WEEK IN REVIEW: Top news

Facing a budget gap of more than $30 million, North Las Vegas officials want to invoke an obscure state law designed for major emergencies - "such as riot, military action, natural disaster or civil disorder" - to break union contracts.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on City Manager Tim Hacker's proposal Friday , though the unions could offer concessions before then. It would temporarily suspend the portions of police and fire union contracts that deal with pay raises, uniform allowances and vacation buyback programs. The unions say the proposal is ridiculous and that it's one more bargaining tactic in their long feud with the city.

Officials say property tax revenue plummeted from $62 million in 2009 to an estimated $39 million this year, leading to a $30.9 million budget hole in the fiscal year, starting July 1.

Last week, ahead of a June 1 deadline to submit its budget to the state Department of Taxation, the City Council authorized 217 job eliminations, including 100 from the Police Department and 57 from the Fire Department.

Police and fire union officials say many of those jobs are already vacant, though city officials won't say how many.

Monday

Ocean's Eleven it's not

Bellagio employees foiled an attempted snatch-and-grab robbery at a high-stakes blackjack table by tackling one of the would-be robbers.

The robber was one of two men in wigs and sunglasses who pepper sprayed the table early Sunday, grabbed a handful of chips and ran. An employee tackled one of the men, who was holding $115,000 in chips. The other got away, as did a third accomplice .

Tuesday

Death ends streak

A 23-day homicide-free streak for Las Vegas police ended after a man walked into the county jail and confessed to a killing.

Ricardo Perez, 19, told police he was drunk when he accidentally shot friend Breana Carasik-McGee in the head. Police said he drove to Henderson and dumped her body in a roadside ditch, but not before shooting her in the head again because she was making "grunting noises."

Perez is charged with murder.

Wednesday

Wranglers fall short

The Las Vegas Wranglers fell short in their run toward the hockey franchise's first Kelly Cup with a 3-2 loss to the Florida Everblades. They overcame a two-goal deficit and forced overtime before losing in the fifth and series-deciding game.

The Wranglers won the series opener at Orleans Arena, then lost four straight games for the first time all season. The team's only other Kelly Cup Finals appearance came in 2008, when it lost to Cincinnati in six games.

Thursday

Health agency home

Clark County officials offered to build a new headquarters for the Southern Nevada Health District in hopes of mending relations and ending two lawsuits.

The health services agency was forced from its building earlier this month because of structural weaknesses that would cost millions of dollars to repair.

The district, whose members include officials from Clark County and every local city, is suing the county over its funding and whether it can own real estate.

Friday

Senator gets slapped

The Senate Ethics Committee admonished Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., for his involvement in improper lobbying by Doug Hampton, the former aide to then-Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.

Coburn met with Hampton in March 2009 and discussed official business, even though he knew Hampton had left Ensign's staff and was not allowed to lobby senators for a year, according to the committee.