Print edition for June 8, 1999

Agassi's charter school aces others: Benjamin Grove; The leaders of two state-approved charter schools -- a proposed high school in Sandy Valley and a computers-centered school in Las Vegas -- say they were stunned when lawmakers approved money for the unlicensed Agassi school.

Jones leaves legacy: Erin Neff; When Jan Laverty Jones was hoisted to power on the shoulders of female voters and labor support eight years ago, few believed the pitchwoman for a local car dealership would bring more than shiny coating to business-as-usual Las Vegas politics.

Kosovo refugees arrive in LV: Eight Kosovo refugees arrived at McCarran International Airport Monday afternoon, the first of more than 150 that are expected to come to Las Vegas to escape the nightmare of a nation torn apart by war.

Mayors race has global appeal: Adrienne Packer; And this morning, the frenzy continued.

Nevada case may affect death penalties for teens: Susan Snyder and Bill Gang; In its one-sentence ruling issued Monday, the nation's highest court asked the U.S. solicitor general's office for an opinion on the U.S. Senate's 1992 decision to sign a treaty that called for a worldwide ban on imposing death penalties on people who commit the crimes when they are younger than 18.

Jarvis' performance concern of regents: The regents' Committee on Chancellor Evaluation met in Las Vegas Monday night to set up an evaluation process, one that includes soliciting letters from more than 100 community leaders with interest in education.

B of A creating more than 700 jobs at LV call center: The 730 jobs to be created is up substantially from the 220 jobs that were expected to come to Las Vegas when the center was first announced last December.

Man indicted in child-abuse case: Bill Gang; An employee at Boulder City's St. Jude's Ranch for Children was indicted today by a Clark County grand jury on 25 counts of sexual misconduct during the past year involving 16 boys under his care.

Nuclear waste measure called budget buster: Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., submitted 10 amendments to the bill in the House, criticizing it as "a budget buster" because it could lead to uncontrolled spending.

Housing mix causes a stir: Adrienne Packer; And that isn't likely to be soon.

Floyd hit with additional charges: In a press conference this morning, police said they still have no confirmed motive for the shootings that left four people dead and another man wounded. Police Sgt. Kevin Manning said there "is no reason to believe it was anything but a random act of senseless violence."

Nevada trucking industry will cooperate on air pollution issue: The Nevada Motor Transport Association, which will meet in Las Vegas in conjunction with a major convention of truckers this week, will apprise its more than 200 members about how Senate Bill 432 could affect the Nevada trucking industry.

Controversial Elko grand jury report wiped from books: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court Monday ordered "total expungement" of an Elko County grand jury report that accused four state officials of criminally pressuring a private mining company into paying a $500,000 mitigation fee.

Unions heaping praise on labor agreement verdict: "This is a great victory," Jack Jeffrey of the Southern Nevada Building and Construction Trades Council said. "It's the first (case) in Nevada."

Sprint deal avoids suit: David Strow; When Sprint first began exploring a Nevada rate increase in 1998, phone company officials initially figured they needed a $50 million per year increase.

Court reverses murder conviction: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court Monday overturned the first-degree murder conviction and death penalty for Charles Manley, found guilty of the "execution style" shooting of his girlfriend in Clark County in 1995.

Mining company to be honored: Gov. Kenny Guinn will present the award at the 15th annual governor's industry appreciation luncheon Thursday at the MGM Grand hotel-casino in Las Vegas.

Three arrested in Sam's Town poker scam: The arrests last month were made after security personnel reviewed video surveillance cameras monitoring games in the Boulder Highway casino's poker room. The tapes were reviewed when a player sustained a "bad beat" in one of the games.

Lenin's head found at local thrift store: The missing head was discovered last week at a local thrift store and has been returned to the restaurant inside Mandalay Bay hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

LV entertainment forum set: The event is produced by the Hollywood Reporter and the Entertainment Development Corporation Las Vegas.

Downtown Vegas casinos are hit with complaint: John Wilen; The complaint, filed May 26, details seven instances in which customers and undercover board agents gambled in the two properties. In each case, casino employees told the patrons and agents to play certain machines that were "hot," despite the fact that the employees could not possibly tell when a machine was going to hit a jackpot, alleges the complaint. When the patrons and agents won jackpots, alleges the complaint, Sassy Sally's and Coin Castle employees demanded tips in specific amounts.

LV company in financing deals: The first two closings are for lease financing for non-gaming hotel furniture, fixtures and related equipment and will be sold to a participating investment bank.

Governor signs dozen new measures into law: Senate Bill 428 was one of 12 bills approved by the governor. Crowding around the governor's desk were Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, who authored the legislation; wine expert Jerry Mead, who writes for national publications, and Pam and Scott Miller, who own the Single Leaf winery in California that supplied the bottles.

Ticket price hike not likely to affect summer travel: David Armstrong; Indeed, they say, the season promises to be lively for travelers and prosperous for places that rely on tourist dollars.

LV company to sell $57.5 million in stock: In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the provider of electronic-commerce services for businesses did not disclose the expected share price of the offering, nor the number of shares it expects to sell.

Russian immigrant Ilya Abelsky brings his collection of finely detailed miniature eggs to Las Vegas: When: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Wednesday-Friday.

Competition helps hold down fares: Tom Gardner; Patrick V. Murphy Jr., deputy assistant secretary of transportation, said his agency was working with Congress and the Justice Department to encourage competition and to crack down on carriers that abuse their size.

Wednesday at Golden Gate: 1st race 6 fur 3YO Clm: 1 Slew In The Face (Mercado) 117; 2 Marge's Approval (Tohill) 117; 3 Sonny's Big Bid (Carr) 117; 4 Itza Prank Call (Barton) 119; 5 Hailed Till Dawn (Castanon) 115.

Supreme Court panel hears murder appeal for Lake Tahoe man: Jennifer Coleman; Monte Meier did not receive a fair trial in Douglas County because evidence was introduced improperly and the cause of Julie Meier's death in 1994 never formally established, his attorney Terri Steik Roeser said Tuesday.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Needed medical privacy: NEVADA STATE Athletic Commissioner Lorenzo J. Fertitta, according to legislative committee minutes, did an outstanding job when promoting Assembly Bill 467. Although Fertitta didn't get everything he wanted because of the Nevada Legislature's watering-down procedure, he did make badly needed progress.

Columnist John Katsilometes: Give bocce a sporting chance: Perhaps you've sweared off sweat. And maybe you're pondering a pure form of sporting entertainment and an unfettered recreational activity.

Historic restaurant closes: Owners Jim and Barbara McCormick have been struggling to keep the city's oldest restaurant open while they looked for a buyer.

Methodist Church wants state to ax lottery: State lotteries have encouraged expanded gambling nationwide, the delegates said. The measure urging the state to spend its estimated $500 million budget surplus by eliminating the lottery was approved during Friday's meeting at Calvin College.

Miss America Pageant wants Trump and Wynn to be co-grand marshals of parade: Its parade committee has invited the feuding casino rivals to serve as co-grand marshals of the Sept. 17 Miss America parade, a pageant fixture in which contestants ride down the Boardwalk in open convertibles.

NLV: Officials plan for initial wards beginning with next election: Lisa Snedeker; For live election results tonight, see our election coverage at http://lasvegassun.com/elections99/

Keno gone from Ormsby House: "We're looking at keno as a non-profit center. Keno just was not paying out," said Marketing Director Michael Hyams.

Community news briefs for June 8, 1999: The Nevada Department of Education and Health's Summer Food Service Program will run from through Aug. 27 at Paradise Community Center, 4770 S. Harrison Drive; Whitney Community Center, 5700 E. Missouri Ave.; and Von Tobel Community Center, 3610 E. Carey Ave.

Court clears names of wildlife officials in mining deal: The court ordered that the grand jury report on the actions by the four Division of Wildlife employees be expunged.

Letter: Jones residents want promised equestrian park: Under Mayor Jan Laverty Jones and then-City Councilman Matt Callister, the City Council reinforced to the residents in the northwest its commitment that this site would be developed as equestrian.

Student's dad puts casino winnings toward teens' guns: The father of slain Columbine High School student Isaiah Shoels said he will use his $15,000 windfall to form a nonprofit organization that will buy guns from teenagers. The program is sponsored by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Atlanta.

DA's office replaced for retrial in murder: Bill Gang; District Judge Joseph Pavlikowski on Wednesday will appoint a special prosecutor to pursue the case that had resulted in a life prison term without the possibility of parole for the 26-year-old Las Vegas man.

Target shooters probably started south Reno fire: Authorities have not been able to determine a cause conclusively or whether the fire started deliberately or accidentally, Frady said.

Measures signed: MORE BLUE PLATES - AB76, Transportation. Allows for blue and silver license plates, symbols to be used in plate numbers.

Goodman wins race for Vegas mayor: Tim Dahlberg; Goodman's transformation from mob mouthpiece to this gambling city's leader was made complete in a landslide victory over a veteran city councilman for the job of mayor of Las Vegas.

Congressman blasts plan to take nuke waste spending off budget: The House plans to vote soon on a bill that would lead to nuclear waste being stored at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

Wednesday at Belmont Park: 1st race 1 mi 3YO & up F&M Mdn: 1 Fine Appearance (Diego) 109; 2 Military Cross (Lovato) 114; 3 Worlsigold (Smith) 109; 4 Katie's Girl (Espinoza) 114; 5 Swan Lake (Black) 114; 6 Prettyprettysight (Leon) 114; 7 Kings Park (Bridgmohan) 114; 8 Deceptive Charm (Rocco) 122; 9 Scarly Simon (Nelson) 114; 10 Numbered Terms (Velazquez) 114; 11 Leprechaun Joy (Chavez) 122; 12 Double Entendre (Migliore) 114.

Surgeon loses second malpractice suit: Bill Gang; After a three-week trial a District Court jury determined Monday that Dr. Albert Capanna, along with internist Dr. William Gramlich, were responsible for a 1993 operation on the wrong vertebra in Barbara Cleveland's neck.

City manager's salary increased: The Council gave him a 10.7 percent raise in September.

Wednesday at Hollywood Park: 1st race 1 mi 3YO Turf Clm: 1 Wild N Golden (Puglisi) 116; 2 Corner Silver (Blanc) 112; 3 Flannigan (Toscano) 116; 4 Camelback (Enriquez) 116; 5 Dillionaire (Nakatani) 116; 6 Maybe Special (Espinoza) 116; 7 Crusading Pro (Ramsammy) 116.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Hollywood Park: 1ST RACE:

Governor signs 72 bills: Jennifer Coleman; A bill mandating joint state-county custody of foster children in Washoe County was among the measures signed by Guinn. SB288 was sponsored by Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks.

Top Rank's Arum to enter Boxing Hall of Fame: Dean Juipe; Highlights

5-year-old Carson City boy killed by falling rock: The boy's mother, Lori Egerton, was walking up the riverbank when a large rock about 2.5 feet in diameter became dislodged and rolled toward the river.

Residents of tiny Nevada town frightened by helicopter exercises: "We don't know why they were hanging around Goldfield," said Nellis spokesman Mike Estrada.

NCAA All-American team includes 4 UNLV golfers: Anderson was selected to the first team, Kirk to the second team, while Berry and Scott were both named honorable mention. Scott played his way onto the team as the top 15 players at the NCAA Championships automatically were selected.

Editorial: There's still time to head to the polls: For those registered voters who live in Las Vegas, Boulder City and North Las Vegas but haven't cast their ballots yet, the polls don't close until 7 p.m. That's more than enough time to get to the polls and make sure that you make a lasting impact on this year's municipal races.

Man who fled fatal DUI accident pleads guilty: Bill Gang; Juan Morales, 30, agreed to the plea bargain Monday, just half a day before his trial on nine charges of DUI, reckless driving and involuntary manslaughter was to begin.

Goodman takes early lead in race for Vegas mayor: Tim Dahlberg; The victory over Arnie Adamsen, a veteran city councilman, completed Goodman's transformation from mob mouthpiece to a populist figure promising to solve some of the burgeoning city's growth problems.

Woman held after ex-husband claims she hired him to kill current husband: Investigators said she tried to hire her ex-husband after two unsuccessful efforts to lace her husband's drink with prescription medicine.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: It was another tragic weekend for race fans: It was another safe weekend for auto racing drivers, another weekend of tragedy and close calls for spectators and participants on the periphery of high-speed sport.

Mob lawyer takes early lead in race for Vegas mayor: Tim Dahlberg; Goodman appeared headed toward an easy win over Arnie Adamsen, a veteran city councilman, completing a saga that saw him transform his image of mob mouthpiece to a populist figure who can solve some of the burgeoning city's growth problems.

Shell stations have MTBE-free gas: For years, California's gasoline has contained MTBE. However, in March Gov. Gray Davis ordered that oil companies stop using it by the end of 2002. He also ordered that it be taken out of Lake Tahoe's gas on a quicker pace. Three-fourths of south shore's stations have committed to get rid of it by July 1.

Columnist Dean Juipe: FBI errs in zeroing in on King: Dean Juipe; In what reeked of a publicity stunt, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation barged into the Florida offices of Don King Productions last Friday. On the pretense of looking for information regarding payoffs to boxing organizations for favorably ranking specific fighters, the FBI hauled out boxes of business records as the media stood guard out front.

HIV-positive nurse urges safer needles: Today, Black, 28, of Reno, takes 22 pills a day to keep her HIV infection from progressing to AIDS and to delay the effects of hepatitis C, an incurable liver disease.

CAT judgment cut to $14 million for paraplegic man: Bill Gang; Although Monday's settlement was confidential, courthouse sources indicated it was for $14 million -- the figure that attorney Randy Mainor had asked the trial jury to award.

Editorial: GOP must live up to its pledge: The Census Bureau had wanted to supplement its traditional head count next year by using a scientific polling method that would estimate the number of uncounted Americans, providing both a cheaper and more accurate count. The 1990 Census contained significant errors. It was estimated that 8.4 million Americans weren't counted and another 4.4 million were double-counted.

Hammargren seeks GOP chairman post: Hammargren, who lost to Gov. Kenny Guinn in the Republican primary last September, tops the list of candidates vying to succeed retiring GOP Chairman Milton Schwartz.

Public meetings planned on Colorado River environment: The lower Colorado River supplies water to more than 27 million people in Nevada, Arizona and California and delivers hydroelectric power from Hoover, Glen Canyon, Parker and Davis dams.

Guinn signs wine bill: On Monday, Guinn signed Senate Bill 428, sought by Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, to make it easier for Nevadans to bring in limited amounts of wine from California.

Agassi's Slam amazes experts: Spencer Patterson; Top 5

Son pleads guilty in connection with father's death: Dixon also pleaded guilty to attempted murder in connection with an October 1997 stabbing of a fellow inmate at the Clark County Detention Center.

Letter: U.S. should get out of Kosovo: The best guarantee of human rights is a multiplicity of independent and sovereign nation-states in which the government is ruled by law.

Obituaries for June 8, 1999: J.C. Allen, 83, of Las Vegas died Friday in Las Vegas. He was born Jan. 10, 1916, in Lee County, Texas. A resident for 40 years, he was a card dealer.

Man pleads guilty to drunken driving: Morales said he ran from the scene of the accident.

CEO reveals painful secret of illiteracy: Sandra Chereb; During the day he hid behind the role of a harried businessman, too busy to review contracts or shuffle through mail. At night, his wife, Bonnie, would help him sort through the paperwork at the kitchen table, in the living room, or sometimes sitting up in bed.

Letter: Psychiatric drugs harming our kids: Mary, take a look at these facts! Almost all of the recent school shooters had been on some psychiatric drug such as Ritalin, Prozac, Zoloft, etc.