WEEK IN REVIEW: Top news

Outreach workers and authorities descended on a vacant lot on Owens Avenue just west of Interstate 15 to clean up a homeless encampment that had grown to unprecedented size in recent weeks.

Tents and other makeshift shelters lined the boundaries of the empty lot at the edge of Las Vegas' homeless corridor, where people gather to be near shelters that serve free meals. The number of people living on the streets in and around the area more than tripled since 2009, according to a January 2011 homeless count.

In the most highly publicized success story, the outreach effort helped get 17-year-old Michael McGrath and his parents out of a two-man tent and into an apartment after about a year without a home.

The Rancho High School senior, who had to do his homework by streetlight until Wednesday, is on track to graduate this year.

Monday

Home sales set record

Las Vegas home sales surged to record heights in 2011, but the news was only good for buyers and the real estate agents brokering the deals.

A total of 48,186 single-family homes and condos were sold in Las Vegas last year, topping the previous record of 46,879 set in 2009.

The vast majority of the sales involved existing homes -- bad news for builders and developers -- and the buying frenzy came as the median price of a single-family home slumped to $120,000, down 9.1 percent from a year ago.

Tuesday

Gadgets galore

The International Consumer Electronics Show got under way at The Venetian.

The four-day show was expected to draw 140,000 people, including such big names Tuesday as Justin Bieber, Snooki and Gov. Brian Sandoval.

Sandoval's visit made history. It marked the first time a Nevada governor has attended the state's single-largest international trade show, according to Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority records.

Wednesday

Phantom to exit stage

Weighed down by substantial initial costs, producers of "Phantom -- The Las Vegas Spectacular" announced a Sept. 2 closure of the show at The Venetian.

"Phantom" debuted there in June 2006 with production costs of $35 million on top of the $42 million The Venetian spent to build the theater.

The musical has run about 2,700 performances since then. Its weekly revenues often are in the black, but the show remains $20 million short of the original investment.

Thursday

Delays in Desai case

More delays are expected in the criminal case against Dr. Dipak Desai, central figure in the hepatitis C outbreak, after his lawyers asked the Nevada Supreme Court to grant him a full-blown hearing to determine his competency.

Lead attorney Richard Wright filed a brief with the Supreme Court seeking to overturn a limit on the number of witnesses at an upcoming hearing challenging medical experts who found Desai competent to face charges.

Wright also asked the state Supreme Court to halt a Jan. 27 competency hearing before a district judge until the court decides whether to allow a full-blown proceeding.

Friday

Prison for priest

A former high-ranking Las Vegas priest was sentenced to 37 months in prison and ordered to pay full restitution after admitting he stole $650,000 from a Las Vegas Catholic church to support his compulsive gambling.

Monsignor Kevin McAuliffe told U.S. District Judge James Mahan he was sorry as more than 90 parishioners from his church looked on from inside the courtroom.