WEEK IN REVIEW: Top news

An accident Monday 600 feet underground killed a construction worker at the site of a new water intake being built at Lake Mead.

Thomas Albert Turner, 44, was killed when he was struck in the head by a jet of pressurized grout, mud and rocks.

Work on the $800 million project has been shut down until investigators identify and correct the cause of the accident and verify the safety of the tunnel.

Turner's death is bringing new scrutiny to the difficult and dangerous tunneling project, which has suffered several setbacks over the past two years and is running 20 months behind schedule.

Monday

Teachers get pink slips

Layoffs that loomed large all school year became a reality four days after the last day of school, as 419 pink slips were mailed to teachers.

Those who were laid off won't be returning to classrooms in the fall, but schools actually will be making do with about 1,015 fewer teachers next year.

In addition to the layoffs, about 600 other positions are being vacated this summer by retiring or relocating teachers. Those slots will not be filled by the district, which needs to plug a shortfall in its $2 billion budget.

Tuesday

Tarkanian advances

Danny Tarkanian won a 930-vote victory over state Sen. Barbara Cegavske in a crowded Republican contest for the state's new 4th Congressional District seat. Tarkanian will face Steven Horsford in the general election.

In other results, U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., and U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., easily won their Senate primaries and will face one another in November.

U.S. Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., will face Democrat John Oceguera in the 3rd Congressional District in Southern Nevada.

Former Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., will face Republican Chris Edwards in the 1st Congressional District in Las Vegas, and U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., will face Democrat Samuel Koepnick in Northern Nevada's 2nd Congressional District.

Wednesday

Floyd remains in jail

A Las Vegas judge denied a motion from boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. to be released from jail and allowed to serve out his three-month sentence under house arrest.

Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa dismissed claims made by Mayweather's attorneys that the boxer is experiencing physical deterioration caused by "inhumane" conditions at the Clark County Detention Center. If kept jailed, Mayweather might never be able to fight again, the attorneys warned.

Saragosa said Mayweather has ample access to food, water and opportunities to exercise.

Thursday

Health officer out

Dr. Lawrence Sands is out as chief of the Southern Nevada Health District.

Sands, who started the job overseeing the regional health entity in March 2007, announced his resignation in a news release.

Clark County Commissioners Steve Sisolak and Chris Giunchigliani welcomed the news, noting that several of Sands' decisions soured relations with the district.

Friday

Three kids die in fire

Three children under the age of 3 were found dead in a mobile home that was destroyed by fire.

The Clark County Fire Department was called to a blaze at two mobile homes at Van’s Trailer Oasis, 3610 Las Vegas Blvd. North, near Lamb Boulevard.

Two adults and the three children were in one of the mobile homes. The adults escaped .