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Nevada football adds 25 new players, including 24 in high school and five with ties to Northern Nevada

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Nevada football adds 25 new players, including 24 in high school and five with ties to Northern Nevada


The Nevada football team is looking to the high school ranks to try to improve and build the program in coming seasons.

Nevada coach Jeff Choate announced the signing of 26 football players on Wednesday, the start of national signing day for college football. Of the signing day class, 25 are high school seniors and one is at Cerritos Junior College. Choate was hired at Nevada on Dec. 4, 20-23, Last year, his signing class had five high school players.

He said players in this year’s class come for winning programs, including four who are still playing for state championships, two who already won state championships, and seven others who were in state finals.

“If you’re going to build a winning program, it starts by having that understand what a winning program looks like,” Choate said.

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There are five players with ties to Northern Nevada in the class: Joe Birnbaum, Truckee; Mataio Aiono, Reed; Colin Banning, Spring Creek; Jackson Ramsey, Bishop Manogue; and Cian Stack, Bishop Manogue.

Choate said Aiono is the best lineman in Northern Nevada and Stack is one of the top long snappers in the country.

The members of the class are from nine different states covering four time zones — while five states are represented by one member, states with multiple members of the Nevada class are California (12), Nevada (four), Texas (three) and Arizona (two).

“It’s a group that I’m really excited about — we met a lot of needs. Top to bottom, every phase — offense, defense, and special teams — we were able to get guys that I think can have an immediate impact in our program, and a long-lasting impact on our program,” Choate said. “I mentioned that I think this is the most important class that we’ll sign, and I think we can build a strong foundation for the future. Now what we’ve got to do is stack classes on top of one another so that we can be competing for championships.”

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Choate has said in the past that keeping local players with the Wolf Pack is critical.

“One of the hallmarks of the class is obviously that we were able to tap into Northern Nevada. I think between Colin, Mataio, Jackson, Joe and Cian, there are a lot of guys that are familiar names to football fans in Northern Nevada. We’re excited about having those guys join the program, and continuing to make our Northern Nevada athletes the heart and soul of our program,” Choate said.

Choate said the Pack’s class is ranked No. 4 in the Mountain signing day classes, behind Boise State, UNLV and San Diego State.

Choate raved about quarterback Carter Jones (6-foot-4, 190 pounds), currently at Lancaster High School in Texas.

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“I look forward to our fans getting a chance to meet this young man. He is a first-class human being. He was raised the right way,” Choate said. “He’s a winner. He’s a tough kid. He fits exactly what we want to do on offense.”

Choate said Jones played in the toughest football district in the country.

Choate said running back Carter Jackson is also an outstanding football player. Jackson (5-9, 180) is at Folsom High School in California.

Jackson, a three-star recruit, had multiple Power Four offers. Choate said he could play immediately.

Birnbaum will walk-on and become the second player from Truckee on the Wolf Pack, following Marcus Bellon. Birnbaum, one of the fastest sprinters in the state, will be at running back.

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“He exudes enthusiasm and energy,” Choate said. “A kid from a winning program that is all about what we’re trying to build here at Nevada. Toughness, grit.”

He said more players could be added from high school and that he will be active when the transfer portal opens Dec. 8.

December 2024 Nevada Football National Signing Day Roster

Player, position, height, weight, previous school(s)

  • Carter Jones, QB, 6-4, 190, Lancaster (Texas)
  • Joe Birnbaum, RB, 5-11, 185, Truckee (Calif.)
  • Carter Jackson, RB, 5-9, 180, Folsom (Calif.)
  • Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio, WR, 5-10, 170, Timpview (Utah)
  • Daylin Caamano, WR, 6-3, 175, Crean Lutheran (Calif.)
  • Mack Kump, WR, 5-10, 175, Sunnyslope (Ariz.)
  • Mason Johnson, WR, 6-2, 180, West Park (Calif.)
  • DJ Asiasi, TE, 6-3, 240, De La Salle (Calif.)
  • Mataio Aiono, OL, 6-3, 280, Reed
  • Colin Banning, OL, 6-4, 285, Spring Creek
  • Joseph James, OL, 6-2, 265, Oak Hills (Calif.)
  • Jackson Ramsey, OL, 6-4, 285, Bishop Manogue
  • Kameron Brown, edge, 6-3, 245, Norco (Calif.)
  • Keegan Perea, edge, 6-3, 250, Cherry Creek (Colo.)
  • Isaiah Reed, LB, 6-2, 210, Rocky Mountain (Idaho)
  • Jake Silverman, LB, 6-0, 210, Torrance (Calif.)
  • EJ Smith, LB, 6-1, 230, Cerritos College (Calif.) / Warren
  • Cody Wells, LB, 6-2, 210, Notre Dame Prep (Ariz.)
  • Mykel Ford, DB, 6-0, 160, Putnam City (Okla.)
  • Isaiah Jordan, DB, 6-1, 190, Christian Brothers (Calif.)
  • Tajean Stallworth, DB, 6-1, 165, Edison (Stockton, Calif.)
  • Yusuf Thomas, DB, 6-1, 170, Cedar Hills (Texas)
  • Aiden Walker, DB, 5-11, 180, Round Rock (Texas)
  • Justin Wyatt Jr., DB, 6-3, 170, Highland (Calif.)
  • Cian Stack, LS, 6-2, 245, Bishop Manogue



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Search underway for missing 71-year-old woman after car found overturned

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Search underway for missing 71-year-old woman after car found overturned


Authorities have located Cheryl Davis, 71, who was reported missing after her vehicle was found overturned and unoccupied on Highway 6 between Tonopah, Nev., and Bishop, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 7 at about 11 a.m.

Davis, who had left her phone in the car, was believed to have been picked up by another vehicle.

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A missing person report had been filed through Inyo County, and a Silver Alert was issued. Authorities confirmed that Davis got a ride from someone and is safe.



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Special session could start Thursday, Nevada lawmaker says

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Special session could start Thursday, Nevada lawmaker says


A special session of the Nevada Legislature could begin as soon as Thursday, a state lawmaker said Saturday.

Assemblyman Reuben D’Silva, a Democrat who represents a district that includes parts of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, said lawmakers have been told a special session, announced by Gov. Joe Lombardo last month, could start Thursday.

“We’ve been told it could potentially start on Nov. 13,” D’Silva said. “I booked a hotel room and a flight, but I made sure that they’re refundable. In the end, it’s the governor’s call, so we have to just be ready.”

The Las Vegas Review-Journal previously reported that, according to sources, discussions about the session centered on the second week of November.

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On Oct. 6, Lombardo, a Republican, said he planned to call the Legislature back to Carson City for a special session, though he did not specify an exact date or say what it would be about.

“The goal will be to finish what the Legislature left unfinished — plain and simple,” Lombardo said at the time. A message left for the governor’s spokeswoman Saturday evening was not immediately returned.

Under Nevada law, the governor is responsible for calling a special session into order, and he decides what’s on the agenda.

State law prohibits campaign fundraising 15 days before a special session or the day after the proclamation calling a special session, and the blackout period ends 15 days after a special session adjourns.

D’Silva said it’s expected that public safety issues will likely be prioritized during the session and that he hopes e-scooter safety will be on the agenda.

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The Las Vegas Valley has been home to numerous fatal crashes in recent months that involved riders of e-scooters and other personal travel devices that can reach speeds of 20 mph or faster.

“This would be an appropriate place to put forth some e-scooter regulatory language or something that addresses the issue,” D’Silva said. “This has become a very serious problem in the minds of a lot of Nevadans. I’m hoping for some kind of action.”

D’Silva said he recently sent a letter outlining his thoughts on possible e-scooter regulation — which would center on a county option to impose new rules — to Lombardo’s chief of staff.

“The main onus of the special session is going to be public safety,” D’Silva said. “I know there’s talk about Hollywood 2.0 and SNAP and health care, but the reason why the governor initially called for this was to address the public safety issues that we weren’t able to address during the regular session.”

As D’Silva pointed out, another special session topic could be an expansion to Nevada’s film tax credit program.

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Two proposals were considered until the end of the 120-day session in June. One bill would have supported up to $95 million in tax credits dedicated to supporting a Sony Pictures Entertainment and Warner Bros. Discovery-backed effort to build a film campus studio in Summerlin. That bill narrowly passed the Assembly but was not brought up for a vote in the Senate.

In a Sept. 12 news conference, Lombardo also said “this cybersecurity thing would be a point of conversation” for a special session agenda. For several weeks in late August and early September, a ransomware attack and ensuing state response shut down state services — including DMV in-person appointments, publicly accessible databases and online applications for some state services.

Contact Bryan Horwath at bhorwath@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BryanHorwath on X.



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Obstacles to open: Nevada cannabis consumption lounges face hurdles despite legalization

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Obstacles to open: Nevada cannabis consumption lounges face hurdles despite legalization


LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Years after cannabis consumption lounges were legalized in Nevada, only one operates regularly for public use statewide.

The Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board tells FOX5, they have issued 28 conditional licenses to prospective operators.

Barriers to opening

Christopher LaPorte, a consultant working with a client seeking to open a cannabis business in Las Vegas’ Arts District, said three major hurdles prevent businesses from opening.

“The first one is perception. Like, what people think these lounges are supposed to be,” LaPorte said.

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He said lounges will offer more than smoking spaces and will be designed as destinations.

“It’s going to be a restaurant. It’s going to be a movie theater. There’s going to be anything where you’re just replacing alcohol with cannabis,” LaPorte explained.

The second challenge involves finding real estate. State regulations require lounges to operate at least 1,500 feet from casinos, limiting location options.

“Not every property owner wants to lease to cannabis lounge license holders. And so now you have to ask yourself, if you’re a first-time business owner, and you want to open up your first restaurant, do you have to buy the building too?” LaPorte said.

Funding represents the third obstacle for prospective owners entering the new industry.

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State support efforts

Steve Gilbert, chief of administration for the Cannabis Compliance Board, said the agency held a resources fair this week for conditional license holders.

“We know it is difficult. It’s a new industry,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert said the CCB is working to help prospective owners through the licensing process and expressed enthusiasm about proposed business concepts.

“A bowling alley, or a massage parlor or infused products. It’s been remarkable to see, and it will be even more remarkable to see what different business models come to life,” Gilbert said.

LaPorte’s client has held a conditional license for two years. He described her planned business as “a supper club” that will serve “sophisticated food” and “happens to offer you cannabis with it instead of a traditional alcoholic beverage.”

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LaPorte predicted growth similar to dispensary expansion after legalization of cannabis in Nevada.

“I’m hoping to see these things open up by next year, no question,” LaPorte said.

The Cannabis Compliance Board provides resources for prospective owners on its website, including presentations from this week’s resource fair.

The only consumption lounge currently open to the public in Nevada is Dazed! which operates at Planet 13 in Las Vegas.

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