Nevada
Sept. 12, 1885: Morrill Hall construction begins (in Reno, not Carson City)
Watch first day of school at UNR’s $155M business building
Here’s a first look, including student reactions, of new University of Nevada, Reno, John Tulloch Business Building from UNR’s first day of school.
The cornerstone of Morrill Hall, the first building on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, was laid on Sept. 12, 1885.
The original plans called for a two-story building at the cost of no more than $20,000 (about $700,000 in today’s dollars). When the three-story Morrill Hall was completed in 1886, it came in under budget at $13,500 (about $480,000 today).
At the time, it housed the entire university — classrooms, offices, library and all. It’s still standing, serving as the home of UNR’s development and alumni relations department.
But if one vote had flipped in the Nevada Legislature in 1885, the university instead would have moved to Carson City.
And it was a Carson City senator that cast the deciding vote not to move the campus to the state capital.
University of Nevada’s 11-year Elko experiment
By all accounts, the state university at Elko was a disaster.
The school, known then as Nevada State University, began instruction Oct. 12, 1874, with a class of seven students inside a brand-new brick building in Elko.
There were only 40,000 people in all of Nevada in 1874, mainly clustered in mining towns with questionable futures. There were only about 50 schoolhouses in the state; 15 were rented and eight were classed by the superintendent of public instruction as unfit for use. Carson City and Virginia City had the only high schools.
Elko was chosen as the site for the new school because it made the most attractive offer to the state Legislature in 1873, agreeing to provide and furnish the building.
For four years, Nevada had a one-man university. D.R. Sessions, a native of South Carolina and a scholar in Greek, Latin and modern literatures, was the faculty and staff of the institution. This talented educator, who was later to be superintendent of public instruction for the state, taught a wide variety of preparatory courses to a handful of students.
The remote location proved to be too great a challenge, and the Elko campus closed on July 15, 1885, with a class of 15 students.
Carson City opts for prison over university
By 1883, Nevada politicians already were pushing to move the university to the more populated western side of the state, and funding to the Elko campus was reduced during the Legislature’s 1883 session.
It was during the next session that legislators pushed to resolve the issue. On Feb. 19, 1885, a pair of dueling bills were introduced — one to move the campus to Reno, and another to move it to Carson City.
The other political football that session: the location of the state prison, which meant funding and jobs.
Carson City Senator Hub Parker voted against the university-to-Carson bill, allowing the university-to-Reno bill to pass a few days later. In doing so, Parker picked up some key votes to keep the state prison in Carson City, its home since 1862.
“Senator Parker made a gallant fight yesterday for the State Prison and kept Reno from pouncing on it,” the Carson Appeal editorialized on March 1. “By voting against the removal of the University from Elko to Carson, he gained five votes to keep the State Prison here, and it was a good trade.”
Requirements for admission, 1874
The enrollment at the Elko campus may have been light, but the academics were rigorous. The Nevada State Journal’s Oct. 10, 1874 edition published the admission requirements. Among them: knowledge of English language syntax, and thorough familiarity of intermediate geography. (There were only 37 states. How hard could it be?)
Admission also required expertise in Swinton’s Condensed History of the United States and Eaton’s arithmetic texts from the 1870s. Would you be able to gain admission to Nevada State University in 1874, using these actual study questions from the texts?
Brett McGinness is the engagement editor for the Reno Gazette Journal. He’s also the writer of The Reno Memo — a free newsletter about news in the Biggest Little City. Subscribe to the newsletter right here. Consider supporting the Reno Gazette Journal, too.
RENO, Nev. – A homicide suspect from Montana took their own life on Thursday night after police surrounded their car in northwest Reno, reports KTVN 2 News Nevada.
The incident happened in the area of Sharlands Avenue around 9 p.m., according to a spokesperson for the Reno Police Department.
Officers located the suspect and surrounded their car, blocking them in. They then heard a single gunshot and backed away.
Reinforcements were called, and a drone was brought in by UNRPD. It was then confirmed the suspect was in their car, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the news agency reports.
The suspect has not been identified pending the notification of next of kin, and no additional information has been released at this time.
In addition to the Reno Police Department, the Regional Narcotics Unit and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
The investigation is ongoing.
MESQUITE (KTNV) — A deadly crash on Interstate 15 near Mesquite prompted a group of bystanders to spring into action before first responders could arrive, pulling a man from a burning motor home after a collision with a semi-truck.
Steven Grossman, a retired Army National Guard veteran, said he was driving northbound on I-15 after a Fourth of July camping trip with his family when he saw a motor home cross the center median from the southbound lanes.
“It was like a pile of dust, it was going across the center medium and down that big hill,” Grossman said.
WATCH | Nevada bystanders pull crash victim from burning motorhome on I-15 near Mesquite
Nevada bystanders pull crash victim from burning motorhome on I-15 near Mesquite
Nevada State Police Highway Patrol said the motor home had a blown tire. When it crossed the median, it crashed into a semi-truck and burst into flames.
Grossman said he immediately pulled over and ran toward the fire.
“I seen it on fire and, you know, we just, I just got out of the truck and just ran over there,” Grossman said.
NSP
Several other drivers also pulled over. Together, they worked to pull the motor home’s driver to safety.
“Let’s grab him and get him out of here. So we just grabbed him and just tugged him into the gutter right there, into the center medium,” Grossman said.
A propane tank exploded shortly after.
Grossman used his military medical training to keep the man still, while another bystander helped stabilize the victim’s neck until paramedics arrived.
NSP
The driver of the motor home, 62-year-old Gregory Louis Painter, later died at the hospital. Fire officials said 3 other people were taken to the hospital for injuries sustained in the crash.
Grossman said he does not consider himself a hero and that stopping to help was simply the right thing to do.
KTNV
“We were just the first ones there that if the next people that were the first ones there would have done the same thing,” Grossman said. “Same thing with behind them if it was 10 cars behind me, the cars behind them would have taken care of it. It’s just I think it’s just our human nature. People just want to help.”
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Beach Boys co-founder selling Tahoe mansion for $43 million
The Lake Tahoe mansion of one of the original members of the Beach Boys was listed for $43 million.
You love to see it: local artists on local stages. Here are 12 shows featuring local artists between now and Labor Day, including rock, metal, punk, folk, jazz, hip-hop and more.
Bark Hardly
This indie-folk group from Reno headlines an all-local bill with Glitter Bats, Sad Giants and Anabelle and the Desert Scrubs. It starts at 7 p.m. at Holland Project, 140 Vesta St.
The show is July 10. Tickets are $12. Details: 775-742-1858 or hollandreno.org.
Thrashmob
It’s an all-local hip-hop night featuring this artist as headliner. They perform at 7 p.m. at Club Underground, 555 E. 4th St.
The show is July 11. Tickets are $20-$25. Details at clubundergroundreno.com.
Shared Scars
This Reno metal band celebrates the release of its new EP with a show that also features area metal bands Emberwake, Desolist, Titvn and Everglade. It all begins at 7 p.m. at The Alpine, 324 E. 4th St.
The show is July 11. Tickets are $20-$25. Details at thealpine-reno.com.
Cruz Control featuring Bree Rose
Rock, soul and hip-hop mix with this group from Reno. They play at 7 p.m. the first night and 8 p.m. subsequent nights at Terrace Lounge, Peppermill Resort Casino, 2707 S. Virginia St.
Free shows are July 16-18. Details at peppermillreno.com.
Next Question
The popular indie-punk group from Reno kicks off its tour at this show, which also features locals Blackstallion and Ring Pop Wedding. It begins at 7 p.m. at Holland Project, 140 Vesta St.
The show is July 17. Tickets are $10-$12. Details: 775-742-1858 or hollandreno.org.
Vampirates
The longtime local progressive-punk/noise band performs with Sacramento ska punks Lesdystics and local hardcore punk band The Scattering. It all begins at 7:30 p.m. at Lost Highway, 1526 S. Wells Ave.
The show is July 17 and there is a $10 suggested donation. Details at instagram.com/corrigans_losthighway.
Fireman’s Ball Reignited
A benefit for the Silver City Volunteer Fire Department, this show features some big northern Nevada and regional names including former Tahoe resident and country-rock singer/songwriter Matt Axton. Also on the bill are Darren Senn, Charity Kiss and Next Question, among others. It all starts at 1 p.m. at Silver City Park, 385 High St., Silver City.
This free show, with donations accepted, is July 18. Details at instagram.com/silvercityvfd_nv.
Everything Sucks Fest 2026
The annual punk-band event returns, this time with locals Hired Fun, Irreplaceable Beings, Flicker And Fade and Cold Amber Medicine. It begins at 4 p.m. at Shoe Tree Brewing Co., 1496 Old Hot Springs Road, Carson City.
This free show is July 25. Details at instagram.com/shoetreebrewing.
Reno Jazz Orchestra with Matt Mauser
For their Artown show, this local group will be joined by Mauser, an “America’s Got Talent” finalist who specializes in pop and jazz standards. The show starts at 7 p.m. at Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater, 6000 Bartley Ranch Road.
This show is July 29. Tickets are $35. Details at artown.org.
Reno Devilles
Rockabilly meets surf-rock with this local band. They play at 8 p.m. at Pele Utu, 1275 Stardust St.
This free show is Aug. 1. Details at instagram.com/peleutureno.
Jakota Wass
A country singer/songwriter from Gardnerville, Wass plays at 7 p.m. at the Outdoor Stage, Brewery Arts Center, 449 W. King St., Carson City.
The free show is Aug. 8. Details at breweryarts.org.
The Electric
A straight-ahead alternative rock band from Reno, the Electric headline an all-local bill that also features Sad Giants and The Jackeyes. They play at 7 p.m. at Holland Project, 140 Vesta St.
The show is Aug. 15. Tickets are $8-$10. Details: 775-742-1858 or hollandreno.org.
Cape Fear Quartet
This swing-jazz quartet from Reno performs at 8 p.m. at Pele Utu, 1275 Stardust St.
This free show is Aug. 15. Details at instagram.com/peleutureno.
Jelly Bread
Soul music meets alternative rock with this Reno group. They perform at 7 p.m. at the Outdoor Stage, Brewery Arts Center, 449 W. King St., Carson City.
The free show is Aug. 15. Details at breweryarts.org.
Band Wars Music Festival
An extension of the contest at Club Underground earlier this year, the participants now get to play at Bartley Ranch. Contest winners No One Good are joined by Split Persona, Interstate, Giant Skunk and Quitter, among others. It all begins at 2 p.m. at Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater, 6000 Bartley Ranch Road.
The show is Sept. 5. Tickets are $25-$35. Details at clubundergroundreno.com.
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