Joe McCarthy

“The land has been calling us back, and we are answering that call.” – Sierra Nevada Ally In recent years, the “Land Back” movement has led to a series of land transfers and growing calls for Indigenous governance over ancestral territories, including one in our region.

From the Sierra Nevada Ally's Hannah Truby - In recent years, the “Land Back” movement has led to a series of land transfers and growing calls for Indigenous governance over ancestral territories, including one in our region.
sierranevadaally.org/2026/03/10/t...

How Are Water Managers Adapting to a Smaller Sierra Snowpack? – Sierra Nevada Ally Warming winters are reshaping runoff. With less snow to rely on, water managers are navigating a future defined by rain, risk, and uncertainty.

How Are Water Managers Adapting to a Smaller Sierra Snowpack? sierranevadaally.org/2026/03/03/h...

“A Conflicting Feeling:” A Local Venezuelan’s Perspective on the U.S. Capture of Nicolás Maduro – Sierra Nevada Ally What does the seizing of the Venezuelan leader mean to the millions who have fled the country? We ask one.

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It Could’ve Been Me – Sierra Nevada Ally The tragedy in the backcountry outside of Truckee is a reminder to not judge too quickly and reach out to those close to you

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Hard Work, Low Pay, High Risk: Who Wants a Job in Forestry? – Sierra Nevada Ally How local efforts are helping to better opportunities in forestry for people and the profession.

From the Sierra Nevada Ally's Helena Guglielmino -
How local efforts are helping to better opportunities in forestry for people and the profession.
sierranevadaally.org/2026/02/15/h...

Public Space and Civic Identity in the Mountains: Truckee Debates Its New Library – Sierra Nevada Ally Despite overwhelming public support, a funding measure for a new library has led to contentious arguments around its financing and place in the community.

From the Sierra Nevada Ally's Hannah Truby - Despite overwhelming public support, a funding measure for a new library has led to contentious arguments around its financing and place in the community.
sierranevadaally.org/2026/02/09/p...

Ally Audio: The History of Youth Movements in America – Sierra Nevada Ally Check out the latest edition of Sierra Nevada Ally's podcast

The Sierra Nevada Ally’s Managing Editor Hannah Truby joins Ally Radio to talk about five big movements that were led by young people.
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Photos: Students Walk Out to Protest ICE – Sierra Nevada Ally Students across Washoe County took part in a nationwide walkout to protest the actions of federal immigration officers.

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January Thaw – Sierra Nevada Ally Poetry from contributor Terri Breeden

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Ally Audio: The Story Behind the Local Starbucks Strike – Sierra Nevada Ally Check out the latest edition of Sierra Nevada Ally's podcast

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Photos: Rally for Renee Good in Carson City – Sierra Nevada Ally Community members gathered to protest ICE, federal immigration policy, and the human cost of enforcement.

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From Barista to Union Delegate: The Beginning of Reno’s Red Cup Rebellion – Sierra Nevada Ally How one Reno resident helped lead a local strike against the coffee giant

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Tracking Food and Gas Prices in the Trump Era (Updated for November) – Sierra Nevada Ally President Donald Trump campaigned on the promise of lowering grocery prices for everyday Americans. We're tracking how that's going.

sierranevadaally.org/2026/01/09/t...

The Realities of Our Rapidly Changing Immigration Landscape – Sierra Nevada Ally While most immigrants come to the United States legally, one Reno-based immigration attorney says doing things “the right way,” is complicated, expensive and full of roadblocks.

From the Sierra Nevada Ally's Alex Couraud - While most immigrants come to the United States legally, one Reno-based immigration attorney says doing things “the right way,” is complicated, expensive and full of roadblocks.
sierranevadaally.org/2026/01/06/t...

When Winter Comes as Rain in the Sierra Nevada – Sierra Nevada Ally A warm, wet start to the season is reshaping snowpack — and what it means for local businesses in Truckee and beyond.

From the Sierra Nevada Ally's Claire Carlson -
A warm, wet start to the season is reshaping snowpack — and what it means for local businesses in Truckee and beyond.
sierranevadaally.org/2026/01/04/w...

Forging a Brighter Future – Sierra Nevada Ally A thank you for your support and a preview of what’s ahead

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Looking Back and Celebrating our First Five Years – Sierra Nevada Ally The Ally began as an experiment in community-supported journalism, and five years later, we’re continuing to evolve, thanks to your financial support.

In 2021, the Sierra Nevada Ally began as an experiment in community-supported journalism. We tell stories that have deep civic & environmental significance to build bridges of trust. We're guided by the principles: people come first & information should be free.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/12/28/l...

Opportunity, Stability, Guidance, and Growth: The Ally Difference – Sierra Nevada Ally We exist to keep talented journalists working in journalism. Your support makes it possible.

The Sierra Nevada Ally exists to keep talented journalists working in journalism. Here's some of our personal stories to prove that point. Know that your support makes it all possible.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/12/22/o...

Meet the Superstars Behind the Work – Sierra Nevada Ally Ally contributors are award-winning reporters, photographers and producers. Your donations support their work.

From the Sierra Nevada Ally - Meet our contributors, the award-winning reporters, photographers and producers. Your donations support their work.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/12/20/m...

Wild Christmas Pinyon – Sierra Nevada Ally While you might imagine that artificial Christmas trees may be traced back only as far as the glory days of plastic in the 1950s, people actually began making fake holiday trees in the mid-nineteenth ...

"While you might imagine that artificial Christmas trees may be traced back only as far as the glory days of plastic in the 1950s, people actually began making fake holiday trees in the mid-nineteenth century."
An essay & photos by Mike Branch.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/12/19/w...

Your Most-Read Stories of 2025 – Sierra Nevada Ally The stories that resonated with you, made possible by your support.

The Sierra Nevada Ally's stories that resonated with you, made possible by your support.
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Creating Ripples, One Story and Reporter at a Time – Sierra Nevada Ally Our reporting is creating real-world impact for the community and emerging journalists. Your support makes it possible.

From the Sierra Nevada Ally. Our reporting is creating real-world impact for the community and emerging journalists. Your support makes it possible.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/12/13/c...

Reno’s Gay Rodeo is back – Sierra Nevada Ally Nearly 40 years after an armed sheriff, anti-LGBTQ activists and a judge’s order shut down the Gay Rodeo Finals, this year the riders came home.

A wonderful piece from High Country News by two of our local stars: Fil Corbitt and the Ally's own Alex Rubio. Nearly 40 years after an armed sheriff, anti-LGBTQ activists and a judge’s order shut down the Gay Rodeo Finals, this year the riders came home.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/12/11/r...

Building an A Team – Sierra Nevada Ally Our Ally team is growing to better serve the evolving needs of our community. Your support makes it all possible.

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The Series That Shaped Our Year – Sierra Nevada Ally We made long-form and multi-part series a priority in 2025. Your support made it possible.

I worried, at first, that a multi-part series might lose readers—after all, attention is currency in today’s digital age. I knew Frank’s story held something special, but seeing how deeply it resonated with Ally readers meant a great deal to me.
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From the Managing Editor: Why I Joined the Ally – Sierra Nevada Ally From empowering new journalists to giving voice to the underrepresented, the Ally offers a lot to the community.

From the Sierra Nevada Ally's Managing Editor, Hannah Truby -
The Ally is a place where young journalists can learn by doing. We welcome student work, mentor new writers, and give people like me a first real shot at publication. This is why I joined the Ally.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/12/06/f...

The Value of Visual Storytelling – Sierra Nevada Ally From personal profiles to photo essays, we're telling stories with importance you can see.

A note from Hannah Truby, the Sierra Nevada Ally's Managing Editor - From personal profiles to photo essays, we’re telling stories with importance you can see.
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From the Publisher: My Top Stories From 2025 – Sierra Nevada Ally We’ve done some incredible work over the past year thanks to your support. Here are some of our favorites.

2025 was a banner year for culture & community coverage at the Sierra Nevada Ally. It’s a point of pride for us to publish creative work from the talented people that make up this region, alongside our award-winning reporting. Here are a few of my favorites.
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The Importance of Culture Coverage – Sierra Nevada Ally Publishing arts coverage and creative work is not a niche pursuit. It’s essential to building community.

Publishing arts & creative work is not a niche pursuit, it’s essential to building community: poetry, short stories, essays, creative nonfiction, humor, environmentally-focused storytelling from our region’s most well-known & loved writers. How lucky are we?
sierranevadaally.org/2025/11/28/t...

Freebirds – Sierra Nevada Ally A Thanksgiving lesson in forgiveness

“Dad, I bet you didn’t know that Thanksgiving comes from the Pilgrims and the Indians helping each other a bunch and then having a peace party and eating a really big supper ... ”
An essay & audio version, read by author Michael P. Branch.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/11/26/f...