Week in Review: Top News

Rep. Dean Heller made it official Tuesday, announcing his candidacy to replace Sen. John Ensign and immediately garnering the support of several possible Republican rivals.

Within hours of the announcement, Gov. Brian Sandoval endorsed Heller.

Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, a close friend of Heller's who could have become his strongest competitor, immediately took himself out of consideration and told Heller he would back him.

The reception from the GOP establishment was not so warm for Sharron Angle on Wednesday, when she became the first candidate to enter what could be a crowded contest to replace Heller.

By contrast, Democrats who sank Angle's U.S. Senate bid last year reacted to her announcement with unrestrained glee.

Monday

Calls for audit grow

Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval and Democratic leaders in the Legislature are all seeking audits of the state's Taxation Department after news that it has been more than two years since auditors reviewed returns from mining companies that have taken deductions worth billions of dollars.

Audit demands came after Dino DiCianno, the department's director, retired after admitting to the Senate Revenue Committee that it had been two years since his department had any auditors trained to review net proceeds of minerals payments.

Tuesday

Sewage out of luck

Clark County commissioners voted down a plan by North Las Vegas to flush treated sewage from the city's new $240 million wastewater treatment facility into an open, county-owned flood control channel.

The move has the potential to delay or derail the opening of the plant in May.

Without the channel, wastewater from the plant has no place to go.

Wednesday

Doctor under scrutiny

A Las Vegas Valley doctor had his medical license suspended after he was accused of reusing medical devices that were intended for only a single use.

State health officials said patients who underwent prostate biopsies by Dr. Michael Kaplan could be at risk for blood-borne diseases that include HIV and hepatitis C.

Health district officials announced Wednesday that the time frame when patients of Kaplan were at risk was between Dec. 20, 2010, and March 11.

Thursday

District to sue state?

Desperate for cash and squeezed for options, Clark County School District officials suggested a lawsuit against the state to make it adequately fund education.

Before more than 100 people at a budget workshop at Western High School, a frustrated School Board President Carolyn Edwards criticized state officials for "violating their own constitution" in failing to provide for education.

"I think we need to have a conversation about suing the state for not fulfilling its duties," she said.

Friday

early voting targeted

One day before early voting began in most municipal elections in Southern Nevada, a Mesquite assemblyman introduced a bill to halt the popular practice.

Assemblyman Cresent Hardy said he was asked by a Las Vegas group, which he refused to name, to introduce Assembly Bill 311.

He said Election Day used to be considered a big deal to people, but early voting has taken away from that.