WEEK IN REVIEW: Top news
Fresh off his State of the Union address and a crushing win in Nevada's less-than-dramatic Democratic caucuses -- 98.3 percentage points over none of the above! -- President Barack Obama stopped over in Las Vegas.
After spending Wednesday night at an eco-friendly boutique hotel in Summerlin, Obama visited a valley UPS plant where he talked up alternative fuels, such as the liquefied natural gas used by the delivery company's long-haul trucks.
The visit, which drew the predictable amount of scorn from the president's critics, served as a political appetizer for Nevada.
The Silver State will be back in the national spotlight Saturday when Republicans caucus here in an increasingly tight and acrimonious race for the GOP presidential nomination.
Monday
Accusations fly
The public fight over the personal history of Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak and his one-time girlfriend, former Henderson City Councilwoman Kathleen Vermillion, entered a new and uglier phase.
At dueling news conferences, the two traded accusations, with him alleging a $3.9 million extortion attempt by her and her suggesting he acted inappropriately around her teenage daughter.
Both parties denied the accusations.
Vermillion, who recently stepped down from the Henderson City Council, also faces allegations of financial impropriety at the homeless youth charity she runs.
Tuesday
Wolfson leads pack
The Clark County Commission tapped lawyer and Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Wolfson to be the next district attorney.
Wolfson, 57, will resign from the council and serve the remaining 3½ years of the unexpired term of former District Attorney David Roger.
Wolfson was selected in a 6-1 decision, with Commissioner Lawrence Weekly casting the lone dissenting vote.
Supporters of John Hunt hotly denounced the choice.
Wednesday
High court denies desai
The Nevada Supreme Court denied a bid from Dr. Dipak Desai's lawyers for a full-blown hearing to determine his competency to stand trial on criminal charges tied to a hepatitis C outbreak.
The ruling set the stage for a limited competency hearing held Friday before a district judge in Las Vegas.
Thursday
UMC unit in top 5
University Medical Center's pediatric ICU was one of only five such units nationwide to earn the Consumer Reports' top rating for preventing bloodstream infections.
UMC and the other four hospitals had zero bloodstream infections during 2010 and were recognized ahead of 86 hospitals with pediatric ICUs, including Children's Hospital and UCLA in Los Angeles, the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., and New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.
Friday
Whittemore sued
Former business partners of developer and high-profile lobbyist Harvey Whittemore are accusing him of embezzling and misappropriating more than $40 million.
In a lawsuit filed in Clark County District Court, The Wingfield Nevada Group Holding Company, which oversees the languishing Coyote Springs community north of Las Vegas and other companies, accuse Whittemore of using millions of dollars of company money to support his extravagant lifestyle.
The group is now controlled by Thomas and Albert Seeno, two brothers who partnered with Whittemore in his master-planned communities.
NUMBERS
7
The number of times President Barack Obama has visited Nevada - including six stops in Las Vegas and one in Reno - since he was elected.
12th
UNLV's rank among the nation's most popular universities, according to U.S. News & World Report. That's better than Princeton, Duke and UNR.
5
Number who died while in police custody since Jan. 14. The deaths involved various law enforcement agencies, and all appeared to result from medical episodes.
41.5 million
Number of passengers who passed through McCarran International Airport last year, a 4.3 percent increase over 2010 but more than 6 million short of the 2007 peak.
QUOTES
"Nobody's really popping champagne over this settlement. There have been no celebrations or high-fives."
Andre Lagomarsino, attorney for the family of Trevon Cole, reacting to the approval of a record $1.7 million settlement over cole's shooting by Las Vegas police.
"Obama could announce the cure for children's cancer, and they (Republicans) would say, 'It's more big government.' Right now you've got such a polarized environment that nobody can agree on anything."
Eric Herzik, a UNR political science professor - and a Republican - commenting on the divided political climate.
"We've got migrating birds that are dying in certainly the thousands, if not the millions, and so far really nothing is being done about it."
Robert Jones, of the American Bird Conservancy, calling for federal action to stop the use of hollow plastic pipes to mark mining claims. The pipes trap and kill birds.
MULTIMEDIA
lvrj.com/multimedia
VIDEO / SLIDE SHOW: President Barack Obama touts alternative fuels at UPS
SLIDE SHOW: Dr. Dipak Desai appeals competency ruling
SLIDE SHOW: President Obama's arrival at and departure from Las Vegas
SLIDE SHOW: Chinese New Year celebrations on Fremont Street
SLIDE SHOW: Jon-Luke Bateman Dignified Arrival
SLIDE SHOW: Jubilee auditions
VIDEO: Steve Wolfson appointed new Clark County district attorney
