Print edition for August 23, 1997

Baccarat rules: * CARDS: The object is to get a score of 9 or closest to 9 with either two or three cards that are drawn from an eight-deck shoe.

Babbitt allows N.M. Indian gambling compacts to take effect: "This is a good day for the tribes ... and the 4000 employees in our tribal government gaming operations," said Frank Chaves, co-chairman of the New Mexico Indian Gaming Association.

University police bust nets tens of thousands worth of goods: The items include as much as $35,000 worth of surgical gear taken from Washoe Medical Center and other businesses.

Crazy stories abound about baccarat players: Here are some popular baccarat stories as compiled from several accounts (the sources are in parentheses):

Magazine ad manager arrested for pandering: Police said Tucker promoted and solicited into prostitution an undercover detective posing as an adult entertainer. Tucker took money from the detective as his "cut" of the prostitution act.

Columnist Jeff German: Likely Reid-Ensign battle splits gamers: Now that Ensign, a two-term Re publican, has said he's "90 percent leaning" toward a 1998 run against the senior Democratic senator, a lot of big-shots in the casino industry will have to choose sides.

Cabdriver fired for refusing blind man a ride: Howard Boteilho of San Francisco, who is in town for a Blinded Veterans Association of America convention at the Sands Regency, was left at the curb Wednesday along with his wife, Lois, by the driver.

State consumer advocate sues Sierra Pacific, feds over utility line: "We're seeking an injunction to prevent Sierra Pacific from building the line," Chris Van Dyck, an assistant attorney general for the consumer advocate, said Friday.

Baccarat books: * THE FACTS OF BACCARAT: By Walter I. Nolan, GBC Press, 1976, $1.50.

Letter: There's difference between wait and idle time during cab ride: Fares are naturally suspicious of cab drivers. They know mileage is contingent on a driver's honesty and knowledge, but a cab ride should not otherwise be a gambling experience. I have paid from $14.20 to more than $20 for a seven-mile ride to McCarran from Charleston and Valley View, and have driven the distance, via Valley View, Desert Inn and Paradise in 20 minutes. Mileage with a full 20-minute wait and tax would only have been $19.40, but every driver has preferred the longer Sahara to I-15 route.

Searching for solutions: Political heavyweights go toe-to-toe over growth issues: Larry Henry; A recent meeting between state Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, and Clark County Commission Chairwoman Yvonne Atinkson Gates, conducted in the SUN conference room, lasted two hours and produced few answers to Southern Nevada's growth problems.

Editorial:City should cooperate on justice center: This feud is another reason to consolidate city and county governments into one metropolitan entity. But that argument can come on a different day. Right now, elected officials need to get off the dime - literally.

Growth debate: A blow-by-blow account: Gates: When people complain about growth, what they're complaining about is the fact that they're stuck in traffic, and schools are overcrowded and they're on double sessions. And there are problems with the air in terms of all of the building that's going on and all of the dust that's in the air. That's the problem that people have. Because growth is jobs. And when you say that no one is doing anything about growth, in essence what you're saying is that there are too many jobs being created in this community and maybe we need to stop the jobs ...

Letter: SUN article actually did Art Museum a favor: In a wider view, Dickensheets' articles have struck a blow against the fraudulent and crippling journalistic stance of "objectivity," a pretense which is a twin to the court system's notion that only the most ignorant citizens should serve on juries.

Letter: No one would understand Ebonics in Africa either: Ebonics is no more African than it is English. Try speaking Ebonics in America, and no one will understand you. Speak it in Africa and no one will understand you either. I rest my case.

Where I Stand: DOE assessment of Yucca Mountain a deceptive move: That is precisely what appears to be at the heart of DOE's so-called "Viability Assessment" for the Yucca Mountain program.

Engelstad says tideland lease being applied unfairly: Clark sued a year ago claiming his office has the right to negotiate a tidelands lease with the casino, not the Biloxi Port Commission. The lawsuit was filed in Harrison County Chancery Court and a hearing is scheduled for Sept. 8.

Six schools still under construction: Students will stay on double sessions until their schools are finished.

Stars fall to the Firebirds: Ray Brewer; Entering Friday night's game with the Stars, the Firebirds were 32-5 in their last 37 games and held a 17 game lead over the second-place Stars in the standings.

Jury clear officers of shooting man during standoff: His mother, Audrey, took the stand and told the panel her son was distraught over the death three days earlier of his girlfriend, Judy Johnson, who was struck by a car crossing Sahara Avenue.

Second man charged in death of California woman: Ms. Prunier was driving from Cedar City, Utah, to her home in Whittier and stopped in Las Vegas, where she stayed overnight at a motel on Boulder Highway.

Baccarat attracts high-rollers with simple mystique: Those who sit in T-shirts at the $2-limit blackjack table may guzzle beer, but it is considered improper during a hand for a player to munch on bread sticks he had stuffed into his pockets during a trip through the buffet line.

Letter: If you don't like smoke, build 'Biosphere' in desert: There are many other contaminants that reach the ozone layer which are far more toxic than tobacco smoke will ever be. Perhaps she could point her fury toward these also.

Casino developer announces Harrah's deal: Approval of the 440-acre site on St. Louis Bay just north of Pass Christian was granted in June 1996 by the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

Letter: There are hidden reasons why parents flee with their kids: Why does this happen? Here are a few thoughts: In a divorce situation, children are often alienated from one parent. The emotional trauma is usually evident in the be havior of the child. Parents who feel alienated may become desperate and irrational.

Letter: Why can't we treat all people with dignity and respect?: A lot of the same people that Pearl Zanetti in her letter despises and ridicules are here to have an opportunity to live better, be treated better and earn from their sweat a better and more humane existence. Yet there are those who would deny that another human being be judged as human and capable of many of the same feelings as the rest of us. These same "subcitizens" are those that pick our fruit and vegetables, clean hotel rooms and wait tables, dig holes and pour concrete and stucco houses all day long - cold weather or hot, bake ...

Columnist Dean Juipe: Cortez and family refuse to go down for count: Dean Juipe; But nothing can compare with the 1-2 punch he and his family have experienced in the past 14 months.

Columnist Bill Hanlon: Prepare kids mentally for new school year: Bill Hanlon; Are they prepared mentally? Have you talked to your sons and daughters about the importance of receiving a good education? How important it is to graduate from high school with specific skills? It doesn't matter if the preparation they received is geared to continuing their education or entering the job market, today's preparation will determine tomorrow's achievements. It will affect their quality of life, the amount of money they earn, etc. If you have not had a heart-to-heart talk with your kids, then it's time to do so.

Downtown casino revenues will get a boost from beach bash: Many of them trickle into casinos when they're not watching the light show, listening to musical acts or eating at outdoor food booths catered by casino restaurants.

Fish deaths not related to perchlorate: The trout loss was less than 3 percent of the 560,000 rainbow trout that are in the hatchery, said John McKay, hatchery manager.

$4.5 million Olympic-sized pool to open next spring: Since the old pool was closed in February, seven high schools, the elite Gold swim team and numerous other aquatic clubs have been relegated to early morning and late night swim shifts at other public pools, including the one at UNLV.

Letter: McDonald did keep his promise on what to do with salary: Lance Malone resigned from Metro to spend more time as a county commissioner. At that time, someone suggested Michael McDonald should also resign from Metro to devote full time to his position as city council man, a part-time job.

UNLV student president faces impeachment: David Winter, a Las Vegas attorney representing Mills, said his client is seeking an injunction to halt the work of a three-member impeachment committee until more specific procedures are in place and Mills' rights of due process are safeguarded.

Columnist Geoff Schumacher: Wanted - Fresh voices on growth: Geoff Schumacher; Our technicolor farce, however, isn't nearly as funny.

Dockside gaming brought changes to Coast: Two weeks later and five years ago on Aug. 1, 1992, Biloxi Mayor Pete Halat shouted "Laissez Les Bon Temp Rouler!" (Let the good times roll!), snipped a red ribbon, and watched as thousands began boarding the casino boats.

Competitors for Detroit gaming licenses: Atwater Casino Group

Detroit Mayor Archer narrows list of casino applicants: The seven remaining groups include national casino operators MGM Grand, Donald Trump and Mirage Resorts; Detroit businessman Don Barden and former Detroit Mayor Coleman Young's groups; and the Atwater and Greektown groups, which have built-in preferences under the voter-approved casino law.