Steve Kanigher

Story Archive

Nevada’s mental health courts are in serious jeopardy: Sunday, May 1, 2011; You can tell Clark County’s mental health court sessions on Thursday afternoons are informal because the judge stands behind a lectern in street clothes, and there isn’t a phalanx of high-priced attorneys to be found. But dealing with adult criminal offenders who suffer from bipolar disorders or schizophrenia is still serious business. During last week’s hourlong session, District Judge Jackie Glass reviewed 28 cases in rapid succession.
State Supreme Court set to hear Clark County cases: Wednesday, April 27, 2011; The Nevada Supreme Court is scheduled next week in Carson City to consider five Clark County cases that include disputes involving medical malpractice, eminent domain, smoking, hepatitis C and construction.
Dipak Desai indicted by federal grand jury in hepatitis C case: Wednesday, April 27, 2011; A federal grand jury in Las Vegas handed down a criminal indictment today against Dr. Dipak Desai and his chief operating officer, Tonya Rushing, in connection with Southern Nevada's high-profile hepatitis C case.
Court upholds man's conviction after scuffle with Lake Mead rangers: Wednesday, April 27, 2011; The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld two separate federal convictions in Las Vegas, involving one individual who scuffled with park rangers and another charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Las Vegas woman has unique perspective on NFL labor dispute: Wednesday, April 27, 2011; If talk radio can be believed, more fans of the National Football League are siding with the players than the team owners in their bitter labor dispute. But it’s no surprise Las Vegas resident Susan Tose Spencer sympathizes with the owners.
How much thought does premeditation require?: Overturn of first-degree conviction by federal judge could lead to others; Sunday, April 17, 2011; There is no dispute that Barbara Pinkston shot and killed the father of her daughter on Father’s Day 1995 outside a children’s play center in Henderson. But because a federal judge questions whether she gave sufficient thought before plugging her ex-boyfriend, he has overturned her first-degree murder conviction.
U.S. Attorney's office notes changes in case of government shutdown: Friday, April 8, 2011; With a possible federal government shutdown looming after midnight tonight, the U.S. Attorney's office in Las Vegas said today that Justice Department functions critical to national security will continue to operate.
State Bar refutes lawsuit allegation, says exams graded correctly: Friday, April 8, 2011; The State Bar of Nevada on Thursday said on its website that the bar exams administered by the Nevada Board of Bar Examiners in February 2010 were graded correctly, refuting an allegation made in a lawsuit last month by former employees who sued the bar.
State gets $81 million to clean up Henderson industrial site: Friday, April 8, 2011; Cleanup of 220 acres of land contaminated with chemicals at the Black Mountain Industrial Complex in Henderson will be made easier, thanks to an $81 million settlement connected with the bankruptcy of chemical maker Tronox.
Is there peace in Nevada? Not much of it, index shows: Wednesday, April 6, 2011; A study released today ranked Nevada third from the bottom among states on a U.S. Peace Index that measured homicide rates, violent crimes, incarcerations and other elements of public safety and health.
Study: Most children in Nevada belong to racial minorities: Wednesday, April 6, 2011; For the first time, a majority of children in Nevada belong to racial minorities, a trend fueled mostly by population growth among Hispanics, according to an analysis of the 2010 Census.
Nevada ranks No. 2 in attacking mortgage fraud: Friday, April 1, 2011; Federal prosecutors in Nevada — home to a record number of foreclosures and plummeting home prices — rank second in the nation for attacking mortgage fraud.
Former justice of the peace ordered not to seek office for 4 years: Thursday, March 31, 2011; The Nevada Judicial Discipline Commission has publicly censured former Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Tony Abbatangelo and prohibited him from seeking judicial office for the next four years.
Nevada Supreme Court to hear arguments in Clark County cases: Wednesday, March 30, 2011; The Nevada Supreme Court will consider oral arguments next week in Carson City on cases emanating from Clark County involving a median, a golf course, blood-alcohol evidence and foreclosures.
Digital expert recommends using tougher passwords, deleting cookies: Wednesday, March 30, 2011; Many people are concerned about identity theft over the Internet and want to know how to protect themselves in the digital world.
Henderson pioneer Troy Bartlett, known for big heart, dies at 86: Tuesday, March 29, 2011; Troy Bartlett, one of Henderson’s pioneers, always lent a helping hand to individuals and families in need, whether it was for groceries, rent or college scholarships.
Longtime feud between chemical manufacturer, landlord gets toxic: Monday, March 28, 2011; Two major Southern Nevada companies are squabbling over how to maintain a toxic chemical waste treatment facility, a Hatfields vs. McCoys dispute that could jeopardize public health with contaminated water.
Bill would ban firefighter union leave at taxpayer expense: Saturday, March 26, 2011; Relentless in his criticism of county firefighters over sick leave and overtime pay, Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak is again on the attack, this time seeking to curtail taxpayer spending that compensates firefighters for conducting union business.
'Life coach' accused of swindling $250,000 from couple: Thursday, March 24, 2011; A man charged with securities fraud and theft for allegedly swindling $250,000 from a married couple who consulted him on how to invest profits from the sale of their home is scheduled to appear today for an initial hearing in Las Vegas Justice Court, the Nevada Attorney General's office announced.
Woman gets 12 years, ordered to pay $31 million in restitution in fraud case: Monday, March 21, 2011; A federal judge in Las Vegas sentenced former Global Express Capital owner Connie Farris to 12 years in prison and ordered her to pay more than $31 million in restitution in a massive mail fraud scheme that victimized hundreds of investors, Nevada's U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said.
Author talks about military robotics and the changing face of war: Thursday, March 17, 2011; Chances are you’ve seen videos of unmanned aerial Predators hitting military targets or tiny robots on wheels disarming roadside bombs. Or maybe you’ve heard about the servicemen at Creech Air Force Base at Indian Springs who control unarmed drones in missions over Afghanistan.
Las Vegas trails regional cities on road to recovery: Monday, March 14, 2011; The latest figures are out and they dismally reconfirm that Las Vegas Valley’s fallen economy is struggling to recover even as some sister cities in the Intermountain West show signs of rebounding.
With eye toward savings, Assembly takes up prison terms: Wednesday, March 9, 2011; A first-time offender for illegal drug possession in Nevada is often placed on probation. But if he fails to pay restitution, leaves the state without permission or skips a drug test, he could land in prison.
Life after prostitution: Bill would erase convictions in some cases: Monday, March 7, 2011; Sexually abused as a child and pimped as a teen in Hawaii, Annie Lobert fell into the violent side of prostitution. She was beaten, raped, tied up and more than once had a gun barrel shoved into her mouth.
2 men arrested in alleged mortgage payment scam: Friday, March 4, 2011; Two men were arrested Friday in connection with an alleged scheme designed to steal mortgage payments from Southern Nevada homeowners, Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said. One of the alleged victims is a senior citizen who lost more than $10,000, officials said.
How flawed firing of Henderson city manager proves costly: Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011; As if Henderson’s money problems weren’t bad enough, it has to pay $1.3 million to a former city manager because it botched her firing with poor communication, questionable legal advice and a mishandled contract.
Man who planned to meet 14-year-old at McCarran convicted of child sex crimes: Friday, Feb. 18, 2011; A jury convicted a man of child sex crimes committed when he solicited sex over the Internet from a person he thought was a 14-year-old girl and then went to McCarran to meet her arriving plane.
Nevada Supreme Court announces changes to foreclosure program: Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011; The Nevada Supreme Court has announced modifications to its Foreclosure Mediation Program, including creation of an advisory committee to recommend program improvements.
Yucca Mountain or not, nuclear waste resides here: Millions of tons of low-level material are buried at the Nevada National Security Site — and the state can do little about it; Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011; During the decades that Yucca Mountain has been the focus of political passion, the Energy Department’s Nevada National Security Site has quietly received 40.8 million cubic feet of low-level waste, some of it passing through Las Vegas.
5 accused of planning Las Vegas home invasions plead not guilty: Friday, Feb. 11, 2011; Five Los Angeles area men facing federal conspiracy, robbery, extortion and drug trafficking charges entered not guilty pleas before a federal magistrate judge today and were detained pending trial, Nevada's U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said.
Judge sentences Las Vegas man in fraud case: Friday, Feb. 4, 2011; District Court Judge Linda Bell sentenced a 56-year-old man to six months in the Clark County Detention Center in connection with an equity skimming case, Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said today.
Two men arrested in alleged mortgage payment scam: Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011; Two Las Vegas men were arrested Thursday for allegedly operating a scam to steal mortgage payments from homeowners, Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said.
Las Vegas woman gets 27 months for fraudulent mortgage loan applications: Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011; A federal judge today sentenced a Las Vegas woman to 27 months in prison after she pleaded guilty to submitting six fraudulent mortgage loan applications in 2004 and 2005, Nevada's U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said.
Man pleads guilty to disclosing UMC patient records for personal gain: Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011; A Las Vegas man pleaded guilty Tuesday to participating in a conspiracy to receive and disclose University Medical Center hospital patient records in order to solicit business and clients for personal injury attorneys.
Former Las Vegas man gets house arrest in mortgage scheme: Friday, Jan. 28, 2011; A federal judge sentenced a former Las Vegas resident Thursday to six months of house arrest for recruiting individuals to submit false mortgage loan applications to a federally insured bank from 2003 to 2005, Nevada's U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said today.
Man takes plea in Navy SEAL weapons case: Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011; A third defendant pleaded guilty today in federal court to conspiring with a U.S. Navy SEAL and others to unlawfully sell weapons and explosives in Las Vegas, Colorado and elsewhere, Nevada's U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said.
Henderson man gets 15 years for series of robberies: Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011; A federal judge handed down a nearly 15-year prison sentence today to a man who robbed two banks, two restaurants, a gas station, a video store and a Starbucks in Henderson last year, Nevada's U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said.
Woman sentenced in Medicaid fraud case: Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011; A Las Vegas resident charged with a gross misdemeanor Medicaid fraud offense received a suspended 90-day jail sentence, Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said today.
Doctor pays $1.25 million to resolve fraud allegations: Monday, Jan. 3, 2011; Dr. Brian Lemper, a Las Vegas anesthesiologist and pain management physician, paid the federal government $1.25 million to resolve civil allegations by the Justice Department that he defrauded two federal health care insurance benefit programs, TRICARE and the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, Nevada's U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said today.
Innovative website helps police track down stolen property: Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011; Not many years ago, people who were robbed or burglarized often fumbled when police asked them for serial numbers, photos or other identifying information to help recover their stolen valuables.
Caregiver for elderly, disabled sentenced for neglect: Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010; A caregiver at a Las Vegas group home for elderly and disabled individuals received a 30-day suspended jail sentence today for neglect of duty in willful or wanton disregard of safety of person or property, Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said.
Outgoing prisons chief reflects on legislative scrapes: Monday, Dec. 27, 2010; Come Jan. 4, Nevada Corrections Department Director Howard Skolnik will no longer have to deal with life and death decisions, shrinking budgets or queries from state lawmakers who have hardly toured prison grounds.
2 Las Vegas men plead guilty to conspiring to sell machine guns: Friday, Dec. 24, 2010; Two Las Vegas men pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to conspiring with a U.S. Navy Seal and another man to unlawfully sell machine guns and other firearms and explosives in Las Vegas, Colorado, and elsewhere, Nevada U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said.
The one unknown about proposed solar field: Cost of energy: Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010; Just about everything to know about a proposed federal zone for solar power plants northeast of Las Vegas is available for public inspection except for one vital detail — how much consumers must pay for the renewable energy.
Ten street gang members arrested, indicted on federal drug charges: Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010; Ten members and associates of the Las Vegas street gangs Donna Street Crips and Anybody's Murders have been arrested and indicted for crack cocaine trafficking and unlawful firearm possession, Nevada's U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said today.
Allstate suit alleges network of medical care fraud: Insurer claims it was bilked by professionals seeking phony profit; Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010; A major insurer says it was victimized by an elaborate conspiracy involving insurance fraud, unnecessary medical care and kickbacks, according to a federal racketeering lawsuit filed Monday in Las Vegas.
Nevada AG sues Bank of America for home loan, foreclosure practices: Lawsuit says Bank of America misled and deceived consumers; Friday, Dec. 17, 2010; The Nevada Attorney General's office sued Bank of America Friday morning for allegedly deceiving homeowners through its residential loan modification and foreclosure practices.
Prisons face threat of smuggled cell phones: Friday, Dec. 17, 2010; Nevada prison officials are joining colleagues nationwide in a crackdown on what they say is widespread illegal cell phone use among inmates. The Nevada Corrections Department wants the 2011 Legislature to allow the state prisons — with a judge’s approval — to trace telephone calls to detect and confiscate cell phones smuggled to inmates.
Officials say illegal cell phone use is widespread in Nevada prisons: Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010; Nevada prison officials are joining colleagues nationwide in a crackdown on what they say is widespread illegal cell phone use among inmates.
Nevada U.S. Attorney's office collects $14 million in year: Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010; Nevada's U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said today his office contributed to the collection of more than $14.1 million in fiscal 2010, the largest amount collected over the past five years.