B-29 plane crash site in Lake Mead open to public again

Saturday, April 25th, 2015, 6:41pm

BOULDER CITY, Nev. -- A rare piece of American history sitting at the bottom of Lake Mead will again be open to scuba divers.

A B-29 Superfortress World War II plane crash landed in Lake Mead in 1948 and wasn't found again until 2002.

Public access to the crash site has been restricted for the past six years, but is now open again for a brief period.

Joel Silverstein and his dive crew have been given a special permit to give guided tours to this rare piece of American history.

"The B-29's were very important during World War II," said Silverstein. "They carried all the different bombs and a lot of people flew in them and they were the most popular and most used plane in World War II."

The dive site is about a 30 minute boat ride from Echo Bay near Overton, Nevada. The war plane has sat there for nearly 70 years and Silverstein says viewing the plane is like a trip back in time.

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Submitted by 8 News NOW

Tuesday, April 21st, 2015, 3:38pm

LAS VEGAS -- Lake Mead has nearly set a new record when its water level measured at 1081.10 feet, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.

It's the lowest level since the lake was filled in the 1930s and 148 feet below capacity. It's predicted the lake will hit 1075 feet on May 31 and then begin to fill back up in September when there are water releases.

The prior lowest level was reached on Aug. 13, 2014 when the lake was at 1080.19 feet.

About 96 percent of the water in Lake Mead is from melted snow that fell in the Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming.

The lake powers Hoover Dam which produces electricity to serve about 1.3 million people a year. Most of the power is purchased by California with about one-quarter of it going to Nevada.

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Submitted by Nikki Bowers, Web Producer/ Digital Media Journalist

Thursday, April 9th, 2015, 3:01pm

LAS VEGAS -- The District Attorney's office said it will file criminal charges against the brother of Sen. Harry Reid, D-NV.

A criminal complaint released Thursday, revealed Larry Joe Reid, 73, is facing multiple charges including battery on an officer, DUI and possession of a gun while under the influence of alcohol.

Reid was arrested on Feb. 2 after he was found in a parked vehicle in the median of US 95 southbound in Searchlight, about 25 miles east of Las Vegas. The Nevada Highway Patrol trooper who approached Reid's car noticed he was intoxicated, according to an arrest report.

When the trooper asked Reid if he was okay, and why he was in the median, the report said, Reid swore at the trooper and asked to leave.

The trooper said Reid couldn't go and tried to pull his keys from the ignition, and that's when Reid allegedly started driving the SUV away.

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Submitted by Nikki Bowers, Web Producer/ Digital Media Journalist

Thursday, April 9th, 2015, 7:30am

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Henderson Police say they're joining the search for a hiker who hasn't been seen since April 1.

The search for 53-year-old Kevin Landis began April 7 when a co-worker of Landis reported him missing.

The co-worker told authorities Landis went on a hike near the River Mountain Loop Trail, which is between Boulder City and Henderson and just north of US 95.

Red Rock Search and Rescue and Metro police's Air Support are also helping look for Landis.

Anyone who locates Mr. Landis is asked to call 911 immediately. If have information on the case, contact Henderson Police Department at 702-267-4913. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or visit www.crimestoppersofnv.com.

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Submitted by 8 News NOW

Tuesday, April 7th, 2015, 2:12pm

BOULDER CITY, Nev. -- Governor Brian Sandoval and Senator Harry Reid were among many political leaders celebrating the groundbreaking of Interstate 11 on Monday.

The new highway will start at the end of I-515, or US 95 loop south of Boulder City and connect to the Hoover Dam bypass.

It will connect to Arizona's portion of the interstate, which is still in the planning stages, cutting 30 minutes from the drive between Las Vegas and Phoenix.

However, Senator Reid hinted that the future expansion of the new interstate may be on shaky ground.

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Submitted by 8 News NOW

Monday, April 6th, 2015, 6:29am

BOULDER CITY, Nev. - The first phase of the Interstate 11 project that would connect Las Vegas and Phoenix breaks ground Monday.

Phoenix and Las Vegas are the two largest cities in the country not linked by an interstate.

The $318 million project will begin with a 15-mile, four-lane stretch from Silverline Road to the Hoover Dam Bridge. Interstate 11 will start at the end of I-515, loop south of Boulder City and connect to the Hoover Dam Bypass.

The Nevada Department of Transportation says the corridor currently sees 34,000 cars and trucks daily. Experts say the new interstate will relieve some of that traffic going through Boulder City.

It will also save an estimated 30 minutes of drive time between Phoenix and Las Vegas.

“This is key in establishing southern Nevada's international trade corridor – bringing truck traffic and goods as well as people here more expediently, safer, quicker and better,” said NDOT spokesman Tony Illia.

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Submitted by 8 News NOW

Saturday, April 4th, 2015, 4:05pm

LAS VEGAS -- The Nevada Highway Patrol has a campaign to crackdown on distracted drivers, but how far is too far when it comes to cracking the whip? 8 News NOW decided to examine that question after a Las Vegas woman said she received a ticket from a Boulder City police officer for putting on lip balm at a red light.

Stephanie Fragoso said she was cited Wednesday during the statewide crackdown. She said she was at a red light at I-15 and Blue Diamond when it happened.

Fragoso said when she asked the officer why he pulled her over, he told her it was for putting on makeup.

"I told him it was Chapstick,” Fragoso said.

Initially, Fragoso thought the entire thing was a joke, especially since it was April Fools Day, but when she received the citation, she quickly realized that wasn't the case.

“He said 'it could have been anything; you could have been drinking water, shaving your legs',” said Fragoso.

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