County’s population tops 2 million mark

No alarms sounded. No balloons or confetti came showering down from the ceiling.

Clark County resident number 2 million simply showed up sometime in the past three months, and no one, not even the milestone newcomer, noticed the difference.

"My guess is that it happened in September," said Jon Wardlaw, who oversees population estimates as assistant planning manager for Clark County. "It's not an exact science."

Wardlaw and other local demographers learned that lesson in spectacular fashion recently, when a flaw was discovered in the method used to estimate the county's population.

The subtle processing error, which had gone unnoticed for some time and involved housing units built in large developments during the second half of a calendar year, resulted in the discovery of about 27,000 county residents who previously had gone uncounted.

As a result, Wardlaw said, what originally looked like a sharp drop in the valley's growth rate turned out to be a modest decline.

What looked like 2.7 percent growth, down from 5.3 percent the year before, was actually more like 3.7 percent.

All of that translated to an official July 1 population estimate for Clark County of 1,996,542.

And that figure has produced a host of guesses about whether, and when, the county's odometer rolled over to 2 million.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas economist Keith Schwer said he suspects it could have happened as early as Aug. 15, but he plans to stick by his earlier prediction because it's easier to remember.

Several months ago, Schwer, who heads up UNLV's Center for Business and Economic Research, predicted the 2 millionth resident would arrive on -- why not? -- Oct. 31, otherwise known as Nevada Day.

He picked the same date in 1994 for when Clark County hit the 1 million mark.

"Last time it was in the afternoon. This time it (was) in the morning," he said with a chuckle.

MONDAY

Yucca Mountain opponents speak

Southern Nevadans showed up in force to voice concerns about the planned Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, saying the transportation risks are too great, the design has too many shortcomings and the government's nuclear weapons testing track record casts doubt on the project.

"A moral people with ethical scientists cannot condone the use of such practices to the benefit of the nuclear industry," said Ian Zabarte of the Western Shoshone National Council at a packed hearing room at the Cashman Center.

TUESDAY

Foster parents lose insurance coverage

Licensed foster parents lost their county-provided insurance against liability and property damage.

Because of excessive claims, United National Insurance Company dropped Clark County as a client.

The excessive claim that prompted the insurer's action was the $300,000 settlement that released Everlyse Cabrera's foster parents from a civil lawsuit rooted in her disappearance, said Jim Dolian, manager of administrative services for the county Department of Family Services.

WEDNESDAY

States reach pact on drought plans

Officials outlined an interstate agreement that could blunt the impact of drought on the Colorado River and secure more water for Southern Nevada.

The agreement lays out new rules for sharing shortages on the river and jointly operating the twin reservoirs of Lake Mead and Lake Powell during extended dry spells.

It also allows the Southern Nevada Water Authority to tap groundwater holdings in Coyote Spring basin and water from the Virgin and Muddy rivers. The authority would also be allowed to take that water out of Lake Mead using its existing intakes.

THURSDAY

NFL's 'Pacman' agrees to plea deal

NFL player Adam "Pacman" Jones formally accepted a plea deal that gives him probation.

In exchange, he must testify against the person accused of shooting three people at the Minxx strip club immediately after a fight in the wee hours of Feb. 19.

The incident happened at the end of Las Vegas' NBA All-Star Game Weekend. One of the wounded, a bouncer, was left a quadriplegic.

Police said Jones, a 24-year-old Tennessee Titans cornerback, had threatened the club's staff just before the shooting.

FRIDAY

Inspection misstep alleged at Flamingo

Workers at the Flamingo Las Vegas cannibalized a piece of safety equipment on one guest floor to obtain a part so another floor would pass a fire inspection, according to a carpenter who gave a statement to the county Fire Department.

The incident adds a third local Harrah's-owned resort to the list of properties found to have questionable hotel remodeling or maintenance.

The other two are the Rio hotel and Harrah's Las Vegas.

COMPILED BY MICHAEL SQUIRES

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