Mike Trask

Reporter/ General Assignment

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Story Archive

Thomas Finn, Police Chief of Boulder City: Wednesday, June 10, 2009; When Thomas Finn became the Boulder City police chief three years ago, he learned quickly that residents demand attention, and aren’t bashful about knocking on the front door of his house to complain about traffic issues.
Vote to spend millions on museum expected Tuesday: Sunday, June 7, 2009; The Henderson City Council, which has had to trim the ranks of employees and dip into its reserves to make ends meet, will decide Tuesday whether to spend as much as $25.4 million on the planned Henderson Space and Science Center.
Post-election, NLV manager’s hold on job is tenuous: Friday, June 5, 2009; Gregory Rose, the city manager of North Las Vegas, is breathing only a bit easier in the wake of Tuesday’s municipal election.
For the well-intentioned, losses in city elections sting: Thursday, June 4, 2009; Some win, some lose. Such is life in politics. In a small town the losses can feel all the more personal. People you know reject you. Angelo Carvalho felt the pain Wednesday after absorbing a 14 percentage point beating in the North Las Vegas Ward 3 City Council race.
Blow by blow with hired gun: Sun spends voting day’s anxious moments with consultant to 5 hopefuls; Wednesday, June 3, 2009; Jim Ferrence woke up on Election Tuesday hoping he’d end the day tens of thousands of dollars richer — and having ushered candidates in four cities to victory.
Henderson hopeful capitalizes on past favor: Saturday, May 30, 2009; Henderson mayoral candidate Steve Kirk featured a former electrician who uses a motorized scooter on a mailer as an example of someone he helped with a small problem -- and someone his opponent, Councilman Andy Hafen, ignored.
Tight mayoral race now a battle in Henderson: More specifically for volunteers, the right votes; Friday, May 29, 2009; Politicians love to remind us that every vote counts. They want to get every last voter to the polls. On Tuesday in Henderson, the mayoral candidates really do need to get people — their people — to the polls.
Elephant sits in room throughout NLV debate: Robinson, who’s ducked public forums of late, finds one that’s safe; Friday, May 29, 2009; For weeks, after being identified as a target of a 1994 FBI investigation — that didn’t pan out — into suspected political corruption, North Las Vegas mayoral candidate William Robinson had been keeping a low profile.
Henderson hopefuls spill a little about fired manager: Tuesday, May 26, 2009; Henderson mayoral candidates Andy Hafen and Steve Kirk had plenty to say in recent interviews about the firing of former City Manager Mary Kay Peck.
Mayoral candidates similar, even compliment each other: Henderson mayor hopefuls want to see city through recession; then they’ll plan; Friday, May 22, 2009; In deciding which of the two Henderson mayoral candidates has the best vision for the city’s future, there’s one place Henderson voters need not look: at the candidates themselves.
NLV mayoral candidate gets warm greeting at barbecue: Friday, May 22, 2009; The back-yard barbecue was a chance to meet North Las Vegas Councilman and mayoral candidate William Robinson. There were plenty of burgers and hot dogs and lots of friendly banter. And no one was heard asking Robinson about being the focus of a 1994 FBI political corruption investigation.
Outgunned, council hopeful still keeps race civil: Conventional candidate can’t compete in money, connections; Wednesday, May 20, 2009; There’s a well-traveled route toward political involvement in the suburbs. The people running for city council seats typically come from community groups and homeowners associations.
Nine Inch Nails fans getting long in the tooth: Tuesday, May 19, 2009; We’re all too old and tired for a mosh pit at the Nine Inch Nails show Monday night at The Pearl at The Palms.
NDOT's cost warning bypassed: State has put millions behind routing traffic around Boulder City despite few benefits for those costs; Tuesday, May 19, 2009; A Nevada Department of Transportation analysis of the proposed Boulder City Bypass concluded that the cost of building the first phase of the project would outweigh its potential benefits. Despite reaching that conclusion in late 2007, the agency has continued to spend millions on studying and buying land for the project. The Transportation Department’s analysis looked at the project’s first phase and concluded it would cost $140 million to build and provide only $49 million in benefits. Despite reaching that conclusion in late 2007, the agency has continued to spend millions on studying and buying land for the project.
Park Highlands developer files for court’s protection: Developer owes more than $100 million, seeks reorganization; Monday, May 18, 2009; Work on the project began in January 2007 with the expectation that residents would start moving in by the end of 2008.
FBI probe in ’94 mars candidacy: Though never charged, NLV mayoral candidate contending with onslaught; Friday, May 15, 2009; North Las Vegas Councilman William Robinson doesn’t want to talk about a 1994 FBI investigation targeting him and which now threatens to upend his campaign for mayor. He said his innocence is supported by the fact he was not prosecuted. “We’ve put this behind us,” said Jim Ferrence, Robinson’s campaign manager. “We are no longer addressing 15-year-old things for which he was exonerated.”
Frank Lowery, Race director of annual Silverman Triathlon: Wednesday, May 13, 2009; Frank Lowery is one of the most physically fit men in Southern Nevada. The 37-year-old Air Force veteran has completed 149 triathlons over 23 years.
Commissioner throws weight behind Robinson: Friday, May 8, 2009; Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins weighed in on the North Las Vegas mayoral race via automated phone calls Thursday.
NLV mayoral hopeful playing tricks, police union says: Friday, May 8, 2009; North Las Vegas mayoral candidate William Robinson has drawn the ire of the union representing 475 city police officers.
Busted slot joint’s rebirth?: Dotty’s chain picks peculiar time to try to reopen NLV gaming establishment; Wednesday, May 6, 2009; To call this tiny 39-year-old slot joint, formerly named the Beverly Hillbillies Gambler Casino, dilapidated would be a compliment.
NLV Police: Mayoral candidate Robinson is deceiving voters: Tuesday, May 5, 2009; The North Las Vegas Police Officers Association said today it will file an ethics complaint with the state Elections Department against mayoral candidate William Robinson, claiming he is attempting to deceive voters with at least two of his mailers.
Bypass proponents charting a new course: Monday, May 4, 2009; Boulder City residents have long sought construction of a bypass highway that would allow motorists traveling between Las Vegas and Hoover Dam to drive around their town as opposed to driving through it, as they are now forced.
A peek at the work of the swine flu monitors: First at daily meeting, information is shared; after that, we’re really not sure; Saturday, May 2, 2009; It’s time for their morning briefing, in a conference room framed by cheap wooden bookcases filled with books, thick binders and DVDs with names like “How to Disinfect Children.” Children.” The topic of the day -- indeed, the topic all week long -- is the swine flu outbreak.
Twitter helping to get the word out: Using messaging service, officials can reach out to the public at the speed of … type; Thursday, April 30, 2009; Twitter, the latest craze in the world of instant communication, is being adopted by a group of users not known for their speed: government bureaucrats. The people in charge of public outreach at Clark County and North Las Vegas say Twitter — a service that allows users to send short messages to Internet-friendly cell phones and similar devices — will enable them to distribute news and information more quickly than ever. Erik Pappa, who is in charge of how Clark County communicates to its residents, says Twitter is the fastest way to reach people.
NLV mayor race a clash of generations: Candidates crossed paths before politics; Tuesday, April 28, 2009; In the early 1970s William Robinson roamed the sidelines as a Pop Warner football coach in North Las Vegas. Twelve-year-old Shari Avance played on the sidelines as her older brother, Mike, took instructions from the coach.
In small town, only debate is king: You can reserve a space for talk of Boulder City politics — just don’t think you have the floor; Tuesday, April 28, 2009; People are gathering in a back room of the library, where an aging flag hangs haphazardly along the wall and an old upright piano calls a back corner home.
NLV candidates at odds on city manager assessment: Monday, April 27, 2009; North Las Vegas City Council members Shari Buck and William Robinson, who are competing for mayor, have vastly different views of City Manager Gregory Rose.
Candidate explains why he doesn’t live in house he owns: North Las Vegas switched his ward, and he’s living where he wants to run; Tuesday, April 21, 2009; Questions have been raised in North Las Vegas about where Ward 3 City Council candidate Angelo Carvalho lives.
Rock-mine proposal draws opposition: Nearby residents slate meeting in Anthem tonight to plan their fight; Monday, April 20, 2009; Two mining companies are seeking approval from the Bureau of Land Management to start a 640-acre rock-excavation operation off Las Vegas Boulevard South, agitating Henderson residents concerned about dust and noise.
Tempers flare in NLV as union deal breaks down: Councilman to manager: Try again for concessions; Friday, April 17, 2009; North Las Vegas City Councilman William Robinson is frustrated by City Manager Gregory Rose’s inability to get pay and benefit concessions from city workers.
This mom’s, like, totally rad: Her teenage son wanted a skateboard shop — and she said OK; Tuesday, April 14, 2009; Michelle Bromelia surely qualifies as one of the coolest moms in the world.
Town might cash in further on sunshine: Fourth lease in energy zone could bring Boulder City another $2 million a year; Monday, April 13, 2009; Boulder City leases land in its Eldorado Valley Energy Zone to three solar-power companies, and on Tuesday the City Council may add a fourth.
Recapping the municipal primaries: Who won, who lost — candidates and beyond; Friday, April 10, 2009; Voters this week greeted primary elections in Henderson and North Las Vegas with more gaping yawns, but turned out in respectable numbers in Boulder City.
Big-league campaign tactic takes small town by surprise: Friday, April 3, 2009; The buzz in Boulder City this week focuses on a series of automated phone calls targeting City Council candidate Joe Roche.
Boulder City election issue No. 1: Debt: Nine candidates for two seats are vying to address this, a host of other concerns; Thursday, April 2, 2009; Boulder City might seem the most stable and serene city in Southern Nevada, having limited growth and fended off the sprawl of Las Vegas.
Prominent Republicans back Democratic hopeful: Monday, March 30, 2009; The municipal races are supposed to be nonpartisan. But the nonpartisanship often comes with a wink.
Henderson elections all about biography: Experience defines these races as much as issues; Friday, March 27, 2009; Henderson has gracefully matured from a small World War II factory and mining town into the state’s second-largest city.
Mint 400 revival gives former racer chance to wax nostalgic: Thursday, March 26, 2009; Mel Larson’s journey toward Las Vegas lore began in an elevator in Phoenix.
In North Las Vegas, going for the Obama effect in mayoral race: Robinson, others seek to capitalize on new voter ranks, enthusiasm; Wednesday, March 25, 2009; It’s been nearly six months since the Obama campaign used a storefront in North Las Vegas as a field office. But politics still permeates the place.
Henderson tries furloughs, more buyouts to fix budget: Some employees will be able to take 12 days off, unpaid; Tuesday, March 24, 2009; Henderson is taking more steps to dig itself out of a financial hole.
NLV races come as city arrives at a crossroads: Voters will select mayor, two council members, and determine gaming’s future; Saturday, March 21, 2009; Over the past decade North Las Vegas has sprouted from a gritty and sometimes maligned urban city into a middle-class suburb.
Will local races feel an Obama bump?: No one knows for sure how new voters will alter traditionally low-interest contests in Henderson, North Las Vegas; Thursday, March 19, 2009; Thanks in large part to voters’ excitement about Barack Obama’s presidential candidacy last year, a record number of residents in North Las Vegas and Henderson registered to vote in the November election.
Hearing delayed again on Station Casinos site: Boyd also has plan for area in North Las Vegas; Monday, March 16, 2009; Plans for casinos north of the Las Vegas Beltway in North Las Vegas continue to be stalled.
Henderson’s museum plan assumes rebound: Sunday, March 15, 2009; This hardly seems the time for Henderson to spend $61 million on, of all things, a space and science museum as the city chops tens of millions of dollars from its next two annual budgets.
News sources, here’s your crystal ball: No wonder nobody seems to have one -- they’re tough to find; Friday, March 13, 2009; Everyone is nervous. Everyone is scared. Everyone wants to see into the future. And nobody has a crystal ball.
Science museum vision to become clearer: Henderson council to appoint oversight board for $61 million project; Monday, March 9, 2009; Henderson will create a board of directors to oversee planning for a science museum that is being pitched as the centerpiece of a massive mixed use project.
Russell Banks, author, visiting professor at UNLV: Monday, March 9, 2009; Russell Banks may not be the most famous novelist in America. But many consider him among the best.
Small town making hay: Boulder City luring solar developers with open land, speedy approval process; Sunday, March 8, 2009; If you’re a solar energy company wanting to do business in Boulder City, there’s really only one person you need to see. You’ll find him in the City Hall basement, where he’s been holed up for 32 years.
Planning guru holds out some hope for Vegas: Build on entertainment, link with Calif., he says; Friday, March 6, 2009; A year ago urban planning guru Richard Florida told the Sun that Las Vegas has a bright future. “The thing that bodes best for Las Vegas is its location,” Florida said.
BC council rivals question hopeful’s job history: Wednesday, March 4, 2009; Boulder City Council candidate Joe Roche’s campaign finance statement is raising questions from opponents about his employment history.