Tony Cook

Reporter

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Recent Stories (view all stories)

Lobbyists flout disclosure rules in talks with commissioners: Lack of penalties blamed for lack of compliance; Sunday, July 13, 2008; On more than 170 occasions this year, lobbyists failed to file disclosure forms when they visited Clark County commissioners, leaving the public in the dark about what issues they were pushing and on whose behalf.
Controversial UMC deal working out well after all: Sunday, July 6, 2008; Despite its questionable origins, a cardiology contract at University Medical Center has resulted in improvements at the public hospital, according to a report provided to county commissioners last week.
Hauler insists it can boost rates: Republic Services says a ’93 deal lets it raise residents’ bills over county commission’s objections; Wednesday, July 2, 2008; Republic Services is now saying it doesn’t need county commissioners’ approval to start charging valley residents more for garbage collection.
Same lobbyist for courts, shorter term, more money: Sunday, June 29, 2008; What’s increasing faster than the price of gasoline? Apparently, the cost of court lobbyists.
Toxic feud at SEIU’s top ends with resignations: Local’s two ranking leaders reach agreement amid union disorder; Saturday, June 28, 2008; The terms for the resignations of the top two leaders of one of Nevada’s largest unions were laid out over salad and breadsticks at a Las Vegas Olive Garden on Tuesday night.
Next target: UMC: With a California group’s bid to wrest nurses’ union representation at St. Rose hospitals from SEIU tied up, the union turns to University Medical Center, where SEIU has two years to go.; Tuesday, June 24, 2008; The California Nurses Association, unsuccessful so far in pushing aside the powerful SEIU as the preferred organizer of nurses in Southern Nevada, has set a new goal: to unseat the SEIU at University Medical Center.
Boarders getting rent help from county coffers: Sunday, June 22, 2008; A former group home whose license was revoked by Clark County continued to irk neighbors, University Medical Center introduced plans for an advertising campaign to remake its image and Commissioner Tom Collins — a frequent critic of the Sun’s reporting on the county — proposed charging the Sun and Las Vegas Review-Journal for office space at the county government center.
State delaying Medicaid payouts: Hospital officials say hold creating problems; Friday, June 20, 2008; State officials say souring economic conditions have spurred an increase in Medicaid enrollees, causing reimbursement requests to outstrip the amount of money Nevada budgeted for two Medicaid programs.
Adelson money is political baggage: Ads elsewhere have attacked ties to mogul, and heat is building here; Thursday, June 19, 2008; As the Culinary Union agitates, a divide among Democrats on the Clark County Commission is growing about whether to accept money from the companies of Sheldon Adelson, the conservative casino mogul.
Unwanted trade: Boarders for group home residents: Switch cuts short neighbors’ rejoicing; Wednesday, June 18, 2008; The neighbors of Eagle Ridge Manor, a trouble-prone group home for the elderly and the mentally ill, successfully petitioned county commissioners to revoke the home’s business license in March.

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Recent Blog Entries (view all entries)

Commissioners approve hotel room tax proposal for ballot

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Clark County commissioners this morning approved putting an advisory measure about raising hotel room taxes for education spending on the November ballot but only after saying a better funding solution is needed.

Commissioners delay action on possible garbage fee hike

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Clark County commissioners today delayed a scheduled discussion about increasing garbage collection rates to help fund the closing of Sunrise Landfill.

Clark County hires lobbyist

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Atkinson Gates to have hand in DNC decision that could settle Obama-Clinton race

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Woodbury re-election bid faces legal challenge (UPDATED)

Friday, May 16, 2008

Nevada's 2008 ballot is in chaos.

On the final day candidates may file to run for office, Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury's bid for a final term is likely to be challenged by the state's top election official, sources say.

Silver to become UMC's permanent chief

Monday, April 7, 2008

Kathy Silver, who has been University Medical Center’s interim chief executive for 15 months, will become the public hospital’s permanent leader, county officials announced today.

Officials believe new hepatitis case identified

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Health district officials said today that they are “pretty confident” they have identified another patient who contracted hepatitis C at a Las Vegas clinic.

Former commissioner's son, daughter-in-law indicted

Friday, March 14, 2008

Brian P. Atkinson-Turner, the son of former Clark County Commissioner, Yvonne Atkinson Gates, and his wife, Kathryn O’Gara, have been arrested on a federal tax evasion charges, U.S. Attorney Gregory A. Brower announced.

Sexual abuse exams to resume at Children’s Advocacy Center

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Clark County commissioners approved today the hiring of a new team of physicians to conduct sexual abuse exams at the Children's Advocacy Center next to the county's family court facility.

Thomas pleads not guilty; trial date set

Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008

Former University Medical Center boss Lacy Thomas pleaded not guilty to all counts during his arraignment on public corruption charges today in district court.