Region Briefly Aug. 2

Governor names new charter schools chief

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Nevada's new charter school agency now has a leader.

Gov. Brian Sandoval announced Monday that he has appointed Steve Canavero of Reno as director of the State Charter School Authority.

Sandoval recently signed into a law a measure creating a governing body to handle the charter school work that was previously handled by the Board of Education.

The agency's goal is to integrate charter schools into Nevada's education system. Board members will be appointed later this year.

Sandoval says Nevada is one of only eight states to have a statewide authorizing agency dedicated to charter schools.

Canavero is the charter schools director for the Nevada Department of Education. He is the former principal of a California charter school.

He graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Bain Fire on Geiger Grade mostly contained

RENO (AP) - Firefighting officials say round-the-clock efforts have helped bring the Bain Fire in northern Nevada to 60 percent containment.

That figure is up from 40 percent containment Sunday evening. Firefighter spokesman Mark Regan says crews expect 100 percent containment Tuesday morning.

The 577-acre fire started Saturday afternoon near Geiger Grade and Toll Road. Investigators say it was caused by humans and they are seeking suspects.

Officials say steep, rocky terrain, wind and cheat grass have made the blaze is difficult to control. High winds expected Monday afternoon could further complicate the effort.

No structures have been lost and no injuries have been reported.

Several fire agencies and about 283 total people are working on the fire.

NV Energy income down with cool temps

LAS VEGAS (AP) - NV Energy officials say cooler weather - and less air conditioning usage in June in Las Vegas - is one reason the utility company's second quarter net income dropped 65 percent.

The company reports that it brought in $12.9 million from April through June, compared to $36.9 million during the same period in 2010.

President and CEO Michael Yackira said a May ruling from the Public Utilities Commission prompted the company to adjust its pre-tax income numbers down by $8.6 million.

Last year's higher earnings also reflected income from NV Energy's California operations, which it sold in January.

NV Energy serves a 46,000-square-mile are that stretches north to south from Elko to Laughlin and includes about 2.4 million Nevada residents.

State Sen. John Lee enters Nevada 2012 House races

LAS VEGAS (AP) - State Sen. John Lee is joining a group of Democratic politicians running for Congress in 2012 without knowing which House district they must campaign in.

Lee announced Monday that he will run in whichever congressional district incorporates most of his current Nevada Senate district, regardless of who else enters the race.

The North Las Vegas politician says short-term fixes from Washington have put the nation on the wrong path. He vows to work to reduce the national debt.

Nevada is in the middle of a once-a-decade redistricting process to redraw its voting districts, so it's unclear what district Lee or other contenders will eventually run in.

His potential rivals include Democrats Dina Titus and John Oceguera and Republican Joe Heck, who represents southern Nevada in the U.S. House.