Bert Johnson
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Articles by Bert Johnson
Autoridades electorales estatales y locales instan a los nevadenses a votar y califican de ‘distracción’ los intentos del gobierno de Trump de interferir en las elecciones
Unas semanas antes del inicio de la votación anticipada, Reggie Greer Jr., subdirector del Registro de Votantes del condado de Washoe, explicó cómo se preparan los equipos de votación para las elecciones de mitad de mandato. Lo hizo en un almacén que está siendo remodelado para albergar las operaciones electorales del condado. “Lo que estamos viendo aquí es el área PRELAT, o área de pruebas de lógica y precisión”, comenzó.
State and local election officials urge Nevadans to vote, call Trump Administration attempts to interfere a ‘distraction’
A few weeks before early voting kicked off, at a warehouse currently being renovated to house Washoe County’s election operations, Deputy Registrar of Voters Reggie Greer Jr. spent some time explaining the process of getting voting equipment ready for the midterms. “So what we're looking at here is the PRELAT area, or logic and accuracy testing area,” he began.
‘We got this incredibly wrong’: Schieve and community members criticize ALPR contract vote
The approval came just six days after details of the contract were made public. During an hourslong public comment period, opponents said the process was rushed, and limited community engagement. Outgoing Mayor Hillary Schieve, who voted against the contract, agreed. “We missed a great opportunity to highlight the amazing work that the Reno Police Department does and build trust with the public,” she said.
For voters, Nevada’s new in person process will look like the old one
When Nevadans head to the polls for this year’s midterm election, they’ll use a new process to vote in person. Officials say the changes will offer greater transparency and faster results, while keeping the experience of casting a ballot largely the same as in past cycles. All active voters get a ballot mailed to them by default, which they can fill out at home and send back. They can also drop off completed mail ballots at polling locations and official drop boxes.
City of Reno will not renew Flock contract
In an Oct. 8 social media post, Ward 5 council member Devon Reese announced the city would not renew its contract with Flock Safety, a national provider of automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras. “Reno is putting public safety, privacy, and accountability first,” he wrote, in part. Reached by text, Reese confirmed the announcement and shared a letter signed by City Manager Jackie Bryant notifying the company of the city’s decision.
Falla en las alertas del incendio forestal Hawk revela deficiencias del sistema nacional
La tarde del 22 de agosto, apenas unas horas después de que comenzara el incendio, Kelly Echeverria, administradora de Manejo de Emergencias del condado de Washoe, comenzó a enviar alertas al público. Las actualizaciones se enviaron a redes sociales, teléfonos celulares y estaciones locales de radio y televisión. O al menos eso creía. Pero KUNR descubrió que las alertas que Echeverria pretendía transmitir nunca fueron transmitidas.
Residentes critican la estrategia de comunicación durante el incendio forestal Hawk
La primera noche del incendio, mientras caían cenizas del cielo, voluntarios de búsqueda y rescate tocaron a la puerta de Meghan Archambault. La casa de Archambault, cerca de Evans Canyon, en Peavine Mountain, no estaba en una zona de evacuación obligatoria. Pero el incendio avanzaba rápidamente, por lo que los voluntarios instaban a los residentes a salir con anticipación.
Early voting key to timely election results, county says
It takes a long time to process mail ballots. That’s why election results for the June primary weren’t available for days, even though just 30 percent of eligible voters participated. Bethany Drysdale with Washoe County said they’re expecting double that turnout on Nov. 3, so they’re asking voters to either send in or drop off their mail ballots well ahead of time. “We don’t want to be last! We don’t want to be made fun of for being the last county counting our ballots,” she said.
Hawk Fire Alert Failure Illustrates Flaws in National System
On the afternoon of Aug. 22 , just hours into the fire, Washoe County Emergency Management Administrator Kelly Echeverria started sending out public alerts. Updates went to social media, cell phones, and local radio and TV stations — or so she thought. But KUNR found the broadcast alerts Echeverria meant to send never went out over the air. The breakdown illustrates how complicated the emergency alert system is, and how many pitfalls it includes.
Nevada journalists ask for review of Hawk Fire communications strategy
Last week, the Nevada Press Association (NPA) and Nevada Open Government Coalition (NOGC) sent a letter to local, state and federal leaders. It said they didn’t do enough to keep the press informed, and by extension, left many residents out of the loop, too. “Our concern is not a complaint about any single agency’s effort under difficult conditions.
Hawk Fire alert failure illustrates flaws in national system
On the afternoon of Aug. 22 , just hours into the fire, Washoe County Emergency Management Administrator Kelly Echeverria started sending out public alerts. Updates went to social media, cell phones, and local radio and TV stations — or so she thought. But KUNR found the broadcast alerts Echeverria meant to send never went out over the air. The breakdown illustrates how complicated the emergency alert system is, and how many pitfalls it includes.
Emergency alert program may have failed during Hawk Fire
On the afternoon of Aug. 22, as the flames were racing down Peavine Mountain, Emergency Management Administrator Kelly Echeverria logged into the county’s alert system to warn residents. Washoe County uses a software suite called Rave, which is owned by Motorola, as a hub to send alerts over the radio and TV, cell phones, and social media.
Residents criticize Hawk Fire communication strategy
On the first night of the fire, as ash was raining from the sky, search and rescue volunteers knocked on Meghan Archambault’s door. Archambault’s house, which is near Evans Canyon on Peavine Mountain, wasn’t in a mandatory evacuation zone. But the fire was moving fast, so the volunteers were urging residents to leave early. In a conversation recorded by Archambault’s doorbell camera, one of them told Archambault’s partner about the chaotic evacuation of the North Valleys.
Reno officials urge community to pay attention to evacuation orders and stay safe during Hawk Fire
Maria Palma KUNR's Bert Johnson spoke with Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve and Washoe County Commissioner Clara Andriola live about the latest on the Hawk Fire, evacuations and the impact on the Reno community.
Privacy advocates across the Mountain West join national protests against Flock
Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) are cameras designed to continuously take pictures of cars on public roads. They're facing bipartisan opposition from people who say they threaten civil rights. That's led police departments in states like Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona to stop using them. But that's not the case in Reno, which first approved its contract with Flock Safety, the highest-profile provider of ALPRs, in 2024.
Privacy advocates across the Mountain West join national protests against Flock
Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) are cameras designed to continuously take pictures of cars on public roads. They're facing bipartisan opposition from people who say they threaten civil rights. That's led police departments in states like Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona to stop using them. But that's not the case in Reno, which first approved its contract with Flock Safety, the highest-profile provider of ALPRs, in 2024.
Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) are cameras designed to continuously take pictures of cars on public roads. They're facing bipartisan opposition from people who say they threaten civil rights. That's led police departments in states like Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona to stop using them. But that's not the case in Reno, which first approved its contract with Flock Safety, the highest-profile provider of ALPRs, in 2024.
Privacy advocates across the Mountain West join national protests against Flock
Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) are cameras designed to continuously take pictures of cars on public roads. They’re facing bipartisan opposition from people who say they threaten civil rights. That’s led police departments in states like Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona to stop using them. But that’s not the case in Reno, which first approved its contract with Flock Safety, the highest-profile provider of ALPRs, in 2024.
Juez federal suspende la venta prevista de terrenos de la mina Anaconda en Yerington
Un juez de distrito concedió la orden judicial preliminar en un caso que busca impedir la transferencia de los terrenos. La decisión se produce después de que la Oficina de Administración de Tierras propusiera vender los terrenos de la antigua mina de cobre Anaconda a Atlantic Richfield Company por un precio de cero dólares.
Washoe County Library Director Resigns
Assistant County Manager David Solaro announced McClure’s resignation in a midday email to library staff. The county provided KUNR a copy of Solaro’s email, which said in part: “I recognize this is another change for the Library System and uncertainty can be frustrating.” McClure submitted her resignation with an effective date of Aug. 31, 2026. She just accepted the position in April, following a national search. Before that, the library had been without permanent leadership for nearly a year.
Climate change is costing people quality sleep
A good night’s rest helps the body prepare for the day ahead, but a new report from Climate Central finds that hotter night temperatures are making it harder for people to get proper sleep. The study, which focused on data between 2020 through 2025, shows globally, the average person lost 56 hours of sleep per year, or about a full week of sleep. The report says 6 of those hours are tied to a warming climate.
Federal judge pauses planned land sale of Anaconda Mine in Yerington
A District Court judge granted a preliminary injunction in a case seeking to block the land transfer. The decision comes after a proposed land sale of the former Anaconda copper mine by the Bureau of Land Management to the Atlantic Richfield Company for the price of zero dollars. Earlier this week, a coalition of tribal and environmental groups who oppose the sale argued in court that it would allow mining to begin again, without public input.
From ‘freshies’ to ‘brown pow,’ climate change has year-round impacts on outdoor recreation
Late last month, on the first cool evening in a while, the sunset cast long shadows over Keystone Canyon. It was the perfect time for an after-work spin. Will Boyer was there to ride his mountain bike. On that day, the trails were still in good shape. But once they bake in the sun for a few weeks, he said, the dirt gets loose and harder to ride. “Sometime during the summer you get to that one day where you're out, and you're like, ‘Oh my gosh, I'm just riding through a trench of dust.’” Boyer said.
Controversial trustee resigns from library board
Commissioner Alexis Hill announced during this week’s regular meeting that she and her colleagues will soon choose a new member for the library board. “We have another appointment for the library coming up,” she said. “We had a resignation.” She was referring to Gianna Jacks, who still had more than a year left in her first term on the board. A county spokesperson confirmed Jacks’ resignation to KUNR.
Trump entra tarde en la primaria del Distrito 2, pero dominan los temas nacionales
El viernes, el presidente Donald Trump respaldó a David Flippo para reemplazar al congresista republicano Mark Amodei, quien anunció a principios de este año que no buscará la reelección. Pero Amodei ya había respaldado al exsenador estatal James Settelmeyer como su sucesor.
Trump endorses late in CD2 primary, but race could still be down to national issues
On Friday, President Donald Trump endorsed David Flippo to replace Republican Congressman Mark Amodei, who announced he would not seek reelection earlier this year. But Amodei had already endorsed former state senator James Settelmeyer as his replacement. So the president’s endorsement, which came halfway through early voting, has further complicated a wide-open race that some Democrats see as their first chance to flip what’s been a reliably-red district.
Denuncias de acoso contra miembro de la junta de bibliotecas quedan sin respuesta pese al rechazo público
Durante la sección de comentarios públicos en la reunión de la junta de bibliotecas del 15 de abril, Virginia Larmore tomó la palabra para exigir rendición de cuentas. “Está bastante claro que muchos de nosotros no coincidimos en muchos temas. Dicho eso, cuando salgo de estas reuniones, tengo la expectativa razonable de poder seguir viviendo mi vida con relativa tranquilidad”, dijo. Larmore forma parte de Indivisible Northern Nevada y suele intervenir en apoyo del personal de las bibliotecas.
Reno mayoral candidates outline challenges and solutions
Early voting in this year’s primary election begins Saturday, and many voters have already received their mail ballots. So on Wednesday, May 13, KUNR Senior Correspondent Bert Johnson moderated a mayoral forum co-hosted by the League of Women Voters. Around 100 community members came for a chance to learn about the candidates running to be Reno’s next mayor.
Solferino to replace Nance as investigation into RPD continues
Two months ago, city administrators put former chief Kathryn Nance and five other members of the Reno Police Department on paid leave. The announcement came as the state opened an investigation into the department, but city officials said they were prohibited from explaining why. Now, City Manager Jackie Bryant has confirmed she terminated Chief Kathryn Nance, as well as assistant chiefs Oliver Miller and Anthony Elges.
Claims of harassment by library trustee go unaddressed, despite public outcry
During public comment at the April 15 library board meeting, Virginia Larmore stepped up to the podium to call for accountability. “It’s quite clear that many of us don’t see eye to eye on a lot of issues. That said, when I leave these meetings, I have the reasonable expectation that I can continue to live my life in relative peace,” she said. Larmore is a member of Indivisible Northern Nevada who often speaks in support of library staff.
Guests discuss partisan dynamics in the CD2 primary and Nevada’s proposed voter ID law
On this month’s Purple Politics Nevada, guest host Bert Johnson spoke with UNR Associate Professor of Political Science Jeremy Gelman about the wide-open primary for Northern Nevada’s Congressional District 2. Gelman broke down the likely frontrunners from both major parties and the role national politics could play in the race.
Temporary protection order renewed in Lorton harassment case, but no resolution
According to George “Eddie” Lorton, a meme sent by one of his former campaign volunteers constituted a serious threat. He told Reno Justice Court Judge Pierre Hascheff Monday that Michael Leonard, a Reno-based blogger who used to send emails for his campaign, made him fear for his and his family’s safety when he sent an image of the Breaking Bad character Walter White with the quote, “I am not in danger.
Meet Mike Smith: Republican candidate for Nevada’s CD2
Why are you running now? And what makes you the right candidate for this moment? I can give you three answers why I'm running. The first is, as a naval officer, my last assignment was to the State of Nevada, where I was selected by the Navy to be the Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer. Where I bridged the Department of Defense with FEMA, the National Guard, the Emergency Operations Center, and other city and county emergency managers.
Meet Samuel White: Democratic candidate for Nevada’s CD2
Why are you running now, and what makes you the right candidate for this moment. I grew up, born and raised, in Carson City. I've spent my entire adult life as a working Nevadan, and the reason I'm running now is because I've slowly watched as everything within my state has become unaffordable. And that's not just my story, that's the story of my friends, my family, the community at large.
Community members accuse library board trustee of harassment
In April of last year, Justine Overacker got a surprising voicemail from Library Board Trustee Gianna Jacks. "I'm just trying to reach out to you to follow up to multiple emails. I had a couple phone numbers, I left a message earlier," Jacks said. "I also was gonna just try to send you a letter. If you could reach out to me, I appreciate your time." The message, which Overacker shared with KUNR, sounded friendly. But this wasn't a social call.
Community members accuse library board trustee of harassment
In April of last year, Justine Overacker got a surprising voicemail from Library Board Trustee Gianna Jacks. “I’m just trying to reach out to you to follow up to multiple emails. I had a couple phone numbers, I left a message earlier,” Jacks said. “I also was gonna just try to send you a letter. If you could reach out to me, I appreciate your time.” The message, which Overacker shared with KUNR, sounded friendly. But this wasn’t a social call.
Downtown Reno Library to close Sundays
Reno’s iconic downtown library branch, which is approaching its 60th anniversary, will cease all weekend operations after Presidents Day. The Washoe County Library Board of Trustees approved the updated schedule in October, but it wasn’t originally due to take effect until the start of the new fiscal year in July 2026.
Court dismisses Republican candidate’s lawsuit against Our Center, Washoe County
Editor’s note: This story contains strong language. On Dec. 29, Federal District Court Judge Anne Traum dismissed a lawsuit brought by Republican Assembly candidate Drew Ribar against the Washoe County library system and Our Center, a nonprofit LGBTQ+ community organization.
Detenciones de personas sin vivienda podrían haber aumentado incluso antes de que se aprobaran nuevas prohibiciones
“Si me quedara aquí, me iría temprano, aunque sea un parque. Suena raro, pero simplemente iría a otro parque”, dijo. Thomas duerme en su camioneta, pero asegura que es relativamente fácil evitar llamar la atención si uno es cuidadoso. Mantiene sus pertenencias fuera de la vista y se mueve con frecuencia. No siempre vivió así. Hasta hace unos cinco años trabajaba en ventas médicas, pero las semanas de 60 horas lo estaban desgastando.
HUD plans to reintroduce policy stripping support from housing first policies
Last month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it would pull future funding from housing first programs. Those include permanent support for people with disabilities and short term rental assistance. But on Monday, HUD put those changes on pause — just before a scheduled court hearing in a case seeking to overturn the new policy. That’s left local governments and service providers around the country in limbo.
New HUD guidelines could worsen Washoe County’s homelessness crisis
Dean Herman is a resident at Hope Springs, a transitional living facility on the border between Reno and Sparks. He was first connected to Hope Springs at Community Court, where he was sent after being cited for camping and having an open container. Herman has since been able to stay sober and work on getting ready to find permanent housing. He credits the now-defunct specialty court — created to guide unhoused people away from jail and into services — for that progress.
Our Center vandalized in after-hours graffiti incident
Our Center has been a hub for Northern Nevada’s LGBTQ+ community for eight years. Its windows have been smashed twice, but last week, volunteers found Nazi imagery scrawled on the front door for the first time. KUNR viewed a photo of the graffiti, which included swastikas and SS runes, but is not publishing the image in order to avoid unnecessarily platforming the hateful symbols.
Partial SNAP disbursement leaves thousands of households without benefits
Early Wednesday, Nevada officials announced they’d sent partial disbursements from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to more than 196,000 eligible households. Since Nov. 1, recipients of SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, had been left without benefits for the first time in the program’s history. The Trump Administration had tried to withhold them, citing the ongoing federal shutdown.
Detentions of unhoused people may have already been rising as officials approved more bans
On a recent late summer afternoon, people were walking, jogging, and playing with their kids around Virginia Lake. Christian Thomas was there, but not to enjoy the sunshine… he was showing KUNR where he used to stay. “If I was to stay here, I'd leave early, even though it's a park. Seems weird, but I’d just go to another park,” he said. Thomas sleeps in his SUV, but he said it’s easy enough to avoid attention as long as you’re smart about it.
Reno Community Court to close by the end of October
Judge Chris Hazlett-Stevens confirmed Wednesday that Community Court would cease operations at the end of the month. He told KUNR it struggled with a low success rate, noting it was difficult to get chronically homeless clients to accept services like substance use recovery and mental health care. “Community court wasn’t necessarily the answer, and that’s really unfortunate to say and voice out loud,” Hazlett-Stevens said.
UNR leader responds to Trump DOJ scrutiny of UndocuPack program
Brian Sandoval, President of the University of Reno, Nevada (UNR), and former Republican governor of the state, published a message Tuesday disputing an earlier message from Trump appointees at the U.S. Department of Justice. “Several claims in the DOJ letter do not accurately reflect how our University operates,” he said. Last week, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet K. Dhillon asked the Department of Education to investigate UNR’s UndocuPack program.
Guardia Nacional de Nevada comenzará a apoyar a ICE en septiembre
La Guardia Nacional de Nevada tiene previsto comenzar a colaborar con la Oficina de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) a partir de septiembre, según confirmó un portavoz de la milicia estatal en un comunicado enviado por correo electrónico a KUNR. “Las órdenes para los soldados involucrados aún no han sido emitidas. Seguimos en una etapa muy preliminar de planificación para esta activación”, indicó el vocero.
Sun Valley podría convertirse en el próximo desierto alimentario de Washoe County
La cadena Scolari 's Food and Drug Company anunció el mes pasado el cierre de sus dos últimas tiendas en la zona de Reno-Sparks. Para la comisionada del condado de Washoe, Mariluz Garcia, el cierre representa mucho más que la desaparición de un negocio. Durante años, la sucursal de Scolari 's en Sun Valley Boulevard ha sido el único supermercado que atiende a esta comunidad no incorporada de aproximadamente 20,000 habitantes.
Nevada pharmacies offer limited Covid vaccine access
On Friday, the state Board of Pharmacy clarified that healthcare providers can offer any federally-approved immunizations. Previously, CVS and Walgreens were holding off on giving updated Covid shots, citing a state rule linking vaccine administration to guidance from the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which is part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Sun Valley residents lament loss of food access and communal space
For years, Ranen Alvanez was a regular at Scolari’s Food and Drug on Sun Valley Boulevard. As the only full-service grocery store in Sun Valley, it was his closest option for fresh, healthy food — and it was also where he got his first job. “I used to work here, actually, like, a decade ago, which is pretty cool,” Alvanez said. But this Scolari’s run, on a Tuesday afternoon in mid-August, was to be Alvanez’s last.
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