Thursday, April 28, 2005 | 11:01 a.m.
Work to start on state building
Groundbreaking ceremonies are set for 11 a.m. Friday for the $17.5 million building in Las Vegas that is to be southern headquarters of the state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.
More than 200 employees will be stationed in the building at St. Louis Avenue and McLeod Street. Ten units of the agency will be consolidated in the one location.
The building design will allow maximum use of renewable resources and minimize energy and water use, Gov. Kenny Guinn said.
Birgit Baker, director of the agency, said the building should be completed next spring. She said once the department's staff is no longer scattered "in office buildings across the valley, we will be able to work more efficiently to deliver services to our customers."
Gibbons named to lead judges
District Judge Michael Gibbons of Minden has been elected president of the Nevada District Judges Association, which represents 60 judges.
Gibbons took over last November as interim president, replacing Clark County District Judge Ron Parraguirre, who was elected to the Nevada Supreme Court.
At the annual convention of the association in Mesquite April 14-16, the delegates chose District Judge Deborah Schumacher of Reno as vice president and she will become president in 2006.
District Judge Jennifer Togliatti of Las Vegas was elected secretary of the organization and Judge Valerie Adair, also of Las Vegas, was selected as a member at large. District Judge David Gamble of Minden was re-elected treasurer.
Reno zones for UNR expansion
The Reno City Council has given tentative approval to a blanket zoning change designed to streamline UNR's future expansion.
But heeding the concerns of area residents, the council Wednesday said existing zoning will remain intact until the university actually buys the land it wants.
The university's initial request sought a massive rezoning of surrounding neighborhoods now. But officials did not oppose the change, saying the land still will automatically be rezoned once the property is purchased by the university.
The school's proposed expansion is part of a 50-year master plan officials say will be necessary to meet growing enrollment.
Man gets life in child's death
A man prosecutors say terrorized a toddler with abusive discipline has been sentenced to life in prison for the child's death.
Arnold Preston Bertnick, 27, must served 20 years before becoming eligible for parole under the sentenced handed down Wednesday by Washoe District Judge Jerry Polaha.
"It was a slow process that caused her demise," Polaha told Bertnick.
Bertnick was convicted of the 2002 death of his girlfriend's daughter, 2-year-old Asiamae Basa.
Sandoval complaint sent to Washington
Attorney General Brian Sandoval does not enforce the law equally and should not be confirmed as a federal judge, the Independent American Party of Nevada is telling U.S. senators.
Christopher Hansen, chairman of the party, sent a letter Wednesday to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee asking them to oppose the selection of Sandoval.
Sandoval's "actions against members of the minority Independent American Party are unjust and discriminatory," Hansen complained.
Sandoval is seeking to impose civil penalties up to $15,000 on Independent American Party candidates who refused to file campaign expense and contribution reports, Hansen said. Some of these candidates did not receive any contributions, Hansen said.
As of March this year there were 33,813 registered members of the Independent American Party in Nevada, according to the secretary of state.
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