coronavirus

Reno saw one of its first major wildfire events of the dry season this past weekend with the Poeville Fire. And with the pandemic going on, agencies across the West are having to rethink how to fight fires while fighting the novel coronavirus.

In pandemic times, we’re all forced into our singular places, whether we enjoy being there or not. That can mean so many different outcomes for us as humans. For elders, who often face a greater risk of the effects of COVID-19, a prolonged period of social isolation can be tough.

It’s hard enough to keep a fledgling new restaurant up and running in normal times. Imagine running one during a pandemic. That’s the reality for one Reno resident, whose business opened just as the coronavirus began spreading across the country. This entrepreneur is trying to make the best of bad times, with the help of some unexpected business partners.

This story was powered by America Amplified, a public radio initiative.

Americans have faced world wars, economic recessions, and even other pandemics. Some people have lived through all three. I sought out senior citizens to see how the COVID-19 pandemic compares to other crises – and what we might be able to learn from them.

Many small businesses in rural Nevada are changing how they operate as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic. In Gardnerville, several small businesses are grappling with these challenges.

It’s been weeks since Governor Steve Sisolak ordered all nonessential businesses to close across the state. But there's still confusion around what is considered essential and how those closures are being enforced.

KUNR’s News Director Michelle Billman recently spoke with Noah Glick, KUNR's reporter for the Mountain West News Bureau, to break it down.

A few weeks ago, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak encouraged all nonessential businesses to close their doors. Then, a few days later, on March 20, he ordered them to do so.

“If your business is nonessential to providing sustenance and for the everyday safety, health and wellbeing of Nevadans, you must shut down,” Sisolak said.

But what’s an essential business? Beyond obvious ones such as hospitals and grocery stores, there’s no simple answer.