This Is Reno Radio

Fil Corbitt is one of Reno’s most talented and better known podcasters. In a recent episode of The Wind podcast, Fil explored last year’s decision by the city of Reno to ban whips from downtown. I speak with Fil in this episode about the ban and what they found.

 Also, the Washoe County board of commissioners recently approved a resolution that grants the county manager the authority to provide county employees with public relations and legal support. Up to $150,000 worth.

Washoe County Manager Eric Brown explains what’s been happening and what kinds of threats county employees have received.

Support the show

Stay current on Reno news by subscribing to our free daily newsletter: https://thisisreno.com/newsletter/

Public education is facing a protracted crisis. From lack of funding and bureaucracy to politicized attacks on teachers and staff, Washoe County, much like the rest of the country, is also no stranger to public education controversy.

For this show, I spoke with Calen Evans. A ten-year teacher, he is now the president elect of the Washoe Education Association. That’s the group that represents more than 3,500 teachers in the county.

Evans said he hopes to take the association in a more active direction under his tenure. In this show we talk about what he hopes to accomplish, the union’s endorsements for school board candidates and challenges facing the school district.

We also talk about the future of public education in Washoe County.

This show is sponsored by Truckee Meadows Water Authority reminding you to water on your address's designated watering days in order to conserve water. Visit smartaboutwater.com for details.

Support the show

Stay current on Reno news by subscribing to our free daily newsletter: https://thisisreno.com/newsletter/

A recent public comment at a Reno City Council brought up an issue that took many people by surprise.  

The reason: A residential psychiatric facility is opening in a Reno neighborhood. That is of course creating a lot of questions for nearby residents.

But opposition to the facility also drew considerable negative responses. People commenting online condemned what they called NIMBY-ism and ableist attitudes by the neighbors who expressed concern.

For this episode we hear from one of the neighbors about why she is concerned. We also check in with Reno City Manager Doug Thornley about why such facilities can and do come to neighborhoods in Nevada.

Listen below and on KWNK 97.7 Community Radio. 

Subscribe here on most major podcast apps: https://thisisreno.buzzsprout.com.

Support the show

Stay current on Reno news by subscribing to our free daily newsletter: https://thisisreno.com/newsletter/

Local business DJ Trivia has for nearly a decade been hosting games at local bars. But the City of Reno recently decided those games qualify as live entertainment. 

As a result, a handful of bars have been forced to quit hosting the games – or get an expensive cabaret license.

In this episode we hear from two of the business owners impacted by the city’s recent crackdown on trivia games. 

Also: The recent leak of a U.S. Supreme Court draft ruling could overturn the longstanding Roe v. Wade decision that gave women the right to choose to have an abortion. 

The potential change to Roe v. Wade drew swift rebuke in Reno as dozens gathered at the federal courthouse to express their outrage. We chat with the ACLU’s Holly Welborn and Lilith Baran to talk about what the potential overhaul will mean for Nevadans

Speaking of the ACLU, the civil liberties organization recently sued the state of Nevada for continuing to list cannabis as a schedule 1 controlled substance. That listing by Nevada’s board of pharmacy, according to the ACLU, violates the Nevada Constitution in part because the state has legalized cannabis for recreational and medicinal use.

Sadmira Ramic with the ACLU explains the reason for the lawsuit.

Support the show

Stay current on Reno news by subscribing to our free daily newsletter: https://thisisreno.com/newsletter/

This Is Reno photojournalist Ty O’Neil recently returned from Ukraine where he was covering the conflict with Russia. 

In this episode, we have a very special guest host. Lucia Starbuck interviews O’Neil about his recent visit to Ukraine to cover the Russian invasion. They discuss what he saw, the challenges he faced and how Ukrainians treated an independent journalist trying to cover the conflict.

His startling imagery was published in a series of photo galleries and articles on This Is Reno.

Listen to the podcast online here or on all major podcast apps. We also are on KWNK 97.7 FM community radio on Sunday mornings.

Support the show

Stay current on Reno news by subscribing to our free daily newsletter: https://thisisreno.com/newsletter/

Shouting, interruptions and threats marked a heated meeting of the Board of Regents on April first. The regents are the Nevada System of Higher Education’s governing board. 

They met to approve a $610,000 severance with Chancellor Melody Rose.

Rose wanted to leave her position as chancellor after she filed a voluminous complaint against certain regents.

Regents argued and interrupted one another during the meeting. They ultimately approved the severance. 

Rose had only been in the position since June of 2020

On this week’s episode is a breakdown of the April 1 regents meeting. I also speak with a University of Nevada faculty member, Amy Pason, about Nevada’s higher education system. We get her perspective on what happened with the regents, and what’s in the wake of the resignation of Chancellor Melody Rose.

Listen to this show Sundays at 8:30 a.m. on KWNK 97.7 FM, Reno's community radio station: https://kwnkradio.org/thisisreno/

Support the show

Stay current on Reno news by subscribing to our free daily newsletter: https://thisisreno.com/newsletter/

Washoe County recently fended off a major proposal to overhaul election laws. 

The resolution was advanced by County Commissioner Jeanne Herman, and it would have forced people off voter rolls if they did not vote, mandated hand counting of ballots and would have required armed government agents to oversee polling locations.

The resolution was widely determined to be illegal, costly and unnecessary given voting protections already in place. 

But that didn’t sway dozens of people to push for it during a day-long meeting. They were met by even more people speaking against the measure.

On this week’s episode we break down what happened at the county meeting and why Herman’s proposal failed so dramatically. 

We also cover why members of the Sparks Fire Department issued a vote of no confidence against their fire chief. 

Our show is also broadcasting Sundays on KWNK Community Radio. 

Support the show

Stay current on Reno news by subscribing to our free daily newsletter: https://thisisreno.com/newsletter/

Reno’s Black Wall street was founded in 2020. The nonprofit was formed to meet the needs of black and underserved people of color in the Reno Sparks area. 

The group is regularly hosting classes, outreach events and helping people in need. In this episode, three of the key people behind Black Wall Street Reno -- Chandra Mask, Romar Tolliver and Donald Griffin -- tell their story.

This episode also features the Everything That I Need from Reno band Last One Down. The song is from their single of the same name available on the major music apps.

Support the show

Stay current on Reno news by subscribing to our free daily newsletter: https://thisisreno.com/newsletter/

Lauren Gorman is a federal public defender in Reno. Last year she battled the federal government and won.

The case involved a man who illegally re-entered the United States from Mexico after having already been deported. 

Gorman said the law criminalizing re-entry into the U.S. was based on blatant racism and violates the equal protection clause of the Fifth Amendment. The reason: The laws criminalizing re-entry specifically targeted Mexicans and had been codified in federal laws since 1929. 

Chief Judge for the District Court of Nevada, Miranda Du, agreed with Gorman’s arguments. 

Du found those laws unconstitutional, but the federal government – President Joe Biden’s Justice Department – has since appealed.

In this episode, Gorman explains the case in detail – and where it’s headed.

This episode also features a new tune by Reno artist Kat Heart from Loud As Folk. 

Support the show

Stay current on Reno news by subscribing to our free daily newsletter: https://thisisreno.com/newsletter/

The Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act is reportedly being drafted by U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen, and Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson says he’s pushing for the bill to get entered into Congress as early as this year. 

The bill was discussed in early 2020 with a public meeting. Reception, however, was widely negative. In this episode, I interview Lawson about what has been happening with the bill. 

A former school board trustee has a new book out, which has already received a best-seller status on Amazon. Kurt Thigpen’s book, “How to Win an Election: An Essential Guide to Campaigning During Adversity,” covers his electoral success in 2020. 

Thigpen reflects on his time serving as a trustee for the Washoe County School District in a climate of political belligerence and hostility.

The Nevada Cares Campus opened under the city of Reno’s lead last year and has since been plagued with allegations of rampant crime and drug use. It is now overseen by Washoe County and operated by the Volunteers of America.

Ben West, the head of security for Washoe County, said a number of challenges persist at the campus. A lack of adequate staffing is among the biggest problems.

This episode also features a new song by Bryan McPherson. McPherson’s new release, “How to Draw Everything” comes out on Valentine's Day.

Support the show

Stay current on Reno news by subscribing to our free daily newsletter: https://thisisreno.com/newsletter/