By Carly Sauvageau The Nevada Independent Reno is welcoming its first female police chief to the force — a longtime member of the Stockton Police Department who said she sees a role for law enforcement in addressing homelessness and wants to support crime victims regardless of their housing situation. Kathryn Nance, who served as deputy chief in the Northern … [Read more...]
Washoe teachers to get hundreds of dollars each as district battles shortages
By Rocio Hernandez The Nevada Independent The Washoe County School Board last Tuesday approved a series of stipends of $500 or more per employee to give incentive to teachers and other staff to stay on the job as the district experiences labor shortages and vacancies. The Washoe County School District estimates that 100-150 positions remain vacant each year because of … [Read more...]
Officials approve costs for sewer projects
In the midst of a number of storms dropping an unprecedented amount of precipitation in Central California and Northern Nevada, the Sparks City Council approved a number of contracts at its January 9, 2023 meeting that would improve storm drainage and sewage systems throughout the city. In item 9.3 of its agenda, the city council approved a $1,389,007 construction contract … [Read more...]
Sparks City Council meeting highlights
The following are highlights from the January 9, 2023, Sparks City Council Meeting. Announcements/ Presentations Sparks City Council heard the following presentations: • Proclaimed January as National Radon Action Month to help increase the public’s awareness of radon, promote radon testing and mitigation, and advance the use of radon-resistant new construction … [Read more...]
New trustees sworn in as Washoe, Clark schools face challenges
By Rocio Hernandez The Nevada Independent The Clark and Washoe County school boards are starting the year with new trustees and leaders who hope to help their districts navigate school safety and staff recruitment and retention challenges. The Clark County School Board held a swearing-in ceremony Jan. 3 l packed with supporters and family members of newly elected … [Read more...]
Lombardo staff vows ‘unprecedented’ school investments, end of state employee remote work
By Tabitha Mueller The Nevada Independent Top officials in Gov. Joe Lombardo’s administration said the governor and his staff are preparing a state budget that will make “unprecedented investments in K-12 education,” and evaluating pay and benefits packages for state employees, although they did not say whether those will align with dramatic increases Gov. Steve Sisolak … [Read more...]
Decriminalizing traffic tickets among new laws that took effect Jan. 1, 2023
By Sean Golonka The Nevada Independent Beginning Jan. 1, a new Nevada law will decriminalize several minor traffic offenses, including driving with broken tail lights and carrying people in the bed of a truck, eliminating the possibility of jail time for such violations and for those unable to pay their traffic fines. The law, approved by the Legislature and Gov. Steve … [Read more...]
Q&A: Superintendent Enfield on making Washoe schools the ‘preferable option’
By Rocio Hernandez The Nevada Independent Before she became the new superintendent of the Washoe County School District, Susan Enfield had an idea of what challenges she might expect coming into Nevada, which has historically ranked low in terms of its per-pupil funding. Six months into her new role, Enfield has learned firsthand what issues this level of funding … [Read more...]