PODCAST · news
This Is Reno Radio
by This Is Reno
This Is Reno Radio is a show from Reno, Nevada featuring insightful news and analysis about Reno-area news. The hosts are Bob Conrad and Kristen Hackbarth, This Is Reno's editors. This podcast won 2026 Podcast of the Year from the Nevada Press Association.
Episodes
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Reno’s $22 million police technology proposal, the Ward 4 race and court updates
This Is Reno editors Bob Conrad and Kristen Hackbarth are back with the latest in Reno news covering local government, lawsuits and elections. We break down Reno’s proposed $22 million police technology contract, questions in the Ward 4 council race and the latest local court disputes. We examine...
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Reno politics, school problems and new twists in the Peppermill false arrest case
We are back. After a late-summer break, Kristen and Bob return with a packed roundup of Reno-area news. This episode covers our public records litigation against the city of Reno, an election integrity complaint involving mayoral candidate and Reno City Council member Kathleen Taylor, the ongoing...
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Hawk Fire evacuations raise questions about emergency communication
Kristen Hackbarth and Bob Conrad, editors of This Is Reno, discuss the massive wildfire evacuations in Reno’s North Valleys and why we believe emergency communication remains a serious problem for residents and local news media. We also dig into Doral Academy’s proposed South Reno campus, a state...
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Former county administrator indicted, libraries lose director and the Club Underground investigation
This week on the This Is Reno podcast, we — editors Kristen Hackbarth and Bob Conrad — dig into several investigations and controversies unfolding across Reno and Washoe County. We discuss the federal indictment of former Washoe County Department of Alternative Sentencing chief Justin Roper,...
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Flock Safety camera backlash, the NV Energy data center lawsuit and the top-5 angry Gold ’N Silver comments
Welcome back to the This Is Reno Podcast, hosted by us — Bob Conrad and Kristen Hackbarth — This Is Reno’s editors. Broadcasting on KWNK Community Radio at 97.7 FM in Reno and available wherever you get your podcasts, we have another dive into the biggest stories shaping Reno and Northern Nevada....
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Reno politics and development: Public lands, equine rules and the ‘Neon Line District’
Hosts Kristen Hackbarth and Bob Conrad return to discuss several of the week's biggest stories affecting northern Nevada. We discuss the debate surrounding proposed federal changes to public grazing regulations, Washoe County's long-awaited updates for equine businesses, state of Nevada…
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Election updates, license plate readers and city hall controversies
This Is Reno’s Kristen Hackbarth and Bob Conrad are back with a slate of big news items from the past couple weeks. We start with corrections from our last show before diving into election updates, expanding surveillance technology in the Reno area, local government accountability, nonprofit...
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Reno’s primary election results: Major upsets, City Hall shakeups and what's next
Reno voters delivered a strong message in the 2026 primary election, and the results could reshape local government for years to come. This Is Reno editors Kristen Hackbarth and Bob Conrad analyze the mayoral race, county commission contests, school board elections and the surprising defeat of…
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Reno transit fee hikes, data center moratorium and the Reno police shake-up
Hosts Kristen Hackbarth and Bob Conrad catch up on several weeks of major Northern Nevada stories in the latest This Is Reno podcast — from proposed RTC transit fare hikes and Washoe County budget concerns to heated debates over data centers, housing growth and police department leadership…
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How the culture wars are reshaping public education, an interview with Sue Granzella
Reno teacher Shaughn Richardson and retired California educator Sue Granzella discuss in this special episode her book “Pushed to the Edge: Teacher Stories from the Culture Wars.” The educators discuss how the pandemic accelerated teacher burnout, how school board politics have transformed...
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Police training scandal, housing crisis, heat mitigation and city hall tensions
In this May 7, 2026 episode of the This Is Reno podcast, hosts Kristen Hackbarth and Bob Conrad dive into a packed week of local news, ranging from controversial Reno Police Department training records to growing frustration over city spending priorities, homelessness statistics and the future of...
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Data centers, Washoe County investigation and the next school superintendent
Kristen Hackbarth and Bob Conrad break down several major local stories shaping Reno and Washoe County. Topics include Reno’s reversal on regulating data centers, allegations of mismanagement within Washoe County housing and homeless services, the Washoe County School District superintendent...
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DA nepotism allegations, a facial recognition lawsuit update and the downtown policing controversy
This week's This Is Reno podcast covers a range of Reno and Washoe County news, from a whip craft art exhibit at the Holland Project to local political and legal developments. Hosts Bob Conrad and Kristen Hackbarth discuss the Washoe Republicans' decision to endorse primary candidates despite...
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Investigation into Reno police leadership continues; major development approved
Bob Conrad and Kristen Hackbarth discuss the latest Reno news headlines, including a large-scale voter roll cleanup ahead of the June primary, approval of a major south Reno housing project and an ongoing investigation into Reno Police Department leadership. We also examine rising Waste…
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AI facial-recognition lawsuit: City attorney accuses plaintiff of conspiracy with This Is Reno
In this episode of This Is Reno Radio, editors Kristen Hackbarth and Bob Conrad discuss the latest developments in a federal lawsuit stemming from a wrongful arrest at the Peppermill Casino. The case focuses on using facial recognition technology for arrests by the Reno Police Department. We…
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Inside ‘Copaganda’: Alec Karakatsanis on media, policing and public perception
This Is Reno publisher Bob Conrad speaks with civil rights attorney and author Alec Karakatsanis about his book “Copaganda.” The talk was one of The Radical Cat bookstore’s author talks and was streamed by Radical Cat online Thursday, Feb. 18. The conversation explores how police public relations...
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ICE Out walkouts, Reno’s budget crisis and ongoing property management complaints
This episode of This Is Reno Radio dives deep into the local ripple effects of national immigration enforcement, as Reno-area students stage unprecedented walkouts in protest of federal ICE actions. Recorded Feb. 1, hosts Kristen Hackbarth and Bob Conrad discuss the community’s response…
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Affordable housing in Reno: What residents and records reveal about FPI Management
This Is Reno’s Kristen Hackbarth and Bob Conrad unpack a year-long investigation into FPI Management, a national property management firm overseeing multiple affordable and senior housing complexes in Reno. Drawing from public records, resident interviews, court records and city council...
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Reno in Review: The issues and people who shaped 2025
In the final episode recorded in 2025, This Is Reno’s Bob Conrad and Kristen Hackbarth look back at the stories, controversies and figures that defined the year in northern Nevada. From local leaders making waves to overlooked investigations and courthouse drama, this year-end wrap-up highlights...
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Reno's budget shortfalls, homelessness downtown and the TMCC lawsuit settlement explained
Kristen and Bob this week break down Reno’s major local stories. These include the second straight year of budget shortfalls at City Hall, the ongoing downtown noise dispute after the J Resort Halloween EDM concert, TMCC’s $300,000 settlement with professor Lars Jensen, shifting city…
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Reno News: Deputy DA fired, auditor hit with restraining order and AI facial recognition fail prompts lawsuit
Kristen and Bob cover this week’s major Reno news — from a deputy district attorney’s firing over social media posts to lawsuits involving UNR and the Reno Police Department. We also discuss the return of the homelessness advisory board, our documentary on homelessness and Reno’s new “death…
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Reno News Roundup: GPS tracker lawsuit update, EV fee discussions and our beleaguered downtown
Kristen and Bob recap the latest Reno news headlines, such as the not-so-shocking news that “John Doe” in the GPS tracker case is Robert Beadles. We also award ourselves two “dookies,” clarifying a Verdi TV district budget gap and misleading school spending reporting. A $1.4 billion road repair...
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Heat, Turf and Tensions: This week in local Reno news
In the latest Reno news podcast, Kristen and Bob walk through a packed week: Washoe County got a new manager among four finalists for county manager, while the county commissioners put the little-known Verdi Television District on the hot seat. Jacobs Entertainment dangles a downtown youth sports...
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Former Reno cop arrested in HEAT sting and the ‘No Kings’ rally: Reno’s top stories this week
Kristen and Bob give a rundown of the latest big news in Reno. We discuss the nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations, a regional child-exploitation sting that led to the arrest of a former deputy police chief, Washoe County’s move to dissolve its Department of Alternative Sentencing, an ethics case...
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Sewer rate hike proposal stalls after public outcry; city survey reveals negative views of downtown Reno
Kristen and Bob return with a new discussion on the latest Reno news headlines. This episode covers Washoe County’s plan to dissolve its Department of Alternative Sentencing, results from the city of Reno’s community survey, the sewer-rate debate and feedback, Stonegate’s zoning appeal and Nevada...
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Police transparency fight reaches Nevada’s high court, that data center meeting and cuts to LGBTQ+ funding
Kristen and Bob this week give a straight-ahead rundown of the major Reno-area news stories: a federal letter about the University of Nevada, Reno’s UndocuPack program, what was said at a community-led summit on data centers, a high-stakes Nevada Supreme Court dispute over police investigations,...
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Lear Theater confusion, NV Energy refunds and Reno’s vanishing data-center meeting
On today’s show, Kristen and Bob break down a packed local news week: The ongoing Lear Theater debate, a fresh round of NV Energy refunds and climate grades, the city of Reno scraps a much-anticipated data-centers meeting while Sparks presses ahead. There was also an ADU ordinance hiccup, and we…
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Sparks fly in Sparks: UPS complaints, a Burning Man lawsuit and Reno’s ACAB moment
Kristen and Bob break down the latest Reno news headlines. This week, we discuss the Lear Theater’s future, a federal lawsuit tied to Burning Man, patient safety concerns at a Saint Mary’s Hospice, worker-safety allegations at UPS in Sparks, the city’s new arts board naming flap. We also give a…
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The price of ribs and Burner trash
Kristen and Bob break down the top stories in Reno. This episode is first heard by This Is Reno’s paying members, who get this before it is published anywhere else. Get first access and exclusive content by subscribing at https://thisisreno.com/subscribe/ Burner trash Post‑Burning Man garbage...
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Double dipping and big spending in the Biggest Little City, part 2
This episode is the second podcast in a two-part series. Kristen Hackbarth and Bob Conrad discuss the recent This Is Reno investigation Kristen did into spending at Reno City Hall. After months of digging, getting public records and combing through large amounts of information, we published a...
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Double dipping and big spending in the Biggest Little City, part 1
This episode is our first podcast in more than a year. Kristen Hackbarth and Bob Conrad discuss the recent This Is Reno investigation Kristen did into spending at Reno City Hall. After months of digging, getting public records and combing through large amounts of information, we published a...
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Edward Coleman discusses Reno’s new Black Community Collective
Edward Coleman is the executive director of a new Reno nonprofit called the Black Community Collective. In today’s show we discuss why he started the collective and why it is needed in the greater Reno community. We also discuss some of his recent efforts including his work on the City of Reno’s...
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A brain-health clinic is helping revolutionize mental health treatment
The testimonials that Epic Brain Centers of Reno provide are hard to believe. Some of the anecdotes include those diagnosed with depression seeing results in few treatments. Other testimonials show people quickly recovering from conditions such as addiction and anxiety. For this episode, I…
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Reno Food Systems is growing a vision
Lyndsey Langsdale helps to run the Reno Food Systems farm on Mayberry Drive. The nonprofit operation has been in business since 2018. For today’s show we talk with Lyndsey about her vision for the farm. I visited Reno Food Systems in the fall as the farm was still harvesting produce, volunteers…
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Addiction treatment facility needs more resources to meet community demands
One of the Reno area’s few substance use, and gambling, addiction treatment facilities is the Bristlecone Recovery Center. The nonprofit is named after bristlecone pine, a tree found in Nevada, Utah and California. The center uses this analogy: This remarkable tree can fully regenerate itself…
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What Reno can learn from the Netherlands
The Dutch Cycling Embassy came to Reno in September. They were here to discuss how the Netherlands became bike centric and to help the Biggest Little City’s cycling efforts. The Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance helped organize the Embassy’s visit. For this episode, we spoke with people who…
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Dying ducks and seniors getting shafted
The heat of summer is one of the causes for why ducks and geese are dying at area ponds. In this show, we hear from a wildlife veterinarian who explains why botulism is suspected in the regional water bodies, and how that is impacting waterfowl. We also hear from an advocate for local senior...
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Meet the new superintendent of Washoe County schools
Dr. Susan Enfield has been in Reno for just short of two months, and already she is making changes to the Washoe County School District. As the new superintendent of schools, Enfield has generated optimism by saying in part she wants the district to own its mistakes and celebrate its successes.…
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The successes and challenges of being downtown Reno ambassador
If you’ve been to downtown Reno in the past few years, you have most likely seen the ambassadors in action. They wear blue shirts with the downtown Reno partnership logo and are often seen providing assistance to people. They are also charged with cleaning up downtown. That includes litter…
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Federal lands transfer on hold, the downtown bike track and a robot mixologist
A man in a chicken outfit was recently protesting at U.S. Congressman Mark Amodei’s Reno office. He was one of about 20 who gathered in protest of an amendment by Amodei to the defense authorization bill in Congress. The protesters said more than 350,000 acres transferred from federal ownership...
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A renewed love for local music
The pandemic tore apart the ability for people to collaborate on music. But it also forced artists to work together in other ways. One local musician and educator seized the opportunity to change how music is written and performed. Trombonist Paul Fleming started a new local nonprofit during the...
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Behind Reno’s whip ban, an interview
Fil Corbitt is one of Reno’s most talented and better known podcasters. In a recent episode of The Wind podcast, Fil explored last year’s decision by the city of Reno to ban whips from downtown. I speak with Fil in this episode about the ban and what they found. Also, the Washoe County board of...
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“There’s nothing to keep teachers in the classroom”
Public education is facing a protracted crisis. From lack of funding and bureaucracy to politicized attacks on teachers and staff, Washoe County, much like the rest of the country, is also no stranger to public education controversy. For this show, I spoke with Calen Evans. A ten-year teacher, he...
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A psychiatric treatment facility is opening in a Reno neighborhood
A recent public comment at a Reno City Council brought up an issue that took many people by surprise. The reason: A residential psychiatric facility is opening in a Reno neighborhood. That is of course creating a lot of questions for nearby residents. But opposition to the facility also drew...
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City of Reno cracks down on trivia games at local bars
Local business DJ Trivia has for nearly a decade been hosting games at local bars. But the City of Reno recently decided those games qualify as live entertainment. As a result, a handful of bars have been forced to quit hosting the games – or get an expensive cabaret license. In this episode we...
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Photojournalist Ty O’Neil on covering the Ukrainian war
This Is Reno photojournalist Ty O’Neil recently returned from Ukraine where he was covering the conflict with Russia. In this episode, we have a very special guest host. Lucia Starbuck interviews O’Neil about his recent visit to Ukraine to cover the Russian invasion. They discuss what he saw, the...
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Higher ed spats leave Nevada universities and colleges without a chancellor
Shouting, interruptions and threats marked a heated meeting of the Board of Regents on April first. The regents are the Nevada System of Higher Education’s governing board. They met to approve a $610,000 severance with Chancellor Melody Rose. Rose wanted to leave her position as chancellor after...
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Washoe County beats down illegal voting resolution
Washoe County recently fended off a major proposal to overhaul election laws. The resolution was advanced by County Commissioner Jeanne Herman, and it would have forced people off voter rolls if they did not vote, mandated hand counting of ballots and would have required armed government agents…
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Black Wall Street rising
Reno’s Black Wall street was founded in 2020. The nonprofit was formed to meet the needs of black and underserved people of color in the Reno Sparks area. The group is regularly hosting classes, outreach events and helping people in need. In this episode, three of the key people behind Black Wall...
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Biden administration wants to undo landmark ruling that found criminal immigration law unconstitutional
Lauren Gorman is a federal public defender in Reno. Last year she battled the federal government and won. The case involved a man who illegally re-entered the United States from Mexico after having already been deported. Gorman said the law criminalizing re-entry into the U.S. was based on…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
This Is Reno Radio is a show from Reno, Nevada featuring insightful news and analysis about Reno-area news. The hosts are Bob Conrad and Kristen Hackbarth, This Is Reno's editors. This podcast won 2026 Podcast of the Year from the Nevada Press Association.
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How many episodes does This Is Reno Radio have?
This Is Reno Radio currently has 103 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is This Is Reno Radio about?
This Is Reno Radio is a show from Reno, Nevada featuring insightful news and analysis about Reno-area news. The hosts are Bob Conrad and Kristen Hackbarth, This Is Reno's editors. This podcast won 2026 Podcast of the Year from the Nevada Press Association.
How often does This Is Reno Radio release new episodes?
This Is Reno Radio publishes regularly with 103 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to This Is Reno Radio on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts This Is Reno Radio?
This Is Reno Radio is created and hosted by This Is Reno.
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