Local news briefs for January 9, 2001

Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001 | 11:03 a.m.

Autopsy to find cause of death

Metro Police are investigating the death of a 48-year-old man found in an apartment complex early this morning.

Police found Stephen Cardinali dead in an apartment in the 5200 block of East Tropicana Avenue near Nellis Boulevard about 12:15 a.m. today. The victim had suffered head trauma, Lt. Wayne Petersen of Metro's homicide unit said.

An autopsy had been scheduled this morning to determine the cause of death. Police said Cardinali recently moved to Las Vegas with his new wife, and the couple had been staying with her parent.

Man, dog die in NLV blaze

A 71-year-old man and his dog died this morning in a fire that destroyed the man's North Las Vegas home.

North Las Vegas firefighters were called to the 3700 block of Taylor Avenue near Pecos Road and Owens Avenue about 1:45 a.m. and found the house fully on fire. The man was found dead in the bathroom and the dog was found dead on a sofa, fire officials said.

A flashlight was found in the man's hand, officials said.

An autopsy scheduled for today will determine the cause of death. The victim's name was not released this morning pending positive identification and notification of his family.

The fire is still under investigation, but it appears accidental, officials said.

The fire damaged the house and its contents so severely, fire officials said there was no way to know if there had been a smoke detector in the home.

Southern Nevada nearing emergency

United Blood Services administrators said on Monday that there is only a three-day blood supply to serve 19 area hospitals.

If the supply reaches a two-day minimum, the service may have to declare an emergency. Such a declaration could force local doctors to postpone non-emergency surgeries, United Blood Services spokesman Dan Perlstein said.

A three-day blood drive in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., about 120 miles southeast of Las Vegas, will begin supplying Southern Nevada with fresh blood on Wednesday, but it will take up to 72 hours to filter, test and process it for patient use.

Blood donors may contact 233-9620 to find the closest center for donations.

Allstate seeking premium increase

Allstate Indemnity Co. has asked state Insurance Commissioner Alice Molasky-Arman for permission to raise its rates 10 percent to collect an additional $4.6 million a year from the more than 44,000 motorists it insures in Nevada.

The company, which writes policies for higher risk drivers, wants the new rates effective on Feb. 19 for new business and on March 22 for renewal customers.

The last rate increase for Allstate Indemnity was 6 percent in April 1997.

West tops in female legislators

The Western states lead the nation in electing women to legislatures, and Nevada is near the top, according to a study by the Center for American Women and Politics.

The center, based at Rutgers University in New Jersey, says there were 1,656 women elected to legislatures nationwide last November, down from the 1,670 incumbents. For the Legislatures this year, 22.4 percent of the members will be female.

Gilda Morales, program coordinator for information services for the center, said not as many women ran for the legislature in the November election as two years ago. That's why the number elected fell slightly.

In Nevada, there are 23 women lawmakers or 34.9 percent, for the third highest in the nation. Nevada was second two years ago but fell to third place with the loss of one woman lawmaker.