Sierra Nevada Ally

On this inaugural edition of the podcast, we’ll talk about the upcoming legislative session in Nevada and what to expect, a new ordinance in the city of Reno that further targets the homeless community, and then we’ll introduce ourselves a bit more with our co-founder Joe McCarthy. This show is made possible by Press Forward , a national coalition investing more than $500 million to strengthen loc...

Latinos in Nevada make up about 28 percent of the state and one in five registered voters. It’s a group being courted by Republicans and Democrats alike. With Nevada being a swing state, Latino families are a critical voting bloc that could sway this year’s election. Alexandra Couraud reports on this story that was first published in the Fulcrum and on the Latino News Network , and is being shared...

At Scougal Rubber, a corporation in McCarran, Nev. east of Sparks, machines apply more than 1 million pounds of pressure at 280 degrees Fahrenheit to create giant bearing pads used in buildings and bridges to help transfer weight throughout the entire structure. The company is headquartered in Seattle, but has been at this location since 2011. It recently got a more than $700,000 grant grant from...

A new battleground is forming in the state of Nevada, where an influx of federal funding and state-level tax incentives are seeking to kickstart a critical mineral economy necessary to support the renewable energy transition. But while critical minerals provide foundational components to all of our electronic devices - from everyday technologies like cell phones and laptops, to renewable energy te...

Amy Ray of Indigo Girls has been penning songs for decades now. The duo had a major hit with the song Closer to Fine in the late 1980s and have continued to write and tour in the years since. Amy has also established herself as a solo artist releasing seven studio albums and three live records on her own. Her musical style is best described as folk-rock, both as the duo and a solo artist. Througho...

For nearly 80 years, six friends from the Alabama Institute for the Negro Deaf and Blind have been singing together, starting from their first performance at WSGN, a radio station in Birmingham, Ala. The group, now known as the Blind Boys of Alabama , has traveled around the world, performing at Carnegie Hall, the White House and this month, the Nashville Social Club in Carson City. Sierra Nevada...

On this week's Ally Radio, we learn about heat islands: what they are, and how they can impact health. Our contributor Richard Bednarski brings us an interview with Nevada's state climatologist. Then, we head into our personal archives and take an international audio trip to the Republic of Molossia, a micronation located in northern Nevada, and meet "benevolent dictator" Kevin...

In March of last year, a group of friends decided to start a new business together, a bookstore. But they didn't want to make just any bookstore, they wanted it to be more community focused. The Radical Cat is a feminist bookstore, cat adoption center, and community space. Ilya is in charge of events for the store, which covers the gamut from arts and author events, to civic engagement and do...

On this week's Ally Radio, we’re exploring how the lack of decorum and dignity in public discourse spells trouble for democracy - one possible path forward. Then, we’ll head to eastern Nevada to learn more about a proposed mine that is hoping to extract vanadium. Vanadium is a critical mineral, like lithium, but this one could hold the answer to more long-term grid-scale renewable energy stor...

A perennial challenge for renewable energy development has been and continues to be long-duration, grid-scale storage. But one proposed mine in Eureka County could be the first primary ground source in the United States of a mineral called vanadium. Science and technology reporter Scott King chats about vanadium and it's potential for rural counties, the state of Nevada and the country at lar...

On this week’s Ally Radio, we look at an event this weekend commemorating the 160th anniversary of the Treaty of the Ruby Valley. This agreement from 1863 was between the Western Shoshone people and the U.S. government, and it allowed colonial settlers to travel through and use the land of the Western Shoshone. What it didn’t do was cede land. A conversation about that treaty, what it means, and a...

Hispanic Heritage Month is underway, with community celebrations of Latin culture, people and traditions through Oct. 15. But, educational opportunities remain harder to obtain for many Latino residents. What can be done to increase equality? Dr. Jafeth Sanchez is an associate professor of educational leadership at the University of Nevada, Reno and the director of the Latino Research Center. She...

On this week’s Ally Radio, we look at the need of rural food pantries in our region, and the challenges facing these local, community (and mostly volunteer-run) organizations. We chat with Lisa Selmi from the Healthy Community Coalition of Lyon and Storey counties to learn more. Then, we chat about how proposed rules governing the nation’s public lands can help increase access to nature and outdoo...

On this week's show, we look at the role psychedelics can play in treating mental health, with some studies showing the potential of psychedelics in treating serious mental conditions, including depression, addiction and PTSD. Then, we kick off Hispanic Heritage Month by chatting with Dr.  Jafeth Sanchez, director of the Latino Research Center at the University of Nevada, Reno. We preview som...

On this week's Ally Radio, the Sierra Nevada Ally's Scott King joins the show to talk about efforts to build green energy infrastructure and transmission throughout rural Nevada. While well intentioned, these projects have the potential to harm the communities they're meant to serve. Then, we chat with Dr. Sondra Cosgrove, history professor at the College of Southern Nevada about AB...

A new school year is underway for students, teachers and parents across northern Nevada. It's also the second year for Washoe County School District Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield. She and the district [recently] announced its three-year roadmap for the district. Executive Editor Noah Glick chatted with Dr. Enfield to learn more about what she's hoping for this year, the historic educa...

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve was in Washington D.C. earlier this year, as part of the United States Conference of Mayors, to advocate for stronger federal support to address mental health in American cities. But, what can mayors really do to address the issue? Executive Editor Noah Glick recently caught up with Schieve to talk about how to increase access to mental health care, especially among thos...

On this week's Ally Radio, Sierra Nevada Ally contributor Richard Bednarski highlights a new local news outlet serving the rural residents of Plumas County, California. The Plumas Sun began this summer, after the area's only local news source closed. Then, Executive Editor Noah Glick chats with Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve about increasing access to mental health care, especially among tho...

On this week’s show, we take a look at the legacy of mining in the West, particularly the industry’s legacy of waste and pollution. A new report from the Center for Western Priorities looks at the issue and what policies might help. We chat with the group to learn more. Then, we wrapped up our series on El Capitan this week, looking at the history of this world-famous rock wall – and some of the e...

A new testing facility in Oregon is researching how to bring wave energy from the shore to the grid. This show is made possible by Press Forward , a national coalition investing more than $500 million to strengthen local newsrooms and close longstanding gaps in journalism coverage. And from our readers and listeners at sierranevadaally.org. Music for the show comes from local band, People with Bod...

School is back in session for kids, teachers and parents across northern Nevada. On this week's Ally Radio, we look at the upcoming school year with Washoe County School District Superintendent, Dr. Susan Enfield. Then, a look back at the Nevada legislative session with the Nevada Women's Lobby. The group released a report highlighting some of the bills that passed, what was vetoed and w...

On this week's Ally Radio, we head to Maui, where a wildfire has destroyed an historic town, killed dozens of people and destroyed homes and businesses. Our friends at KMUD Redwood Community Radio were able to connect with our radio friends in Maui to check in. Then, we look at the world-famous El Capitan. This granite wall has attracted climbers from around the world for decades. But, what d...

July was one of the hottest and driest in history for Reno this year. We break down what is going on with climatologist Kaitlyn Trudeau with Climate Central, who tells us temperatures are only going to continue to rise. Then, we visit the Radical Cat, a bookstore in Reno, to learn about how the owners are using the space to give voice to the community. This show is made possible by Press Forward ,...

This week's Ally Radio is going international (sort of). But first, we start by going over the latest from the Douglas County School District with Rocío Hernández, education reporter with the Nevada Independent, and we get a civics refresher on constitutional amendments with Dr. Sondra Cosgrove from the College of Southern Nevada. Then, we chat with recent UNR graduate, Racheal Reyes, about h...

From a new transgender athlete policy to threats of lawsuits and the hiring of Joey Gilbert, the Douglas County School District has made a series of puzzling moves. Community members and parents are eager to know why such attention is being put into a policy that affects few students, rather than address the larger needs of student achievement and safety. We look at the latest from DCSD with some...