Nevada
RGJ’s Jason Hidalgo named Nevada Press Association’s Outstanding Journalist for 2024
Reno Gazette Journal business and investigative reporter Jason Hidalgo has been named the Nevada Press Association’s Outstanding Journalist for 2024.
Hidalgo is a 25-year veteran watchdog reporter whose work regularly sheds light on mismanagement, shady dealings, government overreach and dysfunction with an eye toward how powerful interests exert their influence.
In addition to Outstanding Journalist, Hidalgo placed first in the NPA contest’s political-government-enterprise reporting category. His series on the Washoe County Regional Transportation Commission examined its leadership currying favor with private interests in drafting the plan to improve downtown transportation.
He won second place in health reporting for coverage of DaVita closing the only dialysis center in Winnemucca, forcing some families to make a 4-hour round trip for care.
Hidalgo took home the silver in arts and culture commentary for his Technobubble columns on gaming and technology.
And he won third place in coverage of underserved communities for examining a wide range of issues at the Muslim section of one of Reno’s oldest cemeteries. His reporting also revealed a divide within the local Muslim community and its leadership..
RGJ staff awards in 2024 Nevada Press Association contest
Siobhan McAndrew brought home four awards. They include a first place in news obituaries and third place in feature writing for a powerful story on a daughter’s search for her homeless mother ending tragically on the streets of Reno.
She took second place in sports feature writing for a heart-warmer on the Billinghurst Middle School cheer team.
McAndrew and Jim Krajewski shared third place for a co-bylined story in the sports spot news category. They interviewed the Bishop Manogue girls basketball coach who claimed she was fired after the school president warned her against giving too much playing time to “brown kids.” The president ended up resigning after the issue was brought to light.
Mark Robison took home third place in investigative reporting for his work on a soldier who died after she was kicked out of the Nevada National Guard in the wake of reporting an alleged rape.
Robison also won third place in breaking news for his reporting on a Rottweiler shot at dog park.
Photographer Jason Bean won second place for a feature photo of a man trying on outfits ahead of Burning Man, third for a photo gallery of Burners trying to get off the muddy playa and third for a portrait of Downtown Reno Partnership Ambassador David Papaleo.
The awards were presented Saturday at the annual NPA convention held at the Depot in downtown Reno.
Eight inducted into Nevada Newspaper Hall of Fame
Eight journalists who had a lasting impact in Nevada were inducted into the Nevada Newspaper Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Among the inductees are Reno Gazette Journal reporter Guy Clifton, who died Sept. 7. The veteran journalist was renowned for his coverage of the Reno Rodeo, and published a number of books including the “You Know You’re a Nevadan If …” series.
The other inductees are:
Laura Tennant, who has served the rural communities of Fernley, Dayton and Yerington for four decades as a reporter, editor and columnist.
Guy Rocha, Nevada state archivist whose column in the Reno Gazette Journal informed residents of the rich past of their hometown;
Steve Ranson, editor emeritus of the Lahontan Valley News in Fallon;
The late University of Nevada, Reno journalism professor, mentor and journalist Jake Highton;
Frank McCulloch, a Vietnam war correspondent who led major American news organizations
Mary Hausch, journalism professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for 25 years, specializing in media ethics and reporting;
Former Las Vegas Review-Journal Managing Editor Charles Zobell, who sadly died at age 74 just days before he was to be inducted;
And the late Bill Hughes, a noted photojournalist with the Las Vegas Review Journal.
The eight were honored at a lunch ceremony during the organizations’ convention Saturday in Reno.
Nevada
Las Vegas Rotary Club Supports Pickleball Fundraiser to Eradicate Polio

The non-competitive, social event is chaired by Janice Lencke, president of the Las Vegas Rotary Club, on behalf of Rotary District 5300, which serves Southern Nevada and parts of California. The event invites players of all experience levels to come together for an afternoon of pickleball, fellowship and charitable giving, with proceeds benefiting Rotary’s polio eradication efforts.
“The Rotary Clubs of Southern Nevada, together with District 5300, are uniting to host this event to raise awareness and move one step closer to writing the final chapter in polio’s story—an ending marked by eradication,” said Janice Lencke. “Let’s finish what we started and #EndPolio for good.”
Rotary International is a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which was launched in 1988. Since that time, Rotary’s advocacy, fundraising and volunteer efforts have helped reduce polio cases worldwide by more than 99.9 percent, bringing the world closer than ever to eliminating the disease entirely. Polio eradication remains Rotary’s primary humanitarian focus and one of its most sustained global commitments.
General admission tickets include pickleball court access, lunch and sodas, one alcoholic drink ticket, a commemorative photo, one raffle ticket and free parking. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for businesses and individuals who want to support the cause.
District 5300 is promoting the event throughout Southern Nevada, with additional outreach across California to encourage regional participation in similar events.
ABOUT ROTARY INTERNATIONAL AND THE LAS VEGAS ROTARY CLUB
Rotary International is a worldwide fellowship and service organization with 1.2 million members in 200 countries, with 32,000 clubs. Established in 1923 as part of Rotary International, the Las Vegas Rotary Club is the first and largest Rotary Club in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Rotary Club meets for lunch and fellowship every Thursday at Lawry’s The Prime Rib. To learn more about the Club and service projects, visit https://lasvegasrotary.com.
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Nevada
Travel Nevada Presents The Neon in Nature Series, Featuring Artwork by DARIUSTWIN, at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas, January 15 – April 6, 2026
Nevada Division of Tourism
Unique exhibition marks DARIUSTWIN’s first museum show in the U.S.
LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESS Newswire / January 8, 2026 / Travel Nevada is proud to present The Neon in Nature Series, which features artwork by light painting photographer and animator Darren Pearson (better known as DARIUSTWIN)at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas, beginning January 15, 2026. The exhibition is DARIUSTWIN’s first U.S. museum show. To celebrate the exhibition opening, Travel Nevada will pay admission fees for the first 200 guests to arrive directly at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
Created exclusively in Nevada, The Neon in Nature Series captures just some of the stunning landscapes and striking night skies that you’ll find in Nevada when you get a little out there – all juxtaposed with DARIUSTWIN’s signature light paintings infused with and inspired by Nevada character (and characters). The exhibition will inspire museum guests to visit the Nevada ghost towns, state parks, historical landmarks, and more that take center stage in this unique, vibrant, and whimsical exhibition.
“Nevada’s diverse surroundings and dark night skies provided an ideal backdrop to compose this series,” said DARIUSTWIN. “I’m grateful to the Travel Nevada team for commissioning the work and to the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas, for housing my very first museum exhibition in the country. I’m hopeful that it will encourage museum guests to travel throughout Nevada, which I found was so rich in history and ripe with adventure opportunities.”
“When the Travel Nevada team first saw DARIUSTWIN’s work, we immediately knew that a partnership with him would inspire people to get a little out there in the state. The Neon in Nature Series is a creative take on what makes Nevada special,” said Rafael Villanueva, chief executive officer of Travel Nevada. “Additionally, we’re thrilled that this exhibition will be housed in the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas. We share a mission with the museum to enhance the quality of life for Nevada’s visitors and residents, and what better place to host The Neon in Nature series than a city whose history is intertwined with neon?”
The Neon in Nature Series, Presented by Travel Nevada will be on view at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas through April 6, 2026.
“The Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas is delighted to host this art- and Nevada-focused installation by DARIUSTWIN,” said Hollis J. Gillespie, director of the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas. “The Neon in Nature Series exemplifies our mission of educating the public about the history and natural history of the state, and it does so in an electrifying way. We look forward to sharing it with our visitors.”
EDITORS: Select high-resolution images from The Neon in Nature Series, Presented by Travel Nevada are available here. Photo credit for all images: “Photo courtesy of Travel Nevada/DARIUSTWIN. ©️ 2024 DARIUSTWIN.”
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About Travel Nevada
The heart of Nevada shines through Travel Nevada, an organization focused on sharing the experiences, landmarks and living legends that make the Silver State a one-of-a-kind destination. Through community collaborations and strategic partnerships, we aim to connect with both locals and visitors alike, showcasing the sometimes-surprising, always-exciting treasures that keep people coming to Nevada. It’s theirs to explore-and ours to safekeep, from preserving our wild-at-heart way of life to our wide-open spaces. For more information, visit TravelNevada.com.
About the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas
Founded in 1982, the mission of the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas, serves to educate a diverse public about the history and natural history of Nevada. The museum collects, preserves, exhibits, and disseminates material that contributes to an understanding and appreciation of the state. For more information, visit https://www.lasvegasnvmuseum.org/
About DARIUSTWIN
Darren Pearson, known as DARIUSTWIN, is a light painting photographer and animator whose glowing creations have illuminated landscapes around the world. Using long-exposure photography and custom crafted LED lights, Darren “paints” with light in real time, creating skeletal figures, dinosaurs, aliens, and fantastical characters that exist for only a moment before disappearing into the night. His work has been featured by National Geographic, Intel, Honda, and Apple, among others.
Based in Southern California, Darren has been creating light paintings for more than a decade, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary, one exposure at a time. See more at dariustwin.com and follow @dariustwin.
Contact:
Tracie Barnthouse, Chief Communications Officer
tbarnthouse@travelnevada.com; 775-624-0618
SOURCE: Nevada Division of Tourism
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
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Nevada
Nevada gets thrilling overtime win against Wyoming at home 70-60
RENO, Nev. (Nevada Athletics) – Nevada Women’s Basketball won its second straight game Wednesday night, getting a thrilling 70-60 overtime win against Wyoming at Lawlor Events Center.
Reigning Old Trapper Mountain West Freshman of the Week Skylar Durley led the Pack (6-9, 2-3 MW) in scoring with 18 points and led both teams in rebounds with a career high 14, recording her first double-double of her career.
Ahrray Young went 5-for-10 from the field for 11 points to go with eight boards.
Nevada’s resilience in the latter part of the fourth, which was punctuated by a key block from Young, forced the game into overtime.
The Pack’s shutdown defense held Wyoming (4-10, 1-4 MW) at bay in the final five, only allowing one point off of a free throw.
On the other end, the offense of Nevada went on a 6-0 run and shot 83.3 percent from the field.
Nevada outscored Wyoming 11-1 and held the Cowgirls without a field goal in OT.
The Pack opened regulation in perfect fashion, shooting a 7-for-7 from the field, 2-for-2 from three and 2-for-2 from the line in the first five minutes of action.
Nevada had a 10-0 run that was capitalized by holding Wyoming to a two-and-a-half minute scoring drought.
Through the first quarter, Nevada shot 64.3 percent and remained perfect from both deep and free throws.
Nevada’s hot start simmered in the second, only getting six points and closing the quarter on a field goal drought of just under four minutes.
Meanwhile, Wyoming’s shooting improved from the first, closing the gap to two.
Despite the slower quarter, Nevada carried its lead into the second half, 45-41.
The third quarter was nearly even, Nevada only shooting slightly better and outscoring Wyoming, 15-14.
The game stayed close through the fourth with three ties and four lead changes, leading to extra time.
As a team, the Pack outrebounded the Cowgirls, 40-28, and had 24 bench points to their six.
Nevada will hit the road and look to even its conference record as it faces New Mexico Saturday at 12 p.m.
Copyright 2026 KOLO. All rights reserved.
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