IN BRIEF
FELL ONTO INTERSTATE 15
Coroner's office ID's dead motorcyclist
The motorcyclist who fell from an offramp into Interstate 15 traffic earlier this week was identified by the coroner's office Wednesday as Joseph Kongnalinh, 25, of Las Vegas.
Henderson police said Kongnalinh stole an alcoholic beverage from a Chevron station at 3601 St. Rose Parkway, near Spencer Street, at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
When the store attendant pursued, Kongnalinh flashed a handgun, police said.
Police followed Kongnalinh from the Las Vegas Beltway to Jones Boulevard, where he got off and headed north. Police lost him near Tropicana Avenue and Jones.
Nevada Highway Patrol trooper Kevin Honea said Kongnalinh was later found to have crashed his motorcycle on the offramp to eastbound Tropicana. He fell onto the southbound lane of Interstate 15 and later died at University Medical Center.
The accident closed the eastbound offramp to Tropicana for several hours and backed up traffic on southbound Interstate 15 to the Spaghetti Bowl.
SHOOTING DEATH
Teen who killed rapper gets 20 to 50 years
Albert Clark was killed doing what he loved: helping people.
Known as "Boogie," the 36-year-old rap aficionado was selling CD's out of his van on Decatur Boulevard near Lake Mead Boulevard in May 2007 when two teens approached him and asked for a ride.
One of the teens, Patrick Lovette, 19, ended up shooting and killing Clark and stealing a case of CD's from his van, authorities said.
On Wednesday, District Judge Donald Mosley sentenced Lovette to 20 to 50 years in prison for the slaying.
"What you have traded for this 10 seconds of stupidity ... is mind-boggling," Mosley said.
According to a Las Vegas police report, Lovette, who was 18 at the time of the shooting, admitted to killing Clark.
Clark's wife, Gloria Daisy Clark, said Wednesday that she and Clark were married for 51/2 years. Originally from New York City, Clark had travelled around the country selling CD's and was passionate about the music industry. She said they lived in Las Vegas for three years.
She said Clark was known for giving guidance to young people and added that Lovette was the kind of teen Clark would have mentored.
"He would have helped that boy," she said.
SPRING VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Student arrested for having weapons in car
A 17-year-old student at Spring Valley High School was arrested Wednesday morning after a rifle and BB gun were found in his car, Clark County School District police said.
Lt. Ken Young with district police said officers were doing a routine check through the school's parking lot about 10:30 a.m. when they noticed a weapon inside a car. Police then searched the car and found a rifle in the student's trunk. The student was not identified by police.
Neither weapon was loaded. The student did not threaten anybody with the weapons, Young said.
Young added that the student told police he used the weapons for recreational target shooting. He was taken to the county's juvenile detention center and booked on a charge of possession of a dangerous weapons on school property, Young said.
RUMBLER EMITS VIBRATIONS
Law enforcers testing new emergency siren
The Washoe County sheriff's office and Nevada Highway Patrol are testing a new emergency siren that can be felt as well as heard.
Called the Rumbler, the device emits low-frequency tones that shake solid forms -- much like the vibration of the bass from a loud stereo can be felt.
Sheriff Mike Haley said motorists often don't hear sirens because their windows are rolled up or their stereos are loud.
With the new device, they'll be able to feel when an emergency vehicle is approaching and pull over.
Haley says the department will test the $400 device for about three months.
BLAZE DESTROYS SMOKE SHOP
Fire damages three east valley businesses
Three east valley business were damaged by a fire Wednesday afternoon that appears to have begun in a smoke shop attic, according to the Las Vegas Fire Department.
Firefighters were alerted to the fire at the Bonanza Nellis Shopping Center near Bonanza Road about 12:55 p.m. The smoke shop was destroyed.
The fire had spread to an attic over a restaurant, but firefighters were able to prevent the fire from going inside the restaurant. The fire was also kept from extending to a coin-operated laundry.
The fire caused about $200,000 in damage and the cause is under investigation.
INVASIVE SPECIES THREAT
UNR scientist studying Asian clams in Tahoe
Scientists already worried that Lake Tahoe's ecosystem could be upset by foreign mussels also are studying whether another invasive mollusk is cause for alarm.
The number of Asian clams, first discovered on Tahoe's bottom in 2001, is "far more extensive" than previously thought, scientists said.
Researchers are concerned that the clams could boost calcium levels, potentially allowing destructive quagga or zebra mussels to become established.
"It might be this existing invader is modifying the bottom environment," said Sudeep Chandra, a researcher at the University of Nevada, Reno. "One invader can facilitate another."
