KUNR Public Radio: Local News Feed

Artown is underway in Reno, and along with some big names, this year’s month-long celebration of the arts also includes a master of a small instrument: the ukulele. Reno Public Radio’s Noah Glick caught up with ukulele musician Jake Shimabukuro over the phone during his current tour.

The recent rise in housing costs is lucrative for those who rent or sell homes in Northern Nevada. But for other residents, the threads of stability are breaking. KUNR's Bree Zender spoke with a math teacher who says she won't be able to afford to live here comfortably any longer.

The Stewart Indian School in Carson City opened in 1890. Like similar schools across the country, the original goal was to assimilate Native American children and eliminate their culture and traditions. It closed its doors 90 years later in 1980. On Wednesday, alumni, tribal leaders and government officials gathered for a blessing ceremony for the future Stewart Indian School Cultural Center and Museum, which will open next year. Our reporter Holly Hutchings has the story.

The Washoe Board of County Commissioners has approved language for a ballot measure that would increase property taxes for Truckee River flood mitigation. Voters will decide in November. Our News Director Michelle Billman spoke with Bob Conrad of ThisisReno to learn more.

The Reno Rodeo is now in its 99th year. On top of the organization's ten-day annual event, the group also aims to pass down skills and Western culture to the next generation. This year, they partnered with Artown to hold their first-ever kids' rodeo and storytelling event. Our reporter Holly Hutchings was there.

This Saturday, July 14, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony joins with the Nevada Museum of Art to celebrate Native American art, culture, community and tradition. The event features Native American artists, dancers storytellers and musicians from a variety of cultures, including Paiute, Washoe, Shoshone, Pala and Patwin. The celebration is free from 10am to 5pm at the Nevada Museum of Art. KUNR’s Danna O’Connor talks with Michon Eben, Historic Preservation Officer for the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony

Updated 10:05 am Wednesday: A second drug company is asking to intervene in a last-minute Nevada court hearing hours before a twice-convicted killer is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection. Drug company Sandoz wants to join New Jersey-based drugmaker Alvogen in its objection to the Wednesday evening execution of Scott Raymond Dozier. Sandoz produces the paralytic cisatracurium and the synthetic opioid fentanyl, which are two of the three drugs Nevada had planned to use on Dozier in a

Death row inmate Scott Dozier was scheduled to be the first person executed in Nevada in more than a decade. Just hours before Wednesday night's execution, however, multiple drug companies intervened in court, and a Las Vegas judge has halted the procedure. KUNR has updates here.

Grant Denton is a peer recovery specialist and program developer at the Life Change Center non-profit organization in Reno. Before devoting himself to helping others; however, Denton had to first help himself.

Artown is in its 23rd year. The month-long festival is something many look forward to. There are nearly 500 total workshops, exhibits, events and activities, and over 70 percent of them are free to the public. Our listeners might be wondering what’s happening this year. Our arts & culture reporter Holly Hutchings sat down with news director Michelle Billman to break it down for us.