News briefs for Sept. 25, 2003

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003 | 10:55 a.m.

Senate panel OKs Jones as judge

A Senate Committee early today approved U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Clive Jones, a Las Vegas resident, to become a federal district judge for Nevada.

Jones appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month to answer questions on his pending nomination and qualifications to serve on the court. He has been on the bankruptcy bench for 20 years.

The committee unanimously approved Jones and several other judicial nominees, but will take up Charles Pickering for the U.S. 5th Circuit Court and Henry Saad for the 6th Circuit Court next week, Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah said.

The approval readies Jones' nomination for a floor vote.

The Senate has approved 155 of President Bush's judicial nominees so far, Hatch said at the hearing.

Heart attack may have caused crash

A 71-year-old Las Vegas man apparently suffered a heart attack before his 1996 Chevrolet pickup truck crashed into a block wall at an apartment complex at 2900 N. 28th St. Wednesday, Metro Police said.

The driver, who died, has not been identified by the coroner's office.

Witnesses and evidence at the accident scene said the driver of the pickup truck turned left from East Charleston Boulevard and went north on 28th Street before the driver apparently suffered a heart attack and became unconscious, police said.

The driver then crashed into the block wall and gate at the Desert Rose apartments.

He was taken to the University Medical Center Trauma Center where he died.

Brower to head Guinn's LV office

A lobbyist who represented insurance, health and construction interests at the 2003 Legislature today was named director of Gov. Kenny Guinn's Las Vegas office.

Maureen Brower, who served one term in the Legislature as a Republican from Las Vegas, will take over the $80,000-a-year job Oct. 1. She replaces Bud Cranor, who went to work for Henderson.

Brower co-owned a commercial printing company with her husband, John, from 1980 until 1996.

"I've lived in Las Vegas since 1970, and it is my hope that I can bring the needs of everyday people to the governor," said Brower, 56. "I believe with my experience in business, politics and nonprofits, I have a good grasp of how government works and how it can best serve people."

She is currently chairwoman of the board of WestCare in Las Vegas.

Homeland Security grant approved

A $4.7 million grant from the federal Department of Homeland Security has been approved for the state to build an emergency command center in Carson City.

Frank Siracusa, director of the state Division of Emergency Planning, said today the federal government wants the new emergency operations center completed within 30 months. The building is expected to cost $8 million in will house a central dispatch system and state emergency programs.

Siracusa said the Legislature allocated $500,000 for architectural and other preliminary work. He said the Legislature also authorized the sale of the present location in the south part of Carson City with the cash being used for the new building. It will be located in the east section of the city near the Nevada National Guard headquarters.

A meeting is set for next month with state officials on how to proceed with the sale of the present property, he said.

Bank robbery suspect arrested

A coalition of local and federal law enforcement authorities on Wednesday announced the arrest of fugitive Jason Alan Steele, wanted for a Las Vegas bank robbery and a suspect in four additional local bank robberies.

Steele is wanted for the Sept. 16 robbery of the Bank of America at 3580 S. Jones Blvd. The four other robberies also took place in September.

In addition, Steele has an outstanding warrant for violation of a supervised release stemming from a 1999 bank robbery conviction.

The investigation leading to the arrest included the U.S. Marshals Service, Metro Police, the Nevada Division of Parole and Probation and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.