WEEK IN REVIEW: Top news
Less than a week after rebutting accusations of widespread patient dumping by the state’s mental health system, Gov. Brian Sandoval on Monday announced the firings of two employees at Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital.
Sandoval said three other hospital workers will receive lesser punishments as the fallout grew from allegations that Nevada has bused hundreds of mentally ill people to other states.
The problems at the state’s lone psychiatric hospital have begun to affect other Clark County hospitals now struggling with an influx of the mentally ill.
University Medical Center declared an “internal disaster” because of the overflow of mentally ill patients and shut down its adult emergency room to arriving ambulances for 12 hours on Monday. Federal and independent agencies sent investigators to Rawson-Neal on Thursday and Friday.
Monday
Officer mIGHT be fired
In an unprecedented decision, the Metropolitan Police Department has recommended an officer be fired for his actions in a police shooting.
Officer Jacquar Roston, 36, is on administrative leave since the November shooting of a man in an east valley park. The four-year veteran of the department shot the man in the leg after seeing the glint from a label on the man’s hat and mistaking it for a gun.
The police Use of Force Board, a panel of four civilians and three officers, proposed Roston’s firing. Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie will have the final say over whether the officer keeps his job.
Tuesday
catching her killer
A last-breath description by a dying stabbing victim led police to find — and eventually shoot — the woman’s attacker.
Two officers shot and wounded 27-year-old Nathan Benson after police said he charged them with a knife.
They tracked down the suspect after Shanna Ralston, 44, identified him as her attacker shortly before she died early Sunday morning.
Wednesday
Rally for reform
Thousands gathered outside the federal courthouse to rally for immigration reform, and they were joined by U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.
Reid called America a land of immigrants that is now home to 11 million “undocumented workers.” They would have the chance to become U.S. citizens under a bill now under consideration by Congress.
Supporters waved U.S. flags and a few Mexican ones. And there were signs, dozens of them, proclaiming “Citizenship: because no person is second class” and “Teachers love DREAMers.”
The rally turned into a peaceful march from the downtown courthouse to the Stratosphere.
Thursday
Child dies in fire
One child died and his older brother suffered serious burns after a vacant home went up in flames because children were playing with fire, Las Vegas fire officials said.
Dispatchers started receiving calls about the fire near Oakey Boulevard and Eastern Avenue, reporting that a young child was trapped in the home.
When firefighters arrived, they were met by a young boy who told them that his younger brother was inside the house.
Neighbors said the boy who died was 6, and his brother 9.
The fire was determined to be an accident, and the parents will not be charged, officials said.
Friday
Poker goes online
The first legal online poker site in the United States is off and running, with thousands of players already signed up and 50 virtual games under way.
The site operated by Ultimate Bet in partnership with Las Vegas-based Station Casinos dealt its 100,000th hand Thursday and planned to have a tournament today that will pay out $10,000 to the winner.
NUMBERS$30 million
What South Point casino plans to spend on a 60-lane bowling center that could make Las Vegas a national hub for the sport — and deepen the city’s split with Reno.
89
Estimated number of diners sickened by a salmonella outbreak at popular tapas restaurant Firefly on Paradise Road, which was shut down by health inspectors.
48.5 inches
The length of a Reno cat recently certified by Guinness as the longest domestic cat on record. It was a posthumous honor. Stewie the Maine Coon cat died Feb. 4.
$425,000
What you could pay in fees and startup costs to open your own Dig This franchise, the Las Vegas business that lets people drive construction equipment for fun.
QUOTES
“I can’t imagine who would be stupid enough to eat at a Firefly restaurant at this point.”
John Curtas
Las Vegas restaurant reviewer, after the popular tapas joint on Paradise Road was shut down because of a salmonella outbreak that sickened at least 89 people.
“It’s a lot of fun to provide people with hope. This is essentially what we’re selling.”
Dennis Hope
owner of a Nevada company that is selling ownership papers for one-acre parcels on the moon. Right now, they are going for $19.99 each, plus $1.51 tax, $2.50 in printing costs and $12.50 shipping. Legal and real estate experts say they are basically worthless.
“We see this event as part of a change in this country.”
STEVEN Dansky
Who renewed his vows with Barry Safran, his partner of 15 years, during a spate of symbolic nuptials Thursday at a quickie wedding chapel at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
“The governor worked out this morning.”
Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki
After Gov. Brian Sandoval easily hoisted a 1,000-ounce silver bar that will be used to mint special coins for Nevada’s 150th anniversary. The silver — all 62½ pounds of it — was donated by Coeur Rochester, a mining operation near Lovelock.
