News

Terminal cancer patient gets life in prison for sex assault

November 1, 2008 - 9:00 pm

RENO -- A cancer-stricken man with only a few months to live has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting a young relative in the 1980s.

Richard Byrum will be eligible for parole in five years under Thursday's sentence handed down by Washoe County District Judge Connie Steinheimer.

But his doctor says Byrum has only a few months to live as colon cancer has spread to his liver and lungs.

After he was arrested for burglary in 1989, a 15-year-old girl reported he had sexually molested her for years.

Prosecutors say Byrum vanished for 17 years before surrendering last year.

Prosecutors say he surrendered only because he was homeless and needed medical care for his terminal colon cancer.

Undated mugshot of Michael McKee. (Winnebago County Sheriffs Office)

Doctor accused in Ohio killing of ex, her husband had ties to Las Vegas

By Casey Harrison / RJ

January 14, 2026 - 6:17 pm

Michael McKee, 39, was arrested Saturday by police in Rockford, Illinois, and remains in custody at the Winnebago County Justice Center, according to Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office online records.

Signage for the University of Nevada, Reno, on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Reno. (Benjamin Hager ...

Feds announce probe into UNR, allege sex-based sports discrimination

By Spencer Levering / RJ

January 14, 2026 - 6:10 pm

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights claims the Reno college discriminates against women with policies that allow students to participate in sports based on their gender identity.

Workers fly the Cuban flag at half-staff at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune near the U.S. Embassy ...

US will suspend immigrant visa processing from 75 countries over public assistance concerns

By Matthew Lee AP Diplomatic Writer

January 14, 2026 - 3:58 pm

The State Department said Wednesday it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia, whose nationals the Trump administration has deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the United States.

FILE = The Health and Human Services seal is seen before the news conference of Secretary Rober ...

Trump administration slashes funding for substance abuse and mental health programs nationwide

By Ali Swenson The Associated Press

January 14, 2026 - 2:08 pm

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on Tuesday night canceled some 2,000 grants representing nearly $2 billion in funding.

NASA sends 4 astronauts back to Earth in first medical evacuation

By Marcia Dunn Associated Press

January 14, 2026 - 2:34 pm

An astronaut in need of doctors care departed the International Space Station with three crewmates on Wednesday in NASAs first medical evacuation.

Verizon outage disrupts service for customers across US

By Whitney Danhauer Parade

January 14, 2026 - 11:52 am

A widespread network outage affecting Verizon Wireless customers across the United States disrupted phone calls, text messages and mobile data service, leaving many users with limited connectivity.

Kim Snyder, one of four plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Southern Nevada Water Authority, si ...

Lawsuit claims ban on ‘useless grass’ has killed 100K trees in Southern Nevada

By Alan Halaly / RJ

January 14, 2026 - 6:50 pm

Lawyers argue that a law intended to push the boundaries of water conservation has massively backfired, causing $300 million in tree damage.

People walk along a street in downtown of Nuuk, Greenland, on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo ...

Danish official says there’s a ‘fundamental disagreement’ with Trump over Greenland

By Emma Burrows, Claudia Ciobanu and Ben Finley The Associated Press

January 14, 2026 - 1:17 pm

President Donald Trump is trying to make the case that NATO should help the U.S. acquire the world’s largest island and says anything less than it being under American control is unacceptable.

Police investigate a single-vehicle crash Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, near South Jones Boulevard ...

Impairment suspected after crash in central Las Vegas Valley

By Tony Garcia / RJ

January 14, 2026 - 8:10 am

Impairment is suspected after a crash Wednesday morning in the central Las Vegas Valley.

FILE - President Donald Trump, right, meets with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani& ...

Some personnel at key US base in Qatar advised to evacuate as Iran official brings up earlier attack

By Konstantin Toropin and Farnoush Amiri The Associated Press

January 14, 2026 - 7:37 am

It comes as anti-government protests in nearby Iran continue and President Donald Trump has said that he is willing to conduct military operations in the country if the government continues to retaliate against the protesters.