News briefs for June 28, 2005

Tuesday, June 28, 2005 | 11:27 a.m.

Goodman named council chairman

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is the new chairman of the U.S. Conference of Mayor's business council, a position the mayor said, he will use to try to lure new businesses to Las Vegas.

"I'll be talking to all the Fortune 500 companies about coming here," Goodman said. "Maybe we can diversify the economy even more."

The council includes representatives from companies including Bechtel, Coca-Cola, Comcast, Citigroup, DuPont, Fannie Mae and the National Football League, according to a city statement released Monday that announced Goodman's appointment.

Somer Hollingsworth, president and CEO of the Nevada Development Authority, said in the prepared statement from the city that Goodman's appointment is a great opportunity for the mayor and the city of Las Vegas.

"We are going to have one of America's greatest salesman in front of America's greatest corporations with the chance to tell the Las Vegas story," Hollingsworth was quoted as saying. "The mayor will have the chance to explain that Las Vegas is not just gaming, and when he is done I'm sure all those corporations will want to be here."

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is a national organization for cities with populations of 30,000 or more, and counts more than 1,100 mayors as members.

Home damaged in morning blaze

A fire Monday morning caused about $35,000 in damage to a home near Smoke Ranch Road and Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas fire officials said.

The fire started just before 9 a.m. The bedroom where the fire ignited was destroyed and the hallway sustained heavy damage, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

A mother and her two sons, ages 3 and 7, were home but escaped without injury, he said.

Investigators were unable to determine the cause of the fire, Szymanski said.