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KUNR Today: Nevada Sees Uptick In New COVID-19 Cases And Deaths, Yellowstone Could See Less Snow

An image of snow showshoers in Yellowstone National Park.
Courtesy
/
Yellowstone National Park

Here are your local news headlines for the morning of Friday, June 25, 2021.

Nevada Air Guard Activating Air Tankers Early To Fight Fires
By The Associated Press

The Nevada Air National Guard is activating its airlift wing with air tankers more than a month sooner than last fire season to help fight wildland blazes that already have burned more than 780 square miles across 11 western states. The National Interagency Fire Center requested one C-130 aircraft and aircrew from the 152nd Airlift Wing in Reno. The wing’s commander says the activation highlights the military’s role assisting in firefighting efforts, especially with big fires coming earlier than usual across the West. The specially fitted C-130 cargo compartments can drop up to 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in six seconds.

Study: Yellowstone National Park Will See Lower Snowfall, More Hot Days
By Maggie Mullen, Mountain West News Bureau

Yellowstone will see lower snowfall and more hot days because of climate change. That’s according to a new Greater Yellowstone Climate Assessment.

Bryan Shuman is one of the researchers behind the study. He said the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is more than iconic wildlife and landscapes.

"It’s also a big part of our water supply for the West," he said.

Snow that falls in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem flows down the Colorado River, and is used by Las Vegas and Los Angeles. It’s also used for agriculture in the Great Plains after it goes through the Missouri River.

But the study projects that the elevation where snow falls will move higher. And by the end of the century, areas below 10,000 feet will mostly get rain, which evaporates more quickly.

"The change here from a place that's really snowy, to a place that becomes only snowy up really high - really, really high - in the mountains, has potential to be completely transformative," Shuman said.

He said that includes major impacts to our water supply, the ski industry, and how wildlife migrates across the region.

Nevada COVID-19 Cases, Deaths Highest In More Than A Month
By Paul Boger

Nevada health officials are reporting the highest single-day increase in coronavirus cases and deaths in six weeks. New data from the state show 448 new cases of COVID-19 were reported Thursday. That's the largest daily jump since mid-May.

Ten deaths were also reported, the most since late April. The state's two-week test positivity rate is now 4.3%.

Nevada's Unemployment Rate Continues To Show Signs Of Recovery
By Paul Boger

According to the newest data from the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, the state's jobless rate fell to 7.9% in May. It's still significantly higher than the national average of five percent, but much of that is driven by Clark County's reliance on the hospitality industry.

In Northern Nevada's more populated counties, unemployment numbers are more in line with the country's average. Rural counties report jobless rates below four percent. State officials also reported the lowest number of initial jobless claims filed so far this year.

Most Nevada Workplaces Can Relax Sanitation Procedures
By The Associated Press

Nevada workplaces can begin cleaning most surfaces with soap and detergent rather than disinfectants that kill the coronavirus. The state Occupational Safety and Health Administration said on Thursday that workplaces where no people are suspected to have COVID-19 can relax their procedures. They also announced they plan to align different workplace requirements for health care facilities with the federal guidelines that require prevention plans that address vaccines and testing. The updated guidelines come as infection rates remain low but hit a slight uptick. More than half of Nevada’s population ages 12 and older has been vaccinated. Nevada reported 448 new coronavirus cases and 10 deaths on Thursday.

Elko County School Board Requests No Mask Policy For School Year
By KUNR Staff

The Elko County School Board is requesting a promise from Governor Steve Sisolak that there won't a student mask mandate before next school year. They also want a guarantee the state will not require students to get COVID vaccinations in order to go back to school. First reportedby the Elko Daily Free Press, the requests were outlined in a letter sent to Sisolak this week.

Trustees say they've received complaints from parents, students and the community regarding differing mask policies for students of different ages who attend the same school. They say they've also heard concerns about vaccination clinics held on or near school property.

Earlier this month, the state turned most COVID-19 mitigation efforts over to local officials and health districts.

Casino Tech: Even Chips Have Chips At Newest Vegas Resort
By The Associated Press

Even the chips have chips at the newest casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip. Everything can be cashless and wireless when Resorts World Las Vegas opened late Thursday to guests and gamblers. Casino operations chief Rick Hutchins says players will be using chips implanted with sensors at tables hard-wired for cashless transactions. Resorts World cost $4.3 billion and is the first new Las Vegas property to open in a decade. Doors opened to the public at 11 p.m. Thursday. An analyst says the opening should boost the Las Vegas economy battered by the coronavirus pandemic but rebounding since closures have lifted and travel restrictions have eased.

Paul Boger is a former reporter at KUNR Public Radio.
Maggie Mullen is a fifth generation Wyomingite, born and raised in Casper. She is currently a Masters candidate in American Studies and will defend her thesis on female body hair in contemporary American culture this May. Before graduate school, she earned her BA in English and French from the University of Wyoming. Maggie enjoys writing, cooking, her bicycle, swimming in rivers and lakes, and most any dog.
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