Nevada Digest
RENO (AP) — Washoe County deputies are investigating after some students at a Catholic high school in Reno ingested an illegal substance at a “Safe and Sober’’ graduation party.
The acting president of Bishop Manogue High School, Jim Toner, tells the Reno Gazette-Journal that at least one student was taken to the hospital after the June 1 party.
He says it’s unfortunate that the actions of a few students tarnished the school’s reputation, and says it doesn’t appear any student unknowingly ate the substance.
The overnight graduation party is a school tradition that involves students meeting at the school, going to Mass, having dinner, and going to a bowling alley and an arcade.
School officials say the event was cut short and parents were called when students started coming down sick.
Vegas police to pay $26.3M to switch radio systems
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas police are switching radio systems after spending two years and $42 million on a network that led to complaints of dropped calls and dead zones.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s fiscal affairs panel approved a $26.3 million replacement deal with Motorola Solutions.
The contract calls for Motorola to install and fully test more than 5,000 portable and mobile radios by mid-2014 and to upgrade computer systems.
Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie said last October that Harris Corp.’s Desert Sky radio system wasn’t meeting departmental needs.
Authorities have said garbled communications and miscommunication on the former radio system contributed to the fatal police shooting in December 2011 of an unarmed Gulf War veteran in a northwest Las Vegas apartment.
Brooks set for mid-July preliminary hearing
LAS VEGAS (AP) — More California court dates have been set for former Nevada Assemblyman Steven Brooks on charges stemming from a car chase and police confrontation in March.
Prosecutors say that a Victorville, Calif. judge on Tuesday set a pre-preliminary hearing July 16, and a preliminary hearing July 18.
Brooks’ defense previously asked that he be enrolled in a mental health court program, but that plan was rejected.
Christopher Lee of the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office says prosecutors’ offer of two years and eight months in prison remains on the table.
Brooks has been in a San Bernardino County jail since his March 28 arrest along Interstate 15 in Victorville.
That came the same day Nevada lawmakers voted to expel him from the Legislature following his streak of erratic behavior.
Man struck, killed by cargo train near Fernley
FERNLEY (AP) — A Fernley man has died after being hit by a freight train in his hometown.
Union Pacific spokesman Mark Davis says the 86-car train was traveling from Sparks to Chicago about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday when the incident occurred.
Lt. Johnny Smith with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office says the man had been talking about solving marital problems by “sitting on the tracks,’’ and investigators say that’s what he was doing when the train struck him.
Smith adds that no foul play is suspected in the incident, which happened near the Fernley Out-Of-Town Park.
Davis says the crew accepted a few paid days off to participate in a company-provided peer counseling program.
Elko man suspected of statutory rape of teen
ELKO (AP) — A 22-year-old Elko man has been arrested after his wife told sheriff’s deputies he had sexual contact with an underage girl.
Elko County Undersheriff Clair Morris told the Elko Daily Free Press Matthew Blake was booked into the county jail Sunday on suspicion of statutory sexual seduction.
Morris says that after Blake’s wife telephoned authorities, he willingly went to the sheriff’s office and admitted during an interview he had slept with the 15-year-old girl.
Blake told detectives it was an isolated incident but they are continuing to investigate. His bail was set at $5,000.
State receives $3.4 million for homeland security
CARSON CITY (AP) — Gov. Brian Sandoval will decide later this week what to do with more than $3.4 million in grant money from the federal Department of Homeland Security.
The award was announced Tuesday. It’s $700,000 more than the state got from the department last year.
The Republican governor chairs the Nevada Commission on Homeland Security which is in charge of determining how to spend the money during its meeting on Friday.
Currently, the money is targeted toward ensuring that the Metropolitan Medical Response System and Citizen Corps programs continue with adequate funding.
Vandals sought at Tahoe’s Glenbrook Golf Course
GLENBROOK (AP) — Douglas County sheriff’s deputies are looking for suspects who drove onto a golf course at Lake Tahoe in the middle of the night and caused substantial damage.
Investigators say someone in a motor vehicle raced around Glenbrook Golf Course at about 1 a.m. Sunday, destroying parts of a number of greens, fairways and tee boxes. The course is on Tahoe’s east shore half-way between Sand Harbor and Zephyr Cove.
Sgt. Pat Brooks says Douglas County Secret Witness is offering unspecified cash rewards for anyone with any information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of the perpetrators.
Callers can remain anonymous if they contact authorities at 775-78-CRIME (775-782-7463). parking lot.
Scott named Reno Gazette-Journal’s new exec editor
RENO (AP) — Kelly Ann Scott, a senior editor at the Reno Gazette-Journal and a 14-year veteran of Gannett Co. Inc., has been named the newspaper’s new executive editor, president and publisher John Maher announced Tuesday.
Scott, who also becomes editor of RGJ Media, has worked at the newspaper since 2005, most recently overseeing watchdog and enterprise reporting.
She succeeds Beryl Love, who left in May to become executive editor of the Gannett Global News Desk at the Virginia-based media company, which owns the Gazette-Journal. She started as a reporter with Gannett in 1999 in St. Cloud, Minn.
Scott previously served as breaking news and projects editor and was assistant city editor when she started her career in Reno.
“Kelly has significant experience in Reno and is prepared to guide our news organization as we continue our growth and transformation,’’ Maher said. “She is a dedicated and experienced enterprise editor who can ensure that we move forward effectively in service to our community. I’m thrilled to work with Kelly in her new role and I look forward to her success.’’