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THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER-SHOOTING
Police: Thunder From Down Under cast grabs gunman
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Authorities say an armed thief trying to loot a Las Vegas Strip dressing room was tackled by well-muscled members of the Thunder From Down Under male revue as he tried to get away.
Las Vegas police Officer Laura Meltzer says the man fired one shot when he was confronted by the performers who saw him fleeing with their belongings about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Excalibur Hotel.
No one was hit by gunfire, but police say one cast member was treated for minor injuries after being struck in the face by debris during the scuffle.
The suspect was taken to a Las Vegas hospital with unspecified injuries. His name wasn't immediately released.
MGM Resorts International says hotel operations and the show schedule weren't affected.
PUPPIES SAVED-OWNERSHIP FIGHT
Judge to hear Vegas arson case puppy arguments
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Nevada judge is due to hear ownership arguments about 27 puppies rescued from a Las Vegas pet shop fire in January.
Clark County District Court Judge Kenneth Cory is due Wednesday to hear from attorneys for a Prince and Princess pet shop managing owner and for the nonprofit that runs the shelter where the dogs have been kept since the Jan. 27 fire.
Store partner Donald Thompson filed a civil lawsuit against the county and The Animal Foundation after county officials said the shelter could raffle the puppies to the public.
Thompson wants the animals to go to another rescue group.
Thompson is the estranged husband of shop owner Gloria Lee.
Lee and co-defendant Kirk Bills are accused of trying to set the business afire for the insurance money.
INSURANCE AGENT-HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION
Missing woman case turns to homicide investigation
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas police say a 45-year-old insurance agent who hasn't been seen for two months may have been killed.
Police announced this week that homicide detectives were taking over the investigation into Irma Mkrtchyan's disappearance. They say they've interviewed numerous people during the missing person investigation, and believe the woman may have been a victim of foul play.
Mkrtchyan was last seen Jan. 19 in the area of West Desert Inn Road and South Durango Drive. She was reported missing a few days later.
Her 18-year-old son Arthur Marutyan tells KSNV-TV a text from her phone gave a different reason for why she was leaving town than her workplace did.
Marutyan says that while police told him his mother is likely dead, he's holding out hope that she's alive.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA-VEGAS
Medical marijuana up for debate at Vegas council
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas city councilmembers are once again discussing whether they want to allow medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits.
The council is set to discuss the issue at a meeting Wednesday and may direct staff to start drafting regulations for the businesses.
A six-month moratorium on dispensaries expired Monday. Councilmembers are also set to consider whether to extend the ban for another six months.
Nevada voters approved medical marijuana in 2000, but that law provided no legal way for patients to obtain the drug except to grow it themselves.
Lawmakers passed a law in 2013 that sets up a framework for distributing medical marijuana, although it allows cities and counties to impose moratoriums.
RENO WOOD YARD-FIRE
Reno crews extinguish blaze at firewood lot
(Information in the following story is from: Reno Gazette-Journal, http://www.rgj.com)
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Reno firefighters had a few nervous moments before knocking down a blaze at a business lot filled with firewood just east of downtown.
Reno Fire Battalion Chief Scott Baker says the fire broke out about 4 p.m. Tuesday at Cascade Tree Service and Firewood near East Second and Kuenzli Avenue.
Baker told Reno Gazette-Journal fire crews were concerned the flames might spread to an outdoor wood shop. But he says that threat had passed shortly after 5 p.m.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
TESLA-NEW MEXICO
New Mexico seeking to avoid past Tesla mistakes
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State officials are hoping to avoid the mistakes of six years ago after Tesla Motors opted not to build an auto manufacturing plant in New Mexico.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that New Mexico officials are discussing a variety of options in an effort to lure Tesla into building a lithium-ion battery factory in the state.
New Mexico is one of four states identified as finalists for a lithium-ion battery factory that would supply the company's Fremont, Calif., assembly plant. Others are Arizona, Nevada and Texas.
In 2007, Telsa announced that it would build a $35 million auto manufacturing plant in New Mexico. But the plant never opened after California gave the company a sweeter tax-incentive deal.
Gov. Susana Martinez says she would call a special legislative session if needed.
DROUGHT ASSISTANCE
Nevada ranchers can apply for drought assistance
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Financial assistance is being made available to Nevada farmers and ranchers affected by drought.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service says applications will be accepted at U.S Department of Agriculture service centers through April 18 for help to improve or implement conservation measures in areas experiencing extreme drought.
Such efforts include watering systems, planting annual forages, permanent reseeding, prescribed grazing and deferred grazing on rangelands.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 34 percent of the state is in extreme drought and nearly 73 percent in severe drought.
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