Week in Review: Top News

In the hunt to replace basketball coach Lon Kruger, UNLV reached into its past and hired former player Dave Rice.

A reserve on the Rebels' 1990 NCAA championship team and the 1991 Final Four team, Rice became the first Rebel player to helm his alma mater's team.

The 42-year-old replaces Kruger, who resigned April 1 after seven seasons coaching UNLV to take over at Oklahoma.

Rice was an 11-year assistant at UNLV before ascending to associate head coach at Brigham Young, where he spent the past six years.

UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood led a coaching search that became bitter and contentious at times as fans' loyalties were divided between Rice and Rebels star Reggie Theus, who had the backing of legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian.

Livengood said Rice was one of the first coaches he contacted.

"In 30 years as a Division I AD, I have never been around anyone more prepared to take the next step as a head coach," Livengood said. "Dave has prepared many years for this."

In talking about the future, Rice harkened back to his playing days.

"We're going to get out and run. We're the Runnin' Rebels," he said. "We're going to win games and we're going to have a good time doing it.

"I'm just so excited to be the coach. I'm honored to be the one. This is home."

Monday

LETHAL INJECTION

Details emerged about the death of 42-year-old Elena Caro, who died after a botched cosmetic procedure in a back room of a Las Vegas tile store.

The unlicensed doctor and his wife, who is a state lawyer in their native Colombia, who performed the buttocks enhancement were charged with murder.

Police apprehended the couple at the airport trying to get a flight to South America.

Tuesday

FATAL ENCOUNTER

Las Vegas police shot and killed a man after he pointed a gun at them, authorities said. Abdul Hamlan, 52, was shot and killed in the garage of his northwest valley home.

Officers went to the home after Hamlan's roommate told police Hamlan was lying in the garage "having life issues" and was possibly suicidal.

Wednesday

ASLEEP AT THE SWITCH

Federal transportation officials moved to add air traffic controllers in Reno and at 26 other towers nationwide after an air ambulance was forced to land without guidance from a sleeping air traffic controller at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

The FAA said the controller could not be reached for 16 minutes. It was the latest of an embarrassing string of air traffic control lapses that led to the resignation of the official overseeing air traffic controllers.

Thursday

BERKLEY IN SENATE RACE

Democratic U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley entered the open U.S. Senate race to replace Sen. John Ensign, who is retiring.

Berkley's battle against Republican U.S. Rep. Dean Heller gives Nevada the nation's most competitive Senate contest for the second election cycle in a row.

Friday

COSTCO COPS TOPS

Two Las Vegas police officers who shot and killed Erik Scott outside a Costco store last year have received a national officer of the year award. Officers William Mosher and Joshua Stark received honorable mention in the National Association of Police Organizations' Top Cops awards.

A third officer involved in the shooting, Thomas Mendiola, stands charged with giving a handgun to a felon and was not honored.