Region Briefly June 22

House candidate Amodei links Obama to China

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A Nevada congressional candidate is accusing President Barack Obama of helping China relaunch its empire, with a TV ad featuring images of Chinese soldiers marching on Washington.

Republican Mark Amodei released the campaign ad after he was named the Republican nominee Saturday for a special election to fill a House vacancy.

The spot shows an Asian TV reporter speaking English with a heavy accent recounting a fictional history where the United States took on so much debt that it became dependent on China.

It shows a Chinese army marching with guns in front of Congress.

Amodei appears, saying it's not too late to "stop this nightmare" and vowing not to vote to raise the federal debt limit.

Amodei didn't respond Tuesday to a message seeking comment.

$6.1M e-health records plan gets go-ahead

(AP) - Rubber is hitting the road in a plan to connect Nevada's hospital computer systems that state officials say will create more than 5,000 jobs.

State health and human services director Mike Willden announced Monday the federal government approved Nevada's plan for using more than $6.1 million in stimulus funding for the project. Gov. Brian Sandoval last week signed a law that gives his permission to start building the system.

The computer network will eventually connect all hospitals so doctors can securely share a person's medical records with the patient's other doctors. Proponents say more coordination will reduce medical errors and lost records.

State officials say Nevada will need more than 5,000 people trained to work with the computer system.

Patients must give permission before doctors include them in the system.

Nellis AFB renaming Nevada Test and Training unit

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE (AP) - Officials are marking the redesignation of the Nellis Air Force Base 98th Range Wing as The Nevada Test and Training Range.

A change-of-command ceremony is being held Tuesday at the base just north of Las Vegas for Air Force Col. John Montgomery to turn over control to Col. Kenneth Thompson.

Thompson is a former defense and air attache to the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.

Base officials say the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center will continue to operate, maintain and manage the vast 4,500-square-mile testing and training range and its 12,000 square miles of military air space.

They say more than 1,000 military, civilian and contract personnel are assigned to the organization.

Feds seeking bidders for Lake Mead tour contract

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The National Park Service is inviting prospective operators of the Lake Mead Cruises tour concession to see the existing business before submitting bids.

The Park Service says site visits are Wednesday on Lake Mead within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The current operator, Lake Mead Ferry Service Inc., is retiring and isn't competing. A bid schedule is pending.

The Park Service expects the new concessionaire will provide sightseeing tours and services in the Boulder Basin and Hoover Dam area of the Colorado River reservoir east of Las Vegas.

The operation includes the motor vessel Desert Princess paddlewheel tour boat and the Lake Mead Cruises landing at Hemenway Harbor.

Reservations for site visits need to be made at the Federal Business Opportunities web site at http://go.usa.gov/WiW .