COMMISSIONERS REJECT GRENDELL BILLS ON JANUARY 14

Tuesday, January 16, 2025

Carolyn Brakey, Esq., assumed her seat on the Geauga County Board of Commissioners on January 7, 2025, during which Juvenile Court Judge Timothy Grendell’s request for $300,000 in attorney fees in conjunction with Supreme Court adjudication failed to be approved. . That case, will be heard before the Ohio Supreme Court in Columbus at 9am on Thursday, February 13, 2025; this appeal, formally known as an Order to Show Cause, is identified as 2024-1409 (originally 2022- 45).

During the January 14, 2025, Budget and Finance Officer, Adrian Gorton, presented to the Commissioners for payment a $454 bill for food and lodging submitted on behalf of Judge Grendell as a result of obligations incurred in his appeal 2024-1409. The final recommendation of the Board of Professional Conduct in its 70 page Findings of Fact recommended “Timothy Joseph Grendell be suspended from the practice of law in Ohio for a period of 18 months.” Additionally, “the Supreme Court’s disciplinary order [should] include a provision immediately suspending Respondent [Grendell] from judicial office without pay, for the duration of his disciplinary suspension.” In addition to the completion of “eight hours of ethics education that includes the appropriate use of contempt power, “ the Board has recommended “Respondent be ordered to pay the costs of these proceedings.”

Commissioner Brakey, herself an attorney, rejected payment of the $454 bill because it was a result of 70-page Finding of Facts that identified professional weaknesses based on judicial requirements outlined in Gov. Bar R. X and Gpv. Jud R. IV. Although, the Board of Commissioners approved the rejection of Grendell’s $454 bill, Commissioner Spidalieri for the second week in a row offered the same argument: “If we don’t pay them, we will pay them later. It’s a slippery slope.”

The Supreme Court will grant Grendell’s legal representative, Stephen W. Funk, of Roetzel and Andress, LPA, the opportunity to present 15 minutes of oral testimony, followed by 15-minute oral testimony by attorneys for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Martha Apseff and Joseph Caligiuri.

GEAUGA COMMISSIONERS MUST DECIDE WHICH DRAFT AGREEMENT REGARDING PROPER USE OF $1,330,000.00 FOR AIRPORT AUTHORITY

January 15, 2025

At the December 17, 2024, Commissioner Meeting, the incumbent Commissioners (Lennon, Dvorak, and Spidalieri) found themselves dealing rather routinely, they thought, with Agenda Item #5:

The Airport Authority is requesting the Board approve an encumbrance and expenditure for January 2025 in the amount of $1,330,000.00 for the construction of a new T Hangar facility and upgrades to existing facilities at the Airport pending the execution of the Agreement for Capital Improvement Funding. (Emphasis submitted by editors)

With no public Commissioner Meeting until January 7, 2025, then County Administrator Gerry Morgan drafted his version of the stipulated Agreement for Capital Improvement Funding. Submitted to the Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office for review, the Board of Commissioners, including the newly-elected Carolyn Brakey, Esquire, found themselves with a decision regarding what action to take once they returned from Executive Session at approximately 11 am. with the ousted former county administrator observing the proceedings as a spectator from the back row.

Acting County Administrator Linda Burhenne asked multiple times for direction regarding whether to stick with Morgan’s original draft of the Capital Improvement Funding Agreement or to utilize the edited version from Chief Assistant Prosecutor Laura LaChapelle. New Commissioner Brakey was quick to point out that the Commissioners are not a party to the agreement and bear no responsibility for any liabilities that present themselves with funding. Her primary concern was with language in the original draft which specified that once the T Hangar funding was accepted, the Airport Authority was entitled to keep the $565,000 for any project it wished. Commissioner Brakey quickly asserted concern that at a time when senior citizens and other taxpayers on fixed incomes in Geauga County are having trouble dealing with spiraling inflationary costs, the Airport Authority should not have the privilege of free-use of those taxpayer-generated funds.

Acting County Administrator Burhenne opined that the redlining from the Prosecutor’s Office created a draft document distinctly different from Morgan’s document. Commissioner Brakey noted further the redlined draft appears to make the airport assume any resulting liabilities, thereby protecting the legal and financial interests of innocent taxpayers.

When Burhenne asked for a motion to accept the revised contract, Spidalieri suggested that the airport staff not be restricted because of restrictions placed on them by the revisions of the second contract and should not be micro-managed by the limitations placed on them by the Prosecutor’s revisions. Spidalieri expressed his sincerity in having airport staff report back to the Commissioners after he was able to talk to their board. Brakey continued to emphasize the need for airport staff to be accountable to the taxpayers.

For the present, acceptance of revisions from the Prosecutor’s Office were tabled, and this issue of airport hangar funding appears to be a breaking story, perhaps for the next public Commissioner meeting, scheduled for 9:30 am on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

ATTENTION AUBURN TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS: MONDAY. January 13, 2025, AT ADMINISTRATION BUILDING 11010 EAST WASHINGTON STREET 7 PM, 7:15PM. AND 7:30 PM FOR 3 (THREE) GEAUGA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION-REVIEWED ZONING AMENDMENTS WITH ACTION (APPROVAL OR DENIAL) FROM TRUSTEES TO FOLLOW

Posted Saturday, January 11, 2024

7PM PUBLIC HEARING ON AUBURN TOWNSHIP ZONING COMMISSION ZC2024-02 [FAMILY CEMETERIES]

This zoning amendment was initiated on November 10, 2024 by the Auburn Township Zoning Commission,, and forwarded for consideration/debate at the December 10, 2024, meeting of the Geauga County Planning Commission, at 12611 Ravenwood Drive., Suite 380, Chardon 44024. Per the enclosed letter addressed that day to the Secretary of the Auburn Township Zoning Commission (see copy of letter from County Planning Director, Linda Crombie) with recommendations for approval with modifications.)

7:15 PM PUBLIC HEARING ON AUBURN TOWNSHIP ZONING COMMISSION ZC2024-03 [MOBILE FOOD UNITS]

This proposed zoning amendment, initiated on November 14, 2024, and forwarded to the Geauga County Planning Commission on December 10, 2024; the Geauga County Planning Commission on that date “voted to recommend denial of of zoning language regarding Food Trucks. (See copy of letter from Planning Director Linda Crombie to Zoning Commission Secretary, Sarah Mulleman.)

7:30 PUBLIC HEARING ON AUBURN TOWNSHIP ZONING COMMISSION ZC2024-04, PREDOMINANTLY ISSUES ON BUILDING HEIGHTS, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES, AND REFERENCES TO ZONING-EXEMPT AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS IN A TOWNSHIP, ESPECIALLY VITICULTURE (GRAPES GROWN, HARVESTED, AND/OR SOLD FOR WINE). AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS IN A TOWNSHIP DO NOT REQUIRE ZONING CERTIFICATES

Again, this proposed zoning amendment was initiated by the Auburn Township Zoning Commission on November 14, 2024, and discussed at the December 10, 2024, Geauga County Planning Commission meeting. (See attached December 10, 2024, Geauga County Planning Commission letter with its 4 language clarifications.)

NEXT PUBLIC AUBURN TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE MEETING: 7 PM on Monday, January 20, 2025, at 11010 East Washington Street.

Oral vote on the three zoning amendments, according to Revised Code 519.23, must come within 20 days after close of public hearings, presumably the 7 pm January 20, Trustee Meeting.

SPIDALIERI STUNNED: “TWO TO ONE, I LOSE,” AS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THANKS THE BOARD FOR REMOVAL OF “HUGE LOAD OFF MY BACK”

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

In a 23-item agenda that attracted about 50 observers in Suite 350, 12611 Ravenwood Drive, Commissioners no sooner honored former Commissioner Timothy C. Lennon “for his dedication and commitment fo the residents of Geauga County, then they began the 2025 Annual Organizational Meeting.

At the beginning of the 2025 Organizational Meeting, Commissioners Spidalieri, Dvorak, and Brakey decided on how they would divide up responsibilities outside their weekly public commissioner responsibilities. Carolyn Brakey was named the primary Commissioner representative to the ADP Board with Commissioner Jim Dvorak the first alternate and Ralph Spidalieri the second alternate.

With regard to the Board of Revision, Commissioner Jim Dvorak was named the primary representative. Carolyn Brakey is the first alternate for 2025; Ralph Spidalieri is the second alternate; Linda Burhenne, Assistant County Administrator is third alternate.

The fireworks began about 10:20 am. Brakey and Dvorak voted no in response to the motion to appoint Gerry Morgan as County Administrator. That left a stunned Ralph Spidalieri acknowledging that “two to one, I lose.’’ This admission came after Dvorak recalled his dissatisfaction with Morgan at the January 8, 2024, Organizational Meeting.

Whatever his true personal reaction to his ouster, Gerry Morgan claimed in a voice loud enough to be heard throughout Suite 350, “This will probably be the first time that I’m truly, actually, saying thank you because it takes a huge load off my back.” He took a seat in the front row of Suite 350, as Assistant Administrator Linda Burhenne deliberately shook his hand in empathy on her way to the County Administrator’s appointed seat on the dais with Commissioner’s Clerk, Christine Blair, and the three Commissioners.

Then followed an Executive Session lasting from 10:35 to 11:12 am”for the purpose of discussing the discipline of a public employee.” Although Cleveland Channel 3 TV news person Danielle Wiggins and her cameraman had come to the meeting expecting to hear more about the outcome of Geauga Dog Warden Matt Granito, the only outcome announced at 11:12 in public session was “No action taken.”

So for now, Matt Granito is still the Dog Warden, but County Administrator Gerry Morgan is out.

NEW GEAUGA BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DENIES GRENDELL REQUEST FOR $300K AND OUTSIDE LEGAL REP FOR HIS SUPREME COURT FEB. 2025 TESTIMONY

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Former Commissioner Timothy Lennon was an observer as newly-appointed Commissioner Carolyn Brakey noted that she had placed on the agenda #7. the discussion of Probate/Juvenile Court “supplemental request of $300,000.00 and request for additional Outside Counsel,” made late this fall in person by Judge Timothy Grendell, the subject of State Bar Association hearings in Columbus after ongoing investigations for exceeding his authority. Judge Grendell is slated to testify next month in Columbus. At the time of his personal appearance before the old Board of Commissioners, Grendell cited ORC 2477.07A1 as rationale for the then-Board of Commissioners to pay for his legal expenses.

Commissioner Jim Dvorak officially made the motion to deny Grendell’s request, at which time Commissioner SpidaIieri claimed that he felt betrayed by lack of discussion and lack of clarification as to the purpose of Item 7.

Mrs. Brakey, herself a trained and licensed attorney, noted that the law cited on video transmission by Grendell, was inconsistent with the actual reading of the ORC he had cited as a reason for receiving financial support from Geauga County taxpayers.

In an apparent effort to smooth over the financial impact of awarding the additional $300K of taxpayer support, Spidalieri concluded that “one way or another” the legal appointees expecting payment from Grendell “will get paid in the end.”

In response, Mrs. Brakey cited the dangers of setting precedents like forcing taxpayers to subsidize county elected/appointed authorities as unfair and unrepresentative burdens. She added that the whole issue brought forward by Judge Grendell is a gray area. As a result, she announced her intention to deny both motions, with only Spidalieri abstaining.

AUBURN TOWNSHIP AWARDS 2.5 % COLA INCREASES TO ALL EMPLOYEES AT JANUARY 6, 2025, ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

With the retirement of long-time employee Emrick Gordon, Michael Fenstermaker has assumed the role of Road Supervisor. In his first road report for 2025, Fenstermaker reported the use of 866 tons of road salt with 850 tons of salt remaining in the dome to get us through winter 2025.

As reported about December 31, Fiscal Officer had his budget meeting about 9 am in the back room of the Auditor’s Office in regards to the events to the ill-fated erroneous payment of a road levy. The two-paragraph Certification of Findings of the Geauga County Board of Revision, with signatories, Auditor Charles E. Walder and Caroline Mansfield representing Treasurer Christopher Hitchcock, testified that

“The Board [of Revision],upon reviewing the fact, determined that the Auburn Township Road Levy was erroneously collected as a result of a clerical error. The Board certified this finding to the County Auditor for correction, in accordance with R.C. 319.36”

Newly-appointed Road Supervisor Fenstermaker announced that slightly more than half of the 2024-25 salt supply in the dome has been used already, with 866 tons used up thus far and about 850 tons remaining.

During his report, Fiscal Officer Dan Matsko announced investment savings of about $2.65 million.

During the Organizational Meeting, which followed the regular meeting and lasted about an hour. Full time and part-time employees have been awarded a 2.5% Cost of Living Raise. Trustees’ compensation will be based on “salary method for the year with payment from General Fund assets.” As an example of the difference that the COLA will make, the Office Administrator will be receiving $63,245 for 2025.

In other business, adult cemetery plots for residents are hereby increased to $250 per individual [residential rate] and $600 per non-resident. Additionally, Zoning Amendment fees are at $800 and Board of Zoning Appeal hearing fees are a minimum of $540 per issue.

Public evening meetings, unless otherwise noted, are changed to 7 pm. Trustee meetings, typically the first and third Mondays of the month, will observe that 7 pm starting time at the Administration Building. Additionally, there is a public hearing scheduled for January 13^th at 7 pm for input on three zoning amendments: 2024-02, 2024-03, and 2024-04.

Finally, it is our understanding that ODOT will be holding a meeting at Adam Hall on Thursday, January 9, starting at 5:30 pm to hear public opinion about traffic patterns concerning Auburn Township.

HALF OF ALL U.S. STATES GOING BANKRUPT

Sunday, January 5, 2025
Ethan Huff | NaturalNews.com // 5.9K Views

The future of America hangs in the balance as the country's financial state is not exactly strong.

A recent report from Truth in Accounting has revealed that 27 states across America, more than half, ended fiscal year 2023 with a deficit, meaning they did not have enough money on hand to cover their financial obligations.

While many states are still rolling in the dough from all the cash that was sent their way during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic," all that money will soon run out. By 2026, federal funds are expected to "dry up," which means many states will have to drastically change the way they manage money and provide services to the public.

"During the pandemic, federal support to states exceeded $800 billion, allowing states to temporarily cut taxes and increase spending," reports The Economic Times of India. "However, these surpluses were short-lived."

"This financial strain could lead to higher taxes, reduced public services, and cuts to benefits programs, leaving many Americans concerned about the future."

(Related: Did you know that Megabus, America's largest private bus company, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year?)

Unfunded retirement liabilities killing America

The states currently in the worst shape financially include Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois and Massachusetts. These states are expected to face the largest impacts once the hammer drops, possibly leading to more tax increases and cuts to public services.

The biggest factor contributing to state debt is unfunded retirement liabilities, reports indicate. Upwards of 86 percent of state and local government workers had access to their pensions as of March 2022. The private sector, conversely, is basically the other way around with very limited access.

While public workers need pensions, as does everyone for that matter, Oliver Giesecke from Stanford University warns that they are a costly form of debt that diverts funding away from public projects and infrastructure.

The short of it is that the more time that passes, the worse things are going to get for everyday Americans who will have to pay increasingly more for increasingly less. This means poverty will increase along with all the other horrors that typically accompany it.

"Some Americans are already moving from high-tax states with financial challenges to low-tax states with better fiscal stability," reports explain. "This trend may accelerate if tax hikes and benefit cuts intensify in states like Connecticut, Illinois, and New Jersey."

"Families seeking better opportunities may increasingly prioritize states with balanced budgets and lower tax burdens."

Alaska and Wyoming are among the states that are in better financial shape compared to their counterparts, which is why those with means are fleeing there. Everyone else will get to see firsthand what many decades of Wall Street greed and other corruption does to a nation in the end.

"We find that about $70 out of a $1,000 in allocated [federal] aid ended up in pension contributions," says Oliver Giesecke, a research fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution.

To avoid pointing the finger at the true culprits, i.e., the private Federal Reserve and the crooks who have run America into the ground, CNBC is instead blaming deferred maintenance on infrastructure, extreme weather from "climate change," and an aging population on these state budget shortfalls.

"Virtually every state made a tax cut," adds Justin Theal, a senior officer at The Pew Charitable Trusts' Fiscal 50 project, about what COVID prompted many states to do as far as their budgets are concerned. "Virtually every state also increased employee pay for public employees."

"The implication is that fiscal flexibility is really declining across the states."

The U.S. economy is toast once all the dust settles.

AGE TO RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS INCREASES

Sunday, January 5, 2025
Rudy Blalock

The retirement age for many Americans to qualify for Social Security payments will increase by two months, effective Jan 2.

The change does not apply to individuals born between 1943 and 1954, for whom the full retirement age was set at 66 by the Social Security Administration (SSA). For those born after 1954, the age for retirement then increases in two-month increments for each birth year thereafter.

The gradual increase in the full retirement age is part of a long-term plan implemented by the SSA to cut costs due to financial challenges that emerged partially due to increasing life expectancies, according to information on the administration’s website.

For example, those born in 1955 can fully retire at the age of 66 and two months, 1956 birth years at age 66 and four months, and the same for each year thereafter until the full retirement age reaches the maximum of 67 years, which is for those born in 1960 and later.

In 2025, those born in the first four months of 1958 reached their full retirement age of 66 and 8 months last year, and those born in the last eight months of that year will reach full retirement age in 2025. Those born in 1959 will reach full retirement age near the end of 2025, under the same rules.

While the full retirement age is increasing, Americans still have the option to claim their benefits as early as age 62. However, choosing to do so before reaching full retirement age will permanently reduce monthly payments.

For example, those born in 1958 who choose to start their payments at age 62 will see their monthly payments reduced by about 28.3 percent compared to what they would receive at their full retirement age of 66 and 8 months.

Conversely, those who delay claiming their benefits beyond their full retirement age will see an increase in their monthly payments. The administration adds 8 percent per year to the benefit amount for each year an individual delays claiming up to age 70.

On the SSA’s information page about retirement benefits, the administration emphasizes that the decision of when to start receiving payments is a personal one and depends on various factors, including health, financial situation, and retirement plans. The SSA encourages all Americans to take advantage of the resources available on the SSA website when making their decision.

The change in full retirement age does not affect Medicare eligibility, which remains at age 65. The administration advises individuals to sign up for Medicare three months before their 65th birthday, even if they plan to delay retirement payments.

The SSA has stated that Social Security was never intended to be the sole source of retirement income and recommends that individuals consider other forms of retirement savings and investments.

Those seeking more information about the benefits and how they work are encouraged to create a “my Social Security” account on the SSA’s website at ssa.gov/myaccount.

WHO IS NEW ORLEANS ATTACK SUSPECT SHAMSUD-DIN JABBAR? 6 THINGS WE KNOW SO FAR

Thursday, January 2, 2025
Jack Phillips

FBI officials named Shamsud-Din Jabbar as the suspect of the apparent terrorist attack in New Orleans that left at least 15 people dead and more than 30 injured on New Year’s Day.

In the incident, a driver behind the wheel of a pick-up truck rammed New Year’s revelers in the city’s Canal and Bourbon streets at around 3:15 a.m., the FBI and other officials said. It’s investigating the matter as an “act of terrorism,” according to the FBI.

After the vehicle stopped, the suspect emerged from the truck and opened fire on responding officers, New Orleans police said in a statement. Jabbar died on the scene.

Other Individuals Possibly Involved

In a news conference Wednesday, FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan said Jabbar is unlikely the only person involved in the attack.

“We do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible. We are aggressively running down every lead, including those of his known associates,” she said.

Duncan then asked the public to contact the FBI if they have any information on whether another suspect was involved in the suspected terror attack.

“That’s why we need the public’s help. We’re asking if anybody has any interactions with Shamsud-Din Jabbar in the last 72 hours that you contact us,” she said at a Wednesday afternoon press conference. “The FBI is asking for the public’s help. We’re asking anyone who has information, video or pictures to provide it to the FBI.”

An American Citizen

The FBI said that Jabbar was an American citizen from Texas, following online speculations that the suspect may have entered the United States from Mexico in recent days before carrying out the attack.

Based on the FBI’s statement, it’s not clear whether Jabbar was naturalized or was born inside the United States. It’s also unclear if he spent significant amounts of time in another country.

Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.) told ABC News that Jabbar appears to have “lived or spent some time” in the New Orleans area. Carter did not provide any other details.

“My understanding is there may have been some identification that indicated that the suspect had a local residence and so that information is being tested,” he said.

The vehicle used in the attack had a Texas license plate, Carter said. Video footage and photos appear to confirm that the truck, a Ford F-150 model, had Texas plates.

ISIS Flag Found

In its statement, the FBI said that “an ISIS flag” was found in the suspect’s truck. Later, officials said at a news conference that the flag was hitched to the suspect’s truck.

Video footage and photos of the vehicle show a white pole hitched to its back that was attached to what appears to be a black flag. The ISIS terrorist group’s flag is black with Arabic writing on top and a white circle below with Arabic inside the circle.

“An ISIS flag was located in the vehicle, and the FBI is working to determine the subject’s potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations,” the FBI said.

During the Syrian Civil war, ISIS had taken control over swaths of Syria and Iraq starting in the early 2010s before it was largely dismantled in the latter part of that decade. The group would often produce videos, distributed on social media, that showed brutal executions of its captors, including American journalist James Foley in 2014.

ISIS affiliates have emerged in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as in Afghanistan’s Khorasan region in recent years, according to a U.S. State Department report produced earlier this year.

Rental Truck

Car-sharing marketplace Turo confirmed on Wednesday that the truck used in the attack was rented via its company, a type of peer-to-peer service.

“We are heartbroken to learn that one of our host’s vehicles was involved in this awful incident,” Turo spokesman Steve Webb said in a statement to media outlets Wednesday. “We are actively partnering with the FBI. We are not currently aware of anything in this guest’s background that would have identified him as a trust and safety threat to us at the time of the reservation.”

According to its website, Turo describes itself as a peer-to-peer car-sharing company that allows private car owners to rent their vehicles through an app or online to other people.

“Unlike rental car companies, Turo is a peer-to-peer car rental marketplace where you can rent directly from trusted local car owners in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and France. Turo does not own any vehicles—Turo hosts share their own personal cars and set their own prices, discounts, vehicle availability, and delivery options,” the company says.

Improvised Explosive Devices Also Found

FBI officials said they found weapons and a possible IED, or improvised explosive device, in the truck at the time of the attack. The type of weapons or IED was not specified in the statement.

“Other potential IEDs were also located in the French Quarter” in New Orleans, the agency said. “The FBI’s special agent bomb technicians are working with our law enforcement partners to determine if any of these devices are viable, and they will work to render those devices safe,” the statement read.

Two explosive devices were rendered safe, Duncan said Wednesday.

Investigated as a Terrorist Attack

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell declared the incident was a “terrorist attack” that was intentionally carried out.

“This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could,” New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said at a press briefing on Wednesday. “It was not a DUI situation. This is more complex and more serious.”

The chief said that the driver was “hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”

In its first statement on the matter, the FBI said: “This morning, an individual drove a car into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing a number of people and injuring dozens of others. The subject then engaged with local law enforcement and is now deceased. The FBI is the lead investigative agency, and we are working with our partners to investigate this as an act of terrorism.”

Reuters contributed to this report.

1 DEAD, 7 INJURED AFTER CYBERTRUCK FILLED WITH FIREWORKS EXPLODES OUTSIDE TRUMP HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS

Thursday, January 2, 2025
Rachel Acenas

One person was killed and seven others were injured after a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday morning.

Officials said that the vehicle was observed completely engulfed in flames in the valet area of the hotel.

A person inside the Tesla died, while seven other people in the surrounding area suffered minor injuries, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said during a news conference. Two of those injured were transported to a local hospital.

Guests of the hotel were immediately evacuated and transferred to the Resorts World Hotel, according to the sheriff.

Tesla founder Elon Musk later said that explosives were discovered inside the rented vehicle.

“We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself,” Musk wrote in a post on the X social media platform. “All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion.”

Gas canisters and large fireworks mortars were found in the vehicle, authorities confirmed in a Wednesday evening press conference.

The sheriff also noted that the walls of the electric vehicle remained fully intact during the explosion and that damage to the surrounding area was limited because of “the fact that this was a Cybertruck.”

The front glass doors of the Trump hotel “were not even broken,” McMahill said.

McMahill said the vehicle was rented in Colorado, arrived in Las Vegas at 7:30 a.m., and “went up and down” Las Vegas Boulevard before finally parking at the Trump Hotel. It was parked for 15–20 seconds before it exploded.

Authorities know the identity of the person who rented the Cybertruck and declined to release details.

The fiery explosion happened as authorities were already on high alert after a deadly terrorist attack earlier on Wednesday morning in the iconic French Quarter of New Orleans. Federal investigators identified Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, as the man who purposely rammed a rented pickup truck carrying a black ISIS flag and explosives into a crowd around 3:15 a.m. on Bourbon Street as people were celebrating the new year. Authorities said 15 people were killed.

Musk speculated that the Las Vegas incident was perhaps “linked in some way” to the New Orleans attack, noting that both the vehicles were borrowed from rental car company Turo. Authorities have not connected the two incidents.

“Appears likely to be an act of terrorism. Both this Cybertruck and the F-150 suicide bomb in New Orleans were rented from Turo. Perhaps they are linked in some way,” Musk wrote on X.

The sheriff also said that so far there is no indication that the explosion was linked to ISIS.

In discussing the New Orleans attack in a nationwide address Wednesday evening, President Joe Biden said that law enforcement and the intelligence community are also probing the Las Vegas incident and the “possibility” that the two are linked, also reiterating that so far there is no evidence that they are connected.

Eric Trump, executive vice president of The Trump Organization and the second son of President-elect Donald Trump, confirmed the vehicle fire on New Year’s Day, and said that the incident happened in the valet area in front of the hotel.

“Earlier today, a reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas,” Eric Trump wrote in a post on X. “The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response and professionalism.”

Images of the vehicle fire quickly circulated on social media, showing what appeared to be an explosion as the vehicle caught fire near the entrance to the hotel. Some witnesses reported online that they heard a loud bang and saw clouds of smoke near the hotel.

One witness and hotel guest posted a video shot from inside the hotel lobby.

“Cybertruck blew up in front of Trump hotel in Las Vegas,” the user wrote in a post on X. “Those are our luggage by the door and that’s where we were when it happened.”

According to local media outlet KSNV, the explosion was reported at 8:40 a.m. local time.

The Trump Hotel is located at 2000 Fashion Drive, which is on the north end of the famous Las Vegas Strip. Many people had traveled to the city to ring in the New Year.

According to local media outlet KTNV, Fashion Show Drive is closed in both directions from Sammy Davis Jr. Drive to Las Vegas Boulevard while authorities investigate the incident.

Authorities confirmed there is no further threat to the public.

“I just want to remind the community that everything is safe now,” the sheriff said.

The incident happened as authorities were already on high alert after a deadly terrorist attack earlier on Wednesday morning in the iconic French Quarter of New Orleans, which is also considered a popular tourist destination.

Police are urging the public to avoid the area around the hotel as they investigate the deadly vehicle fire.