Area briefing

Pet owners are asked to be mindful of Easter foods and decor that can pose threats to animals.

Dr. Debbie White at the Lone Mountain Animal Hospital, 6688 W. Cheyenne Ave., offered several tips:

Easter lilies are highly toxic to cats and can cause kidney failure.

Chocolate is toxic for dogs when ingested in large quantities and contains xylitol, which can cause a fatal drop in blood pressure. Also posing a risk are candy wrappers, sticks and plastic eggs.

Human holiday food can cause pets to become ill, including gastrointestinal sickness, pancreatitis and intestinal blockage or injury from eating bones.

Easter basket grass can cause intestinal obstruction in cats and may lead to emergency surgery.

Chicks and rabbits should not be taken on as pets unless their owners are committed to giving them permanent homes and caring for them responsibly.

For more information, visit lmah.net or call 645-2758.

SEXUAL ASSAULT TO BE 1ST TUESDAY TOPIC

Sexual assault is set to be the topic during the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s 1st Tuesday program, set for 7 to 8 p.m. today at the department’s valleywide area commands.

Department detectives from the sexual assault unit plan to discuss sexual assault and the preventative measures parents can take to protect their children from sexual predators. Detectives also will address the dangers of social media and steps parents can take to promote awareness and make the Internet a safer place for children.

The discussion topic was planned to coincide with National Child Abuse Prevention Month, observed in April.

The 1st Tuesday program is a free open house-style event that takes place monthly on the first Tuesday. After speakers discuss assigned topics, residents can learn more about their neighborhoods and meet their local police officers.

For a list of area commands or other additional information, visit lvmpd.com or call 828-3111.

FREE RADON TEST KITS TO BE OFFERED DURING SATURDAY PRESENTATION

Radon-awareness presentations are planned for 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, and 2:30 p.m. May 12 at the Henderson Multigenerational Center, 250 S. Green Valley Parkway.

Free radon test kits will be offered at each presentation through the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s radon education program.

Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas present in many homes, schools and other buildings, is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers, organizers said.

For more information or to schedule a presentation, call Laura Au-Yeung, Southern Area Radon Program coordinator, at 257-5550, email au-yeungl@unce.unr.edu or visit radonnv.com.

MUNICIPAL COURT CHANGES HOURS

New hours were scheduled to go into effect Monday for the Las Vegas Municipal Court at the Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Ave. The court is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

For more information, call 382-6878 or visit lasvegasnevada.gov/municipalcourt.

POLICE INVITE COMMENTS DURING ACADEMY ACCREDITATION PROCESS

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is seeking public comments as part of its training academy’s on-site assessment to obtain initial accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc.

The academy must comply with nationally recognized standards established by the commission in order to be accredited. The assessment is set for Monday through April 12.

A phone-in session is set for 1 to 3 p.m. April 11 so community and department members can provide comments on the matter. Those wishing to comment can call 828-7303 to talk directly to the assessors.

Telephone comments during the session are limited to five minutes and must address the training academy’s ability to comply with commission standards.

A copy of the standards is available for public viewing in the quality assurance department at the police department’s headquarters, 400 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., Building A.

For more information, contact Lt. John Farrell at 828-5500.

COURT CELEBRATES HOPE GRADUATION

The Las Vegas Municipal Court recently celebrated the graduation of a 35-year-old resident who successfully completed the court’s Habitual Offender Education and Prevention program.

The graduation ceremony took place March 14 at the Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Ave., with Judge Heidi Almase presiding. The graduate was presented with a laptop and a backpack to further his efforts to be successful in today’s job market.

The HOPE program is designed to give a second chance to habitual offenders with issues related to homelessness, misdemeanor activity and substance abuse in order to implement a stable, sober lifestyle.

The program was established in an effort to reduce arrests among chronic repeat offenders.

The program finds housing for the participants and requires them to complete drug treatment, counseling, job readiness and life-skills courses. Every defendant must stay out of trouble and abstain from drugs and alcohol during the program.

HOPE is funded by a grant from the Nevada Administrative Office of the Courts.

For more information, visit lasvegasnevada.gov or call 229-6011.

DRIVING SAFETY CLASS PLANNED APRIL 14 AT NORTHWEST CAR DEALERSHIP

An AARP driving safety class is planned from 1 to 5 p.m. April 14 at Findlay Honda, 7494 W. Azure Drive.

The cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers.

For more information or to register, call 372-0400.

POOL CONTRACTOR PLEADS GUILTY TO DIVERSION OF FUNDS

Former licensed pool contractor Kelly Ann Sagona, owner of Blue Lagoon Pools, was convicted of a gross misdemeanor March 13 by the District Court of Clark County after pleading guilty to diversion of funds, according to the Nevada State Contractors Board.

Sagona was ordered to pay $182,427 in restitution and serve 12 months in the Clark County Detention Center, which was suspended on the condition that Sagona serve up to three years’ probation, board officials said.

Conditions of her probation include monthly restitution payments, actively seeking and maintaining employment, completion of 20 hours of community service each month unless employed full-time and that no contact be made with her victims.

The case was submitted for prosecution by the Nevada State Contractors Board following its year-long investigation into Blue Lagoon Pools. The investigation involved 18 homeowners, the board said.

For more information, visit nscb.nv.gov or call 486-1100.