in brief
Two Las Vegas teachers received the Milken Educator Award on Friday and a $25,000 cash prize each for their work in education.
Mike Patterson, a math teacher at Advanced Technologies Academy, 2501 Vegas Drive, developed board games revolving around mathematics for his students to increase their grades and understanding of the subject. Patterson has been teaching for more than 20 years.
Jeremy Gregersen, is an English teacher at The Meadows School, 8601 Scholar Lane, whose students have a 96 percent success rate on the AP English Language exam. He also jumped in to teach journalism classes when another teacher retired and encouraged his students to enter a national writing contest.
The Milken Family Foundation rewards elementary and secondary teachers for excellence in education and has honored more than 2,400 educators nationwide with more than $60 million in awards. It is the nation's largest teacher recognition program.
investigation ongoing
Child on bicycle injured when hit by school district vehicle
A child on a bicycle struck by a Clark County School District vehicle while trying to cross the street Friday morning suffered injuries that were not life-threatening.
The accident was reported at 7:40 a.m. Friday at the intersection of American Beauty Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard.
The child, a Harney Middle School student whose age and gender were not available, was taken to University Medical Center with lower extremity injuries, officer Bill Cassell said.
The child was not wearing a bicycle helmet.
An investigation is ongoing.
damages award lowered
Court upholds verdict against ex-Reno pawn shop owner
A Nevada Supreme Court panel upheld a wrongful death verdict against imprisoned former Reno pawn shop owner Darren Mack in the slaying of his estranged wife.
However, the three justices cut $75,000 from the punitive damages awarded to a trustee for the couple's daughter. Nevada law limits punitive awards in such cases to $300,000.
The justices ruled Mack chose not to participate in the 2008 civil trial that resulted in the jury verdict and a $590 million judgment.
Jurors decided Mack owed $185 million compensatory and $375 million punitive damages to his daughter, plus $30 million punitive damages to his dead wife's estate.
Mack, 49, is serving 36 years to life for the June 2006 killing of Charla Mack and the sniper-style shooting of their divorce judge in Reno.
yucca mountain
S.C. attorney general files expected request with agency
South Carolina's top lawyer says the U.S. Energy Department can't stop plans to store tons of nuclear waste at a site in Nevada because the agency hasn't gotten permission from Congress.
State Attorney General Henry McMaster filed an expected request to intervene with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and a federal appeals court on Friday.
McMaster worries if the Energy Department changes its plans to permanently store high-level nuclear waste at the Yucca Mountain site, not only could the waste remain longer at the Savannah River Site, but more waste could be sent to the site near Aiken.
The Energy Department is confident the commission will approve its motion to withdraw the application.
1983 slaying
Convicted murderer accused of parole violation arrested
A convicted murderer accused of absconding from parole has been arrested in Reno.
Daniel Nguyen was booked Monday into the Washoe County jail after an investigation initiated by state and federal officers.
The Nevada Department of Public Safety says Nguyen was convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping in the August 1983 death of a Las Vegas cabdriver.
Nguyen was accused of taking him to a location near the California border and fatally stabbing him.
Nguyen was sentenced to life in prison with possible parole in 1984 and was released on parole in 2004.
A warrant was issued for his arrest last month after he was accused of absconding from parole.
He also was sought on a warrant alleging nonsufficient funds and embezzlement.
