News briefs for April 18, 2003

Friday, April 18, 2003 | 11:19 a.m.

Resident finds man shot to death

A man found late Wednesday sitting outside a home in the 300 block of North Eighth Street was shot to death, and Metro Police are asking for the public's help in solving the case.

Metro is looking into claims that the victim was selling fake drugs in the neighborhood.

Officers were called about 10:30 p.m. to the residence by an occupant who said that someone was pounding on the front door requesting an ambulance.

The victim was taken to University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, Sgt. K. Hefner of Metro's Homicide section said.

Officers said is appears the victim, whose identity had not been released until relatives are notified, knew the resident, but never identified himself through the door.

Anyone with information about the death is asked to call Metro at 229-3521. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 385-5555. Those providing information about the crime may be eligible for a cash reward up to $1,000.

NRC urged to have fair hearings

Nevada's congressional delegation sent a letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission chairman on Thursday urging fair and credible hearings on a license to build a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

The letter specifically asks that the NRC grant Nevada's request to ensure that the board members for the hearings are selected from outside the commission and that NRC staff, who are supposed to be independent, are barred from supporting or advocating the Energy Department's project.

"Having NRC staff supporting the Energy Department's Yucca Mountain licensing application would be similar to having a defendant's family sitting on the jury at the defendant's trial," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.; Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev.; Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.; and Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., also signed the letter.

Voter list grows by 18,484

Nevada has gained 18,484 voters since the close of registration for the November election last year, Secretary of State Dean Heller says.

Heller released the latest figures Thursday that show there are 888,285 voters signed up, with Republicans numbering 368,673 to 361,465 for Democrats.

Since the election, Democrats have registered 6,162 new voters while Republicans have collected 5,378. There are 131,175 non-partisan, 16,668 Independent American, 5,035 Libertarian, 2,495 Green, 850 Natural Law, 606 Reform and 1,318 other.

Congressional District 1 has 113,583 Democrats, 79,359 Republicans and 34,649 non-partisans. The 2nd District has 156,061 Republicans, 115,839 Democrats and 47,565 non-partisans, an the 3rd District, 133,197 Republicans, 132,021 Democrats and 48,942 non-partisans.