Dave Toplikar

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Officials welcome prospects of rain to calm relentless mountain wildfire: But rainfall could bring flash flooding, potentially endangering fire crews; Thursday, July 11, 2013; Monsoonal moisture moving into the Mount Charleston area on Thursday and Friday should help slow the spread of the massive mountain wildfire, an official said Wednesday night.
Six structures burn in Mount Charleston wildfire: Wednesday, July 10, 2013; The Mount Charleston wildfire burned six structures Tuesday night in Prospect Ranch as the fire continued its path of destruction. After charring nearly 40 square miles of the mountain, the fire reached its first buildings in the Harris Springs area, burning one commercial building and five other structures, officials said.
Crews keep Mount Charleston wildfire at bay, protecting every structure so far: Firefighters hope to subdue blaze — which is still 15 percent contained — by July 19; Monday, July 8, 2013; Firefighters had a “break-even” kind of day Monday in battling the vast wildfire at Mount Charleston, getting some containment in some areas, losing ground in others, but so far managing to save every structure, according to an official in charge of the operation.
Police release photos of 'armed and dangerous' suspect in April slaying: Monday, May 20, 2013; Metro Police today released photos of a man they say is the second suspect in the fatal shooting of a Las Vegas man that occurred about a month ago in the 2800 block of Fremont Street.
Metro Police ID 5-year veteran as officer who shot man armed with pellet gun: Monday, May 20, 2013; Metro Police identified Michael Donovan as the officer who shot a man brandishing a pellet gun last week during a call about a shooting in a central Las Vegas neighborhood.
Police: Suspects in fatal robbery targeted, stalked teen with iPad: Monday, May 20, 2013; Two men accused of killing a teen while robbing him of his iPad cased a gas station looking for victims and then stalked the Bonanza High School student as he left the store, according to a Metro Police report.
Coroner ID’s 3 people killed in wrong-way freeway crash: Monday, May 20, 2013; The Clark County Coroner’s Office has identified three people who died in a wrong-way crash early Sunday morning on Interstate 15 near the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Coroner: Woman killed in apparent murder-suicide was shot, stabbed, beaten: Monday, May 20, 2013; Two people found dead Friday in an apparent murder-suicide have been identified as Vanniesa Caroline Fernandez, 18, of Las Vegas and Luis Montiel, 29 of Henderson.
Witnesses offer ‘sketchy stories’ about Henderson brush fire, official says: Monday, May 20, 2013; Henderson firefighters are investigating the cause of a brush fire Sunday at the Whitney Ranch Recreational Area that threatened a nearby apartment complex and forced the evacuation of some residents.
What's next for UNLV graduates? You might be surprised: Sunday, May 19, 2013; At Sunday's commencement ceremonies at UNLV, the Sun checked in with 20 graduates to see what they're planning for the months ahead. Some are headed to graduate school; others already have jobs with Strip resorts. Still others are taking time off before entering the real world.
Two arrested in iPad robbery that caused death of teenager: Sunday, May 19, 2013; Jacob Dismont, 18, and Michael Samuel Solid, 21, both of Las Vegas, face charges of open murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Head-on crash on I-15 leaves 3 dead, 4 injured: Sunday, May 19, 2013; Three people were killed and four others were injured early Sunday when a car traveling the wrong way on Interstate 15 near the Las Vegas Motor Speedway slammed head-on into an oncoming vehicle, authorities reported.
Las Vegas is a hot destination — maybe even more so this summer: Friday, May 17, 2013; Las Vegas might be in for a hotter summer than usual. "Nothing is ever definite, but all the signs are favoring a warmer-than-normal summer," said meteorologist Chris Stachelski.
Photos show suspect in two southwest Las Vegas robberies: Thursday, May 16, 2013; Police described him as being a 30- to 35-year-old Asian man who is about 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-7 and weighed 150 to 160 pounds.
Wind could bring blowing dust, smoke from California fire: Thursday, May 16, 2013; High southwesterly winds gusting up to 45 mph are expected in the Las Vegas area today, creating the potential for wildfires and blowing dust and smoke.
Good Samaritan run down while helping highway crash victim: Thursday, May 16, 2013; A man trying to help another driver suffered severe injuries in a hit-and-run accident early today on an on-ramp to U.S. 95 at Decatur Boulevard.
Pellet gun-toting man shot by Metro Police is critical: Thursday, May 16, 2013; A 29-year-old Las Vegas man was still in critical condition Thursday afternoon after being shot multiple times overnight by a Metro Police
officer.
Six arrested in alleged Boulder City drug, gun trafficking ring: Wednesday, May 15, 2013; Six people, including five from the same family, have been arrested and charged in connection with a drug and stolen gun trafficking ring in Boulder City.
Authorities find suspect in 2012 slaying of high school senior already locked up in jail: Murder charge filed in January 2012 slaying at party in N.E. valley; Wednesday, May 15, 2013; A 20-year-old man who has been in Clark County custody for more than a year on robbery-related offenses was charged Wednesday morning with murder in the 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Betty Jean Pinkney.
Lead-footed drivers beware: Police out in force today: Wednesday, May 15, 2013; If you’re speeding or talking on a cell phone today on U.S. 95 or on Interstate 15, don’t be surprised if you get stopped and ticketed. Officers with the Southern Nevada Traffic Task Force will be out in force today writing tickets for hazardous moving violations.
Fire spreads from shed to home, causes $300K in damage: Wednesday, May 15, 2013; A couple and their four young children escaped injury overnight when a fire gutted their northwest Las Vegas Valley home.
Las Vegas motorists find some relief at the pump: Tuesday, May 14, 2013; Gasoline prices have dropped about 25 cents per gallon in the last month in Las Vegas — averaging about $3.47 per gallon for regular unleaded.
Fire chases woman, 7 cats from eastern valley duplex: Tuesday, May 14, 2013; A 60-year-old woman and her seven cats escaped injury Tuesday afternoon as smoke swept through their duplex in the eastern Las Vegas. Clark County firefighters were called about 1:46 p.m. to a duplex at 1918 Citroen St., near South Nellis Boulevard and East Sahara Avenue.
Nobody home when kitchen fire breaks out: Tuesday, May 14, 2013; A kitchen fire Tuesday caused about $75,000 damage to a home in a central Las Vegas neighborhood.
Arrest report: Teacher knew relationship with student 'was wrong': Tuesday, May 14, 2013; The relationship between a 24-year-old Las Vegas area high school teacher and a 15-year-old male student involved about 1,000 cell phone text messages over an eight-day period but resulted in them kissing "only two times."
Fate of killer dog now with Nevada Supreme Court: Tuesday, May 14, 2013; The Nevada Supreme Court will hear arguments July 3 in the case of a dog that killed a Henderson toddler last year.
NV Energy restores power to most customers around Tropicana and Eastern: Monday, May 13, 2013; Electrical service has been restored to nearly all of the 1,200 Las Vegas residences and businesses that lost power for several hours Monday afternoon and evening around Tropicana and Eastern avenues.
Police release photo of suspect in Strip armed robbery: Monday, May 13, 2013; Metro Police today asked for the public's help in identifying a man suspected of robbing a Las Vegas Strip business at gunpoint during the evening of March 30.
Las Vegas' first 100-degree day of 2013 expected: Sunday, May 12, 2013; Near-record high temperatures are expected to sear the Las Vegas area on Monday and Tuesday. "We're looking at our first triple-degree reading at McCarran tomorrow," said Larry Jensen, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.
Detectives seek bike-riding suspect in fatal stabbing: Sunday, May 12, 2013; Metro Police detectives are searching for the suspected killer of a homeless man who was seen stabbing the victim multiple times late Saturday night, then pedaling off into the night on a silver BMX-style bicycle.
Police: Alcohol and speed are factors in fatal North Las Vegas collision: Sunday, May 12, 2013; A teenager was killed and his female passenger suffered critical injuries early Sunday morning in a two-vehicle collision in North Las Vegas, according to North Las Vegas Police.
50-year-old pedestrian killed in hit-and-run crash: Sunday, May 12, 2013; Metro Police have found the car in an overnight hit-and-run pedestrian fatality accident. Now they're asking for the public's help in finding the driver who left the scene of the accident that killed a 50-year-old Las Vegas man late Saturday night.
Hundreds of thousands ring in 2013 in Las Vegas: Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013; With fireworks, fanfare and frivolity, Las Vegas once again showed the world Monday night how to put on a New Year's Eve party as 300,000-plus New Year's Eve revelers on the Las Vegas Strip and Fremont Street braved sub-freezing temperatures to toast the first few ticks of 2013.
Mounted police saddle up for New Year’s Eve, other big events: Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012; Metro Police Officer Kelly Korb was on the beat in downtown Las Vegas when she spotted a man she suspected was selling crack cocaine. As he noticed Korb coming toward him, the man started to run. Korb took off after him, chasing him into the Western Casino, which would cause a commotion in any case, but even more so because Korb was riding a 1,200-pound police horse at the time.
Winter greets Las Vegas with sub-freezing weather: Friday, Dec. 21, 2012; Las Vegas woke up Friday morning to a chilly first day of winter — the third consecutive day of widespread sub-freezing weather. At least one more round of sub-freezing weather is expected Saturday.
Las Vegas likely to register freezing temperatures for second consecutive night: Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012; Las Vegas finally snapped its longest stretch ever without a freeze — 378 days — on Thursday morning, with some parts of the valley plunging into the mid 20s.
Las Vegas real estate agent gets 5 years in mortgage fraud scheme: Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012; A Las Vegas real estate agent who took part in a mortgage fraud scheme that netted more than $10 million in fraudulent home loans was sentenced Wednesday by a federal judge to serve more than five years in prison.
Freezing temperatures predicted for Las Vegas on Thursday: Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012; Las Vegas is expected to have its coldest morning in 378 days on Thursday, as temperatures drop below the freezing mark and snap an all-time record for the longest stretch without a freeze.
Wintry mix of weather moving into Las Vegas: Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012; Get ready for an early taste of winter — a quick shot of rain and wind moves into the Las Vegas Valley later today, followed by the coldest weather of the season Wednesday and Thursday.
Snow falling on Mount Charleston; rain expected for Las Vegas: Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012; Mount Charleston is getting a holiday snow cap, with just under an inch accumulating shortly before noon in the community 25 miles west of Las Vegas.
Air Force investigating crash of drone aircraft in Nevada: Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012; The U.S. Air Force is investigating why an unmanned “hunter/killer” drone aircraft crashed Wednesday night in the Nevada Test and Training Range, about 120 miles north of Las Vegas.
Being a rodeo clown not all funny business: Clowns key players in keeping cowboys safe; Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012; They dress in clown clothes. They wear clown faces. And part of their job is to clown around and tickle your funnybone. But behind the costume and makeup are serious, professional athletes who put their safety on the line to protect the cowboys competing in the rodeo arena.
Veteran announcer gives voice to Super Bowl of rodeo: Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012; Rodeo announcer Boyd Polhamus is bringing his A-game to Las Vegas. The 47-year-old former college roper and rider has been picked for the 17th time to call the events for the 2012 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Dec. 6-15 at the Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV.
Rodeo judges keep it fair, keep things moving: Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012; When a bullrider barrels out of the chute at the 2012 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, what most fans see is the spectacle of a man trying to hang on to the back of a whirling, snorting tornado with horns. But to the trained eyes of an NFR judge, the eight-second ride of a wiry cowboy atop a 2,000-pound bucking bull is an extreme sport that has to be scored precisely.
Rodeo brings big bucks to Las Vegas — no bull: Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012; When the National Finals Rodeo rides into Las Vegas, you can expect to see seven MGM Resorts properties going cowboy.
How the National Finals Rodeo stacks up against other big Las Vegas events: Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012; Las Vegas gets its share of big gatherings throughout the year, from summer music festivals, to conventions to 10-day events like the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, which will gallop into the city Dec. 6-10.
'They were absolutely heroes': The MGM Grand fire and the men who fought it: 32 years later, firefighters relive the nation’s second-deadliest hotel fire; Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012; Two distant, black columns of smoke caught John Pappageorge’s eye as he drove to work on a crisp, 38-degree morning in November 1980. Pappageorge, then a deputy chief with the Clark County Fire Department, wondered if the smoke might be a pile of tires on fire. Or was it a building?
MGM Grand, Hilton fires led to improved safety codes: Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012; After 85 people died as a result of the MGM Grand fire in November 1980 and eight perished in an arson less than three months later at the Las Vegas Hilton, Nevada lawmakers revamped high-rise safety codes.
Survivors, witnesses describe chaos of MGM Grand fire: Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012; Some 5,000 people were in the MGM Grand when it caught fire Nov. 21, 1980. Eighty-five people died and about 700 were injured. Here are the recollections of some of those who either survived the fire or were there.
Once king of the gambling halls, faro now a ghost: Monday, Nov. 19, 2012; When Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday holstered their six-guns and sat down at a frontier saloon to gamble, they wouldn’t play poker. The hot game of the Old West was called faro, or farobank. Earp dealt a game at the Oriental saloon in Tombstone, Ariz. Down the street, Doc Holliday picked up extra money as a dealer in the Bird Cage saloon. Gamblers loved it. The hands played fast. A lot of people could play at once, like modern-day craps and roulette