🌱 Big Brothers Big Sisters Need Mentors + Megabus Is Back In Reno

Hey, everybody! It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Reno Patch newsletter. Follow along to find out everything you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, today's weather:

Cold with a shower or two. High: 56 Low: 40.

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Here are the top three stories today in Reno:

1. The Reno-based Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada program is currently seeking mentors, also known as "bigs," for its waiting list of 150 children, or "littles." About 112 boys and 38 girls are waiting to be paired with a mentor to participate in community-based activities, such as going to the movies, coffee shops, and doing homework. The program has had a significant impact on the children's lives, with those in the program being less likely to use drugs, skip school, or engage in violent behavior compared to those who are not. To qualify as a mentor, you must be over the age of 18, and pass an interview and background check. Those interested can apply here. (KOLO)
2. The Megabus is back in Reno. Through a partnership with Salt Lake Express, the shuttle service is offering daily trips to 16 cities including Las Vegas, Winnemucca, Fernley, and Salt Lake City. Convenient bus stops can be found near the airport and at the Greyhound Station on Victorian Avenue in nearby Sparks, according to its website. (KTVN)
3. A fire broke out at an older building near 4th Street and Wells Avenue in Reno around 4:15 a.m. on Thursday, prompting an ongoing investigation by Reno and Sparks Fire. Despite the fire's magnitude, no injuries have been reported as of the time of this writing, and NV Energy turned off power to the nearby area as a safety measure. The fire caused a closure at the Wells overpass for traffic in both directions while over 40 fire personnel continued to respond to the incident. Anybody with information is asked to send an anonymous tip to Secret Witness at (775) 322-4900. (KTVN)

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Today in Reno:

• Cinco de Mayo At Glow Plaza (9:00 AM)
• Spring Arts & Gifts Show At Grand Sierra Resort And Casino (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Reno Modern Brass will perform at the fairgrounds this Saturday, May 6. The performance begins at 7 p.m. with the doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 each. (Plumas County Newspapers)
• Washoe County Regional Animal Services and SPCA of Northern Nevada want to remind the community to keep pets out of parked cars. “A pet can quickly suffer brain damage or die from heatstroke or suffocation within a matter of minutes. Leaving a pet in your vehicle with the intention of coming right back could prove deadly for the animal,” Jill Vacchina Dobbs, SPCA-NN executive director, said. (Washoe Life)
• Reno Fire Department wished a happy retirement to Captain Glenn McKinnon! (Reno Fire Department via Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.