News briefs for Nov. 12, 2003

Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2003 | 1:09 a.m.

British Airways plane diverted

Clark County Fire Department crews responded to a call of smoke in the cockpit of a British Airways jet that diverted to McCarran International Airport and made an emergency landing Tuesday night shortly after 10 p.m.

Firefighters entered the jetliner and did not find any smoke.

There were no injuries on the aircraft bound for Londons Heathrow Airport.

The Boeing 747 with 270 passengers on board had taken off from Los Angeles International Airport about 8:45 p.m. when the pilot said he smelled smoke in the cockpit.

Woman killed after DUI stop

A woman died early this morning after she sped away from a Taxicab Authority officer and crashed head-on into a utility pole and two palm trees just before 5 a.m., Nevada Highway Patrol spokeswoman Angie Wolff said.

The woman was eastbound on Tropicana when the Taxicab Authority officer saw her run a red light. The officer stopped her just west of U.S. 95 and suspected she was driving while intoxicated. After initially stopping, however, the woman sped off and then crashed her car at Palm Avenue.

The dead woman's name and age were not available this morning, Wolff said.

Whitney to get community center

Residents of southeast Las Vegas can help design a new community center in the Whitney area near Boulder Highway and Missouri Avenue.

The center would be located near the old Whitney Community Center on East Missouri Avenue.

Commissioner Rory Reid, who represents the area, has scheduled a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. today at the Whitney Senior Center, 5712 E. Missouri Ave., to hear residents' ideas about the kinds of recreation and leisure programs, services and activities neighbors may want.