Local news briefs for July 28, 2000

Friday, July 28, 2000 | 10:38 a.m.

NLV Police arrest man in slaying

Working off a tip, North Las Vegas Police arrested an 18-year-old man Thursday in connection with the July 7 shooting death of 19-year-old Derrick Mitchell.

Vernon Craft has been charged with murder with a deadly weapon and was booked into the North Las Vegas Detention Center, after detectives found him in an apartment in the 800 block of East Monroe Avenue.

Detectives got a lead that Craft may have been at the apartment, and located him there at about noon, Lt. Chris Larotonda said.

Mitchell was found dead of several gunshot wounds in a parking lot in the 2500 block of West Street, at about 12:45 a.m. on July 7, police said.

Autopsy set for man found near railroad

An autopsy was scheduled for today to determine the cause of death of a man found dead under blankets near railroad tracks off of Main Street Thursday.

A homeless man discovered the body about 2:10 p.m. Thursday near the tracks in the rear of some buildings in the 700 block of Main Street, Metro Police said.

Officers said the man, believed to be about 45 years old, had suffered some type of trauma to his head. His name was not released this morning pending notification of his family.

The man was last seen alive Wednesday about 7 p.m. by other homeless people who camp in the area, police said.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Metro's homicide unit at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

10-year-old shows up at school

A 10-year-old Las Vegas boy, feared missing Thursday after not catching his usual bus ride home, arrived safely at school this morning after spending the night with friends, Metro Police said.

The boy was nervous about missing his bus Thursday afternoon so he spent time with some friends. Then he walked around until he found other friends to spend the night with, police said.

Law may involve filing with IRS

CARSON CITY -- Secretary of State Dean Heller said Thursday a recent federal law may require Nevada candidates and elected officials to file with the Internal Revenue Service.

The law, signed by President Clinton on July 1, requires 527 groups to register with the IRS within 24 hours of organizing. Heller said these groups are commonly called "stealth" groups and are named for a portion of the federal tax code that provides tax-exempt status for political groups.

Under the new law 527 groups with receipts of more than $25,000 must file quarterly reports with the IRS and disclose spending that totals more than $500 and contributions of $200 or more.

"This is a tax code loophole that should have been closed years ago," Heller said.

These groups were allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money without disclosure provided they did not urge the election or defeat of a specific candidate, he said.

A Nevada law requires all candidates to have a separate bank account for campaign funds.

Funds set for low-income families

CARSON CITY -- The state is releasing $50,000 for low-income families in Las Vegas to use as security deposits to qualify for reduced-cost housing.

The Las Vegas Housing Authority had asked the state Welfare Division for the money so families could come up with the payment necessary for the low-income housing.

"There are a lot of people out there working very hard to make the transition from welfare dependence to self-sufficiency and it's important to take advantage of any chance we have to help," Gov. Kenny Guinn said Thursday.

The housing authority said it received 700 welfare-to-work housing vouchers this year.