Tony Cook

Story Archive

Struggling Boulder City Hospital to seek tax district status — and funding: Official says money is needed for emergency room upgrade, technology; Tuesday, March 4, 2008; The chief executive of the private Boulder City Hospital has grown weary of hearing demands for more — and better — services from his little hospital, the only one in town. Well, he says, if residents want more doctors, more fancy equipment and faster emergency room care, they are going to have to chip in.
Group home a bad neighbor, some say: County will weigh whether it should be closed following complaints of residents behaving badly; Sunday, March 2, 2008; Neighbors tell all kinds of horror stories about Eagle Ridge Manor, a group home for the elderly and mentally ill tucked into a residential cul-de-sac in the northwest part of the valley.
Garbage hauler’s been cleaning up on overﬁlled bins: Republic now agrees to prove spills before charging extra; Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008; Republic Services has been ignoring county law and improperly charging property managers a penalty fee for overfilled trash containers — a practice it says it will halt unless it has the photos to prove garbage was spilling from the bins.
Testimony: Thomas boldly cut iffy deals: Cronies in business just to bilk UMC, investigators say; Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008; During Lacy Thomas’ reign as chief executive of University Medical Center he created his own rules, brazenly awarded lucrative contracts to unqualified friends and ousted executives who dared to defy him, according to grand jury testimony.
Here’s your park back; we don’t want it: Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008; Clark County officials performed something of an Abbott and Costello routine at Tuesday’s county commission meeting.
At twice the price, UMC still saves $230,000: Two contractors will do the work of one, with no pay cut for the first; Friday, Feb. 22, 2008; A physicians group offers to do a job for $60,000 annually, but after getting the contract, realizes it can’t perform part of the work. So the hospital gives that job to a separate doctor for another $60,000 a year — without reducing the amount of the first contract.
County seeks a loyal lobbyist to call its own: Last time around, duo double-dipped with gaming giant, creating conflict; Monday, Feb. 18, 2008; Clark County’s most pressing candidate search right now is for a new University Medical Center chief executive, but it’s not the only position available.
UMC pick: What kind of success?: Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008; The central question: Who can best stem the hospital’s massive financial losses and restore public trust? Commissioners have to choose from among three vastly different candidates.
Retired rear admiral: Smallpox scare was a misunderstanding, false alarm: Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008; Here’s a job interview question that’s never fun to answer: Why did you create a smallpox scare on a crowded airplane?
Glitch puts grand jury on hold over UMC: Corruption case’s next date: Unknown; Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008; A logistical glitch Tuesday pushed back a Clark County grand jury’s decision on whether to indict former University Medical Center boss Lacy Thomas on corruption charges stemming from contracts he authorized at the public hospital.
In UMC corruption case, shoe to drop soon: Grand jury looks into how no-bid contracts were awarded at public hospital; Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008; A Clark County grand jury is likely to decide today whether former University Medical Center boss Lacy Thomas will face corruption charges stemming from no-bid contracts he authorized at the hospital.
Check cashing closer to homes: That’s what the county is thinking about allowing; Monday, Feb. 11, 2008; For many Clark County residents, check cashing joints are about as desirable as poison ivy.
At county, two bosses looking out for workers: Critic: Commissioners ‘Pavlovian’ for labor; Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008; Since Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani took office last year, she and Commissioner Tom Collins have been fierce advocates of organized labor, especially the county employees union.
Tax money buys tickets to special events, too: Official: Spending serves residents; Monday, Feb. 4, 2008; Turns out commissioners aren’t the only Clark County officials spending taxpayer money on special events.
Keen readers will recall the Sun’s recent stories about how commissioners and Las Vegas City Council members regularly host parties and sponsor other activities on the public dime. They say the spending is an important way to stay in touch with constituents and help the less fortunate.
Trail from UMC leads to suspect goods: New clues emerge as police investigate how the public hospital is bleeding money; Friday, Feb. 1, 2008; Metro Police turned up a storage unit full of what appeared to be University Medical Center equipment and new leads in their investigation of the public hospital’s facilities department when they served three search warrants Wednesday.
Boggs’ spending will get a second look: Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008; State agents said Wednesday they will investigate former Clark County Commissioner Lynette Boggs’ reported use of $15,900 in campaign funds to pay a criminal defense lawyer.
Boggs: I’ve paid $15,940; Lawyer: I’ve not been paid: Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008; Former Clark County Commissioner Lynette Boggs claimed in her recently filed campaign reports that she paid attorney Bill Terry $10,000, but Terry’s statements during a court hearing appear to contradict the filing.
Boggs did not hold office in 2007, but that didn’t stop her from raising and spending campaign money.
How many free jackets can a guy wear?: Commissioners, other officials report gifts; Monday, Jan. 28, 2008; Jackets ranked at the top of the list of gifts given to Clark County commissioners this year, followed by tickets to sporting events.
U.S. voters fired up — like Nevadans: Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008; It’s one thing to start a fire in the woods of New Hampshire or the cornfields of Iowa. It’s another to set the Mojave Desert ablaze, as Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards did in Nevada last week.
Partying away as taxpayers pay and pay: Vegas council members spend $190,000 on special events over 18 months; Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008; Proving that Las Vegas knows how to throw a party, City Council members spent more than $190,000 on special events during the past 18 months.
Ratepayers shouldn’t foot bill, DA says: Question is whether Clark County will risk legal battle with Republic; Monday, Jan. 21, 2008; As Clark County and garbage company Republic Services near an agreement with federal authorities on how to close the old Sunrise Landfill, a big question remains unanswered: Who will pay for the work?
Audit: After-school program invited theft: Monday, Jan. 21, 2008; You probably wouldn’t expect your gym teacher to be a financial expert. So maybe it’s unfair to expect the folks at Clark County’s Parks and Recreation Department to have a strong grasp on its finances.
It’s Culinary vs. everyone else in labor spat: Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008; Long-simmering tensions between Nevada’s largest union, Culinary Workers Local 226, and other state labor organizations have spilled over to presidential politics and are now playing a role in Saturday’s Democratic caucus.
Doing right by former workers would cost taxpayers $130,000: Monday, Jan. 14, 2008; This week is dominated by Nevada’s Jan. 19 caucus, and because most commissioners are active in one presidential campaign or another, it’s probably a good thing that fewer items are scheduled for their Tuesday meeting than we’ve ever seen here at Week in Review.
But that doesn’t mean the wheels of county government stop turning. In fact, Commissioner Tom Collins is hard at work on an interesting proposal this week.
SEIU rises above chaos for Obama: Union squabbles up to last-minute endorsement; Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008; The Service Employees International Union Nevada endorsed Illinois Sen. Barack Obama on Tuesday night, a tortured decision after a series of fumbles and internal strife that continued to the end. The chaotic selection process and deep division within the union’s ranks will likely diminish the endorsement’s weight. The decision came after a teleconference among 34 of the union’s 44-member executive board Tuesday.
Rory Reid’s gamble on Clinton turns riskier: For campaign honcho, Jan. 19 can pay off or burn; Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008; It seemed a safe bet when mild-mannered Clark County commissioner Rory Reid came out -- in his first high-profile role on a national stage -- for Sen. Hillary Clinton nearly a year ago. But since then, it’s become apparent just how risky the move was for Reid.
Owners of racy news racks get a breather while they sue: County can’t charge us more because it doesn’t like what we sell, owners say; Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008; Operators of news racks stuffed with erotic publications on the Strip made good on their threat to sue Clark County when they filed a lawsuit Dec. 26. Merry Christmas, commissioners!
DA will go after former UMC boss: Prosecutor to begin long process of presenting corruption case Jan. 15; Friday, Jan. 4, 2008; After an investigation that began over a year ago, Clark County District Attorney David Roger plans to take the case against former University Medical Center boss Lacy Thomas to a grand jury this month.
WEEK IN REVIEW: CLARK COUNTY: Monday, Dec. 24, 2007; Out-of-towners inevitably ask the question when you pick them up at McCarran International Airport.
At mobile home park, half a rent increase better than whole: Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007; The residents of Cactus Ridge Mobile Home Community are getting relief from steep rent increases, even if the park's owner is making no guarantees about its future.
In parking fight with Wynn, this round goes to Adelson: Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007; In parking fight with Wynn, this round goes to Adelson
WEEK IN REVIEW: CLARK COUNTY: Monday, Dec. 17, 2007; Anyone who is rich and owns casinos in Macau will tell you: Hangars for all your private jets are at a premium these days.
In race, downtown arena plan falls back: Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007; Anschutz Entertainment Group/Harrah's Entertainment: Developer with experience building arenas across U.S. and abroad says plans are on track for fall 2010 opening.
LOOKING IN ON: CLARK COUNTY: Monday, Dec. 10, 2007; After learning several weeks ago that Republic Services had treated Clark County's landfill attorney to several pricey meals, we wanted to see whether the garbage company was including such expenses in the amount it says it has spent to clean up and close the old Sunrise Landfill.
Suddenly, rules on tax money look good: Monday, Dec. 10, 2007; Clark County Commissioners Chip Maxfield and Bruce Woodbury are calling for formal guidelines regarding how commissioners can spend their discretionary office funds.
Judges rethink upgrade, taxpayers clean up: Friday, Dec. 7, 2007; A second look at how the courts' budget helped save Clark County taxpayers more than $2 million this week:
LOOKING IN ON: CLARK COUNTY: Monday, Dec. 3, 2007; Loyal readers will recall the Sun reported last week that Clark County District Attorney David Roger planned to meet with his deputies to discuss what's next with the Lacy Thomas case.
UNION SPLIT OVER LEADER: Monday, Dec. 3, 2007; Union leaders commonly use the tactic against their foes.
LOOKING IN ON: CLARK COUNTY: Monday, Nov. 26, 2007; We're still reeling from turkey overdose, so let's get right to it.
County proceeding carefully on lawyer with possible conflict of interest: Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007; Clark County officials are taking an extra precaution before trying to resolve a potential conflict of interest involving the attorney who advises the county on Sunrise Landfill issues.
Hauler wants help paying for landfill fix: Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007; Republic Services is putting the squeeze on Clark County to increase collection rates to pay for the higher-than-expected cost of closing Sunrise Landfill, even though the garbage company's existing contract with the county says the business is responsible for the work.
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: CLARK COUNTY: Monday, Nov. 19, 2007; For many, the old Sunrise Landfill has become a symbol of Clark County's cushy - and often controversial - relationship with garbage company Republic Services.
Week in Review: Clark County: Monday, Nov. 12, 2007; Smut peddlers are returning fire in what is shaping up to be a feisty battle over Clark County's plan to quadruple its news rack permit fee.
In Clark County, DA sees surge in black sheep related to his employees: Friday, Nov. 9, 2007; Every family has its black sheep. The families of employees in the Clark County district attorney's office are no exception.
WEEK IN REVIEW: CLARK COUNTY: Monday, Nov. 5, 2007; Like an army with several lines of defense, smut peddlers on the Strip have several lines of offense, or offensiveness.
Coroner's inquest is up for debate: Monday, Nov. 5, 2007; Clark County's controversial coroner's inquest process is likely to be revamped under one of two competing proposals to be introduced at Tuesday's county commission meeting.
WEEK IN REVIEW: CLARK COUNTY: Monday, Oct. 29, 2007; Certain subjects we write about tend to attract more phone calls from readers than others. Garbage service and massage parlors, for example, seem to stir up in readers an urge to call the newspaper and express themselves. That's just fine with us.
LOOKING IN ON: CLARK COUNTY: Monday, Oct. 22, 2007; During discussions about University Medical Center's financial woes, it's not unusual to hear Clark County commissioners emphasize that the hospital is a public service. And, they'll tell you, public services cost money.
No hearing for night court yet: Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007; Rather than expand hours to nights or weekends, Clark County officials plan to spend $14.7 million on courthouse renovations to make room for six new District Court judges who will take the bench in 2009.
WEEK IN REVIEW: CLARK COUNTY: Monday, Oct. 15, 2007; There are basically two ways to chip away at the county hospital's ever-present financial losses - cut spending or boost revenues.