IN BRIEF

Five treated at UMC after apartment fire in Las Vegas

One man suffered severe burns and was knocked unconscious early Wednesday in an apartment fire that also trapped a woman and two small children, Las Vegas fire officials said.

Firefighters received several calls about the blaze at 12:06 a.m. from neighbors who heard screams coming from the apartment at 3333 N. Michael Way, near Cheyenne Avenue. Flames and smoke had engulfed the residence. The woman had to lower two children, ages 3 and 5, from a second-story balcony before climbing down herself.

When firefighters entered the apartment, they found a man on the floor with severe burns to his upper body. He was taken to University Medical Center for treatment.

The woman, her children and a neighbor who helped save them suffered from smoke inhalation and also were taken to the hospital. Officials suspect the fire, which caused $50,000 in damages, started in the kitchen.

SMOKE NOTICED COMING FROM BEDROOM

Two escape blaze in house in northwest part of the valley

Two people escaped a Wednesday morning house fire in the northwest valley that caused $120,000 in damages, Las Vegas fire officials said.

Firefighters were called at 9:52 a.m. to 8624 Water Bucket Ave., near El Capitan Way and Grand Teton Drive.

The two people, who were not identified, were home when the blaze began in an upstairs bedroom. Officials said one noticed smoke coming from the room and the two left the house.

Others who lived at the home were either at work or at school, the department said.

Fire investigators have not determined the cause of the fire.

The department said the blaze gutted the upstairs bedroom and damaged the roof. Smoke damaged the first and second floors.

FIRST-DEGREE MURDER CONVICTION UPHELD

Death sentence overturned in killing of paraplegic in Sparks

A divided Nevada Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence and ordered a new penalty hearing for one of three men convicted of robbing and killing a paraplegic woman in Sparks.

In an opinion issued Wednesday in Carson City, justices unanimously upheld the first-degree murder conviction of Pedro Rodriguez, 31, for the 1998 murder of Kimberly Fondy.

But the high court, in a 4-3 split, differed on whether the death penalty was appropriate. The case was remanded to Washoe District Judge Brent Adams for a new penalty hearing.

Two other defendants are serving life prison terms.

SMOOTH MUSCLE PLASTICITY

UNR medical school professors receive grant for research

Two researchers at the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno have received a $10.2 million grant to continue studies into smooth muscle plasticity.

The five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health was awarded to Kenton Sanders, professor and chairman of the medical school’s physiology and cell biology department, and Christine Cremo, a biochemistry professor.

Smooth muscles line hollow organs in the body. Among other things, they regulate blood pressure, help propel food and wastes, and deliver babies.

Scientists say they can change their cellular and molecular characteristics or grow when exposed to disease.