Print edition for May 14, 1998

Letter: Affirmative action fosters racial anger: For example, UNLV's basketball and football teams are obviously underrepresented by whites and Asians. Why aren't racial preferences used to correct this situation?

Key deadline passes in California's battle over tribal gambling: Cynthia L. Webb; If the video slot machines at the tribe's casino in nearby Palm Springs are shut down, tribal leader Richard Milanovich said, "all these programs would be in jeopardy." Jobs would be at stake.

Women inmates graduate from Displaced Homemaker Program: On Thursday, 22 members of the program's first graduating class participated in a graduation ceremony at the prison.

Father convicted in baby's killing seeks new trial: Bill Gang; Now the case may be headed for a second trial for the baby's father and convicted killer James Meegan.

Will Europe Go Dutch?: William Echikson; UTRECHT, THE NETHERLANDS -- The Dutch are showing the rest of Europe how it can keep the welfare state alive, while also creating an American-style lean and mean economy.

Citizens' group closer to recall of Brown: Adrienne Packer; The Clark County Elections Department conducted a raw count of the signatures submitted late Tuesday by the "Citizens for Higher Ethics in Government."

Editorial: A man's world for prescriptions: On Tuesday, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the National Family Planning Association and other groups used the hype over Viagra to renew their call for legislation that would mandate insurance companies that cover the costs of prescription drugs to also cover the costs of prescription contraceptives. The legislation, which the insurance companies oppose, is co-authored by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Capitol event unveils tribute to slain officers: Her husband's name was one of the 84 officers who died in the line of duty.

Letter: Mail carriers help feed those in need: The effort was small, the rewards were humongous!

Nguyen sounds and looks like a 'win' in Binion's poker: Scotty "The Prince" Nguyen, a 35-year-old South Vietnamese refugee who over the last few years has built a reputation as a skilled tournament poker player, held a sizable lead going into today's final round of the World Series of Poker.

Venetian suit claims power lines may force redesign of resort: Bill Gang; The Venetian is asking that the power lines across its property be removed by Nevada Power Co. and Sprint at their own expense and relocated to make way for the Strip resort at Spring Mountain Road.

Internet stock trading is the talk of the Money Show: Brian Seals; "I'm just looking for better tools," he said. "I do an awful lot of trading on the Internet and I want to learn about picking better funds and stocks."

People in the News for May 14, 1998: Miscellany

Columnist Joe Delaney: Peek-a-boo, why don't we see you?: Joe Delaney; Why don't you show up and spend a few dollars to see first-rate productions and performances at UNLV? ... Aren't you aware of the excellent happenings art-wise at the Flamingo Library, Whitney and Winchester community centers and in Summerlin? ... Actors Repertory Theatre, LV Little Theatre and the other community groups also deserve your attendance and support.

Letter: Woman remembers Aladdin owner Prell: Prell was attended by Dr. White, who had also been President Eisenhower's personal physician. I was well acquainted with two of Prell's special-duty nurses and, with their approval, I baked him some cookies at home that he'd indicated he liked, because he was having a hard time adjusting to the dietary restrictions ordered by his physician.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: If India doesn't comply, U.S. must flex its muscle: Who are they kidding?

Acid spill shuts down I-80 at Golconda: A hazardous materials team drove in from Carlin to empty the truck so traffic could begin flowing again, according to NDOT spokesman Scott Magruder.

SUN Board: Community events, meetings, classes: Special interest

Sein-ing Off: Caryn James; It's as if we've all tacitly agreed to go crazy.

Dial File: Amid 'Seinfeld' sayonara lurks unloved Urkel: Not one more utterance of the name of that show, the finale of which I will watch at a great new Chinese restaurant I just discovered, The Masters of our Lo Mein.

Clergy, union plan civil disobedience at New York-New York: Brian Seals; For the better part of a year the Las Vegas Interfaith Council for Worker Justice has been praying, holding vigils and seeking meetings with management of Ark Las Vegas Restaurants Corp., a subcontractor at the New York-New York hotel-casino.

LV says so long to 'Seinfeld': Melissa Schorr; Angela Morris assumed there were plenty of "Seinfeld" fans in Las Vegas.

Annual scramble underway to fund July 4th show: The Eldorado Hotel Casino and the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. of Reno each have kicked in $5,000. The Club Cal-Neva has chipped in $1,000.

Columnist Jeff German: Doumani brothers looking to move forward with their lives: And why shouldn't he?

Guinn files for governor's race, defends pension: The front-running GOP candidate said he has divested himself of everything from Southwest Gas. But he said he is entitled to the retirement benefit and saw no conflict in appointing people to regulate the Las Vegas-based utility.

Obituaries for May 14, 1998: He is survived by his wife, Marvine; one son, Al Alpine, and one stepson, Dennis Newton, both of Las Vegas; two stepdaughters, Susan Young and Monica Pysher, both of Pennsylvania; one sister, Mary of West Virginia; one brother, James Alpine of Ohio; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Event targets 'anti-unionism' of hotel-casino restaurants: Union spokesman Kevin Kline said the purpose of the demonstration is to draw attention to "highlight the injustices and abuse and anti-unionism" of Ark Restaurants.

Second ice rink planned for Sunset-Galleria area: ARC IceSports & Entertainment, a privately held subsidiary of ARC International Corp., announced plans for an 80,000-square-foot rink to open by late 1999.

Del Papa to seek third term as attorney general: The first woman to serve as attorney general, Del Papa, started an exploratory committee for governor last year. Del Papa, a Democrat, later pulled out of the race saying she couldn't match the fund-raising efforts of Republican gubernatorial candidate Kenny Guinn who at that time had near $2.5 million.

Editorial: Hanging up on phone slamming: Slamming is not only annoying, it can be costly to the consumer. Victims sometimes end up paying rates with the new telephone carrier that are as much as 10 times what the customers would have paid with a low-cost carrier. They might not even know they've been slammed until they get that first bill.

Non-union contractors told they have support: Brian Seals; National AFL-CIO president John Sweeney calls the city the "hottest union town in America" and the Building Trades Organization Project (BTOP) announces a protest or lawsuit almost daily.

Nevada congressmen wary of arms race: Mark D. Preston; Earlier this week, India conducted five underground blasts 330 miles southwest of New Delhi to test its nuclear capabilities. The South Asian country, which did not inform any nation prior to the tests, had previously conducted only one nuclear blast 24 years ago in 1974.

Victims identified in fatal crash: Karen Zekan; Metro Police remained late Wednesday without positive identification of the man accused of killing them, his identity instead listed as "John Doe" when they charged him after Monday morning's ugly tragedy with two counts each of reckless driving and involuntary manslaughter.

Raising the Dead for TV Guest Appearances: Caryn James; "He's talking about an improbable thing like going back in time," says Rod Serling, sitting calmly in a chair.

Mining company target of environmental lawsuit: Communities for a Better Environment, a statewide environmental organization in California, could file a lawsuit as soon as next week after serving notice on the company in March, attorney Scott Kuhn said Wednesday.

Sinking a Plan to Sell Great Lakes Water: Ruth Walker; TORONTO, CANADA -- Canadian businessman John Febbraro's plan to sell part of Lake Superior to Asia has shown that international protections for the Great Lakes are not quite watertight.

Berlin Square Dancers Do-Si-Do to 'YMCA': Mary Beth Warner; BERLIN -- President Clinton leaves Germany today after a two-day visit that marked the 50th anniversary of the Berlin airlift, when Western Allies kept the city supplied through the 1948-1949 Soviet ground blockade. But the celebrations don't include one aspect of American culture that's taken firm hold here in the wake of the US presence: square dancing.

Ethiopia's Underground Houses of Worship: Lara Santoro; According to legend, King Lalibela, who ruled Ethiopia at the turn of the first millennium, was poisoned when still a child. Lalibela survived, but for three days he remained suspended in "the upper regions," near heaven. There, he was shown signs and symbols no mortal had ever seen. Upon his return to earth, Lalibela deciphered the code and out of it came the blueprint for the churches.

Legend of the Lost Ark Lives On in Africa: Lara Santoro; AKSUM, ETHIOPIA -- The "Kebra Nagast," a 13th-century Ethiopian manuscript, retells the biblical story of the Queen of Sheba's visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem. But after the queen's introduction at court, the narrative takes an unexpected turn: The Ethiopian monarch bears Solomon a son, who eventually returns to Jerusalem and makes away with the Ark of the Covenant.

Skyhawks earn state softball bid: Spencer Patterson; After reaching the 4A state softball tournament for four straight years, it would be understandable for Silverado coach Chuck Pope to take his club's success in stride.

Pacific Coast League standings through May 13, 1998: Midwest Division

Auto Racing Glance: WINSTON CUP

Friday at Aqueduct: 1st race 1-1/16 mi 3YO&up Mdn Clm

European Cup Winners Cup Champions: 1962-Atletico Madrid 3, Fiorentina 0 (after 1-1 tie)

IHL playoffs, through May 13, 1998: (Best-of-5)

Ethics panel clears Hunt; Williams must wait: Jeff Schweers; But fellow Commissioner Myrna Williams, seeking a second term on the County Commission, is not so happy.

Tishler leads Rebels into NCAA tennis regional: Tim Graham; Asaf Tishler plays tennis as if he knows something his opponents don't.

Wednesday's Zone Results: Eldorado 2, Cimarron-Memorial 1

Fight schedule, May 14, 1998: At Pittsburgh, Paul Spadafore, Pittsburgh, vs. Amado Cabado, Canada, 10, lightweights.

Growth debate in El Dorado County generates lawsuits, animosity: After the approval of the county's general plan elicited howls of anger from West Slope residents, who felt their interests had been undermined by developer influence, Supervisor John Upton started an effort to heal the rift in the polarized community. But he had no luck.

Two baseball tournament berths on line: Sunset Division foes Durango (26-8) and Cimarron-Memorial (20-8) will get things started at 2 p.m. in a loser-out contest, before Green Valley (28-2) and Bishop Gorman (24-5) lock up with an automatic state bid at stake at 5 p.m.

Nevada Focus: Still the lamp, but no bank in little town: Don Hellwinkel, whose family has owned and operated the C.O.D. Motor Co. in downtown Minden since 1911, urged town board members to make every effort to keep the bank in Minden.

Prep: Fosburg captures golf title: Matt O'Brien; In a field comprised of talented seniors, an underclassman stole the show at the 4A Southern Zone boys golf tournament.

Area's top softball players chosen: Spencer Patterson; After leading their teams into the playoffs this season, Bonanza's Chrystal Stevens, Bishop Gorman's Nikki Koval, Eldorado's Janelle Gervais and Green Valley's Nicole Truax were honored by area coaches who selected this year's all-zone and all-division squads.

Head injuries most frightening of all: AP Motorsports Writer

Columnist Steve Carp: Fraschilla leveraged out of job: Steve Carp; Today, he is unemployed.

Candidate told she can't run for Supreme Court, opts for attorney general: But O'Connor, who took her 1992 case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, said the Nevada Constitution doesn't have the law degree requirement, and she still thinks the statutory requirement doesn't hold water.

19-year-old tries to fit in two different worlds: AP Sports Writer

Friday at Golden Gate: 1st race 6 fur 3YO Clm

Rain helps Stars get much needed rest: Steve Guiremand; The Las Vegas Stars were rained out at Cashman Field for only the eighth time in their 16 year history on Wednesday night. And, all things considered, the timing probably couldn't have been better.

Nevada Focus: Timber industry may pay for past sins: "Logging is one of the most significant factors in the declining clarity of Lake Tahoe," Bryan said.

Recall of Gates fails: Jeff Schweers; An effort financed by Venetian resort owner Sheldon Adelson to recall Clark County Commission Chairwoman Yvonne Atkinson Gates has failed because of a lack of valid petition signatures.