News briefs for May 14, 2004

Friday, May 14, 2004 | 10:59 a.m.

National Guard funding sought

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., is sponsoring legislation to authorize federal funding assistance to states when their National Guard forces are used for homeland security missions.

The legislation is included in the National Defense Authorization Bill being considered by the House Armed Services Committee.

"Currently the National Guard operates at the request of a state's governor, but they are being used more and more for homeland security projects, like providing airport security and guarding bridges, dams and other critical infrastructure," Gibbons said. "This legislation will allow the secretary of defense to provide funds to a governor to employ the National Guard to conduct homeland security activities."

The legislation allows for closer state and federal cooperation, and is supported by the Defense Department and the National Guard Bureau, a spokesman for Gibbons said.

Fire strikes apartments

Six apartment units were evacuated at the Bella Vista complex in Henderson after an electrical fire broke out in a second-story bedroom about 10:30 p.m. Thursday, according to Henderson Fire Department Battalion Chief Bob Maroney.

Twenty-four firefighters took about 20 minutes to put out the blaze around 11:30 p.m., he said.

Although the fire caused only minor damage, residents of the six units involved were not allowed to return to their apartments Thursday night.

No injuries were reported.

Bella Vista is operated by American Nevada Co., which is owned by the Greenspun family, publishers of the Las Vegas Sun.

Blood, marrow donors sought

The parents of a 2-year-old boy are asking Las Vegas Valley residents to donate blood in behalf of their son at a blood drive scheduled for from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Palms.

Johnathan Miller has aplastic anemia, which causes bone marrow to cease producing red blood cells. As a result, the boy needs blood transfusions on a regular basis.

The only cure for Miller is a stem cell transplant or a bone marrow transplant, his parents said. Until then, Miller continues to need a tremendous amount of blood transfusions to survive, they said.

Blood donors will also have an opportunity to see if they are a bone marrow donor match for Miller. Representatives from the National Marrow Donor Program will be present to handle bone marrow related testing.

Eligible donors must be at least 17-year-old and weigh 110 pounds. Typical time to donate is 60 to 90 minutes. All donors must present proper identification.