Bergen Kenny Woodbury
BrightLine Communications
(415) 819.0959

Links:
------
[1] https://ngsw-uaw.org/

ONGOING
STRIKE! Culinary and Bartenders unions strike Virgin Las Vegas
¡Viva huelga!

Northern Nevada Sheet Metal & HVAC Apprenticeship
Unveils New Website and Brand Identity
Cutting-edge Design and Enhanced User Experience to Benefit Apprenticeship Recruitment and Training

Reno-Sparks, NV— The Northern Nevada Sheet Metal & HVAC Apprenticeship is proud to announce the launch of our new website, www.nnsmhvactraining.org, as part of a comprehensive rebranding effort.

This new platform offers an engaging and streamlined experience for prospective applicants, current apprentices, our Local 26 members, industry partners, and the broader community.

The website highlights the apprenticeship's modern brand identity, complete with professional imagery of our people, innovative projects, and state-of-the-art training center. Featuring a user-friendly and efficient application process, the website simplifies the path for individuals seeking to enter the sheet metal industry. This new system is not only beneficial for applicants but also for staff, as it is designed to save countless hours of administrative work, allowing the team to focus on enhancing training and support for apprentices.

Through the four-year paid apprenticeship, participants gain on-the-job training combined with classroom instruction in HVAC systems, welding, architectural sheet metal and more. Apprentices also earn college credits, competitive wages, and benefits, ensuring a strong foundation for successful, long-term careers.

"Our new website is a testament to the vision and collaboration that went into this rebranding effort," said Thomas Blotzke, JATC Coordinator. "We're incredibly grateful to Second Story Marketing Group for their creativity and professionalism in helping us showcase who we are and what we do. Their work has been instrumental in communicating our mission and elevating our presence in our industry."

About Northern Nevada Sheet Metal & HVAC Apprenticeship

Established in 1942, the Northern Nevada Sheet Metal & HVAC Apprenticeship provides comprehensive training to prepare individuals for successful careers in HVAC, welding, and architectural sheet metal. With a focus on hands-on experience and classroom education, the program equips apprentices with the skills needed to thrive in the sheet metal industry while promoting lifelong learning and professional growth.

Contact Information:

Northern Nevada Sheet Metal & HVAC Apprenticeship
Brooke Noel, Administrative Assistant/Public Relations Coordinator
Phone: (775) 331-6393
Email: bnoel@smart26jatc.org

The Goats of the Ides of January
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 1-15-2025

Dark depredations & golden opportunities
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 1-8-2025

A walk thru the Wayback Machine
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 1-1-2025

Give peace a chance
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 12-25-2024 / Updated

Pope Leo demands end to ‘pandemic of arms’
By Michael Sainato / The Guardian/UK 8-31-2025

Teamsters Union strikes Amazon nationwide, including Reno

FROM THE PICKET LINE —> AFFILIATE ACTION ALERT

ALL HANDS ON DECK!

UPDATE 12-21-2024 GMT— Teamsters Local 533 needs strike support at the Lemmon Valley Amazon Distribution Center.

WHERE: Amazon Fulfillment RNO4, 8000 N Virginia St, Reno NV 89506
WHEN: Happening NOW and going 24/7 until called off

This is a national strike at numerous Amazon locations throughout the United States. It is an unfair labor practice strike, and all locations will be active primary picket lines.

We encourage our brothers and sisters from other unions to participate in solidarity by joining the Teamsters on the picket line. For more information, contact Ross Kinson at ross@teamsters533.org or 775-247-5673.

Español —> CesarChavezNevada.com

Teamsters Local 533 Calls for Solidarity Strike at Amazon Distribution Center, Northern Nevada Central Labor Council Joins Nationwide Action

Reno, NV – December 18, 2024 – Teamsters Local 533 and the Northern Nevada Central Labor Council are calling on the Northern Nevada community to support a nationwide strike at Amazon locations throughout the United States. The strike is in response to unfair labor practices at Amazon.

Strike Details:
• Location: Amazon Fulfillment RNO4, 8000 N Virginia St., Reno NV 89506
• Start Time: Thursday, December 19 at 6:00 AM
• Duration: 24/7 until called off

This strike will see active primary picket lines at multiple Amazon locations nationwide. This is a ULP (Unfair Labor Practice) strike, as Amazon refuses to schedule time to come to the table with Teamsters to discuss a fair contract for Amazon workers. The NNCLC encourages all union members, as well as elected officials and members of the community, to stand in solidarity with the Teamsters by joining the picket line at the Lemmon Valley Amazon
Distribution Center.

For more information, contact Ross Kinson at ross@teamsters533.org or 775-247-5673 or Gary Watson at gary@teamsters533.org or 775-527-2391.

Amazon Delivery Drivers at Seven Hubs Walk Out
By Noam Scheiber and Santul Nerkar
The New York Times 12-19 digital, 12-20-2024 print edition

Teamsters Launch Largest Strike Against Amazon in American History
By Kara Deniz / International Sisterhood & Brotherhood of Teamsters 12-19-2024

Picket line set for North Valleys Amazon warehouse in support of national strike
By Bob Conrad / ThisIsReno.com 12-18-2024

Amazon workers across US gear up to strike this week
By Michael Sainato / The Guardian/UK 12-17-2024

Teamsters Local 533
Strike War Room

Starbucks workers' union strikes across US as talks hit impasse
By Savyata Mishra, Gursimrankaur Mehar & Renee Hickman / Reuters 12-21-24

NevadaLabor.com Starbux in Nevada archives

Stay tuned

The Mickey Mouse conspiracy
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 12-18-2024

Betty J. Barbano
2-7-1941 / 12-27-2005
Remember her laughter

On January 16, 1959, two babies were born.
They became sisters in both life and death.

Larry Barbano, Frater Mei
12-18-1947 / 10-18-2023

Don't mess with Mary Poppins
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 12-11-2024

The parable of the pasta water
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 12-4-2024

Chef Charlie Abowd: Renaissance Mensch
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 11-27-2024

Top 10 Cures at 14: Exorcist wanted
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 11-20-2024

BEWARE THE IDES OF NOVEMBER
STRIKE! Culinary and Bartenders unions strike Virgin Las Vegas Nov. 15 5:00 a.m. PST
Las Vegas, NV (Nov. 15 2024 5:00 a.m. PST) — For the first time in more than 22 years, the Culinary Union has taken workers out in an open-ended strike at a Las Vegas resort. Over 700 hospitality employees stopped work at the Virgin Las Vegas beginning Friday, November 15 at 5:00 a.m. PST. We will continue as long as it takes to win a new 5-year union contract. We formed picket lines around the property which will remain in place 24/7. Culinary Union Local 226 urges customers and community allies to *not* cross the strike line. We respectfully request that customers check out of the property, choose a union accommodation, dine at union restaurants and cancel reservations. Thanks for your support. Stay tuned.
¡Viva huelga!

Sindicato Culinario EN HUELGA en Virgin Las Vegas, trabajadores de la hostelería de la ciudad se unirán a la huelga en solidaridad el sábado

¡Sí se puede!

President Hoover, meet Smoot and Hawley
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 11-13-2024

The Saga of Sarah the Tranny Granny
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 11-6-2024

Shocking Ballot Boxing—>
US, TOO—>'Surprising' poll: Harris leads Trump by 3 points in Nevada, Rosen ahead of Brown by 12
By Mark Robison / Reno Gazette Journal 11-4-2024 9:04 a.m. PST
Heavyweight addition to Harris now up by 3% in Iowa according to authorititative Des Moines Register poll

FASCISM? That's a new face cream, right?
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 10-30-2024

UNR Follyball in Mississippi West
Bigotry cloaked in womens' rights drag
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 10-23-2024 / Updated with breaking news

Piggy-backing to play leap-frog
Second in a series.
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 10-16-2024

Electing Judas Iscariot
First in a series.
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 10-9-2024
BARBWIRE CONFIDENTIAL—>
UPDATED 10-13-2024 GMT: Tracking Poll sez Question 3 fading. Stay tuned!

All the news you never knew you needed to know till now—>Subscribe to Barbwire Confidential

WCSD Students to Participate in
2024 Northern Nevada Construction Career Day

More than 1,600 middle- and high school students from across northern Nevada will attend the 2024 Northern Nevada Construction Career Day, where they will participate in hands-on activities including mixing cement, driving a virtual backhoe, putting together plumbing pipes, and pulling electrical wiring.

This annual event is hosted by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Nevada and is designed to educate students about careers and trades in the construction industry. There will be interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, career advice, and input from local industry experts. This event is free for students and schools thanks to generous scholarships provided by the Nevada Chapter AGC, many local construction companies, and trade organizations.

When: Thursday, October 3
             10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Reno-Sparks Convention Center
              Southwest corner of South Virginia Street and Peckham Lane
              Reno

Media contacts are:

Matt MacKay, WCSD CTE Coordinator
775-233-6111
mmackay@washoeschools.net

Carisalynn Stratton, AGC Workforce Development Manager
775-830-6689
carisalynns@nevadaagc.org

SOURCE: VICTORIA CAMPBELL, WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Barbwire never forgets
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 10-2-2024

Seethe along with me
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 9-25-2024

The Used Car Presidential Campaign
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 9-18-2024

To Win Nevada, Harris Must Turn Infrastructure Jobs Into Votes
By Gabriel Thompson / Capital and Main (Calif.) / 9-10-2024

Harris Debe Tornar Los Empleos En Infraestructura En Votos Para Ganar Nevada
By Gabriel Thompson / Capital and Main (Calif.) / 9-10-2024

Barbwire and Nevada Press Assn. Hall of Famer Guy Louis Rocha on PBS-Reno "House with a History"
Livestream Sunday 9-15-2024 5:30 p.m. PDT KNPB TV-5/Northern Nevada
https://www.pbsreno.org/livestream/
Rocha inducted to Nevada Press Assn. Hall of Fame in Reno on Saturday 9/14/2024

Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts*

Subject: Double Hall-of-Famer on PBS-Reno this Sunday
Date: 2024-09-13 06:21 PDT
From: barbano@frontpage.reno.nv.us
To: News <news@ballotboxing.us>

Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts:

This Sunday Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m. PDT, northern Nevada KNPB TV-5 has scheduled a rerun of "House with a History" about the Carson City Bliss Mansion. This opening show of the series features Nevada historian and union chronicler Guy Louis Rocha and can be livestreamed at pbsreno.org/

In only his second year of nomination by myself (and a few living or dead unindicted co-conspirators), my dear friend Guy will be inducted into the Nevada Press Assn. Hall of Fame in Reno on Saturday, 9/14. I have posted the story at NevadaLabor.com and relevant websites.

Guy was earlier installed into the much more exclusive Barbwire Molly Ivins Memorial Columniators Hall of Flames, as was the late University of Nevada-Reno journalism Prof. Jake Highton. My legendary Sparks Tribune colleague Jake will likewise be honored by NPA this Saturday.

Guy may or may not be able to attend. I hope his health permits it. At minimum, I hope someone informs him of the happy coincidence of the TV program. I further hope that the show will be announced at his induction at the Saturday NPA Awards Luncheon in Reno. And please tell your friends.

The rerun from KNPB's 2005 series is charming, the history of the gorgeous Carson City Bliss Mansion, built by an actual 49er more than 100 years ago. Even the door handles are made of Comstock Lode silver!

Guy's multiple soundbytes setting the history of the time make the half-hour sing. Hell, they make you wish the show was hourlong.

Be well. Raise hell. Stay safe.

Andrew Quarantino Barbano
CesarChavezNevada.com
NevadaLabor.com
(775) 747-0544

bcc's: Media, friends of Guy, union brothers and sisters

NOTE to area postal workers, their unions and elexion watchers: I have just posted the latest blast at Postmaster General Louis the Clueless DeJoy at NevadaLabor.com/ You need to see what the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Assn. of State Election Directors just hit him with regarding their concerns about prompt delivery of mail-in ballots. (As Mr. Rogers might put it, "can you say vote suppression?)

TV series highlights historic Carson City homes
By Peter Thompson / The Record-Courier (Minden/Gardnerville/S. Lake Tahoe) Jan. 25, 2005

____________________________
* "Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts" was apparently a song never written. The words were found scrawled on a scrap of paper in the pocket ot the great American song writer Stephen Foster when he died in 1864 at age 37.

CWA 9413/AFL-CIO

-30-

2 more Barbano nominees elected to Nevada Press Association Hall of Fame
Prof . Jake Highton and Guy Louis Rocha win
Carson City Nevada Appeal / 8-15-2024

4 Barbwire nominees honored, 4 to go

State election officials warn Postal Service unready

PBS News Hour interview with state association spokesperson
PBS News Hour / 9-12-2024

Letter to Postmaster General from National Assn. of Secretaries of State & State Election Directors
9/11/2024 (Unintentional Irony?)

More reasons why Nevada loves Trump's postal service torpedo Louis the Clueless DeJoyless

9/11 Amnesia Lane
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 9-11-2024

MAYDAY! Another Reno landmark in jeopardy

BARBANO TO RENO CITY HALL: E-mail to mayor, council, community
Historic 20th Century Building endangered
9-11-2024

RENO, NV USA 2:42 a.m. PDT / 09:42 GMT 9-11-1024 —>

Dear Friends & Gentle Hearts:

My old friend, former Reno Deputy City Attorney John White, is understandably concerned about the Stevenson Street abandonment which I am advised appears on the council agenda. I have moved a brief column item in today's Tribune.

John and other professionals have used the venerable brick building behind St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral for many years. Parking availability has slowly eroded and John has lost tenants. Further erosion threatens the viability of building operation — and its future.

The 20th Century Building is listed on state and federal historical registers and has always been a rather welcoming presence across from the riverfront behind St. Thomas Aquinasl.

You may or may not recall Stevenson Street's checkered past which has resulted in some of its current condition. In 2020, the late Karl Breckenridge wrote a long piece about it on the ThisIsReno website.* (Websearch "Reno Nevada Greyhound depot Harrah's parking garage demolition". I try to minimize URLs in e-mails as they are the first red flag for spam filters and time is not on our side this ayem.)

I'm old enough to remember the Harrah's/Greyhound brouhaha from exactly half a century ago. Turned out that Harrah's never used the old Greyhound depot site next to the eastern part of their property when they built their parking garage. So perhaps the vacant lot on Stevenson stands in mute testament to the current ambience of much of downtown, unintentional irony.

Mr. White may be hard pressed to maintain business in his building if more parking spaces are lost. I do not want to see the 20th Century Building go the way of the historic California Street homes demolished for expansion of the Lumpen Noir. (I love the Nevada Museum of Art, but did it have to be so ugly?)

Speaking of intentional homeliness, does the city have any design standards at all these days? "The Mod" high rise apartments on Stevenson fit right in with the current Reno-Sparks architectural norm: Emulation of Cold War East Berlin. And Carnaby Street "mod" went out when the Beatles arrived in 1964.

Everything old is new again. Even East Berlin is making a comeback. Just look at German follytix today.

I watch a lot of travel shows in my old age. The most interesting present communities which have retained much of their original character. Alas, Reno and Sparks have oft gone the way of Gomorrah South, demolish and fuhgeddaboutit.

An old attorney friend of mine told me years ago of a comment from a casino executive: Reno is going from being a gambling town to a town with gambling.

Matters have accelerated since.

Please ask yourselves: Do we really think East Berlin Nouveau will benefit tourism?

BTW: Is the Mod Squad** prepared to pay the city a hefty premium for the abandonment?

Your consideration is appreciated.

Be well. Raise hell. Stay safe.

Andrew Quarantino Barbano
53-year Renoite
(775) 747-0544

* Harrah's Hotel-Casino, which in 1974 controlled Reno City Hall, wanted to acquire the Greyhound Depot to build a parking garage on the site. The property acquistion was contingent upon Greyhound finding another site in the downtown area. They chose Stevenson Street, half a block away from the former Reno Gazette-Journal building and fronting the Truckee River. Ugly R Us.

** The ugly apartments on Stevenson Street across from the now-vacant site of the Greyhound Depot are named The Mod and Mod II. Tres chic, n'est-ce'pas?

MEDIA MELTDOWN —> WE'VE BEEN WARNED

RENO, NV 8-8-2024 23:50 PDT / 8-9-2024 06:50 GMT — Since 11:00 p.m. PDT 9/8, I have been monitoring northern Nevada media. Three of five major network TV stations are dark over-the-air and on Spectrum cable. KNPB TV-5 is doing fundraising. The Fox affiliate (KRXI-11) has been running a screen crawl about the Davis Creek Fire. I monitored KKKOH always-right radio and KUNR-fm (NPR). Nada.

KOLO TV-8 (ABC) has the most powerful broadcast pattern in the region and has been down since Friday evening, Sept. 7. The station's tower is located on Slide Mountain. Much of the area around Slide has had its electricity cut off due to the fire. TV-8 used to have backup generators up there, but time passes. The emergency broadcast system has apparently not been utilized. I got no information via TV, e-mail, phone or text.

UPDATE 8-9-2024 3:19 a.m. PDT —> KOLO-8, KRNV-4 (NBC) AND KTVN-2 (CBS) remain dark. KRNV/KRXI's sister station, Nevada Sports Net (KNSN-21 which often simulcasts news with 11 and 4) is up and running but carries only regular programming. Its Spectrum Cable position is Channel 7.

This is a warning as to our vulnerabilities. A few years back, a rural Oklahoma community was devastated because it was a Saturday and no human was working at its two radio stations when a tornado warning came in.

We've been warned. More in the Barbwire in Wednesday's (9/11) Sparks Tribune. Monitor NevadaLabor.com/

Be well. Raise hell. Stay safe.

Andrew Quarantino Barbano
(Via e-mail, Facebook and LinkedIn)

The above went via e-mail to major media reporters and managers as well as local community leaders. It was also uploaded to Facebook and LinkedIn.

Last gasp of white-wigged white guys
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 9-4-2024

Joyfulness replaces Dejoylessness
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 8-28-2024

FLASH! (9:41am PDT 8-26) Barbwire First Break—>Postmaster General Louis the Clueless DeJoy is expected to speak at Reno's Peppermill Hotel-Casino on Tuesday, August 27 or before 8-30

The hit man assigned to destroy the US Postal Service is skulking around Reno Nevada this week. Postmaster General Louis the Clueless DeJoyless will address a letter carriers convention betwixt now and Friday, Aug. 30. Media and public blackouts have been announced. On Aug. 26, a large crowd of postal workers and other union members rallied in front of Reno City Hall. DeJoyless has targeted accelerated erosion of northwestern Nevada and eastern California service to begin this January. Public and politician protests have been ignored. He was appointed to make the service so bad that nationwide privatization for profit will look undeniable. The Postal Board of Governors needs to fire this yayhoo NOW! Complete info on the front page of NevadaLabor.com/ Unjoy, especially the cartoon.

UPDATES

USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to speak in Reno at postal convention
PUBLIC & MEDIA BLACKOUT / KRNV TV-4 / KRXI TV-11 / 8-26-2024

Letter carriers rally in Downtown Reno pushing for better safety measures
By Anthony Ramos / KRNV TV-4 / KRXI TV-11 / 8-26-2024

PROTECT OUR LETTER CARRIERS RALLY
IN CONJUNCTION WITH NRLCA CONVENTION (RURAL CARRIERS)

WHEN: MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 6:30 PM TO 8:00 PM
WHERE: CITY PLAZA ("BELIEVE" sculpture) 10 N. VIRGINIA ST. across from Reno City Hall, RENO NV

WHY: Support the Enough is Enough: Protect Our Letter Carriers Act (H.R. 7629/S. 4356)

Since 2020, there have been more than 2,000 crimes committed against letter carriers on the job. Many of these attacks involve a gun or another weapon. This bipartisan legislation would deter these crimes by:

• devaluing and securing key infrastructure
• increasing prosecution rates for these crimes
• strengthening sentencing guidelines for these crimes

We hope to see you there in support of our Union-Strong Letter Carriers!

Northern Nevada Central Labor Council
1819 Hymer Ave, Sparks NV 89431
775-331-5570
info@nnclc.org
http://www.nnclc.org

SAVE THE DATE—>RENO LABORFEST '24
LABOR DAY / Monday 9-2-2024
Union-Proud Show 'n' Shine.pdf
Event information.pdf
Be there or be square!

Across the Universe
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 8-21-2024

2 more Barbano nominees inducted into Nevada Press Assn. Hall of Fame
Highton and Rocha win / 4 down, 4 to go
Carson City Nevada Appeal / 8-15-2024

Nonpartisan advocate for seniors prevented from running for county commission seat
By Bob Conrad / ThisIsReno.com / The Ides of August 2024
Stay tuned to the 8-21-2024 Sparks Tribune: Who really benefits
[More]

Prophets and Profits
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."— Groucho Marx
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 8-14-2024

Hot August VD
Barbwire by Andrew Quarantino Barbáno / Expanded from the Sparks Tribune 8-7-2024

LATEST Going Postal Updates & BULLETINS
UPDATE—>DEJOYLESS IN RENO 8-27-2024

Nevada's top leaders suggest it's time for ouster of postmaster general
By Mark Robison / Reno Gazette-Journal 5-9-2024
What took 'em so long? Maybe they finally caught up with their Barbwire reading.

Editorial: Incomprehensible USPS decision will have snowball effect on Northern Nevada
Reno Gazette-Journal Sunday Editorial / 4-28-2024

USPS announces move of Reno mail-processing operations to California despite opposition
By Mark Robison / RGJ.com 4-23-2024

Thank you, Defendant T-Rump. Your postmaster general Rasputin DeJoyless is doing one helluva job. So what's next, moving up the assassination date to kill voting by mail this November? Whassamatta with Biden's new appointees to the Postal Service Board of Governors? Fire the sumbitch, already.

Revenge of T-Rump's postmaster general:
Proposed northern Nevada/eastern California mail shunt to Sacramento slows down mail, endangers voting
Washoe voter registrar warns of destruction of voting by mail
By Mark Robison / Reno Gazette-Journal 2-25-2024

Postal police would return to the street to help stamp out mail carrier assaults (and mail theft) under new bill in Congress
By David Struett / Chicago Sun-Times 11-29-2023

Breaking News & Bulletins January-July 2024