News briefs for Sept. 17, 2003

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003 | 11:26 a.m.

Man shot to death in burglary attempt

A woman shot and killed a man who was trying to burglarize her apartment in eastern Las Vegas at about 4 p.m. Tuesday, Metro Police said.

The man had broken into her apartment in the 1400 block of North Sandhill Road, near Owens Avenue and Lamb Boulevard, Lt. Tom Monahan of Metro's homicide division said.

The woman, a single mother of three, was getting dressed after a shower when the suspect broke through her ceiling, Monahan said.

Fearing for her life, the woman grabbed a handgun and shot the intruder several times, police said.

The woman told police that a burglary in April at her apartment by the same man prompted her to buy a handgun for protection. She was not charged in connection with the shooting because the preliminary determination was that it was justifiable homicide.

The suspect was taken to University Medical Center's Trauma Center, where he died of the gunshot wounds, police said. The coroner's office had not released his name early this morning.

Four hired to check electrical boxes

The Clark County Commission authorized hiring four workers Tuesday to expedite safety checks on electrical switchboxes at county parks.

Sandy Norskog, Clark County real property management director, said the one-year positions would cost a total of about $190,000. The cost of hiring outside contractors would be $300,000 to $500,000, she said.

The county launched a program of checking the switchboxes after a Kentucky woman was electrocuted in July while walking on the Strip.

Norskog said county workers have checked more than 1,000 boxes at most of Sunset Park and all of Desert Breeze Park. The county has 49 parks throughout the region.

NLV residents get new hotline

North Las Vegas residents now have a 24-hour phone line to City Hall to report any problems they see around the city.

The phone number, 633-CNLV (633-2658), will be answered by someone in the City Manager's office 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and callers will be able to leave a message at other times, according to a press release from the city.

The hotline is "for reporting anything from street light outages to potholes needing repair to general suggestions," the city statement noted.

In case of citywide emergency, the hotline may also be used to relay information to residents.

RTC changing bus system service

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is changing some of its Citizens Area Transit bus system service.

Some services cut earlier this year will be restored on Sept. 21.

The South Strip Transfer Terminal at Gilespie and Sunset roads opened in July and hosts eight CAT routes: 109, 117, 212, 213, 217, 301, 302 and 303.

To view the new services, go to www.catride.com and click on routes then select a specific route. The CAT system map will also be updated.

Metro moves fingerprint bureau

Metro Police has moved its fingerprint bureau from its longtime downtown office to 5880 Cameron St., near Russell Road and Decatur Boulevard.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be conducted at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, followed by an open house from 8 to 10:30 a.m.

The fingerprint bureau is visited by thousands of Clark County residents every year in order to obtain work cards or to fulfill other employment requirements. The fingerprint bureau can be reached at 229-4154.