Conor Shine

Local Government Reporter

A Kansas native, Conor studied engineering at the University of Minnesota but switched to journalism because it was infinitely more fun. It was in his blood, too; he's a third-generation journalist. Conor worked for the Wichita Eagle and the St. Paul Pioneer Press before joining the Sun in 2011.

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New developments downtown are backdrop for discussion on Las Vegas as health care hub: Wednesday, May 22, 2013; Leaders from some of the valley’s biggest medical institutions struck a positive tone as they laid out a vision for the future of health care in Las Vegas centered on a premier medical district downtown during a forum Tuesday night.
Fairgrounds on Las Vegas Strip will accommodate 64,000 for special events: Wednesday, May 22, 2013; An overflow parking lot across from the Luxor will be converted into a fairgrounds for music festivals and other special events, after the plan was approved by the Clark County Commission today.
Henderson council passes $479 million budget, avoiding cuts: Tuesday, May 21, 2013; The Henderson City Council approved a $479 million budget Tuesday evening for fiscal year 2014, which starts July 1, that is roughly the same size as the previous year and won’t require any cuts to staff or services.
Swinger blocked from operating sex club gets another day in court: Tuesday, May 21, 2013; A business owner who said he was improperly denied a business license to open a swingers club in a Las Vegas shopping center will get a second chance to make his case after a federal court ordered Monday that his lawsuit against Clark County be reheard.
Las Vegas City Council OKs slightly larger budget for next year: City must tap $10 million in reserves to avoid any staff cuts; Tuesday, May 21, 2013; With the deadline for submitting a final budget approaching, the Las Vegas City Council approved a $481 million general fund budget for the next fiscal year during a special meeting Tuesday morning.
Complaints about reflexology clinics could result in closer oversight: Tuesday, May 21, 2013; Complaints about misleading advertising and hidden charges at reflexology clinics around the valley have drawn the attention of Clark County commissioners, who decided Tuesday to consider tighter regulations on the health establishments.
County takes $41 million from reserves to balance budget: Monday, May 20, 2013; Clark County commissioners finalized a $1.2 billion budget Monday that will use $41 million in reserves to cover a structural deficit.
Budget, business licenses and UMC to keep commissioners busy on consecutive days this week: Sunday, May 19, 2013; A busy week of meetings awaits Clark County commissioners, who will convene on three consecutive days to conduct official business.
UMC not the only drag on Clark County’s budget outlook: Friday, May 17, 2013; Most of the services provided by Clark County are paid for using revenues from property tax collections. But several county functions — ranging from airports to the Las Vegas Township Constable’s Office — are expected to pay for their operations using fees and other charges they collect from customers, much like a private business. While some of these “self-funded” operations make enough money each year to cover their expenses, many find their budgets in the red. When that happens, the department has several options, including cutting staff, keeping vacant positions open, raising prices or drawing on their reserves.
Water delivery rates headed up, but residents shouldn’t notice: Thursday, May 16, 2013; The cost of pumping water from Lake Mead into the Las Vegas Valley is going up, but residents shouldn’t expect to see any changes in their water bills.
City rolls back fine on Silver Dollar Avenue condos, issues stern warning: Wednesday, May 15, 2013; A Las Vegas property owner will get a steep discount on the nearly $600,000 in outstanding fines tied to 19 condominium units near Valley View Boulevard and Sahara Avenue so long as he makes regular monthly payments to reimburse the city for its cost of cleaning up the property several years ago.
Automatic public art funding prevails in Las Vegas vote: Wednesday, May 15, 2013; Las Vegas will keep its funding for public art projects at current levels after the city council rejected a bill Wednesday that could have scaled back contributions to the program.
Downtown building owners: Overly restrictive code regulations have got to go: Tuesday, May 14, 2013; As the owners of the recently opened Mingo Kitchen and Lounge set about turning the former garage in Las Vegas’ downtown Arts District into a chic eatery, they hit an unexpected and expensive snag.
Las Vegas set to reconsider how city funds art projects: Monday, May 13, 2013; Las Vegas could scale back its funding for the arts under a bill up for approval by the city council this week.
What local hospitals charge for their 10 most common procedures: Sunday, May 12, 2013; Prices for the same type of treatment — whether for kidney failure or a knee replacement — can vary wildly depending on the hospital you choose, often differing by tens of thousands of dollars, according to data released earlier this week by the federal government. The Medicare data, released Wednesday, covers the average charge for the most common types of procedures at 3,300 hospitals nationwide, including 13 in the Las Vegas Valley.
Man shot by police had threatened to go on ‘killing spree’: Friday, May 10, 2013; A Las Vegas man holding a knife to the throat of a hostage told Metro Police officers, “Shoot me, shoot me in the head,” shortly before he was killed in November, according to new evidence revealed Friday.
Rush is on to unearth gold, silver from hills around Searchlight: Wednesday, May 8, 2013; Gold and silver mining operations near Searchlight could start up by the end of the year, after the mine owners received the go-ahead from Clark County commissioners on Wednesday.
County delays action on possible tax increase to aid UMC: Tuesday, May 7, 2013; There’ll be no infusion of funds to University Medical Center this year from a property tax rate increase. Clark County Commission members indicated they needed more information on a potential property tax rate hike to aid UMC.
'It feels monumental': Ground is broken on long-awaited F Street project: Monday, May 6, 2013; As residents of the historic West Las Vegas neighborhood took turns shoveling dirt as part of a groundbreaking on F Street Monday, the culmination of years of work was summarized by a simple phrase: “It’s coming down.”
Second fact-finding review to examine case of knife-wielding man shot by police: Monday, May 6, 2013; The public will get new details about the fatal November shooting of a knife-wielding man by Metro Police during a hearing Friday, the second held under the revamped coroner’s inquest system.
Commissioners consider property tax hike to 'get everybody paying' for financially challenged UMC: Monday, May 6, 2013; More than a third of all patients treated at University Medical Center each year come from nine ZIP codes that surround the valley’s urban core and stretch into North Las Vegas. Still, each year hundreds of thousands of patients from outlying areas make their way to the hospital for treatment.
UMC issues, Rio's twist on zip line on tap for county commission discussions: Sunday, May 5, 2013; University Medical Center’s uncertain future will be at the center of this week’s Clark County Commission meeting, when commissioners discuss raising property taxes to help shore up the hospital’s finances. Commissioners will also discuss giving more autonomy to the hospital’s CEO when they meet at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday.
Las Vegas awards grants to three downtown projects: Wednesday, May 1, 2013; A trio of downtown Las Vegas projects to convert a former motel, laundromat and garage into usable business space received some financial assistance from the city’s redevelopment agency Wednesday.
Expanding downtown Las Vegas redevelopment area would boost nearby communities, official says: Wednesday, May 1, 2013; The redevelopment area that has played a key role in revitalizing downtown Las Vegas could be expanding to help provide funding for outlying neighborhoods.
Controversial rescue of underwater NLV homes to be decided in June: Wednesday, May 1, 2013; The North Las Vegas City Council will decide in June whether to endorse a controversial and complex plan to use its powers of eminent domain to help refinance underwater home mortgages after receiving more information on the proposal during a workshop Tuesday night.
Constable looks to Nevada Supreme Court to save office from closing: Tuesday, April 30, 2013; Las Vegas Township Constable John Bonaventura’s lawsuit against Clark County commissioners is on hold while he appeals the case to the Nevada Supreme Court.
Months after county begins its public art program, city to reconsider its funding: Tuesday, April 30, 2013; In a time when local governments are still struggling to close budget deficits, using public funds for art projects can be a hot-button issue. Proponents argue public art beautifies neighborhoods and builds a sense of community. Critics cringe at the thought of tens of thousands of public dollars being spent on artwork. Since 2005, Las Vegas has diverted 1 percent of the city’s capital improvement budget into an arts fund that has paid for more than 40 commissioned projects throughout the city. The fund has generated $1.3 million, $1.1 million of which has been spent, but collections have dipped in the past several years because of a slowdown in capital spending.
NLV further examines plan to seize underwater mortgages: Monday, April 29, 2013; North Las Vegas City Council members will take a closer look Tuesday night at a controversial and complex proposal to use eminent domain to seize underwater mortgages in an attempt to boost the city’s sagging housing market.
Amnesty offered for home improvements done without permits: Monday, April 29, 2013; Do-it-yourself builders who remodeled a bathroom or added a bedroom to their house without acquiring the necessary permits will get a chance to come clean without facing any penalties during May.
After asbestos found, extension granted to demolish burned-out Key Largo casino: Monday, April 29, 2013; What’s left of the fire-ravaged Key Largo casino near the Las Vegas Strip will remain standing for at least the next few months after county officials granted the property’s owner an extension on the demolition deadline.
Neighbors fighting to block mining in Sloan Hills emerge victorious: Friday, April 26, 2013; Controversial plans for open-pit mining in the Sloan Hills near Henderson will not move forward, the Bureau of Land Management announced Friday, effectively blocking any attempts to mine at the site.
Special meal for Las Vegas' less fortunate is reminder of priest's legacy: Thursday, April 25, 2013; As more than 1,000 hungry diners streamed into Catholic Charities’ dining hall in downtown Las Vegas for a gourmet meal Thursday morning, they were greeted by the words of Monsignor Patrick Leary, who started the Feast of Hope nine years ago. “In this dining room, the blessing comes with the meal, not before it,” read the words, which were posted prominently on one of the cafeteria walls.
Commissioners to mull countywide tax to help fund struggling UMC: Wednesday, April 24, 2013; Debate over how to fix the bleak financial outlook for University Medical Center — which is projected to lose $87 million next year — has divided the Clark County Commission in recent months.
Still-lagging tax revenues leave county $41 million budget hole: Wednesday, April 24, 2013; Clark County is facing a $41 million budget deficit next year but will fill the gap with money from its reserves, avoiding the need for layoffs or program cuts, officials said Wednesday.
Zorro strikes again: Metro pays $105,000 in lawsuit by costumed character: Monday, April 22, 2013; A 2010 confrontation between Metro Police and a costumed Zorro character in front of the Venetian hotel will cost the department $105,000, after it agreed today to settle a lawsuit stemming from the incident.
Funding cut jeopardizes future of Las Vegas anti-terrorism center: Monday, April 22, 2013; Las Vegas area officials are pushing the federal government to reconsider a decision that could cost Clark County $1.8 million in Homeland Security funding, effectively shuttering the region’s counter-terrorism center.
Metro Police budget of $489 million means 188 fewer officers: Monday, April 22, 2013; Metro Police will have to make do with less after the Fiscal Affairs Committee approved a budget Monday that is $13 million less than Sheriff Doug Gillespie requested. Metro Police will have 188 fewer officers next year and could face even deeper losses in the future.
Las Vegas flips the switch on 15,000 solar panels: Thursday, April 18, 2013; With the flip of a switch, Las Vegas city officials today celebrated the powering up of 15,000 new solar panels that will provide energy to a nearby wastewater treatment plant.
Former county fire chief named interim head of Las Vegas Fire & Rescue: Wednesday, April 17, 2013; The Las Vegas fire department is getting its third leader in less than three months while the city searches for a permanent fire chief.
County commissioners skeptical about allowing short-term home rentals: Wednesday, April 17, 2013; A proposal by Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins to reconsider the county’s ban on short-term home rentals in favor of a system that allows and regulates “vacation rentals” was met with skepticism by fellow commissioners Wednesday.
Tyrone Thompson appointed to fill vacant Assembly seat: Tuesday, April 16, 2013; Clark County Commissioners have chosen Odis “Tyrone” Thompson to replace Steven Brooks as the assemblyman for District 17 in North Las Vegas. Thompson, who works on homeless initiatives for the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition, was chosen over six other candidates by commissioners in a unanimous vote at their Tuesday meeting.
Commissioners OK $489 million budget for Metro Police: Tuesday, April 16, 2013; Despite warnings of fewer police officers patrolling the streets, Clark County commissioners refused to support a $502 million budget request brought to them Tuesday by Sheriff Doug Gillespie.
Proposed change targets mandatory aspect of Percent for Arts program: Tuesday, April 16, 2013; Las Vegas could do away with its dedicated funding for the arts under a bill that will be introduced Wednesday at the City Council’s meeting. Council members also will vote on downtown redevelopment grants and revive a discussion on drones when they meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday at City Hall.
Boulder City Police chief says his firing was retaliatory: Monday, April 15, 2013; Boulder City Police Chief Thomas Finn alleged his firing Monday was an act of retaliation by the city’s management and council. In a statement, Finn said he was given the opportunity to resign by City Manager David Fraser on Monday morning after returning to work from medical leave.
Commissioners to wrestle with assemblyman's replacement, Metro budget request: Sunday, April 14, 2013; Assembly District 17 could finally have a new representative to replace the expelled Steven Brooks after Clark County commissioners consider nine candidates at their meeting at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday.
State lawmakers take pass on proposed leadership changes at UMC: Bill would have created independent board to oversee University Medical Center; Saturday, April 13, 2013; A split between Clark County commissioners contributed to the demise of proposed legislation Friday that some argued was critical to the long-term sustainability of UMC.
One candidate in, one out for Assembly seat vacated by Brooks: Friday, April 12, 2013; The slate of candidates up for consideration to replace Steven Brooks in Assembly District 17 is changing, with one applicant added to the list and another dropping off.
Union leaders balk at NLV's budget-cutting plans: City overinflating fiscal problems, labor leaders contend; Friday, April 12, 2013; North Las Vegas officials laid out a stark reality during a budget meeting earlier this week: With the city facing an $18 million deficit next year, more concessions from employee unions will be needed.
Commissioners testify against bill to reshape UMC governance: Wednesday, April 10, 2013; Testimony over a Clark County-backed bill that would allow changes to University Medical Center’s management drew opposition from three commissioners Wednesday, exposing rifts among county leadership on the future of the hospital.
County to select Brooks' replacement from field of nine applicants: Tuesday, April 9, 2013; Clark County commissioners will have nine candidates to consider next week when they’re expected to appoint a replacement for expelled Assemblyman Steven Brooks.