WEEK IN REVIEW: Top News

Nevada's nation-leading unemployment rate fell slightly in October, but it isn't necessarily good news.

Though the jobless rate went from a record 14.4 percent in September to 14.2 percent last month, analysts trace the decline to the increasing number of Nevadans who have given up on the job market.

According to the latest figures, tens of thousands of residents have abandoned the state's work force, either moving to other markets or staying put but quitting their job search.

That may have lowered the jobless rate, but analysts said it also could mean continued pain in the state's housing markets.

Monday

No inquest in shooting

There will be no inquest into the late-night shooting by an off-duty Henderson police officer who killed the estranged husband of a woman the officer was visiting, county officials said.

The Clark County coroner's office determined that officer Edward Little, 32, was "not acting in an official capacity" when he fatally shot Ruslan Zhgenti, 38.

The district attorney's office said criminal charges will not be filed against the two-year officer.

Inquests have been held when people die at the hands of off-duty officers at least four times in the past 20 years.

And last year, the Metropolitan Police Department ruled off-duty officer Trevor Nettleton's death at the hands of robbery suspects as on-duty.

Tuesday

Educators arrested

Nye County authorities arrested the principal, a special education teacher and two classroom aides on charges of child abuse involving special needs children at a Pahrump elementary school.

Floyd Elementary School Principal Holly Lepisto was arrested during school hours and taken from the southern Pahrump campus in handcuffs. Teacher Sarah Hopkins, 52, and aides Phyllis DuShane, 73, and Katherine Cummings, 56, were arrested at their homes.

All face five counts of child abuse and one count of conspiracy to commit a crime.

Wednesday

R-J gets new editor

Michael Hengel, editor and publisher of the Pine Bluff Commercial in Arkansas, was named editor of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Hengel, 56, will succeed longtime Editor Thomas Mitchell.

His hire comes amid a flurry of change at the newspaper. Longtime Publisher Sherman Frederick stepped down two weeks ago and was replaced by former advertising director Bob Brown.

Thursday

Fleiss escapes fire

Heidi Fleiss said she had a lot to be thankful for after a Thanksgiving Day fire damaged her Pahrump home.

Though many of her possessions were lost, the former Hollywood Madam and her 20 exotic birds all escaped the fire unharmed.

The blaze is believed to have been started by sparks from the fireplace.

Friday

Hunt on for deals

Thousands of valley shoppers joined millions nationwide in the ever-expanding commercial crush known as Black Friday.

Retailers across the country were lowering prices and hoping for a post-Thanksgiving Day boost, despite the ongoing economic troubles.

Locally, the Black Friday deals actually started Thursday night.

Toys 'R' Us opened its doors at 10 p.m., and the store in North Las Vegas drew a crowd that began lining up before lunchtime and wound up stretching hundreds of yards.