News briefs for Nov. 28, 2003

Friday, Nov. 28, 2003 | 9:41 a.m.

Man killed while crossing street

A 35-year-old Las Vegas man was killed when he tried to cross Nellis Boulevard near Stewart Avenue early today, Metro Police said.

The man was not in a crosswalk as he tried to cross the street about 1:30 a.m., police said He was struck by a Ford Mustang heading south on Nellis, police said.

Metro detectives said pedestrian error appears to be the cause of the accident. The man, whose name had not been released this morning, is the 112th traffic victim in Metro's jurisdiction this year.

Woman arrested for firing shots

A woman described by police as "mentally challenged" was taken to jail Thursday after allegedly firing shots from her window downtown and holding a SWAT team and negotiators at bay for hours.

During the standoff, police closed streets in the area, from Ogden to Mesquite avenues and Seventh to Ninth streets.

Authorities entered the woman's apartment and found her in a closet. She was checked by medical personnel and taken to jail, police said.

The woman was suspected in another shooting incident earlier this week, police said. In that incident, shots were fired into an occupied building, they said.

Post offices will have longer hours

The U.S. Postal Service will be extending Saturday hours at 11 area post offices throughout the Christmas holiday season for customer convenience, Las Vegas Postmaster Manuel Botello said.

Weekday business hours at area branches will remain the same, but Saturday hours will be extended at nine stations Dec. 13 and 20, and at two others on Dec. 6, 13 and 20, Botello said.

Open Dec. 13 and 20 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. will be East Las Vegas, 4948 S. Mountain Vista S.; Crossroads, 6210 N. Jones Blvd.; Garside, 1801 S. Decatur Blvd.; Huntridge, 3115 E. Olive St.; King, 1801 N. Martin L. King Blvd.; Redrock Vista, 2449 N. Tenaya Way; Silverado, 455 E. Pebble Road; Summerlin, 1611 Spring Gate Lane; Winterwood, 5070 Vegas Valley Drive.

The Henderson Main Post Office, 404 S. Boulder Highway, will be open Dec. 6, 13 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The North Las Vegas Meadow Mesa Station, 4904 Camino Al Norte, will be open Dec. 6, 13 and 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be.

Also, Post Office Express offices in eight local Albertson's stores will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Federal grant helps Lied museum

The Lied Discovery Children's Museum will move forward with the planning and design of new hands-on exhibits for visitors after receiving a grant for $150,000 from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The IMLS Learning Opportunities program awarded grants to institutions nationwide that proposed projects to help better serve their communities.

Only 169 projects were chosen to receive funding out of 933 applications. The Lied Discovery Children's Museum received the only grant of this kind awarded in Nevada.

It is expected to take 18 months to create the new exhibit pavilions at the Lied museum, officials said.