Las Vegas news briefs

Thursday, March 25, 1999 | 11:42 a.m.

Two teenagers were healing from gunshot wounds today after neighbors in the 3800 block of Braddock Avenue got into a shootout, police said.

Sgt. Mike Stansbury of Metro Police's gang section said two groups of about four or five teens started arguing about 6 p.m. and at some point went inside to get their guns, then started firing.

One person was reported to have suffered a minor injury when he was hit in the forehead with a shotgun pellet. Another person suffered moderate injuries after being hit in the hip.

Police said they confiscated nine guns.

Pair arrested in casino coin thefts

A boyfriend and girlfriend are behind bars in Clark County Detention Center today on burglary charges in connection with what Metro Police believe could be as many as 40 coin bucket thefts at downtown and Strip casinos.

Joseph Hupton, 29, was arrested Wednesday at his residence in a downtown motel. Jamie Leal, 24, was taken into custody at the police station.

Police said they believe the couple was responsible for stealing thousands of dollars worth of coins from primarily elderly people who either weren't paying attention or not ambulatory enough to give chase.

Woman dies from injuries in crash

A woman seriously injured in a traffic accident Saturday died at University Medical Center on Tuesday.

Ruth Venezia, 78, died from injuries sustained when the car she was riding in was struck by a pickup Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Charleston Boulevard and Sandhill Road.

The driver of the car Ernest Venezia, 82, and the other passenger, Judy Venezia, 47, were treated for moderate injuries after the accident.

Jason Haught, the 19-year-old driver of the pickup, was not injured in the accident, but was cited for failing to stop at a red light, police said.

Vegas orthodontist sued for Medicaid fraud

CARSON CITY -- The state Attorney General's Office said Wednesday a civil suit has been filed against Las Vegas orthodontist Steven Yatrofsky. The lawsuit says Yatrofsky defrauded the Nevada Medicaid program of nearly $500,000.

Tim Terry, director of the Medicaid fraud unit, said because Yatrofsky came forward and disclosed he kept money he was not entitled to, a lawsuit was filed instead of criminal charges.

Yatrofsky admitted that he kept full payments for patients who did not complete their treatment over a four- to five-year period, Terry said. The state pays up-front for Medicaid patients for treatments by orthodontists.

The state Dental Examiners Board is also looking at Yatrofsky's conduct, Terry said.

So far Yatrofsky has not repaid the state. Terry said the potential restitution, costs and penalties owed by Yatrofsky, 52, could be more than $3 million.

Test Site gets new director

Energy Secretary Bill Richardson has named Kathleen Carlson, a 24-year department employee, as the new manager of the Nevada Operations Office.

Carlson replaces Gerald Johnson, the current manager, who has announced he will retire on July 31 after 32 years of federal service.

In her new position, Carlson will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Nevada Test Site, larger than the state of Rhode Island.

The department's role at the Test Site, 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, includes maintaining and managing the nuclear weapons stockpile, preparing for a crisis, alternative energy research and other science and technology development.

Carlson lives in Albuquerque with her husband and two children.

Reward grows for information in bar owner's slaying

The reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the shooting death of Duffy's Tavern owner Greg Brewer has been raised again.

Bob and Bill Joslin, owners of the Sahara Saloon and Four Mile Bar, have added $2,000 to the reward offer, making the total $5,000.

Brewer was shot on the afternoon of March 12 during what Metro Police believe was a robbery attempt.

Anyone with information 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.