Good morning, Sparks.

Rebuilding Together Northern Nevada assisted a local veteran on Oct.

15 in Sparks through a partnership with Lowe's Home Improvement. The effort improved home conditions and showcased local community support.

The Ronald McDonald House held its ribbon cutting on Oct.

15 to open a new facility that houses families living more than 30 miles from Sparks who have a child at a nearby hospital. The nonprofit (serving families from outside the city) aims to ease travel burden for out-of-area families.

Nevada released its latest jobs report on Oct.

15 and the report shows the unemployment rate continues to drop — a key indicator for job seekers across the state.

Washoe County students participated in the annual Great Nevada Shakeout (a statewide earthquake drill held on Oct.

15) to practice safety measures and rehearse emergency procedures. The exercise helped schools prepare for potential quakes in their communities.

Washoe County School District said rising diesel prices have added an extra $1.5 million in fuel costs for its 300+ buses covering nearly 20,000 miles daily.

The district said no route cuts are expected though further cost hikes may require adjustments.

WCSD will begin accepting school of choice applications next week for families seeking different educational placements; interested applicants should review the district guidelines + prepare necessary documents.

Attorney General Aaron Ford met with the general manager & staff of Chihuahua's Cantina on South Virgina Street Thursday to discuss rising costs affecting local businesses.

Residents affected by Bug and Hawk fires from Aug.

8 to Sept. 9 can apply for SBA low-interest disaster loans—loans incur no payments or interest for the first year. In-person help is at North Valleys Community Center at 8085 Silver Lakes Rd from Oct. 15 through Nov. 10.

First responders practiced crash response drills during the Traffic Safety Summit (held in Sparks) which ran from Tuesday, Oct.

13 to Thursday, Oct. 15 to boost emergency readiness for local incidents.

Fans enjoyed the Under the Arch Madness event yesterday as Nevada’s men’s and women’s basketball teams warmed up the crowd.

The local sports event brought residents together + showed strong community support.