IN BRIEF

HUMAN-ANIMAL CONFLICTS

Wildlife officials want $1 million to deal with bears, coyotes

Nevada wildlife officials plan to ask lawmakers for $1 million to help deal with conflicts between people and wildlife, but they're skeptical about getting the money in the budget crisis.

Rob Buonamici, chief game warden for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, said the problem is growing and the department isn't meeting public expectations as it faces cuts and shuffling duties. He said help often isn't available for incidences involving raccoons, bears or coyotes.

He said the department is proposing a two-year program that would employ two game wardens and a biologist and include an educational effort. But he called the proposal "extremely, extremely unlikely" to win legislative approval.

Buonamici said Southern Nevada has seen increased problems with coyotes, that often take pets.

Carl Lackey, a state biologist and bear expert, said there have been repeated raids by a bear in north Lake Tahoe.

ORANGE COUNTY COUPLE VICTIMS

Man arrested near Primm linked to California shootings

A man who crashed his car while fleeing a casino in Primm has been linked to two shootings in Orange County, Calif.

Pasqual Raul Loera was arrested Sunday outside Primm and will be extradited to California.

Loera, 32, had a gunshot wound to the leg and was driving a car registered to an address in Westminster, Calif. When police arrived at the address, they found 45-year-old Julie Palasco dead from gunshot wounds. Another victim, 49-year-old Dennis Koire, was severely wounded, and the house was ransacked.

A neighbor said the pair had been trying to sell the car found in Loera's possession.

Westminster police officer Van Woodson said Loera will be taken to Orange County to face a homicide charge.