Area Briefs

Washoe County activist to be honored by White House today

A Nevada activist who spent decades advocating for the poor, women's health issues and racial equality is being honored by the White House for her work to improve access to health care.

Jan Gilbert will be honored today with nine others who were chosen as "champions of change" for their efforts to explain the benefits of President Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Gilbert, a Washoe County resident, is a co-founder of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. A former elementary school teacher, she is also a co-founder of the Nevada Empowered Women's Project, a nonprofit group representing low-income women.

Governor has one applicant for Reno judge vacancy

It's now up to Gov. Brian Sandoval whether to appoint Reno lawyer Scott Freeman to the District Court bench in Washoe County. The 54-year-old Freeman was the only candidate to apply for the vacancy created by the death in December of District Judge Robert Perry.

The Nevada Commission on Judicial Selection on Monday forwarded Freeman's name to the governor, who makes the final appointment.

Freeman has also filed for election to the Department 9 seat. If appointed, he must win in November to serve out the rest of Perry's unexpired term, which ends in January 2015.

Attorney Calvin Dunlap also filed for election to the seat but did not apply for appointment.