WEEK IN REVIEW: Top news
Smoldering outrage over officer-involved shootings exploded last week with the death of Stanley Gibson, a disabled Gulf War veteran who was unarmed and sitting in his own car when he was shot to death by police.
According to his wife, the 43-year-old Gibson was off his medication and confused about where he was when he was confronted by officers responding to a report of a possible burglar at a valley apartment complex.
Police sources told the Review-Journal that a miscommunication among officers may have led to the fatal shots.
Gibson's death came on the heels of a five-part Review-Journal series that revealed a Metropolitan Police Department that is quick to use deadly force but slow to change its policies or weed out problem officers.
Monday's incident prompted local civil rights leaders to request a Department of Justice investigation of police shootings in Las Vegas. Sheriff Doug Gillespie said he would support such a probe.
Monday
Race probe runs on
Southern Nevada Health District officials began compiling online survey responses and testing fecal samples from runners in the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas marathon to determine what caused some to become ill during the race.
The preliminary findings, released a few days later, would not reveal the cause but appear to rule out the most popular theory: tainted water drawn from hydrants and passed out to runners.
Tuesday
Shoe retailer eyes 51s
The head of Zappos.com is seeking to buy the Las Vegas 51s baseball team and reinvigorate the game time experience at Cashman Center, the club's dated home that has seen declining attendance in recent years.
Tony Hsieh, the high-tech visionary who is turning downtown Las Vegas into an experiment in urban renewal, wants to keep the Minor League Baseball team downtown and won't ask taxpayers to pitch in any money.
Wednesday
Prosecutor sacked
District Attorney David Roger confirmed the firing of a prosecutor who became romantically involved with Family Court Judge Steven Jones while regularly appearing before the jurist. Lisa Willardson, a deputy in the Juvenile Division, was notified of her termination late Tuesday.
Willardson previously had been removed from handling child abuse and neglect cases before Jones after two of her fellow prosecutors exposed the budding relationship.
Thursday
Crash report issued
Las Vegas Motor Speedway's "limitless" racing surface was a significant factor in a "perfect storm" of conditions that led to the death of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon, according to a report from IndyCar.
Wheldon was killed Oct. 16 during IndyCar's season finale when his car sailed 325 feet through the air into a catchfence, where his head hit a fence post.
The open-wheeled racing league has announced it won't return to the track in Las Vegas next year.
Friday
Bieber fever spreads
Clark County School District students are not required to be immunized against Justin Bieber fever, so the kids at Whitney Elementary were defenseless when the tween heartthrob dropped in to perform live and have it filmed by "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."
In September, DeGeneres surprised the low-income school with a $100,000 gift.
A short time later, Bieber went on her talk show and promised to sing at the school and match the donation.
NUMBERS
$192 million
How much tourism officials predict will be spent here over New Year's, excluding gaming revenue, as an expected 314,000 visitors descend on the Strip.
255
The number of days Las Vegas police officer Derek Colling spent on paid suspension before being fired Monday for the videotaped beating a man.
6
The number of days it took for the first lawsuit to be filed in connection with the Dec. 7 tour helicopter crash near Lake Mead that killed five people.
$190,000
The proposed salary for Henderson's new city attorney, Josh Reid, son of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid. Henderson's previous city attorney was paid the same amount.
QUOTES
"He'd take a bullet for anybody."
Rondha Gibson
Talking about her husband, Stanley, a disabled, gulf war veteran who was shot and killed by Las Vegas police Monday while he was unarmed and sitting in a car that was penned in by patrol vehicles.
"We have not had an inquest in over a year, and I don't think it's right to wait. I want answers as much as you."
Sheriff Doug Gillespie
Addressing reporters in a rare appearance at a news conference held Monday after Stanley Gibson was shot to death by police. No Coroner's Inquest of a fatal officer-involved shooting has been held since October 2010 because of legal challenges of the fact-finding process.
"It was totally inappropriate, absolutely wrong for an officer to have a long gun at that close a distance aimed at an individual who was apparently mentally distraught in a car and was unarmed."
Bill Young
Former Clark County Sheriff, criticizing the tactics used by police leading up to Gibson's shooting. Young made his comments during a radio interview on KNPR-FM, 88.9.
MULTIMEDIA
VIDEO: Eyewitness video of the police shooting of Stanley Gibson
VIDEO: Sheriff Douglas Gillespie addresses media after officer involved shooting on Dec. 12, 2011
SLIDE SHOW: UNLV student athletes visit kids at Sunrise Children's Hospital
VIDEO: Cirque du Soleil fans get a behind the scenes look at "O" during fan week
SLIDE SHOW: Battle of the Dance rehearsal
SLIDE SHOW: National Finals Rodeo final round
