WEEK IN REVIEW: Top News

After the events of the past week, maybe this newspaper should consider changing its name to the North Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The city made headlines on a number of fronts, as police and fire unions continued to battle City Hall over layoffs and North Las Vegas leaders continued to wrestle with the county over the city's decision to flush treated wastewater down a county-owned storm channel.

Then there was the fallout from the June 7 municipal election, which saw incumbent Councilman Richard Cherchio lose to dentist Wade Wagner by a single vote.

On Wednesday, the City Council decided to redo part of that election after an ineligible vote was discovered.

Only voters in Precinct 4306, where the ineligible vote was cast, will be able to recast their votes in the contest.

Details about how the new election will be administered will be decided this week.

Monday

Biker Bandit unmasked

Anthony Carleo has agreed to plead guilty to two brazen Las Vegas casino heists, including the robbery of the Strip's Bellagio of more than $1.5 million in gambling chips from a craps table.

On Dec. 9, Carleo held up the Suncoast poker room and made off with about $18,000 in cash, but it was the Dec. 14 robbery on the Strip that earned him international attention as the Bellagio Biker Bandit.

The son of Las Vegas Municipal Judge George Assad faces three to 54 years in prison for the two cases.

Tuesday

From leis to laws

After a grueling legislative session, more than 60 bills got an all-expense-paid trip to Hawaii, albeit a short one.

The official versions of the bills -- including a key measure to extend about $620 million in taxes needed to fund state government for the next two years -- had to be rushed to the Aloha State so they could be signed by Assembly Speaker John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas.

The Legislative Counsel Bureau didn't provide Oceguera with all the bills that needed a signature before he left on his post-session vacation.

Wednesday

Murderer sentenced

Jesse James Cole showed no emotion as he was sentenced to 32 years to life in prison for the murders of David Miramontes, 18, and Christopher Luscombe, 19, in a 2008 drive-by shooting at Bob Baskin Park.

Cole sat stoically in chains as the victims' family members spoke tearfully about their loss.

Cole, 24, pleaded guilty in April to two counts of first-degree murder under an agreement that spared him the death penalty.

Thursday

County wants refund

Clark County leaders sent a letter to the state demanding a refund of more than $100 million they argue was unconstitutionally taken from county coffers.

The letter, penned by county counsel Mary-Anne Miller, cited a May 26 Nevada Supreme Court ruling against the state taking $62 million from the Clean Water Coalition, a regional agency not tied to county government.

Justices argued that the state can't single out local entities for a revenue grab.

Friday

Energy bill vetoed

Gov. Brian Sandoval vetoed a bill he said could have stuck Nevada's electricity ratepayers with costs to develop major transmission projects to send energy out of state.

The transmission provisions, which critics said could cost ratepayers as much as $1 billion, were contained in an amendment attached to Assembly Bill 416 in the final moments of the legislative session.