This week’s stories in news, arts and entertainments, sports and the elections special section.

 

 Weekly Wrap Up [1:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Nevada’s voters may be focused on which presidential ticket they will vote for come Election Day, but political experts said voters need to remember the importance of state and local races this year.

“You see voters come in every four years, and they vote for president and Congress, but they won’t vote for the state legislature,” said Kenneth Fernandez, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Reno residents will get a taste for the American West when the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering comes to the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts Oct. 28.

The event, which has been a part of Elko’s performing arts scene for the last 25 years, will feature Polish rodeo poet Paul Zarzyski, yodeler Wylie Gustafson and his band Wylie & The Wild West.

Former President Bill Clinton listed three jobs on Monday that the next president of the United States must do.

The next president must restore confidence in the economy, the American dream and America’s standing in the world, he said during his Reno stump speech for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

 

 Bill Clinton stumps for Obama: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Former President Bill Clinton spoke Monday at the Truckee Meadows Community College in support of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

 

 Bill Clinton stumps for Obama [41:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Academic programs with small numbers of students enrolled — including German, French and two agriculture programs — may be cut due to Nevada’s budget shortfall, university officials said Monday.

Bill Clinton visits TMCC on Monday.

This year’s rush brought in more than 300 pledges, the highest number of recruits Greek Life has seen in years. Contrary to the idea that the Greek tradition is fading away, the numbers made student leaders believe that the [g] Movement is growing stronger.
But the movement will soon have to continue without an official office to guide it.
Cairn Lindloff, the sole administrator in the Office of Greek Life, will lose her job in May because of the statewide budget cuts affecting the University of Nevada, Reno.

One week ago, many classes were canceled. Thousands stood in lines that wrapped from Mackay Stadium to John Mackay’s statue. Roads were closed and cars were re-routed. A small section of the quad was crowded with dozens of reporters, photographers and videographers.

Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley opened up conversation with the public about the statewide budget crisis at a town hall meeting Monday.

The student senate approved Wednesday night Casey Stiteler’s appointment as director of programming in his third attempt for the position. Also at the meeting, the senate passed a resolution acknowledging Speaker Priscilla Acosta’s misconduct.

Student body president Eli Reilly explained budget cut details to and asked for student input from more than 20 students at a town hall meeting Tuesday.

Reilly outlined the timeline of the budget cuts, beginning with the state of the economy and how it directly impacts funding for the University of Nevada, Reno. Reilly said he plans on hosting more meetings in the future to keep students up-to-date on the budget shortfall.

About 20 people waved signs reading “In God We Trust, Not Obama,” and “McCain/Palin” Tuesday morning on the Jot Travis lawn. Thousands filed past them to hear Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama’s speech.

Chancellor Jim Rogers, who has served as a voice against state budget cuts this past year, said he won’t seek the renewal of his five-year contract with the Nevada System of Higher Education.

Rogers’s contract ends June 30.