Nevada briefly

Girl dies after collapsing in Sparks

SPARKS (AP) - School officials say a 13-year-old girl has died after collapsing at a Sparks middle school.

A Reno newspaper reported on its Web site Tuesday that the girl was an eighth grade student at Shaw Middle School. The newspaper says she collapsed on school grounds just before classes started Tuesday.

The school's medical emergency team performed CPR while waiting for emergency personnel. A Washoe County School District spokesman says the girl died at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno.

The district's school police and the Washoe County sheriff's office are conducting a joint investigation.

The girl's name was not immediately released Tuesday.

School Principal David Fullenwider calls the girl's death a tragic loss for her family and the school.

Gas prices up slightly; down in Carson

RENO (AP) - Gasoline prices in Nevada rose an average 4 cents per gallon from last month, but AAA says prices actually fell in some areas around the state.

AAA says the statewide average rose to $2.74. Prices in Southern Nevada rose 8 cents to $2.70, while prices in the Reno-Carson City area dropped 2 cents to $2.75.

Nationally, prices average $2.66, an 18 cent jump from October.

AAA attributes the price increase to higher crude oil prices.

Vegas sees 4.3% increase in visitors

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Tourism officials say the number of visitors to Las Vegas increased 4.3 percent in September, marking the first year-over-year monthly increase since May 2008.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said Tuesday that more than

3 million people visited Las Vegas during the month, compared with 2.9 million in September 2008.

Convention attendance was up 12.2 percent, to more than 401,000, even though there were 95 fewer conventions during the month.

The CVA said it saw the first year-over-year monthly increase in convention attendance since July 2008.

For the first nine months of 2009, visitor volume was down 4.7 percent.

The average daily hotel room rate in September was $91.18, down 19 percent from a year ago.