In Brief

GRANDSON A SUSPECT

Body found in flower bed confirmed as Nevada woman

Authorities have confirmed that a body found buried in a flower bed in California is that of a Nevada woman.

Lyon County Sheriff Allen Veil said the body of 73-year-old Peggy Herlacher was discovered Tuesday, buried in the backyard of a home in Riverbank, near Modesto. Veil said autopsy reports indicate she was strangled.

Herlacher was last seen July 22. Her 22-year-old grandson, James Masterson, was arrested three days later in Sacramento while driving her car. Authorities said he had her credit card and some heroin, and is a suspect in her killing.

Relatives told the Nevada Appeal on Thursday the home where Herlacher was found belongs to Masterson's maternal grandfather.

9TH U.S. CIRCUIT COURT

Appeals court denies bid to block pipeline's construction

A federal appeals court has denied an environmental group's request for an emergency injunction to block construction of a gas pipeline across four Western states.

The Center for Biological Diversity filed the motion Aug. 18 with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to halt construction of the Ruby Pipeline.

The same group filed suit July 30, saying the pipeline will cross more than 1,000 rivers and streams and harm a number of endangered fish species.

El Paso Corp.'s pipeline will export gas from Opal in western Wyoming, crossing Utah and Northern Nevada, before ending at Malin, Ore.

MGM GRAND

Animal trainer bitten by lion at Strip hotel's habitat display

A hotel official said an animal trainer received stitches for a bite on the leg after an attack by a lion in an animal habitat display on the Strip.

MGM Resorts International spokeswoman Yvette Monet said Thursday that the trainer was bitten Wednesday afternoon when he stepped too close to one of three lions at the MGM Grand.

Monet said the man was treated at a valley hospital and released and U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors were notified.