In Brief

DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT

Union files in battle over ballot measures

The Culinary union filed a notice of appeal Thursday in the dispute over two measures the union wants on the June 2 Las Vegas city election ballot, meaning that a paper filed in District Court is filed now in the Nevada Supreme Court also.

The union has been a critic of Las Vegas' redevelopment efforts downtown, but Mayor Oscar Goodman contends it is upset that the city will not pressure the developers of proposed casinos to negotiate contracts with the union.

Culinary members organized a petition drive for the two ballot measures, which would revamp or repeal parts of the city's redevelopment plan. They gathered enough signatures, but the City Council voted against putting the measures on the ballot, saying they were legally defective. A district judge agreed.

EARTH DAY RENDEZVOUS

Applications available for mower exchange

Applications for Clark County's lawn mower exchange program will be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium, but no mowers will be traded that day.

The county is holding Earth Day Rendezvous at the stadium at 6800 Russell Road.

People can pick up the applications for swapping their gasoline mowers for electric ones but are asked to leave their old mowers at home Saturday.

Those who apply for new cordless electric mowers must turn in their gas-powered mowers to a metal-recycling yard. They must order the new mowers from the manufacturer and pay a $99 fee. For information call 455-2949.

DROUGHT CONDITIONS

Nevada requirement added to water bill

A water research bill the House passed Thursday contains an assurance that drought conditions in Nevada and the Southwest will be reflected in computer models that predict water availability.

House leaders agreed to add a provision by Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev. It reminds a research committee to account for effects of drought and for development and solar and wind energy projects expected to require water.

The National Water Research and Development Initiatives Act passed 413-10.

The Titus provision was written with input from the Desert Research Institute.

NEVADA STATE PRISON

Doubts arise over plan for death chamber

State lawmakers raised questions Thursday about plans to replace the Nevada State Prison's old death chamber with a new one near Las Vegas.

The proposed execution building, near the High Desert Correctional Center north of Las Vegas, was discussed during a Senate-Assembly budget subcommittee hearing.

State Corrections Director Howard Skolnik said the death chamber in Carson City needs to be replaced for many reasons, including its age of more than half a century.

Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, asked why a new execution chamber would be built more than 200 miles from Ely State Prison, where more than 80 condemned inmates are held on death row.

Smith also said that if Nevada State Prison is kept open, despite Skolnik's efforts to have it shut down and replaced by a new Southern Nevada prison, it might not make sense to build another death chamber elsewhere.