The little nonprofit-that-could made a statement at the Nevada Press Association awards this weekend in Reno, with seven first-place awards and multiple wins for health care reporter Megan Messerly.

We at The Indy have talked many times at staff meetings about how little we care about awards, that we are not doing what we do for the recognition. But it undeniably feels good to see that after nearly five years, this incandescent staff is being recognized for the work they do.

I could not be prouder of all of them and for the range of awards we won, from breaking news to deep reporting to commentary. The full list of awards are here — congratulations to all of the winners — and while our awards have been plentiful up until now, this year was especially satisfying.

First place:

• Story of the Year (tie for first) — What Happened Here? — By Megan Messerly
• Breaking News Reporting — ‘Innovation Zones” promoted by Sisolak would create semi-autonomous county at behest of Blockchains LLC — By Michelle Rindels and Riley Snyder
• Business Feature Story — A gambler at heart: Derek Stevens opening first all-new resort in four decades in downtown Las Vegas — By Howard Stutz
• Explanatory Journalism — The curious case of a rare plant’s destruction raises further questions about the extinction crisis, climate change and the role of humans — By Daniel Rothberg
• Health News Story — What Happened Here? — By Megan Messerly
• Local Non-Staff Column — Martha Menendez
• Non-Staff Story — Decades of segregation and mistrust complicate efforts to rekindle vibrant history of Las Vegas' Historic Westside — By Savanna Strott

Second place:

• Editorial/Opinion Page — Sunday columnists John L. Smith, David Colborne and Orrin Johnson
• Business Spot News Story — Amazon surpasses WalMart for most Nevada employees and dependents on Medicaid — By Sean Golonka
• Feature Writing — Students’ after-school jobs help keep families afloat financially during the pandemic — By Jackie Valley
• Non-Staff Story — Chance encounter with law enforcement is nearly life-altering in last Nevada jurisdiction overtly partnering with ICE — By Savanna Strott

Third place:

• General Online Excellence
• Business Feature Story — Tourism-dependent businesses reckon with with COVID-19's financial aftermath — By Jackie Valley
• Investigative Story — Anaconda mine cleanup | The state said it relied on the ‘best available science’ in a toxic mine report. Records show the science was negotiated with the company. — By Daniel Rothberg 
• Health News Story —  Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness: How rural Nevada is grappling with COVID-19 — Megan Messerly
• Local Non-Staff Column — John L. Smith
• Feature Photo — What Happened Here: Generation Zoom — Jeff Scheid
• Portrait — Music teacher Tyler Swick — Jeff Scheid