News briefs for January 16, 2002

Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2002 | 9:01 a.m.

Bulgarian man facing charges

A Bulgarian was indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday for allegedly marrying a United States citizen so he could remain in the country.

According to the indictment, Zlatko H. Hristov paid Leanor A. Flores $1,000 to marry him in October 1996, one month after he arrived in the United States.

Hristov then allegedly had his wife file various legal documents with the federal government so that he could remain in the country despite knowing that they had "entered a sham marriage," and they never intended to "establish a life together as man and wife."

Hristov allegedly kept the conspiracy going until Oct. 9, 2001, the indictment states.

Hristov faces conspiracy, marriage fraud, making false statements and aiding and abetting charges.

Las Vegas Boulevard receives honor

Las Vegas Boulevard, north of Sahara Avenue, has been designated as a state scenic byway, a move that will be recognized by the Las Vegas City Council today.

The state's designation will appear in statewide publications and elsewhere, raising city officials' hopes of drawing more tourists to downtown Las Vegas.

The designation also allows the city to apply for $25,000 in federal grants earmarked specifically to beautify scenic byways nationwide.

The Nevada Department of Transportation named State Route 604, better known as Las Vegas Boulevard, as a scenic state byway between Sahara and Washington avenues.

Some of the sites that can be seen along the urban route include traditional neighborhoods, the Neon Museum, the Las Vegas Library and Lied Children's Museum building, the Natural History Museum and the Sawyer State Office Building.

Kropid to be interim director

A former United Way of Southern Nevada board member has been named to head the organization while a search for a new executive director is conducted.

James Kropid, a former director of the Nevada State Industrial Insurance System, will work as the interim director of the organization that funds more than 150 local programs devoted to ensuring basic human needs, improving the lives of children and promoting the health and wellness of local residents.

Public meeting planned Thursday

The Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition's Homeless Task Force will hold a public meeting Thursday at 3 p.m. in the Commission Chambers in the County Government Center on Grand Central Parkway.

The task force is expected to adopt or reject five recommendations for reducing the Las Vegas Valley's homeless population. The recommendations were prepared by a California-based nonprofit organization called HomeBase.

The nonprofit organization led a summit of regional officials, advocates and the homeless in Las Vegas in September and based its recommendations on the summit's findings.

The five-point plan includes establishing a trust fund for the homeless, creating employment, treating the mentally ill and building housing.

The task force includes officials from the cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson and from Clark County, as well as homeless shelter directors and members of the business community.