Nevada
A public health game changer: University of Nevada Brings athletic trainers to high schools | Fall 2025 Issue | Nevada Silver and Blue
High school freshman Nicholas Murray was minutes away from advancing to the finals when his wrestling opponent grabbed his foot and twisted. In seconds, championship-bound Murray went from varsity wrestler to multiple months on crutches and knee surgery for a torn meniscus and partial ligament tears.
And this wasn’t the last injury for the multi-sport athlete, who competed year-round in football, wrestling and track. Beyond typical injuries like shin splints and sprains, Murray sustained a spinal injury during a football game that temporarily paralyzed his lower body.
“We didn’t have athletic trainers on the sidelines,” he said. “I wasn’t spine-boarded. I didn’t get the right care. And I’ve carried the long-term effects ever since.”
Those experiences shaped his decision to enter the field of kinesiology and dedicate his work to injury prevention and public health. “I want to make sure the next generation of elementary and high school student-athletes don’t have to go through what I did,” he said.
Launching the innovATE project
As fall sports return, Murray is leading the charge to change that as School of Public Health associate professor and kinesiology graduate program director. Backed by the University of Connecticut’s Korey Stringer Institute’s innovATE project — “AT” for athletic trainer &nmash; the School of Public Health is placing a certified athletic trainer at Wooster High School to support student-athletes. The program launched this fall, and Neuromechanics Athletics Trainer Zoe Haddox ’21 (community health sciences) is already bringing her expertise to the sidelines. As the project and public support grow, the School plans to expand the program to other Washoe County campuses.
“This isn’t just about sports,” said Murray, who is principal investigator on the project. “It’s about keeping student-athletes healthy and active by having qualified medical professionals available to provide care, guidance and support for them, their teammates and families.”
The innovATE project provides funding to underserved schools to hire athletic trainers, a critical but often missing piece in student sports safety. According to Murray, fewer than 1% of high school athletes go on to play at the collegiate level, yet millions participate in youth sports each year without dedicated medical support. Athletic trainers are educated to recognize and respond to concussions, fractures and other serious injuries. They also help manage return-to-play and return-to-class decisions, monitor long-term recovery and support overall student health.
Expanding access to athletic training for high school sports
For Murray, who is also the current director of the University of Nevada, Reno’s Neuromechanics Laboratory, the mission is personal. “Every kid deserves to play safely,” he said. “We want this to be the start of a bigger movement that helps make full-time, salaried athletic trainers standard at every Nevada high school.”
Christianne Eason, president of sport safety and education for the Korey Stringer Institute, praised the University’s long-term vision and statewide impact. “What impressed us most about the University of Nevada, Reno School of Public Health’s application was the sustainability plan. Dr. Murray is building strong partnerships with local school districts and showed a deep understanding of the community’s needs in northern Nevada.”
“By placing athletic trainers in schools, we’re not only protecting young athletes, we’re investing in the health, safety, and potential of an entire generation. The innovATE project will be expanding access to care where it’s needed most. It’s a powerful reminder that public health extends beyond academia and into the everyday lives of our communities,” said Dean of the School of Public Health Muge Akpinar-Elci.
Eason notes, “It’s about more than just taping ankles. Athletic trainers help prevent injuries before they happen, provide care and rehabilitation, and are prepared to respond to emergencies. They serve as a critical link between students, coaches, parents and the broader health care system” In underserved communities, trainers often become the first point of medical contact, not just for athletes but for entire families.
“This is what public health looks like,” Murray said. “It’s meeting people where they are — on the field, on the court and in the community.”
Nevada
10-month-old found safe, North Las Vegas police cancel AMBER Alert
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Authorities have canceled an AMBER Alert after they say a 10-month-old child taken by a non-custodial parent was found safe.
North Las Vegas Police said Thursday that Leilani Williams (aka Leilani Duke) was taken by her father, Roderick Duke.
Duke and Leilani were last seen at an apartment complex in the area of Martin L. King Boulevard and Cheyenne Avenue at 1:40 a.m.
“An AMBER Alert has been activated due to Roderick being in emotional crisis and making threats to harm himself and 10-month-old Leilani,” NLVPD said in a statement.
By 10:05 a.m., NLVPD said that Leilani was located unharmed.
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Officers took Duke into custody without further incident, and the AMBER Alert has been canceled.
Nevada
California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks to Nevada Democrats in Las Vegas
California Gov. Gavin Newsom addressed Nevada Democrats who packed a Las Vegas brewery Wednesday evening for a discussion about his upbringing, his political life and efforts his state has taken to combat the Trump administration agenda.
Newsom, who has been floated as a possible White House contender for 2028, sidestepped a quip from former Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak who introduced him as the next U.S. president amid cheers from the crowd.
“I’m very grateful for your friendship, and a friendship that’s only strengthened over the course of the last year or so,” Newsom told Sisolak.
Book tour stop
The event, which served as a book tour stop for the California governor, was organized by the Nevada Democratic Party. It took place at Nevada Brew Works near Summerlin.
Nevada Assemblymember Daniele Monroe-Moreno, the state party chair running for North Las Vegas mayor, moderated the discussion.
It was part of the party’s Local Brews + National Views series that’s been bringing Democrats for similar discussions at intimate venues. Past speakers have included former President Joe Biden, Arizona U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.
Criticizing President Donald Trump, Newsom spoke about the immediate aftermath of the 2024 general election.
“We were handwringing, a lot of finger pointing, and a sense of weakness,” Newsom said. “And just incapable of dealing with this moment, this existential moment.”
He said he is taking account for what he described as his own complicity.
“This happened on my watch. This is all happening on our watch,” Newsom said. “And so I realized that I needed to be better.”
That included his advocacy to redraw California’s Congressional map after Trump called for the same in Texas, he said.
“They’re not screwing around, nor are we,” he said about Trump and his administration. “All of us.”
‘You’re giving us a voice’
Newsom spoke out against the surge of federal immigration enforcement operations in California and later Minnesota, calls from the Trump administration to nationalize elections, and cuts to government funding due to the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act.
He said that pushback against Trump’s policies, including dozens of lawsuits filed by California, were making the president retreat on some of his proposals and policies.
“You’re filling the void, you’re giving us a voice, you’re giving us courage,” he told the crowd. “For things to change, we have to change. And it’s changing.”
The Republican National Committee reacted to Newsom’s Las Vegas visit. Earlier in the day, Newsom attended a private Boulder City event.
“Democrats are selling out to the spoiled, phony rich kid governor from California for years,” RNC spokesperson Nick Poche wrote in a statement. “President Donald Trump and Republicans are delivering major tax cuts and keeping Nevadans safe, unlike Democrats.”
The national Republican Party also criticized California’s policies, and tied them back to Nevada Democrats.
Most of Newsom’s remarks weren’t specific to Nevada. He didn’t take any questions from media.
Polling shows Newsom and Vice President JD Vance leading in hypothetical races for their parties’ nomination. That includes a survey of likely Nevada voters conducted one by Emerson College Polling in November.
Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Nevada
Second annual Nevada Nordic Freeheel Festival celebrates Tahoe winter recreation at SnowFest
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – It’s time to “free your heels” and embrace Tahoe’s winter recreation at the Nevada Nordic Freeheel Festival on March 7. Whether you’re a seasoned pro at cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, or you’re trying to get your feet wet, Saturday’s event is teeming with nature, brews, and camaraderie.
Travel North Tahoe Nevada (TNTNV) is teaming up with Nevada Nordic, Tahoe Multisport, Alibi Ale Works, UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation and other local partners in the wondrous Tahoe Meadows, providing attendees a chance to engage with outdoor recreation experts, check out free cross-country and snowshoe rentals, and more.
“We’re excited to see the Nevada Nordic Freeheel Festival enter its second year, building on last year’s strong community response. In collaboration with our local partners, this event is thoughtfully curated with residents in mind – offering free equipment for the day, expert instruction, locally crafted brews, and other experiences in a welcoming setting,” said Andy Chapman, President and CEO of Travel North Tahoe Nevada. “It’s designed to make it easy for residents to get outside, try something new, and bring people together. Events like this reflect the spirit of North Lake Tahoe and what’s possible when our community comes together.”
Along with opportunities to test out free demos and rentals, there will be live music, beer tasting and races.
Tahoe Meadows is known for its gentle trails, and is a popular spot for snowshoeing due to its flat terrain. This event, located near Chickadee Ridge, will offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
This family-friendly event is on the second to last day of the 10-day SnowFest winter festival that’s been taking place in the North Lake Tahoe area. It starts bright and early at 9 a.m. and will close out at 2 p.m.
“Nevada Nordic is thrilled to be a part of SnowFest again this year,” said Meghan Pry, Nevada Nordic Board Member. “We love sharing our passion for cross-country skiing and watching our community grow. We are proud to keep winter recreation accessible by offering free access to our 20km trail network. This is the perfect opportunity for our community to gather together and free our heels!”
For more information about the Nevada Nordic Freeheel Festival or to check out the SnowFest schedule, visit tahoesnowfest.org.
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