News briefs for June 25, 2001

Monday, June 25, 2001 | 10:32 a.m.

Former senator to leave hospital

Former U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan was expected to be released today from a Reno hospital, where he spent more than a week recovering from what was described as a throat infection.

Bob Faiss, a colleague of Bryan's at the law firm of Lionel, Sawyer & Collins, said Bryan told the firm he intended to return to work on Tuesday at his Reno office.

Faiss said Bryan, 63, was hospitalized at St. Mary's Hospital more than a week ago with the infection.

Bryan's daughter, Leslie Bryan Hart of Reno, confirmed late last week that the doctors were pleased with her father's progress, but said he was to remain in the hospital for a few more days.

It was not known how serious the infection was or what caused it.

A hospital spokeswoman said Bryan's family asked hospital officials to not release any information regarding his condition.

Bryan stepped down in January following 12 years of service as a Democratic senator. He also spent six years as governor, four years as attorney general, 10 years in the Legislature, two years as Clark County's first public defender and two years as an assistant district attorney.

Abandoned boy's father is found

The father of an abandoned boy known only as "Toddler Juan," was located Friday. A hearing will be held to determine if the he is fit to raise the child, who is thought to be about 3.

Metro Police picked up the boy June 2 after receiving an anonymous phone call. The boy's mother left the child with a man, whom she apparently had just met.

The boy was taken to Child Haven, where he has remained while staff members with Child Protective Services, a division of Clark County Family and Youth Services, tried to locate family members. The county agency turned to the media to help with the search.

Margy Purdue of Child Protective Services said someone who heard about the case through media reports called Child Protective Services and said they knew the boy's father. Purdue said the agency contacted the father, but she does not know whether they have been reunited.

No exact date has been set for the hearing, and the boy remains at Child Haven.

Police don't suspect foul play in death

The death of a man whose body was found in a desert area near Sam Boyd Stadium is not believed to be a homicide, Metro Police said.

An autopsy Friday did not find any trauma to the man's body. The cause of death is still being determined, but police do not suspect foul play, Lt. Wayne Petersen of Metro's homicide unit said.

The man's name has not been released pending positive identification and notification of his family.

The body was found southwest of Russell Road and Broadbent Boulevard about 8 a.m. Thursday.