In Brief

BONANZA AT MLK

Man gets life term in 2003 fatal shooting

A 32-year-old man accused of killing a man and shooting a police officer in the face in 2003 was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 18 years.

Frank Lyles was sentenced for killing Keven Chandler, 48, on Bonanza Road near Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Minutes after the shooting, Lyles shot a Las Vegas police officer in the face, authorities said. Another officer was wounded by shrapnel. Both survived.

Lyles pleaded guilty but mentally ill to the shootings this year. His plea means he'll receive mental health treatment in prison.

Lyles was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was not on his medication at the time of the shooting.

DRUG DEAL AND ROBBERY

Jury convicts teenager of first-degree murder

A 17-year-old on trial for killing a woman during a drug deal and robbery was convicted Monday of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon and attempted robbery with a deadly weapon.

The Clark County jury convicted Shaquille Hazelwood of killing Cheryl Black, 49, in April 2007 in an alley near Lake Mead and Martin Luther King boulevards in North Las Vegas.

Authorities said they found the gun used in the slaying in Hazelwood's residence, among other evidence.

His attorney, Deputy Special Public Defender Alzora Jackson, told the jury last week that Hazelwood lived in a residence where many people stayed and therefore someone else could have owned the weapon.

FORMER GENERAL COUNSEL

Gibbons' chief of staff says he's quitting

Josh Hicks, Gov. Jim Gibbons' chief of staff, said Tuesday that he's quitting after 21/2 years in the post.

"It's time to move on, spend more time with my family and seek out some new opportunities," said Hicks, an attorney who served as Gibbons' general counsel before being named staff chief a year ago.

Hicks will be replaced on an acting basis by the Republican governor's deputy staff chief, Mendy Elliott.

ARIZONA SIDE OF HOOVER

U.S. 93 checkpoint near dam being moved

The Arizona Department of Transportation is adding two lanes to U.S. Highway 93, from Hoover Dam to milepost 17 in a project that will create a four-lane divided highway connecting the Arizona approach of the Hoover Dam Bypass.

Beginning today, the security checkpoint on U.S. 93 approaching the dam will be moved north to milepost 1.8. The checkpoint now at milepost 8.9 will be closed once the relocation is complete.

Officials said drivers might see minor delays during the relocation. Dozer and storm drain work continues from milepost 17 to milepost 10.