IN BRIEF
SEPTEMBER SHOOTING
Man accused of killing wife in suicide pact dies of injuries
Joseph Woods, the 86-year-old accused of fatally shooting his wife before attempting suicide, died Tuesday, his lawyer said.
Woods was accused of shooting his 80-year-old wife, Kay, who suffered from chronic pain and illness, before turning the gun on himself in what authorities called a suicide pact.
Woods was set to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter Wednesday, Deputy Public Defender Dan Silverstein said. He has been in a nursing home since his October release from the Clark County Detention Center because of his medical condition.
On Sept. 24, the couple were found in bed at their home at 1808 S. 10th St., near St. Louis Avenue and Maryland Parkway.
Kay Woods died at the scene from a gunshot wound to her shoulder. Joseph Woods shot himself in the abdomen.
Silverstein said his client is in a better place.
"He wanted to be with his wife. That's why he tried to shoot himself from the beginning. He wanted them to go together. So he got what he wanted. It took a little bit longer, but he got what he wanted," Silverstein said.
WEAPON ON CAMPUS
Substitute teacher might face charges in gun incident
A substitute teacher at a southeast valley elementary school might face charges after bringing a gun onto campus.
Clark County School District police Lt. Ken Young said a small-caliber handgun was found about 1:30 p.m. in a staff-only area of Cunningham Elementary School, near Flamingo Road and Nellis Boulevard.
The gun was found in a fanny pack left in an area that was not accessible to students, Young said. The teacher had a concealed weapons permit, but bringing it onto campus is illegal, he said.
Police do not believe the substitute teacher brought the gun with any ill intent. School police plan to forward the case to the Clark County district attorney's office. The teacher could face charges of possession of a dangerous weapon on school property.
'GOING ROGUE'
Hundreds of people line up for Palin's Reno book tour stop
Hundreds of people lined up for Sarah Palin's scheduled stop in Reno on her book tour Wednesday night.
Michael Gabor drove more than two hours from Sacramento, Calif., to be among the first in line at 10 p.m. Tuesday outside the Costco where Palin is to sign copies of "Going Rogue."
Palin's book has sold more than 1 million copies.
U.N. EVENT
State climatologist to attend conference in Copenhagen
Nevada State Climatologist Jeff Underwood is packing his bags to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference taking place in Copenhagen.
Underwood, a professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, will be attending the conference in Denmark as an official observer delegate.
He says his interest is in the latest science and hearing predictions of North American climate hazards.
Underwood is one of 13 people chosen as delegates by the Association of American Geographers.
The conference runs through Dec. 18.
