Alex Richards

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Patients at risk under the knife: Surgical injuries occur at higher rates than expected in area hospitals. Some blame Las Vegas’ culture of mediocrity; Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010; Dr. Victor Grigoriev had good news for Georganne Mumm’s worried family when he emerged from the operating room. The surgery was a success, Mumm says he told her family. He had removed her cancerous kidney and her outlook was good.
How the Sun identified surgical injuries: Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010; Every surgery results in an operative report, in which the surgeon notes each step of the procedure, including any inadvertent nicks, cuts or complications.
A hidden epidemic: Valley hospitals resist reporting the increasing numbers of patients who acquire bacteria infections despite proven prevention methods; Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010; Las Vegas hospital officials say they are doing enough to protect patients from becoming infected with deadly bacteria. But hospitals are failing.
Billing codes key to data analyzed on infections: Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010; The Las Vegas Sun’s reporting on lethal bacteria in hospitals is based on analysis of Nevada hospital data collected by the state from 1999 to 2009.
Reporting is the first of its kind in Nevada: Sunday, June 27, 2010; The Sun’s reporting on patients being harmed while hospitalized is based on the newspaper’s analysis of Nevada hospital data collected in 2008 and 2009.
Health care can hurt you: Sun’s investigation of Nevada hospital data shows 969 incidents of inpatient injuries — some that can be deadly; Sunday, June 27, 2010; Among life’s core assumptions is that hospitals bring healing. But sometimes they bring harm. Rosie Powell’s surgeon removed a mass from the 74-year-old’s abdomen, thinking it was a cancerous tumor. It was a healthy kidney. Donna Wendt’s windpipe was torn during insertion of a breathing tube. Oxygen was pumped into her chest cavity instead of her lungs, bloating her. She couldn’t be saved.
The numbers: What Hispanics are earning in Nevada: Thursday, April 8, 2010; 2008 estimates indicate Nevada has the fifth-highest percentage of Hispanics in the U.S. — 26 percent, or 669,000.
By the numbers: Have you filled out your census form?: Thursday, April 1, 2010; Today is “National Census Day” — not exactly a national holiday but a point of reference for filling out 2010 Census forms mailed out in March.
Oops! Illegal bucks for Montandon: Sun examination of foreign donations to gubernatorial campaign uncovers one that was against the law; Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010; Republican gubernatorial hopeful Mike Montandon accepted a $10,000 donation from a foreign company last year, a violation of federal campaign finance law. The former North Las Vegas mayor said Tuesday that he will return it.
For donors, no clear choice for governor: Nevada’s political ‘establishment’ spreading the wealth; Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010; For the first time in decades, Nevada’s political establishment seems unable to settle on a candidate for governor, funneling large campaign contributions to both Democrat Rory Reid and Republican Brian Sandoval while abandoning incumbent Gov. Jim Gibbons, according to a review of campaign finance reports by the Las Vegas Sun.
A new, and older, demographic trend: Nevada is due for an influx of seniors. Experts say state is unprepared because of limited resources, tightfisted ways; Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010; The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the fastest-growing segment of Nevada’s population over the next 10 years will be senior citizens, and the prospect has policymakers on edge. They fear Nevada’s aging population will put an unbearable strain on the state’s overburdened health care system and social services and create greater urgency to build affordable housing.
Density of crime in Las Vegas in November: Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009; Las Vegas' density of crime.
Workforce reductions hit Nevada amid recession: Monday, Nov. 30, 2009; It’s no secret that Nevada has more workers in the hospitality and food service industries than any other state.
Default in decline, a foreclosures snapshot: A comparison of the numbers from 2008 and 2009; Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009; Percentage of residences, including condo units and town homes, that had a default filed with the county between Oct. 1 and Nov. 19. This is commonly the first step of the foreclosure process.
Nevada construction employment takes dive in recession: Monday, Nov. 23, 2009; In September, the construction industry, because of job losses, accounted for the smallest share of Nevada's workforce it has claimed since 1993.
Clark County gaming: September 2004 to September 2009; Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009; Clark County gaming
Clark County weather, air quality since Oct. 1: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009; Clark County weather
'Density' of Las Vegas-area crime in October: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009; The map below shows the "density" of reported crimes during October within Metro Police's jurisdiction.
Percentage of valley residences in foreclosure: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009; Percentage of residences, including condo units and townhomes, for which an auction notice was received or that were repossessed, Sept. 1 to Oct. 25.
Clark County gaming: August 2004 - August 2009: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009; Clark Country Gaming: August 2004 - August 2009
Clark County weather since Sept. 1: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009; Clark County weather
'Density' of Las Vegas' violent and property crime: Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009; The map below shows the “density” of reported crimes during September within Metro Police’s jurisdiction (Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County).
Percentage of valley homes in foreclosure: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009; Percentage of residences, including condos and townhomes, for which an auction notice was received or that were repossessed, Aug. 1 to Sept. 25.
Clark County gaming win over five years: Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009; Clark County Gaming
Recent Clark County weather measurements: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009; Clark County weather
Las Vegas area crime snapshot for August: Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009; The map below shows the "density" of reported crimes during August within Metro Police's jurisdiction.
Recent foreclosures: Auction notices on homes: Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009; Percentage of single-family homes for which an auction notice was received or that were repossessed, July 1 to Aug. 21.
How the TSA compensates lost or damaged goods at McCarran: Monday, Aug. 24, 2009; The charts below show the details of lost or damaged property claims leveled against the Transportation Security Administration.
Gaming win at Clark County casinos: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009; Clark County Gaming Snapshot
Clark County weather snapshot: Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009; A look at weather in Clark County.
A look at voter turnout by state: Monday, Aug. 10, 2009; A look at voter turnout by state
Along with growth, suburban town limited housing pain: Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009; Few speculators rolled the dice on real estate in Boulder City during Clark County’s housing boom — and not because gambling is illegal there. The town of about 17,000 can thank its slow-growth ordinance for keeping investors at bay and helping stem real estate market losses.
The 'density' of Las Vegas area crime: Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009; The map below shows the “density” of reported burglaries, robberies, larcenies and motor vehicle thefts from June 1 to July 30 within Metro Police's jurisdiction.
Housing affordability and minimum-wage earners: Monday, Aug. 3, 2009; The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 2.2 million of the 75 million hourly workers in the U.S. earn minimum wage and that roughly 1 in 6 U.S. Workers are employed part time.
Real estate: Price per square foot, foreclosures: Tuesday, July 28, 2009; An analysis of recent Las Vegas area real estate numbers.
Unemployment benefits in each state: Monday, July 27, 2009; Maximum weekly unemployment benefit allowed in each state, with a label for the average weekly payout in each state.
Clark County gaming snapshot, 2004-2009: Tuesday, July 21, 2009; Clark County Gaming Snapshot
Valley residents support more than 100 animal medical care facilities: Monday, July 20, 2009; The cost of keeping pets healthy rose more than 2 1/2 times as fast as consumer prices in general over the past 10 years.
Clark County weather snapshot: Tuesday, July 14, 2009; A look at the temperatures, ozone levels and winds this summer in Las Vegas.
A look at airfares: Monday, July 13, 2009; A look at airfares in Las Vegas.
Auto sales slumping in Clark County: Monday, July 6, 2009; Figures from TransUnion, one of the nation's largest credit reporting bureaus, show that Nevadans carry the highest average balance on auto loans in the nation.
What students at U.S. public colleges and universities pay: Monday, June 29, 2009; Figures from the U.S. Department of Education show what a typical full-time student attending a public college or university paid in each state during the 2007-08 academic year.
Hunting licenses in Nevada: Monday, June 22, 2009; Hunting licenses in Nevada
Thieves, drunks and lawyers are why your rates are so high: Nevadans have more accidents, file more lawsuits and have the ninth highest premiums in the U.S.; Sunday, June 21, 2009; Nevadans are burdened with some of the highest auto insurance premiums in the country, according to a Sun analysis. The state’s residents spent a bit more than $1,000 per year, per vehicle, in 2006, the most recent year for which statistics are available.
Nevada No. 2 in 18- to 64-year-olds without health insurance: Monday, June 15, 2009; Percentage in each state, age 18 to 64, without health insurance coverage of any kind in 2008.
Comparing home sale prices with a year earlier: Monday, June 8, 2009; The maps below show median sale prices for single-family homes in each valley ZIP code from March 1 to May 31 of this year, and how they compare to prices during the same period in 2008.
Where recent out-of-state homebuyers are based: Monday, June 1, 2009; Although most sales in the local real estate market in 2009 have been short sales or foreclosure properties, movement in the market isn't being propelled solely by bargain-hunting investors.
Demographic changes in Clark County: Tuesday, May 26, 2009; Clark County’s population has grown by more than one-third since 2000, though that rapid growth waned in 2008.
Vacant business addresses on the rise: Monday, May 18, 2009; Nearly 13 percent of all business addresses in Clark County had been empty for at least three months straight in March.
Some of Nevada's public workers sitting pretty: Afloat on overtime and generous retirement benefits, some state and local workers in Nevada belie the state’s reputation for government parsimony; Sunday, May 17, 2009; Nevada has fewer public employees than nearly every state in the union, but government workers here are among the nation’s most handsomely rewarded, according to a Sun analysis of census data. Nevada public employees make 16 percent above the national average, trailing only California, New York and a few other places where the cost of living is much higher than in Nevada.