Joe McCarthy
LightNews LightNews
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
Joe McCarthy
@paydirtjoe.bsky.social
340 followers 1.1K following 150 posts
Publisher of the sierranevadaally.org, nonprofit newsroom. Civics, Climate, Community, Culture, Collaboration.
Jm@sierranevadaally.org
775.720.0331
Posts Replies Media Videos
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
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.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/11/30/f...
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.
sierranevadaally.org
December 1, 2025 at 3:51 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
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...
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.
sierranevadaally.org
November 28, 2025 at 5:27 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
“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...
Freebirds – Sierra Nevada Ally
A Thanksgiving lesson in forgiveness
sierranevadaally.org
November 27, 2025 at 3:49 AM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
From the Sierra Nevada Ally's Brooke Hess-Homeier - Lake Tahoe’s Red River Autumn Spawning kokanee salmon bring waves of red to Taylor Creek and the Upper Truckee River.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/11/20/l...
Lake Tahoe’s Red River Autumn – Sierra Nevada Ally
Spawning kokanee salmon bring waves of red to Taylor Creek and the Upper Truckee River.
sierranevadaally.org
November 21, 2025 at 8:23 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
From the Sierra Nevada Ally's Brooke Hess-Homeier - Lake Tahoe’s Red River Autumn Spawning kokanee salmon bring waves of red to Taylor Creek and the Upper Truckee River.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/11/20/l...
Lake Tahoe’s Red River Autumn – Sierra Nevada Ally
Spawning kokanee salmon bring waves of red to Taylor Creek and the Upper Truckee River.
sierranevadaally.org
November 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
From the Sierra Nevada Ally - five of our favorite stories from the past year, made possible by your support.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/11/19/c...
Celebrating Climate Reporting in 2025 – Sierra Nevada Ally
Five of our favorite stories from the past year, made possible by your support.
sierranevadaally.org
November 20, 2025 at 10:06 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
From the Sierra Nevada Ally - Our reporting helps support climate news and information. Your donation makes it possible.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/11/17/p...
Putting A Local Spin on Climate Reporting – Sierra Nevada Ally
Our reporting helps support climate news and information. Your donation makes it possible.
sierranevadaally.org
November 17, 2025 at 6:48 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
In this special episode of Ally Audio, the team gets together to talk about some of our favorite stories from the past year: solitary confinement, the NV Black Legislative Caucus, data centers, a rejection of a proposal from elementary school students in Truckee.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/11/13/a...
Ally Audio: The Stories We Tell – Sierra Nevada Ally
Check out the latest edition of Sierra Nevada Ally's podcast
sierranevadaally.org
November 13, 2025 at 6:07 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
From the Sierra Nevada Ally - Paywalls actively discourage civic engagement and understanding, and they don’t work.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/11/08/h...
Hiding News Behind Paywalls Doesn’t Work – Sierra Nevada Ally
Research finds that most Americans look elsewhere when information is hidden behind a subscription. The Ally will never have a paywall.
sierranevadaally.org
November 8, 2025 at 5:52 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
We believe in unbiased, fact-based reporting on issues important to our communities. We don’t have a paywall and we don’t require a subscription.

Let’s show you what your dollars help support, by highlighting some of our favorite civics reporting in 2025.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/11/05/c...
Celebrating Civics Reporting in 2025 – Sierra Nevada Ally
Five of our favorite stories from the past year, made possible by your support.
sierranevadaally.org
November 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
From the Sierra Nevada Ally - Our reporting helps foster civic engagement. Your donation makes it possible.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/11/03/a...
An Emphasis on Civics Over Politics – Sierra Nevada Ally
Our reporting helps foster civic engagement. Your donation makes it possible.
sierranevadaally.org
November 4, 2025 at 6:20 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
From the Sierra Nevada Ally's Hannah Truby - as of this morning, the question remains - will poor families receive their scheduled SNAP benefits on time to avoid hunger and serious financial misery?
sierranevadaally.org/2025/11/01/s...
SNAP Benefits Pause: How Northern Nevada and Tahoe Communities Can Help – Sierra Nevada Ally
SNAP benefits may be paused starting November 1, leaving families in need. Here’s how you can help.
sierranevadaally.org
November 2, 2025 at 4:20 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
We’re building something special at The Sierra Nevada Ally.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/10/30/a...
A Call to Action: Support Fair, Local, Independent News and Information – Sierra Nevada Ally
We’re building something special at Sierra Nevada Ally–and we need your support
sierranevadaally.org
November 1, 2025 at 4:18 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
Since Donald Trump took office, the Sierra Nevada Ally has been tracking prices on a few essential grocery items in the West and across the U.S. Every month, the BLS releases the latest set of data on prices, and we’ll be updating this page with the latest info.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/10/28/t...
Tracking Food and Gas Prices in the Trump Era (Updated for September) – 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
October 28, 2025 at 3:24 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
From the Sierra Nevada Ally.
California voters will weigh Proposition 50 this fall. We’re sharing a voter guide from CalMatters to help you stay informed.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/10/24/v...
Voting in California? Here’s What Prop 50 Is All About – Sierra Nevada Ally
California voters will weigh Proposition 50 this fall. We’re sharing a voter guide from CalMatters to help you stay informed.
sierranevadaally.org
October 24, 2025 at 5:24 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
From the Sierra Nevada Ally's Mike Escobar - One Reno-based U.S. Army veteran shares her perspectives on tailoring, tariffs, and the troubles facing American small business.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/10/22/f...
From Fashion Lover to Freedom Fighter to Founder – Sierra Nevada Ally
One Reno-based U.S. Army veteran shares her perspectives on tailoring, tariffs, and the troubles facing American small business.
sierranevadaally.org
October 22, 2025 at 3:52 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
From the Sierra Nevada Ally's Hannah Truby -
For several weeks each year, Reno’s Rancho San Rafael Park glows with lanterns and light displays during the Dragon Lights Festival. We go behind the scenes to see how it all comes to life.
From Zigong to Reno: Dragon Lights and the Art of Cultural Connection – Sierra Nevada Ally
For several weeks each year, Reno’s Rancho San Rafael Park glows with lanterns and light displays during the Dragon Lights Festival. We go behind the scenes to see how it all comes to life.
sierranevadaally.org
October 17, 2025 at 8:18 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
The Truckee River is the spine of the greater Reno community, threading through neighborhoods, open spaces, and industrial areas alike. While there are a few pockets of underdeveloped land along its bank, one project hopes to restore a natural flood plain.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/10/15/t...
To Rewild the Truckee River: The Rock-McCarran Flood Project – Sierra Nevada Ally
The Truckee River is the spine of the greater Reno community, threading through neighborhoods, open spaces, and industrial areas alike. While there are a few pockets of underdeveloped land along its b...
sierranevadaally.org
October 16, 2025 at 5:18 AM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
From the Sierra Nevada Ally - National parks are melting, burning, and drying out. Rangers are being forced to take down signs explaining why.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/10/10/w...
Why Trump’s purge of ‘negative’ national park signs includes climate change – Sierra Nevada Ally
National parks are melting, burning, and drying out. Rangers are being forced to take down signs explaining why.
sierranevadaally.org
October 10, 2025 at 4:44 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
Check out the latest edition of Sierra Nevada Ally’s podcast.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/10/08/a...
Ally Audio: The Looming Changes to Health and Healthcare – Sierra Nevada Ally
Check out the latest edition of Sierra Nevada Ally's podcast
sierranevadaally.org
October 8, 2025 at 9:59 AM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
From the Sierra Nevada Ally's Alex Rubio - A traditional indigenous tale that finds new life with tribal observatory.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/09/30/t...
Togugunde: Reclaiming the Heavens Through Eco-Cultural Tourism – Sierra Nevada Ally
A traditional indigenous tale that finds new life with tribal observatory.
sierranevadaally.org
October 2, 2025 at 2:51 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
From the Sierra Nevada Ally's Vanesa de la Cruz Pavas - Long COVID is a growing public health concern. Because its symptoms vary widely and often overlap with other illnesses, it is especially complex to diagnose and treat
sierranevadaally.org/2025/09/26/t...
The Silent Struggle of Long COVID Patients in Nevada – Sierra Nevada Ally
In addition to being a complex and hard-to-diagnose disease, healthcare shortages and systemic limitations in the state leave patients struggling to access care.
sierranevadaally.org
September 26, 2025 at 2:39 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
On Saturday, Sept. 20, Sierra Nevada Ally reporters were recognized with eight awards from the Nevada Press Association.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/09/25/s...
Sierra Nevada Ally takes home eight awards from Nevada Press Association in 2025 – Sierra Nevada Ally
Recognitions include First place in Multiple Photo Essay and Explanatory Journalism categories
sierranevadaally.org
September 25, 2025 at 8:29 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
This week’s Ally Audio: how NV agencies are recovering after a recent cyberattack, who's announced a run for local or statewide office, & how the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is causing uncertainty around vaccine recommendations and availability.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/09/24/a...
Ally Audio: The CDC Panel Injecting Uncertainty on Vaccines – Sierra Nevada Ally
Check out the latest edition of Sierra Nevada Ally's podcast
sierranevadaally.org
September 24, 2025 at 4:26 PM
paydirtjoe.bsky.social
Why do 80,000 people gather in a place that’s hot, dusty, and increasingly rainy— not to mention expensive? It’s something like a ritual, homecoming, or maybe even shared misery.
sierranevadaally.org/2025/09/23/b...
By now, it’s a bizarre tradition of the West – Sierra Nevada Ally
Why do 80,000 people gather in a place that’s hot, dusty, and increasingly rainy— not to mention expensive? It’s something like a ritual, homecoming, or maybe even shared misery.
sierranevadaally.org
September 23, 2025 at 4:51 PM