News briefs for May 28, 2003

Wednesday, May 28, 2003 | 9:44 a.m.

Husband, wife found dead

A husband and wife were found dead Tuesday morning in their home in the 1300 block of Mound House Street. Metro Police believe it was a case of murder-suicide.

The couple were discovered dead about 10:40 a.m. by a co-worker of one of the victims, who went to the house after the victim didn't show up for work, Sgt. Ken Hefner said.

Evidence shows the husband shot his wife before turning the gun on himself, Hefner said. The shooting apparently occurred Monday night, he said.

The Clark County coroner's office did not release the names of the victims this morning pending family notification.

Bicyclist killed in collision is ID'd

A bicyclist who was killed Sunday morning while riding along State Route 160 near Blue Diamond has been identified by the Clark County coroner's office as George Wheatin, 61, of Henderson.

The Nevada Highway Patrol said Wheatin and a man on a motorcycle collided while heading east on the highway. Wheatin was pronounced dead at the scene, and the motorcyclist was taken to University Medical Center with serious injuries.

Metro fingerprint bureau to move

The Metro Police fingerprint bureau is moving from 601 Fremont St. to 5880 Cameron St., one block south of the intersection of Russell Road and Cameron, during the first week of June.

The bureau will reopen for business at 8 a.m. on June 9.

Work cards will not be issued while the bureau is closed, with some exceptions for emergencies.

Temporary registrations and changes of addresses for convicted persons will continue at the Police Records Bureau at Las Vegas City Hall.

Questions can be answered by calling 229-3271 until 4 p.m. on Friday. After that, questions regarding work cards, fingerprinting or registrations can be answered by calling 348-5704 or 348-5705.

Court asked to stop BLM auction

A local environmental activist has filed a request for a preliminary injunction in U.S. District Court to stop the Bureau of Land Management from auctioning off 1,030 acres on June 5.

Robert Hall filed documents Tuesday asking for the sale to be stopped because of the alleged failure of the BLM to properly assess the impact on air pollution that the land's development could cause.

The value of the land scheduled to be sold on June 5 is estimated at $132.8 million. It is divided into 36 parcels from 2.5 acres to 490 acres.

Hall, president of the Nevada Environmental Coalition, alleges in court documents that the BLM has not sufficiently disclosed the risks that new development could cause, including lung cancer and other pollution related illnesses.

Money from the sales goes to purchase and protect environmentally sensitive land in Nevada.