Las Vegas business briefs

sgreen@lasvegassun.com

Thursday, Sept. 24, 1998 | 11:11 a.m.

HENDERSON CONSTRUCTION WORKERS STEP UP UNION ACTIVITY -- About 50 painters and drywall and cabinet installers for Tradewinds Construction and Rainbow Paint and Drywall walked off the job this week, alleging they were harassed for their union activities. Workers allege some of them were fired while others received threats and were subjected to illegal surveillance by their employers, according to the Building Trades Organizing Project. Both companies are involved in building the Eastgate Plaza office building in Henderson. A rally was planned this morning at Eastgate Plaza. Attempts to contact both companies for comment Wednesday afternoon failed.

SOUTHWEST GAS BORROWS $25 MILLION -- Southwest Gas Corp. has filed documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission detailing the issuance of $25 million in medium-term notes carrying an interest rate of 6.27 percent. The proceeds of the issue, which have a maturity date of Sept. 22, 2008, would support the company's operations in Nevada, California and Arizona. Jeff Shaw, vice president and treasurer of Southwest in Las Vegas, said the notes are part of a $150 million medium-term program previously announced by the company to partially fund gas line expansion in the growth markets the company serves.

MIRAGE OPENS N.J. OFFICE -- Mirage Resorts Inc., which has been planning a giant casino project in Atlantic City for more than three years, moved a step closer to construction Wednesday by opening a headquarters for the operation. The Mirage Center, a $3.5 million office complex built to house Mirage and subsidiaries New City Development Corp. and Atlantia Design, will serve as the company's local office throughout construction of Le Jardin, officials said.

MANDALAY BAY RESTAURANTS LISTED -- Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino will include projects by chefs Wolfgang Puck, Charlie Palmer and TV's "Too Hot Tamales" -- Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger -- among the 15 restaurants at the resort when it opens next March. Palmer will create an Aureole, modeled after his New York restaurant of the same name, while Puck will develop a new fine dining concept specializing in Italian cuisine. Milliken and Feniger will bring their Los Angeles-based Border Grill to a poolside setting. Other restaurants will include the China Grill and three related themed restaurants, a House of Blues live music venue/restaurant and an International House of Blues Foundation Room. In addition to the Four Seasons' 424 rooms, Mandalay Bay will offer 3,300 rooms and suites at the 60-acre resort, a 12,000-seat sports and entertainment complex, a 1,700-seat showroom and a beachside stage.

SILICON GAMING MISSING FORECASTS, ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENTS -- Silicon Gaming Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif., said it expects third-quarter earnings per share to come in 7 cents to 11 cents below analysts' expectations of 27 cents. Chief Financial Officer Thomas Carlson said the gaming supplier may not achieve its aggressive sales targets. Separately, Silicon said it joined Anchor Gaming of Las Vegas in an alliance to develop novelty slot products to be distributed by Anchor. And Silicon introduced its first networked product "The Big Win." It's a multi-line, multi-coin wide area progressive slot.

CDS GETS MINNESOTA ORDERS -- Casino Data Systems of Las Vegas said it received contracts for its new OASIS-Windows slot management system at two Minnesota casinos owned by Fond Du Lac Development Corp.

To contact Sun Business Editor Steve Green, call 259-4083 or e-mail sgreen@lasvegassun.com