Crime and safety news from around the valley, Jan. 7-13, 2016

Suspects sought: Henderson Police are seeking the public's help to identify two men who recently stole a black Honda Accord from a Circle K convenience store at 1324 N. Boulder Highway. The vehicle was unoccupied, unlocked and running when the suspects left the convenience store and took it. The suspects are described as a white male, about 5 feet, 5 inches to 5 feet, 8 inches tall, last seen wearing a black hoodie, black pants, a "scruffy" beard, and carrying a backpack. The other male suspect is a white male, about 6 feet to 6 feet, 3 inches tall, last seen wearing a black hoodie, black pants, black hat, and carrying a backpack. Call the Henderson Police Department at 702-267-4911, 311, or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555, visit Crime Stoppers website, or text CRIMENV plus the tip info to 274637.

Speed traffic enforcement effort: The Henderson Police Department, in conjunction with officers throughout the Las Vegas Valley, will be conducting special traffic enforcement targeting speeders for two weeks starting Jan. 5. The officers will be able to target several different streets at a time using saturation patrols throughout Henderson to stop speeding vehicles. Officers will target areas that are known for high speeds and the areas that have received the most resident complaints.

Crime preparedness night: A Crime Prevention and Preparedness Night is planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Centennial Hills YMCA, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive. The event is to include presentations from the Metropolitan Police Department, City Marshals office, CERT training, fire education and Nevada Childseekers. Speakers are set to include Las Vegas Mayor Pro Tem Steve Ross and Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo.

Boulder Highway improvements: The Nevada Department of Transportation is planning on making several pedestrian safety improvements to Boulder Highway (state Route 582) in 2016 and 2017, including an overhead rapid flashing beacon and Danish-offset median island at Boulder Highway and Sun Valley Drive, near the Eastside Cannery. NDOT will also be lowering the speed limit from 55 mph to 45 mph along a two-mile stretch of Boulder Highway from Galleria Drive north in early 2016.

Oakey Meadows storm drain update: The city of Las Vegas recently announced that additional lanes on Decatur Boulevard are open between Charleston Boulevard and Sahara Avenue as the Oakey Meadows Storm Drain Phase 3 and Oakey Sewer Rehabilitation Project progresses. One southbound lane restriction between El Parque Avenue and Sahara is still closed and is set to be restricted for approximately six more weeks. Storm drain installation proceeding west on Sahara from Decatur continues to impact vehicular traffic and may continue for the next several months. Final resurfacing is planned in spring when warmer weather returns. No road closures are planned. Call 702-564-8136.

Henderson police arrest suspect in shooting: A 21-year-old man, Eugene Mbayi Tshiyombo, was arrested Dec. 28 in connection with the domestic-related homicide of a 68-year-old Henderson man. Henderson Police officers responded to a missing person call at a single-family residence in the 2400 block of Foxmoore Court Dec. 28 at about 12:30 p.m. Later in the day, a family member contacted Henderson Police with additional information regarding the missing man. When officers arrived at the home, they found the victim and were able to determine the man had suffered a gunshot wound. The victim and Tshiyombo had argued the night before, Dec. 27. The identity of the victim will be released by the Clark County Coroner's Office. The investigation identified the son as the suspect and he was arrested on an open murder charge. Tshiyombo is being held at the Henderson Detention Center. Call the Henderson Police Department at 702-267-4750.

Henderson firefighters contain attic blaze: The Henderson Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire in the 200 block of West Rochell Drive, near Van Wagenen Street and Pacific Avenue, at about 4:15 p.m. Dec. 28. The first arriving engine company observed smoke coming from the roof near the chimney of a one-story, single-family residence. Firefighters entered the residence to attack the fire and discovered it involved the attic space. The crew withdrew from the house, and firefighters continued with a defensive fire attack from the exterior. They were able to contain the fire to the attic and prevent it from spreading to other portions of the home, garage and vehicles. Residents were home at the time of the fire and were notified by neighbors who saw smoke coming from the roof. All occupants were able to safely exit the residence. There were no injuries to residents or fire personnel. Firefighters rescued one dog that was not injured. Three adults, two children and three pets were displaced by the fire. A city of Henderson fire investigator, Henderson Police, NV Energy and Southwest Gas Corp. responded to the scene and assisted in securing the residence. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental and electrical in nature. The total loss is estimated at $395,000.

New winter road condition website: The Mount Charleston Winter Alliance announced the launch of mtcharlestonwinter.com, a site that provides winter road conditions and weather updates along with safety tips and winter outdoor recreation information for visitors to the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. The alliance was created to promote and ensure public safety during the winter months when areas such as Kyle Canyon and Lee Canyon see spikes in visitation.

State Route 160 changes: The Nevada Department of Transportation awarded a $16.5 million contract to Aggregate Industries SWR Inc. for a 5-mile widening of state Route 160 (Blue Diamond Road) in southwest Clark County. The project will widen the highway from two lanes to four travel lanes between Mile Marker 10.89 (just past state Route 159 or the Red Rock Canyon Road junction) and Mile Marker 16.63. The improvements will flatten side slope shoulders for safer vehicle turnouts while installing new drainage pipe and tortoise fencing. Other work consists of placing barrier and guardrails as well as hydro-seeding 38 acres. Construction will entail moving enough dirt to fill 1,800 average sized swimming pools, and enough placing asphalt to pave 8,000 driveways. The project is scheduled for completion in early 2017. Although the speed limit will be lowered to 55 mph during construction, one lane will remain open at all times. Visit nvroads.com.

Yellow Dot program: The 2015 Nevada Legislature passed AB 176, bringing the Yellow Dot program to Nevada. The voluntary program has participants provide important medical information about themselves and their passengers in the glovebox of their vehicles. First responders are alerted that this information is in the vehicle by a yellow dot decal placed in the lower left corner of the rear window. Residents can pick up a free Yellow Dot kit at one of more than 40 participating locations across the valley. For a list, visit rtcsnv.com/yellowdot, or to request the kit, call 702-676-1754 or email YD@rtcsnv.com.

Radon tests available: Free radon test kits are available through Feb. 29 at University of Nevada Cooperative Extension offices and partner locations statewide. Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, comes from the ground and can enter homes and accumulate to elevated concentrations. At elevated concentrations, the odorless, colorless gas can raise the risk of lung cancer for unsuspecting homeowners. For more information or a list of free kit locations, visit radonnv.com, or call the Radon Hotline at 888-723-6610.

Report illegal discharge activity: The Nevada Department of Transportation urges residents to protect water quality through prevention by reporting illicit drainage and discharge onto state roads and transportation facilities. Illicit discharge is anything entering a roadway drainage system that is not natural stormwater. Pesticides, construction dirt or materials, as well as materials from neighboring properties and roadway runoff containing fertilizers, vehicle oil and chemicals are examples. New legislation grants NDOT rights to issue permits for certain water discharges onto state roadways, as well as assess fines if needed. Illicit discharge onto state transportation facilities can be reported by contacting 775-888-7013 with the location and type of drainage or discharge. For more information, visit nevadadot.com/stormwater. In addition, a pollutant spill impacting a Nevada waterway must be reported to the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection's spill reporting hotline at 888-331-6337.

NDOT soil testing: The Nevada Department of Transportation is planning to start geotechnical exploration drilling along the east and west sides of Interstate 15 between Sahara Avenue and U.S. Highway 95 at Martin Luther King Boulevard through Jan. 15. The daytime work is related to soil testing for Project Neon. Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. is the design-build general contractor. There will be some temporary noise and vibration disruptions as well as moving lane restrictions. Call the Project Neon hotline at 702-486-0486; the Spanish hotline at 702-384-1694; or visit the project website at NDOTProjectNeon.com.

NDOT road repairs: The Nevada Department of Transportation is set make $250,000 in concrete bridge deck and paving repairs along southbound Interstate 15 between Lake Mead Boulevard and the U.S. Highway 95 interchange as well as north and southbound U.S. Highway 95 from Eastern Avenue to Martin Luther King Boulevard in Las Vegas. Galt Development is the general contractor. Work was set to occur during weekday nights from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Jan. 15. One to two travel lanes will be restricted while work occurs. Visit nvroads.com.

Tropicana Avenue upgrade: The Nevada Department of Transportation plans to upgrade East Tropicana Avenue between Eastern Avenue and Boulder Highway from January through fall 2016. The $7.67 million upgrade is slated to include new asphalt pavement, raised median islands and widened sidewalks. The project is aimed at preventing additional roadway cracking and deterioration and providing pedestrian enhancements, the department said. Work is expected to take place primarily during overnight hours. Visit nvroads.com.

State Route 160 upgrades: The Nevada Department of Transportation plans the $794,000, 21-mile project through early January in Clark County to improve cable median barriers. The project is set to create 14 new paved median crossovers between mileposts 22 and 43.16 to allow emergency personnel to safely cross the highway as needed. Visit nvroads.com.