To Toll or Not to Toll
Lawmakers will decide next month if a toll lane along the Las Vegas freeway system will be considered. A Legislative Commission subcommittee on transportation will deal with the proposal at an August workshop before voting whether or not to send it on to the lawmakers in 2009. The state transportation board endorsed the plan in May. It calls for a private company to turn two lanes of freeway into toll lanes. The project would use the existing car pool lanes and would not add additional lanes. It would affect drivers on U.S. 95 from Ann Road to the Spaghetti Bowl, and along I-15 from the 215 Southern Beltway to the downtown exchange with U.S. 95.
07/04Knuckling Down on Chapel Workers
Starting tomorrow, a new ordinance approved by the City Council sets up a buffer zone outside the downtown Marriage License Bureau. Wedding chapels in Las Vegas will now have to follow many of the same rules as adult clubs and liquor stores. Over zealous chapel employees will not be able to hand out flyers or harass couples inside the buffer zone. Future wedding chapel operators will also have to undergo background checks and city council approval. Some chapel owners and the ACLU argued the new rules went too far in restricting free speech at the license bureau. Last year, the city shut down the Garden of Love chapel because of allegations they badgered couples and threatened rival firms.
07/04Peta Watching Out for Pets
With desert temperatures expected to soar past 110 degrees today it is even more important to keep your pets cool and safe. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals recommend keeping pets inside if at all possible. If they are outside, make sure they have plenty of water and shade. Do not force dogs to run outdoors, and be sure the sidewalk is cool enough for them to walk on. Do not leave animals in parked cars, not even for a few minutes. And do not let your dog ride in the open bed of a pickup. They can be ejected from the truck bed in case of a sudden stop or accident.
07/04Flash! Boom! Ahhhh!
According to the San Bernardino Sun newspaper, deputies from that California County have seized over 40-thousand pounds of illegal fireworks purchased in Pahrump. The deputies conducted operations along the California-Nevada border during the last two weekends in June. Pyrotechnics that are not allowed for sale in the Las Vegas Valley or in California can be bought in Pahrump.
As for locals, do not even think about taking fireworks to the Mount Charleston area this holiday weekend. Metro Police, the Nevada Highway Patrol and other agencies will be setting up a number of checkpoints in the Mount Charleston and Kyle Canyon areas. They will even be looking for the so-called, safe and sane, variety sold at local booths. All fireworks are prohibited on federal lands, due to hazardous fire conditions.
07/03Extended Benefits
Jobless Nevadans by the thousands will still be getting unemployment benefits through this summer. The Governor signed an agreement with the federal Department of Labor, allowing a 13-week extension of unemployment checks. The state Employment Security Division will soon notify about 50-thousand Nevadans about their possible eligibility for the extended benefits. Claims can be made for the additional benefits as beginning this Sunday. For more information on the program, call the Employment Security Division at 486-0350, or log onto nvdetr.org
07/03
