Ben Margiott
KRNV
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Past articles by Ben:
Days-long I-80 closure strands semis, thins out Reno grocery store shelves
Grocery store shelves in the Reno-Sparks area started looking sparse on Wednesday as the Donner Summit closure extended into its third day.Though Interstate 80 → Read More
Tesla announces new $3.5B facility east of Sparks to build all-electric semi trucks
point I am looking forward to joining Elon Musk and the team at Tesla tomorrow when they unveil plans to build a brand new $3.5 Billion-dollar advanced manufac → Read More
Washoe school board selects Alex Woodley to fill vacant seat
The Washoe County school board voted to appoint Alex Woodley to the open District E seat on Tuesday.Woodley will replace longtime trustee Dr. Angie Taylor, who → Read More
Nevada Supreme Court panel to reconsider overturning of Reno man's murder conviction
A Nevada Supreme Court panel will reconsider the decision to overturn a Reno man's murder conviction.In court documents filed Wednesday, the state supreme court → Read More
New 'dangerous dog' ordinance now in effect in Washoe County
Washoe County now has a new 'dangerous dog' ordinance, which determines whether aggressive or violent dogs can be returned to their owners.It affects the handfu → Read More
Here's how many mail-in ballots are still left to be counted in Washoe County
The rush of Election Day 2022 is over, but it's still too early to call major statewide and local races because there are still tens of thousands of mail ballot → Read More
Are Washoe officials ready for misinformation, fraud claims heading into midterm election?
The 2022 midterm elections are now less than two months away. Similar to the primary and the 2020 election, many believe that bad actors will exploit misinforma → Read More
Candidate appeals ruling allowing Brekhus to run for Reno mayor to Nevada Supreme Court
Reno mayoral candidate William Mantle is appealing a Washoe County judge's decision to allow councilwoman Jenny Brekhus to run for mayor to the Nevada Supreme Court. Judge Connie Steinheimer ruled on May 2 that Brekhus was allowed to run in 2022, tossing out Mantle's term limits challenge. Mantle told News 4-Fox 11 he filed the appeal Tuesday and will be representing himself. Caption: Mantle… → Read More
Last diesel-only bus in Reno retired; all RTC buses now electric or hybrid
Say goodbye to diesel-only public transportation in Washoe County. The Regional Transportation Commission announced Friday that 100% of its fixed-route buses are now electric or electric-diesel hybrids. As of May 6, about one-third of RTC's fixed-route buses are fully electric. The remaining two-thirds of public buses are hybrids, 'capable of running 35% of the time in all-electric mode'… → Read More
Meet Boston: The Reno Fire Department employee who 'nose' best how to solve arson crimes
He earns no salary or benefits — only expecting to be compensated with treats — but may well be the Reno Fire Department's most valued employee. Boston, a 2-year-old black Labrador retriever, is city hall's unofficial mascot and Reno's first accelerant detection dog, also known as an 'arson dog. ' Caption: Meet Boston: The Reno Fire Department employee who 'nose' best how to solve arson crimes. → Read More
'Terrifying:' Some students, faculty start petition to reinstate mask mandate at UNR
Some students and faculty at the University of Nevada, Reno are calling on Nevada higher education leaders to reinstate the mask mandate on campus, with one professor calling the prospect of a mask-optional spring semester 'terrifying. ' A petition circulated by graduate students asking the Nevada System of Higher Education to mandate masks had gathered about 600 signatures as of Friday morning,… → Read More
What you need to know about new Nevada laws going into effect in 2022
Dozens of bills passed in the 2021 Nevada legislative session are going into effect on Jan. 1, 2022, including laws surrounding child car seats, lactation rooms, mail-in voting and more. Here is a roundup of the major laws that go into effect on New Year's Day. Child car seat law. Assembly Bill 118 makes significant changes to the laws surrounding when children need to be in a car seat. Starting… → Read More
Days-long closure of I-80 over Donner Summit costing millions
The days-long closure of Interstate 80 over Donner Summit is costing millions as semi trucks full of goods are stuck on both sides of the closure awaiting clearer weather. The economic impact of the lengthy closure was felt Monday morning at Nevcal Trucking in Sparks, where dozens of empty semi trucks were parked. When I-80 shuts down it creates havoc. "If the trucks are not running, the drivers… → Read More
When will snow plows hit your street in Washoe County?
The flakes are falling in the Sierra as a massive winter storm is expected to drop several feet of snow at the higher elevations. Late Monday night, the white stuff should start falling in the Truckee Meadows, making for a messy Tuesday commute. So, when will a snow plow hit your street? Below are the priority maps for Reno, Washoe County and NDOT, so you can determine how soon the streets on… → Read More
Washoe school board fills third vacancy, selecting Adam Mayberry for open seat
The Washoe County school board Tuesday morning appointed Adam Mayberry to fill the open district F seat, ending a tumultuous summer and fall where the board lost three members to resignation. Mayberry will represent the at-large district F seat, which opened up when former trustee Jacqueline Calvert resigned after it was revealed she moved out of the district. → Read More
Massive Neon Line District headed for Reno council vote without public workshop
UPDATED OCTOBER 14. The Reno City Council voted to move forward with the massive Neon Line District proposal Wednesday. The development is likely the biggest project Downtown Reno has seen in decades. Mayor Hillary Schieve said "We have never seen a project of this magnitude. Usually people will come in with one or two blocks. " But some members of the council are still concerned. → Read More
All higher education employees in Nevada must get COVID-19 vaccine or waiver by Dec. 1
All higher education employees in Nevada must get the COVID-19 vaccine by Dec. 1, unless they have a religious or medical exemption, under a new policy approved by the Board of Regents Thursday. The policy, which passed 10-3 during a special meeting Thursday morning, says that failure to get vaccinated by that deadline will result in termination. Over 75% of the Nevada System of Higher… → Read More
Washoe schools trustee Jeff Church denies wrongdoing ahead of possible censure vote
Washoe County school board trustee Jeff Church denied any wrongdoing Friday ahead of a possible vote early next week to censure him for alleged violations of school board policy. According to documents posted online, Church is accused of over 20 violations of WCSD board policy. Board members could vote to publicly reprimand him. He currently represents District A, which encompasses most of south… → Read More
Squaw Valley ski resort changes name to 'Palisades Tahoe'
Squaw Valley ski resort officials announced Monday they are changing the name of the world-renowned resort near Truckee to 'Palisades Tahoe' after a year-long process. Officials changed the name to remove the word 'squaw,' which is considered offensive as an ethnic and sexual slur for Indigenous North American women. The famed resort, which hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics, will be officially… → Read More
All college students in Nevada required to get COVID-19 vaccine for spring semester
All college students in Nevada will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before the spring 2022 semester after the State Board of Health passed new regulations Friday. Students at all Nevada universities, state colleges and community colleges enrolling in spring classes must be required before Nov. 1, 2021, according to the new rules. State health board members passed the… → Read More