Novel Coronavirus

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, animal shelters across the U.S. saw a rise in demand for adoptions. This includes shelters in Northern Nevada and the Eastern Sierra.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 300 houseless individuals have been sleeping at the Reno Events Center, but the makeshift shelter is slated to close at the end of June. Washoe County and City of Reno officials are working on securing a place for those staying at the facility to sleep next.

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Governor Steve Sisolak announced a directive this week allowing school districts, along with charter and private schools, to reopen for summer school immediately, with specific  restrictions. Under the guidance, districts will decide for themselves how to reopen their facilities. With the pandemic still underway, it remains unclear how big a role distance learning will play in the summer and fall. 

KUNR’s Bree Zender spoke with our reporter Natalie Van Hoozer to explore what Washoe County School District educators have learned about remote learning so far.

Gov. Steve Sisolak signed a directive on Tuesday, which will allow K-12 schools and facilities to reopen, with restrictions, for summer activities, effective immediately; however, those facilities are not required to reopen. KUNR’s Michelle Billman talked to our reporter Lucia Starbuck to break down what we know at this point.

Washoe County Schools are wrapping up classes this week, and that instruction has been done through remote learning since late March due to the pandemic. Janelle Olisea is a reporter for KUNR’s Youth Media program who missed seeing her teachers and friends this semester. She shares her experience in this audio diary.

Editor's note: this story includes language that some readers may find offensive.

Houseless individuals are more at risk of contracting COVID-19, and this week, authorities in Reno and Sparks swept through and cleared out two different campsites, dispersing unsheltered individuals into the community.

The Mountain West News Bureau’s Noah Glick checked in with KUNR’s Lucia Starbuck, who covered these cleanup activities for our media partner This Is Reno, to learn what impacts these actions may have.

The local high school students in KUNR's Youth Media program are wrapping up the school year from home with classes ending this week. One of those students, Maya Dampier, recorded an audio diary to share her experience as a senior graduating from Reno High School.

Editor's note: this story includes language that some readers may find offensive.