In Brief
DEATH PROBED
Man's death believed tied to smoke inhalation in apartment
Authorities are investigating the death of a man who was found in a smoke-filled apartment Sunday afternoon.
Las Vegas police Lt. Ted Snodgrass said firefighters were called to the Safari Apartments, 2675 S. Nellis Blvd., near Sahara Avenue, around 3:45 p.m. A maintenance man heard a smoke alarm going off in a first-floor unit.
Inside was the resident, a man in his late 50s, sitting in a chair in the smoke-filled apartment, Snodgrass said. A lighter and cigarettes were on his chest. There were no flames when authorities arrived, he said.
The man, believed to have suffered smoke inhalation, was taken to the hospital, where he died, Snodgrass said.
Police do not suspect foul play.
The man's name was not released.
CHILD KIDNAPPING
Man suspected of abducting girl from a Los Angeles bus
Authorities say a 60-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a 6-year-old girl on a Los Angeles bus.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker says a woman reported her daughter missing early Sunday. The woman told authorities she fell asleep on a bus near downtown and when she awoke the girl was gone.
Two hours later, the driver of another bus reported seeing the girl board his vehicle accompanied by a male suspect. Deputies arrested a man, identified as John Thomas. The girl was unhurt.
RESIDENTS ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME
Firefighters put out stubborn blaze sparked by derailed train
Firefighters late Sunday put out a stubborn fire sparked by a freight train derailment in central California, allowing residents evacuated because of a toxic cloud to return home, officials said.
The blaze burned for nearly 24 hours after cars went off the tracks Saturday at a tunnel entrance near Keene, Calif., a small town about 15 miles east of Bakersfield.
Seven homes in Keene were evacuated and the residents of 30 others were advised to stay indoors with the windows closed for most of the day Sunday, said Kern County Fire Department Engineer Justin Corley.
DESERT CLEANUP
Volunteers take to the desert to rid area of dumped trash
Organizers say almost 200 volunteers are expected to take part in a clean-up event on public and private desert land in the Mountain's Edge area south of Las Vegas.
The federal Bureau of Land Management and the Public Lands Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas are directing the effort today to remove trash and asphalt piles in an area bound by Blue Diamond, Fort Apache and South Cimarron roads and Cactus Avenue.
Officials say plans call for building dirt berms to discourage future desert dumping.
Water, trash bags, gloves and support services will be provided. Check-in begins at 8 a.m. at a volunteer support trailer at El Capitan and Maravilla Grove ways. Volunteers are asked to register at www.getoutdoorsnevada.org.
