News briefs for July 17, 2003

Thursday, July 17, 2003 | 9:36 a.m.

Motorist hit by rock dies

A woman who was struck in the head by a flying rock sent through a window of her car as she drove on the Las Vegas Beltway near Charleston Boulevard died Wednesday night at University Medical Center, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Michelle Rogers, 31, was critically injured about 8 a.m. on July 11 when a silver BMW driven by Richard Allen Rink, 32, heading south on the beltway went into the northbound lanes, kicking up rocks as he entered the road, Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Angie Wolff said.

Rink turned himself in to authorities about 7:45 p.m. on July 14, Wolff said.

Rink has been charged with felony reckless driving and other offenses in connection with the incident.

Several hours after the accident, troopers found the BMW at the beltway and Interstate 15. The interior had been set on fire. Rink, accompanied by an attorney, surrendered days later.

Guinn returns after surgery

Gov. Kenny Guinn returned to work this morning after undergoing surgery on his right knee Wednesday.

Guinn's press secretary, Greg Bortolin, said the governor walked out of the Carson-Tahoe Outpatient Clinic under his own power after the procedure performed by Dr. Mike Edmunds of Carson City.

The 45-minute procedure required two small incisions, one for a surgical tool and another for a camera to smooth out cartilage deterioration and remove loose bodies.

Edmunds expects the governor to be fully recovered in about a month, Bortolin said.

Panel passes Shoshone bill

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee unanimously passed legislation on Wednesday introduced by Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev., that would distribute more than $128.8 million from a federal trust fund to more than 6,000 members of the Western Shoshone tribe.

In addition, more than $1.27 million will be placed in an education trust fund to be distributed to future generations of the tribe.

The bill now heads to the Senate floor for a vote. The legislation was slightly modified in order to include tribal members who have been adopted by other tribes, but have not given up their Western Shoshone ways.

Under the bill, the entire per capita distribution would be tax-exempt. The legislation was originally introduced three years ago after tribal members held a referendum to decide the issue of distribution.

The bill passed the Senate last year, but did not pass in the House. Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., has also reintroduced a similar bill in the House.