News Briefs

BC bypass groundbreaking scheduled for Monday

The first part of the Interstate 11 project will break ground at 10 a.m. Monday during a ceremony held across the street from the Hoover Dam Lodge.

Gov. Brian Sandoval, U.S. Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Dean Heller, R-Nev., and U.S. Reps. Joe Heck, R-Nev., and Cresent Hardy, R-Nev., will join officials from the state’s Transportation Department and Regional Transportation Commission for the ceremony.

Boulder City Mayor Roger Tobler also will attend.

The event marks the launch of construction on I-11 from U.S. Highway 95 to U.S. Highway 93.

I-11 will eventually connect Las Vegas and Phoenix, the only two cities in the country with populations of more than 1 million residents not already linked by interstate. The groundbreaking is open to the public.

Stubbs found not guilty in obstruction case

Attorney Stephen Stubbs was found not guilty of an obstruction charge March 25 in Las Vegas Justice Court.

The obstruction charge stems from his arrest in November 2013 involving motorcyclist Kevin Desmarias. According to the arrest report, Desmarias was pulled over by Metropolitan Police in Las Vegas in the parking lot of the Leathernecks Club near Spring Mountain Road and Arville Street for failing to use his turn signal.

A person who saw Desmarias get pulled over told others to “call the lawyer,” and Stubbs came out shortly after, the report said. Stubbs then told police he was representing Desmarias, but police said Desmarias never indicated that Stubbs was his attorney, nor did he request to have him at the scene.

Officers told Stubbs he needed to move aside while they conducted their investigation, but Stubbs did not comply, police said. Stubbs, who was armed, then began arguing with police. After becoming increasingly agitated and failing to cooperate with police several times, Stubbs was booked on one count of obstructing a public officer.

During the bench trial, Judge Eric Goodman found Stubbs not guilty of obstruction.

Swimming advisory continues at Lakes Mead, Mohave

Although conditions at Lake Mead have improved dramatically, National Park Service officials continue to advise visitors to be on the lookout for algae and avoid swimming in areas where it is visible in Lakes Mead and Mohave.

During the past couple of weeks, blue-green algae have been seen on both lakes, and some water samples analyzed by the National Park Service and Southern Nevada Water Authority tested positive for microcystin concentrations.

As of March 26, the amount of algae on Lake Mead is minimal. No algae were seen at Boulder Beach, Sandy Cove or Castle Cove, and tests taken at Boulder Beach came back negative for microcystins.

Mats of algae are still present in Lake Mohave, and there may be isolated pockets of algae in coves on either lake.

Health issues related to microcystin may range from rashes and skin irritations to gastrointestinal illness.

According to the authority, microcystin does not pose a threat to Southern Nevada’s drinking water. The authority’s water treatment plants use both ozone and chlorine, which represent the two most effective treatment processes for destroying microcystin and will prevent it from entering the drinking water system.

Although the likelihood of people being affected by contact with blue-green algae is very low, federal, state, and local agencies in Southern Nevada continue to monitor algae composition levels in both lakes.