Print edition for January 15, 1997

Watchdog group challenges DOE over use of plutonium: Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary said Tuesday the DOE is reversing a 20-year U.S. policy not to use plutonium from the nuclear weapons to generate electricity in commercial industry reactors. The plutonium would be unavailable to build more weapons, she said, and reactor use is one of two options.

NCAA lightens up a little: Richard Rosenblatt; Even NCAA executive director Cedric Dempsey scolded membership, imploring them to get their act together at the 91st NCAA Convention.

Natural gas generator possible near Boulder City: The proposed 400-megawatt generating plant could help Nevada Power Co. meet electrical demands in summer months and some might go to San Diego or other Southern California cities.

State worker unions plan joint collective bargaining bill: An agreement on a joint legislative lobbying effort was announced Wednesday by the State of Nevada Employees Association, Service Employees International Union and Nevada Highway Patrol Association.

LV man killed in avalanche: Michael Bernero, 40, was the only one killed during a Class 2-plus avalanche that swept him and two other skiers off a 70-foot cliff and buried them under six feet of snow near the Blue River in the Monashee mountain range.

Alleged bookie lived in Santa Fe during early 1980s: De Carolis was arrested in Las Vegas on Sunday, the same day five others were arrested in Santa Fe and four others were arrested in the Los Angeles area. Police said the ring handled $1 million each week in bets on sports events from across the country.

Arnie to undergo surgery today: After his release from the hospital, he will remain in remain in Rochester as an outpatient, the clinic said.

Blood-shortage crisis comes to quick end: The blood shortage crisis in Southern Nevada is over.

Casino gets preliminary nod to run gambling facility: Officials with the Las Vegas-based company hope to open the Kansas City facility Thursday night, with a gala set to include country music singer Kenny Rogers.

Analyst: Day-tripper market probably is tapped out: Over the past year, the monthly figure for money won by the riverboats has ranged from about $93 million to $105 million. And for an industry currently dependent upon day-trippers, that's probably the upper boundary, said Larry Pearson, publisher of the Riverboat Gaming Report.

Scattered snow in Reno forecast; deep freeze to thaw: The National Weather Service said the system was not expected to produce an abundance of snow, but could linger through Wednesday.

Las Vegas volunteers: * CRANBERRY WORLD WEST -- More than 500,000 visitors have toured Cranberry World West since it opened Jan. 13, 1995, and to celebrate, the Ocean Spray visitors center has donated 500 bottle of Ocean Spray juice to Child Haven. Child Haven is a division of the Clark County Department of Family and Youth Services and provides temporary care and treatment for abused, neglected and abandoned children ages 3 days to 18 years.

FISHING REPORT: FISHING REPORT

Five plead innocent in alleged bookmaking ring: O'Shea, Ms. Patten, Nakano and McCarthy were charged Monday with one count each of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, commercial gambling and tax evasion, and six counts each of accepting wagers for profit, according to court documents.

Judge denies Frontier's request for gag order: The lawyer, Will Kemp, represents a California couple, Sean and Gail White, suing the Frontier over their April 25, 1993, beating on the picket line.

Queen of evictions runs a thriving business: Bob Shemeligian; For nine years Maley has owned and operated NMI (Nancy Maley Incorporated), a Las Vegas service that prepares eviction notices for landlords.

End of Exemptions for Judges, Lawyers, Doctors, Dentists?: The suggestions go to the state Supreme Court for review and also to the governor's office and the Legislature for consideration.

Convention Authority backs bill banning adult entertaiment ads: The target of the ordinance is promoters of adult entertainment businesses such as outcall services, strippers and escort services.

Proposal would make hidden campaign contributions illegal: Heller, a Republican, is crafting a campaign finance reform bill and last week won the backing of Democratic Gov. Bob Miller to lower the reporting threshold from $500 to $100 and require parties, caucuses and political action committees to disclose donors.

Education proposals: * ACADEMIC STANDARDS: A council appointed by the governor and Legislature will set higher standards for student achievement within one year. School districts would have the following year to implement the standards. Cost: $482,495 for training and materials.

Flood victims already getting FEMA checks: "We don't know what the final amount of disaster payments will be," Brezany said. "The people filling out applications for assistance numbers 2,238. We're uncovering new damage every day and there will be more applications."

Pilot error blamed for July plane crash: The NTSB report said Stanley Bailey, a retired TWA pilot and a certified flight instructor, reduced power to simulate an emergency landing and instructed his daughter to simulate a forced landing approach to a dirt road.

School district spending: * $552,545.88: to various vendors for bid awards for such things as tires; vehicle hoses, belts and clamps; motor oil, transmission fluid and lubricants; a rotary riding mower; food; and batteries.

Survey of conditions, age of state schools suggested: The governor is going to ask the Legislature for $1.7 million to conduct the study. After the defeat of school construction bond issues in four of six counties in November, there have been suggestions that the state set up a fund to help local districts build new schools to handle growth.

Former Area 51 workers to file briefs: The briefs will offer the first glimpse into a controversial sealed hearing in 1996 over alleged illegal and toxic burning.

Vegas cost of living up in 1996: The Las Vegas cost of living index increased by 4.5 percent in 1996 over the previous year, a study by First Security Bank said.

County awaits Frontier probes: Jeff Schweers; Privilege licenses in the unincorporated county, which includes the Strip, are granted by the commission, acting as the Liquor and Gaming Board.

Groups choose sides in TRPA's court battle: The case was first filed in 1991 by Bernadine Suitum of Sacramento, who purchased a vacant lot in Incline Village in 1972. When Suitum tried to build on the property in 1989, she learned that the bistate TRPA had determined the lot was within a sensitive stream zone, and denied her a permit.

Sports Briefs: Leonard, King to enter boxing Hall: The International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y., is making room for one of boxing's golden boys and a flamboyant promoter whose resiliency amid controversy has earned him a Teflon reputation.

505481143.html: SUNDAY, JAN 26

At 29, Carbajal not set to retire: Dean Juipe; But now that Michael Carbajal is 29, discussions on the dreaded R-word -- retirement -- have been set aside.

Baseball Notes: White Sox make room for Drabek: The Chicago White Sox, looking to shore up their starting rotation, have signed 1990 Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek to a one-year contract.

Rocket launch planned for test site: Sandia National Laboratory announced the test windows Tuesday to keep the public from harm's way, DOE spokesman Derek Scammell said.

Peter Benton: Legacy pro wins Southwest Section final: Winning the capacity field event with a 1-under-par 71 was Legacy pro Chris Aune, followed by Scott McDade (Paiute) at 72. Jerry Roberts (Spanish Trail), Dave Barnhart (Legacy) and Rusty Postlewait (Desert Rose) shared third spot with 73s.

Rebels: So far, so good: Steve Carp; Bayno's UNLV basketball team has hit the midpoint of its 1996-97 season. With the Rebels 11-3 overall and 3-1 after their first two weeks in the Western Athletic Conference, it was the perfect time for the coach to stop and reflect on his team and where it needs to go the next seven weeks.

Lawmaker questions assessment plan, public school construction: "We're getting concerns from local school districts about their continued ability to build and maintain their schools," Comeaux said. "The administration believes it's important to come up with, as accurately as we can, the conditions and needs of the schools."

Questions raised about lawmakers move: County managers offered Southern Nevada legislators free space in a Ryder truck rented to move county lobbyists' files and office equipment to the state Capitol. County officials say use of the truck and the workers' labor is a courtesy that isn't costing taxpayers extra money.

NFL Notes: Falcons, Reeves near deal: Twenty years after he first applied to be head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, Dan Reeves appears to be on the verge of being hired.

2nd Slam eludes Chang: "I'm not so concerned about winning the next Grand Slam title," he said today. "I do hope that it is in the near future, but it's not something that I'm constantly thinking about.

Bibbys to square off Thursday: Arizona coach Lute Olson banned media members this week both locally and nationally despite requests from CNN, Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports and the Los Angeles Times, to name just a few of the interested media outlets.

Nuclear office fears fed cuts: The U.S. Department of Energy has refused to continue providing financing to the state, and the agency has been operating on reserve money. If that continues, the office will be out of money in 1998-99.

$500,000 bail set for officer in shooting: Bill Gang; Although Mortensen's attorney, Frank Cremen, asked that bail be set at $100,000, Justice of the Peace Tony Abbatangelo said he had concerns that the nature of the shooting raised concerns about the safety of the community.

More radioactive leaks discovered: These leaks were unknown when the Department of Energy in May 1990 published its first report on radioactive releases from nuclear experiments in Nevada, O'Leary said Tuesday.

Changes accepted by Bayno: Steve Carp; The changes have come slowly and only have partially addressed the problems. But UNLV coach Bill Bayno welcomed the NCAA's decision to restore a fourth year of eligibility to partial qualifiers and allow student-athletes a chance to hold a part-time job during the basketball season.

WHere I Stand: Double magic - Frank Sinatra and Las Vegas: In 1979, upon his return from an announced "retirement," the following editorial ran on the front page of the Las Vegas SUN.

Showboat mulls ways to spend cash: Gary Thompson; Showboat Inc.'s stock price retreated 7 percent Tuesday, closing at $21.63, after an 18 percent jump Monday on news that Australian billionaire Kerry Packer would pay Showboat about $266 million to buy control of the Sydney Harbor Casino.

Media Notes: 10,000 Prime Cable subscribers get CNN-SI: Tim Graham; About 10,000 Prime Cable subscribers already get CNN-SI, a 24-hour, all-sports news network, and Classic Sports, a vintage, all-sports replay channel. Each month, about 7,000 more subscribers will be added to what the valley's lone cable operator calls its "upgrade area."

Analysts say drop in casino win not a harbinger of hard times: "Tyson was an isolated event," Harry Curtis, a gaming analyst for Smith-Barney, said Wednesday. "And baccarat had a strong year in 1995 and many casinos enjoyed baccarat hold percentages that were above their usual.

State approves $19.3 million nursing facility for veterans: Ward, now the post's quartermaster, will join other local Veterans of Foreign Wars officials in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 8 to press the issue that took a step forward Tuesday when Gov. Bob Miller announced the state will join the federal government in building the $19.3 million nursing facility.

Smaller student-teacher ratio endorsed: Assistant Senate Majority Leader Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, joined the Democratic governor at a news conference Tuesday in Las Vegas expressing confidence that GOP lawmakers will back Miller's plan.

Clark County fourth in nation in legal use of wiretaps: Cathy Scott; The numbers were released Tuesday by the FBI for all federal, state and local law enforcement along with an assessment of future wiretap needs, based on past use.

License threat: Jeff Schweers; Privilege licenses in the unincorporated county, which includes the Strip, are granted by the commission, acting as the Liquor and Gaming Board.

Thunder can't bounce back: Tim Graham; And the Thundermobile is starting to swerve.

Paula Del Giudice: Bird decline worrisome: Here in the West, conservationists and wildlife managers wonder if sage grouse and other wildlife will survive the continual degradation of their habitat by overgrazing livestock.

New special ed boss to focus on parents: Teresa Hinds; The School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to hire Charlene A. Green as the assistant superintendent of the special student services division, and Green said she hopes to start work by the end of February.

Flooded area faces deadlines for planting, spring runoff: Fulstone, an alfalfa grower and the new County Commission chairman, said the flood not only decimated irrigation ditches throughout the area, it also trashed the dikes that keep the Walker River within its banks.