Cy Ryan

Carson City Bureau Chief

Contact Cy via e-mail

Call Cy at 775-687-5032.

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Story Archive

Medical board rejects deal for doctor accused of malpractice: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009; The Nevada Board of Medical Examiners rejected Friday a proposed settlement with a Henderson physician linked by authorities to the deaths of eight patients after prescribing them narcotic painkillers. The proposed agreement with Dr. Kevin Buckwalter called for him to plead guilty to three counts of malpractice, pay a $4,000 fine and allow the board to revoke his license to practice.
Nonpartisan voters make biggest gain in October: Friday, Nov. 6, 2009; CARSON CITY – Democratic and Republican candidates are spending the most money but nonpartisan voters made the biggest gains in registration in October.
Court orders new penalty hearing for killer: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009; CARSON CITY – Pedro Rodriguez, who once told his lawyers he didn’t want to appeal his death sentence for the killing of a woman confined to a wheelchair, will have a new penalty hearing.
10,000 jobless Nevadans could see benefits extended: Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009; CARSON CITY – An estimated 10,000 Nevadans who have exhausted their unemployment benefits could be aided by a bill that gained final approval in Congress today. The House passed the legislation 403-12 and sent the bill to President Obama. The Senate voted 98-0 Wednesday to extend jobless benefits by 14 weeks for every state -- with an additional six weeks, for a total of 20 weeks -- in high unemployment states where the jobless rate exceeds 8.5 percent.
Chief Justice Hardesty announces for second term: Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009; CARSON CITY – Chief Justice Jim Hardesty has announced he will run for a second term to the Nevada Supreme Court.
Panel outlines rising cost of medical care in Nevada: Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009; CARSON CITY – Health care costs are rising but half of Nevada hospitals are losing money.
Lowden: ‘I didn’t laugh about it’: But tape of exchange over Reid bomb story reveals otherwise; Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009; Was it a chuckle or a laugh? And what, exactly, was she laughing at? The talk radio exchange that set off the skirmish between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sue Lowden, one of his Republican challengers, was dissected Tuesday on the Northern Nevada TV program “Nevada Newsmakers.”
Attorney wants mistrial for death row inmate over juror questioning: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009; CARSON CITY – A defense attorney for death row inmate James R. Walker says a mistrial should have been granted in Las Vegas when the only black juror was questioned by the prosecution about race issues.
Former state senator Raymond C. Shaffer dies at 77: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009; CARSON CITY – Former state Sen. Raymond C. Shaffer, who represented North Las Vegas, has died at the age of 77. The death Saturday was announced at a meeting of the Legislative Committee on Energy today.
Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie to run for Senate: Monday, Nov. 2, 2009; CARSON CITY – Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, who is stopped from running for reelection because of term limits, will seek a seat in the Senate to succeed Sen. Bernice Mathews, D-Reno.
Woman suing Gibbons will oversee state's spending of stimulus: Monday, Nov. 2, 2009; CARSON CITY – A woman who is suing Gov. Jim Gibbons over her job loss is now working to oversee how his administration spends federal stimulus money. Mary Keating, who has worked in government for 26 years, will earn $102,000.
Longtime Carson City justice of the peace to retire: Monday, Nov. 2, 2009; CARSON CITY – Justice of the Peace Robey Willis says he will retire in January 2011 after 27 years on the bench, the longest serving justice of the peace in Carson City history.
Northwest Airlines wins ruling over McCarran accident: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009; CARSON CITY -- A federal appeals court has ruled that Northwest Airlines has the right to continue its pursuit to recover $10.6 million for damage to one of its plane that rolled down an embankment at McCarran International Airport in February 2002.
Court denies killer's appeal for sixth time: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009; CARSON CITY – For the sixth time, the Nevada Supreme Court has denied the appeal of Las Vegas killer Oscar Williams Jr., who is serving a life term without the possibility of parole for the murder of his wife.
Panel rejects Southwest Gas rate hike request: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009; CARSON CITY – Southwest Gas originally asked to raise rates in Southern Nevada by an average of 4 percent.
Water authority to appeal ruling on water use: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009; CARSON CITY – The Southern Nevada Water Authority intends to appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court a judge’s ruling that would stop it from pumping 18,755 acre feet of water a year from portions of rural eastern Nevada.
Taxable sales in Clark County plummet 26 percent: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009; Taxable sales in Clark County slumped 26.1 percent in August, the biggest decline recorded in the current economic downturn. The state Taxation Department said this was the 12th straight month of lower taxable revenues in the county.
$17.3 million National Guard solar project advances: Monday, Oct. 26, 2009; CARSON CITY – The state has cleared another hurdle to permit a Sparks company to go forward with a $17.3 million project to install solar panels at three National Guard locations at no cost to the state.
State issues cease order against Vegas escrow company: Friday, Oct. 23, 2009; CARSON CITY – The state Division of Mortgage Lending has issued an order to stop the Las Vegas-based company of Escrow Unlimited from accepting new business and is seeking to impose a minimum $20,000 fine.
Multi-million-dollar battle waged over estate of Milton I. Schwartz: Ex-wife asserts claims that include right to $4 million life insurance policy; Friday, Oct. 23, 2009; CARSON CITY – A multi-million dollar battle is being waged by the ex-wife of the late rich businessman Milton I. Schwartz who helped built the Flamingo Hotel and was a founder of Valley Hospital in Las Vegas.
Proposal to close halfway houses won’t be presented: President of corrections association says his plan would eliminate need for furloughs; Friday, Oct. 23, 2009; Prison officials have spent the past few months trying to trim costs without forcing employees to take monthly furloughs, which they argue would endanger prison guards and inmates.
Supreme Court upholds first-degree murder conviction: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009; CARSON CITY – The Nevada Supreme Court has upheld the first-degree murder conviction of Wilbert E. Leslie, sentenced to consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole for a Las Vegas killing in 1994.
Court denies request of man held at Imperial Palace: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009; CARSON CITY – The Nevada Supreme Court has denied a petition for a re-hearing in a case in which a professional gambler is suing the Imperial Palace for detaining him without evidence of criminal activity.
Court overturns death penalty in cab driver's shooting: High court upholds two other death penalty cases; Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009; CARSON CITY – The Nevada Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence for Frederick L. Paine, convicted of the fatal shooting of a cab driver during a robbery in Las Vegas in 1990.
Nevada's jobless rate second in nation after Michigan: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009; For the second consecutive month, Nevada placed second in the nation for its unemployment rate, trailing only Michigan. The U.S. Department of Labor said today Nevada’s rate of 13.3 percent was second to Michigan’s 15.3 percent. The state reported Tuesday there were 190,700 workers who were jobless in September. And the 13.3 percent is a record for the state. The labor department said the national rate was 9.8 percent. Rhode Island posted a 13 percent jobless rate and California reported a 12.2 percent unemployment rate.
'Vision' committee targeting quality of life in Nevada: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009; CARSON CITY – The 2009 Legislature authorized a so-called “vision” committee to chart a course to improve Nevada’s quality of life in such areas as health, education, commerce and public safety in the next 20 years.
County's jobless rate increases to record 13.9 percent: 190,700 people are out of work statewide; Monday, Oct. 19, 2009; CARSON CITY – Unemployment in Clark County shot up one-half of 1 percent to another record of 13.9 percent with 141,000 workers jobless in September. The state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation reported the 13.9 percent compares with 7.4 percent in the same month a year ago. But while the unemployment rate increased markedly in Clark County, the state rate rose only one-tenth of a percent to 13.3 percent with 190,700 people out of work.
Prisons chief claims abuse of sick leave: He says more guards call in on holiday weekends, leaving staffs short; Friday, Oct. 16, 2009; The head of the state prison system is accusing correctional officers of abusing their sick leave, further complicating staffing problems at Nevada’s lockups.
Four named finalists for study on Nevada tax structure: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009; CARSON CITY – Moody’s Analytics, a nationally recognized financial company, is the top choice of a group of Nevada legislators for a study on the possible changing of the Nevada tax structure.
Housing market will get a boost from state: Money to cover about 850 loans available for first-time buyers; Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009; The state Housing Division is moving forward with plans to loan $125 million to first-time, lower-income home buyers in Nevada. Agency officials estimate the money, which will be raised through the sale of state bonds, will finance the purchase of about 850 homes.
State board OKs $500,000 for tax study, Gibbons dissents: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009; CARSON CITY – The state Board of Examiners, in a 2-1 vote with Chairman Gov. Jim Gibbons dissenting, recommended $500,000 be set aside to hire a consultant to help with a legislative study of Nevada’s tax system and if it should be changed.
Gibbons says he wouldn't appoint himself if Ensign resigns: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009; CARSON CITY – Were Sen. John Ensign to resign, Gov. Jim Gibbons said Tuesday he wouldn't appoint himself to the U.S. Senate seat.
Gibbons promotes energy director to new position: Monday, Oct. 12, 2009; Gov. Jim Gibbons has promoted his director of the Office of Energy to a newly created job overseeing the state's renewable energy efforts, according to sources in the governor's office.
Gibbons names Vegas lawyer to athletic commission: Monday, Oct. 12, 2009; CARSON CITY – Gov. Jim Gibbons has named Las Vegas lawyer Francisco Aguilar to the Nevada Athletic Commission to succeed John Bailey on the body that regulates boxing.
Medical board's director resigns after controversy: Friday, Oct. 9, 2009; CARSON CITY – Louis Ling, executive director of the state Board of Medical Examiners, has resigned after being involved in a controversy over the use of medical assistants giving flu shots.
Nurse who reported misconduct reinstated at hospital: Friday, Oct. 9, 2009; CARSON CITY – A hearing officer has ruled that psychiatric nurse Elisa McCall was dismissed from her job at the state’s Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital in Las Vegas because she reported the misconduct of another nurse that endangered the patients.
Court rules in condominium videotaping case: Friday, Oct. 9, 2009; CARSON CITY – Monica Moffatt and her two daughters gained a writ from the district court in Las Vegas in their suit against their neighbors for pointing a high camera into their back yard and videotaping the Moffatt family in their condominium for several years.
Court: Parolees can face lie detector tests: Friday, Oct. 9, 2009; The Nevada Supreme Court has held the Nevada State Board of Parole Commissioners and its officers may conduct lie detector tests on inmates who have been freed on parole.
Court: Teacher's contact with student 'unreasonable': Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009; CARSON CITY – The Nevada Supreme Court has ruled that physical contact between a teacher and a Clark County School District student “was excessive and unreasonable.”
Strip gaming win drops 9 percent in August: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009; CARSON CITY – Gambling winnings at the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip plummeted 9 percent in August, the 20th straight month of a decline. The 40 casinos along the Strip won $449.5 million before taxes and business expenses.
Medical board member exits over leaked memo: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009; Gov. Jim Gibbons has agreed that a member of the Medical Examiners Board should resign for leaking an internal board memo to the Las Vegas Sun.
Southwest Gas Corp. wants slight decrease in rates: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009; CARSON CITY – Southwest Gas Corp. wants to lower its general rates in Southern Nevada by $1.5 million, which would translate into a decrease of pennies a month for homeowners’ bills.
Supreme Court rejects killer's appeal: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009; CARSON CITY – The Nevada Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of Las Vegas killer Jack D. Getz, who says he withheld testimony during his 2000 trial because of threats to his family’s safety.
UNLV professor submits low bid for Nevada tax study: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009; CARSON CITY – An economics professor at UNLV has submitted a low bid of $32,200 to be the consultant to a legislative committee studying ways to guide Nevada away from its boom and bust cycle of taxation.
Gibbons sides with medical board over leaked memo: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009; CARSON CITY – Gov. Jim Gibbons has joined the hierarchy of the state Board of Medical Examiners in seeking the resignation of board member Jean Stoess for giving an internal memo to the Las Vegas Sun.
Council urges no change in business jobless tax: State economist says Nevada's jobless rate could hit 14.4 percent next year; Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009; CARSON CITY – Ignoring a suggestion from Gov. Jim Gibbons, a state advisory council has recommend the state's business unemployment tax remain the same in 2010 for nearly 60,000 businesses in light of the depressed economy.
Medical board member asked to resign after contact with media: Monday, Oct. 5, 2009; CARSON CITY – Jean Stoess, a member of the state Board of Medical Examiners, has quit at the request of its president and executive director for talking to the press. She is appointed by the governor and has more than two years left in her term.
Court: Casinos, bars aren't responsible after drunken patrons leave: Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009; CARSON CITY – A tavern or casino owner who evicts a rowdy drunk customer does not have a duty to prevent a later injury, the Nevada Supreme Court has ruled. It rejected the appeal of a 17-year-old who was drinking with his two step uncles at Buffalo Bill’s Resort and Casino.
Gibbons names new PUC chairman: Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009; CARSON CITY – Gov. Jim Gibbons has elevated Sam Thompson of Las Vegas to be chairman of the state Public Utilities Commission, which regulates electric, natural gas and telephone companies and other utilities.
Gibbons suggests $70 million tax break for businesses: Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009; CARSON CITY – At a time when the state’s trust fund to pay benefits to the jobless is broke, Gov. Jim Gibbons is suggesting a $70 million tax break to employers whose premiums support the program.