By Gabby Birenbaum and Noel Simms The Nevada Independent Retired U.S. Army Capt. Sam Brown is entering Nevada’s 2024 U.S. Senate race, with the institutional backing of Senate Republicans. Brown, who made his announcement public at a Monday afternoon event at Bragg Crane Service in Sparks, pitched himself in a statement to The Nevada Independent as the best candidate … [Read more...]
Northern Nevada International Center celebrates refugee success stories
By Tim Lenard The Nevada Independent At a table dressed in blue and gold with the words “Stand With Ukraine” emblazoned on it, Elizabeth Sierova shows off Montanka, a traditional Ukrainian doll, to guests attending a World Refugee Day celebration in Reno last month. Sierova is from Kyiv, but fled the city with her two daughters when Russia invaded Ukraine last year. … [Read more...]
Lombardo push to curtail remote work delayed as state pivots to new office park
By Jacob Solis The Nevada Independent Just a day before an executive order effectively ending widespread work-from-home policies for state workers was set to take effect, an internal memo suggests a full return to the office could take between six and 12 months of additional time. In January, Gov. Joe Lombardo’s second-ever executive order called on the state’s … [Read more...]
Where can Sparks students find free meals this summer?
The Nevada Independent The start of summer break in Nevada may be a welcome time away from homework and school projects for students, but it also means many children will lose access to daily free and reduced-priced meals. In some counties, school districts have programs to continue providing that food through the summer months, but these come with some … [Read more...]
Nevada hunting curtailed as excessive snow, extreme drought diminish mule deer, bighorn sheep herds
By Amy Alonzo The Nevada Independent The frustration is hard to hide on Cody Schroeder’s face as the wildlife biologist steers his pickup off Interstate 80 and into the Carson Range to monitor mule deer habitat. A once-bushy and tree-covered mountainside near Verdi is bisected by construction access roads, flat patches of dirt piled high with boulders that have been … [Read more...]
Funds approved for nonprofits to develop employment opportunities
At the June 12 Sparks City Council meeting, council members voted to award both Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada and Opportunity Alliance Nevada each $179,840 to help fund their employment programs. The monies are generated from three of the City’s budgets, which include the Fund 1203 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement, the Program 130271 Grant Program … [Read more...]
New process will make it easier for Washoe students to move to schools of their choice
By Rocio Hernandez The Nevada Independent Starting this week, it’ll be easier for Washoe County students to leave their assigned school and enroll at a different school in the district as long as their pick has space for them. On Monday, the Washoe County School District launched a new variance form that would allow a student to request to attend a school other than … [Read more...]
Audit calls for Washoe County elections overhaul, but some question the review itself
By Noel Sims The Nevada Independent An 80-page external audit calling for an overhaul of the Washoe County Registrar of Voters office — citing a lack of staffing, adequate training, communication and security in the county’s elections — was the topic of discussion at a contentious Friday meeting of the county’s audit committee. Several mistakes during the 2022 … [Read more...]