Print edition for April 5, 1996

George Galdorisi: Time to ratify the law of the sea treaty: Forwarding the convention, along with the companion agreement modifying Part XI, represented a firm commitment by the administration to keep this treaty the cornerstone of US oceans policy. For the past 18 months, this important treaty has been stuck in Congress.

Don't let Kiel Ranch fall victim to the wrecking ball: Kiel Ranch on Carey Avenue, just west of Lossee Road, has been allowed to deteriorate and burn with part of it demolished city work crews. Part of the property now is occupied by a business.

Ethics of journalism and the Unabomber case: Alexandra Marks; Not an easy conundrum. In the Unabomber case, they decided to err on the side of public safety.

Cops can falsify documents to obtain confessions: The majority decision, written by Justice Miriam Shearing, said these techniques may be used as long as they don't produce "inherently unreliable statements" or a false confession.

To take Senate, Democrats try tapping 'businesscrats': Linda Feldmann; He then went on to make millions in Oregon as founder of Mentor Graphics. Now he's running as a Democrat for the United States Senate. If he turns out to be a good campaigner - his political skills remain untested - he has a shot at winning the Oregon seat, analysts say.

Commentary: Duke's Christmas greeting a lovely Easter message: Ellington's narration for his ballet, "The River," written for the late Alvin Ailey, was received on Good Friday one year. Ellington explained: "I always write the text for my Christmas cards, and last Christmas, I thought and thought and thought, not realizing I had already written it when I wrote the ballet 'The River.'" It is our pleasure to share it with you on Good Friday each year.

IRL, CART go separate ways: Many race fans have viewed the bitter dispute between Championship Auto Racing Teams (IndyCar) and the new Indy Racing League as a trial separation, figuring the two sides eventually would resolve their differences in the best interests of the sport.

Nevadans guilty of murder with execution of Moran: When I was a young child (in the sacred 1950s), my mother and just about every other adult I knew told my friends and me that two wrongs don't make a right.

FBI's new tools - DNA and the public: Ann Scott Tyson; If this is the big break the Federal Bureau of Investigation has labored for, it will provide a much-needed boost to the agency. It may also dramatically illustrate the kind of payoffs available from a growing trend in law enforcement investigations: plumbing the public for leads.

Oak Ridge Boys' reunion joyous: Joe Delaney; We were at the Landmark doing a talk-radio show in the mid-1970s when the Oak Ridge Boys played there as part of a Country Music USA series. Our first impression was this was the best quartet vocal blend since the Ames Brothers in the late 1940s. At that time, the decision was made to go pop-country and leave the country-gospel field to the Statler Brothers. The hit singles and gold and platinum albums have been plentiful ever since.

Board files complaint against Horseshoe: The 16-page complaint seeks to fine the Horseshoe and place an agent at its sports book for six months to monitor whether it's complying with gaming regulations.

Judge removes air of conflict after AG endorses challenger: Fondi, whose district covers Carson City and Storey County, said his disqualification could last until Del Papa's term expires in two years.

Parole boss defends new procedures: Weller said there has been a "confusing array of quotes" surrounding the new policy of the state Division of Parole and Probation.

UNLV student found murdered in Texas: A passing fisherman found the body of Myra Elisabeth "Lisa" Allison about 7 a.m. Thursday, said Hugh Bishop, a Liberty police spokesman.

'The hardest working guy in local music,' Mark Huff, asks the question, 'How many kids are reading 'Grapes of Wrath' today?': Scott Dickensheets; "There's never a dull moment here," Mark Huff says, grinning above his first beer and his -- what, fourth? fifth? -- cigarette. "There's always a fight going on or something." Sure enough, one senses a lurking redneck menace beneath some of the faces lining the bar, like toxic waste buried too close to the surface; one beer over the line and clearly an ass-kicking could break out.

UNLV faculty stars in chamber recital: The solos featured on the program are the Karl Pilss "Rondo Alla Caccia" for horn and piano, and the Franz Schubert Sonate for Arpeggione and Pian, transcribed for bassoon. Both solo works will be accompanied by pianist Lynn Trippy.

Walking the line on planning: But it also raises the question of how far the city should go in tinkering with the local economy.

Powell to speak at Mirage dinner: The dinner -- with tickets ranging in price from $150-$350 -- is hosted by the Nevada Policy Research Institute, a Reno-based think tank that hopes to raise $100,000 to develop an Internet home page encouraging cooperation between environmental and business interests.

Youth news briefs: 'TEEN MODEL -- Cristi Rogers of Las Vegas was selected as a monthly semifinalist in 'Teen Magazine & Maybelline's 1996 Great Model Search contest. She is one of 80 monthly semifinalists. Cristi now has a chance at becoming one of the top 48 super semifinalists, whose pictures will appear in the July issue of 'Teen. She was chosen from more than 20,000 entries. The overall winner will appear on the cover of the October issue of 'Teen.

Guy Shipler was an example for all judges in Nevada: When a prominent Nevada judge criticized him, he could have easily folded his tent and thrown in the towel.

The opulence of Faberge Eggs: Carol Strickland; The Metropolitan Museum of Art is exhibiting 400 objects crafted by Faberge, including 15 of the 44 extant imperial Easter eggs produced from 1884 to 1917. Judges at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900 called Faberge objects "craftsmanship at the very limits of perfection, the transformation of a jewel into a true object of art."

LV boxers go 2-2 in Rond 2: Sanchez, 18, will take on Floyd Mayweather in the finals of the 125-pound division. Mayweather, the brother of professional fighters Roger and Jeff Mayweather of Las Vegas, stopped James Baker of Capital Heights, Md., in the first round of their bout.

'It's hard living in the closest. There's hat boxes in the way.': David Renzi; There were guest spots on "seaQuest," "The John Larroquette Show" and "Murder, She Wrote." There is a starring role in a play, "Scenes From My Love Life," which opened Thursday in Los Angeles, and another in a film, "Gay TV: The Movie," which debuts later this year.

Higher minimum wage will be eaten up by more taxes: Why does the federal government decide how much a business must pay its workers? Also, something no one ever brings up -- taxes.

Details on Fannie Mae programs: * FANNIE 97: To help home buyers who can handle monthly mortgage payments, but have not saved enough money for the down payment and closing costs, the Fannie 97(SM) mortgage allows Nevada home buyers earning up to $47,500 to make a down payment of as little as 3 percent.

Marathon winner's secret: High-altitude runs in Kenya: Joyce Hackel; Each afternoon, lean, young runners thunder down its packed-mud roads. Villagers bent under burdens of firewood and stalks of green bananas stop to stare as the pack, led by a featherweight wonder called Cosmas Ndeti, flashes past.

Royster loses in Stars debut: Whatever the reason, the Las Vegas Stars could get almost nothing going offensively in a 5-1 season-opening loss to the Vancouver Canadians Thursday night at Nat Bailey Stadium.

American Bancorp of Nevada earnings: American Bancorp of Nevada earnings

Barbara Nimri Aziz: Demolishing more than just Palestinian homes: Americans are not accustomed to seeing Israel's "demolitions policy" at work. Most recently, this policy has been aimed at the families of suicide bombers. But all Palestinians, from toddlers to the elderly, are familiar with it. Perhaps it's happened to a neighbor or someone else they know, or perhaps they've experienced it themselves: They're hauled out of the house in the early morning and told by a soft-spoken Israeli officer, with his troops all around, that he has his orders. The entire town is aroused. Neighbors join in the frantic rush to save something because they know it's useless to ...

'Concert for Life' slated for library: Proceeds of the event will benefit Aid for AIDS of Nevada, Nevada's largest nonprofit, community-based organization that provides education and support to individuals affected by HIV and AIDS.

Family's DUI nightmare drags on: Karen Zekan; It's a $5,200 nightmare to be exact, says Donna Maynard, now confined to a wheelchair because of two shattered feet, three inches of bone missing from her right femur and numerous internal injuries.

Elsinore Corp. earnings: Elsinore Corp. earnings

Panhandler pleads not-guilty in tourist's death: Trent Strader, 40, on Thursday pleaded not guilty to the allegation that he stabbed to death a Scottish tourist on the Strip.

Judges fret over 'attack' on independent bench: Robert Marquand; In an election year long on "get tough on crime" sentiments, including GOP presidential candidate Patrick Buchanan's support of term limits on judges, court decisions that appear to be soft on crime are under increasing attack by conservatives.

Activists wage war on local billboards: Nicole Gaouette; The billboard had been "liberated" by Cicada, a New Jersey artists' group that subtly - and illegally - alters the images or text of certain advertisements as a form of social protest.

LV man to admit he stole cop car: Daniel Jimenez, represented by attorney Peter Flangas, waived his preliminary hearing Thursday and agreed to plead guilty to the charge of escape with the use of a weapon and possession of 15 grams of cocaine.

Media bashing is topic as 'Nevada Week' moves to 8: The mayor will face three City Hall reporters -- Jeff Cohan of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Steve Sebelius of the Las Vegas SUN and political columnist Jon Ralston -- and question them about the fairness and accuracy of their news reporting.

Ken McCall: Convenience stores need more deterrents for robberies: "They're in the neighborhood. Your mom sends you there for milk when you're a little kid. You start taking things like gum and candy, and later on, you start taking cigarettes. Then you just sort of graduate into robbing them because, well, you're familiar with them."

France aims to beat the net by curbing it: Gail Russell Chaddock; PARIS -- NO more fumbling for change at the front door. France Telecom's latest on-line terminal allows you to order a pizza from your keyboard, insert a bank card, and debit your checking account.

LV drug supplier enters guilty plea: Rachael Levy; Michael McLemore pleaded guilty Thursday to money laundering, possession with intent to distribute crack and powder cocaine and two counts of conspiracy. He faces a minimum 10 years in prison and up to $4 million in fines when sentenced Aug. 9.

Sawyer Building public parking woes ease: Unfortunately, they are in what formerly was the employees-only section, way in the back. And since visitors can park in the old employee lot, guess where state employees now can park?

High court reverses judge on random drug tests: On the contrary, the high court ruled, it is a "valid drug-testing methodology."

Accuracy of info on school-bond progress questioned: Debra D. Bass; Committee member Alan Lewis was skeptical of a press release that said "all work is progressing on schedule and within budget." The release also credited the district with "accommodating" a third middle school and remaining within budget.

Hospital profits up in state: And Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas regained the title as Nevada's biggest profit maker.

LV man plans fundraiser to help find missing mother: Karen Zekan; A local man is seeking the public's help this weekend with a benefit car wash to raise money in the search to find his mother.

Love of one's sport overrides any risks: Karen Zekan; But the thrill of beating the clock, of holding on to that three-quarter-ton beast as it kicks and fights, is tempered with a reality that cowboys can't forget.

Expect fewer delays for executions: Moran, convicted of killing three people in Las Vegas nearly 12 years ago, was the first condemned inmate to be executed against his will in more than a generation. Thayne Archibald was given the death penalty in 1961.

Decomposed body found: The body was found by a hiker about 6:30 p.m. Thursday, said homicide Lt. Larry Spinosa.

Lifestyles of the rich and eccentric: Faberge customers: Carol Strickland; A list of clients reads like a social register of continental royalty. Besides the prime patrons (Russian and British royals), monarchs of Norway, Greece, Spain, Denmark, Portugal, Italy, Romania, and Serbia bought from Faberge. Not to mention the Aga Khan, King of Siam, and numerous Rothschilds. From the United States, families such as the Vanderbilts, Astors, and J.P. Morgans scooped up the trinkets. Guests to English country houses arrived with valises full of Faberge objects to bestow as gifts. Dinner guests at chichi parties found tiny Faberge knickknacks wrapped in their napkins.

Deafness doesn't hinder Tiger's Pride: Tim Graham; And that's OK.

Stars vs. Canadians game details: E--Turner, Harriger, Russo 2. DP--Vancouver 3 Las Vegas 3. LOB--Vancouver 10, Las Vegas 5. 2B--Pritchett, Palmeiro, Erstad. HR--Pritchett (1), Mulligan (1). SB--Erstad (1).

Twin has dual roles in 'Ring Round the Moon': Merilyn Potters; Matt Boethin will portray shy and sensitive Frederic. Boethin will also play Frederic's heartless and aggressive twin brother, Hugo.

Richard J. Cattani: Community and Peace: This, in America, is a citizen's question, not just a religionist's question.

CDS gets contract for new tribal casino: The Mohegan Tribe and Trading Cove Associates are developing a $285 million resort featuring a 150,000-square-foot casino with 3,000 slot machines and 180 table games.

New program to fund 50,000 mortgages: Pauline Bell; The financing was announced Wednesday by the Federal National Mortgage Association -- Fannie Mae -- the nation's largest source of home mortgage funds.

DUI checkpoints planned at Mead: Park rangers planned a checkpoint at the Overton Beach access road today, and one near Government Wash access road on Saturday.

Plan to use plutonium to fuel Canadian nuke plant stirs alarm: Mark Clayton; News reports in Canada earlier this week cited unnamed senior government sources as saying Prime Minister Jean Chretien had given his blessing to the idea and would push it in talks with the United States and other industrial powers at the G-7 summit talks April 19-20 in Moscow.

No longer clueless about Jane Austen's clout: Faye Bowers; First edition copies of Austen's six books are placed throughout this country house where she spent the last seven years of her life. The first book she published in 1811, "Sense and Sensibility," lies open on a table in her bedroom. The flyleaf states, simply and mysteriously, "written by a lady."

Commentary: Dr. Matlack has remedy for staff ills: A couple of Oakland Athletics' rallies later, Thursday afternoon's American League game at Cashman Field was 9-9 and headed into extra innings. It eventually took 15 innings to resolve and Detroit had a 10-9 victory, yet the pitchers' inability to hang on to a seven-run lead detracted from the win and limited the team's satisfaction at upping its early season record to 2-2.

Battle for huge nickel find in Canada ends in takeover: Mark Clayton; Despite rumors that a new bidder still might surface, Inco of Toronto looks to have won control of Vancouver-based Diamond Fields Resources, a mining company run by flamboyant mining entrepreneur Robert Friedland.

Jeff German: More word on Ted Binion's ties to a reputed mob figure: The suspended Horseshoe executive, who's fighting state gaming regulators for his license, defended his frequent jaunts to local adult nightclubs, where he has hooked up with reputed mob figure Herbie Blitzstein and other unsavory characters.

City redistricting problems escalate: Steve Sebelius; Chester Richardson, special assistant to the local president of the NAACP and a Republican candidate for Assembly District 7, said the city's reapportionment plan would help McDonald but hurt voters by packing all the poverty-stricken areas of the city into a single ward.

ITT-Bally rumor fuels gaming stock rampage: I said that these factors, in turn, foretell the likelihood that first quarter 1996 operating results for Las Vegas' publicly traded companies will not only make excellent reading but may equate to still higher stock values.

Rebels back in race: Bob Cloud; Kevin Eberwein's bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 10th inning Thursday night lifted the Rebels to a 2-1 triumph over Long Beach State at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The victory, coupled with a loss by top-ranked Cal State Fullerton at New Mexico State, pulled UNLV to within two games of the conference lead. The Rebels now stand 28-11, 4-3 in Big West play. Both Fullerton and Long Beach suffered their first defeats of the conference season, and boast 6-1 marks.

Correction: * A story in Wednesday's SUN on county plans for private companies to run parts of Sunset Park contained an inaccuracy. The County Commission allowed Parks and Recreation Director Glenn Trowbridge to solicit proposals to run the tennis courts, but not the driving range.

Mere threats, ex-cop says: Rachael Levy; Fired Metro Police Officer Brian Nicholson admitted threatening to sodomize a homeless thief, but explained that the promise was an empty one.

Brown leaves commerce with pro-export legacy: Ron Scherer; It is also an appropriate name for Brown, who leaves behind a legacy of business advocacy - especially for exports - at the Commerce Department. With Brown and 32 others killed in an air crash on Wednesday in Croatia on a trade mission, many believe that legacy will continue. The center, as well as the conferences and seminars that have helped small businessmen and $1-billion companies ship their products overseas, are not likely to end anytime soon.

A's just can't win in Vegas: Tim Graham; It started as a track meet but finished as a marathon.

Should workers earn a larger share of the profits?: David R. Francis; That's the view of Dean Baker, an economist with the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank in Washington. "We have a more educated, more trained work force," he says. "But workers are not getting their share of the gains." Most workers' wages have been stagnant for a decade.

If market is a mall, where will you get a good eel meal?: Maya Weber; The messy but thriving Khlong Toey market is the city's largest and most varied fresh-food marketplace. Here, anything from green papayas to free-range chickens, from eels to cooked insects, can be purchased - wholesale or retail.

Coach busted on child porn charges: Cathy Scott; The district attorney's office is making a plea to parents of children who may have been in contact with a Henderson Little League coach now in custody on child pornography charges.