Print edition for February 12, 1997

Concert will honor works of Gershwins: Rose, who worked in Hollywood's movie music scene in the '70s and played European cabarets all through the '80s, wrote and produced this show. He has been on the road full time with it for the past two years throughout North America.

Legislature schedule for Thursday, Feb. 13: 8 a.m. - Assembly Government Affairs on exemptions for developers from density requirements and zoning discrimination.

Miller disappointed with Raggio's criticism of school funding plan: The Democratic governor said the Republican majority leader knows Nevada has slipped to 32nd in the nation in classroom technology, and lawmakers can help students by improving that status.

Boy's Standings: SUNSET DIVISION

Forestry official faces harassment charge: Otis Turner, assistant state forester in charge of fire management, has been placed on administrative leave until the attorney general's office completes its investigation.

Irabu's agent to meet with committee Thursday: Don Nomura will meet with a four-man committee that's been appointed by the commissioner's office to settle issues relating to Japanese players.

Las Vegas business news: By Mike Campbell; * MIRAGE EARNINGS RISE -- Mirage Resorts Inc. said fourth-quarter earnings rose 25 percent on higher room rates at its casinos and strong results from its Mirage and Treasure Island casinos. Mirage, which is based in Las Vegas, said profit from operations rose to $55.6 million, or 29 cents a share, from net income of $44.5 million, or 23 cents a year earlier. Revenue fell less than 1 percent to $373.7 million. In the most recent quarter, a charge of $3.51 million, or 2 cents a share, to build a new lobby in its Treasure Island casino and add casino ...

Marlins decide against signing Martinez: The Marlins were ready to give Martinez a shot at a spot in their rotation, but the team backed off Tuesday after reviewing results of a physical examination.

Box Score: Ice Dogs 3, Thunder 2: Second Period -- 1, Las Vegas, Bancroft 9 (Lefebvre, Quinney) 0:45. Penalties: Trombley, Las Vegas (fighting) 3:50; Courtemache, Long Beach (fighting) 3:50; Yerkovich, Las Vegas (hooking) 7:26; Ignatjev, Long Beach (tripping) 8:36; Augusta, Long Beach (roughing) 9:24; Karpov, Long Beach (roughing) 13:51; Bancroft, Las Vegas (cross-checking) 13:51; Bast , Las Vegas (high-sticking, misconduct) 16:10.

Prison officials testing inmates for AIDS: "Nevada is one of the best systems in the nation in the way it's handling its AIDS population," Fitting said. "We know who is HIV-positive and can track them through the system."

LPBT Lubbock Open: 1, Carol Gianotti-Block, Morley, Australia, 11-5-0, 7,315. 2, Wendy Macpherson, Henderson, 9-7-0, 7,150. 3, Kim Adler, Palm Bay, Fla., 12-4-0, 7,024. 4, Nikki Gianulias, Vallejo, Calif., 8-7-1, 7,023. 5, Cindy Coburn-Carroll, Tonawanda, N.Y., 10-6-0, 6,996. 6, Anne Marie Duggan, Edmond, Okla., 10-6-0, 6,952.

School district wants $10 mil. for buses: Teresa Hinds; School Board members will vote Thursday on a proposal to take out a $10 million loan to shore up the school district's bus inventory.

Local chapels prepare for busiest day: During the Vietnam War, a young legless man, whom she believed was an ex-soldier, came into her chapel. His bride walked at his side while he wheeled in on a short wooden platform.

Paris Open: Singles

O'Neill says Yanks won't trade him: "The Yankees have told me it didn't come from them and they're not going to trade me," O'Neill said Tuesday at the Toy Fair, where he promoted dolls in his likeness.

Handicapped parking bill gets unanimous nod in Assembly: "Public support for this bill has been overwhelming," Manendo said. "Nobody testified against it, the committee passed it unanimously and we had a unanimous vote in the Assembly."

LV lawmaker interested in Henderson allegations: Larry Henry; CARSON CITY -- Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, says he'll meet this week with FBI agents investigating alleged corruption at Henderson City Hall.

Glance at prison budget: -NEW PRISON: Miller wants a new $90.5 million men's correctional facility in Indian Springs that will hold 1,500 beds in the Phase I design and will ultimately hold 3,000 beds.

Sybase Open: Singles

Northwest to get most new schools: Teresa Hinds; If the Clark County School Board follows the advice of school district staff and the Bond Oversight Committee, five of the 10 school sites scheduled to be voted on at Thursday's board meeting will be in the northwest.

Skating Schedule: Tuesday

Lawmakers consider bill to protect the elderly: SB80, requested by the attorney general's office, makes an offender liable in treble damages for willfully inflicting pain, injury or mental anguish on a person who's at least 60 years old.

Orioles and Westinghouse agree on television contract: The deal runs through the 2000 season and calls for 65 Orioles games to be broadcast in each of the next four seasons. The partnership involves Westinghouse's Home Team Sports, Baltimore stations WJZ-TV and WNUV-TV, and WBDC-TV in Washington, D.C.

Experts, lawmakers react to slight gain in 1996 casino win: Thompson pointed out the rate of increase last year was even lower than during 1981, the year following the tragic fire at the MGM Grand Hotel in which more than 80 people died.

Lawmakers debate prison budgets, problems with convicts: Between 1990 and 1996, the number of inmates increased by 2,500 to 8,325 inmates and is expected to jump by another 3,500 to 11,855 inmates by 2002, Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means members were told Tuesday.

Panel hears dental stories of horror: In one case, a mother in Clark County soaked a cotton ball with antiseptic and used it as a tooth filling. She put candle wax over the cotton ball to hold it in place in the child's mouth.

Police say 'personal shoplifting' case widens: County Attorney Susan Gaertner said Tuesday night that additional charges could be filed after their investigation is completed.

Senator gets apology for racist e-mail: But Neal said he's not sure that the apology came from the same person who wrote the first e-mail that shocked him and other members of the Nevada Senate.

Discount Auto Parts 200 Qualifying: 1. Mike Swaim Jr., High Point, N.C., Pontiac, 163.755.

Cabbie attack: Karen Zekan; Bullets dented the door frame and left a web-shaped shatter mark in the windshield of the Vegas Western minivan during the incident near Washington Avenue and D Street shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Miller names new parole board member: Miller originally urged Wright to resign in 1995 after Wright recommended the release of Donald Cameron, a career criminal who shortly after his release held up two businesses and shot and killed Sparks police officer Larry Johnson. Cameron was later killed by police gunfire.

Girl's Standings: SUNSET DIVISION

Senate committee considers leasing school buses: "Carson City is one of the only state capitals in the nation without public transportation," Adler said. "You can't even get groceries in Dayton right now unless you have a car."

Child killed in accident identified: Vesely, of Las Vegas, was one of three passengers inside a 1994 Ford Explorer that was struck by Cheryl L. Reilly, 33, of Las Vegas, at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, police said.

Legislature schedule for Wednesday, Feb. 12: 8 a.m. - Senate Commerce and Labor on recovery from state insurance guaranty association, authorizing police to issue subpoena for information from public utility.

Cop rearrested on eight charges: Cathy Scott; According to sources close to the Sewall family, Sewall was arrested at his home about 10 p.m. Tuesday and was told by two officers that there would be no bail.

Pitching UNLV's strength: Shan McDonald opens her 11th season as UNLV's head softball coach Thursday with a unusual predicament, but she certainly is not complaining.

Settlements planned with students: The students were injured in separate accidents on their school campus, said Stephanie Barker, the school district's assistant general counsel. They will each receive $50,000.

Vincent -- poster boy for miracles: Melissa Schorr; "He'll stop in the rooms of other children, just to say hi and tell them to get better," says his mom, Shirley. "And he never asks for anything. After his nurses draw blood, he thanks them."

Says Las Vegas setting new standards for labor movement: The rally was designed to show support for workers at the Frontier Hotel and Casino, where four unions have been on strike the past 5 1/2 years.

Metro gives call to citizen army: Karen Zekan; And it's along those lines that the newly launched Metro Volunteer Program will be known -- MVP.

Peter Benton: DI pro takes first tournament: Chase Whitaker (Desert Inn Country Club), charged out of the blocks and fired a scintillating 6-under-par 66 for a convincing win.

Paula Del Giudice: LV fisherman gets biggest state bass: Grande took the lead by catching a 4.12-pound (weight calculated by the length and girth measurements) largemouth bass from Lake Mead on a live shad. If his luck holds through Aug. 15, he will qualify for the BBWC Finals, held Oct. 11-12 at Big Cedar Lodge on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo.

Report: MGM Grand to unveil interest in Detroit casino: This ensures MGM Grand has the immediate ability to finance construction of a major complex in Detroit in addition to its development plans elsewhere, MGM said in a release today.

Finally, a little Sunshine in his life: Steve Carp; But when you talk to Sunshine Smith these days, that perpetual smile is genuine. While it has taken the better part of four years, it appears Smith has found the happiness on the basketball court he was seeking when he enrolled at UNLV in 1993.

505584500.html: SUNDAY

Where I Stand: Wisdom of balanced budget amendment is questioned: The conservative, business-driven Wall Street Journal seldom agrees with Democrat President Bill Clinton. This time they do. The editors of the WSJ believe that the congressional desire for a balanced budget amendment is a 'boondoggle" and a "flake-out." They write: "The notion of amending the Constitution to outlaw budget deficits is silly on any number of counts. Politically, it's empty symbolism. Legally, it clutters the Constitution with dubious prose. Today's lesson, though, concerns economics and accounting. You can't measure economic rectitude by any one number, let alone the "deficit," however defined, let alone the deficit projections the proposals will inevitably ...

Sports Briefs: Sampras wins his San Jose opener: "I knew if I played really well and he had an off night, I'd have a chance to beat him," Radulescu said.

New election ordered for local NAACP: Debra D. Bass; Barbara Robinson, a newspaper columnist and retired lawyer, was the Rev. James Rogers' only challenger for president. He was re-elected to his second two-year term with 103 votes. Robinson received 47 votes. Only 150 of the chapter's more than 1,000 members voted.

Giants name Jim Fregosi special assignment scout: Fregosi, 54, will evaluate major and minor league talent, scout spring training in Florida, assess Giants' minor league players and serve as an instructor-evaluator for the fall instructional league.

Ormsby owners file for bankruptcy protection: Dewing also applied to the state Gaming Control Board for the Ormsby House's full casino license - hoping to keep the club open when Silverton's license expires next week.

Doctor criticizes CAT bus driver for lack of concern at crash site: By Ron Kantowski; Trickle, the nephew of NASCAR Winston Cup driver Dick Trickle and a promising professional driver in his own right, was critically injured about 9:50 p.m. Sunday when he was shot in the head while driving across the Interstate 15 overpass on Blue Diamond Road.

World Ski Championships: Von Gruenigen wins giant slalom: Von Gruenigen, 27, had a two-run time of 2 minutes, 48.23 seconds, edging Norway's Lasse Kjus by 1.13 seconds. Von Gruenigen piled up a 1.12-second lead after the first run over Swiss teammate Steve Locher.

Nevada cattle numbers buck national cycle of decline: Beef prices still are low, but the number of cattle in Nevada is slowly rising, said Martin Owens, statistician with the Nevada Agricultural Statistics Service.

U.S. Figure Skating Results: Senior Dance

Where African Slavery Still Exists in the Eyes of Many: David Hecht; Slavery obsesses this desert nation. In parliament, in mosques, lying in tents sipping sweet, green tea, people discuss - and often argue - over whether the Haratin, meaning "former slaves," are in fact free.

Scams Snag People New To Capitalism: Michael J. Jordan; Across Eastern Europe, such high-risk pyramid schemes have cost investors billions of dollars.

U2 to open world tour in Las Vegas: The concert, kicking off a yearlong tour of three continents, will be at Sam Boyd Stadium, marking the group's first performance in Las Vegas in more than four years.

Marseille Open: Singles

Au Pair Program May Face Tougher Scrutiny: Nicole Gaouette; The death of a nine-month-old infant, allegedly at the hands of a British au pair, is igniting anew a debate over the regulation of foreign caregivers in American homes.

Linesman ices Thunder: Tim Graham; A goal that would have given the Las Vegas Thunder a 3-0 lead in the third period of their IHL game against the Long Beach Ice Dogs at the Thomas & Mack Center Tuesday night was nullified because of a controversial penalty call.

ITT to fight Hilton bid: Gary Thompson; ITT said it will file a lawsuit alleging Hilton misused confidential information it obtained during its takeover of Bally Entertainment Corp., which had previously discussed a potential merger with ITT. Hilton's acquisition of Bally closed in December.

Steve Carp: WAC needs to rethink its hoop slate: Morrill, the fine coach at Colorado State, had just lost for the second time to Utah, the nation's fifth-ranked team, Saturday. Meanwhile, just up the road in Laramie, Wyoming was disposing of 1-19 Brigham Young for the second time.

NBA Roundup: NBA is back in business: Chris Sheridan; The NBA returned to work with injured All-Stars Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing back on the job, Allen Iverson failing to back up his boast, Shawn Kemp on the bench and Michael Jordan doing his usual magic.

Tim Graham: Media Notes-- Scott Ferrall blasts KXNT for canceling his show: Scott Ferrall is about to have his bar stool yanked out from under him.

Reno Hilton President Ferenc Szony stepping down: Szony, 41, said a senior vice president will take over the job after he leaves. He would not comment on his future with the company, the newspaper said.

Stars chief carries over spirit of '96: When Jerry Royster pulled off his uniform for the last time in 1996, his Las Vegas Stars had just been swept in three games by Phoenix in the Pacific Coast League Southern Division playoffs.

Las Vegas community events: * HELP THE Y -- The YMCA of Southern Nevada has kicked off its annual Current Support Campaign. The goal of the five-week campaign is $130,000. As a nonprofit organization and a United Way Agency, the YMCA relies on all funds raised in the campaign to support YMCA programs for youth, families, seniors and adults. All contributions go to the YMCA's work in Southern Nevada. Brochures and pledge forms may be obtained by those interested in making a donation by contacting the YMCA, 877-9622.

Busch Gargoyles 300: 1. (29) Elliott Sadler, Emporia, Va., Chevrolet, 190.508.

Parolee receives death sentence for killing of retiree: Sherman was convicted last week in the first-degree murder of 63-year-old Lester Bauer.

City defends redistricting: Steve Sebelius; In court papers responding to a legal challenge to the new ward maps, city attorneys argued that the redistricting was legal, conducted properly and that elections scheduled for May should be allowed to go forward.

Basic, Gorman capture top seedings for Zone: Basic and Bishop Gorman clinched their respective division titles on Tuesday night. The Wolves turned back Eldorado 47-35 in a matchup of the top clubs in the Sunrise Division, while the Gaels downed Bonanza 55-46 to secure first place in the Sunset Division.

Gators make the grade: James Yodice; Green Valley on Tuesday night became the seventh boys' basketball team in Clark County to qualify for the Southern AAAA Zone tournament, as the Gators held off visiting Rancho 55-49 in a Sunrise Division game.

Travelers Seek Other Options as American Airlines Strike Looms: Skip Thurman; From California to the Caribbean, families are juggling vacation schedules, hotels are wondering if guests will arrive, and travel agents want the phones to stop ringing - now.

Doctor's killer sentenced to die: Bill Gang; A Las Vegas jury late Tuesday said the 32-year-old bespectacled slayer isn't going to get any more chances.

Dubai Open: Singles

Tuesday's Sports Transactions: Commissioner's Office

Daytona 500 qualifying: First Round

A Shaper of North Korea Defects, Bringing Secrets: Cameron W. Barr; Yesterday Mr. Hwang said goodbye to Communist North Korea - forever.

Daytona Twin 125 Lineups: FIRST RACE

High court asked to reverse verdict in murder of sergeant: Bill Gang; But the high court justices, sitting in Las Vegas this week, didn't seem persuaded that Leslie, 21, got a raw deal at his trial, although an official decision on the case isn't expected for several months.

Technology puts golf on new course: More than 8,000 golf course administrators attending the 68th international show of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America in Las Vegas got a look at course management devices, computerized irrigation systems and Internet technology ultimately designed to get more rounds in and enhance the experience for players.

City clerk's office to be closed: Records will be available up to 5 p.m. Wednesday, but won't be accessible until the office reopens at 8 a.m. Tuesday, after the President's Day holiday. City Hall is located at 400 E. Stewart Ave.