Web Adaptations: Jayden Perez

Paul McCollum is the pastor at Little Flower Catholic Church in Reno, which serves English- and Spanish-speaking communities.

While reporting on a vaccine clinic being held there, KUNR’s Natalie Van Hoozer spoke with McCollum about how the church and parishioners have been impacted by the pandemic.

Read in English.

A medida que la vacunación COVID-19 se estanca en el norte de Nevada, líderes comunitarios están probando un enfoque diferente. Expertos médicos y de salud pública locales están colaborando con miembros del clero para proveer vacunas a la comunidad latina.

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Esta historia es parte de una serie del programa Next Generation Radio de NPR que exploró el tema ¿Qué significa ser estadounidense?

Over the weekend, the annual Northern Nevada Pride parade and festival was held in downtown Reno. Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented many events, such as this one, from happening in person.

Coming out as gay wasn’t easy for local high schooler Nick Stewart. He was worried about how his family would react and if they would accept him. In this audio diary, Nick talks about how he overcame his fears.

Lee en español.

This story is part of a series by NPR’s Next Generation Radio program, which explored the theme: What Does It Mean To Be An American?

Growing up, Ricardo Salazar would unapologetically blast traditional Mexican music from the back of his parents’ car. For Salazar, music became the way he was able to express himself and connect to his identity as an American and a Mexican. 

This story is part of a series by NPR’s Next Generation Radio program, which explored the theme: What Does It Mean To Be An American?

Gloria Smith grew up in a large working-class family in a small town in Northern Nevada, where she played with chickens and rabbits. She and her husband did not come from much but still have what she feels is a prosperous life. Now 81 years old, Smith reflects on how America used to be a nation of compassion and how it could be once again.

This story is part of a series by NPR’s Next Generation Radio program, which explored the theme: What Does It Mean To Be An American?

“We’re just trying to open people’s minds and make them see that you’re part of a community, so we should all take care of each other; we should all care about each other,” Dwight George said.

This story is part of a series by NPR’s Next Generation Radio program, which explored the theme: What Does It Mean To Be An American?

Nandar Yukyi has embroidered a red ribbon on her white University of Nevada, Reno lab coat below her name. She calls it her “silent scream.”  Yukyi, a Burmese-American earning her Ph.D. in biological anthropology, wears the ribbon to protest the February 1, 2021, military coup in Myanmar. Red is the color of the National League for Democracy of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Red ribbons have been displayed by protestors at their homes, shops and on their clothes.

A student-led group has been advocating for more inclusive classroom environments in Washoe County. KUNR Youth Media reporter Nick Stewart talked to student organizers to learn more.

The City of Reno has ramped up the clearing of homeless encampments over the last month. KUNR Morning Edition host Noah Glick checks in with reporter Lucia Starbuck to learn more.

The number of community members experiencing homelessness in Washoe County has grown significantly over the last year, according to an annual report.

The pandemic exacerbated violence and discrimination against people of Asian descent. The group Stop AAPI Hate reported there were more than 6,600 hate incidents across the U.S. from mid-March of 2020 through the end of March this year. That number is likely higher due to underreporting, and this alarming trend has taken a toll on high school students.

In this commentary, KUNR Youth Media reporter Nick Stewart shares his concerns as a white ally to the Asian community and the concrete steps he takes to be supportive.

School-sanctioned proms were canceled across the Washoe County School District this year due to the pandemic and many students were disappointed. As the school year draws to a close, KUNR Youth Media reporter May Wells spoke to some of her fellow classmates about this issue.

The past year has seemed monotonous for some with lots of time spent at home due to the pandemic, and that’s been the case for KUNR Youth Media reporter Wesley Kaopio. In this audio diary, he shares how a treasure found at a garage sale helped break up his daily routine.

Nevada lawmakers have successfully negotiated one of the largest mining tax increases in state history. The bill’s passage caps off a tumultuous session in which lawmakers added nearly hundreds of millions of dollars in new funding for schools. KUNR’s Paul Boger reports.

Reno resident Mindy Stewart had to move to many different states throughout her childhood. In this intimate conversation, she talks with her son, KUNR Youth Media reporter Nick Stewart, about the trials she faced growing up and what moving to Reno — where she’s lived for 25 years — meant to her.

This story was originally published by our media partner Noticiero Móvil on April 29, 2021.

Lee en español. 

Before the pandemic, the United States was welcoming more than a million international students each year. However, the pandemic, student visa delays and a difficult political environment have caused a historic decline nationally.

Noticiero Móvil’s María Palma spoke with several international students from the University of Nevada, Reno to learn more about what they’ve been through this past year.

There are only four days left in Nevada's 81st legislative session, and lawmakers are scrambling to get bills out of the door and onto the governor's desk. That includes appropriating billions in state dollars to fund the government over the next two years. To talk about that, KUNR Morning Edition host Noah Glick spoke with political editor Paul Boger.