Print edition for March 14, 1997

Yachting trophy smashed: A seven-member group, Tino Rangitiratanga Liberation Organization (Maori Sovereignty Liberation Organization), claimed responsibility.

Trump representatives, Atlantic City residents take aim on tunnel plan: "We don't think it's legal, we don't think it's appropriate, we don't think you have enough information," Trump lawyer Joel Sterns said.

Children's museum's 'Animal Diner' serves helpings of discovery: Local youngsters will learn all about what critters eat at the Lied Discovery Children's Museum "Animal Diner" during National Science and Technology Month, March 22-April 26.

Trickles finding solace at track: By Ron Kantowski; Forget the lyrical name that makes the weekend anchors on SportsCenter snicker. With his bare knuckles choking the steering wheel, Dick Trickle looks tougher than a roadhouse roundsteak.

School Board completes 1997-98 zoning changes: The board completed the long process Thursday night by setting attendance boundaries for the remaining middle schools.

Police officer pleads innocent in sex case: Police set up a videotaped sting operation to verify her claims.

Box Score: Thunder 5, Moose 3: First Period -- 1, Las Vegas, Bashtatov 1 (Demitra, Gendron). 3:15. 2, Las Vegas Gendron 1 (Bashkatov, Demitra), 5:21. Penalties: Dahlqist, Las Vegas (holding) 7:03. Pankewicz, Manitoba (holding), 9:39. Ricciardi, Manitoba (cross-checking), 11:20. Dahlquist, Las Vegas (interference), 15:35

IHL Standings: Northeast Division

State finds computer salvation: Lockard, director of the state Department of Information Services, announced Thursday she has signed a $5 million contract with a California firm to solve the "year 2000" computer problem in state government.

Columnist Ken McCall: Community finds cracks in Cement Family's actions: Ken McCall; Judging by the response to my Monday column taking Anderson to task for her talk-show attacks and stubborn refusal to admit her 9-year-old son Jeremy has done anything wrong, there's a volcano of resentment ready to erupt out there.

Culture Shock to audition youths for new program: Members of "Future Shock" will receive hip-hop dance training from Culture Shock members, be associated with Nike's Participating in the Lives of America's Youth division, as well as other training programs that will enhance their leadership skills.

Letter: Noncustodial parents will be punished by support hike: State policy is to encourage a continuing relationship between the parent and child. The current law penalizes noncustodial parents when they're with their children, which was not the intent of the Legislature. Each parent should be obligated to financially support their children.

Pipeline, reservoir opened: Flanked by local water officials Thursday, Miller noted that substantial construction on the "second straw" from Lake Mead was completed 18 months after construction began.

Las Vegas cultural briefs: * JAZZ FEST -- The fourth annual Las Vegas City of Lights Jazz Festival will be April 26 at The Hills Park amphitheater in Summerlin. The festival starts at noon and ends at 10 p.m. Gates open at 11 a.m. The artists include Gerald Albright, the Yellowjackets, Fattburger, Everett Harp, Slim Man, Steve Ried and members of the Rippingtons, Mark Antoine, Rick Aroya with his Latin/salsa band and Utopia. Tickets will go on sale Saturday at UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall box office, The Upper Ear, Vesley Music and Mr. Bill's stores.

Letter: Nevadan's won't speak out against nuclear dump site: The casinos aren't concerned about the fall-off of visitors; our citizens have not volunteered to obtain thousands of signatures on petitions in protest, to send to Washington; and no leader has spoken up about marching in Las Vegas (much less marching in Washington) to protest.

School district spending: * $18,973,592: to various vendors for for legal fees, construction contracts, band instruments, computer software and hardware, textbooks, audio visual equipment, furniture, registration fees and travel.

PBA Albany Senior Results: 1, Earl Anthony, Cornelius, Ore., 248 (one game), $9,000. 2, Avery LeBlanc, Houma, La., 701 (three games), $5,200. 3, Gary Dickinson, Edmond, Okla., 235 (one game), $3,800. 4, Roger Workman, Kenova, W.Va., 448 (two games), $3,100. 5, Larry Laub, Tucson, Ariz., 208 (one game), $2,600.

Maxim faces fine for financial move: Although unsigned, the proposed stipulation between the Maxim and the state Gaming Control Board is scheduled to be presented for approval at the March 20 meeting of the state Gaming Commission.

Behind the scenes of 'Unsolved' Shakur mystery: Cathy Scott; That's been the unanswered question since he was mortally wounded in September near the Las Vegas Strip, and now it's being asked in March 14th's "Unsolved Mysteries" (8 p.m., NBC).

Diamond Ridge sweeps front row for Busch race: "I think your going to see both white Diamond Ridge cars up front all day on Sunday," Green predicted. "I knew Elliott was going to be hard to beat. He's always qualifies great."

Las Vegas 300 qualifiers for Sunday, March 14, 1997, race: 2. (29) Elliott Sadler, Emporia, Vir., Chevrolet, 158.651.

505692044.html: SUNDAY

Big Brooklyn homecoming awaits slain rapper Biggie Smalls: As his 280-pound, 6-foot-tall body lay embalmed on Madison Avenue, his relatives had argued over how the funeral should be handled, a source close to the arrangements, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press.

Las Vegas joins the Busch League: Bobby Labonte has been coming to Las Vegas for years, but the big attraction has always been the gaming tables in Strip casinos.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: DI renovation keeps best of best: Not to worry. The property, now owned by ITT, is only being upgraded to keep up with the times. There is no intent to increase the size. According to Brian Menzel, Desert Inn president and chief operating officer, the company fully appreciates the unique qualities of this choice hotel and wants to keep it that way.

Columnist David Ehlers: Gaming stocks may get good news: David Ehlers; January 1997 Strip revenues, after eliminating Baccarat, gained by some 14.9 percent or a whopping $40 million -- a noteworthy reversal of recent trends. This report follows a lengthy 1996 series of severely negative monthly reports on Nevada's gaming revenue numbers. It also provides an indication that at long last there may be good news ahead and a better tone for Las Vegas' long-suffering gaming stocks.

Clark County Programs: PRIVATE PILOT GROUND SCHOOL -- This class will prepare you for the Private Pilot Written Test. You will learn aerodynamics, safety, weather, airplane parts radio communications, navigation, flight preparation and actual flight. This 24-hour class is taught by FAA certified instructors. It will meet on eight events for three hours each time. Fulfill your dream of flying for $130 plus $117.70 for the Cessna Pilot Kit. This class will be offered in April and again in July.

Oscar oddsmaker up for challenge of picking winners: Patricia Bibby; Fine. Lenny Del Genio's happy to talk about it.

Spring Training roundup: Ambulance snafu hurt Snow: "It was an internal communication problem at Scottsdale Stadium," said Jim Moorehead, media relations manager for the Giants. "It has since been remedied."

Lights, Cameroon, action! Film ties LV, Africa: Lisa Ferguson; An action-adventure movie, thanks to film producer and part-time local resident Raymond Polydoor.

Squabbles waylaying transportation system: Jeff Schweers; But Caesars Palace -- which sits between the two properties that Mirage Resorts wants to link with a people mover system -- is also holding up the county's road construction plans. It won't relinquish air rights without some assurance that the county won't transfer those rights to Mirage Resorts.

Ritchie Blackmore uses new faces to piece together old rock band: Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. If you don't know the man, you know his sound. If you don't know his band, you know his other band. Blackmore was the guitar slinger behind the heavy crunch of Deep Purple classics like "Smoke on the Water" and "My Woman From Tokyo."

SIIS liability decreases: Douglas Dirks, general manager of SIIS, told the Senate Finance Committee Thursday that as of Jan. 31, the unfunded liability was $982 million, down from $2.2 billion, the peak year in 1993.

Auto Racing Leaders: NEW YORK -- The 1997 NASCAR Winston Cup stock car racing schedule, with winners in parentheses and driver point standings:

Teacher-sex bill faces challenge: With that in mind, two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee raised the possibility Thursday of changing the law to prohibit sex with anyone under the age of 18, even if there is consent.

Dean Juipe: No sign here college game is in decline: Regular-season attendance was off. TV ratings continue to decline. Just this week a prominent coach bemoaned the game's lack of star power. And empty seats have become increasingly prevalent even in tournament games.

'The English Patient,' 'Shine' get best Oscar-winning odds: Del Genio's predictions, and a bit of his reasoning behind them, include:

Gaming industry dodging tax bullets: On Monday, a bill is expected to be introduced in the Assembly raising sales taxes in Southern Nevada by a quarter-cent to help finish a second water pipe from Lake Mead to Las Vegas.

Superman coaster should be super, man: More powerful than a locomotive (if you count electromagnetic force) ...

Thunder looking for way to chill Ice Dogs: Tim Graham; But in their 10th and final meeting of the regular season, the Las Vegas Thunder hopes to get a leg up before the Long Beach Ice Dogs do. They play tonight at 7:05.

Nevada first lady unveils child education program: Teresa Hinds; For the past three years, Miller has been working with local businesses and teachers in the Clark County School District to design a program that offers tips on how routine tasks can be turned into learning opportunities for children.

Editorial: Tax equality plan now up to the voter: City and county officials have been dickering in secret meetings over how to bring Las Vegas residents' tax rates down to rough parity with county rates. What they came up with is a sleight-of-hand shift of funding on both sides that will please city residents. Whether county residents will buy it is another matter.

Top volleyballers come to Las Vegas: James Yodice; The event, part of the Miller Lite AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour series and the first stop of 1997, started with qualifying matches this morning. Eight players, ranked 7-14 on the AVP computer, are competing for two spots, which are awarded to the top two point-getters.

Letter: County commissioners should quietly step down from office: A.G. Lien

Legislature summary: SENATE

How to get on the St. Paddy's wagon: Joe Delaney; One hotel, Fitzgerald's on Fremont Street, has given its patrons the opportunity to indulge their Irishness since this past Monday. The observance includes tasty Irish food and beverages and authentic entertainment from Erin. There are also numerous daily drawings, an opportunity to go home with a quarter million dollars and, of course, plenty of green beer and green popcorn.

Saturday at Gulfstream Park: 1st race 1-1/8 mi 3YO Alw

Interesting diversions at Live show: David Renzi; Not that the previous songs hadn't been perfectly mind-bending. They sure in the heck were. It's just that it wasn't until the middle of the sixth song that the lap dance -- and a completely unsolicited one it was -- began.

NIT roundup: A strong 2nd half carries Michigan: Michigan took a step toward that redemption Thursday night by pulling away in the second half for a 76-63 victory over Miami in a first-round game at Ann Arbor.

COlumnist Joe Delaney: Anderson lives up to billing - 'Gentle Giant': Joe Delaney; Anderson more than held his own that night. ... He has been a headliner here ever since, the last eight years at Bally's, where he is appearing in the Celebrity Room through March 26. ... We make it a point to see his show even when not reviewing him.

'Dalmatians' star helps promote pet adoptions: Karen Zekan; City Councilman Matthew Callister will officially cut the ribbon at 9 a.m. Saturday during the ceremony opening the store at 2140 N. Rainbow Blvd., near Lake Mead Boulevard, in the Best in the West Shopping Center.

PBA Showboat Invitational Standings: 1, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, Calif., 2-5-1, 9,406. 2, Eric Forkel, Tucson, Ariz., 5-3, 9,324. 3, Mike Miller, Albuquerque, N.M., 6-2, 9,318. 4, Bob Benoit, Topeka, Kan., 5-3, 9,246. 5, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 5-3, 9,244. 6, Steve Jaros, Bolingbrook, Ill., 6-2, 9,232.

Chang on course to a repeat: In a match of one of the tour's smallest and tallest players, the 5-foot-9 Chang beat the 6-7 Rosset with his usual steady, tenacious game.

A wrap at the Mack: Steve Carp; Thanks to the wonders of animation, the 21-9 Rebels have been displaced from the Mack for a potential quarterfinal game against either Arkansas or Pittsburgh. The T&M booked Walt Disney's World on Ice -- The Spirit of Pocahontas beginning Wednesday and running through Sunday.

Nev.-Ariz. water deal in works: Babbitt, who has been talking to suppliers up and down the seven states sharing the Colorado's waters, hinted during a taped television interview that he may announce an agreement during a convention in Las Vegas later this year.

Where I Stand: Time to identify -- and clean up -- Lake Mead pollution: The question came from one of our community's more concerned citizens who has been around long enough to notice such things. He was part of an exciting and informative group of the citiy's seniors who make it their business to follow and understand foreign policy issues and the impact such decisions might have on ordinary Americans. I was asked to speak to them last week and, as is often the case, the subject matter changed to issues of local import.

Ron Kantowski: Grisly Grissom crash harms only his car: As far as accidents go, Steve Grissom's horrific crash-and-burn during Sunday's Winston Cup Primestar 500 at Atlanta was as bad as it gets.

Reno-bound plane makes emergency landing, no one hurt: "By the time it turned around and came back, the fire was out," Conway said. He said the plane taxied to a gate, and the passenger and crew left safely.

Southwest Tour cars to hit the big time: The 133-lap Las Vegas 200 will mark the first time in series history that the Southwest Tour stock cars have raced on a track bigger than one mile. As a result, the lightning-quick Southwest Tour cars will be equipped with restrictor plates for the first time.

More Raggio-Titus fireworks: Larry Henry; The two Senate leaders clashed Thursday when Titus, D-Las Vegas, criticized a measure sponsored by Raggio, R-Reno, to limit legislative sessions to 120 days. Legislators in Nevada meet every two years for an unspecified time but are only paid $130 a day for the first 60 days.

Tougher domestic violence laws championed: Speaking at a Thursday luncheon at the Monte Carlo hotel-casino, Allred said one such example in Nevada is Assembly Bill 170, sponsored by Assemblywoman Genie Ohrenschall, D-Las Vegas.

Letter: Arrest of cement vandal violated his basic rights: Yes, I am not condoning his writing on the cement, what I am objecting to is the treatment of this young man.

Gaming foe: Keep Bible off fed panel: Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., one of the architects of legislation creating the federal panel, wrote to Clinton Thursday urging him to abandon Bible following a "Prime Time Live" report that suggested Nevada regulators ignored concerns about possible slot machine rigging.

Garden stores erupt in springtime planting frenzy: Bob Shemeligian; "It's crazy here," said Shamaine Commins, assistant manager of Star Nursery on West Cheyenne Avenue, the largest of the chain's five local stores.

Showboat Invitational: Having shaken drought, Weber having great year: James Yodice; He broke in in 1979 as a gifted teenager, the son of a legend. He even beat his father, Dick, in the first tournament he competed in as a pro, the Brunswick World Open.

Las Vegas business news briefs: By Mike Campbell; * LV 40TH IN TELECOMMUTING -- When it comes to working from home, Las Vegas ranks 40th out of the 300 largest metropolitan areas, according to a survey by Money magazine in its April issue. "Working at home is a great way to spend more time with your family, avoid an ugly commute or simply get more work done in less time," the magazine reported. In determining the ranking, Money magazine combined the latest economic and quality of life data with research from PC World magazine on the factors that make life easier and more lucrative for telecommuters. Money magazine's ...