News briefs for Feb. 3, 2003

Monday, Feb. 3, 2003 | 11:16 a.m.

Man found stabbed to death

Metro Police homicide detectives are investigating the stabbing death of a 45-year-old Las Vegas resident found in an apartment Sunday afternoon.

Malcolm Joseph Richards Jr. was found dead in an apartment complex in the 8600 block of West Charleston Boulevard near Durango Drive, Metro Homicide Lt. Tom Monahan said.

Police are looking for the victim's car, a 2000 gold Dodge Neon, Nevada license plate number 113 NSA. There is also a rainbow sticker on the back of the car.

Anyone with information about the stabbing is asked to call Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Pickup truck kills bicyclist

A 16-year-old bicyclist was killed when he was hit by a pickup truck just before 10 p.m. on Friday at Pecos Road and Grange Avenue, Henderson Police said.

Paul San Augustin of Henderson was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor.

Officers said a red Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by a 16-year-old boy was traveling northbound on Pecos when it struck the bicyclist.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Henderson Police Department at 565-8933 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.

Alert for blowing dust issued

The Clark County Air Quality Management Division issued an alert Sunday for people with lung problems to avoid dust blowing in winds that gusted over 50 mph.

The sudden return to cooler weather in the Las Vegas Valley came with a cold front that swept through Nevada early Sunday morning.

The highest gust of wind recorded Sunday was 51 mph at McCarran International Airport at 9:11 a.m., the National Weather Service reported. The dust alert was lifted at 5 p.m. Sunday.

The high was 64 degrees on Sunday after a record-setting 81 degrees on Saturday.

Temperatures are expected to be normal for this time of year with highs in the mid-50s to low 60s and lows in the mid-30s to low 40s for the next five days.

Wind-blown fire destroys LV house

Las Vegas Fire Department officials are investigating a Sunday morning fire that destroyed a house near Jones Boulevard and U.S. 95.

Firefighters arrived at the home at 308 Pershing Drive shortly after 4:30 a.m. Flames were starting to burn through the roof whipped by winds gusting to 40 mph, fire department spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

Damage to the house was estimated at $100,000. The owner and a pet dog and cat were able to escape. A second cat was found dead inside the home.

Guinn backs Bush plans for Medicaid

Gov. Kenny Guinn says he supports a Bush administration plan to create new Medicaid options for states that would help protect and expand health coverage for children, families, seniors and people with disabilities.

But he's not going to put any more state money into Medicaid at the present time to match additional federal funds that may become available. However, Guinn's budget does include an extra $3.8 million to make it easier for pregnant women and young children to qualify for Medicaid.

Tommy Thompson, secretary of Health and Human Services, said the federal government would assist states struggling with budget crises by adding an estimated $3.25 billion to the Medicaid budget next fiscal year.

Details of the plan are still being worked out, but Guinn said it would give the states new flexibility to develop programs that protect people now covered. He said it "would help Nevada and I am completely behind it."