Connect with us

Nevada

Literacy in the H.O.O.D. shifting operations to Nevada next year, encouraging donations

Published

on

Literacy in the H.O.O.D. shifting operations to Nevada next year, encouraging donations


CLEVELAND — News 5 is Following Through by highlighting the importance of boosting children’s literacy rates across Northeast Ohio. You can join us in helping the cause by donating to our “If You Give a Child a Book” campaign.

You can scan the QR code on your screen during our newscasts or text WEWS to 50155 to help get books for children needing them.

Data shows that 66% of Cleveland residents are functionally illiterate, and in some neighborhoods, the illiteracy rate is a staggering 95%.

A Cleveland-area mom and her son have worked tirelessly since 2017 to get books in homes and the hands of area kids and families.

Advertisement

Their nonprofit, Literacy in the H.O.O.D., has garnered national attention and critical acclaim. But it’s now entering a new chapter and closing out another.

Chrishawndra Matthews says she’s ready for a new journey, a new story of her own.

She and her son, Derrick Smith Jr., are moving from Cleveland to Nevada next year. She has 11 months left here at home.

She says that although you won’t physically see them after that, the nonprofit will operate in a different capacity.

She says, after all, every city in America has a hood, and she’s here to “help out our disenfranchised.”

Advertisement

“Literacy in the H.O.O.D. is coming to a city, a state, a hood, and country near you,” Matthews told us.

Nearly 700,000 free books were handed out, and countless community events later, Matthews and her son are entering a new chapter in their lives.

“We really do just try to go out and give away as many books as we can,” Smith Jr. said. He’s the founder of Boys Do Read.

“We’ve outgrown Cleveland. So we’re gonna go and we’re gonna expand,” Matthews said.

Proudly known to many as “the book lady in the bright blue van,” Matthews says she has a much larger purpose.

Advertisement

She says her mobile mission isn’t stopping, and she’s not closing the book, so to speak.

It’s just going to look and feel different in the next year as she prepares for a cross-country move.

“Books will still be available in Cleveland, but we’re going to some bigger demographics, we’re going to another country, going to another hood, and we’re going to another state,” Matthews said.

She’s partnered with an organization in Japan, taking their mission internationally.

They will distribute books to overseas children who are often bullied for their reading ability.

Advertisement

Her son experienced it first-hand, which prompted him to start his own organization.

News 5 followed every step of his journey.

“I’m just trying to help create a safe environment for younger boys like me to share their feelings and emotions,” Smith said.

“That’s why he started Boys Do Read because he was bullied for being the only kid in kindergarten who could read. But that’s his fire under his feet,” Matthews said.

Derrick, now 13 and in eighth grade, has since created “Brothers Bonding Over Books, a monthly support meet-up.

Advertisement

Matthews Literacy in the H.O.O.D. is reaching new audiences and ages as well, including senior citizens who don’t have access and are on a fixed income.

“We’re going in there, we’re going to low income housing, we’re going to the rec centers, we’re going to the playgrounds,” Matthews said.

While Matthews says Cleveland will always be home, she’s eager for the next step in her giving journey.

“Children need to read! Studies show 20 minutes a day changes your life,” Matthews said.

After all—she says she’s a girl who loves a good book and loves her son more than life itself.

Advertisement

“I love you, baby, and I’m proud of you,” she said.

She says the work will never stop when it comes to improving literacy rates.

“Books are still gonna be available—ya know. Generally I pull up in my cute little van that Kelly Clarkson bought me, but I’m taking that to Las Vegas,” Matthews said.

Matthews stresses Literacy in the H.O.O.D. is not going away.

It’s just going to operate differently locally.

Advertisement

It will be more of a free pick-up and drop-off situation with free books instead of her cruising around town in her van.

She says she has multiple events planned over the next year. She plans to start a new chapter of the nonprofit in Las Vegas.

To donate to Literacy in the H.O.O.D. or contact Matthews, CLICK HERE.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Nevada

2025 Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada girls cross country team revealed

Published

on

2025 Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada girls cross country team revealed


First team

Gigi Benoualid, Coronado The senior finished seventh at the 5A Southern Region meet (19 minutes, 26.3 seconds) and was eighth at the 5A state meet (19:41).

Scarlett Cotrone, Faith Lutheran — The junior finished 11th at the 5A Southern Region meet (19:52.4) and was ninth at the 5A state meet (19:45) to help the Crusaders win the 5A team state title.

Ryen Hughes, Shadow Ridge — The junior finished fourth at the 5A Southern Region meet (19:12.4) and was fifth at the 5A state meet (19:16).

Aislin McMahon, Sky Pointe — The junior finished second at the 5A Southern Region meet (18:54.8) and was second at the 5A state meet (19:00).

Advertisement

Brooke-Lynn Miller, Coronado — The senior won the 5A Southern Region individual title (18:40.8) and was seventh at the 5A state meet (19:19). She is committed to Cal Baptist.

Elynn Okuda, Shadow Ridge — The senior finished sixth at the 5A Southern Region meet (19:16.1) and was third at state (19:11).

Lacy Tippetts, Sky Pointe — The junior finished third at the 5A Southern Region meet (18:58.2) and was 13th at the 5A state meet (19:57).

Sophia Weisz, Faith Lutheran — The junior finished fifth at the 5A Southern Region meet (19:13.1) and was 10th at state (19:45) to help the Crusaders win the 5A team state title.

Coach of the year

Jeff Edwards, Faith Lutheran — Guided the Crusaders to the Class 5A team state title, the program’s fifth overall and first since 2001.

Advertisement

Second team

Jenna Anderson, Faith Lutheran — The sophomore finished 24th at the 5A Southern Region meet (20:34.6) and was 14th at the 5A state meet (19:57) to help the Crusaders win the team title.

Lola Borsh, Desert Oasis — The freshman finished 16th at the 5A Southern Region meet (20:16.5) and was 26th at the 5A state meet (20:26).

Katherine Hodges, Sky Pointe — The junior finished 13th at the 5A Southern Region meet (20:12.8) and was 23rd at the 5A state meet (20:18).

Lacy Mayes, Centennial — The sophomore finished eighth at the 5A Southern Region meet (19:30.6) and was 19th at the 5A state meet (20:05).

Autumn McQuirter, Liberty — The sophomore finished 15th at the 5A Southern Region meet (20:15.7) and was 12th at the 5A state meet (19:54).

Advertisement

Mia Musemici, Desert Oasis — The senior finished 10th at the 5A Southern Region meet (19:47.8) and was 24th at the 5A state meet (20:23).

Belle Parrel, Centennial — The freshman finished ninth at the 5A Southern Region meet (19:47.4) and was 17th at the 5A state meet (20:01).

Michelle Stana, Clark — The freshman won the 4A individual Desert League (21:19.9) and state (20:43.2) titles.

Mackenzie Teel, Sky Pointe — The senior finished 14th at the 5A Southern Region meet (20:15.5) and was 37th at the 5A state meet (20:57).

Julia Vancura, Faith Lutheran — The senior finished 12th at the 5A Southern Region meet (20:01.0) and was 21st at the 5A state meet (20:10).

Advertisement

Honorable mention

Mandi Abney, Shadow Ridge

Savannah Abney, Shadow Ridge

Emma Ansorge, Basic

Maleah Bennett, Centennial

Allison Blazi, Amplus Academy

Advertisement

Kensley Bleak, Lincoln County

Isabella Bustillos-Rivera, Desert Oasis

Ava Dupuis, Palo Verde

Isabelle Franks, Faith Lutheran

Leah Groppenbacher, Arbor View

Advertisement

MJ Gutierrez-Hess, Green Valley

Payton Howse, Clark

Sadie Ivins, Lincoln County

Madeline Labay, Bishop Gorman

Aubrei Lay, Sky Pointe

Advertisement

Selina Leipard, Clark

Ava Levy, Palo Verde

Stella Lin, Coronado

Mackenzie McClain, Sky Pointe

Adalyn Mosley, Foothill

Advertisement

Yalitzi Muro, Western

Elizabeth Neumann, Silverado

Julianna Ondrisko, Pahrump Valley

Sophie Romero, Pahrump Valley

Isabelle Searer, Liberty

Advertisement

Avery Stanton, Coronado

Eliott Stepanek, Faith Lutheran

Amira Turner, Centennial

Isla Ulmer, Coronado

Olivia Wheeler, Sky Pointe

Advertisement

Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.



Source link

Continue Reading

Nevada

Justice Dept. sues Nevada over voter rolls

Published

on

Justice Dept. sues Nevada over voter rolls


LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Justice Department on Friday sued Nevada and three other states, claiming they’d failed to provide requested voter roll information.

Nevada officials, however, said the federal government hasn’t answered basic questions about how the information would be kept secure and questioned why officials wanted the data.

WATCH | What to know about the lawsuit

Advertisement

Justice Dept. sues Nevada over voter rolls

The 10-page lawsuit, filed in federal District Court in Nevada, says the government is seeking the information to enforce the provisions of the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act and the Civil Rights Act.

It says the Justice Department asked the state on June 25 for information including a copy of its computerized statewide voter registration list. It said the information could be sent via encrypted email or by using the department’s secure file-sharing system.

The state immediately replied, sending a copy of the voter registration list, including names, addresses and birthdates, but not drivers license information or the last four digits of Social Security numbers.

Advertisement

The department responded on Aug. 14, again asking for the full database and adding “the purpose of the request is to ascertain Nevada’s compliance with the list maintenance requirements of” federal election laws.

The state, according to the lawsuit, wrote back to say the federal government had no basis for the request and claimed it was concerned about privacy of voter data.

The lawsuit asks the court to declare Nevada’s refusal to provide the entire database unlawful, and order the state to turn it over.

In response, Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar said in a statement Friday that the state’s concerns have gone unaddressed.

“The Department of Justice is making sweeping demands of states to hand over private voter data. Despite our simple requests for information on how they’re going to keep this data secure, they’ve given us no clear answers,” Aguilar said in the statement. “It’s my duty to follow Nevada law and protect the best interests of Nevadans, which includes protecting their sensitive information and access to the ballot.

Advertisement

“While these requests may seem like normal oversight, the federal government is using its power to try to intimidate states and influence how states administer elections ahead of the 2026 cycle. The Constitution makes it clear: elections are run by the states. Nevada will continue to run safe, secure and accessible elections and I’ll always stand up for the rights of our voters.”

In an interview on Friday, Nevada’s senior U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto questioned the motives of the Justice Department.

KTNV

“You’ve got to question why DOJ is asking for this information and why they’re pushing for this information,” she said. “Is it really to protect voting rights across this country, or is there some other nefarious purpose?”

Added Cortez Masto: “What I have seen is a focus on immigration, right? And their idea of purging all undocumented individuals from this country, including DREAMers, including those that are married to U.S. citizens, including those that are not violent criminals. We have seen that they are continuing down this path, and they are trying to figure out how to gather as much data as they can to use it against individuals in this country.”

Advertisement

President Donald Trump has falsely asserted that he won the 2020 election, nationwide and in Nevada, where Joe Biden defeated Trump by 2.39 percentage points or 33,596 votes statewide.

Six Republican electors were later indicted for sending false Electoral College certificates to Washington, D.C., part of a nationwide plot to keep Trump in office. The case was challenged on a technical issue, but the Nevada Supreme Court upheld the charges, and a trial is expected in the new year.

An email seeking comment from the attorney general’s office — which will defend Nevada in court — was not immediately returned Friday.

Do you have a question about politics in Nevada? Ask Steve Sebelius by emailing Steve.Sebelius@ktnv.com.

Do you have questions about politics, elections or government? Email us using the Ask Steve link on our website.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Nevada

Nevada nonprofit, BCP challenging PUCN over NV Energy’s daily demand charge

Published

on

Nevada nonprofit, BCP challenging PUCN over NV Energy’s daily demand charge


LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A Nevada nonprofit organization and the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection are challenging the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada in court after the organization approved new NV Energy policies.

Vote Solar is a nonprofit advocacy group that focuses on state policies affecting solar and clean energy solutions.

WATCH | Darcy Spears breaks down challenge against PUCN

Advertisement

Nevada nonprofit, BCP challenging PUCN over NV Energy’s daily demand charge

According to their petition for judicial review, they are questioning the PUCN’s decision to approve two separate policies:

  • A new daily demand charge for residential and small business customers in Southern Nevada
  • A new 15-minute net metering policy for rooftop solar customers in Northern Nevada

In the petition, Vote Solar officials claim the PUCN’s final decisions are:

  • In violation of constitutional or statutory provisions
  • In excess of the statutory authority of the Commission
  • Made upon unlawful procedure
  • Affected by other error of law
  • Clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative and substantial evidence on the record
  • Arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion

“The PUCN’s decision is a major step backward for Nevada’s clean energy future,” said Chauntille Roberts, Regional Director at Vote Solar. “Nevada deserves energy policies that protect consumers, expand access to solar, and move our state forward—not backward.”

The Attorney General Office’s Bureau of Consumer Protection has filed a separate petition for judicial review.

“The demand charge rate structure (if permitted to be implemented), the 15-minute NEM netting methodology, and the approved affiliate charges result in rates that are unjust, unreasonable, and unlawful in contravention of NRS 704.040, and undermine the Commission’s fundamental duty under NRS 704.001 to provide utility ratepayers with just and reasonable rates,” the filing states in part.

Advertisement

The filing also states commissioners approved $2.7 million worth of affiliate charges that ratepayers would cover.

“The Commission’s decision concerning affiliate charges is belied by the record as the evidence in this docket demonstrates that NPC failed to provide any evidence, let alone substantial evidence, sufficient to support the recovery of an aggregate of $2.7 million,” the filing states. “Not only is the $2.7 million in affiliate charges unsupported by actual charges, it is also unreasonable and an unsupported monetary number, resulting in the Commission’s decision being arbitrary and capricious.”

No future court hearings have been scheduled for that case, as of Friday morning.

Channel 13 has reached out to NV Energy and the PUCN to see if they would like to comment on the petition.

NV Energy sent the following statement to us.

Advertisement

“NV Energy believes the changes that were approved and reaffirmed by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada are consistent with state law, and we will be following this filing closely.

The demand charge more accurately captures the cost of energy delivery. It also helps to fix inequities between rooftop solar and non-rooftop solar customers. Because of the current billing structure, rooftop solar customers pay less than non-rooftop solar customers for the cost of service, shifting costs to non-rooftop solar customers.

Between 2018 and 2024, the total cost shift born by non-rooftop solar customers in Southern Nevada is $424 million. The total subsidy in Southern Nevada in 2025 is expected to grow by an additional $80 million, based on expected growth for the rest of the year.

The recently approved demand charge helps fix the inequities caused by the current system, and helps ensure that customer bills more accurately reflect the cost it takes to provide them with service.”

NV Energy Spokesperson

As of the time this article was published, we have not heard back from the PUCN.

Advertisement

In September, the PUCN approved the new rate model, which has sparked controversy among many Southern Nevadans who claim this will make their energy bills continue to go up.

“It’s painful. I just wanted to express concern as a private citizen that corporate America is going to do what it’s going to do to maintain profits and dividends,” Las Vegas local Joel Tauber told us in October.

“Why can a monopoly, a utility monopoly, dictate how I live in my residence,” retiree Jody Rodarmal told us in September. “If you believe there’s not going to be any increase, then why go to a new style of billing?”

SEPTEMBER 2025: NV Energy’s new billing structure sparks concern among Las Vegas residents

Advertisement

NV Energy’s new billing structure sparks concern among Las Vegas residents

How would the daily demand charge work?

According to NV Energy, the daily demand charge will be calculated by taking the highest amount of energy used in a 15-minute period each day and multiplying it by the current kilowatt-per-hour rate.

That charge will then be added to your bill. For the average customer, NV Energy estimates this will amount to roughly $20 per month.

Advertisement

WATCH: Ryan Ketcham explains NV Energy’s new daily demand charge

NV Energy is adding a ‘daily demand charge’ to power bills. What does that mean for consumers?

In past statements to Channel 13, NV Energy officials have stressed the rate increase requests are intended to recoup the costs of projects it undertakes to shore up the power grid.

Advertisement

However, there have been questions about that over the last year after scandals involving overcharging customers and trying to pass on the costs of things like luxury hotels, travel, and liquor to ratepayers, including a $1.2 million tab at Red Rock Resort.

According to NV Energy, Nevada customers already pay a lower average rate than the rest of the country. Through June 2025, the company says its rates were 22% lower than the U.S. average and 60% lower than in California.

Do you have a concern or question about something happening in the valley? Email Darcy.Spears@ktnv.com.





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending