News briefs for July 16, 2004

Friday, July 16, 2004 | 9:34 a.m.

Hit-and-run leaves one dead

A Las Vegas man was killed and another arrested Thursday night after a hit-and-run accident in the Silverado Ranch area.

The motorcycle rider, 39, died about 11 p.m. Thursday after his 1993 Harley-Davidson motorcycle was broadsided at the intersection of Bermuda and Pilot roads. Investigators say Michael Davis, the 26-year-old driver of the 2000 Chevy pickup that struck the man, stopped for the stop sign but did not yield the right of way to the motorcycle.

The motorcycle rider's name was not available this morning.

Witnesses told police that Davis got out of the truck and walked toward the victim before fleeing the scene. Metro Police officers, using a license plate number provided by a witness, went to Davis' home but did not locate him.

The man was transported to University Medical Center, where he later died.

Davis was arrested on suspicion of felony hit and run after he called police about 3:30 this morning admitting he was the driver.

Nevada Power lists six fraud attempts

Nevada Power Co. has reported to Metro Police at least six incidences of attempted fraud in Southern Nevada.

According to a spokesman for the company, people posing as power company employees threaten to cut off power to residents' homes if the residents do not immediately make a credit card payment over the phone.

The power company, however, would never ask for payment over the phone, a spokesman said. And customers who are at risk of having their power shut off are supposed to receive a letter in the mail 48 hours before their power is disconnected.

Anyone who suspects they may have been a victim of fraud, should call the Nevada Power Co. at 227-2359.

County may change land-lease rules

Clark County commissioners on Tuesday will consider an overhaul of the county's practice of leasing land near the airport.

The overhaul was prompted by the March approval of a Wal-Mart Supercenter on county land -- a move commissioners said they did not know they made -- and objections to the store raised in a June meeting.

The three-part change will require the county to detail the ultimate use for land it auctions, trades or leases. Land deals also would be on the business part of the commission agenda, to ensure public disclosure and discussion, rather than the consent agenda, in which items are passed without discussion.

The benefits of the land deals also would have to be detailed by county staff and any lease would have to go through a public request-for-proposal.

Stop sign added at Durango, Tropical

Safety concerns have prompted Metro police Thursday to erect stop signs at a previously uncontrolled intersection at Durango Drive and Tropical Parkway.

The intersection, a popular route for big rig trucks, had prompted safety concerns from traffic officers and Las Vegas city officials. With stop signs it becomes a traditional four-way stop, Metro officers said.

The new intersection took effect Thursday afternoon.

School of Nursing names new chief

The School of Nursing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has a new leader.

Carolyn Yucha, formerly the associate dean for research at the University of Florida's College of Nursing, replaced interim director Rosemary Witt July 1. Witt is still serving on the faculty of the newly created school, which was a department until last year.

Yucha will oversee the the school's bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in nursing.