By Jacob Solis The Nevada Independent A new policy issued this week by Gov. Joe Lombardo’s administration functionally ended more-lenient remote work guidelines for state employees, reverting back to pre-pandemic norms 11 months after Lombardo initially moved to send workers back to the office. In January, Lombardo signed an executive order instructing the Department … [Read more...]
City of Sparks pushes to save historic Machine Shop building
At its December 11 city council meeting, the City of Sparks passed a resolution to try to save the city’s oldest railroad building from demolition. The Machine Shop, located at 599 Nugget Avenue, was built 120 years ago and still stands in its original location. In 1903, Southern Pacific moved all its train equipment from Wadsworth to Sparks because of the train repair shop … [Read more...]
How a Reno high schooler’s app is helping address the opioid crisis
By Tabitha Mueller The Nevada Independent Seventeen-year-old Alex Nay sat at a round table between his mother and a family friend at a memorial service, surrounded by paints and brushes, focusing on a small canvas rectangle. Nay dipped a brush into various paints, transferred them onto a palette and swirled the colors together to form browns, oranges and reds for an … [Read more...]
As criminal trials soar in Washoe County, lawyers and head prosecutor disagree on reasons
By Eric Neugeboren The Nevada Independent In September, a Northern Nevada man invoked his constitutional right to a speedy trial. He wanted his day in Washoe County court within 60 days of his arraignment. The court set his trial for the “first available date” four months later — in late January. In October, the man, who is facing child sexual abuse charges, lost an … [Read more...]
Reno-Sparks mobile food pantry steps in amidrising prices, inflation
By Carly Sauvageau The Nevada Independent At 8 a.m. on a sunny, mid-October Saturday, volunteers for The Community Food Pantry mobile program gather outside the Ponderosa Hotel — a motel in the heart of Reno used by some people as their permanent residence — and start giving out food. Volunteers ask clients what they are in the mood for on this distribution day, and … [Read more...]
Committee votes to redraw boundary lines in Sparks
On Thursday, November 16, 2023, the Washoe County School District met with the WCSD Zoning Advisory Committee and the public at Sky Ranch Middle School at 1200 Windmill Farms Road in Sparks to discuss possibly changing the boundaries for up to 10 schools in the area. “We talked about the rezoning of middle and elementary schools in Sparks and north Spanish Springs to help … [Read more...]
Reno resource center aims to help immigrants, abuse victims ‘thrive, not just survive’
By Jannelle Calderon The Nevada Independent What started as a nonprofit to help and advocate for immigrant victims of crimes, domestic violence, abuse and trafficking in Northern Nevada, Tu Casa Latina has become a go-to helping hand for Latinos looking for resources in Spanish. While neither a shelter nor a law firm, Tu Casa Latina is accredited by the Department of … [Read more...]
Griswold Challenge returns to downtown Sparks
The 39 North Pole Village Griswold Challenge is back, and Sparks families/businesses are invited to participate in the annual holiday light decorating contest held in Downtown Sparks November 30 through December 2 free of charge. The 8th annual challenge celebrates the true spirit of Christmas by inviting people to create their best, most innovative light displays and fill a … [Read more...]