Elko

Several thousand people came together in Elko over the weekend to celebrate the 36th annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. Folklife aficionados came from all corners of the country; they shared music, stories and spoken word.

In addition to the lively arts scene, a group of cowboys presented on how ranchers can manage cattle to mitigate climate change.

Pledging to strengthen access to quality, high-speed Internet and rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, Former Vice President Joe Biden says more needs to be done to address the issues facing rural Americans. KUNR’s Paul Boger reports.

Nevada’s urban hubs and hidden rural pockets have long been dotted with neon signs. Authors Peter Laufer and Sheila Laufer used to live in Silver City and have crisscrossed Nevada three times over 40 years, hunting that neon. Their book, Neon Nevada, captures the changing story of neon across the region with colorful images and detailed narratives. Holly Hutchings caught up with them to learn about what they saw on their nocturnal quests.

The the LGBTQ-rights focused nonprofit, Human Rights Campaign, recently released a study concerning how inclusive city policies and services are to folks in the LGBTQ community. The report rates cities around the country on their non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and the city leadership's public position on equality.

Elko's 35th annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering wrapped up this weekend. Nearly 50 poets, musicians and musical groups, including diverse and dynamic new voices, have shared their artistry. The event is older than Josh Dugat, a first-time presenter, whose poetry pays homage to the  boots that stood on stage before him. KUNR's Holly Hutchings has more with him. 

The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is underway in Elko, Nevada this week. One young poet taking the stage is Olivia Romo, a bilingual activist who uses her art to tackle environmental issues facing the West. She told KUNR’s Holly Hutchings why she thinks poetry can spark change.

As many of us are traveling in and around Nevada for the holidays, the American Society of Civil Engineers says roads in Las Vegas are improving, but much of the infrastructure in Northern Nevada is aging.

In rural Nevada, two industries dominate local economies -- agriculture and mining. Nowhere in the state is that more true than in the city of Elko. As the largest municipality in Northeastern Nevada, Elko plays a special role in shaping the economy for the rest of rural Nevada.

A vast majority of Nevada's cannabis dispensaries are concentrated in either Clark or Washoe Counties. There's also a handful in Fallon, Carson City and Pahrump– as well as a few others on tribal land, but cannabis retailers have yet to open a shop in most of rural Nevada.

The 34th annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering wrapped up in Elko over the weekend. Its theme focused on herding cultures, with a heavy emphasis on Basque people. Our News Director Michelle Billman spoke with two Basque performers who were highlighted during the festival.

The food truck industry is growing nationally, with cities like Orlando, Florida and Austin, Texas leading the charge.

But a new crop of mobile food vendors is popping up in an unlikely rural area: Elko. Reno Public Radio’s Noah Glick has more.

Tourism is Nevada’s largest industry, making up nearly 30 percent of total state employment and bringing in more than $3 billion in tax revenue.

But most visitors are only stopping in Nevada’s two urban centers: Las Vegas and Reno.

Our reporter Noah Glick looks at what is being done to attract more people to Nevada’s rural communities.

In northeastern Nevada, the economic focus has been on mining for the last several decades. Local leaders are now looking ahead for new opportunities to carry the region forward.

The American West is characterized by intense periods of drought and unpredictable weather patterns. For some regional artists, the weather itself serves as a muse for art and poetry.

Reno Public Radio’s Noah Glick reports.

The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering brings thousands of people from around the world to Elko, to enjoy and celebrate in the cowboy culture of the American West. But some local Native Americans argue there isn’t enough representation of their stories during the annual festival.

Reno Public Radio’s Noah Glick reports.

The National Cowboy Poetry Gathering brought together musicians old and new last week to celebrate Western style music and storytelling. But what exactly is Western music anyway?

For many cities, an influx of a few thousand people for an event might not be a big deal. But for Elko, it can take a lot of planning for something like the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, which wrapped up this weekend.

Reno Public Radio’s Noah Glick looks into the logistics of putting together a large-scale national event in rural Nevada.

The 33rd annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is underway in Elko. Reno Public Radio’s Noah Glick is there and reports this year, event organizers and performers are putting more of an emphasis on storytelling.

Pray our blessing, our amen

and all together find our way

oh my tribeswomen, my tribesmen

For there’s but one way back to glory,

oh kith and kin,

and that’s through story.

An air ambulance plane crash that killed four people, including an Elko native, over the weekend in Northeastern Nevada is now under federal investigation.

Reno Public Radio’s Noah Glick reports.