Print edition for February 18, 1999

Lawmakers wary of high cost estimate to expand Medicaid program: Kiley Russell; The plan to lower the bar for Medicaid eligibility would be prohibitively expensive, officials from the state Division of Health Care Financing and Policy told the Health and Human Services Committee.

Columnist Dean Juipe: McCullough to get his shot at Morales: Dean Juipe; Wayne McCullough is getting a firsthand look at some of the world's greatest fighters.

Two stranded men rescued after overnight wait: Bob Johnson, 43, and Doug Harney, whose age was not available, had traveled into the area Monday morning.

Fight schedule -- February 18, 1999: At Bossier City, La., (USSB), Jorge Luis Gonzalez, Cuba, vs. James Stanton, Philadelphia, 10, heavyweights; Wayne Llewellyn, England, vs. Derek Williams, England, 10, heavyweights.

Mayweather defends his WBC title: Dean Juipe; In a fight that didn't quite go as expected, Las Vegas resident Floyd Mayweather successfully defended his World Boxing Council junior lightweight championship Wednesday night in his native Grand Rapids, Mich., taking a 12-round decision victory over Carlos Rios.

Prep playoff Schedule, Results: 4A SOUTHERN ZONE TOURNAMENT

Cheyenne holds off Green Valley to make semis: Matt O'Brien; If someone unfamiliar with local high school basketball wandered into Cheyenne's gym Wednesday night, they would have had difficulty in the first half determining which team was ranked No. 1 in the state and which team was below .500.

Senate OKs more leeway in wiretaps: Jennifer Coleman; SB120, which moved Wednesday to the state Assembly for final action, was sought by Las Vegas Metro police to help crack down on gangs.

Casinos, manufacturers may split over percentage issue: Robert Macy; Rumors of pending problems have impacted stock prices of gambling equipment manufacturers such as International Game Technology, which controls more than 75 percent of the U.S. slot market.

BLM investigating allegations of oil dumping at mine: The U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Nevada Department of Environmental Protection are working with a private excavation company to take soil samples at landfill sites in Elko County.

Homeowners told to make way for monorail route: Desert Inn Estate homeowners were opposed to a route that would run through their neighborhood. They complained that their homes would be severely devalued by the monorail and that it would be too noisy.

Record crowd likely to bring traffic troubles: "If we can get 60 people on a bus, that's 20 to 30 fewer cars that we have to deal with," Malloy said.

Senate bill would require approval on Guinn's appointments: Jennifer Coleman; But SB160, reviewed Wednesday by the Senate Government Affairs Committee, is backed by 18 of the 21 members of the upper house. It would give the Senate final say on top gubernatorial appointments.

Lawmakers review bills to regulate mortage investments: No committee action on the bills is likely for another couple of weeks, Buckley, D-Las Vegas, added Wednesday at the end of a hearing that drew numerous opponents and proponents.

Assembly votes to transfer authority over state health fund: Brendan Riley; Lawmakers decided to shift control from the five-member state Committee on Benefits and provide a $10 million emergency loan from the state general fund so the system doesn't go broke in the next few months.

Obituaries for Feb. 18, 1999: She is survived by her husband, Gayle; and one daughter, Linda Anderson of Kingman, Ariz.

Honeymoon over for Gov. Guinn: Brendan Riley; Those events include today's announcement by Assembly Democrats that they want big changes in Guinn's "Millenium Scholarship" plan, a highlight of his state of the state speech last month.

NLV Council OKs senior complex: Lisa Snedeker; The North Las Vegas City Council Wednesday in a 4-1 vote approved the Templeton Development Group's controversial proposal for a 472-unit senior apartment complex. Councilman William Robinson cast the lone vote of dissension.

Man apparently killed in N.Y. winds up in car trunk in Laughlin: Karen Zekan; The victim, identified by Monroe County, N.Y., authorities as James Domm, 51, of the affluent Pittsford suburb outside Rochester, is believed to have suffered the fatal blunt trauma at least a week ago.

Guinn opposes bill on appointee confirmation: Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, one of Guinn's biggest allies, split with the governor on the issue, saying the Legislature should have oversight.

Editorial: Congress should stop passing feel-good laws: The ABA study points out that of federal criminal laws enacted since the Civil War, 40 percent were passed since 1970. But the ABA contends that more federal laws don't mean that justice has improved. In practice, the task force notes, there has been little impact since federal law enforcement reaches a small amount of violent crimes. For instance, the 1994 law making drive-by shootings a federal offense didn't result in the filing of a single charge in 1997. In addition, the task force says that money provided to federal prosecutors would be better used for state law-enforcement systems, which ...

Brief: Mirage Resorts stock soaring: Mirage stock was quoted at $18 a share, up $1.9375 or 12.1 percent, in early afternoon trading. Volume was heavy at 2.5 million shares.

Time changed for game against SMU: Steve Carp; If you're planning on attending Saturday's Southern Methodist-UNLV basketball game at the Thomas & Mack Center, plan on getting there an hour earlier than scheduled.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Jones a tough act to follow: The race for Las Vegas City Council seats and the all-important job of mayor of the city the world loves to watch is well under way, but the only excitement that has been generated thus far is the rather disappointing decision by Mayor Jan Laverty Jones to sit this one out.

A comfort to widows of three wars, Pritchard dies at 98: Her worst nightmares came true not in the skies over Germany or Japan but in her native Texas. As Robert flew his fighter on a training mission near the Texas panhandle town of Pampa, another aircraft clipped his tail section, sending Robert's plane spinning out of control into a rugged mountainside.

U.S. 95 neighbors in limbo while widening plans delayed: Jace Radke; Bev and Ron Rainford are not opposed to the proposed widening of U.S. 95 from six lanes to 10, even though the project will probably cause their home, located along the freeway near Jones Boulevard, to be demolished.

Mayfield confident for Rockingham: Dick Brinster; Now that the big show is over, the "real season" is starting for Jeremy Mayfield.

Panel weighs legislation inspired by Harmon case: The Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee, meeting in Carson City on Wednesday, heard testimony on Assembly Bills 64 and 72 and will consider amendments in about two weeks. Both bills were introduced in response to Southern Nevada investors who lost millions of dollars with the now-defunct Harley L. Harmon Mortgage Co. of Las Vegas.

Senate OKs bill on wiretaps: Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, said Senate Bill 120 "is not taking a broad step into people's privacy ... but is getting at the gang problem, particularly in Las Vegas."

Report: Business could do more for children: What those options are will be the focus of the fifth and final report in a series of studies by the UNLV-based institute in late March.

Democrats reveal plan for tobacco settlement money: But the Democrats said their plan has accountability, something the governor's proposal lacks. They suggest spending 25 percent or $12 million a year for scholarships with the rest divided among health programs.

Columnist Jeff German: Reid, Nevada stand to benefit from Lautenberg's retirement: His decision not to seek re-election in 2000 is seen as hurting the Democratic Party's chances of cutting into the 55-45 Republican majority in the Senate. Of the seats up for grabs in two years, 19 are Republicans and 14 are Democrats.

Preps: Bonanza advances to title game again: After the two teams played to a scoreless draw in the first half, the Bengals (17-2-0) got goals from Alana Graham and Krista Vespe early in the second half to take control.

Gay partners seek college benefits: That question will be discussed at length when the Community College of Southern Nevada's Faculty Senate holds its monthly meeting Friday at the college's Cheyenne Campus.

Preps: Gators' Lichtenstein exudes confidence as he prepares for state championships: Spencer Patterson; No sooner did Luke Lichtenstein step off the mat at last year's Nevada State Wrestling Championships than the Green Valley 162-pounder began dreaming about this year's tournament.

Letter: Starr should quit for the good of the country: The United States Senate and three-fourths of the nation do not agree -- Clinton has been acquitted.

Editorial: State Senate should back free speech: That's because Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, who was instrumental in creating the campaign policing law in 1997, does not want to get rid of the Ethics Commission's expanded powers. Raggio told the Sun's Cy Ryan that he would be willing to listen to arguments for repealing the law if someone finds a way to control dirty campaigning. However, he said, nobody has made any suggestions so far. Translation: The Assembly bill is going nowhere.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Preaching about the benefits of live music in showrooms: Joe Delaney; Singers and dancers must perform to the prerecorded music, not to and for the audience. ... A tape cannot respond, it dictates. ... In a show such as the Flamingo Hilton's "Great Radio City Spectacular," should the Rockettes miss a beat, lose tempo, it could be a technical disaster.

Bryan says he won't run in 2000: His abrupt move opens the door for a number of high-profile Democrats and Republicans waiting in the wings to enter the race, and it puts another crimp in the Democratic Party's strategy to regain control of the Senate in two years.

Letter: Stop lying to people: Letter: Stop lying to people

Assembly OKs emergency insurance bill: The Assembly, without a dissenting vote Wednesday, approved a bill that turns control of the system over to Guinn from the state Committee on Benefits, which has overseen the system.

Jackpot revises terms of Carnival merger: John Wilen; But the terms of the deal have changed since it was first announced last October, largely because Jackpot has negotiated the divestiture of CRC's non-gaming assets. The overall amount Jackpot will pay for CRC has fallen from $71.3 million to about $56 million.

Assembly urged to let voters decide on Lamb Park: Patricia Long of Las Vegas said Lamb, a former state senator, was a criminal and "he should not have a park named after him. He no longer resides in Clark County."

Boys Bowling standings -- Final: CLASS 4A

Casino Data Systems considered a merger play: Gary Thompson; Two top officers resigned their positions at Casino Data Systems Inc., prompting speculation the Las Vegas-based slot manufacturer is about to merge with another game maker.

Anti-nuclear sweethearts convicted of lesser misdemeanor after September protest: U.S. Magistrate Robert Johnston, following a two-hour trial Wednesday on four misdemeanor charges, sentenced Reinard Knutsen and his "partner and sweetheart" Susi Snyder to 12 hours each of community service at area homeless shelters for their Sept. 8 actions.

Speedway has plan to solve traffic woes: Upon taking over as general manager of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in December, Chris Powell made it his top priority to see that traffic runs as smoothly outside the facility as it did on the track for last year's inaugural NASCAR Winston Cup Las Vegas 400.

Service Merchandise closing store in Las Vegas: Spokeswoman Laura Ellis said the store at 1095 East Twain in the Park Place shopping center will close in the next three to four months. It employs 51 people.

NLV forced to approve casino plans: Lisa Snedeker; District Judge Gene Porter ruled in January the council arbitrarily denied a special-use permit for NevStar Gaming and Entertainment Corp.'s NevStar 2000 project.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Pondering the folly of a president: Ruthe Deskin; Perhaps a letter to the Sun from Chandler Levrich of Las Vegas goaded me into the folly of trying to analyze what our nation has been through for the past year.

Girls Bowling standings -- Final: CLASS 4A

Kambala to miss rest of season: Steve Carp; Whatever UNLV accomplishes the rest of the season, it will be without Kaspars Kambala.

Letter: First lady's Senate run good for laugh: Leo D. Tafolla

District Court nominees list trimmed to final four: Bill Gang; The lists of finalists, culled from 19 applicants, will be forwarded by the Nevada Judicial Selection Commission to Gov. Kenny Guinn, who will have 30 days to make his choices.

Robbery, assault victim tells how masked gunmen invaded her home: If 24-year-old Allan Altergott is convicted of all charges he faces this week at his District Court trial, he could face 10 life prison sentences and not be eligible for parole until he has served 60 years.

Brief: Analysts upgrade stocks: Boyd stock was quoted at $4.375, up 18.75 cents or 4.5 percent, in early afternoon trading today. The stock has climbed from a low of $3.125 in the past five trading days.

Battle looms over Sprint's bid for rate hike: Rate increases would boost basic residential service from $7.10 a month to $11 and the cost of a business line from $16.30 to $20.20 a month.

Brief: Trial ends over casino shuttle: Circuit Judge John Hatcher is expected to issue a written opinion in the case in about six weeks.

Historic Whitehead House broken into three pieces, searching for a site: Separated into three pieces, the 5,000-square-foot house sits on steel I-beams and wood blocks awaiting a permanent home after being saved from demolition.

Unlucky Boat trying to regain winning touch: Billy Boat is looking for a checkered flag - and a little luck. He's found neither since he pulled into victory lane last June at Texas Motor Speedway.

Letter: Metro's bicycle patrol must go: Personally, I think these officers need to be put back in their cars! It has got to be frustrating to see taxi drivers driving in a reckless manner, only to have them disappear, knowing that if you were on your motorcycle or in your car the driver would have received a ticket. If I were condemned to being a bicycle officer, I might be driven to writing an unjust ticket or two, reasoning that now we're even!

Old Vegas area strives to reach new Heights: Erin Neff; Then came unemployment, alcohol and drugs. The once-safe streets turned into a war zone after dark and most everyone who had the means to leave did so.

Las Vegas mayor to serve as honorary starter for LV 400: Jones, who recently announced she is stepping out of the political spotlight, said she was looking forward to waving the green flag to start the 43-car field for the second annual race.

Toler finding home in WNBA: Spencer Patterson; Penny Toler admits that like most people, she wasn't sure professional women's basketball would catch on in the United States.

18-story office buildings approved for southern Summerlin: Scott Reeder; The Clark County Commission voted Wednesday to allow as many as four new 18-story, 250-foot-high office buildings to be built in the southern part of Summerlin.

Fish & Wildlife halts dam reconstruction: Babbitt said the project should go ahead because of concerns about the dam's safety. But Fish and Wildlife said the dam design would continue to block the fish from passing up the river to spawn. The trout are a federally threatened species.

Bald eagle sightings on rise in northern Nevada: He estimates there could be as many as 35 to 40 bald eagles in the valley this winter.

No shortage of contenders for Bryan's Senate seat: Brendan Riley; The decision by Bryan, a Democrat and one of the state's top political figures, clears the path for several contenders from both parties - including a few who have said privately there's no way they would have run against him.

Water watchers see abundant summer supply, slim chance of flooding: At the same time, there's enough water stored in the mountain snow to guarantee an above-average winter even if there isn't another storm. And a winter storm warning is posted for today with as much as a foot of new accumulation by evening above 6,500 feet.

Northwest flight returns after engine shuts down: He said Northwest managed to put some passengers on other airlines while others were expected to be put up overnight in Reno.

Neal defends bill to outlaw campaign donations from casinos: Jennifer Coleman; Neal, D-North Las Vegas, compares the multibillion-dollar casino industry and its influence in Nevada to the military-industrial complex and its power in national politics.

Reid hopes clinic's problems can be fixed: Veterans had complained for months about the style of management and availability of medical treatment at the A.D. Guy Ambulatory Care Center.

Legislature schedule for Friday, Feb. 19: 7:45 a.m. - Senate Finance on abolishing state Committee on Benefits.

Body found in trunk that of retired Western New York teacher: The officer questioned the driver, Michael Bradley, 38, then opened the trunk and said he found the body.

Monorail veering closer to homes: Scott Reeder; Residents of Desert Inn Estates hoped the County Commission would consider a route that would not have the train roaring by their homes as it makes its way between casinos.

Bill on casino contributions appears dead: CARSON CITY -- Sen. Joe Neal's bill to stop the casino industry from contributing to political campaigns in Nevada may be dead by this weekend.

Commission delays decision on pedestrian bridge at Venetian: Scott Reeder; "We believe this will be extremely detrimental to our business because it makes it impossible for pedestrians to avoid the Venetian, but more difficult for them to go to the Rosewood Grille," said Kevin LeWinter, an owner of the restaurant.

UNLV golfers tied for 5th after 1st round of tourney: The fourth-ranked UNLV men's golf team shot a six-under par 282 Wednesday to forge a three-way tie for fifth place after the first round of the John A. Burns Intercollegiate being on the par-72, 6,552-yard Kaneohe Kipper Course in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

UNLV player will transfer: Steve Guiremand; Outside linebacker La'anui Correa, arguably the most promising prospect of UNLV's freshman football class this past season, has asked for and been granted his release from his scholarship commitment so that he can transfer to the University of Hawaii.

Two Las Vegans could square off for WBA championship: Dean Juipe; Having jumped into the mandatory challenger's position among IBF junior lightweights, plans are already in motion to secure a world-title fight for Las Vegas resident Diego Corrales.

Rebels fall to Lewis-Clark: Rebels fall to Lewis-ClarkLewis-Clark State rallied with four runs in the seventh inning and went on to defeat UNLV 9-5 Wednesday at Wilson Stadium.

Gaines' 30 scorches Rancho: Spencer Patterson; Nevada's top boys basketball player will finally get his chance to play on the state's biggest stage.

Make the Past Last: Kimberley McGee; Joni Mitchell could have been commenting on Las Vegas history when she sang, "You don't know what you've got 'till it's gone. They paved paradise, put up a parking lot."

Columnist Ron Kantowski: No Gillette deal for Reds, Vaughn: With the exception of a drill sergeant, a barber, my late father or Dave Parker, I might be the only one saddened by the Cincinnati Reds' decision this week to lift their 32-year-old ban on players wearing facial hair.