News briefs

Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000 | 11:43 a.m.

Man stable after swallowing cocaine

A 26-year-old man was in stable condition this morning after North Las Vegas Police say he swallowed eight bags of cocaine during a traffic stop Wednesday night.

Officers stopped Jaime Jones in the 2600 block of Las Vegas Boulevard about 7 p.m. after he was suspected of running a stop sign. Jones started shaking, appeared disorientated and was having trouble standing when asked to sign the traffic ticket, police said.

The officers called for an ambulance and Jones was taken to Lake Mead Hospital for treatment.

Desert Springs nurses plan picket

Registered nurses at Desert Springs Hospital have filed notice that informational picketing in front of the hospital will begin on Feb. 9

The promised picketing, which is not a strike but a legally sanctioned protest, was sparked the nurses' displeasure with the hospital's contract offer.

More than 80 percent of the nurses voted the contract down because of what they call the hospital's unwillingness to set limits on dangerously long shifts and its failure to stem a 62 percent turnover rate among the hospital's nurses.

"By voting down this contract we sent a clear message to the corporate owners of Desert Springs and to the community that we will continue advocating for the best possible patient care," chief union steward Beverly Phares said. "Before the current bottom line mentality took hold, Desert Springs provided outstanding care. We will ensure that it does once again."