Southern Nevadans pledge more than half-million dollars during telethon

LAS VEGAS - Southern Nevadans pledged more than a half-million dollars in contributions Sunday and Monday to comedian Jerry Lewis' annual Labor Day telethon benefiting muscular dystrophy research.

A total of $506,233 was raised locally over the 21 1/2-hour telethon that netted $54.6 million nationally, breaking last year's record of $53.1 million.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association held its annual telethon in Las Vegas every year except one between 1973 and 1994, but moved the event to Los Angeles in 1995.