IN BRIEF
ST. ROSE PARKWAY
South valley I-15 interchange reopens
For a number of folks living in the southern part of the valley, commuting will get a little easier today.
At 9 a.m., the Interstate 15 interchange at St. Rose Parkway, also known as state Route 146, will reopen all ramps to traffic.
"The $61 million project will still undergo some paving operations, minor construction and sign installation over the course of the next several months with minimal impact on traffic movement," said Mary Martini, a district engineer with the Nevada Department of Transportation.
The opening mostly will affect commuters in Southern Highlands and Anthem neighborhoods.
For the past few months the onramp to I-15 southbound was closed and motorists had to detour to Sloan in order to use the freeway.
The improvement project, which began in March 2006 and is being constructed by Frehner Construction, Co., should be completed in June.
NLV MURDER
Woman shot last week dies of her wounds
A 41-year-old woman who was shot last week died early Monday, becoming the fourth murder victim this year in North Las Vegas.
The Clark County coroner's office withheld the woman's name, pending notification of relatives.
The woman was shot April 14 while sitting in a car with a younger man. The car was parked in the Rosemont Apartments lot on Las Vegas Boulevard North, south of Carey Avenue.
North Las Vegas police responded at 9:50 p.m. to reports of multiple gunshots.
The man who was with the victim is not a suspect, police said.
A $2,000 reward is being offered for tips that lead to an arrest. Those with information can call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.
SUNDAY BLAZE
Man who died in house fire identified
A Las Vegas man who died in a Sunday night house fire has been identified as Frank Jefferson.
The blaze, which appears to be accidental, started in a rear bedroom while several people were visiting the home at 1961 Walker St., near Lake Mead Boulevard and H Street.
Jefferson, 56, suffered severe burns and was taken to University Medical Center, where he died an hour later.
Firefighters found Jefferson on the floor after those who fled the house said that someone was still inside.
OFFICER HOSPITALIZED
Pickup collides with police car; two hurt
A man driving a pickup collided with a Las Vegas police patrol car, injuring an officer on the way to a weekend accident at Washington Avenue and Nellis Boulevard.
Police on Monday declined to release the name of the 28-year-old officer in the Saturday crash, citing a policy of waiting 72 hours before naming officers in incidents under investigation.
Brian Paddock, 26, pulled out from a driveway to go east on Washington and his pickup collided with the westbound police car, according to a police report. Paddock appears to have failed to yield the right of way, police said.
The officer suffered moderate injuries and was taken to University Medical Center.
Paddock's passenger, Tanner Domenico, 21, sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
RETURN TRIP JACKPOT
LV lucky for woman married here on 7-7-07
A California woman who was among hundreds of people married in Las Vegas last summer on the "lucky" 7-7-07 date credited the gods and the odds after hitting a $1.2 million slot machine jackpot during a return trip to a Strip hotel, officials said.
Yolanda Navarro Davis, 57, of Santa Clarita, Calif., told hotel officials she believed the gods watched over her and her husband during their drive to Nevada before the odds fell in their favor at the Riviera, where they were married last July 7.
"There were five accidents on the road and it took us more than five hours to get here," Navarro Davis said. "The gods were looking after us."
Navarro Davis played about $50 late Saturday before hitting her big win on a Wheel of Fortune slot machine.
She says she plans to purchase two new cars and invest the remainder.
INTERSTATE 80 INCIDENT
Former UNR football player arrested
A former University of Nevada, Reno, football player was arrested early Monday following a carjacking and chase that ended on Interstate 80 west of Reno, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.
Charles Wilson, 23, was arrested after officers used spikes to stop his eastbound vehicle, according to the Highway Patrol.
The incident began when Wilson was involved in an accident around 7 a.m. near Gold Run in California, authorities said.
Wilson allegedly forced another motorist who was stopped in traffic out of their vehicle, took it and continued east toward Reno.
He was booked into the Washoe County jail on charges of speeding, failure to maintain a travel lane, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle. He could face similar charges in California, along with carjacking, the Highway Patrol reported.
Wilson, of Suisun, Calif., played defensive end for the Wolf Pack in 2003-06.
GUARDS BREAK UP FIGHT
Two Colorado inmates shot, killed in melee
Guards shot and killed two inmates at a federal prison in Colorado after up to 200 inmates battled with homemade weapons in a fight that appeared to be racially motivated, authorities said Monday.
The fight broke out Sunday in the recreation yard of the high-security U.S. Penitentiary in Florence, about 90 miles south of Denver.
U.S. Attorney Troy Eid said authorities believe the riot started when white supremacist inmates targeted minorities on Adolf Hitler's birthday.
The Bureau of Prisons identified the slain inmates as Brian Scott Kubik, serving a 15-year term on weapons charges, and Phillip Lee Hooker, serving 25 years for armed robbery.
Fremont County Coroner Dorothy Twellman said Kubik, 40, and Hooker, 41, each died of gunshot wounds to the chest.
