Torey Van Oot

Story Archive

$500 later, red graffiti removed from 'Fabulous' sign: Officials say vandalism doesn't appear to be gang-related; Tuesday, July 14, 2009; The sign marking entry into “Fabulous Las Vegas” is again sparkling as it welcomes visitors to the Strip. The red graffiti marks recently scrawled on the face and leg of the iconic sign were washed away at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Pete Gullo, service manager for Young Electric Sign Company, which owns the sign.
Group petitions Ensign for public health care options: MoveOn.org delivers 3,300 signatures to Ensign’s office, thanks Reid for support; Thursday, July 9, 2009; Advocates of including a public option in health care reform legislation rallied outside the Lloyd George Federal building Thursday and delivered petitions in support of their position to the offices of Sens. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.) “It’s the only (plan) nationwide that would save money, cut down on health care costs, and it’s the only way that we can cover everybody,” said Randall Downey, one of the organizers of the rally. “If we don’t have a public option, we do not have health care.”
409 fugitives arrested in joint law enforcement operation: Thursday, July 9, 2009; Local, state and federal law enforcement agents announced today that they have arrested 409 violent criminals since June 1 in a joint effort to get felony fugitives off the street.
Ensign’s pal lacked usual qualifications for top job: Sunday, July 5, 2009; When Sen. John Ensign hired Doug Hampton to be his senior aide in November 2006, Nevada Republicans were baffled. Hampton was an unknown, without a policy profile or political experience.
Henderson families find festival, fireworks downtown: Sunday, July 5, 2009; Senta Lee watched with envy Saturday as her children, Alex and Sephora, barreled through an inflated slip-and-slide tunnel and into a kiddie pool to cool off from the late-afternoon heat.
North Las Vegas kicks off holiday festivities with tribute to troops: Friday, July 3, 2009; Thousands of revelers filled Seastrand Park in North Las Vegas on Thursday to kick off the Fourth of July weekend at the 10th annual North Las Vegas Independence Day Jubilee. This year’s jubilee was themed “A Tribute to Our Troops.” Organizers said they chose the theme as a reminder of the sacrifices that have made Independence Day possible. “Really, the reason we can celebrate on this day is because of our armed forces, so we wanted to say thank you to them for allowing the freedoms that we have;” said Aneessa Snowden, recreation coordinator for the city of North Las Vegas.
Report: Nevadans are getting fatter: Thursday, July 2, 2009; Planning to binge on barbecue and beer for the Fourth of July? Check the scale before you scarf down those hotdogs. Nevadans packed on more pounds collectively in 2008 than in 2009, according to a new report on obesity.
Annual Damboree Celebration bringing town together: Thursday, July 2, 2009; The early settlers of Boulder City knew how to throw a party. “We, all the families, made sure to have celebrations and events to bring us together. Those first years were a struggle,” Erma Godbey, one of the city’s first settlers, wrote in her memoir about the early 1930s.
Despite bad economy, annual Damboree sees no cutbacks: Thursday, July 2, 2009; Organizers of the Boulder City Damboree say the festival’s celebration coffers have remained strong, despite the dwindling economy. “We didn’t make any cuts this year. We were very fortunate in that respect,” Damboree Committee Chairman Roger Hall said.
Contractor selected for $270 million I-15 project: Wednesday, July 1, 2009; Nevada Transportation officials came one step closer to breaking ground on a massive construction project aimed at easing congestion and improving access and safety on the 1-15 South corridor today by announcing the selection of a contractor team to design and build the project.
Demonstrators rally for health care reform: Supporters spotlight efforts to pass reform that includes public health insurance program to compete with private plans; Saturday, June 27, 2009; Supporters of a public option in health care reform legislation rallied in western Las Vegas on Saturday. Demonstrators, who gathered at the intersection of Fort Apache and Russell roads, called on lawmakers to pass sweeping reforms of what they characterized as a broken and inefficient heath care system. “Nevada has one of the highest rates of uninsured in the country and that affects every Nevadan. It’s a tremendous drain and its a tremendously inefficient waste of taxpayer dollars,” said Assemblywoman Peggy Pierce, D-Las Vegas.
Fans pay tribute to Michael Jackson in Las Vegas: Fremont Street canopy transformed into a glowing memorial to the late pop icon; Friday, June 26, 2009; The typically buzzing crowd traversing Fremont Street’s casino-lined pedestrian walkway paused last night to pay tribute to pop icon Michael Jackson. Passers-by stopped to take pictures and video as photos, album covers and the words “Michael Jackson: King of Pop” flashed across the electronic canopy in downtown Las Vegas.
Las Vegas man accused in $31 million tax fraud scheme: Wednesday, June 24, 2009; A federal court has barred a Las Vegas man accused of coordinating a tax fraud scheme that cost the Treasury Department an estimated $31 million in lost revenue from continuing to promote his services.
Bail set for man accused of tying up tots to watch sports: Tuesday, June 16, 2009; Bail has been set at $400,000 in the case of a man who police say left his girlfriend’s two toddlers bound and gagged in a southwest valley garage for more than two hours last week so he could watch a basketball game with friends.
Police: Man left tots tied up while he watched basketball: Friday, June 12, 2009; A man accused of leaving two toddlers tied up in a southwest valley garage said he was upset that he had to baby-sit his girlfriend’s children and went to a bar to watch a basketball game, a Metro Police report said. He appeared in Clark County District Court this morning.
Man arrested after tots found bound and gagged in garage: Wednesday, June 10, 2009; A 20-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after two toddlers were left bound, hooded and gagged in a garage for more than two hours, Metro Police said. Jonathan Weaver of Las Vegas was arrested on charges of child abuse and endangerment, kidnapping and attempted murder.
Driver cited after crash debris hits bus passenger: Car's driver and bus passenger were hospitalized after crash; Thursday, June 4, 2009; Metro Police say the 19-year-old man who lost control of a car that crashed into a Citizens Area Transit bus on Boulder Highway and Lamb Boulevard today, injuring a departing passenger, will be charged.
Closure of child care center leaves parents scrambling: Wednesday, June 3, 2009; A national child care and private kindergarten provider announced today it is closing one of its six Henderson locations, sending parents scrambling to make other arrangements for the summer and next school year.
Polls close amid light municipal election turnout: Voters deciding mayoral, city council races; Tuesday, June 2, 2009; Polls have closed across Southern Nevada as voters decided races in five Clark County municipalities. County Registrar Larry Lomax said turnout was light. By 3 p.m., 8,563 voters had cast a ballot in the five county municipalities, including Mesquite. In Clark County, 277,253 people are eligible to vote in this election.
Immigration advocates rally for system overhaul: Las Vegas rally one of 40 nationwide aiming for grassroots reform; Monday, June 1, 2009; Supporters of immigration reform gathered on the steps of the Lloyd George Federal Building on Monday for the Nevada launch of a national campaign to reform American immigration law. The event was one of 40 being staged in 20 states across the country today by Reform Immigration for America, a national umbrella organization pushing for grassroots immigration reform. About 40 supporters cheered and waved signs and banners declaring “Si, se puede” ("Yes, it can be done") as community leaders and representatives from the labor and business communities delivered remarks.
Boulder City unveils 17 public art installations: ‘Art Scape’ hopes to bring vibrancy to city’s downtown area; Saturday, May 30, 2009; Boulder City art lovers were treated to a night at the museum in their own back yard on Friday.
About 40 residents gathered at the Boulder Dam Hotel on a warm summer evening for the official unveiling of 17 sculptures recently installed downtown as part of the Boulder City Public Art Scape program. Art Scape, which is in its third year, brings public art installations to the downtown area to promote tourism and enrich the community.
Las Vegas teen out in final round of National Spelling Bee: Foiled by ‘herniorrhaphy,’ Tussah Heera is Nevada’s most successful speller since 1996; Thursday, May 28, 2009; When 13-year-old Tussah Heera heard the word "herniorrhapy," she knew she was in trouble. But her fears didn't have anything to do with the corrective surgery for a hernia that the word describes. It was because she wasn't sure how to spell it.