Print edition for February 28, 1999

Birds, fish test positive for mercury at Walker Lake: Tui chub, the birds' primary food source at the lake, also appear to have high levels of mercury, according to samples of the fish taken in 1996.

One foot in the Blues: Geoff Carter; "If walls could talk / oh, what tales they could tell," winks the Bottle Rockets' "If Walls Could Talk." It's an old expression, to be sure, much older than Rockets lyricist and frontman Brian Henneman - but the way he sings it, you could swear he patented it, grew it under his pillow.

Panel refuses to dismiss officers: The action was criticized by City Attorney Patricia Lynch, who said she was reviewing legal options to reverse the move.

Casinos want slot legislation to cut power of top game maker: Gary Thompson; Some casino executives want to bury International Game Technology, and they want the Nevada Legislature to help them do it.

Columnist Scott Dickensheets: The Mousie that roared: Nyuk, nyuk!: Scott Dickensheets; Oh, he came close, but that's a story for later in the column. For now let's just say that on the roll call of real-life Stooges, there, along with Larry, Moe, Curley, Shemp, Curly Joe and that other guy -- farther down the list, to be sure, and with an asterisk by his name, but still there -- you'll find Mousie. Paul "Mousie" Garner, so nicknamed, presumably, for his small size.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Mayor takes and keeps: Not only is the vehicle seized and kept for a suspected DWI violation, he intends to keep it even if the courts find you not guilty. Very simply, he requires that the acquitted driver now must go through a civil procedure to get his vehicle returned. If this procedure works anything like the federal forfeiture procedure it's very unlikely the car will be returned. Just because the driver is cleared of criminal charges where the government's burden of proof must be beyond a reasonable doubt, the civil hurdle this car owner must then overcome favors the government, where judicial decisions ...

'American dream' twists into immigrants' despair: Martin Kuz; Sleep is the only escape.

Researchers: Nevada lags in spending on nursing-home alternatives: Nevada ranks last among states in overall Medicaid money spent on alternatives to institutional care, she said. Nevada ranks 49th in long-term care spending and 48th in providing home and community-based services.

Columnist Jeff German: Adelson, Culinary draw line in sidewalk: The combatants -- the high-powered Culinary Union and billionaire businessman Sheldon Adelson -- have the resources to sustain what promises to be a long and messy conflict the likes of which Las Vegas has never seen.

10-year-old girl killed in skiing accident: She was flown by Careflight helicopter to Barton Memorial Hospital here, where she was pronounced dead about an hour after the 10 a.m. accident.

Internet gambling lurks as wild card in high-stakes struggle over slots: Gary Thompson; It's called Internet gambling.

Columnist Sandra Thompson: There are better ways to save money for college: Sandra Thompson; So my friends invited him to their home for a presentation on how they could start a college fund for their 10-year-old son.

'50 percent rule' lifted IGT to top of industry: Some of the same casino executives who hope to ban revenue-participation games in Nevada and reduce Reno-based International Game Technology's influence didn't appear to be worried about any fallout from a regulation they pushed in New Jersey several years ago.

Panel rejects Flamingo's bid for reduction in property taxes: The county assessor's office recommended a 20 percent cut in the resort's taxable value from $62.5 million to $50 million because of a significant drop in income.

Elderly woman dies of pneumonia, neglect investigation ongoing: The woman, who lived with her son, died Wednesday at Carson-Tahoe Hospital after being brought in with massive bed sores.

Editorial: Citizen review board progress encouraging: When the commission writes the final language for the ordinance, it should require potential appointees to undergo criminal background checks (which would be the same as is now done for casino employees who need a work card). A misdemeanor conviction shouldn't automatically preclude an appointment, but this would give the Metro Fiscal Affairs Committee sufficient information before it makes an appointment to a board that should require high standards for membership. The commission should also consider requiring that new review board members attend Metro's citizens police academy, which is a layman's introduction to what police work involves.

Editorial: Oversight of HMOs a necessity: While HMOs expressed doom and gloom about any regulation in 1998, their mood certainly has changed. Now HMO lobbyists say they are willing to accept some regulation. For instance, the American Association of Health Plans says it is willing to let a patient challenge an HMO's decision, permitting an appeal to a doctor outside his health plan.