Local briefs for September 2, 1999

Thursday, Sept. 2, 1999 | 11:52 a.m.

Greenspun doesn't change parties

Brian L. Greenspun, president and editor of the Las Vegas Sun, did not change his Republican party registration by the Sept. 1 deadline, meaning he will not be eligible to run for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat next year.

Greenspun, 53, a close friend of President Clinton, has been mentioned as a possible candidate to succeed Sen. Richard Bryan, who is retiring in January 2001 after two terms.

Nevada law says a potential candidate must change his party registration by Sept. 1 of the year preceding the election in order to run in the new party. A spokeswoman for the Clark County Voter Registrar Office said Greenspun did not switch by the deadline.

He could still enter the race as a Republican. Filing for political office opens May 1 and closes May 15.

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa has announced for the Democratic nomination, and former Rep. John Ensign is seeking the GOP nod.

Two die in separate accidents

Two people died in separate single-vehicle accidents on opposite sides of the valley Wednesday, one in Henderson and one on Durango Drive at El Capitan Way.

Metro Police said Pauline Westfall, 43, of Las Vegas died shortly after 6 a.m. when her vehicle ran into an embankment on Durango just north of El Capitan. She was not wearing a seat belt.

Henderson police said Tim T. Wirth, 33, of Las Vegas was killed when his four-wheel-drive vehicle rolled over in the desert south of Horizon Ridge Parkway and Mission Drive shortly before 7 p.m.

Alcohol may have been a factor in Wirth's death, investigators said.

Federal grand jury charges 10 people

Ten people were indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury: