KUNR Public Radio: Local News Feed

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to roll back federal coal ash cleanup rules, raising concerns about groundwater contamination at dozens of coal plants and waste dumps across the Mountain West.

Getting the common abortion medication mifepristone via telehealth, mail or pharmacies was banned over the weekend. The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily restored access, but that could change.

A new report from the American Lung Association finds about half of U.S. children are living in areas with unhealthy air quality, and several Mountain West cities rank among the most polluted in the country.

A familiar community space in Reno is taking on a new role. Inside the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows, a new clinic is offering free, bilingual medical services to people who might otherwise go without care.

“Suppression is always going to be there,” Chief Brian Fennessy told the Mountain West News Bureau. “But we're not going to suppress our way out of this situation.”

Did you know Nevada is one of just 10 states without an official state fruit or berry? After learning that, a group of fifth graders in Spring Creek is trying to change that.

Last month, two community members told KUNR they'd been harassed by Library Board Trustee Gianna Jacks. But during a recent meeting, her fellow trustees failed to address those concerns.

A recent string of earthquakes has shaken western Nevada over the past two weeks. But while a major quake is less likely here than in California, experts say the risk is still very real.

The U.S. already has about 3,000 data centers — and that number is expected to grow quickly in the coming years. A new report finds much of that growth is shifting away from cities and into rural areas, including in the Mountain West.

A new development featuring a 6,000 seat soccer stadium along with a hotel, casino and retail makes its way to Reno. But, what impacts could it have to the local economy?

At the University of Nevada, Reno, researchers are combining robotics, artificial intelligence, and agriculture. The early stages of this research give insight into the sheep industry's future.

Incline High School in Lake Tahoe has earned a top 10 finish at the national “We the People” competition in Washington, D.C., standing out among some of the largest schools in the country.

The Discovery Science Museum is looking for ways to reach a broader audience. One way they're doing this is through bilingual exhibitions in English and Spanish.

Amid large community pressure, Reno City Council voted to pass agenda item C1, taking steps toward more unified regulations for data center development in Reno and Northern Nevada.

The declines were felt across the Mountain West. In Idaho, SNAP participation fell nearly 8%. Nevada saw a drop of more than 14%. In Arizona, participation fell by nearly 34%. New Mexico saw a decrease of about 6%, while Wyoming dropped by more than 11%.

A coalition of environmental groups is suing the Environmental Protection Agency, alleging the agency missed a key deadline tied to a stricter national standard for soot pollution. The case could affect air quality protections across the Mountain West.

During March, Orvis School of Nursing students from the University of Nevada, Reno, traveled to Kampot, Cambodia, as part of a global health exchange program where they visited Sonja Kill Memorial Hospital — a healthcare facility that stood out because of its unique design.

Traffic deaths declined overall in 2025, but several Mountain West states saw increases. The new initiative focuses on risky driving behaviors.

With International Dark Skies Week wrapped up, the biggest question is why people are looking up to the skies

As the United States nears its 250th anniversary, some Americans question what there is to celebrate amid division and global tension. Compared to 1976, a shared sense of optimism feels harder to find.

Self-driving cars are showing up in unexpected places, including the snowy streets of Truckee. But local officials say they weren't formally told the testing was happening.

As data centers rapidly expand across the Mountain West, researchers say a key question is getting harder to answer: how much water are they actually using?

The Board recently issued a directive for casinos in Nevada following the discontinuation of the penny.

Wind and solar power are rapidly expanding across the Mountain West, with some states now generating a significant share of their electricity from renewable sources, according to a new report from Climate Central, a nonpartisan research group.

A local judge rejected witness testimony from Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve, who attended a hearing in support of her former political rival.

Millions rely on this help to pay their bills during extreme cold and heat surges

A Vail journalist discusses ‘the long-forgotten story of how we broke skiing — by very nearly saving it.'

Clean Up the Lake released an "Aquatic Invasive Species Video Identification Toolkit," designed to help identify invasive species in Lake Tahoe.

Incline Village residents heading to the beach this summer will see big changes underway.

As the Artemis II astronauts make their way back to Earth, one of the biggest questions on everyone's mind is: What's the purpose of this mission?

But win in other states in the midst of legal challenges

The plan would consolidate research leadership — currently dispersed across the country — in Fort Collins, Colo., while closing laboratories in Montana, Utah and Nevada.

The monthly National Interagency Fire Center outlooks are typically staid documents, providing just-the-facts analysis. But the latest is superlative-laden as it describes record-low snowpacks, record-early snow melt and record-high temperatures.

Several new bridges and tunnels were built in the last few years to prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions. Now, state lawmakers are looking to build on the momentum — and qualify for remaining federal grant dollars.

Disputes over water are becoming more common across the Mountain West as populations grow and supplies tighten. Now, a coalition of counties, ranchers and water advocates in Utah and Nevada is appealing federal approval of a groundwater pipeline project in southern Utah.

You may have seen recent news about a federal court ruling affecting public media funding. Here's the latest update from KUNR Public Radio.

Nevada's special legislative session ended without passing the massive expansion of transferable film tax credits, while lawmakers voted to enshrine mail ballots in the state constitution.

A coalition in Nevada is urging state lawmakers to protect immigrants during the special legislative session, but the Democratic Assembly Caucus leadership isn't answering questions on the topic.

On Friday, the Truckee River Flood Management Authority (TRFMA) could vote on a flood mitigation and park proposal between McCarran and Rock boulevards, potentially creating more grass sports fields.

Homeowners in Nevada continually face challenges. The loss of insurance coverage due to wildfire risk is just adding to their list of worries.

A majority of farms in the United States are considered small, and Nevada is no different. Many provide food right back to the local community. But it's becoming increasingly more difficult for them to survive. That's the case for one family-operated farm in Fallon.

Recent summer thunderstorms put some storm drains in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County to the test.

KUNR is a trusted voice for Northern Nevada and the Eastern Sierra. Here's what you can do to help secure KUNR's future following the passing of the Rescissions Act of 2025 by Congress, which claws back $1.1 billion in federal funding for public media.

KUNR is a trusted voice for Northern Nevada and the Eastern Sierra — and your support means more than ever. Here's what federal funding means for this vital public service and what you can do to help keep it strong.

The city laid off more than a dozen employees to help balance the budget in June. Now, the city is confirming that two of them will keep their jobs.

Local governments struggled to balance their books for the current fiscal year. But while Reno and Washoe County avoided layoffs, the City of Sparks lost staff.

Nevada lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it easier for immigrant doctors to care for patients in the state.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo's housing bill and others have been introduced in Carson City; some are moving through — what's in them, and will they pass?

The wheels on the bus go round and round as a group of seniors made their way to Carson City on Thursday to lobby state legislators. KUNR's Lucia Starbuck hitched a ride.

The USDA says eggs prices are beginning to fall, however local Reno businesses have yet to see a difference. Fortino Rojas and Alana Saporiti share their experience and how they're keeping their businesses afloat.

The Trump administration wants to speed up data center construction to support the rise of the artificial intelligence industry.