WEEK IN REVIEW: Top news

The controversial developer behind plans to build a major sports arena in Henderson is now saying the city-backed project "is not viable," but he apparently still plans to develop the land.

That has Henderson officials accusing Chris Milam of fraud and asking the Bureau of Land Management to stop the transfer of 480 acres near the M Resort to him.

City Manager Jacob Snow said he was notified Wednesday in a letter from Milam that the Las Vegas National Sports Center LLC was terminating the project agreement but remained "fully committed to achieving development of the arena complex and accompanying development."

City Attorney Josh Reid responded with his own letter to the BLM accusing Milam of "seeking to change the rules" and offer the land to others for "residential purposes," rather than for an arena.

The proposal, first floated in 2011, called for a 17,500-seat arena and was embraced by Henderson officials who lobbied the BLM for the land deal.

Monday

Hit man faces death

Xiao Ye Bai, 25, could face the death penalty for stabbing Wen Jun "James" Li 32 times in a crowded karaoke bar early on a summer morning three years ago.

The same jury that convicted Bai of first-degree murder and other felonies will resume deliberations this week to decide whether he should be put to death .

Prosecutors said Bai was collecting a gambling debt for an Asian gang when he stabbed Li at the bar on Jones Boulevard near Spring Mountain Road on July 6, 2009.

Tuesday

Picture-perfect voting

Secretary of State Ross Miller said he will sponsor a bill at the 2013 Legislature to require photo IDs for voters.

Under his proposal, driver's license photos would be linked electronically with voter registration records and poll books at election locations.

People without ID, but who are registered, would be required to have their pictures taken by poll workers the first time they vote.

Wednesday

Stem-cell scheme

A federal jury convicted a prominent valley pediatrician and a longtime medical researcher of defrauding chronically ill patients through an experimental stem-cell implant procedure.

Dr. Ralph Conti, 51, and Alfred Sapse, 86, a Romanian-educated physician not licensed in the United States, face up to 20 years in prison and maximum fines of $250,000 on each fraud count.

Prosecutors called the defendants' claims about their stem-cell treatment a ruse that took money from ailing patients and dashed their dreams of a better life.

Thursday

Judge suspended

The Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline suspended Family Court Judge Steven Jones in the wake of his federal indictment alleging a $3 million investment fraud scheme.

Jones, 54, first elected to Family Court in 1992, took a leave of absence after his federal indictment last month.

The commission was obligated by law to suspend Jones with pay until his criminal case is resolved.

Friday

One-punch death

A Clark County jury found a 39-year-old high school teacher and football coach from Florida guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a man he punched last year at a Strip casino.

Benjamin Hawkins, who is black, was arrested after the death of John Massie, a 46-year-old white man from Utah. Hawkins said he was defending himself when he struck Massie at O'Shea's casino July 6, 2011, after Massie made race-based comments.

Both were here on vacation.