By Sherman Frederick/Properly Subversive
Like most Nevadans, the murder of a Las Vegas journalist shocked the conscience.
Jeff German was found stabbed to death outside his home. Subsequently Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles was arrested on suspicion of the murder. The motive appears to be a series of stories German wrote about Telles that uncovered mismanagement in his office.
The Nevada Press Association rightly called it “a dark and tragic moment for Nevada journalism.”
The group, which traces its roots to the time when Mark Twain roamed Virginia City and of which I am a board member, said “Our members face threats every day for doing their job: Questioning authorities and uncovering the facts. NPA stands with all Nevada journalists who are processing this loss.”
In my 50 years doing journalism in Nevada, I can’t remember anything that compares. Sen. Floyd Lamb slapped and kicked AP reporter Brendan Riley on the steps of the Legislature.There were rumors that the untimely death of reporter Ned Day of a heart attack was a mob hit of some kind. But just rumors, so far as I know.
Look, Nevada has always been a place in which powerful forces try to exert pressure on reporters. But those threats usually came via economic pressures. Some of the biggest bullies in my day were casino moguls Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson. Bill Bennett, of Circus Circus fame, tried to abuse his privilege too, much to his discredit.
But this? A two bit politician pissed off because of a truth bomb on his lousy performance as a public administrator? That’s so out of left field. So Third World.
Jeff’s death is, indeed, horrific. But it’s not the end of the story. Jeff will become a symbol for hard-nosed reporting in Nevada. Journalists not born yet will graduate to work in Reno, Elko, Hawthorne, Ely, Pahrump, Mesquite and Las Vegas inspired by his work. I promise you that.
POSTSCRIPT
Jeff and I competed tooth and nail against each other from young pups to senior citizens. In my last year running the Review-Journal, after he was inexplicably dumped by the Las Vegas Sun, we hired him.
We were glad to have him ride for our brand, which he did well.
See you down the road Jeff. You did a job — one helluva job.
CALIFORNIA DREAMING
Last week California emerged from a severe heat spell that had Gov. Gavin Newsom telling people not to charge their electric cars and to – please, please, please – shut off large appliances in the late afternoons so as to avoid widespread power grid failure.
Ironic doesn’t begin to describe the life carved out by our friends to the geographic left. Get a load of this headline the day after the heat spell lifted, courtesy of the San Francisco Chronicle:
“Scant data on health impact of heat wave shows Bay Area unready for climate change.”
What? Unready for climate change – that’s the takeaway?
No, dear Californians, the concern is how you are going to keep the lights on as you systematically shut down traditional power plants. Solar and wind can’t handle the load. Already, Gov. Newsom has demurred on shutting down the state’s last nuclear power facility. The nutters on the left want his head for it.
People in California think their EVs just magically go on unicorn power provided by the sun and wind. The truth is EVs right now are powered by natural gas and coal.
The heat spell in California that brought the state to the brink of brownouts isn’t a warning bell for climate change. It’s a cry for help over a pathetically failed energy policy.
WHAT I’M WATCHING
I found the time to catch the 2012 documentary called “The Waiting Room,” a film by Peter Nicks that chronicles the waiting room at Highland Hospital, a safety-net hospital in Oakland. It’s a fascinating watch that will remind you that while healthcare for the poor remains a heartbreaking situation, there are many angels in the system doing an impossible job. Catch this flick when you can.
ONE MORE THING
– The Sturgeon General reminds you that smoked fish could be hazardous to your health.
– After pricking my finger doing early morning yard work, I said to myself: “That’s enough for today. Thistle dew.”
– Yesterday I met a girl selling batteries in the park. That’s right, she sells C cells down by the seesaw.
Sorry in advance for those puns. Until next week, avoid soreheads, laugh a little and always – always! – question authority.
“Properly Subversive” is commentary written by Sherman R. Frederick, a Nevada Hall of Fame journalist and co-founder of Battle Born Media, a news organization dedicated to the preservation of community newspapers. Mr. Frederick loves feedback. You can reach him by email at shermfrederick@ gmail. com.