KUNR Public Radio: Local News Feed

Gov. Steve Sisolak signed a directive on Tuesday, which will allow K-12 schools and facilities to reopen, with restrictions, for summer activities, effective immediately; however, those facilities are not required to reopen. KUNR’s Michelle Billman talked to our reporter Lucia Starbuck to break down what we know at this point.

Like many aspects of life, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the 2019-2020 school year in Nevada to a screeching halt. Since then, schools have remained silent with teachers and students relying on distance learning to complete the semester. But what about next year? Will schools be ready to reopen in the fall? KUNR’s Paul Boger spoke with Nevada’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Jhone Ebert to get her take on the coronavirus’ impact on schools across the state.

Hundreds of people spent their Sunday evening participating in a peace vigil in downtown Reno. Black Lives Matter activists organized the event to allow people to speak, listen, and heal as the community continues to protest against police brutality. KUNR’s Stephanie Serrano was there and has this story. As a note of disclosure, this story contains mentions of offensive racial slurs.

Monday marks two weeks since 46-year-old George Floyd was killed while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Former police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. Floyd was pronounced dead shortly afterward.

Reno resident Rajid Selim decided to photograph the events that occurred in Reno last weekend: both the peaceful protest against police brutality and the rioting that followed. He shares his account of those events as well as previous experiences of racism he has endured. As a warning, this story contains offensive racial slurs as well as accounts of rioting and may not be suitable for all listeners and viewers.

Lela Gnuse is a local activist who is immunocompromised and, despite the pandemic, is leading the effort to organize events in Reno honoring black lives and protesting police brutality. KUNR’s Stephanie Serrano spoke to her about her experiences as a black woman and what to expect from a peace vigil organized for Sunday.

Lee en español. Gamblers can once again try their luck in Nevada, as casinos across the state begin reopening Thursday under 50% maximum occupancy, but as KUNR's Benjamin Payne reports, workers are concerned about safety.

Washoe County Schools are wrapping up classes this week, and that instruction has been done through remote learning since late March due to the pandemic. Janelle Olisea is a reporter for KUNR’s Youth Media program who missed seeing her teachers and friends this semester. She shares her experience in this audio diary. Editor's note: this story includes language that some readers may find offensive.

Houseless individuals are more at risk of contracting COVID-19, and this week, authorities in Reno and Sparks swept through and cleared out two different campsites, dispersing unsheltered individuals into the community. The Mountain West News Bureau’s Noah Glick checked in with KUNR’s Lucia Starbuck, who covered these cleanup activities for our media partner This Is Reno , to learn what impacts these actions may have.

The local high school students in KUNR's Youth Media program are wrapping up the school year from home with classes ending this week. One of those students, Maya Dampier, recorded an audio diary to share her experience as a senior graduating from Reno High School. Editor's note: this story includes language that some readers may find offensive.