By Rocio Hernandez The Nevada Independent Questions are still swirling more than three weeks after the Biden administration announced plans to provide relief for low- to middle income college graduates — and possibly some parents — by forgiving up to $20,000 in student loan debt per borrower. The White House couched it as a move to help up to 43 million borrowers, and … [Read more...]
sparks city council meeting highlights
The following are highlights from the September 12, 2022, Sparks City Council Meeting. Announcements/ Presentations Council proclaimed: • September 2022 as “Suicide Prevention Month: Creating Hope Through Action” and encouraged the community to share information about the new 988 crisis hotline connecting those experiencing a mental health, substance use, or suicide … [Read more...]
Florence Drake Elementary 1 of 2 Nevada schools to receive Blue Ribbon status
Late last week, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recognized 297 schools throughout the nation as being Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022, including Florence Drake Elementary School in Sparks. The only other Nevada school named is the Linda Rankin Givens Elementary School in Las Vegas. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program was incepted in 1982 as a way to acknowledge public … [Read more...]
City narrows search for fire chief
The City of Sparks has narrowed down the search for its next fire chief to six finalists, who will take part in a two-day assessment and interview process on October 11-12th to try to clinch the position. When former City of Sparks Fire Chief Jim Reid retired this past April, the city actively began recruiting for someone to fill the position. It hired executive recruiting … [Read more...]
Hot air balloons grace the Reno skies in yearly tradition
By Joey Lovato The Nevada Independent It’s a yearly tradition: Reno residents wake up bright and early in September, right as the weather starts to cool, and head up to Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, where hundreds of hot air balloons ascend above the city. As the brightly colored balloons filled the morning sky, spectators marveled at their beauty during the … [Read more...]
City opens all-abilities playground at the Marina
The new all-abilities playground at the Sparks Marina is officially open, making it the city’s second of its kind in Sparks. Located on the northwest corner of the marina at Howard Drive and Lincoln Way, the new All-Abilities Playground features enhanced equipment for people of all abilities and shade structures within a fenced area. When designing the inclusive playground, … [Read more...]
Legends Bay Casino expects to draw customers from outside Sparks and Reno
By Howard Stutz The Nevada Independent In the week before it opened, operators of the Legends Bay Casino in Sparks had to turn potential customers away because the $120 million property wasn’t open. Olympia Gaming Regional President Court Cardinal understood the confusion. The construction fencing at Legends Bay has disappeared and The Outlets at Legends, an … [Read more...]
Quirks of cannabis tax formula mean heavy burden for Nevada cultivators as prices drop
By Michelle Rindels The Nevada Independent In Reno cultivator Sarah Rosenfeld’s recent experience, the top dollar a pound of marijuana bud or flower might fetch at wholesale prices is about $1,800 to $2,000, and that’s if it’s packaged and has a high concentration of the active ingredient THC. Something in bulk with less potency might be closer to $900. But according … [Read more...]