In Brief
NORTH LAS VEGAS
Teen arrested after officer struck by car
A 16-year-old boy was arrested early Sunday after he struck a police officer with a car, North Las Vegas police said.
The incident occurred about 1:15 a.m. in the 4800 block of Esperanza Way, near Lone Mountain Road and Clayton Street. Police responded to a complaint about a party of around 50 people. An officer was approaching the house when the teenager drove at him and hit him, police said. The 26-year-old officer then fired his gun. No one was hit by the gunfire.
The teenager was booked on one count of battery with a deadly weapon. Police did not identify him or the officer involved in the incident.
The officer, who suffered minor injuries, has been with North Las Vegas police for two years.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
No impact found from Truckee River project
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has determined that there would be no significant impact from a Truckee River stream bank restoration project east of Reno.
The public has until March 13 to comment on the bureau's finding and environmental assessment on the project, which is being pursued by the cities of Reno and Sparks.
The cities want to improve the ecosystem along a nearly one-mile stretch of the river below Derby Dam by planting cottonwood trees and plants.
The vegetation would shade the river and improve fish and wildlife habitat.
LIZARD RESEARCH
Custody battle over baby Gilas resolved
The Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners has overturned a staff decision that might have halted a private biologist's research into Gila monsters in Southern Nevada.
The issue stemmed from Brian McGurty's move to provide a California university with juvenile Gila monsters born to an adult female he had collected in Nevada.
Nevada Department of Wildlife officials contended that the action violated permit conditions that any offspring of collected lizards were the state's property.
Commissioners disagreed and said McGurty should apply for a new permit with specific conditions to avoid any future problems.
The adult female Gila, which was seized by wardens, will be returned to McGurty.
The scientist said a ruling against him could have jeopardized 15 years of research into whether Nevada's population of Gila monsters is "genetically dwarfed."
