IN BRIEF

SLUGGISH MARKET

Housing development postponed near Reno

A slumping housing market has prompted developers to indefinitely postpone plans to build a major industrial, commercial and residential project in Hawthorne, about 140 miles south of Reno.

Groundbreaking for the $175 million project pursued by Peninsula Floors Inc. of Livermore, Calif., had been scheduled to begin in January. Plans had called for the construction of warehouses, manufacturing plants, a hotel-casino, a shopping complex and up to 2,000 houses.

The company "is rethinking the project but has put it on hold until the economy gets better," said Shelley Hartmann, executive director of the Mineral County Economic Development Authority.

Company CEO Bob Conner did not return phone calls seeking comment.

ARREST MADE

Man accused of trafficking bear parts

California State Fish and Game wardens have arrested a San Diego man for illegally trafficking black bear parts.

Officials say undercover wardens arrested Huong Tovan in Redding on Saturday while he was trying to buy bear gall bladders.

Tovan, 54, faces up to one year in prison and a $5,000 fine for selling bear parts.

Officials say Tovan ran a bear gall bladder processing operation and the parts were probably going be sold on the medicinal market in Southeast Asia.

The investigation began in October when wildlife officials received an anonymous tip.

Bears can be hunted in California, but it is illegal to buy or sell bear parts.