KUNR Public Radio: Local News Feed

There are two open seats up for grabs on the Sparks City Council. Candidates are addressing several issues including growth and police reform as the Sparks Police Department faces criticism in recent months. KUNR’s Lucia Starbuck sat down with This is Reno publisher Bob Conrad to discuss the races, and what he learned from the candidates at a recent forum he hosted.

There are four seats open on the Reno City Council this election. This Is Reno recently held a forum where the candidates expressed how they would address the issues facing the city, including homelessness and housing, along with police reform. KUNR’s Lucia Starbuck checked in with Bob Conrad, the publisher of This Is Reno , to hear what the candidates had to say.

Drought, wildfire and record-breaking heat are all part of the current climate landscape in the Mountain West. It’s a triple whammy that’s expected to continue into the coming months.

Candidates for the open seats on the Washoe County School District Board of Trustees have weighed in on how they would rate the district’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have also shared their biggest priorities if elected for KUNR’s 2020 voter guide. KUNR’s Natalie Van Hoozer talked with Lucia Starbuck to break down what the candidates had to say.

Three candidates in Sparks are looking to replace outgoing Democratic Assemblyman Greg Smith in the legislature next year. One of them is Natha Anderson, an educator and president of the Washoe Education Association. She spoke with KUNR’s Paul Boger to give her take on the challenges facing the state.

Skip Daly has represented residents living in eastern Sparks and the North Valleys for eight years, non-consecutively, in the Nevada Assembly. This year, he once again faces a challenge from Jill Dickman, the Republican who defeated him for a term in 2014. KUNR’s Paul Boger spoke with incumbent Democratic Assemblyman Skip Daly about his work in the legislature and his bid for reelection.

Washoe County has seen explosive growth, especially in the North Valleys where developers have built hundreds of new homes in recent years, but some argue that expansion has not been done strategically. Marie Baker is the Democratic candidate for the District Four seat on the Washoe County Commission. She spoke with KUNR’s Paul Boger to give her take on the challenges facing the county.

The City of Reno has ramped up cleanups of homeless camps over the last several weeks. KUNR's Lucia Starbuck covered a cleanup Wednesday morning in partnership with This Is Reno .

Rapid population growth in Washoe County has led to a critical shortage of affordable housing and higher demands on services across the region. Alexis Hill is the Democratic candidate for the District 1 seat on the Washoe County Commission. She spoke with KUNR's Paul Boger about how the county should respond to this issue.

Washoe County’s population has exploded in recent years. In 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that roughly 420,000 people lived in the county. Now, that number is more than 471,000. That growth has led to a housing crunch and greater demands on services across the region. KUNR’s Paul Boger spoke with Marsha Berkbigler, the incumbent Republican running for a third term representing District 1 on the Washoe County Commission. They spoke about the challenges currently facing the county.