News briefs for Nov. 19, 2003

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003 | 10:58 a.m.

Settlement made in guards' suit

A union of prison guards and the state Department of Corrections have reached an out-of-court settlement in a lawsuit in which correctional officers alleged they were treated unfairly and the department sought to block efforts to recruit more union members.

The association and two of its members, Samuel Covelli and Joseph Vanacore, filed suit in December 2002 in federal district court in Las Vegas, complaining that prison officials violated their right of free speech and their right to belong to a union.

The out-of-court settlement calls for union representatives to have monthly meetings with the wardens to talk about working conditions, shift assignments and other issues.

The agreement calls for Covelli to be on paid administrative leave until September 2004, when he becomes eligible for retirement. Vanacore will leave the prison and join the staff of the employees association.

The agreement said that an investigation opened by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission into nine officers on charges of discrimination has found no evidence of a violation.

Gephardt plans visit to Las Vegas

Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri is planning a trip to Las Vegas this week, following a visit today by fellow candidate Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.

Gephardt campaign officials in Washington, D.C., today had few details to release about Gephardt's visit, other than to say he will attend a fund-raiser at an undisclosed location and will address the local news media at a time and place yet to be determined.

A campaign spokesman said Gephardt's Las Vegas visit is sandwiched between a campaign stop in Los Angeles Thursday and his return to Washington this weekend.

Gephardt, the former House minority leader, has in recent years made several trips to Las Vegas.

Gephardt, first elected to Congress in 1976, was a 1998 presidential candidate.

Director named for medical center

The chief of Chicago's biggest hospital was confirmed as the new boss of Clark County's biggest medical center Tuesday.

The Clark County commissioners ratified the hiring of Lacy Thomas, director of the John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County, as the new chief executive officer for University Medical Center.

Thomas will be responsible for balancing fiscal needs, social demands and medical realities at the hospital, which is trying to control costs and increase reimbursement after a disastrous financial hemorrhaging last year.

Man found dead of stab wounds

A person visiting an apartment at 230 S. 11th St. about 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday discovered a man in his 70s dead inside, Metro Police said.

Detectives believe that the man died as the result of stab wounds, Lt. Tom Monahan said.

The official cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner after an autopsy.

The victim will be identified by the coroner's office after family members are notified.

Anyone with information is urged to call Metro's homicide section at 229-3521.

Tax controversy prompts court bid

John Mason, an entertainment attorney and former head of the state Republican Party, said Tuesday a controversial state Supreme Court ruling that affected Nevada lawmakers' tax debate has prompted him to run against Chief Justice Deborah Agosti.

The high court's decision, written by Agosti, temporarily set aside a constitutional provision for a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to raise taxes. Ultimately, a record $836 million tax plan passed this summer by a two-thirds' majority, but the ruling helped to break a deadlock over the tax plan.

"I was shocked by the decision and still am," Mason said, adding that the ruling said "people didn't really understand what they were doing" when they added the tax restraint provision to the constitution.

Agosti noted five of the other six justices on the Supreme Court signed onto the tax case opinion, adding that people realize the court "is often asked to make the tough call."

Steel pleads to keep juvenile job

Family Court Judge Cynthia Dianne Steel asked the state Supreme Court Tuesday to void a vote by her fellow Family Court judges to replace her as a Juvenile Court judge.

Steel said she hoped her challenge would prompt the Supreme Court to change the rules for selecting and keeping a juvenile judge to slow the turnover in that position. She argued that the court's rules say a juvenile judge should be elected by a vote of all District Court judges or appointed by the chief judge. She was elected by a vote of the judges of the Family Court.

But Chief Justice Deborah Agosti and Justice Nancy Becker said they would not make any new rules in this case. The justices' decision will be based solely on whether Steel is correct when she says the process used for selecting a juvenile judge conflicted with the rules.

Arguing against Steel before the Supreme Court, presiding Family Court Judge Steven Jones said there is no conflict, and it is up to the Family Court judges to pick who will preside over the juvenile court.

Jones said there hasn't been a problem with this process in the 12 years since Family Court began, and Steel's is the first complaint about the process.

"If it's not broke don't fix it," Jones said.

Until the Supreme Court rules on the matter, Family Court will operate under the assumption that Steel will be replaced by Family Court Judge William Voy at the end of the year.

North Las Vegas

is taking advantage of low-interest rates to refinance bonds, which could ultimately save the city $2 million. The city will save $722,000 in future bond payments after refinancing about $8.7 million in water/sewer bonds last week, the city announced Tuesday.

A 23-year-old man

is in the hospital after being shot in a home in the 1100 block of East Evans Avenue about 8 p.m. Monday, North Las Vegas Police said.Anyone with information is asked to call the North Las Vegas Police Department at 633-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.