Las Vegas news briefs for June 10, 2004

Thursday, June 10, 2004 | 11:36 a.m.

Driver sought in fatal accident

A 29-year-old Henderson driver who police allege struck and killed a bicyclist on Green Valley Parkway May 11 has been charged with two felonies and three misdemeanors.

The warrant against Nicole Rae Cowans, the driver, was issued June 3 and is still under investigation. The police so far have not been able to locate the woman.

Henderson Police spokesman Officer Shane Lewis alleged Cowans was driving with a revoked license, a suspended registration and her car did not have insurance when Jessie Marie Hinson was hit.

Cowans faces felony charges of driving under the influence resulting in death and also involuntary manslaughter.

She also faces three misdemeanor charges including, driving with a revoked license, driving with suspended registration and operating a vehicle without insurance.

The Henderson Police are requesting assistance from the public in locating the driver. Anyone with information can call (702) 267-5000

Rove to attend fund-raiser in LV

Karl Rove, President Bush's chief strategist, is scheduled to attend a Las Vegas fund-raiser Saturday for Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., a consultant to the congressman said.

Longtime developer and Republican activist Barry Becker will host the lunchtime reception at his home, Mike Slanker, a Porter campaign consultant, said.

The campaign hopes to raise $75,000 at the $250-a-person event, where Rove will talk to supporters, Slanker said.

"I would have to say that Karl Rove would rank up there in the top 10 people in the country you'd want to get a political briefing from," Slanker said.

Josh Geise, a spokesman for Democrat Tom Gallagher, one of Porter's challengers, said he hopes Rove will explain Bush's decision to go ahead with the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.

"Nevadans deserve that much," Geise said.

Chamber helps in voter campaign

The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with a grass-roots group to register new voters between 18 and 24 years old.

Nevada is one of six states being targeted by the New Voters Project, which is hoping to register 260,000 voters in Nevada, Wisconsin, Iowa, New Mexico, Oregon and Colorado.

While the group has been on local college campuses for several months, the partnership with the chamber will allow it to reach out to customers and employees of participating businesses, according to a statement from the chamber.

The "Independence Week of Voter Registration" will run from June 28 through July 4.

"Not only would these new voters be exercising one of their fundamental rights as Americans, they also would become aware of the challenges facing their employers and how their vote can make a difference," Christina Dugan, the chamber's government affairs director, said.

Concert crowd gets beastie

Metro Police arrested seven people for unruly behavior Wednesday outside the Huntridge Theatre after fans were told a Beastie Boys concert was sold out.

Fans were gathered outside the theater on Charleston Boulevard at Maryland Parkway to buy tickets for the Wednesday night show, which sold for $2.

The line snaked down Maryland Parkway, Officer Jose Montoya said. When all of the estimated 190 tickets were sold, several people in the crowd of about 500 became rowdy, he said.

"We told them the tickets were sold and they had to leave," Montoya said. "They began throwing bottles in our direction."