News briefs for May 14, 2003

Wednesday, May 14, 2003 | 9:49 a.m.

Court won't dismiss workers' lawsuits

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court Tuesday refused to dismiss lawsuits brought by more than 70 state workers who say they suffered injuries from workplace exposure to mold in buildings in Las Vegas.

The court denied the appeal of the state Human Resources Department, the Division of Child and Family Services and the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services.

The state agencies claimed the workers are covered by industrial insurance for any on-the-job injury. Therefore, the state says, the employees cannot bring suit against the agency for damages.

The court said "interests of judicial economy" would not be served if it intervened at this point.

Current and former employees filed suit, saying they suffered from breathing problems, loss of hair, nausea, headaches, stiff joints and fever as a result of being exposed to mold at work in state-owned buildings on Charleston Boulevard.

No plea deal in child neglect case

A possible plea agreement with the Clark County district attorney's office couldn't be worked out Tuesday for a man accused in the child neglect death of his 1-year-old daughter.

Demone Tisdale, 21, and his wife, Sophia Mendoza, 20, are facing murder charges in the death of Sierra Tisdale, who was found dead in the back bedroom of the Henderson couple's home after suffering from malnutrition and dehydration.

The couple was arrested Oct. 1, 2002, when Sierra Tisdale was found dead, and her twin brother Jacob was found vomiting and having breathing difficulty. The couple's other three children -- a 3-year-old, a 2-year-old and a 5-month-old -- also showed signs of neglect, police said.

College program gets high marks

Nevada's college savings program has been rated among the top in the nation by a popular finance magazine.

"CNN Money," a personal finance magazine run by Kiplinger, ranked Nevada's Upromise College Fund as one of the top four savings programs.

Joe Crowley,

former president of the University of Nevada, Reno, was named the interim president of San Jose State University on Tuesday.

Crowley retired as UNR's president in May 2000 after leading the institution for two decades. Crowley's new post will begin July 1 at an annual salary of $222,450.

A van rolled over

and was engulfed in flames on Route 163 outside Laughlin Tuesday, resulting in the death of its occupant, a Nevada State Highway Patrol Trooper said.

The accident occurred about 5:45 p.m. about eight miles outside of Laughlin under circumstances still under investigation.