This Is Reno Radio

Governor Steve Sisolak this week came under fire for lack of communication not just with the news media but with noted constituent groups as the Silver State grapples with COVID-19. That includes the Nevada League of Cities and Municipalities. We spoke this week with Wes Harper from the League of Cities as well as state Senator Ben Kieckhefer about the governor not responding to various groups.

Sisolak on Thursday announced plans to gradually reopen the state. Reno-area officials were guardedly optimistic and provided responses to the governor's announcement. City Council Member Devon Reese and Sparks Mayor Ron Smith both responded to the new plans.

Health officials cautioned however that as the restrictions on some businesses are lifted, wearing masks and social distancing protocols should remain in place. The county this week reported a record spike in new cases as well as more deaths from the virus.

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COVID-19 continues to weigh heavy not just on the Silver State but around the world. Hundreds of protestors recently took to the streets in Nevada’s capital Carson City. Republican Assemblyman Jim Wheeler was there in support. Reporter Lucia Starbuck interviews him for this podcast.

When do businesses get to reopen?

Massive unemployment and business shutdowns characterize the state of Reno’s economy as health officials attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19. The question on everybody’s mind is when and how businesses get to reopen. 

Starbuck spoke with Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve who says it’s simply too soon to tell when businesses can reopen, but she has a task force to start laying the groundwork for reopenings.

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COVID-19 testing in Washoe County

The process to get tested for COVID-19 in Washoe County continues to draw questions. County officials, however, opened up their testing location at the Reno Livestock Events Center to show what is involved in getting people tested. Lucia Starbuck interviewed Lisa Lottritz with the Washoe County Health District about the testing process.

How are Reno's seniors coping with COVID-19?

The most high-risk population  affected by the coronavirus is seniors. The CDC says those over 65 and those who live in nursing homes and care facilities are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. 

We spoke with Donna Clontz, chair of the city’s senior citizen advisory committee. Although one nursing facility in Reno had an outbreak of COVID-19 affecting 43 residents, Clontz says most senior facilities are on lock-down and took preventative measures to protect residents.

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Domestic violence is on the rise nationally during the COVID-19 pandemic. But are those trends holding true for Washoe County?  Sheriff Darin Balaam tells us they don’t have solid data, but it’s a major concern. He also explains why the pandemic has led to a major reductions in arrests.

Transparency takes a hit

One of the first things to take a hit during an unprecedented pandemic is transparency. Lucia Starbuck interviews media professor Patrick File from the University of Nevada, Reno journalism school about what is happening to the flow of information.

Landlords defy Governor’s directives

Landlords continue to violate Governor Steve Sisolak’s orders. This Is Reno has received complaints from tenants about landlords blatantly ignoring state directives. These include imposing late-fee penalties and threats of eviction, each of which violate the governor’s directives. Reno council member Naomi Duerr tells us what is happening — and what tenants can do.

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Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve is echoing Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak’s directive this week ordering people to stay at home. It’s the only way, they said, to reduce the impact of COVID19. We hear from both of them about what's being done in the Silver State to deal with COVID-19.

Also: The news media, particularly small, independent outlets, are suffering as a result of COVID-19. The Reno News & Review recently announced it was ending publication after decades of printing its weekly in Northern Nevada. The problem with news outlets going out of business is that when people need information, they frequently turn to news sources. Hear what Schieve and Sisolak said about this concern.

Lastly, the Washoe County Health District continues to be tight-lipped with information about COVID-19. District health officer Kevin Dick refused to answer questions from a Reno Gazette-Journal reporter. We report on what happened and why transparency is important, not just for reporters, but for other local governments. 

Episode cover image: Gov. Steve Sisolak discusses measures to help the public with housing stability amid the COVID-19 public health crisis at a press conference at the Grant Sawyer Building in Las Vegas, Sunday, March 29, 2020. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Pool) @rookie__rae.

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Government alone cannot solve the COVID-19 crisis. But there is a lot of action happening on the ground as Reno continues to adjust to its new COVID-19 reality. We interview Reno City Councilmember Devon Reese about efforts to deal with the coronavirus.

Also: Renown nurses are saying they have to reuse personal protective equipment. But Renown CEO Tony Slonim says the hospital is ready to deal with coronavirus. We hear from Slonim about Renown's preparations to deal with what is anticipated to be a surge of new patients.

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"This is not the time to try to find loopholes."

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak said the picture is grim but hopeful as the Silver State deals with fallout from COVID-19. Here in Reno, we’ve seen restaurants, bars and casinos shuttered. Now, the governor is saying that if a business is not essential, it may face criminal penalties if it does not immediately close. 

The impacts to businesses facing closure remains to be seen. What is clear is that with increasingly vacant buildings, law enforcement has stepped up patrols. 

Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam spoke a press conference and said law enforcement is stepping up patrols. We also hear from Sisolak's most recent, virtual press conference where he outlines why Nevada, like the rest of the world, is making such drastic decisions.

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Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak's full press conference on closing non-essential businesses in Nevada. March 17, 2020.

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COVID-19 has had major impacts in the Silver State. Governor Steve Sisolak on March 12 declared the Nevada to be in state of emergency. The City of Reno and Washoe County quickly followed suit.

In this episode, we check in with what the City of Reno is doing to reduce the spread of COVID-19 -- in particular which businesses were recently ordered to close. 

There remains confusion about patient privacy and how potential COVID-19 patients may impact first responders. We interview Michael Arrigo of No World Borders, an expert in healthcare data and patient privacy.

Lisa Lee with the Foundation for Recovery conveys how the coronavirus is impacting Reno's houseless community and why advocacy groups demanded a moratorium on evictions and anti-camping ordinances.  

Paul Enos of the Nevada Trucking Association gives us an update on the distribution of goods and food supplies and why shelves are emptying so quickly. 

Cover image: Trevor Bexon.

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The City of Reno last week ordered more than 150 houseless residents to move from where they were living along train tracks near the Reno Aces baseball stadium. Officials said that services were offered to the houseless residents, but shelters are notoriously full and much of what was removed from the sites were personal possessions that could not be moved. We hear from the first reporter on the scene, Lucia Starbuck from Our Town Reno.

Also in this episode: Huffaker Elementary School was closed for a day while school district officials, working with the Health District, closed the school for a deep cleaning. We hear from health officials about the Coronavirus in the Reno area, as well as Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam's approach to hand-washing.

Special thanks to Scott King and Lucia Starbuck from Our Town Reno for reporting used in this show. Photo: Trevor Bexon.

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