Nevada
‘Doing guy stuff’: Inmates at Nevada women’s prison embrace job-training program
Inside the halls of Nevada’s only women’s prison, the word ‘Cosmetology’ is painted on a light blue door. The room houses a job-training program that for a while, inmates said was the only one available to them.
But today, the facility has a new classroom: an HVAC, or heating, ventilation and air conditioning, laboratory. And for the 12 inmates selected for the lab’s inaugural class, HVAC represents a life-changing opportunity that defies gender-based norms.
Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center’s new HVAC program, offered by the College of Southern Nevada and supported by a nearly $1.4 million dollar grant from T-Mobile, is the first of its kind, providing inmates with the kind of vocational training that has traditionally been offered in men’s prisons.
“I’m turning my life around,” said 58-year-old incarcerated HVAC student Karen Kincaid, through tears.
‘I can do anything a man can do’
For Kaitlyn Fugate, another student in the program, the class represents an opportunity that has been a long-time coming for female inmates.
“I can do anything a man can do,” Fugate, 24, said. “The discrimination is crazy, because if you give me the knowledge, I can figure it out.”
The first program at the facility was cosmetology, or the study of various beauty treatments, explained William Reubart, the prison’s warden. But Associate Warden Gabriela Najera said that over time, the Nevada Department of Corrections recognized that female offenders need diverse opportunities afforded to them.
“Just because you’re a female, that doesn’t mean that there’s only specific things that you should do, because that’s what society used to tell us before,” Najera said.
Several students said that heading to a male-dominated industry felt more empowering than daunting.
“Women are definitely a minority,” said incarcerated HVAC student Gabrielle Moore. “That gives us an asset, that gives us some leverage. Companies want diversity.”
Jason Mitchell, head of the HVAC Schoolhouse at the College of Southern Nevada and instructor for the new program, said that even outside prison walls, women are severely underrepresented in the industry.
“How many people are going to give them a chance? Because they’re convicted felons, and they’re women,” Mitchell said.
“We like doing ‘guy’ stuff,” Moore, 32, said. “We can get dirty.”
The fight for funding
The more than $100,000 worth of equipment needed to teach the class was made possible by the grant from T-Mobile that Reubart said is unlike one he’s ever seen before.
There are approximately 750 women incarcerated in Nevada, meaning that women make up less than 10 percent of the prison population statewide, Reubart said.
Female inmates receive a similarly low rate of funding, meaning that the facility is left “fighting for dollars,” Reubart said.
But for the College of Southern Nevada, launching the new program for female offenders was an important investment.
“When all of them get out, they’re all going to have a felony attached to their name,” said Genevieve Minter, prison education program manager at the college. Minter hopes that the program will help the women, once they are released, find jobs and stay out of prison.
The facility does see repeat offenders, such as Kincaid, who said that she has been in and out of prison since she was 17 years old.
One reason for this, Minter said, is that without opportunities like the new HVAC program, offenders tend to return to what they know.
“We’re not excusing anything that they did. We’re just trying to give them other opportunities so that they stop going back in there,” Minter said. “We view it as a good investment in our females, and so T-Mobile did too.”
Opening the door to a career
Mitchell said that one of his concerns about the program was ensuring that at the end of it, the students could find work.
“If they come to school, and we train them and then they don’t get a job, then what was it for?” Mitchell said.
While some businesses do not hire convicted felons, there are contractors that Mitchell said are willing to give his students a chance.
Organizations such as Women in HVACR, a group supporting women in the industry, and Hope for Prisoners, an organization that helps inmates reenter their community, are prepared to be a resource for students when they are released, Mitchell explained.
In Las Vegas, which this year saw record temperatures, there is a “huge need” for HVAC technicians, Mitchell said. The certificate that the students earn through the program will give them a leg up over other applicants.
Many students said they will definitely be pursuing HVAC work when they are released. “I have a trade,” Moore said. “I have something that I’m excited about.”
“We’re the poster child”
The program’s 12 students were carefully selected, Najera explained. Inmates whose crimes would not prevent them from getting hired and who will be released soon were prioritized.
The class’s instructor, Spencer Dunwoody, said that so far, his students are receptive, engaged and ask good questions.
Teaching inside prison has led to bumps in the road. The class textbook first arrived in hardcover, which is not allowed as it could be used to hide contraband, Mitchell explained.
But Minter, who has taught in prisons, said that she believes once softcover books arrive, students will start reading ahead.
“They’re so grateful,” she said. “They know that not everybody wants to come and teach in prison.”
Staff and offenders alike hope to see the program continue beyond its inaugural class. But its students said they know there is a spotlight shining on them, and their actions will directly impact the program’s success.
To remain in the program, inmates cannot receive any write-ups for infractions, Kincaid explained.
“We’re the poster child,” Moore said. “But that’s also exciting, because it gives us even more of an incentive to try even harder.”
Contact Estelle Atkinson at eatkinson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @estellelilym on X and @estelleatkinsonreports on Instagram.
Top performances
Girls basketball
– Sakaara Ashton, Las Vegas: The freshman nailed three 3-pointers while racking up 22 points, five rebounds and four assists in the Wildcats’ 75-54 win over Tech.
– Jaslyn Jefferson, Shadow Ridge: The senior compiled 40 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in the Mustangs’ 86-5 victory over Desert Pines.
– Jasmine Ponce, Cimarron-Memorial: The junior collected 20 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks to lead the Spartans past Doral Academy 60-30.
– Jordynn Riggins, Losee: The freshman scored 22 points to help the Lions cruise to a 75-3 win over Rancho.
– Delyla Ross, Sunrise Mountain: The senior had 23 points as the Miners rolled to a 56-14 victory over Chaparral.
— Morgan White, Del Sol: The senior posted 17 points to lead the Dragons past Green Valley 67-32.
– Caylyn Young, Faith Lutheran: The sophomore scored 17 points as the Crusaders defeated Legacy 62-32.
Flag football
– Carly Martell, Sky Pointe: The sophomore carried 15 times for 117 yards to help the Eagles down Cheyenne 21-0.
– Andrea Mitchell, Centennial: The junior had 10 solo tackles to lead the defense in the Bulldogs’ 6-0 victory over Canyon Springs.
– Patricia Monacelli, Cadence: The junior caught four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown, and nabbed two interceptions on defense to help lift the Cougars over Boulder City 6-0.
– Danielle Morales, Arbor View: The junior had 69 rushing yards for a touchdown and 38 receiving yards for another score in the Aggies’ 38-13 win over Coronado.
– Charlice Weingarten, Bishop Gorman: The sophomore logged three sacks and two more tackles to help the Gaels beat Foothill 38-18.
Scores
Boys basketball
Beaver Dam 47, Adelson School 32
Boulder City 63, Coral Academy 19
Girls basketball
Basic 47, Sloan Canyon 10
Beaver Dam d. Adelson, forfeit
Bishop Gorman 73, Coronado 29
Cimarron-Memorial 60, Doral Academy 30
Clark 55, Spring Valley 37
Coral Academy 47, Boulder City 45
Del Sol 67, Green Valley 32
Democracy Prep 62, Liberty 29
Faith Lutheran 62, Legacy 32
Las Vegas 75, Tech 54
Losee 75, Rancho 3
Mater East 62, Eldorado 13
Moapa Valley 54, Amplus Academy 6
Pahrump Valley 50, Cristo Rey 17
Palo Verde 44, Canyon Springs 43
Shadow Ridge 86, Desert Pines 5
Sierra Vista 60, Desert Oasis 48
Sunrise Mountain 56, Chaparral 14
Virgin Valley d. The Meadows, forfeit
Western 57, Durango 37
Flag football
Arbor 38, Coronado 13
Bishop Gorman 38, Foothill 18
Bonanza 18, Amplus 14
Cadence 6, Boulder City 0
Centennial 6, Canyon Springs 0
Clark 26, Western 6
Desert Oasis 48, Basic 6
Eldorado 30, Desert Pines 19
Legacy 33, Doral Academy 6
Mojave 8, Cimarron-Memorial 0
Sierra Vista 18, Durango 0
Sky Pointe 21, Cheyenne 0
Spring Valley 34, Democracy Prep 0
Virgin Valley 27, Las Vegas 26
Jeff Wollard Review-Journal
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Nevada’s unemployment rate for December remains unchanged at 5.2%, according to the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.
The figures show no improvement from the previous month.
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In a breakdown of the state’s cities, Las Vegas also reported a 5.2% unemployment rate, while Reno and Carson City both recorded a rate of 4%.
Supposed sightings of alien aircraft and extraterrestrial life are synonymous with the state of Nevada. A new group in Southern Nevada hopes to offer a glimpse into the unsolved mysteries of the universe with its first event this weekend.
“I spend a lot of hours out there videotaping and to see that so many people want to come out and join me, it’s like a party,” said local ufologist Joseph De La Torre, better known as the Pahrump Alien Guy.
The Southern Nevada Ufology Group will host its first meeting on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. During the event, attendees will learn how to take photos of UFOs from the Pahrump Alien Guy himself. The meeting will take place at the Pahrump Nugget Hotel and Casino in the building’s gravel lot near the bowling parking area. Attendees will park in the bowling parking lot.
“I ended up learning to look into the skies here over Pahrump and I read an article where it said that Pahrump is in the Area 51 excursion zone,” the Pahrump Alien Guy told the Pahrump Valley Times.
Participants are encouraged to arrive with a tripod for their phone in order to properly take photos. Food, beverages and camping chairs are also welcome, but the Southern Nevada Ufology Group asks guests to please clean up after themselves once the event is over. If you’re interested in joining Saturday’s meeting, you must RSVP by contacting southernnevadaufologygroup@gmail.com to confirm your attendance and to receive more information. Children are not allowed at the event.
“I think that it’s going to be very successful,” the Pahrump Alien Guy enthused.
The Pahrump Alien Guy hosted the inaugural Pahrump Alien Conference in October 2025, a gathering that saw a large turnout of locals, visitors from Las Vegas, and other tourists passing through Nye County.
“We didn’t think it was going to be that successful,” the Pahrump Alien Guy shared.
During that event, UFO photos from the Pahrump Alien Guy’s database were showcased, local vendors sold alien-themed goods and featured guests spoke about their work in ufology.
Two of the event’s featured speakers were Mike Bara, a New York Times best-selling author and frequent guest on the History Channel’s long-standing series “Ancient Aliens,” and Marysol Rezanov of the Nevada chapter of Citizens for Disclosure, a UFO information disclosure advocacy organization.
The Pahrump Alien Guy, his girlfriend Brid’Jette Whaley, Bara and Rezanov then founded the Southern Nevada Ufology Group. The group plans to host future meetings in other locations around Southern Nevada.
The Pahrump Alien Guy further explained that it was Bara and Rezanov’s idea to create a new skywatching group in Southern Nevada. Bara and Rezanov will be at Saturday’s meeting.
“We call it ‘Southern Nevada’ Ufology Group because it’s not just Pahrump,” the Pahrump Alien Guy said. “It’s all over southern Nevada.”
The Pahrump Alien Guy has a YouTube channel where he shows videos and photos he’s taken of UFOs. Watch the Pahrump Alien Guy’s videos on YouTube at youtube.com/@pahrumpalienguy.
Contact reporter Elijah Dulay at edulay@pvtimes.com
Southern Nevada Ufology Group’s first meeting
■ Saturday, Jan. 31, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
■ Pahrump Nugget Hotel and Casino located at 681 South Highway 160
■ Attendees will learn how to take photos of UFOs. Guests are are encouraged to bring a tripod for their phone.
■ To attend you must RSVP by contacting southernnevadaufologygroup@gmail.com
■ No children allowed
■ Park in the bowling parking lot, meeting will be held in neighboring gravel lot
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