Print edition for September 24, 1999

Grant will help homeless veterans: Los Angeles Veterans Initiative Inc. has been awarded a grant of $380,085 for the renovation of Meadows Inn, 525 East Broadway Road to create transitional housing that will provide 118 beds for homeless veterans.

Letter: Sun coverage is on track: I've seen the Indianapolis Star pick up some of your work and think that's great for you.

Letter: Covering up not the answer: I suppose anything's worth a try but I don't think hiding the grandstands would work.

Decision nears on adding wards: Erin Neff; News of a city study considering breaking up the Metropolitan Police Department may be stealing headlines, but the highly-political process of redistricting the city is proceeding quietly toward a possible climax in 12 days.

Audubon groups confusing: Phil Levine; The name Audubon International likely conjures up images of wilderness land filled with wild geese, free-range ducks or shimmering ponds full of frogs.

Enterprise rezoning plan upheld by judge: Bill Gang; The sedate and exclusively rural lifestyle in the neighborhood around Warm Springs Road and Valley View Boulevard is coming to an end.

9 of 12 Young jurors sought death penalty: Bill Gang; The jury that sentenced convicted quadruple killer Terrell Cochise Young to life in prison without the possibility of parole had been leaning toward the death penalty, but three jurors could not be persuaded to go along.

Tonight's prep football games: Cimarron-Memorial at Durango

Letter: UNLV should praise its own: BILL TOMANY

SCORE points leaders: Cars & Trucks

Program to begin for school kids: Mary Stanley-Larsen, spokeswoman for the Clark County School District, estimates that as many as 20 percent of elementary-school children are out of school at any given time, due to five different track break schedules. Children in the year-round schedule attend school for 60 days and then are on break for 15 days. They still complete the required 180 days of school, she said.

BMI envisions new master-planned community: Phil Levine; Dan Stewart plans to offer his customers some of Nevada's cleanest dirt.

LVCVA again tries to have suit dismissed: A District Court judge will consider a motion today that could derail a trial that is delaying expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Women's shelter plans new $6 million facility downtown: New Shade Tree

Nevada counties to get more than $7 million: And since property taxes go primarily to county and local governments, they suffer the most.

Property owners speak out against historic district: Jace Radke; History will be standing still for the next few months after a determined group of property owners persuaded the Las Vegas Planning Commission to put a proposed downtown historic district on hold.

Mayor denies study done: Erin Neff; Suddenly there is no study.

School Board hit with criticism over lawsuit expenses: Terry Webster; Armed with stacks of documents from the school district's financial office, the executive director of the Clark County Association of School Administrators Thursday questioned the handling of nearly a half-million dollars worth of purchase orders relating to a 1996 lawsuit.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway drag points leaders: PRO

London to Vegas flights approved: By Richard N. Velotta

Soldiers of Fortune focus on warrior ways for everyday folks: Stacy J. Willis; Woe is the mouthy fascist who wanders into Las Vegas this weekend.

Police ID man shot in robbery: Paulo Ulises Cornejo, 24, was killed after he and an accomplice allegedly robbed the Rochelle Manor Apartments, 4340 Escondido St., police said.

IGT, Alliance settle patent suits: Gary Thompson; International Game Technology of Reno and Alliance Gaming Corp. of Las Vegas said today they've settled patent lawsuits and will work together to develop coinless slots.

Fitness club owner resents change in adult-business law: Corey Jenkins, the man in the eye of the sex business tornado that just blew through the county commissioners office, finds himself in an uncomfortable position.

Letter: Right to work has fascist ring: Who are you to say cashiers, stock boys, etc. don't deserve a living wage? How can anyone pay to go to community college on minimum wages? When can they go when they have to work two jobs just to survive?

Cimarron, Durango ready to tangle: Spencer Patterson; One ended the 1998 prep football season with tears in their eyes, the other with the state championship trophy lofted above their heads.

Racing notes: Nemechek win won't give Sabates second thoughts: Mike Harris; Just as team owner Felix Sabates and Joe Nemechek prepare to part ways, the driver is starting to turn things around.

Accused killer allegedly disliked police, whites: Her testimony came in the fourth day Vanisi's trial. He is charged with first-degree murder in the January 1998 slaying of Sgt. George Sullivan, 43, a 19-year veteran of the UNR police department.

Editorial: Authority is given to chief judge: The Supreme Court had the authority to unilaterally adopt the rules, but instead tried to work with the District Court judges to have them devise their own rules that met the Supreme Court's general guidelines for accountability. Unlike in Washoe County where District Court judges readily agreed to a strong chief judge, there was resistance here. The first attempt by District Court judges to create some semblance of authority for a chief judge was rejected by the Supreme Court as being too weak. Eventually the District Court judges were able to agree -- by a razor-thin 9-7 margin -- to ...

Choquette's show relies on audience: Joe Delaney; Alain Choquette is billed as a French-Canadian entertainer and illusionist. He will be appearing in the Paris Las Vegas' Les Theatre des Arts, dark on Fridays, through Dec. 20.

Harrah's calls its Indy-car sponsorship 'a no-brainer': Las Vegas' hotel and casino industry will be well-represented during the fourth running of the Indy Racing League Vegas.com 500 Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

NCAA continues review of Rebel men's basketball: NCAA rules mandate notification to an institution undergoing a preliminary review at the end of the initial six-month period. Should no determination be reached regarding the investigation in the next six months, the NCAA's Division I Committee on Infractions will decide whether the preliminary inquiry should be continued.

Casino operator's license appears to be safe: Hearings were held to investigate the involvement of predecessor company Bally's Entertainment with Bolley "Bo" Johnson, the former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, now jailed on tax evasion charges. Bally's hired Johnson as a real estate consultant in 1994, paying him $240,500 for his services. Bally's was attempting at the time to put an initiative on the state's ballot that would partially legalize gaming. Bally's admitted that it received little if any services for those payments.

IGT drops 'South Park' slot in Nevada: David Strow; Eric Cartman, a character from the animated series "South Park," brought some comic relief to Thursday's meeting of the Nevada Gaming Commission.

IRL is MIA with race fans: Chris Powell is at a loss to explain why the Indy Racing League has struggled to draw fans at virtually every venue but Texas Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Letter: Student stood alone with his prayers: I refer to Jason Bell-Bechtol. At least he had the courage of his convictions. Where were his classmates? How about the parents? Well done, Jason, good for you!

Obituaries for September 24, 1999: Barbara K. Abinsay, 72, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local hospital. She was born April 5, 1927, in Keer Creek, Va. A resident for 22 years, she was a retired waitress.

Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Lions showing desire to play without Sanders: Sal DeFilippo; Dear Coach Ross and Detroit Lions personnel,

Luft Be a Lady Tonight: By John Katsilometes; What: "Songs My Mother Taught Me," by Lorna Luft.

Columnist Steve Guiremand: Early returns justify coaches' faith in MWC: Steve Guiremand; More than a few college football followers rolled their eyes this summer when Mountain West Conference coaches such as John Robinson, Fisher DeBerry, LaVell Edwards and Sonny Lubick proclaimed their new league could be just as good as longtime conferences such as the Pac-10 and Big 12.

Sound Check -- Geoff Carter: Mopey Trent Reznor suffuses new Nine Inch Nails disc: Yes indeed, I think it's safe to say that I miss the "Grunge" era. In particular, I liked the clothes native to that era -- the flannel shirts, the "Mud Honey" T-shirts, the second-hand combat boots scuffed to a matte finish.

Letter: Armed citizenry can defend itself: I would like to remind you of a quote from Thomas Jefferson in 1764: "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes.

UNLV volleyball falls to Pepperdine: Pepperdine moved to 8-1 on the year with the win, while the Rebels fell to 7-2.

Box score: Charlotte 4, Vancouver 2: Time -- 2:46. Attendance -- 3,910.

Mountain trails topic of meeting: The agencies will be holding a public meeting to discuss the multi-user trail project from 6-8 p.m. Monday at the Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave. The meeting will be held in Conference Room C.

Letter: Togliatti praised for job well done at pretrial hearing: Her role as justice of the peace far surpassed my expectations. Clearly this was not a three-ring circus, as in the Simpson trial controlled by attorneys.

Charlotte takes 2-1 lead in World Series: Victoria Sun; A week shy of his 20th birthday, Charlotte Knights starter Jon Garland wasn't able to make the rounds at the casinos to face the cunning poker players.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Anka's music has endured through last five decades: Joe Delaney; Paul Anka, appearing in the Mirage's Siegfried & Roy Theatre through Oct. 12 (check for dark days) is Exhibit A for proof that show business is two distinct terms: show and business. ... Anka is equally adept when putting on a performance or conducting its business aspects. ... Born in Ottawa, Anka was 58 on July 30.

Triple-A World Series glance: Best-of-5

Dial File -- Steve Bornfeld: Odious 'Action' lacks traction: How sad.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Holtz finds he's cursed in Carolina: Dean Juipe; While John Robinson has stepped out of a brief retirement to seemingly take the first strides in resurrecting the UNLV football program, across the continent another somewhat fabled coach has found his return to the sport nothing to crow about.

Rebel defense must find way to slow down Utah's running game: Steve Guiremand; UNLV linebacker Tyler Brickell says it's no secret what the University of Utah's game plan will be for Saturday night's Mountain West Conference opener with the Rebels at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Pit strategy earns Biffle record victory: Greg Biffle continued his dominance of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, capturing his record ninth victory of the season in the Orleans 250 Friday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Nevada regulators move against cartoon-themed slot machines: David Strow; Expressing rising concerns about the appeal of new slot machines to children, the Nevada Gaming Commission voted Thursday to begin hearings on potential new regulations that could ban cartoon characters from new machines.

Money laundering rules worry Nevada gamers: Under current regulations, casinos must now report any "suspicious activity" involving amounts of currency exceeding $3,000. However, casino decisions as to what constitutes suspicious activity are now not subject to federal review; the new strategy would give the federal government that oversight outside of Nevada.

Goldberg reassures workers: The Sun reported Wednesday that at least two major lodging companies and one private investor have been eyeing the Hilton and that Park Place might be willing to sell at the right price.

The Movie Guys: 'American Beauty' a gorgeous depiction of dysfunction: Grades: Jeff, A; Dave, A.

Correction: Correction

Compton topples qualifying record: It was hard to tell who was happier following Thursday's qualifying for this evening's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Orleans 250 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway -- Stacy Compton or Las Vegan Brendan Gaughan.

Charitable organizations now offering services on weekends: Because being homeless is a seven-day-a-week condition, charitable organizations are responding to the needs of the poor by offering services on weekends that once were available only on weekdays.

McGwire's 70th home run ball lands in Vegas: Victoria Sun; For $3 million, you can buy about 10 luxury homes in Las Vegas, a part of a large corporation or 30 Ferarris.

The Main Course -- Muriel Stevens: Fabulous Fantasy '99 at the Four Seasons a fund-raiser: "This Time It's Murder," is the theme for Fantasy '99, a major annual fund-raiser for the Lied Discovery Children's Museum. As always, it promises to be an exciting event with many surprises that this time include suspense, mayhem, murder and derring-do. Who done it? Maybe you!

Rebels' doubles team advances: In singles play, Pavicevic, ranked 39th, lost to Oscar Johansson of Arkansas, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, and to Tomas Smid of Miami, 6-2, 7-5.

Saturday at Belmont Park: 1st race 6 fur 3YO Clm: 1 Doomsday Defense (Luzzi) 117; 2 Whiteroom (Pezua) 113; 3 Sandivore (Beasley) 112; 4 Captain Ed (Diego) 112; 5 Lawton (Bridgmohan) 119; 6 Darth Vada (Smith) 117; 7 Doc's Golden Bear (Chavez) 117; 8 Regal Monument (Espinoza) 115; 9 Wicklow Friday (Coa) 112; 10 Double Punch (Beckner) 117.

New AIDS unit OK'd by county: The space will be provided by the Rancho Medical Center, 2300 Rancho Drive, and will be located near other HIV/AIDS-related agencies and organizations.

Editorial: Fact and fiction get mixed in Reagan bio: Morris' blending of fact and fiction isn't unprecedented, though. Previous biographies of American presidents and other important figures in our nation's history have seen fact laced with fiction. For instance, the anecdote of a young George Washington confessing to cutting down a cherry tree was a myth created by an early biographer to display the first president's honesty. We still long for heroes, but in today's age such fables should be unacceptable, especially when documenting one of the most important figures of the 20th century.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: It goes with the territory: FORGET THE FOREST, these guys can't even see the trees.

Shelf Life -- Scott Dickensheets: Getting a bead on the Beats in some new books: The other day I walked into a bookstore, saw two new books about the Beat generation and immediately thought of a T-shirt I own. It's a beige cotton number, with a jaunty graphic of a beret, shades and goatee: a stylized Maynard G. Krebs-like bohemian. The slogan, in '50s-jazz-album-cover script, reads, "Beatnik Brand."

County to light fire under dust-control plan: To stop the federal government from blowing into Las Vegas with sweeping restrictions on dust control, the Clark County Health District Board has decided to fast track plans to control loose soil on private and public lands.

Ralph Siraco's notes: Fairplex Park will stage the Pomona Derby on Saturday and the Ralph M. Hines Pomona Invitational Handicap on Sunday.

Births: Sept. 13:

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Sitting on sidelines not easy for Fisher: Sarah Fisher has no reservations about becoming the first female driver to compete regularly on the Indy Racing League circuit. At the age of 18, she isn't hesitant to slide into the cockpit of a car that is capable of running at speeds of 225 mph.

UNLV Foundation boasts rising donations: Contributions to the UNLV Foundation have more than doubled from five years ago, with last year's total of private donations reaching $23.3 million.

Bankruptcies: Christopher L. Phillips, doing business as CPT Digital Imaging Inc., 7571 Foolish Pleasure Drive, filed for Chapter 13, listing assets of $148,200 and liabilities of $150,283.

Date book: Creative Talent Productions presents "Moon Over Buffalo" at 8 p.m. today and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday at the Off Broadway Theater, 900 E. Karen Ave. Tickets are $13; $11 for seniors, students and matinees. Call 737-0611.

Regional planning panel seeks EPA grant: The Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition moved a step beyond the abstract to the concrete Thursday.

Lady Rebels cleared in recruiting case: "The most important aspect of Coach Miller's trip to Germany in 1998 was that it occurred prior to her being interviewed for our position as head women's basketball coach," Cavagnaro said. "It is very logical to then determine there was no violation."

EOB begins search for new director to replace Tyree: Tyree joined the board as a volunteer management analyst in 1969, and in 1970 he was promoted to deputy director of the EOB.

Feinstein: Someone to watch over the classics: Kimberley McGee; Who: Michael Feinstein.

PUC to consider 12% rate reduction: The 12 percent reduction would result in an average monthly savings of $6 on a $50 bill for a residential customer. Southwest serves about 360,000 homes and businesses in the Las Vegas area.

March trial expected in Binion killing: District Judge Joseph Bonaventure is expected to set a March 13 trial date for Ted Binion's accused killers, Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish.

Nevada subcontractors form group to fight for payments: Gary Thompson; Nevada trade contractors worried about an increase in payment defaults by general contractors are forming a new organization to lobby for changes in state laws.

Sprint, MCI talking merger: George Stein and Colleen McElroy; MCI WorldCom Inc., the second-largest U.S. long-distance phone company, is in talks to buy Sprint Corp. to create a company with $35 billion in annual sales to rival AT&T Corp., a person familiar with the talks said today.

Airline to buy back up to $250 mil. of stock: Southwest said that based on Wednesday's closing price of $14.62 1/2 a share, the company will buy back about 17.1 million shares. The Dallas company has about 504.2 million shares outstanding.

Brothel owner plans to find Ventura's prostitute to fight back: "It's going to come out a lot worse for him. Does he want the world to know that he was paid to do an act of prostitution?" Hof said. "Jesse's going to be surprised when I find this girl and have her on all the talk shows."

Serial killer sentenced to death in retrial: The jury got the case after four days of testimony in a retrial to determine whether Gallego will be executed or get life in prison, with or without parole. Jurors took about an hour Thursday to reach their verdict.

Investigators say fire accidental: Wehking said BLM investigators have the names of several suspects but no charges have been filed.

Gun test planned to rule out connection between dead horses, cows: Scott Sonner; Three other men, including two ex-Marines, are awaiting trial in the shootings of more than two dozen mustangs. They maintain they are innocent.

Woman dies after accident: Her name has not been released because of difficulties locating relatives.

Agassi confirms relationship with Graf: "Sometimes life can throw you some curves. It's nice when good curves come along. She's a good one."

National TV schedule: AUTO RACING

Thursday's prep results: Gorman 1, Durango 0 Goals: Starbird.

A.J. Foyt column: It's great to be back: It's great to be back in Las Vegas. I've been all around the world, and this city offers some of the greatest entertainment anywhere-from first-rate casinos, shows and restaurants to top-tier racing.

Casinos asked to inform on guests: Banks and other financial institutions already have to submit "suspicious activity" reports to the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. The new proposal adds casinos and other business sectors - such as brokerage firms and check cashers - that handle large sums of money.

Gas rate cut decision goes to PUC: "It couldn't be at a better time for customers as we come into the cold season," said Roger Buehrer, a spokesman for Southwest Gas.

Saturday at Bay Meadows: 1st race 1 mi 3YO & up Clm: 1 What's the Song (Perkinson) 112; 2 Coulibistri (Matias) 117; 3 Freezeout Ridge (Tohill) 117; 4 Cezind (Carr) 117; 5 Queenie's Sweet (Delgadillo) 117; 6 Foxy Slew (Miranda) 110.