Tuesday, March 28, 2006 | 6:49 a.m.
While the efforts to bring a top sports franchise to Las Vegas are focused on the so-called big four - football, basketball, baseball and hockey - the city is also drawing interest from perhaps the most popular sport in the world: soccer.
Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber and President Mark Abbott met with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman about two weeks ago to talk about the city as a future home of an MLS team.
Abbott said it was a "very introductory meeting" that lasted about an hour.
"We talked about Las Vegas and the league, and we'll see what the next steps are," Abbott said. "Las Vegas has a growing population, a strong youth soccer base, and a large number of people who have moved there from countries where soccer is the dominant sport.
"It's a market we're exploring."
Abbott said the league, which was launched in 1996, is planned to grow from 12 teams to 16 teams by 2010.
The expansion cities haven't been finalized.
Goodman said even if Las Vegas landed one of the new MLS franchises, he'd still want another pro team.
"I told him I'm a basketball-baseball-football guy, but I think it would be a great move," the mayor said.
Las Vegas has had the country's leading pro soccer leagues in the past, the North American Soccer League in the 1970s for one year and Major Indoor Soccer League in the 1980s.
Goodman keeps refusing to say whether he will run for the U.S. Senate, dragging out whatever suspense there is on the subject.
Last week the mayor said he has already decided, but refused to divulge his plans. Why?
"Because I want to make an announcement," Goodman said.
The mayor said he plans to make his announcement in the next few weeks.
Earlier this month Goodman, a Democrat, said he would go public with his decision if Jack Carter, the only Democrat so far to announce a campaign for the seat, asked him to. Apparently, no such request was made.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face incumbent Sen. John Ensign, a Republican.
The city and the Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada are currently accepting nominations for the annual Southern Nevada Youth Impact Awards.
Awards will go to young people based on their involvement with a volunteer project within the last year.
Winners will be selected from four age groups: 5-11, 12-14, 15-18 and 18-24.
Nominations are due by April 7, and the award recipients will be recognized during a National Youth Service Day event on April 23.
Nomination forms are available through the city's Web site at www.lasvegasnevada.gov, or at the Neighborhood Services Department .
Las Vegas is currently accepting applications for grants to help fund school-related programs.
The Parents as Learning Support grants range from $1,500 to $8,000, and are intended to go to programs that involve parents and their children's schools.
Grant recipients must be affiliated with an established parent group or school organization located within the Las Vegas city limits.
Eligible programs could include projects such as school newsletters or Web sites, health and safety programs, after-school clubs, or English as a second language and literacy courses.
Grant applications are due May 5, and are available on the city's Web site or at the Neighborhood Services Department .
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