A look back on Carson Now’s 2022 Award Winning Stories
Carson Now brought home eight awards from the Nevada Press Association’s 2022 contest, joining the best of the best in Nevada journalism.
All winners are divided into urban or rural categories; Carson Now, serving Carson City, Douglas County, Lyon County and beyond, is a rural publication.
First Place: Political Government Enterprise Reporting
An agenda item on the upcoming Lyon County Commission meeting states an intention to proclaim that Lyon County operates as a “Constitutional County” and “proudly supports the Sheriff as being a member of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Police Officers Association,” a group that believes that local sheriffs should have the final determination on what laws are constitutional.
What exactly a "Constitutional County" is defined as, however, is not included in the agenda, or the proclamation.
First Place: Feature Writing
Imagine, one night your family cat goes outside and is spooked and runs off. You search day and night for him, posting fliers, offering rewards, contacting every lost and found page and humane society in the area. Just when you give up hope, you learn that your cat is safe and sound — only, it turns out, they're being kept at someone else's house. When you contact animal control and the sheriff's office to try and have your pet returned, they tell you its not within their jurisdiction, without offering exactly whose jurisdiction it falls to.
First Place: Investigative Story
Following November’s deadly crash at the intersection of I-580, Highway 395 and Highway 50 that killed two and left several injured, many residents have questioned if this crash and others at the intersection could have been avoided if the original planning design of the freeway, which included an overpass between I-580 and Highway 50, had been finished.
In the past two years, at least 21 crashes have been reported at or near the intersection, many including rollovers, vehicles catching on fire, and numerous injuries.
While many have asked if the overpass will be completed, the answer does not seem to be a simple “yes” or “no.”
First Place: News Photo Coverage
Update to Prison Hill Fire: Ground Crews mopping up, taking on individual hot spots (Videos)
Second Place: Political Government Enterprise Reporting
‘Pres. Trump Way’ agenda item being brought back to Lyon Commissioners due to potential violation
On Thursday, Lyon County issued a statement regarding the agenda item that would possibly rename Old Dayton Valley Road ‘Pres. Trump Way,’ which was voted on 4-1 during the July 1 meeting.
According to Jeff Page, Lyon County Manager, the county has received numerous messages from constituents stating that the Board of Commissioners may be in violation of the open meeting law as the agenda language was not specific as to what street would be affected, or what the proposed name would be.
Second Place: Coverage of Underserved Communities
On Wednesday evening, the American Indian Movement (AIM) of Northern Nevada held a prayer circle at the Washoe County Detention Center in Reno to remember Anna Marie Scott, and ask for accountability in her murder.
Scott, who was 23-years-old, was found in the trunk of a burning car in the early hours of Feb. 3 on I-580 between Reno and Carson City.
Second Place: Headline Writing
Tourists taste test testes at Rocky Mountain Oyster Fest
From far and wide, thousands came to Virginia City this weekend for the annual Rocky Mountain Oyster Fest.
For those not in the know, Rocky Mountain Oysters are a special delicacy founded by old west pioneers, made of battered and fried bull testicles.
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed into law Friday three bills that directly affect Nevada's indigenous tribes and communities, including providing free tuition for native students, outlawing sundown sirens and racially offensive mascots, and transfers management for the Stewart Indian School museum and cultural center.
The bill signing was held Friday at the campus of the Stewart Indian School, and Gov. Sisolak was joined by tribal elders as well as legislative representatives.
To see all the winners of the Nevada Press Association 2022 contest, click here or check out the publication below.