Print edition for May 24, 1999

Assembly leader diagnosed with ovarian cancer: When lawmakers aren't in session, Evans works at the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno. Kathleen Conaboy, assistant dean of the medical school, announced the diagnosis.

Box score: Redbirds 7, Stars 2: Memphis

UNLV's Casino Ops set for next month: Seminars are divided into three areas: Slots, Human Resources and Casino Issues (casino development, financial insight, tribal gaming, and other related subjects).

Editorial: Clinical research profitable: Instead of relying on university research that typically takes longer -- and costs more money -- drug companies now are turning to doctors to perform their research since, unlike the universities, they have a ready supply of patients for the companies' studies. But the Times found that this trend to enlist private doctors has inherent conflicts of interest, especially when doctors are being paid bonuses to enlist patients quickly into these studies. In addition, the patients often aren't even told that their physicians are reaping financial windfalls by getting them to enroll.

Columnist Melissa Schorr: Pearls of wisdom for grads: Melissa Schorr; Never pose for nude photographs.

Tribes fear effect of panel's study on casino operations: Fredreka Schouten; At a meeting next month, the National Gambling Impact Study Commission will decide how harshly to rebuke tribal casinos for failing to provide information on how much they make and spend.

State prep tournament results: 4A STATE TOURNAMENT

Columnist Dean Juipe: De La Hoya likely loses before long: Dean Juipe; Every fighter starts out undefeated but virtually none finishes his career with a perfect record.

Differences in mayoral candidates more evident: Jace Radke and Erin Neff; At a debate Sunday in Sun City Summerlin, Adamsen got his loudest applause when he answered a question asking what he sees as Goodman's best attribute.

Prep roundup: Trailblazers' 3 titles highlight busy week: Spencer Patterson; Although much of the attention going into last weekend's prep action focused on Cimarron-Memorial's hunt for its fourth state title this year, Saturday ultimately proved to be the greatest day in Durango High School's athletic history.

LV firm loses gaming contract, opens eatery: John Wilen; American Vantage Companies of Las Vegas said the Table Mountain Rancheria Band of Indians voted to terminate its contract to provide consulting services for the tribe's casino in Friant, Calif., near Fresno.

Poppy sales to benefit veterans: The poppies, made mainly by hospitalized veterans, are distributed and sold during the weeks of Veterans Day in November and Memorial Day, May 31.

Legislative news briefs for May 24, 1999: Senate Bill 443, endorsed Friday, creates a panel to study adjustments to the funding formula for UNLV and the University of Nevada, Reno.

NLV: City Council certifies results of primary election, revote: Lisa Snedeker; Marcia Blake retained fourth place and a spot in the general election with 1,220 votes. Ron Long came in fifth with 1,148. Incumbents William Robinson and Paula Brown earned 2,181 and 1,844, respectively. Planning Commissioner Shari Buck held third place with 1,386.

Answers sought in Indian gaming debate: Question: What did Proposition 5 do?

Both sides happy with Blitzstein verdict: Robert Panaro, 57, an alleged soldier in the Buffalo mob, and Stephen Cino, 62, a suspected member of the Los Angeles mob, both were acquitted of all charges related to Blitzstein's Jan. 6, 1997, slaying.

Lawmakers begin final week of '99 session: Assembly Speaker Joe Dini, D-Yerington, said the lawmakers should have no trouble completing their business by May 31, the deadline of Nevada's first 120-day limited session. Lawmakers were hoping to finish by Friday so they don't have to return after the weekend.

Federal grant to help Hispanic preschoolers: Art Nadler; The Sunrise Children's Hospital Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes pediatric education and research, secured the $122,483 grant, it announced Friday.

Business, tourism ties with Japan touted: Today, between two airlines, there are six nonstop flights a week between the two cities and executives with Northwest Airlines and Japan Airlines are looking at adding to the schedule.

Letter: A different query about policeman: ALLEN TOOLEY

Thrower gets call to put out fire in Stars' infield: Steve Guiremand; Jake Thrower had just finished playing a Southern League game in Mobile, Ala., on Saturday night against the Greenville (S.C.) Braves when he got the word.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Charismatic has chance to join racing's elite: Ralph Siraco; As we move closer to the June 5 Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown quest of Charismatic, it is important to realize how much of an achievement it would be to complete that sweep, which only a few others in the history of thoroughbred racing have done.

Bill to charge developers impact fees dies in Assembly: Assemblyman Tom Collins, D-North Las Vegas, said a compromise could not be reached. So the decision was made not to take another vote on Senate Bill 457.

New phone system a hangup for unemployed: "It's so frustrating because my rent, power and phone bills are coming due and they don't want to hear that I can't get through to unemployment -- they want their money," Herman, 38, said. "Even after I get my claim filed, it will be one to four weeks before I get my first check.

Ethics case against constable dismissed: Adrienne Packer; David Burress, who lost to incumbent Mitchell, filed a complaint with the Ethics Commission in January saying he lost votes because Mitchell told newspaper reporters that Burress would have to lay off deputies if he made the constable job a full-time position as he proposed.

Community briefs for May 24, 1999: To qualify, students must complete an application, undergo a tuberculosis test and work a minimum of four hours per week. For more information call 369-7782.

Letter: Let's bring it all out in the open: Is she for the legalization of prostitution so we can rid ourselves of escort services and pimps? Is she for the legalization of drugs, marijuana, speed and heroin so it can be taxed and we get rid of drug dealers?

High School dropout rate falls in state: The state Department of Education on Saturday released its 10th annual study that showed 7,866 Nevada students in ninth through 12th grade left school for a variety of reasons. The rate was one-tenth of a percentage point lower than the previous year.

From Nellis Air Force Base to the Vegas Strip, Ernest Chambers leads a double life: Karen Zekan; His priorities are indeed in place: He's devoted to his country, a patriot to the core, and has 17 years of duty in the States and overseas to back up his hard-earned stripes.

Letter: We should legalize victimless crimes: The real problem is the prohibition on prostitution that exists in Clark County. Let's face it, certain people coming to Las Vegas will always be looking for sexual services. That's just part of the Las Vegas experience for them. As long as there is a demand, the providers will find a way to fulfill it. Passing new laws to restrict our rights will not fix the problem.

Letter: Homeowners group has earned praise, not criticism: Recently things have been accomplished with the present board. Most noticeable: new desert landscaping added with proper irrigation to conserve water and save money, and better, cheaper lighting installed. Pools, parking lots and other common areas are being cleaned. Unsafe stairs and railings are being repaired and the tennis court has been made a safe area. Roofs have been repaired and constant pressure has been brought to bear on the builder to correct defects that had been allowed to exist for too long. Wow -- what an $8 investment!

Home at last: Martin Kuz; "She walked in, looked around with these big ol' eyes and said, 'Daddy, we're rich!' " Ron Diltz recalled.

Unions focus on tribal casinos: Michelle DeArmond; Indian casinos have witnessed striking growth over the past 10 years, pulling tribes out of poverty and creating jobs for an estimated 80,000 Indians and others. Unlike other employees, though, workers on reservations are not protected by U.S. labor law, including the right to organize, since reservations are nominally independent.

Durango takes next step by winning first 4A state baseball championship: Spencer Patterson; There's never been much doubt about the quality of prep baseball at Durango High School.

Construction spurt for Northern Nevada roads: Plans by the Nevada Department of Transportation call for spending $90 million on road work in Washoe County alone.

Upcoming business events: Small business loans -- Nevada MicroEnterprise Initiative loan information sessions and business plan workshops. Ongoing. 734-3555.

Internet kiosks coming to LV hotels: John Winfield, president of NICOM, said the kiosks, which occupy a 3-by-5-foot space, are being targeted for low-end hotel and motel chains to compete with large companies that have in-room Internet access. NICOM's sales force will approach properties in Las Vegas, Laughlin and the Lake Tahoe area and offer percentage-of-revenue contracts.

Earnings, revenue decline at gaming supplier: Without that agreement, Shuffle Master would have recorded a 116 percent boost in earnings, and a 14.8 percent rise in revenues for the latest quarter. Recurring revenues for the quarter were $5.4 million, a record.

Lake Tahoe water restrictions set: While the regulations apply mostly to outside irrigation, the district also will be encouraging people to cut down on all water usage.

Obituaries for May 24, 1999: She is survived by one son, Arvid Lucky Bessent of Las Vegas; one stepson, Claude Lucky Bessent of Albuquerque, N.M.; and five grandchildren.

American Legion leader Roethel dies at 74: Romaine Roethel was never one to back down from a good fight.

Hanauer wins hydroplane event at Lake Havasu: Hanauer wins hydroplane event at Lake Havasu

L.A. company investing in casino: Terms of the deal were not released, though a Hertz official confirmed the pending transaction and said no staff or management changes will occur.

Las Vegas news briefs: A woman charged as a co-conspirator in a murder case that touches the noted du Pont family pleaded guilty Friday and has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

Local casino eyes soft opening: But the second hotel is likely to open in late July due to construction delays caused by a dispute over $1.4 million of cost overruns, according to a Securities & Exchange Commission filing.

Suit filed against victim's father: The suit says Michael Summers' pool was unfenced, uncovered and had no alarm system when it was built and on Nov. 29, his daughter fell into the pool when she was in his care. The girl was in the pool 10 minutes before being discovered. She was pronounced dead on Dec. 10 as a result of drowning.

Study pinpoints prevalence of problem gambling: David Strow; And there's more evidence that problem gambling is taking its financial toll in Las Vegas. The top local executive for Consumer Credit Counseling Services said that 13 percent of bankruptcy petitions she reviewed last August listed gambling debts.

Business people in the news: J. Alan Pughes is president and chief executive of Community One Federal Credit Union.

Coveted retailer to build on Strip: A three-level 225,000-square-foot Nordstrom department store will anchor a high-end shopping center on the Las Vegas Strip between the Mandalay Bay and Luxor hotel-casinos.

Scientists electronically chart Lake Mead: UNLV Health Physics Director Mark Rudin with U.S. Geological Survey scientists David Twichell, VeeAnn Cross and Ken Parolski are using high resolution seismic and sonar equipment, the same technology used to find the Titanic, to understand how the sediments are distributed.

Convention setting appropriate as Vegas experiences shopping boom: The Las Vegas Strip will add more than 3 million square feet of new retail facilities over the next two years, creating 15,000 new jobs and and generating annual revenues of $2.8 billion.

Motion filed to consolidate cases: Two suits have been filed in Nevada against the Henderson forage and turfgrass seed company that is attempting to grow by consolidating the market.

LV mayor joins board of expanding health firm: Consolidated Medical (CMMI) is the Baton Rouge, La., company that this month announced the purchase of two Las Vegas medical companies founded by Jack London.

Signs of problem gambling: Signs of problem gambling

Tourism beats forecast in non-bowling year: "We budgeted to have decreases the first quarter and we exceeded last year, and May has continued the same trend," said Steve Trounday, marketing director at Fitzgeralds Casino/Hotel.

Teachers union seeks 5 percent profits tax: About 340 delegates to the convention of the Nevada State Education Association voted overwhelmingly Saturday in Reno to support the drive.

Schmidt update: Starting seventh is good place for team: INDIANAPOLIS -- Well, the qualifying is over and the whole team, myself included, is very happy with the way we qualified.