Print edition for April 17, 1997

Nevadans take to reading aloud to area students: David Renzi; "We already read to him," Kim Perron says. "I know he doesn't understand the words, but he understands the rhythmic and calming quality. It puts him to sleep, which isn't such a bad thing."

Fitness test next step to being cop: Karen Zekan; And at a time when stress can gnaw away at confidence, every extra ounce of support helps.

Columnist Bob Shemeligian: Big jackpots. New hotels. Hmmmmmmmm.: Bob Shemeligian; The scene was New York-New York, the city's newest resort, where 46-year-old Suzanne Henley hit a record $12.5 million slot jackpot early Monday morning.

School delays prompt double-session nightmare: Teresa Hinds; Students zoned to attend Cartwright, Guy, Rhodes, Morrow and Bowler elementary schools, in addition to students at the host schools they will be attending, will be on double sessions until the new schools are completed.

Atlanta's 'Freaknik': Symbol of Racial Divide or Just a Party?: Elizabeth Levitan Spaid; Thousands of young people from across the US will come to Atlanta today for Freaknik - an annual spring-break celebration for black college students. It's sort of Daytona Beach minus the sand and surf.

Injuries, sickness don't stop Bonanza volleyball team: James Yodice; Like any other sport, it's not really how but how many.

Female pilot says she was snubbed for Nellis show: "I'm used to this," Jeschien said. "I'm not mad. But my feelings are hurt. They're doing history out there at Nellis ... and I flew."

MLB Notes: 4 teams bidding for Irabu: While his team flew across the continent and halfway across the Pacific, San Diego Padres president Larry Lucchino was trying to move Hideki Irabu the other way.

Comfort Inn Classic, Results: 1, Bob Belmont, Dunedin, Fla., 2,847. 2, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 2,838. 3, Andy Neuer, Milton, Pa., 2,833. 4, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 2,822. 5, Brian Voss, Atlanta, 2,820.

Tribe fires white woman who complained of discrimination: "I believe I have been fired in retaliation for opposing the Tribe's unlawful practices ...," she said in the new complaint.

Rose hipsters: Scott Dickensheets; Look at this place! It's a parade of roses, a tower of flower, a thornucopia. There are something like 250 rose bushes in Jill Barnard's back yard in Green Valley, dozens of hybrid varieties, and it's more than enough to rose-bowl you over.

Bayno's boys to start early: Steve Carp; UNLV fans will get a chance to look at Bill Bayno's revamped Rebels sooner than usual.

Dow fights judgment over breast implants: Larry Henry; "We have a 47-year-old woman who must wear diapers," Fredric Ellis, representing Charlotte Mahlum, told the court during oral arguments Wednesday.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Showrooms should go seven days: Joe Delaney; Especially since most showrooms only have one show per night. ... What is lacking is creativity. ... Entertainment directors must submit to entertainment by committee, committees dominated by accountants and attorneys, professionals trained to act after the fact, not before.

Letter: Insurance, license fees should be fair to everyone: Same thing with auto tags. Everyone who has a job in this state should get plates and contribute their share if they are going to use our streets to drive on.

US Women in Combat Draw Unfriendly Fire: Alexandra Marks; Beneath the disturbing headlines alleging sexual abuse and harassment in the armed forces simmers a deeply emotional debate about the growing role of women in the military.

Heirs of Lenin and Stalin Face Identity Crisis In an Era of Change: Peter Ford; Russia's Communist Party holds its fourth congress since 1991 this weekend, showing few signs that it can halt its drift toward irrelevance and concerned about a government assault on its sole remaining citadel, parliament.

Purging pool problems: Scott Van Winkle; The pool on Upland Boulevard was left to vagrants, runaways and other riff-raff several years ago, neighbors said, gradually filling up with debris rather than water.

Letter: Patrons were cheated of view at the racetrack: Only $100 seats or private boxholders can now see the complete race track. It's enough we pay $4 per beer, $5 for a sandwich and $25 for shirts.

LV teen pleads guilty in killings: A hearing will be held to determine whether Jenkins was sane at the time of the murders. If he is found competent, he faces 140 years to life in prison, prosecutors said.

Dean Juipe: No pressure on welter champion: Dean Juipe; Name recognition is essential for anyone making a living in the public eye, and World Boxing Association welterweight champ Ike Quartey is trying to maximize his reach in preparation for a major fight or two later this year.

Appreciation society unites Lanza admirers: David Renzi; "One day I went to the video store and rented 'The Great Caruso' (in which Lanza portrayed the legendary Italian tenor) and I was floored. I went out and got every record and video of his. My wife says I'm not a fan, but a fanatic."

Popular LV meat supplier Schulman dies: Young housewives unfamiliar with their way around a kitchen could go to Al Schulman for good advice on preparing meat for dinner.

Bank thefts fall sharply: Karen Zekan; Only 10 financial institutions in Clark County have been robbed thus far in 1997. Last year at this time, there had already been 49 robberies.

Ex-NLV judge cleared to run for his old seat: The high court rejected a motion from the state Judicial Discipline Commission to prevent Davis from continuing his campaign. The commission in 1995 ousted Davis from the bench for misconduct after he served there for 16 years.

Ex-Star blasts into record book: "Obviously it was a special game for me," Hermanson said. "The first hit, first home run, and to do it in my first at-bat. It hasn't really sunk in."

They were made for Mario music -- and each other: David Renzi; Such is the esteem in which the late tenor's voice is held.

Four Queens workers vote in favor of unionization: An independent arbitrator verified the vote that officially certified Culinary Local 226 as bargaining representative for Four Queens employees for the first time since the union lost a 1984 election following a 15-month strike.

Job code may erase sweatshops: But it's a start.

NCAA must wait on change-of-venue ruling in Tarkanian case: Tarkanian says the NCAA ruined his name and is asking for an unspecified amount of money.

Letter: Judge set the right tone for children to follow: The role model is, in my mind, the key to adolescent behavior, and it is extremely important for our children to respect and emulate someone who calls a spade a spade and demands personal responsibility from all.

14,200 new hotel rooms OK'd despite growth concerns: Jeff Schweers; The board's decision Wednesday to uphold a previous Planning Commission action allows Circus Circus to begin construction of a master-planned mile of hotel-casinos and retail shops on the Las Vegas Strip.

Fear and Loathing in Zaire With a Warrior Named Coco: Ed O'Loughlin; "When a FAZ soldier puts his foot down next to yours, he doesn't want to dance," he said. "He's shopping for shoes."

Lawsuit seeks action at Lake Mead, Hoover Dam to protect songbird: Storing surplus water behind Hoover Dam on the Arizona-Nevada border the past 22 months submerged the willows, and they are dying, the Tucson-based Southwest Center for Biological Diversity argued.

Romano files lawsuit against gaming officials: Rachael Levy; Frank Romano and his wife, Maria, accused the state agencies in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court of covering up evidence that would have proven he was innocent in 1989 of participating in the cheating scheme.

Farmers Free to Hoe Their Own Row - And Take More Risks: Ann Scott Tyson; Farmers in central Ohio's Corn Belt are just starting their spring planting, but many say they are already reaping benefits from the new freedoms granted by the 1996 Farm Bill.

Super bantamweights in rematch: Dean Juipe; Barrera was 43-0 at the time, a winner of 31 fights by knockout and thought to be one of boxing's rising stars.

505805716.html: American League

Columnist Jeff German: United County Commission stands up to Strip casinos: Your seven commissioners voted unanimously to shelve a proposal to build costly pedestrian tunnels at Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard.

Teen injured in truck accident: The truck, driven by a second North Las Vegas teenager, hit a wooden fence about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday after sliding off the road. Part of the fence came through the windshield and struck the 14-year-old passenger in the head, North Las Vegas Police said.

Steve Carp: WAC facing some hard decisions: Since expanding to 16 teams, the Western Athletic Conference has been faced with coming up with an equitable league basketball schedule. If you followed this past season's proceedings, you're well aware of how unfair things turned out.

Environmentalists sue feds over endangered bird: The Southwest Center for Biological Diversity of Tucson, Ariz., filed suit Wednesday, asking U.S. District Judge Earl Carl in Phoenix to restore habitat for the Southwestern willow flycatcher, an endangered bird.

Nellis killing 50 ducks for safety: Rachael Levy; Recent efforts to move the birds were unsuccessful and noisemakers did not spook them from their locations on the base, the Nellis spokesman said.

Senator calls for no-growth boundaries: Larry Henry; At least one other lawmaker sees it as red tape.

Family-To-Family bill introduced in Assembly: Under AB378, introduced Thursday by the Assembly Commerce Committee, Family-To-Family staff would help families find child care, health and nutrition information, immunization and counseling services.

Where I Stand: Breaking baseball color line involved many heroes: This week the entire nation has proudly celebrated the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's breaking of the color barrier in Major League Baseball. There is a generation of Americans who remember as if it were yesterday the baseball teams that sported all-white faces until 1947 when the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Branch Rickey, signed Robinson to play for his team. There is also a generation of Americans who grew up with heroes like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Elston Howard who knew there was a difference on and off the field for people of color. And there is yet ...

Car dealers offer option to lemon law: Dave Brown, president of the Southern Nevada Independent Auto Dealers Association, said Wednesday the bill would hurt lower-income people who need to buy "as is" cars.

Better access to student's school records sought: Conservative groups clashed with school officials before the Senate Committee on Human Resources and Facilities Wednesday over Senate Bill 168, which would mandate that schools turn records over to parents when requested.

Bill calls for better access to children's school records: Conservative groups clashed with school officials before the Senate Committee on Human Resources and Facilities Wednesday over Senate Bill 168, which would mandate that schools turn records over to parents when requested.

Driving toward the future: Bob Shemeligian; That's because more and more of them are powered by electricity.

Letter: Balancing the budget is good sign of liberalism: Letter: Balancing the budget is good sign of liberalism

Price presents bill to help protect lawmakers' jobs: Price's bill adds state and local government employers to the list of those who can't discriminate against legislators.

Charities Are Also Thriving On Bull Market: Nicole Gaouette; In Baltimore, lines of threadbare men and women are also reaping the bull market's bounty - not in six-figure bonuses but in hot bowls of soup ladled out by local soup kitchens.

Restaurant workers demand union recognition: New York-based ARK runs food and beverage operations inside New York-New York. The megaresort subcontracts all of its food and much of its beverage operations.

Letter: Government should not interfere with our beliefs: Just as it is with parents who do or do not want their sons circumcised. That is their business only.

Japan Open Results: Men

Rail system for Vegas proposed: Assemblyman Tom Collins, D-North Las Vegas, the chief author of Assembly Bill 365, said the rail system would cut down on traffic and air pollution.

Legislative summary: SENATE

Car dealers: 'Lemon law' may add hundreds to cost of cars: Dave Brown, president of the Southern Nevada Independent Auto Dealers Association, said Wednesday the bill would hurt lower-income people who need to buy "as is" cars.

LV rail system proposed: Assemblyman Tom Collins, D-North Las Vegas, the chief author of Assembly Bill 365, said the rail system would cut down on traffic and air pollution.

Brothel tour off: Larry Henry; "It would appear at least certain members of the press have a desire to embarrass and find fault with those that planned on taking this trip," said George Flint, lobbyist for the Nevada Brothel Owner's Association, in a prepared statement Wednesday.

LV Business Press wins court libel battle: Bob Shemeligian; But on Wednesday, it was the author of the story, Paula Yakubic, sticking up for her First Amendment rights in District Court.

In Vermont, It's a Woman's Guard Now: Isabelle de Pommereau; That's Maj. Gen. Martha Rainville's task, and she relishes it.

Las Vegas has link to NHL postseason: Tim Graham; They stopped short of building a monorail to shuttle players to and fro, and the general managers went back and forth over the telephone and in the press.

Local NAACP critical of many hotel practices: Art Nadler; Sixteen hotel chains were surveyed, eight were rated and eight received failing marks for not providing information. The hotels were scrutinized in areas of employment, equity and franchise ownership, vendor relationships, advertising, marketing and philanthropic activities.

Longtime sports book owner Dark dies at 82: William "Bill" Dark, longtime owner and operator of the old Del Mar Race and Sports Book in North Las Vegas and the innovator of over-and-under baseball bets, has died. He was 82.

Reno Air files suit against Northwest: Steve Sarner, vice president of marketing and sales for Reno Air, said the suit seeks ongoing damages from Northwest Airlines since Reno Air's entry into the market in April 1993.

John McCarron: Schwerdtfeger walks off with Terrible's Town win: His 1755 8-game total was 53 pins better than Rick Benard ($470, 1702 pins) who took two sweepers, a side pot and most of the Terrible's Skins Game money.