KUNR Public Radio

08/19/2025

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada (ACLU) filed a lawsuit against the DMV over failing to fully release documents related to its cooperation with ICE.

The nonprofit said heavily redacted records suggest that DMV and ICE staff used an encrypted messaging app with an auto-delete feature, which could violate state law. Senior staff attorney Sadmira Ramic said the lack of transparency is concerning.

Reporting by KUNR’s Lucia Starbuck

ACLU

08/18/2025

A new Nevada law aims to increase transparency for renters. Landlords will be required to disclose the total amount someone is required to pay each month, including all utilities.

John Brogden, senior attorney of the Tenants' Rights Center for Nevada Legal Services , said some fees are included deep within the lease agreement, which can lead to people falling behind.

Reporting by KUNR’s Lucia Starbuck

08/15/2025

Assistant Director Stacy McKenzie has taken a temporary leave of absence but gave no reason for the decision.

“Library staff will continue to focus on providing great service for our community,” Hemingway wrote in an email. “The Library Board of Trustees will continue to discuss the Fiscal Year 2027 budget at the upcoming meeting on August 20 at the Sierra View Library.”

Hear more at kunr.org or click the link in our bio.

Reporting and photo by Bert Johnson.

08/15/2025

Scolari’s Food and Drug Company announced last month it was closing its final two stores in Reno-Sparks.

Washoe County Commissioner Mariluz Garcia, who lives in Sun Valley and represents the area on the board, is trying to find another grocery chain to fill the space.

Hear more at kunr.org or click the link in our bio.

Reporting and photo by Bert Johnson.

08/14/2025

Dennis Lei, owner and baker of Honey Bakery, said opening the place was not a passion project. Instead, it was more of a way to make ends meet.

He immigrated from China to the United States at 16 years old with his family. He worked as a dealer at a casino when he first moved to Reno to study English at Truckee Meadows Community College.

When thinking of ways to make a living, he went back to China for almost a year to learn everything about Chinese baked goods. Now, for almost two decades, he has been working long hours to bring this unique food to Reno.

Learn more at kunr.org or click the link in our bio.

Reporting and photo by Mariel Day.

08/13/2025

Chance, the French bulldog, was recruited by Sheriff Darin Balaam to be the department’s first Chief Happiness Deputy early last year. Now, with his shiny badge and tactical vest, he runs up and down the halls.

Chance was adopted from the Res-que shelter by Steve Johnson, the crime lab director, “We decided to take a chance on the little guy,” he said.

Britney Ceccarelli who works in the lab with Johnson, said it's a great place to work but very stressful, “I think it's really hard to have him around and not smile and laugh and have fun as a group. He was very much needed for our mental health down here,” she said.

Hear more at kunr.org or click the link in our bio.

Reporting by KUNR’s Ally Ibarra.

Washoe County Sheriff's Office

08/11/2025

We’re starting the week with an exciting surprise: Look what arrived today at KUNR Public Radio! 🎉

Announced during , KUNR won two Regional Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) in the Feature Reporting and Hard News categories! Congratulations to KUNR reporters Bert Johnson and Lucia Starbuck for their award-winning coverage. 🏆

Learn more about these honors and view the award-winning reporting. ⬇️
https://www.kunr.org/kunr-station/2025-05-14/2025-regional-murrow-awards

Local coverage is made possible with the support of listeners and readers like you! You’re a critical player in the work that we do as a nonprofit public radio station, and we wouldn’t be here without you. Support KUNR's work today by starting a $5 monthly donation at KUNR.org/monthly-donation 🧡

08/09/2025

Monai Village was voted by Thank You Ma’am’s members as the deserving winner to receive $14,000. Monai Village stood out because of its low funding and its heartwarming cause, said Thank You Ma’am co-founder Tracy Ceragioli.

Patricia Artis, the founder of Monai Village, said they help foster kids with paying rent, groceries, and education after they age out. Before starting the non-profit, Artis fostered kids for three and a half decades. For Artis, receiving the funding feels like a miracle.

Hear more at kunr.org or click the link in our bio.

Reporting by Mariel Day.

08/08/2025

A major construction company has been discharging millions of gallons of wastewater into the Truckee River, which runs through tribal land. Now, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking action. The settlement aims to protect a vital watershed and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation.

08/08/2025

SCooBY, a robot built by FIRST robotics community group the Ionizers, was selected to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a Reno Aces game.

The robot malfunctioned on the field and Max, a 17-year-old Ionizers member, picked up the ball and threw it. The receiver for the controller died. SCooBY was built three weeks before the event and tested over two dozen times.

This was their first outreach event. In May, they became an official FIRST Robotics group, a national STEM competition where the students are assigned a challenge and build a robot. The Ionizers need to raise $50,000 in order to attend the competition.

Learn more at kunr.org or visit the link in our bio.

Reporting and photos by Ally Ibarra.

08/07/2025

The city suggested the Believe Plaza for the Downtown Reno Partnership Rollin' Reno rink. The original blueprint for Rollin' Reno took up the whole plaza. Family Soup normally would use the entire plaza for their work.

Parks and recreation placed barricades to prevent Family Soup from impeding on the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail. After they were installed, the single-file line turned into a clump of people.

While Family Soup is disappointed in the city and the DRP for approving the event, they are grateful for the space they do have. Rollin’ Reno ends on August 9 but won’t be taken down until August 14.

Hear more at kunr.org or click the link in our bio.

Reporting and photo by Ally Ibarra.

08/06/2025

How effective are storm drains in Washoe County? As KUNR’s Lucia Stabuck reports, the recent thunderstorms put some of them to the test.

Recent summer thunderstorms put some storm drains in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County to the test.