GIBBONS TRIES TO AVOID LAYOFFS IN ‘TOUGH TIMES’

Gov. Jim Gibbons said Monday that the state's revenue shortfall could reach almost $900 million, but he vowed to try every trick in the book to balance the budget without layoffs or further cuts to public education, public safety, and health and human services.

"These are tough times for the state of Nevada, for the citizens of Nevada," Gibbons said.

In January, state officials estimated that the shortfall could reach $565 million by the end of the two-year budget cycle. But sales taxes, gaming taxes and other taxes have continued to decline as the economic downturn has worsened.

The shortfall estimate of $898 million represents about 13 percent of the $6.8 billion budget approved last year for the budget cycle that runs through June 2009.

State Budget Director Andrew Clinger estimated that tax revenue in the current fiscal year will reach more than $3 billion, or 1.9 percent less than during the last fiscal year.

Even during the year after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, tax revenue in Nevada grew by 1 percent.

The current downturn is the worst since at least 1992, when Gov. Bob Miller cut spending by $173 million and laid off 236 workers. State government then was less than one-third the size that it is today.

Gibbons would not detail where he and legislators are looking to find the additional $333 million to cut.

MONDAY

Suspect arrested in woman's shooting

Police arrested a suspect linked to the March 28 killing of a mother of two at a valley intersection.

Calvin Lee Kirklin, 21, told police he was drunk when the gun he was handling accidentally discharged while he was stopped at the intersection of Charleston and Nellis boulevards.

The shot hit Blanca Gonzalez, 39, in the head. Her two children were in the car with her.

Jabriel Fernandez, who was in the car with Kirklin, told police "Kirklin held the gun in his right hand, fully extending his arm, as if aiming the pistol at Gonzalez's vehicle," according to an arrest report by Las Vegas police.

TUESDAY

Casino operator

risks bankruptcy

Casino operator and slot machine route manager Herbst Gaming may be forced to file for bankruptcy protection unless the company can reorganize a payment structure for its more than $1.146 billion debt, according to documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Las Vegas-based company said its Southern Nevada operations have been negatively affected by failing economic conditions, a statewide ban on smoking in taverns and restaurants, and competition from American Indian casinos in Southern California.

WEDNESDAY

Preforeclosure homes increase

The number of Clark County homes that entered preforeclosure status reached a record 6,152 in March, up 52 percent from February and more than double the 2,813 preforeclosures in the same month a year ago, Sacramento, Calif.-based Foreclosures.com reported.

The county has 15,937 preforeclosures through the first quarter of the year, or 3.11 percent of its 512,253 households, the online foreclosure source reported.

Nevada leads the nation, with 2.42 percent of its households, or 18,087 homes, in preforeclosure through March, followed by Arizona (1.96 percent), Florida (1.87 percent) and California (1.05 percent).

THURSDAY

Former health officer returns

Dr. Mary Guinan became Nevada's acting chief public health officer, charged with getting to the bottom of the hepatitis C outbreak and keeping Nevadans healthy.

"How is it possible in this day and age, in infection control?'' Guinan asked about the link health officials have made between seven hepatitis C cases and medical practices at two Southern Nevada endoscopy centers. "That's what I am going to try to find out."

Guinan held the chief public health officer's position from 1998 to 2002. The position had been open since Dr. Bradford Lee retired in June.

FRIDAY

Woman's family seeks police report

Relatives of Deshira Selimaj filed a lawsuit in an effort to get information about the Henderson woman's death before a coroner's inquest takes place.

Selimaj, a 42-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed Feb. 12 by a Henderson police officer. An inquest into her death is scheduled to begin Thursday at the Regional Justice Center.

"No information or evidence has been provided by the city of Henderson or the county of Clark that would allow the Selimaj family, as interested parties, to meaningfully exercise its right to submit questions at the coroner's inquest," according to the complaint.

COMPILED BY MICHAEL SQUIRES

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