A source said authorities are investigating whether individuals were planted on homeowners association boards to funnel business stemming from construction defect lawsuits to certain attorneys and construction companies.

Agents are searching homeowners association records and ballot information dating back to 2001.

MONDAY

JUROR VOICES DOUBTS

A juror who said she was racked with guilt over voting for the death penalty for child killer Beau Maestas triggered a review after raising allegations of jury misconduct in the case.

Rachel Poore says she begged Maestas for forgiveness and told him she planned to have his name tattooed on her body.

A judge is expected to rule in December on whether Maestas should be resentenced for the 2005 stabbing that killed 3-year-old Kristyanna Cowen and left her sister, Brittney Bergeron Himel, now 16, paralyzed.

TUESDAY

INJURED JUDGE TESTIFIES

With stapled and stitched gouges criss-crossing her near-bald head, District Court Judge Elizabeth Halverson appeared before a grand jury to testify against her husband.

Edward Halverson was indicted by the grand jury the next day on an attempted murder charge in connection with a Sept. 4 attack on the judge.

Elizabeth Halverson spent two weeks in the hospital after she was beaten with a cast-iron skillet.

WEDNESDAY

DEALERSHIPS CLOSE

Two auto dealerships abruptly shut down as the sputtering national economy claimed more jobs.

With little warning to its employees, Georgia-based Bill Heard Enterprises closed 13 car lots nationwide, including Bill Heard Chevrolet and Vista Chevrolet in Las Vegas.

The company employed 2,700 people in all, but it was unclear how many local workers lost their jobs.

THURSDAY

TESTIMONY WITH A WINK

Alfred Beardsley went from being a witness for the prosecution to a star for the defense as testimony continued in the armed robbery and kidnapping trial of O.J. Simpson.

In a blow to prosecutors, Beardsley said he didn't think Simpson should have been charged and questioned the authenticity of an audiotape of last year's confrontation at Palace Station between Simpson and two memorabilia dealers.

Later, Beardsley winked at one of Simpson's lawyers.

FRIDAY

CITY EYES LABOR COSTS

The city of Las Vegas announced it wants to slash labor costs by $65 million over the next five years in order to stave off financial woes.

The budget reduction, combined with other measures outlined in a new city report -- including as many as 46 layoffs -- would keep Las Vegas from draining its reserves during an economic downturn that's expected to last at least two more years.