Local news briefs for January 23, 2001

Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2001 | 11 a.m.

Woman killed in SUV crash

A 19-year-old Las Vegas woman was killed Sunday morning when the sport utility vehicle she was a passenger in rolled several times on a small road south of State Route 160.

The accident occurred about 9:30 a.m. when the 17-year-old driver of a 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe lost control of the vehicle on Wheeler Pass Road, about five miles east of State Route 160, the highway to Pahrump.

Sebora May was one of two people thrown from the Tahoe, which ended up coming to a rest on top of her, Metro Police said.

May died at the scene, and the driver and three other passengers were taken to University Medical Center. The driver and one of the passengers were treated and released, and two others remain hospitalized.

Failure to use seat belts contributed to the injuries suffered in the accident, police said.

Reid pushes for HMO requirements

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., today relaunched an effort to require health insurance providers to pay for contraceptives.

"Under my legislation, insurers, HMOs and employee health benefit plans that offer their members a prescription drug benefit would also have to extend that coverage to include birth control pills and other FDA-approved contraceptives," Reid said in a written statement.

Reid cited a recent Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruling that said employers were guilty of sex discrimination if they offer a health plan that covers prescription medication but not contraceptives.

Reid noted the new drug Viagra for men is already covered by many health care plans.

Congress hasn't supported the legislation. Reid tried unsuccessfully to push the bill, co-authored with Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, in 1997 and 1999. He planned to reintroduce the bill today.

BLM standardizes its policies

An updated Bureau of Land Management plan recognizes that motorized off-road vehicle use is acceptable on existing roads on public lands. It states that the BLM cannot revise existing off-road use, cannot provide additional funds and staffing needed for additional motorized off-road management and cannot increase fines or penalties for motorized violations.

The plan received 14,000 comments during its 30-day public-comment period. It's available for review on the Internet (www.blm.gov). A printed version will be available by mid-February at BLM offices.

A separate plan will be forthcoming for non-motorized vehicles such as mountain bikes.

Northwest area gets new facility

The Metro Police Northwest Area substation will be closed starting on Thursday, as the police move to their new substation building at 9850 W. Charleston Blvd., east of Hualapai Way.

The current Northwest substation is located near Jones Boulevard and U.S. 95, with officers there providing service to residents north of Charleston and west of Interstate 15.

The area that those officers cover will not change, and patrol operations will not be affected by the move, police said.

Residents in need of substation services are encouraged to visit one of the other four Las Vegas substations or the Plaza Desk at City Hall, 400 E. Stewart Ave. until the move is completed by 8 a.m. Monday.