IN BRIEF

LAS VEGAS BLAZE

Residents displaced as fire burns apartments

A Saturday morning fire at an apartment complex near downtown Las Vegas caused $250,000 in damage and displaced 21 people.

Firefighters were called to the Rancho Verde Apartments, at 98 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., near U.S. Highway 95, about 9:30 a.m. and extinguished the fire in about 30 minutes, according to Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szymanski.

One of the occupants told fire investigators that she heard a "pop" when she turned on the lights in her bathroom, and flames started coming out of the light fixture.

Four units suffered heavy damage from the blaze. There were no injuries, according to the Fire Department. The displaced residents are being assisted by the Red Cross.

DESALINIZATION PROJECT

Three states near pact on Arizona water plant

Three states are nearing an agreement to restart an idled desalinization plant in southwestern Arizona that would help stretch water supplies from the Colorado River.

Arizona, Nevada and California would share the costs of running the plant near Yuma, Ariz., for one year and divide nearly 10 billion gallons of desalted water.

The Central Arizona Project board, which oversees part of Arizona's Colorado River allotment, could vote early next month to assume part of the plant's one-year operating cost of about $23 million along with a role in monitoring the environmental effects. Nevada and California are expected to take up the idea before year's end. Approval appears likely.

At full power, the desalter could produce more than 27 billion gallons per year, officials said. Arizona expects to contribute about $1.4 million, entitling the state to 10 percent of the water, or just under 1 billion gallons.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California would contribute about 60 percent of costs and get about 6 billion gallons of water.

Nevada would take just under 3 billion gallons from the test. The Southern Nevada Water Authority sees the desalter as an important addition.

ENDANGERED SPECIES

Coyote attacks stop tortoise relocations

An effort to move the Mojave Desert's flagship species, the desert tortoise, off prospective combat training grounds has been suspended because the animals are being killed by coyotes.

Army officials decided to move the desert tortoise to make room for tank training despite protests by some conservationists.

Since March, however, about 90 relocated and resident tortoises have died, most killed and eaten by coyotes, according to biologists monitoring the project.