IN BRIEF

ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE

MIT scientist earns honor from institute

A scientist at MIT is this year's recipient of the Desert Research Institute's Peter B. Wagner Memorial Award for Women in Atmospheric Sciences.

Ariane Verdy, a postdoctoral fellow at MIT, will receive the award Friday at a presentation at the institute, in Reno. Verdy has been studying carbon dioxide and oxygen changes in southern ocean regions.

The regions play a critical role in the global carbon cycle, Verdy said.

'SAGEBRUSH REBELLION'

Ex-senator's service in February or March

A service for former state Sen. Rick Blakemore, a leader in Nevada's "Sagebrush Rebellion" over control of public lands, is planned in late February or early March in Tonopah.

Blakemore died Dec. 31 at age 85. Blakemore had been in poor health after a heart attack in October.

He was a longtime pilot and a veteran of 12 years in the Legislature. He had a key role in the lawmakers' "Sagebrush Rebellion" movement to assert Nevada's sovereignty over public land within its borders.

He served in the Senate from 1972 to 1984, at one point supplanting his pay in the part-time citizen Legislature by working nights as a casino security guard.

RENO INCIDENT

Off-duty agent stops carjacking, police say

Reno police said a man was shot early Monday after an carjacking witnessed by an off-duty Gaming Control Board agent.

According to preliminary reports, a police spokesman said, the agent was at a Starbucks at Seventh and Keystone avenues when he saw a man with a knife and a woman in a parking lot.

The agent suspected a carjacking was taking place and followed the suspect, police said. At some point, a confrontation ensued, and one shot was fired.

The suspect was taken to a hospital, police said.

Names of those involved were not immediately released as an investigation continued, police said.

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Groups criticize delay on polar bear decision

Environmental groups Monday condemned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for delaying its recommendation on protections for polar bears and said evidence is overwhelming that the animals' Alaska habitat is threatened by global warming.

The groups alleged that politics played a role in the postponement to list polar bears as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.

"Delaying the decision about the polar bear's status raises suspicions that the Bush administration is seeking to avoid scrutiny of oil and gas leases in polar bear habitat under the Endangered Species Act," said Larry Schweiger, National Wildlife Federation president and CEO.

Dale Hall, Fish and Wildlife Service director, said Monday that the agency hopes to have its recommendation within weeks.