Patients waiting for kidney transplants in southern Nevada will now have to go out of state to get the operation done. UMC has the only kidney transplant program, but it is losing its certification and funding on December 3, 2008.

The decision came down from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. They say UMC's transplant program didn't meet required patient survival rates. Now the program could leave hundreds of possible recipients waiting even longer for an organ donation.

“In the entire State of Nevada, there are no transplant programs other than UMC,” said UMC Chief Operating Officer Brian Brannmon.

Brannmon still can't believe it. The reputable kidney transplant program at his hospital is scheduled to lose its certification and close down in December, leaving more than 200 patients in Nevada to go hours out of state.

“It's not a snap to go 300 miles away to get medical care, and you have to go there in a certain period of time. So it's a tremendous burden to many patients who simply may not be able to afford it,” said Ken Richardson with Nevada Organ Donation.

The decision to shut down UMC's kidney transplant program came from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. They claim that UMC surpassed the amount of transplant patient fatalities allowed. UMC says they only surpassed it by one patient and one of those was a suicide and completely unrelated to a transplant death.

“We had a bad accident three years ago, completely unrelated to the transplant, that is basically the cause for them to want to have to kick 200 off the list and force them to have to go to somewhere else,” said Brannmon. He thinks they're being rated unfairly.

The program that merged with Sunrise Hospital in the summer is not only stronger, but more reputable. But now the recent news of the programs demise could have recipients who had hoped for a miracle waiting even longer.

“You know how hard that's going to be to get your regular follow up? To get there in a spur of a moment in the middle of the night when someone shows up with an organ. It's a major hardship on our folks and those people who may or may not be able to comply with that,” said Brannmon.

Hospital officials say they'll fight the decision. The suicide death that tarnished their record could be allowed to fall off in January which would put them in compliance. However the program is set to lose its certification in December and they would have to re-apply.

Michelle Obama says a lot can happen between now and Election Day, so Democrats shouldn't consider her husband's bid for the presidency over despite polls and commentators saying he's ahead.

Obama told crowds at a park and a plush Las Vegas nightclub Monday night that her husband, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, will be the underdog in the race until he “is sitting in the Oval Office.”

Michelle Obama met supporters at a fundraiser for her husband at the Wynn Las Vegas casino-resort on the Las Vegas Strip before attending a rally at a neighborhood park northwest of downtown.

The wife of casino mogul Steve Wynn introduced the Illinois senator's wife at the resort's Blush nightclub. Elaine Wynn is a member of the Democratic hopeful's Nevada steering committee, while her husband is an honorary co-chairman of a Republican finance committee charged with raising money for GOP nominee John McCain.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Flu season is just around the corner, and in order to get a head start on it, flu shots will be offered starting Monday. The Southern Nevada Health District will offer flu shots from 8a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at their local centers.

Those centers are located at:

• Ravenholt Public Health Center, 625 Shadow Lane, Las Vegas
• East Las Vegas Public Health Center, 560 N. Nellis Blvd., Suite E12, Las Vegas
• Henderson Public Health Center, 520 E. Lake Mead Parkway, Henderson
• North Las Vegas Public Health Center, 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F, North Las Vegas
• Spring Valley Public Health Center, 6330 W. Spring Mountain Rd., Ste. C, Las Vegas

(All services at Spring Valley, including immunizations, are available by appointment only. Call 759-0701)

Right now there aren't any anticipated vaccine shortages this season. The health district is reminding residents to get the flu shot early. Flu season generally peaks in southern Nevada in January or February.

The health district has scheduled several additional flu shot clinics in November:

• Nov. 5 10 a.m. to noon Arturo Cambero 330 N. 13^th St. Las Vegas
• Nov. 6 Noon-2 p.m. H2U promoted by Southern Hills Hospital 9300 W. Sunset Rd. Las Vegas
• Nov. 12 10 a.m. to noon H2U promoted by Sunrise Hospital 3101 S. Maryland Pkwy. Ste. 100 (next to Denny's across from the hospital) Las Vegas
• Nov. 18 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Doolittle Community Center 1950 N. “J” St. Las Vegas

For the first time, the Southern Nevada Health District will participate in the nationwide Vote & Vax program where flu shot clinics will be held near polling sites. The clinics are scheduled as follows:  

• Oct. 28 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Moapa Valley Comm Center 320 N. Moapa Valley Blvd. Overton
• Oct. 29 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mesquite Campus Old Library 150 N. Yucca Mesquite
• Oct. 30 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Doolittle Community Center 1950 N. “J” St. Las Vegas

The new Smith Center for the Performing Arts will be built with Indiana limestone that the design architect says will better stand the test of time.

The center will have three theaters, including a 2,050-seat main hall that will be the home for the Las Vegas Philharmonic and touring Broadway shows, in addition to housing the Nevada Ballet.

Groundbreaking for the center is slated for early 2009 with a project opening in 2011.

Police interviewed Cole Puffinburger after he was found alone Saturday night on a quiet street outside a Methodist church in Las Vegas. Police have said they believe the abduction Wednesday was an attempt by drug dealers to send a message to the boy's grandfather.

The boy was found near a bus stop near Oakey and 17th Street. He was in good shape but was transported to UMC for a medical evaluation.

Julio Diaz said, “Something was not right.” He said it didn't seem to make sense that a boy that age would be on the streets. Puffinburger got into Diaz's paratransit bus and the police were called.

Earlier Saturday, Metro Police canceled an Amber Alert for the 6-year-old and held a news conference to update the case.

Metro Captain Vincent Cannito said police from several jurisdictions served search warrants in connection with the case. Cannito says large amounts of cash had been recovered at some of the search warrant locations.

Officers have taken a person of interest into custody and they're currently looking for another man, identified as Mexican national Jesus Gastelum. Police believe Gastelum is in Las Vegas or Southern California.

Police canceled the Amber Alert for Cole early Saturday after leads started drying up.

Officers in California found Cole's grandfather, 51-year-old Clemens Tinnemeyer, late Friday and arrested him. Metro says Tinnemeyer was part of a methamphetamine ring with Mexican drug dealers and vanished with millions of dollars owed to them. Police say when the drug dealers couldn't find him, or the money, they took the boy as ransom.

Tinnemeyer is being interviewed by police.

An emotional evening in court as the couple at the center of the Jane Cordova Doe murder case learned their punishment. Marc Colon and Gladys Perez were found guilty of first degree murder Wednesday and both received life at a sentencing hearing on Friday.

Perez will eventually be eligible for parole, but Colon, Crystal Figureoa's killer, will be locked up the rest of his life.

As the clerk read the jury's verdict, family members of the defendant stormed out of the courtroom. At that point, Perez was handcuffed and started crying as she learned her fate. Her ex-boyfriend, Marc Colon, showed little emotion.

SLIDESHOW: The Tragic Life of Crystal Figueroa

“He asked me about an appeal — obviously had some release as to the sentence. Obviously we hoped to spare his life. That's what the jury did. Obviously we're pleased with that,” said attorney Chris Oram.

The case captured the community's attention when Crystal Figureoa, at the time only known as Jane Cordova Doe, was senselessly dumped in a trash bin in 2006.

“Crystal's death had a real impact on our community, and I think today the community kind of gave her something back — this verdict and this punishment. So I'm just very, very happy with this,” said prosecutor Christopher Lalli.

Perez and Colon Arrest Report: Details of the Murder Case:
Pg 1   |  Pg 2   |  Pg 3   |   Pg 4   |   Pg 5

Interestingly enough, Colon's defense had argued life in prison would be a harsher punishment than death, saying murderers like Colon are the worst of the worst and would be picked on prison forever. But life in prison ultimately was his fate.

Colon will never be released from prison. Perez will be eligible for parole in 17 and a half years.

The two still face sentencing for charges of neglect and child abuse. They'll be back in court for that punishment December 12, 2008.

O.J. Simpson and his co-defendant Clarence “C.J.” Stewart are guilty of robbing two sports-memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel room. The verdict was read just before 11 p.m Friday after jurors deliberated for 13 hours. Both men were found guilty on all counts. Simpson could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Slideshow: O.J. Simpson Trail Courtroom Players

The Hall of Fame football star was convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery and 10 other charges for gathering up five men a year ago and storming into a room at a hotel-casino, where the group seized several game balls, plaques and photos. Prosecutors said two of the men with him were armed; one of them said Simpson asked him to bring a gun.

In a strange irony, this verdict came 13 years to the day after Simpson was acquitted of the killing of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman, in Los Angeles.

As jurors entered the courtroom, they made no eye contact with Simpson. After the verdict, Simpson was handcuffed and removed from the courtroom. Judge Jackie Glass denied motions for the defendants to be released on bail. 

Simpson, 61, and a golfing buddy, Clarence “C.J.” Stewart, 54, each face five years to life in prison. The armed robbery count carries a mandatory prison sentence. They will be sentenced on Dec. 5th.

Here is a breakdown of the counts for O.J. Simpson and C.J. Stewart:
Count 1 – Conspiracy to Commit a Crime (Gross Misdemeanor) - Guilty
Count 2 – Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping – Guilty
Count 3 – Conspiracy to Commit Robbery – Guilty
Count 4 - Burglary While in Possession of Deadly Weapon – Guilty
Count 5 – First Degree Kidnapping With Use of a Deadly Weapon – Guilty
Count 6 – First Degree Kidnapping With Use of a Deadly Weapon – Guilty
Count 7 – Robbery With Use of a Deadly Weapon – Guilty
Count 8 – Robbery With Use of a Deadly Weapon – Guilty
Count 9 - Assault With a Deadly Weapon – Guilty
Count 10 – Assault With a Deadly Weapon – Guilty
Count 11 – Coercion With Use of a Deadly Weapon – Guilty
Count 12 – Coercion With Use of a Deadly Weapon – Guilty

Simpson Case History – Stories, WEB EXTRA Videos, and more

O.J. Simpson Criminal Complaint

O.J. Simpson Arrest Report

As the verdict was read, Simpson looked very solemn and there were some sobs in the courtroom. Simpson's sister, Carmelita Durio, and his daughter have been in the courtroom during the trial. Medics were called to assist Durio after she collapsed.

Judge Jackie Glass refused to give the lawyers extended time to file a motion for a new trial, which under Nevada law must be filed within seven days.

The verdict will be rebroadcast on Las Vegas ONE, Channel 19 at Saturday at 2:30 a.m., 5:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

(Associated Press contributed to this report.)

O.J. Simpson's fate was in the hands of a jury that began deliberating Friday whether the former football star and a co-defendant robbed two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a casino hotel room.

Simpson, 61, and a golfing buddy, Clarence “C.J.” Stewart, 54, each face five years to life in prison if convicted of kidnapping, or mandatory prison time if convicted of armed robbery. They've pleaded not guilty to 12 charges, including conspiracy, coercion and assault with a deadly weapon.

Simpson Case History – Stories, WEB EXTRA Videos, and more

Slideshow: O.J. Simpson Trail Courtroom Players

The jury was expected to deliberate through the day, and decide Friday afternoon whether to return on Saturday or take the weekend off, court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer said. Deliberations began 13 years to the day after Simpson was acquitted of killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in Los Angeles.

The Clark County jury of nine women and three men heard 12 days of testimony, capped by prosecutors' arguments Thursday that the Las Vegas case had its roots in the 1994 slayings. Prosecutor Chris Owens said Simpson planned — and Stewart helped carry out — a plot to retrieve personal items that Simpson lost after squirreling them away to avoid turning them over to Goldman's family to satisfy part of a $33.5 million civil wrongful death judgment levied in 1997 by a California court. 

District Attorney David Roger Simpson called Simpson the leader of a conspiracy, and said none of the men with him cared about the memorabilia he was after. “He is the person who put these crimes together,” Roger said of Simpson. “He is the one who recruited these individuals to help him commit the crimes.”

Four men who accompanied Simpson, Stewart and a middle man to the Palace Station casino hotel for the Sept. 13, 2007 confrontation later pleaded guilty and testified for the prosecution. Thomas Riccio, the man who arranged and recorded the meeting, testified under immunity from prosecution.

Simpson's lawyer, Yale Galanter, told the jury the prosecution didn't prove Simpson was guilty in the criminal case that he said “has taken on a life of its own because of Mr. Simpson's involvement.”

“Every cooperator, every person who had a gun, every person who had an ulterior motive, every person who signed a book deal, every person who got paid money — the police, the district attorney's office, is only interested in one thing: Mr. Simpson,” Galanter said.

Stewart's lawyer, Brent Bryson, presented Stewart as the trial's forgotten man. “I want to take an opportunity to introduce you to the other defendant in this case, Mr. Clarence Stewart,” Bryson said in closing arguments.

Since Sept. 15, the jury heard 22 often colorful witnesses — including seven of the nine people who were in the cramped hotel room. They've listened to numerous replays of secret recordings made before, during and after the alleged robbery.

Neither Simpson nor Stewart testified, and jurors were instructed not to consider that when judging the case. Two former co-defendants who said they brought guns did testify. Judge Jackie Glass kept a tight rein on the proceedings and rejected several mistrial motions. She read 41 legal instructions to the jurors and six alternates before lawyers began closing arguments.

Galanter told the jury that the incident got out of hand because of former co-defendant Michael McClinton, who admitted displaying a gun during the confrontation. “For whatever reason, Michael McClinton takes over,” Galanter said, “and when McClinton takes over, he starts yelling and screaming and giving people orders and telling people to bag stuff up. And O.J.'s saying, 'Don't take anything that's not mine.”'

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)