In Brief

Police question, arrest suspect in slaying

A 26-year-old man is jailed on a charge of murder in the Tuesday night shooting of a 19-year-old man near Vegas Valley Drive and Hollywood Boulevard.

Walter Laak was arrested Wednesday after coming in for questioning by Las Vegas police.

Police said Laak and 19-year-old Oscar Orozco were at a house at 3495 Greenwood Springs Drive when 19-year-old Juan Cordova was shot about 11:30 p.m. Laak and Orozco fled from the home in a 1999 Ford Explorer, police said.

Police said they think Cordova was shot because he had a romantic relationship with a woman who also was linked romantically to Laak.

CLARK COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Human Resources chief to retire this month

Clark County Human Resources Director Raymond Visconti will retire effective June 28.

Visconti, who began work in the Human Resources Department in 1996, has served as employment manager, classification and compensation manager, assistant director and deputy director of the department. He was named Human Resources director in December.

County officials have not finalized the process for finding a new director, according to a media release.

CALIFORNIA BLAZE

Town’s residents return after wildfire threat

Evacuations were lifted and residents of the small town of Coleville, Calif., on the eastern Sierra, were allowed to return to their homes Wednesday, a day after a fire that was nearly contained was rekindled by wind.

About 200 people were evacuated Tuesday when embers flared and flames whipped by 65 mph wind gusts threatened two schools, the post office and homes, officials said. About 70 people from a U.S. Marine Corps housing complex north of town were evacuated too but allowed to return Wednesday.

A 40-mile stretch of U.S. 395, a highway along the Sierra front, was shut down but reopened Wednesday. Traffic was detoured in the immediate burn area.

Fire spokesman Mark Struble said the fire covered about 1,400 acres, roughly two square miles, and was 25 percent contained at midday.

No homes were lost, but officials said two outbuildings were destroyed.

ELKO, FALLON, WELLS, CARLIN, ELY

Voters in three cities stick with mayors

Voters in the cities of Elko, Fallon and Wells re-elected their mayors, and the incumbent mayor of Carlin was ousted in Tuesday’s municipal elections.

Carlin Mayor Linda Bingaman, first elected to the post in 1995, was ousted by Clifford Eklund, who garnered 64 percent of the vote, according to final unofficial results posted by the secretary of state’s office.

In Elko, Mayor Mike Franzoia was elected to a fourth term, receiving 46 percent of the vote and defeating two challengers. Voters also re-elected incumbent Councilman Chris Johnson and elected newcomer John Patrick Rice.

Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford Jr. defeated three others to win a fourth term, receiving 72 percent in unofficial returns. Councilman Bob Erickson retained his seat over two challengers.

Wells Mayor Rusty Tybo was re-elected, receiving 86 percent of votes cast. He defeated Jayron "Jake" Robinson.

In Ely, Jon Hickman won the race for mayor over Ed Spear. Hickman received 61 percent of votes, compared with Spear’s 39 percent. Incumbent Mayor George Chachas was defeated in the primary.

DEATH IN HENDERSON

LV man dies days after being hit by car

A 41-year-old Las Vegas man who was struck by a car last weekend while trying to cross St. Rose Parkway near Spencer Street died Tuesday, Henderson police said.

The Clark County coroner’s office identified the man as Ronnie Lynn White.

White was not in a crosswalk when he was struck about 11 p.m. Sunday by a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Craig Whitcross, 46, of Henderson, police said.

White was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center but died two days later, police said. Whitcross was uninjured.

Police said they do not think alcohol or speed played a role in the collision, but it remained under investigation Wednesday.