Clayton named to Gaming Control Board

Mark Clayton, vice president of corporate law for Caesar's Entertainment, has been appointed to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Clayton, 39, was named to replace Scott Scherer, who is leaving the board Feb. 21 to join the law firm of Hale Lane in Carson City.

"Mark Clayton is one of the state's finest attorneys in the field of gaming law," said Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Before moving to the private sector, Clayton worked as chief of corporate securities for the gaming board from 1993-95. He is a 1990 graduate of Pepperdine University School of Law.

The control board post pays $113,849 a year.

New consumer advocate vows to pursue Enron case

The state's new consumer advocate for utility customers told legislators Tuesday that she'll "absolutely" press federal regulators to review scams by Enron Corp. that may cost a major Nevada utility some $300 million.

Adriana Escobar Chanos, named to her post in December, made the promise in response to questions from Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, chairman of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, during a hearing on pending utility legislation.

Townsend said the legal battles that have developed because of Enron's power market scams during and prior to the 2000-2001 West Coast energy crisis have become "one of the great regulatory slugfests of all time."

Townsend added that Escobar Chanos' office needs adequate funding to hire nationally recognized experts for dealing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission "if there's a chance to get something back" for Nevada utilities and consumers from the bankrupt, disgraced energy trader.

Escobar Chanos said her state Bureau of Consumer Protection, under the previous consumer advocate, Tim Hay, had tried to get FERC to help on Nevada matters. She added the state agency "definitely should have a role" in continuing to press for the federal agency's help.

Vegas hospital dispute spurs picketing, Legislature proposal

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Negotiations over a new hospital contract have spawned public protests by an organization representing about one in five southern Nevada residents, and a call for action by a leading state lawmaker.

State Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, on Monday blamed out-of-state health corporations for "harvesting the pocketbooks" of Nevada residents to "ship millions of dollars back East."

Perkins used a speech on the opening day of the state Legislature in Carson City to call for hospitals to reinvest profits in local programs before paying corporate headquarters.

Officials and some of the 500 sign-toting members of the Health Services Coalition complained during a peaceful picket Monday outside Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas that hospital corporations were reaping huge profits and raising rates higher than employees can afford.

"At some point, this just has to stop," said Rusty McAllister, a fire captain.

Pickets blamed Nashville, Tenn.-based Hospital Corporation of America for seeking a 30 percent increase in hospital care rates over three years. The company also owns MountainView and Southern Hills hospitals in Las Vegas.

An HCA official said the company was trying to recover the costs of providing care in fast-growing Las Vegas.