KUNR

Commentary: Local High School Student Shares Fears About Returning To Class After Thanksgiving Break

On Tuesday night, the Washoe County School Board is considering moving all students to full distance learning starting Dec. 7, which is about a week after Thanksgiving. In this commentary, KUNR Youth Media reporter Hudson Heimerman says that with cases increasing in Washoe County, he's nervous going to school in person these days.

President-Elect Biden To Begin Formal Transition Process After Agency OK

A landscape with hills and smoke filling the sky. — Bureau of Land Management California via Twitter

Updates On The Mountain View Fire In Mono County

Novel Coronavirus In Nevada: Live Blog

By Jayden Perez, Stephanie Serrano, Lucia Starbuck, Danna O'Connor, Paul Boger & Michelle Billman • 15 hours ago

An illustration of an ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. — Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAMS / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

5:59 p.m. | November 23, 2020

Washoe County Report
By Jayden Perez

Washoe County reported five new deaths Monday caused by COVID-19. The deceased are two females and three males. Of the five deaths, two had underlying health conditions, two did not, and one was undetermined. The new death total is 246.

Audio Diary: Reminiscing On Family Traditions As Thanksgiving Plans Go Astray

By Isabella Wolf • 19 hours ago

A long table with food dishes on it, including green beans, bread loaves, deviled eggs, chopped potatoes and cranberry sauce. — Isabella Wolf / KUNR Youth Media

Some families, like KUNR Youth Media reporter Isabella Wolf’s family, are making the difficult decision to stay home this Thanksgiving. In this audio diary, Wolf shares the family traditions that she’ll miss this year and what the holiday means to her.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Family Quarantining After 3 Kids Exposed To Coronavirus

By Brakkton Booker • Nov 23, 2020

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his family are quarantining after learning some members of his family came into contact with a California Highway Patrol officer who has tested positive for the coronavirus.

In a series of tweets Sunday, Newsom, a Democrat, said three of his children had come into contact with the officer, but that he and his wife did not.

As COVID-19 Surges In Nevada, Sisolak Imposes New Restrictions

By Lucia Starbuck • Nov 22, 2020

An older man looks beyond the camera. He’s touching the bottom of his blue surgical mask. He is wearing a silver wedding ring. There is a blue curtain behind him. — David Calvert / Nevada Independent

Nearly a quarter of all COVID-19 cases in Nevada were identified just this month alone. During a press conference Sunday, Gov. Steve Sisolak announced he’s imposing tighter restrictions for the next three weeks, calling it a “pause” — not a full shutdown.

Moderna Vaccine's Long Shelf Life, Small Doses Make It Ideal For Rural West

By Nate Hegyi • Nov 22, 2020

The vaccine developed by the pharmaceutical company Moderna may be easier to distribute in the rural West, according to regional public health experts.

It can survive up to a month in a freezer, is shipped in small doses, and it doesn't need a special, ultra-cold freezer to survive – unlike the vaccine developed by the company Pfizer.

Listen

Listening...

Western Hospitals Filling With COVID Patients With Few Places To Send Them

By Madelyn Beck • Nov 22, 2020

Hospitals continue to fill up across the Mountain West, and that means some patients may have nowhere to go.

Listen

Listening...

The Pinehaven Fire Near Caughlin Ranch

By Lucia Starbuck, Paul Boger, Michelle Billman, Crystal Willis & Stephanie Serrano • Nov 21, 2020

A landscape with trees, hills and houses with smoke filling the air. — Jon Humbert

Editor's Note: As of Saturday, Nov. 21, KUNR is no longer actively updating this blog. For the most current information about the Pinehaven Fire, visit @RenoFireDept and @RenoPolice on Twitter or the City of Reno's website.

Election Reflection: A Young Liberal's Hope For A New Pandemic Approach

By Avery Thunder • Nov 21, 2020

A young blonde girl sits on a white bench. She’s wearing a white shirt with the name, “Obama” drawn on it with a red, white, and blue circle below the name. — Avery Thunder / KUNR Youth Media

Even though she was too young to vote in this election, local high school student Avery Thunder shares this commentary for KUNR’s Youth Media program on how she feels about former Vice President Joe Biden being declared the winner. She also explores what she hopes his presidency will bring during the pandemic.

Changes To LWCF Trigger Swift Bipartisan Pushback

By Cooper McKim • Nov 21, 2020

The Interior Department is facing criticism for putting up barriers to conservation projects nationwide funded through the new Great American Outdoors Act.

Searching For 'The Last Vermeer': Robin's Movie Review

By Robin Holabird • Nov 21, 2020

Actor Guy Pearce stands in front of two paintings — ©2020 CTMG. All Rights Reserved.

Appreciating works by an all-time great artist took an extra hit when the COVID-19 pandemic closed most museums and delayed the release of a film called The Last Vermeer. Many museums remain shuttered, but local theaters started screening The Last Vermeer in November, providing the chance to once again appreciate the genius of the man whose Girl With a Pearl Earring painting inspired a well-liked arthouse film starring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson nearly twenty years ago.

Gov. Sisolak Warns Of Increasing COVID-19 Cases

By Jayden Perez • Nov 20, 2020

A quote from Steve Sisolak, the governor of Nevada. “The majority of our counties are deemed at-risk of increased transmission of COVID-19. To be blunt, our state is surging and continues to surge.” — Jayden Perez / KUNR

Governor Steve Sisolak announced that he is doing well despite contracting COVID-19; however, he warned Nevadans of the dangers that the coronavirus imposes on the state.