Print edition for January 10, 1997

Letter: Police shooting reveals a sickness infects Metro: Regarding the latest homicide by an off=duty officer, I have a question. When is the coroner's inquest going to be held? After all, it is standard procedure to provide any victim of police homicide a coroner's inquest. It doesn't matter whether the officer was on or off duty. I would like to also know what would happen if the homicide was labeled justifiable.

Deion might return to baseball: With an extra month of idle time after Dallas was ousted from the Super Bowl hunt Sunday by the Carolina Panthers, Deion Sanders is expected to strongly consider resuming his baseball career.

Grand Canyon fees to double or more: Additionally, the current $15 annual pass will rise to $40 and the Golden Eagle Passport now costing $25 will cost $50.

Damaged rail lines means increased train traffic through Reno: "We need all the capacity through Reno we can get right now," Bromley said.

UNLV 79, San Diego State 59: 3-Point Goals: 8-24, .333 (Richey 4, Trenkle 3, Demirdjian)

Thunder outslugs Dragons: Nevertheless, that's what it did Thursday night.

Business tax change sought: Bryan Gresh, state director for the organization, said Thursday this tax -- $100 a year for each employee -- unfairly burdens small businesses.

Water permits approved for two St. Louis casinos: The Commission on Environmental Quality, which approved the permits Thursday, will vote again after the next hearing. Approval at that time would clear the last serious regulatory hurdle for Circus Circus and Casino World.

WAC Women: Mountain Division

Contractors Board waits for more powers: Art Nadler; Sen. Jon Porter, R-Boulder City, had conducted five town hall meetings over an eight-month period that brought consumers and governmental agencies together to help strengthen consumer fraud laws. His committee submitted six proposals to the Contractors Board for consideration.

Sampras to play Chang: French Open champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov withdrew today from both the exhibition tennis tournament and next week's Australian Open because of a broken bone in his right hand.

Federal Appeals Court Rules Casinos Illegal: But the 32-page order included a stay "pending final resolution of this matter, either in this court or the United States Supreme Court" that would allow the 11 casinos to remain open.

Rose tattoo a clue to woman's identity: The tattoo, alongside of which was the name "Danny Gibbons Sr.," was found during an autopsy on the lower right side of her abdomen. She was also wearing a silver metal ring with a red stone.

Quiet Carson City braces for big business: Until then, it's slow for some of the businesses located across Carson's main street from the lawmakers' home away from home for the next several months.

Rebels hit high gear: THE NUMBERS: San Diego State, which normally shoots 46 percent from the field, was limited to just 34 percent Thursday. Only Jason Richey made it into double figures for the Aztecs, scoring; It was a skirmish at times. But a war? Not Thursday night.

RTC approves $2 billion transit plan: Jeff Schweers; The Regional Transportation Commission has approved a resort corridor master plan to take it to the year 2020, the centerpiece of which is a $1.5 billion monorail system linking downtown Las Vegas to McCarran International Airport.

McCall, Lewis bout up for grabs: Dean Juipe; In fact, listeners were aghast not only that Thursday's call started 40 minutes late but that it immediately degenerated into an almost incomprehensible shouting match between rival promoters Don King and Dino Duva. Duva's promotional firm, Main Events, won a purse bid for the fight, which has McCall -- who is promoted by King -- vying against Lewis for the currently vacant WBC title.

Once embattled parole commissioner to resign: "I hung tough for 20 months," said Wright, who has served on the Parole Board since August 1991. He will leave the post Feb. 11.

Columnist Ken McCall: 'New Lost 49ers' complete successful trek across West: Ken McCall; Much to their surprise, on the day before Christmas, people were lined up along the road to cheer them on. A few, including Utah historian Lavoid Leavitt and his grandson, joined them to walk the last mile or so.

Lehman opens PGA season with 66: Ron Sirak; "I don't know if I'm capable of winning six or seven times in a year," Lehman said Thursday with typical modesty after shooting a 6-under-par 66 to take the first-round lead in the season-opening Mercedes Championships.

Two venerable actors put poetry in motion: Scott Dickensheets; "Roscoe Lee Browne," it identified itself -- unnecessarily, of course, for, from the first syllable, it could be no one else. You've heard it on TV, the movies, TV movies, "Barney Miller," "The Cosby Show."

Georgia Tech has fallen on hard times: Paul Newberry; A year ago, the Yellow Jackets won their first Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title and made it to the NCAA round of 16 with one of the best backcourts in the country.

Nonprofit groups to submit new tax-exempt letters: Voters in November approved the exemption and the state department said it is now notifying organizations currently holding letters of exemption.

Sources: Cops in bar after shooting: Bill Gang and Cathy Scott; By the end of the night, Officer Ron Mortensen was described as being so drunk that he was having trouble standing, the sources said on condition of anonymity.

College loan picture improves: The Education Department reported a fiscal 1994 default rate at 10.7 percent.

Dance company presents review of best works: "This beautiful state with golden sands and blue skies needed dancers to make it alive," Sulich says. "'A Vision in the Desert' is about that -- about bringing culture into Nevada. My memories of the early days when dancers rehearsed my ballet on a cement floor are wonderful, and I shall never forget. Out of what we were, is what we are today, Nevada Dance Theatre."

Joe Delaney review: Better Midler - then and now: Meanwhile, Barry Manilow, on his own, signed a contract with Arista Records, had a mega-hit with "Mandy," and the rest is recording business history; he became a superstar in his own right.

Carson City prepares for the return of lawmakers: Until then, it's slow for some of the businesses located across Carson's main street from the lawmakers' home away from home for the next several months.

Red alert ends, barely: Wood stoves were banned on Friday when the air quality edged into the unhealthful range. By afternoon, it had slipped a notch below to 98. It's unhealthful at 100.

Letter: Not all can afford to be part of dust-control paving project: To participate in this program requires a 100 percent participation by home owners. If a single home owner cannot afford the upfront costs, the rest of the residents on the street can't take advantage of this program. This is unfair. Particularly when home owners in Summerlin and West Las Vegas received federal funds to pave some of their area roads.

Board backs off fee hike for paratransit service: Jeff Schweers; Between the two, Peyton said she can volunteer at the courthouse and take extension courses at the Showboat.

Tanner has 'major' news on LV dome: When reports surfaced this week that Tanner would announce a major-college football game, similar to the annual "Kickoff Classic," to be held at the stadium, he denied the rumor in somewhat cryptic fashion.

Buddy system has Lazier in IRL -- for now: But when it comes to rival Indy car sanctioning bodies Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) and the Indy Racing League, Lazier seems to have found a unique groove -- the middle of the road.

A V-chip for your old television: Bob Shemeligian; A year from now, practically all new televisions will be equipped with a V-chip, an electronic device that permits programs with certain codes or ratings to be blocked from the set.

Yanks beef up their outfield with signing of Mark Whiten: Mark Whiten agreed Thursday to a $1 million, one-year contract with New York. The Yankees already had Bernie Williams, Paul O'Neill, Darryl Strawberry and Tim Raines for the three starting spots.

'Passion Play of Las Vegas' auditions begin Saturday: During the 1996 season, nearly 2,000 Las Vegans enjoyed three performances. The 1997 season will include several performances beginning March 23.

NFL Notes: Hall candidates led by Shula, 3 Steelers: Three members of the Pittsburgh Steelers' Super Bowl-winning teams and Don Shula, who coached two Super Bowl champions, head the list of 15 candidates for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Metallica evolution: David Renzi; Jason Newsted, the group's newest member with just over 10 years' service, says that careful listeners can trace the musical evolution to the group's second album, 1984's "Ride the Lightning."

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Stars to turn out for Motown's grand opening: Fans are invited to join in the festivities outside. Entertainment by the Temptations, Diana Ross, Boyz II Men, the Four Tops and Queen Latifah is part of the grand opening.

Madonna's likeness joins Stratosphere's 'Superstars' team: That's why the Stratosphere picked up Coty Alexander for its new and improved impersonators show.

Environmentalists sue over Grand Canyon flights: Luna I. Shyr; Seven environmental groups sued the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday, claiming the agency must do more to preserve tranquility at the natural wonder in Arizona.

Sal DeFilippo: Expansion long gone for Panthers, Jaguars: It was July 29, 1995 -- the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.

Silverado's girls off to fast start: Tim Graham; Different team.

Big, small companies love CES: Ken McCall; "It was in New York at the American Hotel," says the 68-year-old owner and chief of Electric Brands. "I was fairly new in the business -- our company was only 6 years old.

Another secret meeting on tax equity issue: Taxpayers living in the city currently pay 71 cents per $100 of assessed valuation while residents in unincorporated areas of the county pay 38 cents. The difference is $124 annually in taxes on a $100,000 home in the city.

UNLV women humbled by the Aztecs: The Lady Rebels trailed by 18 points at the half, 42-24, but SDSU outscored its guests 50-24 in the final 20 minutes to remain unbeaten in the WAC.

Dean Juipe: UNLV crowd got what it came to see: They want to see the Rebels win in a rout. The greater the margin of the lead during the game and the greater the margin of victory, the better.

TalkBlaster phone moos when it rings: The Nickelodeon TalkBlaster Telephone introduced at Winter CES makes four fun sounds: It moos like a cow, honks like a Model-T, rings like a bell or says "Nick Nick Nick," like the Nickelodeon network's promotional jingle. And, it flashes when it rings.

New grass down, 'decent' field set: "It was heavy, dirty, wet and cold," Brunner said Thursday after he and other workers completed the job of rolling 500 tons of new Kentucky bluegrass onto Lambeau Field.

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Officer called 'average, quiet': Cathy Scott; Capt. Mark Medina, who heads the southwest substation where Mortensen worked, described him as "an ordinary guy."

Brokerage firm loses Nevada license: Stratton Oakmont, also disciplined in other states, is accused of engaging in "unethical or dishonest practices" in Nevada and by failing to supervise its sales representatives, Irving Stitsky and Jordan Shamah.

Authorities search for missing wife of NHP trooper: Deputies said she left the Jackpot school around 3 p.m. Thursday, but failed to show up at her home in Metropolis near Wells, some 70 miles away.

Where I Stand: 'The Good Old Days' were years of terror and brutality: Well, it didn't take long to learn that the title, "The Good Old Days" ( "Schoene Zeiten" in German), had been taken from the cover of a photo album kept by the Treblinka concentration camp commander Kurt Franz. The contents of the book are taken from letters, diaries and reports written by the executioners and their friends during the Holocaust.

LV officials concerned over blood shortage: "You talk to any emergency room doctor and he'll tell you it's a zoo on Fridays and Saturdays," said Dave Denney, executive director of United Blood Services, which supplies blood to 18 area medical facilities.

Hansberry's 'A Raisin in the Sun' to come to UNLV: Hansberry received the New York Drama Critic Circle Award for Best Play, making history as the first black playwright to receive that award, as well as the youngest playwright so honored.

Doctors say prognosis good for Sinatra's recovery: Jeff Wilson; Sinatra was being treated in a private room, not in the intensive care unit, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Cartoon characters provide comic relief: Pauline Bell; That's why companies are coming out with designer computer accessories -- from cartoons to nostalgia to fine art -- anything to lighten up an otherwise somber office environment.

Corrections: Political contribution story and obituary: * A story on campaign finance reform in the early edition of Thursday's SUN contained an error. Gov. Bob Miller is supporting a plan to reduce the threshold to report contributions from $500 to $100.

Editorial: Campaign reporting plan solid: That's why we applaud a bipartisan proposal by Gov. Bob Miller and Secretary of State Dean Heller to lower the reporting threshold to $100. Several Democratic and Republican legislators also have vowed to support the reform plan when it is debated in the upcoming Legislature.

Sports Briefs: Cigar and friends dominate Eclipses: For the second straight year, Cigar's connections -- owner Allen Paulson, trainer Bill Mott and jockey Jerry Bailey -- swept top honors on the human side of the Eclipse Awards, while Cigar himself was named top older horse or gelding in North America again.

Bureau of Land Management accuses Navy of misusing land: But Navy spokesman Lt. Greg Hicks said Singlaub's comments were not being ignored and that the flights are being "redesigned" as a result of Singlaub's conversation with Smith.

Box Score: Thunder 7, Dragons 6: Second Period -- 5, Las Vegas, Quinney 16 (Lefebvre) 32 1:36. 6, San Antonio, Loach 12 (Miller, Shank) 6:55. 7, San Antonio, Hollis 11 (Shank, MacIntyre) 7:11. 8, Las Vegas, Gendron 21 (Lefebvre, Dahl) 14:30 (pp). 9, Las Vegas, Smith 9 (Loewen) 17:04. 10, San Antonio, Loach 13 (Shank) 18:46 (sh). Penalties: Yerkovich, Las Vegas (slashing) 2:51; LaForge, San Antonio (hooking) 10:14; Hollis, San Antonio (roughing) 13:03; Simon, Las Vegas (roughing) 13:03; McHugh, San Antonio (illegal stick) 13:03; Osborne, San Antonio (interference) 8:27.

Discussions under way over rail routes to Yucca Mountain: Two unidentified DOE contractors met with eight Bureau of Land Management officials Thursday about biological and cultural resources in Southern Nevada possibly affected by building tracks to the mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Three arrested in fencing probe: Undercover Metro Police officers posed as dealers of purported stolen property to crack the case, receiving rock cocaine in return, authorities said.

Reputed mob captain, porn kingpin plead guilty to tax fraud: Richichi, the supposed confidant of John Gotti, head of the New York Gambino crime family, is accused of conspiring to hide money he allegedly took from Guarino in exchange for protection from other mob factions, an indictment said.

In Karrie's Webb: She is still on top in LPGA: Webb overcame windy conditions to shoot a 3-under-par 69 and take a three-stroke lead into today's second round of the Chrysler-Plymouth Tournament of Champions at Weston Hills Country Club.

Giovanni to give benefit concert: Joining Giovanni for this evening of music will be members of the UNLV choirs and orchestra, members of the Las Vegas Music Festival Orchestra, and many other Las Vegas professional musicians. The opening act will be the African group Moudi Cabalou.

Aladdin to host 'Jazz Explosion': Tickets are on sale for $25 and $32.50 at the Aladdin box office and TicketMaster outlets, 474-4000.

Legendary trombonist performs: Showtime is 2 p.m. Tickets are $17 general admission, $5 for seniors and Jazz Society members. The Winchester Center is located at 3130 Pecos. For information, call 455-7340.

NFL conference title games draw bettors: Sal DeFilippo; The Packers, who face the Carolina Panthers in Sunday's NFC Championship -- kickoff is at 9:30 a.m. on KVVU Channel 5 -- are the favorites to win Super Bowl XXXI in most books.

Columnist David Ehlers: Is NY-NY a Wall Street success story?: David Ehlers; Thoughtful observers and investors may wish to visit "the biggest city in Las Vegas" and formulate their own opinions, as I have following numerous visits following the opening. As of this writing, its owners, MGM Grand and Primadonna Resorts, have made no public announcements of any numbers. However, discussions with registration clerks, bellhops, slot technicians, dealers, cocktail waitresses and casino personnel all clearly indicate to me that its developers have struck major paydirt.

Lawmaker seeks change in billing laws: Art Nadler; Lee, D-Las Vegas, is planning to draft a bill when the Legislature convenes Jan. 20 that will closely mirror home improvement guidelines in California.

Letter: Parties have different concepts of ethics violation: Now comes Newt. He finally admits he broke the rules, after lying and denying for months. This is a man with a college education and a college professor, and he didn't know what he was doing? Bull. If the ethics commission had kept digging, I'm sure they would have found more. This is why the confession.

Family opposes parole of convicted killer: Howard is scheduled to appear Feb. 24 before the state Parole Board in Clark County.

Wells Fargo plans Las Vegas expansion: And the bank is working 24 hours a day to correct the myriad consumer complaints registered since it took over First Interstate Bank, said Kathleen Lucier, regional manager for Wells Fargo.

Hikers continue their southerly trek through Nevada wilderness: Nineteen days into their projected 35-day walkabout, they had traveled more than 160 miles on foot, said Mike Babcock, a spokesman for Bergthold's outdoors group, the Center for Wilderness Studies.

Tahoe advisory panel endorses ban on personal watercraft: The matter is scheduled to go to the full, 14-member TRPA governing board on Jan. 22.

It's Packers and Jaguars: Dave Goldberg; Well, not quite.

Chamber music on tap at UNLV theater: The concert features a work by Weait, "Ten By Three," for oboe, bassoon and piano. Other works include Beethoven's Sextet for Two Clarinets, Two Bassoons and Two Horns and "Bounce" by Michael Daugherty for two bassoons.

Flood has staggering impact on farmers, ranchers: "Those next to the rivers have been washed out. Ditches are full of sediment, some fields are covered in sediment and debris four feet deep," said Dan Kaffer, fielding storm-related questions for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Box Score: SDSU 92, Lady Rebels 48: Gossett 1-9 2-3 4, Taylor 3-3 0-0 6, Wolfe 1-8 3-7 5, Webster 0-1 0-0 0, Girard 7-11 0-0 15, Wunderlich 0-2 0-0 0, Brooks 0-0 1-2 1, Dye 1-3 0-0 2, Randle 0-2 0-0 0, Adams 2-4 1-2 7, Strambler 0-0 0-0 0, Jones 2-7 4-6 8. Totals 17-50 11-20 48.

Auditors: Despite accounting violations, city economically healthy: While statutes require all individual funds to stay within their budgets, the audit determined that general government expenses finished $63,312 over; public safety was $272,939 over; the medical clinic fund was $201,370 over, and the sewer fund was $6,149 over.