Print edition for March 28, 1996

Canada's right gains, but loses in image: Fred Langan; The Reform Party is a populist movement that started in western Canada. It built a platform dedicated to cutting government spending and taking a tough line on issues such as immigration and Quebec separatism.

Nevada GOP leader seeks more action: Charles Muth is tired of being a stagehand and wants to move into the spotlight.

Former assemblyman joins race for County Commission: Jeff Schweers; A former state assemblyman who lobbied for Nevada's gaming industry has officially announced his bid for the County Commission seat being vacated by Jay Bingham.

Casino guard admits covering for cops: Bill Gang; The report stated that coin theft suspect Andrew Dersch tried to escape from the officers and had to be tackled, cutting his head as he fell.

Expect less conflict in Congress as Dole, Clinton enter election mode: Kurt Shillinger; But election day is still months away. In the meantime, Bill Clinton and Bob Dole have lots of unfinished Washington business to attend to. Thus the US legislative process now looks set to become a primary battleground. Every amendment, every vote could reflect electoral positioning.

Commentary: Selena still with us, even after death: And the days without you -- los dias sin ti -- stretch on.

Atlantic City bets on Wynn: "We're not going to disappoint you," said Mirage Chairman Steve Wynn, who told council members after the vote the project would trigger a "remarkable renaissance" and help the city fulfill the promise of casino gaming.

Sue Blevins: Legalize alternative medicine: For example, the bill would help end a Texas physician's 12-year battle with the FDA. Stanislaw Burzynski, a physician who immigrated from Poland to pursue innovative cancer treatments, has been indicted for treating patients with a nonapproved drug. Patients have testified on Dr. Burzynski's behalf, citing anecdotal evidence that his treatment works and that, unlike toxic treatments, his does not hurt anybody. Burzynski notes that he has faced more resistance to alternative treatments in the US than in Communist Poland.

Remodeling around a landfill: Yvonne Zipp; Margo Kaufman was an unsuspecting freelance writer living in a cramped bungalow in Venice, Calif., when she and her husband, Duke, made the life-altering decision to renovate. A builder of dollhouses, Kaufman was used to projects involving nothing more than wood glue and a razor - projects that when you were tired of tinkering, could be conveniently shoved in a closet.

DOE sending $5 million for programs: "The Cold War has ended but the dedicated workers who helped build our national security should not be left out in the cold," said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who helped secure the funds.

Country radiothon to aid St. Jude: Volunteers are manning the phones to collect donations, which will go toward funding the hospital's research and treatment programs.

Supreme Court ruling bolsters state's rights: Robert Marquand and Peter Grier; The Supreme Court yesterday struck down a primary part of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, a 1988 federal law. In doing so, high court justices in essence told the federal government to keep its nose out of the sometimes-contentious negotiations between tribes and states over the proper scope of casinos and other gambling parlors on tribal land.

Nevada Dance Theatre to open 'Luna Gitana' tonight: Joe Delaney; Also included is the delightful "Graduation Ball" and a classic Spanish divertissement, "Paquita." ... Our critique will appear in Friday's SUN.

Iconoclastic architects push shift to more populist style: Carol Strickland; The Philadelphia firm of Venturi, Scott Brown & Associates has virtually defined populist architecture that glories in everyday life.

Wells Fargo's colorful history began up north: Between 1862 and 1865, Wells Fargo ran a 24-hour Pony Express route between Virginia City and San Francisco to speed delivery of customers' letters. By 1864, Wells Fargo was operating four stagecoaches a day to move its express of silver, gold, mail and packages out of Nevada and over the Sierras to San Francisco.

2 held in big LV marijuana haul: Cathy Scott; The marijuana was stashed in the stereo compartment and under and behind the back seat of a 1985 GMC utility truck, NHP Trooper Steve Harney said.

Artificial deluge used for natural ends on the Grand Canyon: Brad Knickerbocker; By creating a deluge that will pattern the annual spring floods that occurred when the river ran free, officials hope to restore beaches and wildlife habitat along the Colorado that have been degraded over since Glen Canyon Dam was dedicated by Lady Bird Johnson in 1966.

Autopsies shed new light on identities of 3 women buried in desert: Cathy Scott; One woman was 25 to 35 years old, 5 feet 2, with a slender build, brown hair and some strands of gray. She was wearing size 5 women's underpants.

Wells deal nearly done: Pauline Bell; Shareholders of both banks were scheduled to meet separately today to vote on the sale which is expected to be finalized Monday.

NATO's Bosnia mission creeps, despite vows: Scott Peterson; Despite fears of 'mission creep,' NATO sources say, there is a growing recognition of the importance of civilian aspects of the Dayton peace accord. Though military compliance by all of Bosnia's former warring factions is nearly complete - with rivals now separated by 60,000 peacekeepers - success is far from assured.

Cow disease outbreak can also occur in this country: I am not convinced by U.S. Department of Agriculture assurances that it can't happen here. The outbreak of BSE in Britain has been traced to infected sheep parts in cattle feed. Slaughterhouse waste unfit for human consumption is used for livestock feed in the United States as well. The consequences are uncertain, because there is no early test for BSE and symptoms are unlikely to show up before slaughter.

Unravel the traffic knot at rush hour: The council approved traffic improvements on surface arterials to add lanes and keep the traffic moving. Decatur Boulevard, Lake Mead Boulevard, Rainbow Boulevard and Washington Avenue will have no parking zones along certain sections to effectively widen the traffic lanes.

NTS contamination disputed: But the U.S. Department of Energy won't offer enough information to confirm the results, Anthony Hechanova said Wednesday night at a meeting of the Nevada Risk Assessment Management Program.

Babbitt to be key player in Indian gaming: Gary Thompson; Long considered an Indian ally in Washington, D.C., Babbitt is almost certain to be swamped with appeals from tribal leaders across the country hoping to add gambling to their reservations despite opposition from anti-gaming states.

Residents near Stratosphere get aid: The deal was negotiated over the past week and accepted by affected residents, according to Stratosphere spokesman Tom Bruny.

Tracing the causes of today's Balkan crisis: Robert Marquand; "Balkan Odyssey" By David Owen Harcourt Brace & Co,. 367 pp. $25

Commentary: Bayno going along for UMass' ride: Bill Bayno knows how it feels. The UNLV basketball coach spends his time these days trying to revamp the Rebels while simultaneously following his old school, Massachusetts, as the Minutemen prepare to march on the Meadowlands this weekend in the school's maiden Final Four voyage.

It's not just puppy love with owner and exceptional dog: Scott Dickensheets; But as you park your keister on Pfiester's couch, idly scratching Keleigh's jaw as she rests it on your lap, you'll want to avoid glancing into the den. That's where Pfiester hangs a huge photo of Keleigh, all chomp and aggression, trying her doggonedest to bite the padded arm off a "bad guy" in a protection-dog exercise. And now she's resting her head where?

Gorman girl most likely to shape black history: A part of McDonald's Black History Month celebration, the program honors outstanding high school seniors who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, character and scholarship, along with the potential to be future black history makers. Erica's scholarship will be for $650.

Underdog computermaker may benefit from innovations in Inetrnet graphics: Simson L. Garfinkel; Java may be worth just 14 points in Scrabble, but the new computer language from Sun Microsystems may be a lifesaver for much-maligned Apple Computer.

'Splash II' inappropriate for youngest in audience: The audience was full of 8-, 9- and 10-year-old youngsters! Is management able to push their soft-core smut on parents unaware? Why didn't the parents notice their shell-shocked expressions? What kept the room full of parents, in attendance with their young, from running like bats out of hell? Must've been the perceived loss of their $45 ticket costs.

Israel's Arab voters try to unite, possibly helping Peres: John Battersby; With a vested interest in retaining the economic and civil benefits that come with being Israeli citizens - but with sympathy for the hardships of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank - they could emerge from the elections as power brokers.

High school program shows smokers how to kick butts: Debra D. Bass; Smokers were urged Wednesday to quit cold turkey and leave their vices at home for Anti-Tobacco Day.

Ensign will speak: Ensign will speak

Jeff German: GOP presidential primary a disappointing experiment here: Even state party Chairman John Mason will make that concession.

Child abuse charges filed against man: Cathy Scott; In addition to allegedly beating the toddler, 29-year-old Dennis Kieren has been charged with murder in the March 7 shooting death of his roommate, 26-year-old David Allen Broyles.

A planner looks at the state of cities: Carol Strickland; Her book, written with Venturi and Steven Izenour, 'Learning from Las Vegas' (1972), argues that architecture must attend to and understand the automobile culture and the commercial highway strip. Her comprehensive plans for the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and the Denver Civic Center offer pro-active strategies for future development.

Frankly, Gingrich is always a joy to watch on television: Frankly, Gingrich is always a joy to watch on television

Commissioners asked to reconsider Glendale casinos: Jeff Schweers; Bingham's request came after residents of the lower Moapa Valley inundated the commissioners with calls of protest over the 3-1 decision to allow the hotels and expand the gaming area.

Brothers indicted in Internet porn: Douglas Anderson, 42, was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on two counts of transporting child pornography. He and his brother, 45-year-old Ross Anderson, were charged with three counts of possession of child pornography.

Phillips finally gets his chance at WBA crown: Dean Juipe; HBO will televise the fight along with its companion main event, the WBC welterweight title fight between Pernell Whitaker and Wilfredo Rivera.

Need a job this summer? Say 'Y.E.S.': Y.E.S. is a free program designed to place 500 teens, ages 16 and older, in jobs around the city. Employers in years past have included the Clark County School District, Circus Circus, MGM Grand and local insurance agents.

IRS bomb suspect may change plea: Hurst was arrested along with Joseph Bailie, 40, several days after a white drum filled with a fertilizer and fuel mixture was found in a side parking lot of the building on Dec. 18.

Two officers in foot shooting identified: James Breed, 28, and Sean Scott, 27, have been with the department since 1992 and are assigned to Metro's southeast area command.

Suspended Horseshoe exec fails to appear before board: This comes as gaming agents leveled new allegations that Binion used Horseshoe property, personnel and resources since signing a Sept. 15, 1994, stipulation temporarily giving up his gaming license.

'Sexwars' focus of radio show: The first show will feature Dennis/Denise, the president of the Heterosexual Crossdressers of Nevada; Devon, a male-to-female transsexual who has appeared on "Geraldo"; and Donna Cook, Devon's therapist.

Turkmen: A chameleon show's his Jeffersonian side: Igor Greenwald; Mr. Akayev has been both hailed as a liberal reformer and castigated as a would-be dictator. A onetime darling of a West, he's also an adherent of the 'Asian values' expounded by Far East autocrats.

U.S. risking big trouble in weapons sales to China: China has been reported to have purchased Israeli-made F-15 U.S. fighter planes, which were supposed to be top secret. Also mentioned was that the U.S. paid 90 percent of Israel's manufacturing cost of $27 million each.

BBC tries not to go down the tube: Alexander MacLeod; Or so says the British Broadcasting Corp.'s board of governors, which wants to tighten its already-strict rules on program content, both for TV and radio. The British government, too, has ordered a study of the V-chip, a TV device that blocks programs deemed unsuitable for children.

Investors hope to cash in at show: Organized by Investment Seminars Inc., the show features more than 250 exhibitors and some 50 seminars led by investment experts and editors of investment publications. The third annual CNBC-ISI-sponsored Las Vegas Investment Masters Symposium will be conducted at the same time.

Royster's roster for '96 filled with vets: As expected, the 1996 edition of the Stars will be loaded with veteran players, many of whom have major-league experience. Only two players -- infielders Homer Bush and Jason Thompson -- will be making their triple-A debuts.

Remodeling the heart of a home: Peter Tonge; "House Beautiful: Kitchens" Edited by Margaret Kennedy Text by Carol Sama Sheehan Hearst Books 155 pp., $22

Proposed city redistricting evens out ward population: Steve Sebelius; Public hearings on city ward reapportionment are slated for April, and the plan could be in place as soon as April 17.

KNPR explains outages: Listens get an odd mixture of Howard Stern and contemporary Christian music on 89.5-FM. And the public radio station gets a lot of static.

Where I Stand: Don't play politics with wages: The latest fight in the halls of Congress is over the proposed increase in the minimum wage from $4.25 an hour to $5.15 per hour over the next two years.

Architecture glossary: Carol Strickland; Doric: Classical order of Greek architecture denoting simple capital atop column.

Muppet appeal crosses generations: Judy Nichols; No, Ms. Allebach isn't part of the 'Sesame Street' age group that has traditionally delighted in Kermit and Miss Piggy. Rather, she's a young professional in Titusville, Pa. - and part of a sizable crowd of twentysomethings and older who have warmly welcomed the Muppets' comeback.

'Democracy Day' gets Silverado students fired up for election day: Lisa Sciortino; Participating in the political process is a duty the Silverado High junior takes seriously.

Peter Hakim: Policy on Latin America fails on two front: With the spread of democratic politics and market economics, the end of Central America's wars, and the resolution of the debt crisis, Latin America increasingly appears to be an area of opportunity rather than a source of problems and conflict. The region, in turn, has welcomed such US policy initiatives as the Brady debt reduction plan, the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative and its promise of hemispheric free trade, NAFTA, the December 1994 Summit of the Americas, and Washington's response to the Mexican peso crisis.

Proposed hunting-tag plan runs afoul of state laws: In the process, the division expects to collect an extra $250,000 a year to help with its financial problems.

Cass Anderson remembered for contributions to vets: So long, pal, you were a class act.

House buckled into money interests in gun law vote: The law they voted to repeal is favored by a majority of Americans and law enforcement officers. It is scary to think that the NRA wields this kind of power over Newt and his gang.

Former Star helped Seattle rise to new heights in AL: After the Indians had clinched the league title with a 4-0 victory in Game 6, a national television audience watched Mariners second baseman Joey Cora weep into a towel while teammate Edgar Martinez tried to console him.

Being president isn't enough for these ex-Soviet leaders: Igor Greenwald; Even if they tried, Turkmen citizens would have trouble getting away from their president, Saparmurat Niyazov. 'People, Motherland, Turkmenbashi,' intone official propagandists. The latter term means 'chief of all the Turkmen,' and there is only one man in the country who can safely claim that title.

Florida towns build fields and baseball teams come: Jeanne DeQuine; After last year's strike slashed an expected $350 million stimulus in half, local officials weren't expecting an economic home run. But as spring training ends this week, they'll accept a double.