Print edition for July 2, 1996

Smut ruling emphasizes parents' role: The court tossed out a never-enforced 1992 law on the grounds it would violate free-speech rights. The ruling is certain to spark renewed debate on the issue.

AGs protest fed rule on Indian gaming: The letter signed by 24 attorneys general said it was "clearly contrary to law and inappropriate" for Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt to establish a rule that grants permission to these Indian tribes to have slot machines and video gambling.

Suit filed over voting machines: Republican Pat McMillan, running in the 2nd Congressional District, filed suit last week in U.S. District Court to ban the machines, which take the place of the paper ballot that voters punch with a stylus.

Culinary Union targets Elardi's bank: Bob Shemeligian; The union, entrenched in a nearly five-year-long strike against the Frontier, filed a request Monday with the Federal Reserve, asking it to delay an application filed by Community Bank of Nevada to open a new branch. The union wants public hearings on the request.

Letter: Democrats' family agenda ignores erosion of liberties: Upon further thought, this agenda for "security" sounds off key and feels oppressive. What is it about "security" that causes skepticism, even suspicion? Ah, there it is! That type of 11security" is the byproduct of enslavement. Those who promise "security," of necessity must be lords of the manor and have power and authority over those who are dependent.

It's not sci-fi: robots move in on Mars: Robert C. Cowen; BOSTON -- Martians beware. Here come the robot Earthlings.

Seibert knows how Gen. Custer felt: Tim Graham; His name is Sonny Seibert, the pitching coach of the Colorado Rockies' Triple-A affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Aside from ordering extra neck isometrics to prevent whiplash, it is Seibert's job to prepare his charges for the possibility of pitching in the home run haven known as Coors Field.

Grants to aid 4 local nonprofit groups: The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, endowed by the late media mogul, announced the grants Monday.

Apartment dwellers first to get all-in-one telecommunications: Laurent Belsie; Want to see the future of telecommunications? Rent an apartment.

MacLeish: The great American discovery: Patriotism, declared Dr. Johnson is the last refuge of scoundrels. Abigail Adams said that women weren't very interested in patriotism since, in her time, they were "excluded from offices and honors."

Congress to tinker with ways to spur retirement saving: Sam Walker; WASHINGTON -- Faced with mounting evidence that millions of American workers are not prepared to pay for their golden years, Congress has begun crafting ways to encourage retirement savings.

Jeff German: Leaked Harter letter shakes up Board of Regents: The latest rumblings stem from the leaking of a confidential self-evaluation written by UNLV President Carol Harter asking for additional perks.

Questions haunt vagrant killing case: Cathy Scott; On May 14, patrol Officer George Pease slashed and shot to death 50-year-old Henry Rowe, a vagrant who for five years camped out in a wash off Industrial Road just south of Tropicana Avenue.

Few leads in girl's death, other's assault: The shooting death of a 15-year-old girl and the stabbing of a 14-year-old girl have left police with few leads to their assailants, said Metro Police homicide Sgt. Kevin Manning.

Interest-rate hike could keep home buyers away: Ron Scherer; NEW YORK -- Jim Morgo tries to devise ways to shoehorn low-income families into their own homes on Long Island. Even a slight rise in interest rates can make the difference between home ownership and rejection by the banks. So Mr. Morgo has a message for Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan: "Keep rates low, we don't need to worry about inflation."

Tocco honored on special day: Dean Juipe; But it might be 87.

Firing threatened for cop charged in shoplifting: Cathy Scott; Robert Conboy, 46, has been notified that the department is scheduling a pretermination hearing, which is the first step to being fired, police officials said.

Letter: Keeping High educational standards requires fiscal aid: The development of today's technological and medical innovations requires incredible creativity. The best known facility for fostering creativity is the arts. Performing artists are taught not only creativity, but also dedication, perseverance, and the ability to reason and quickly analyze and memorize. These traits are not only necessary for creating new technology, but also are vital in the workplace for simply finding a new approach to solving an old problem. To continue to succeed as a nation we must also nurture the arts through fine arts grants and scholarships.

Heat, Timing Making Sierra Lake a Popular Destination: "Campgrounds are all full. I wouldn't recommend trying to get a campground," she said from Tahoe City, Calif.

System Disruption Blacks Out Much of West: Four 500 megawatt coal-fired power plants in Rock Springs, Wyo., inexplicably went off-line about 2:30 p.m. MDT, and at the same time, seven hydro-plants along the Colorado River aquaduct also apparently fell off-line, said Gary Donnelly, a spokesman for PacifiCorp in Portland, Ore.

Ellis Island refused agents, faces fine: A complaint filed last week by the State Gaming Control Board says agents appeared at the casino at 4178 Koval Lane on March 20 to conduct an audit. The agents showed their badges and a letter of authorization to allow them in the counting room.

Obituary: Kathryn C. Kueber: A memorial service will be 3 p.m. Wednesday in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. A private burial will follow.

Where I Stand: Consultants caught in crossfire: The flak over the consultants' report on the special education department was one of those cases that followed Murphy's Law. Everything that could go wrong did. It became a turf war that never should have happened. If the consultants had been smart, they would have gone about their business of examining the department, written the report, handed it over to the School Board and left town. After all, that is what consultants usually do. They are not expected to become embroiled in a battle of personalities or politics.

Review: Metal machine music: Geoff Carter; Something about avant-garde music makes people want to kill. Whether it's the classic ground-breaking work of John Cage, the Balanescu Quartet's clever interpretations of popular songs, even the calliope-style cadences of Philip Glass, there's just something to it that inspires violence.

Obituary: Margaret E. Tomczak: Services were 10 a.m. today in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Burial followed in Palm Valley View Memorial Park.

Top players to compete in Legacy junior tourney: Bob Cloud; The 54-hole American Junior Golf Association event, which runs through Thursday, features nine Rolex Junior All-Americans among 90 participants. The list of competitors includes 22 Las Vegans in this, the 18th of 38 events scheduled by the AJGA for 1996.

Obituary: Harold Dudley Claiborne: Visitation is scheduled from noon-7 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. services Friday in Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd. Burial will follow in Palm Valley View Memorial Park.

Vietnam's communists feud on pace of reform: Daniel Pruzin; HANOI, VIETNAM -- On the streets of Hanoi, a visitor can still see many shop signs splashed over with paint, remnants of a recent campaign against "social evils" by the ruling Communist Party.

Obituary: Dr. John Richard Duffield: He is being buried with full military honors at a private service in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., is handling private arrangements.

Bob Shemeligian: Why make us suffer more, Demi?: The film details the 72-year struggle of women to gain the vote, culminating in passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

Domed stadium in jeopardy: Steve Sebelius; A Texas investor's failure to close escrow on the 183-acre Union Pacific property downtown has left his domed stadium project in jeopardy and city officials scrambling to have a say over what develops on the land.

Business books in brief: Mark Trumbull and Guy Halverson; MEMOS FROM THE CHAIRMAN, by Alan C. Greenberg (Workman Publishing, 156 pp., $14.95). It might sound boring: A collection of in-house memos, unadorned by pictures or explanation. But "Ace" Greenberg is not your typical memo writer.

Vietnamese ask: What party congress?: Daniel Pruzin; HANOI, VIETNAM -- Gnguyen Thi Thuy sells noodles and fried bean curd in Lenin Park, a popular getaway for families in Hanoi. Despite the draping of red banners throughout the city for the ruling Communist Party's Eighth National Congress June 28-July 1, she says she does not know when the meeting is taking place.

X prize aims to boost civilian spaceflight: Robert C. Cowen; Let's hear it for the X Prize. The $10-million award could do what billions of government dollars have so far failed to accomplish -- open the way to civil space flight.

Obituary: Bobby Rice: A memorial service will be noon Wednesday in Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd. A private burial will follow. Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., is handling arrangements.

Wrong-way driver causes U.S. 95 pile-up: Cathy Scott; Apparently despondent over causing the accident, 60-year-old Itoko Gould of Henderson stabbed and slashed herself in the abdomen with a kitchen knife as paramedics tried to rescue her from her 1989 Chevrolet pickup, said NHP Trooper Steve Harney.

Sperling: Presidential Teflon - how tolerant have voters become?: Whatever Sen. Richard Lugar (R) of Indiana lacked as a presidential candidate, it was not character. He has been regarded as a straight arrow since he first entered the public arena as Indianapolis's mayor years ago. And he kept that high-principled image during a primary campaign where he was always the "good guy" but too often the "dull fellow." So Mr. Lugar has more than enough character credentials to hold forth persuasively on that subject. At a recent Monitor breakfast he responded to the hot topic: the president's ability to deal with right and wrong.

Country stars glittering in opening of restaurant: More than 2,000 invited guests partied at the grand opening of the Country Star American Music Grill Monday night in a bash filled with more than 20 country singers and a saddlebag full of Hollywood celebrities.

Mending of Bosnia begins in Mostar: Laura Kay Rozen; MOSTAR, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA -- The ethnic division of Mostar is perhaps best seen in the destruction of its Old Bridge. Constructed in 1556 by Bosnia's Ottoman rulers, the simple stone arch was shelled into oblivion by Mostar's Croatian forces in 1993, leaving a divide where connection once stood.

Columnist: Fraternity of Chefs honors Treasure Island's Weicker: The award, granted by the Fraternity of Executive Chefs of Las Vegas, ACF, is dedicated to those chefs "whose culinary expertise and exemplary dedication have enhanced the image of the chef and the association."

Obituary: Harry Donald Bradley: American Burial and Cremation Services, 310 Foremaster Lane, is handling arrangements.

Plan clamps down on convicts: Larry Henry; Rep. John Ensign and state Sen. Mark James announced Monday they will seek federal and state legislation banning vulgar music, microwave ovens and televisions in prison cells.

DOE boosts Nevada's solar energy project: The U.S. Department of Energy has promised to buy 10 megawatts of solar power from the Corporation for Solar Technology and Renewable Resources, giving a big boost to plans for Nevada to host a major alternative energy project.

Obituary: Lyda M. Obenshain: Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

Kelly: Do you see a kid or a criminal: Carlos Williams (not his real name) is 12 years old, firmly built, and somewhat short for his age: a miniature replica of Sidney Poitier. Born into crushing poverty and turmoil, he virtually raised himself, making credible the conservative ideal of personal reliance and self-determination. To watch Carlos doing back flips on the ground is to recognize his athletic promise. But there is more to him than grace and muscle; he also has a penchant for art and a keen imagination. I call him Spunky.

Lawmakers Want Prison Work, No Play: Ensign said Monday he will introduce legislation for federal prisoners that would mandate work programs and limit such things as television watching and music with violent or sexually explicit messages.

Obituary: Steven James Lemon: Neptune Society of Nevada, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Building 5, handled arrangements.

Sky Sox vs. Stars game statistics: DP--Colorado Springs 1, Las Vegas 1. LOB--Colorado Springs 4, Las Vegas 9. 2B--Cockrell, Nied, Brito, White, T.Jones, Dishman, Thompson, I.Smith. 3B--Tatum. HR--Perez (5), Brito (1), Scott (2), Deer (19). SB--Perez (8).

Postal workers fear privatizing: Rachael Levy; The American Postal Workers Union Local 761 picketed Monday evening outside Southern Nevada's Postal Service headquarters at 1001 E. Sunset Road. Members oppose Postmaster General Marvin Runyon's efforts to semi-privatize many of the jobs held by federal workers.

Guest: Rwanda refugee crisis is unique: The recent murder of three Swiss Red Cross officials in Burundi should remind policymakers that this obscure little war is actually vicious enough to spill over and destabilize the region. But they should also be aware that there is a larger threat lurking in the camps for Rwandan refugees.

In final lap, race for Russian presidency rides on turnout: Peter Ford; MOSCOW -- This was not the way the Kremlin wanted it to end.

Obituary: Esther Wisotsky: Bunker Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

Obituary: Kirkwood Scott Oleson Jr.: A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday in Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Neptune Society of Nevada, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Building 5, is handling arrangements.

Review: 'Independence Day' revives cold-war heroism: David Sterritt; NEW YORK -- "Independence Day" is named after the Fourth of July, and political pundits are suggesting its popularity may be a barometer of the current American mood. Are audiences telling us something when they cheer the coming attractions just as an alien spaceship zaps the White House to smithereens?

Leaked evaluation troubles regents: Debra D. Bass; University regents are looking at ways to enforce the confidentiality of personnel records after UNLV President Carol Harter's self-evaluation was leaked.

Obituary: Rose M. Moffet: Visitation is scheduled from 3-7 p.m. today in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday in St. Joseph, Husband of Mary Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Palm Memorial Park.

Obituary: Truman L. Cummings: Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave. A private burial will follow.

People in the News for July 2, 1996: Courting John

New media alliances test press objectivity: Alexandra Marks; NEW YORK -- When asked if he ever felt pressured to give good reviews to movies produced by Warner Bros., Richard Schickel, Time magazine's film critic, pauses and responds somewhat incredulously: "You ought to see my review of 'Twister.' " He panned it.

Obituary: Frank E. Snyder: Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

Obituary: Clara Faye Colbert: Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

Letter: Media are avoiding probes of widening Clinton scandal: The news media can no longer ignore the obvious corruption of the current president and his administration without losing what little credibility it has left.

Let your fingers fetch a fund's performance: Guy Halverson; NEW YORK -- A New Yorker got an unexpected surprise recently when he called the general-information number for the Fontaine Global Growth Fund. He wanted to get some numbers, including how well the mutual fund has performed this year. Guess what? The telephone "field representative" turned out to be Richard Fontaine himself, the fund's founder and portfolio manager.

Stars game notes: Upcoming games

Court upholds roll back of race-based admissions: Robert Marquand; WASHINGTON -- In two significant decisions on the last day of its term, the US Supreme Court yesterday made the US government liable for perhaps billions of dollars in damages in a dispute over the savings-and-loan debacle of the 1980s - and, surprised observers by refusing to review one of the most controversial affirmative-action cases in decades.

'Superdebate' rises as new phenomenon in US politics: Christina Nifong; BOSTON -- When Massachusetts Gov. William Weld and US Sen. John Kerry step up to their podiums tonight, a half million viewers are expected to tune in to the debate.

Teens Plead in Baby's Murder: Juan Lopez, 18, admitted he killed the infant two hours after his girlfriend, Gabriella Dexter, gave birth in a park in January 1994.

Stars' Scott getting into his swing: He just didn't expect it to come this soon. Scott continued his weeklong offensive tear Monday night with a two-run home run in the Stars' 8-6 loss to Colorado Springs at Cashman Field.

Columnist: Tyson's new tack - have a nice day: No more outward turmoil, said the baddest man on the planet. Just inner peace.

Obituary: Joyce Gant: Graveside services will be 9:15 a.m. Friday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. A private burial will follow. Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St., is handling arrangements.

'Viper' arrests mark victory in domestic terrorism: Brad Knickerbocker; But the downfall of the so-called "Viper Militia," which came as the result of some serendipity as well as good police work, also indicates the extent and dangerous potential of such groups.