Local news briefs for January 3, 2001

Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2001 | 10:47 a.m.

14,000 lose power after malfunction

A computer error blacked out two substations in the northwest and southwest of the Las Vegas Valley today, leaving 14,000 customers without electricity for 18 minutes, Nevada Power Co. spokeswoman Sonya Headen said.

The outage began about 9:36 a.m. and was restored by 9:54 a.m., Headen said. The two substations, Lorenzi and Tenaya, quit delivering electricity to customers, most of them homeowners, such as Desert Shores, she said.

Customers near Smoke Ranch Road, north of Rainbow Avenue and Lone Mountain Road and some outages along Buffalo to Ann Road also occurred, she said.

Police investigating possible homicide

Metro Police are investigating what may be the year's first homicide after a man walking a dog discovered a dead body in a desert area in the southeast part of the Las Vegas Valley.

The body was found about 3:40 p.m. near South Bermuda Road and Serene Avenue, and homicide detectives believe the unidentified male victim was in his 20s or 30s.

The exact cause of death will not be known until the body is examined by the Clark County coroner, but there was obvious trauma to the man's head, and it looked as if he had died within 24 hours of being found, Lt. Wayne Petersen of Metro's homicide department said.

The victim is further described as having short, dark hair and a tattoo on his left shoulder of a female fairy on a quarter moon. He was wearing a black sweater, black pants and shoes, and a black belt with a silver buckle.

Anyone with information about the victim's identity is asked to call detectives at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Deputy attorney general honored

CARSON CITY -- Senior deputy Attorney General Joe Vadala of Las Vegas has been selected as a U.S. Supreme Court Fellow by the National Association of Attorneys General.

Vadala will be in Washington, D.C., for two months to observe many of the oral arguments of the court as well as helping in the publication of various case synopses. Vadala and a lawyer from Vermont will participate in moot courts and write a state amicus brief.

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said Vadala, 32, has worked for the office for five years, specializing in cases involving the state Transportation Department. He will become assistant solicitor general when he returns and supervise the litigation division in the Las Vegas office.