State Briefly Aug. 24

Ann Romney to meet with GOP leaders in Nevada

(AP) - The wife of Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney will be in Northern Nevada to meet with GOP leaders.

Ann Romney will start the day today at a "meet and greet" at the Douglas County Republican Party headquarters in Minden.

She will then attend a similar event in Reno at the Washoe County GOP headquarters.

Mitt Romney has made several trips to the Silver State in recent months.

The former Massachusetts governor is the only major GOP presidential contender focusing on Nevada so far.

Nevada is scheduled to host the nation's third presidential nomination contest Feb. 18, after New Hampshire and Iowa.

Vegas leaders cut ribbon on new pedestrian bridges

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Officials are celebrating the completion of two pedestrian bridges that allow walkers to cross over major streets intersecting Las Vegas trails.

Mayor Pro Tem Stavros S. Anthony and City Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian are scheduled for a ribbon cutting ceremony 9 a.m. Tuesday at the bridge across Lake Mead Boulevard east of Buffalo Drive.

A second bridge is located east of Buffalo Drive and crosses Cheyenne Avenue.

The pathways are part of more than 50 miles of Las Vegas trails for walking, biking and other non-motorized activities.

The new bridges are part of a $4.7 million improvement project that also includes the Cultural Corridor pedestrian bridge that opened in June in downtown Las Vegas.

Funding comes from the Bureau of Land Management through the sale of public lands.

Vegas apartment fire displaces 12, costs $150,000

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Four apartment units are damaged and about 12 people are displaced after a fire tore through an apartment building and attic in northwestern Las Vegas.

Las Vegas firefighters say the blaze about 4:30 p.m. Monday at the Summerlin Entrada complex near U.S. Route 95 and Vegas Drive was accidental and likely caused by a wood burning fireplace.

Investigators say it started behind a fireplace in a spot that the tenant wouldn't be able to access. The tenant says he had burned a log in the fireplace earlier in the day.

Damage to the building is estimated at around $150,000.

Firefighters say they were able to save the contents of the four units affected by the fire. Apartment managers are working with the displaced residents to find places to stay.