News briefs for August 20, 2001

Monday, Aug. 20, 2001 | 10:33 a.m.

Businesses give to fire victims

Two Las Vegas businesses are reaching out to the families that lost their homes in Thursday's fire that damaged or destroyed a total of 17 houses.

Tony Roma's restaurants donated 10 percent of all sales on Friday to the families, and Raley's supermarkets donated a total of $1,100 in gift certificates.

The fire started about 5:15 p.m. in an under-construction housing development near Peace Way and Durango Drive in southwestern Las Vegas. The wind pushed the fire over a block wall and into six occupied homes.

Lanes to be closed on I-15, streets

The right traffic lane on Interstate 15 northbound will be closed between Sahara Avenue and Charleston Boulevard from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Crews will be preparing the freeway lanes to be shifted.

On Thursday and Sunday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sahara Avenue in both directions will be closed at I-15. Crews will be pouring a concrete bridge deck in the center of the I-15 structure.

Through Wednesday crews will be paving Las Vegas Boulevard northbound from Tropicana Avenue to Flamingo Road. The paving will take place between midnight and 10 a.m.

Test Site chief given D.C. post

Nevada Test Site chief Kathleen Carlson has been appointed interim acting deputy administrator for defense programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The administration is the new agency within the Department of Energy charged with protecting the nuclear stockpile.

Carlson will serve until a deputy administrator is approved by the Senate, the agency's administrator, John Gordon, said. President Bush has announced he will nominate Everett Beckner to the post. The Senate could consider the nomination in September or October.

Before managing the NNSA's Nevada Operations Office, Carlson was an assistant manager for defense programs at the Albuquerque Operations Office.