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GAY MARRIAGE-GOP PLATFORM
Republican activists push party on gay marriage
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Some Republicans are pushing for their party to drop its opposition to same-sex marriage as public opinion on the issue shifts rapidly and the party tries to woo younger voters more supportive of gay unions.
The Nevada Republican Party dropped statements on marriage from its party platform earlier this month, and a gay-rights group last week launched a $1 million campaign to get the national party to remove from its platform a definition of marriage as between a man and a woman.
The moves come as 17 states now allow gay marriage and 59 percent of Americans support it, according to a recent Washington Post-ABC News Poll.
But social conservatives warn that Republicans could lose loyal voters by softening their stance. A majority of Republicans still oppose gay marriage.
SON PARALYZED-MOTHER CONVICTED
Mom cleared in '92 murder guilty of shooting son
(Information in the following story is from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Nevada woman has been found guilty of shooting and paralyzing her son some two decades after she was acquitted of murdering her husband in Florida.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports 66-year-old Linda Cooney showed no emotion Tuesday when a jury handed down guilty verdicts. She faces three to 65 years in prison on the charges, which include attempted murder, battery with a deadly weapon and intimidating a witness.
Prosecutors say she shot Kevin Cooney on June 28, 2011, while they fought about his then-girlfriend, Karina Taylor.
Defense lawyers say Kevin Cooney attacked his mother and the gun went off accidentally.
A Florida jury acquitted Linda Cooney of murdering her husband James Cooney in 1992, saying she shot him in self-defense.
Kevin Cooney defended his mother in both trials.
PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS-OVERFLOWING ERS
Vegas hospital to add beds for psych patients
(Information in the following story is from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Las Vegas hospital has announced plans to add a psychiatric unit as part of an effort to divert mentally ill patients from Clark County's overcrowded emergency rooms.
Valley Hospital Medical Center officials say the hospital hopes to add about 50 psychiatric beds within six months.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that applause broke out Monday when the news came during a meeting of Gov. Brian Sandoval's Behavioral Health and Wellness Council.
Several Las Vegas hospitals were forced to turn away ambulances in February due to a high number of psychiatric patients taking up ER beds. State health director Mike Willden said about 100 more psychiatric beds were needed.
A pending proposal calls for Medicaid to reimburse hospitals $944 per day for psychiatric care, up from $460 per day.
PROSTITUTION TRAFFICKING CHARGE
Calif. man held in Vegas on human traffic charge
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A 36-year-old California man is facing federal criminal charges following his arrest in Las Vegas on charges alleging he transported a teenage girl from Minnesota to Los Angeles to engage in prostitution.
Records show that Laron Darrell Carter was scheduled to for a detention hearing before a magistrate judge on Tuesday.
His public defender, Elisa Vasquez, declined comment.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say Carter is from Gardena, Calif., and investigators think he has other victims.
Carter was arrested Monday after an investigation that began a year ago, when Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies found a 16-year-old girl who had been reported missing from Minneapolis.
The girl told investigators that Carter persuaded her to travel to Los Angeles, and used threats, beating and coercion to force her into prostitution.
DAYTON ACCIDENT
3 injured in crash in Dayton
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — The Nevada Highway Patrol says three people were injured when a car trying to make a turn pulled out in front of a tractor-trailer rig on U.S. 50 in Dayton.
The accident happened just before noon Tuesday at the intersection of Ambrose Lane.
Investigators say a 2004 black Audi was making a left turn from Ambrose Lane onto the highway when it pulled in front of a Wabash tractor trailer.
The big rig struck the driver's side door of the Audi and pushed it onto the shoulder. The impact caused the truck to overturn.
Troopers say two people in the Audi were taken to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno in critical condition.
The truck driver was also taken to the hospital with unknown injuries.
CHURCH HIT-RUN CRASH
Utah woman gets prison time in North Vegas crash
LAS VEGAS (AP) — An 18-year-old Utah woman has been sentenced to three to 12 years in prison for leaving the scene of a crash that hurt eight pedestrians outside a North Las Vegas storefront church last summer.
The Las Vegas Sun reports that Nyakueth Tear (NEYE'-keeth TEER') cried softly at sentencing Tuesday by Clark County District Court Judge James Bixler.
Tear pleaded guilty Feb. 12 to driving away after hitting people late Aug. 8 outside Iglesia de Cristo on Losee (LOH'-see) Road.
A 54-year-old man was critically hurt and a pregnant woman was among seven others injured.
Tear admitted stopping and then trying to drive away before crashing and running toward Interstate 15.
Her lawyer, Ronald Paulson, says the punishment was too harsh. He says Tear was never in trouble before.
RENO CRASH
6 children, 3 adults hurt in Reno road crash
(Information in the following story is from: Reno Gazette-Journal, http://www.rgj.com)
RENO, Nev. (AP) — The Washoe County sheriff's office says nine people were taken to the hospital following a two-car collision on Highland Ranch Parkway in Sun Valley north of Reno.
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports two people were trapped in the wreckage. The accident happened around 6:30 p.m. Monday near a curve at Highland Ranch Parkway and Moonlight Drive.
Investigators say a 2001 Honda Civic was traveling westbound on Highland Ranch Parkway when it crossed the double yellow line, striking an eastbound 1992 Honda Accord.
Sheriff's spokesman Bob Harmon says six children and three adults were taken to Renown Regional Medical Center for what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries.
Investigators do not suspect alcohol or drugs contributed to the crash and said cellphone use and excessive speed are not factors.
RANGE SHOWDOWN
BLM says 6 cattle died in disputed Nevada roundup
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The federal Bureau of Land Management says six cattle died in a roundup of animals it says rancher Cliven Bundy allowed to graze illegally on public land outside his southern Nevada property.
The BLM said Tuesday that two of four animals that were euthanized bore Bundy brands.
An agency statement didn't say how two other unbranded animals died.
Bundy family members say they found a burial site with an unknown number of animals after BLM agents and contractors suspended the roundup, released about 350 animals back to Bundy, and pulled out April 12.
The pullout came after a standoff between armed protesters and federal agents.
The roundup came after the BLM won court rulings that Bundy was illegally grazing cattle on remote rangeland about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Nevada's first lady touts early education drive
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada's first lady Kathleen Sandoval is kicking off an early education initiative in northern Nevada, calling on businesses and civic organizations to help young students prepare for a lifetime of learning.
Sandoval was joined by education, business and law enforcement leaders Tuesday at the Governor's Mansion to launch Strong Start Nevada, which is part of a nationwide effort.
She says Nevada is the only state that does not have a business-backed effort promoting early learning, though she's on a mission to change that and notes that a Las Vegas business group is among those now supporting the program.
While Gov. Brian Sandoval and state lawmakers committed more money to early learning programs last year, the first lady says businesses and communities also share the responsibility to help Nevada's youth succeed.
NY CASINO-FEE
Caesars enters New York casino competition
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Caesars Entertainment is vying to build a casino 50 miles north of New York City.
A Caesars spokesman said Tuesday the Las Vegas-based company has submitted a $1 million casino license application fee for a proposed $750 million complex in Woodbury.
Wednesday is the deadline to pay the application fee for groups contending to open one of four planned upstate casinos.
A state constitutional amendment passed last year authorizes casinos in the Albany-Saratoga area, the Catskills and the Southern Tier. Selections will be made this fall.
The owners of Traditions Resort and Conference Center submitted an application fee for their Southern Tier proposal. Others paying the fee include two entries from the Catskills: Empire Resorts and a group proposing a casino at the site of an old Nevele (NEH'-vuh-lee) resort.
NEW VEGAS CASINO-CROMWELL
Vegas boutique hotel Cromwell opens casino floor
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Slot machines are now ringing at the boutique hotel replacing Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip.
The Cromwell celebrated its soft opening Monday evening by welcoming guests into a 40,000-square-foot casino featuring 434 slot machines and 66 table games.
The hotel's 188 rooms and suites are not open to the public until May 21, but the gambling area, the Interlude cocktail lounge and the Curios retail shop are open for business.
Caesars Entertainment spent $185 million to transform the Old West-style Bill's casino into The Cromwell, adding hardwood floors, black and white tile shower walls, and plush seating to the hotel rooms.
The Cromwell will also include a restaurant by celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis, a rooftop pool and Drai's day and nightclubs.
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