Print edition for September 26, 1998

Events at the UNLV Performing Arts Center: * Oct. 13: Mariposa Trio Concert I; Judy Bayley Theatre; cost: $5.

Condemned convict says he's ready to die: Brendan Riley; Abeyta, 44, interviewed Friday in a 6-by-10-foot visiting room at Nevada State Prison, said he realizes a court fight could keep him alive, but that would be "immoral to my religious beliefs."

Debate over tests for students: But Bill Hanlon, a Las Vegas member of the state Board of Education, told the committee Thursday that a single examination shouldn't determine whether a student gets into high school.

Fed board issues written report on deadly Sierra Chemical blast: Sandra Chereb; A 102-page report issued Friday by the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board concluded that poor worker training, safety programs, operating procedures and regulatory oversight led to the Jan. 7 blast at the Sierra Chemical Co. plant in Mustang that killed four workers and injured six.

Panel rejects bear hunting season in Nevada: Martin Griffith; The Board of Wildlife Commissioners voted 8-1 to reject the proposal by a Reno hunter after state wildlife biologists said a two-year study was necessary to determine whether there are enough black bears to sustain a hunt.

Letter: Members of Congress need a refresher course in history: Then there was Republican Aaron Burr, who killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel because he didn't get the nomination for president of his party, and he schemed to separate at least part of the West from the United States. But still he died a free man in 1836.

California man killed in head-on crash: Turenne was taken to Humboldt General Hospital, where he died. His passenger, Yvonnet Turenne, 72, Suisun City, was being treated for injuries at the hospital Friday, the patrol said.

Letter: Maybe impeachment talk should be pointed elsewhere: It is also true that in recent years we have crucified public figures for the same kind of behavior but this is different. It is the office of the president of the United States that is being dragged in the dirt by Starr.

Krispy Kreme moving westward to sell sugary treat: Krispy Kreme outlets have sprouted in such major markets as Manhattan, St. Louis, Omaha and Las Vegas in recent years.

CCSN builds global base: A year ago an aggressive campaign by the Community College of Southern Nevada to recruit international students was embroiled in controversy, and there was a question of whether the campaign would survive.

Reid likely to cross party lines, back GOP tax cut: Scott Sonner; "It looks pretty reasonable to me," Reid told The Associated Press after the House vote Saturday.

Letter: Lewinsky shouldn't be allowed to travel outside United States: Mary Borak

Driver training courses approved by lawmakers: Until now, a 16-year-old could get a driver's license without taking a training course. The regulations go into effect next Thursday.

Columnist Jeff German: Binion's death mired in mystery: Sun Staff; At his funeral last week, Harry Claiborne, a former federal judge and longtime Binion family lawyer and friend, did a marvelous job of capturing the complexities of the colorful gaming figure.

Leader of the PAC: Kimberley McGee; We've all heard the tongue clickings and deep sighs over the state of Las Vegas culture, or lack thereof. But Myron Martin, newly appointed director of the UNLV Performing Arts Center -- or PAC -- wants you to take a second look.

Letter: Local candidate forums good way to become educated voters: Don't wait until government outlaws microwaves before you get involved.

Nuke dump oversight funds OK'd by lawmakers: "The money for Nevada was one of three issues that was holding this (energy and water) spending bill up, and we feel fortunate to have gotten this much," said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., one of the Senate negotiators on the conference committee.

Supreme Court rejects mother's appeal in Calambro death penalty case: Brendan Riley; Lydia Calambro sought what's known as "next friend" legal status so she could try to stop her son's death by injection for killing two people at a U-Haul business in Reno. Calambro has said he wants to die for the murders.

Letter: President's loyalists don't realize harm done to country, himself: Those who give him so much blind support are blind also to the great harm he does our society, with his ongoing mockery of those principles of honesty and integrity. His defense of his debauchery is insanity.

Man pleads no contest to Walsh assault: Judge Steve McMorris imposed a $505 fine and told Lewis that if he has no more incidents of a similar type in the next 90 days the charge will be withdrawn.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Lazy airlines put travel agencies - and you - in danger: Pisa, along with law-enforcement people, other travel-agency owners who had lost their businesses and airline representatives, appeared before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Aviation of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Feb. 26. The testimony given reveals that airlines have ruined several agencies with their insensitive demands; that the stealing of airline tickets is big business but given little attention by most law-enforcement agencies; that there are big losses in unpaid taxes; and that the criminal element dealing in stolen tickets is a threat to the safety of other passengers and possibly to our national security. Many of ...

Columnist Scott Dickensheets: Apologies not better late than never: Scott Dickensheets; Alas, I've had no inappropriate relationships (ask any intern!), nor have I evaded a single grand jury question put before me. I've oppressed no one I know of. My lack of contrition-worthy behavior probably speaks less to my virtue than to the uneventfulness of my life, but whatever. In this era of therapeutic forgiveness-seeking, I feel I've fallen behind.

Letter: New Yorker politicians actually promote Howard Stern's perversions: Think about Stern lusting for the daughters of Whitman and Pataki on his show and neither one of these leaders had a problem with that. They did not care about Stern phoning a 16-year-old girl in Ohio.

letter: Starr guilty of sins, too, and they're hurting nation: By gentleman's agreement we do not pry into these private matters and certainly shouldn't use them in politics. Starr is guilty of that sin. The damage to an able president's image is probably beyond repair. So who is most guilty?

Letter: First lady should get award for role as supportive wife: Joe Cassese

Del Papa admits ethics laws prone to flaws: "We do not believe that the ethics in government law was intended to prevent government officials from seeking or receiving input from constituents who may also include acquaintances and friends," Del Papa wrote.

Clinton reflects on life: Trude B. Feldman; Editor's Note: This one-on-one interview with President Bill Clinton was edited for length by Sun Washington Correspondent Trude Feldman.

Columnist Sandra Thompson: Mediation - often more valuable than getting a day in court: Sandra Thompson; Welcome to the Family Mediation Center.

Reno editor new president of Nevada press group: Tom Mitchell, editor of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, was elected first vice president. Rich Thurlow, publisher of the Pahrump Valley Times, was elected second vice president.

Student from Sweden learns how to identify myths about America: "My father and mother were reluctant to send me here. They weren't sure I would be safe," said Kadiri, who has aspirations of becoming an international journalist.

Editorial: Congressman and First Amendment: Young's letter stepped over the line, though, when it asked Towns to list those employees who belong to environmental groups, including the Sierra Club and the Wilderness Society. This was no legitimate request. It was an attempt by Young to intimidate all Forest Service employees, launching an assault on their privacy rights and freedom of expression. The freedom to belong to lawful organizations -- without government interference -- extends to all Americans.

Letter: With millions spend, why no answers to underpass floods?: Nonetheless all I can envision as a "fix" is a huge grate at the bottom which drains into an even larger pipe underground. Is that even close? And what happens to the large debris which inevitably gathers? Do you want to drive over it?

Columnist Bill Hanlon: Recruiting teachers hard job for Clark County School District: Bill Hanlon; While the district puts the best face on its ability to hire the cream of the crop, there is clear acknowledgement that a crisis is developing. The district has three or four applicants for every job. Therefore, there is an assumption that the district has choice. But the district is finding the applicants have a greater choice, and it is seeing an increase in the number of applicants not accepting contracts.

Editorial: Consumers could use quality data: It's too bad because this nationwide quality survey of managed care companies provides helpful information, allowing employers to make informed decisions about what managed-care companies offer the best plan.