IN BRIEF

LAKE MEAD

Boat explosion injures four men at marina

Four men were injured, one critically, when a 30-foot boat exploded after it was refueled Thursday evening at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor Marina on Lake Mead.

The National Park Service learned of the explosion about 5 p.m. when calls came in from the marina requesting emergency personnel.

Two of the men were airlifted to an area hospital, one with critical injuries and the other with serious injuries.

The other two men were taken by ambulance to an area hospital with minor burn injuries.

All of the men are from Southern Nevada, said Roxanne Dey, spokeswoman for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The cause of the explosion was under investigation Thursday night, Dey said.

FINES FOR VIOLATORS

Reno restricts goose feeding at city parks

Reno officials want to limit feeding geese to cut down on goose feces and other damage caused at city parks.

Parks Manager Jeff Mann said many people routinely feed bread to the birds.

Council members voted to create feeding areas and draft an ordinance authorizing fines for violators. Officials say designating feeding zones could restrict the birds' movements and keep them away from walkways, picnic areas and playgrounds and off grass.

"We do need a method to deal with the habitual offender," Mann said. "Day after day, you see the same people who drive by and dump bread out their window."

In many parks, geese have taken over and have killed the grass or left fields of excrement.