News briefs for Jan. 2, 2003

Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003 | 11:01 a.m.

Family overcome by fumes from grill

A family of seven was taken to University Medical Center about 11 p.m. Monday after suffering carbon monoxide poisoning from a small barbecue grill that had been brought into a home, fire officials said.

Las Vegas Fire Department crews were sent to the 1900 block of Simmons Avenue late Monday after other relatives told dispatchers that the family was sick and acting "sluggishly." The barbecue grill, the coals of which were still burning when emergency crews arrived, had been in the house for about two hours, firefighters said.

Southwest Gas crews were called to the home to check all the gas fittings in the home. They determined there was no other cause of poisoning, authorities said.

The family was treated and released Tuesday.

Time running out for plate change

Nevada's bighorn sheep license plates became illegal Wednesday, but drivers with valid 2003 registration stickers are being given a 90-day grace period to replace the plates with the new mountain sunset plates, authorities said.

Vehicle owners with proper registration will receive warnings instead of citations for the plates until April 1, said Kimberly Evans, a Nevada Highway Patrol spokeswoman. Drivers with suspended, canceled or revoked registrations will be cited, she said.

Blue plates, specialty license plates and commemorative plates are not affected by the law.

The grace period was established because some legislators had concerns that public did not understand the plate-change law, Evans said.