Briefly: Nevada home to largest share of illegal workers

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A report on illegal immigrants says Nevada has the largest share of illegal workers in the nation, a population that has grown despite record unemployment.

The Pew Hispanic Center's annual report published today shows roughly 10 percent of Nevada workers are illegal immigrants who are not authorized by the federal government to work.

California's 1.85 million illegal workers are the largest in the nation, but they only represent 9.7 percent of the Golden State's work force.

Nevada also has the largest share of illegal immigrants at 7.2 percent. Only 3.7 percent of people in the United States are illegal immigrants.

Nevada's population of illegal workers was 9.4 percent in 2009.

The Silver State's unemployment rate has since climbed to 14.5 percent, the highest in the nation.

Nevada cities rank high on bad water list

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Las Vegas ranks third, Reno ranks fifth and North Las Vegas ranks eighth on a top 10 list of American cities with the worst drinking water.

The Las Vegas Sun reported Monday that the AOL Daily Finance list was based on five years of data collected from multiple sources by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Environmental Working Group.

Las Vegas water contained 30 identified pollutants, Reno water contained 21 chemicals and North Las Vegas water contained 11.

Water quality rankings were determined by measuring the percentage of chemicals found, the number of contaminants found and the most dangerous average level of a single pollutant.

Roger Buehrer of the Southern Nevada Water Authority said the study was outdated.

Supreme Court upholds barring judge

CARSON CITY (AP) - The Nevada Supreme Court has upheld a discipline panel's order barring a former Las Vegas judge from ever seeking another judicial post.

In an order filed Monday, the high court sided with the Judicial Discipline Commission, saying there was clear and convincing evidence former District Judge Elizabeth Halverson committed willful misconduct.

Halverson was suspended in 2007 after she was accused of mishandling trials, mistreating staff, falling asleep on the bench and other charges.

She blamed vindictive colleagues and disgruntled staff.

The judicial commission in 2008 signed an order barring her from future work as a judge, saying her "dismal professional history" could repeat itself if she won another judgeship.

Sweet named interim court administrator

CARSON CITY (AP) - Robin Sweet has been appointed interim director of the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Her appointment was announced Monday by Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Douglas.

Sweet is a native of Hawthorne and has worked at the administrative court office since 2000. The AOC provides support services to the Supreme Court and trial courts across Nevada.

It also performs budgetary and statistical functions, and provides staff for Supreme Court commissions and committees.

She replaces Ron Titus, who left in early January.