public safety

For decades, Area 51,the mysterious military base on the edge of the Nevada Nuclear Test Site, has been a source of countless conspiracies. While the base has become synonymous with aliens and unidentified flying objects, experts say the base's purpose is much more mundane. KUNR's Paul Boger spoke with Peter Merlin, an aviation historian and the author of a book called Area 51: Images of Aviation. 

Area 51, the mysterious military installation on the edge of the Mojave desert in Nevada, has fascinated people for decades. But that fascination may come to a head as thousands of people are expected to descend upon the site to take part in a viral event called “Storm Area 51.” KUNR’s Paul Boger reports from Rachel, Nevada.

We’re hearing a lot about the Nevada ballot measure to tighten regulations on gun sales. The Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities is a nonpartisan think tank based in Nevada that has provided a detailed fact sheet on the initiative, exploring the pros and cons. Executive Director Nancy Brune spoke with our reporter Bob Conrad to explain their findings.

The City of Reno held its first budget workshop for the next fiscal year. As Reno Public Radio’s Noah Glick reports, the City Council raised serious questions about priorities.

Overall, the city is looking to spend $3.3 million more than last year. Nine new positions are being budgeted to the general fund and a new Office of Economic Development will be created to partner with the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada.

But Mayor Hillary Schieve says there are major components missing from the budget.

New federal drone regulations took effect last week, meaning all personal drones need to be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. Reno Public Radio’s Noah Glick reports.

If you’re one of the lucky people who got a recreational drone for the holidays, you’ve got to do more than thank Santa. You’ve got to get it registered—or else face fines and possibly jail time.

Under a proposed labor agreement reached by the City of Reno and union leaders, Reno firefighters could see a 6 percent bump in pay to restore some of the wages they lost during the recession. Reno Public Radio's Michelle Bliss reports.

At the peak of the recession, Reno firefighters saw their pay slashed by almost 14 percent. Even with this proposed boost of six percent, firefighters in Reno would still earn less than what their peers average across the state. 

The Reno City Council met this week to discuss how to spend tax payer’s money for the fiscal year 2016 budget, which is nearly $170 million. Reno Public Radio's Danna O'Connor reports much of that money will go toward public safety. 

More than two-thirds of that budget will be spent on adding nearly 50 new public safety jobs. Ten of those jobs would go toward hiring 10 more Reno firefighters.

At the meeting, Councilwoman Neoma Jardon asked if the 10 firefighters would open up the browned out stations in the city.

The crime rate in Incline Village has been falling for the past several years, but Chuck Allen, a candidate for sheriff in the November election, says that fact is misleading. Reno Public Radio’s Michelle Bliss reports.