Print edition for August 8, 2000

Insurer cutting Las Vegas jobs: Net income for the quarter ending June 30 -- excluding charges -- was $2.4 million or 9 cents per share, meeting analyst expectations. The profit before charges compared to $8.6 million or 32 cents in the year-ago quarter.

Missing Freon could lead to probe: Adrienne Packer; An internal audit ordered last month by Clark County administrators who recently learned Freon removed from county buildings was never accounted for could lead to a criminal investigation.

Killer faces February trial on another slaying: Kim Smith; A February trial date has been set for the attempted murder trial of a Las Vegas man sentenced to death last month by a three-judge panel on another case.

Accord restricts nuclear routes in valley: Low-level nuclear shipments have stopped traveling over Hoover Dam or through the Spaghetti Bowl en route to the Nevada Test Site since the U.S. Department of Energy signed an agreement with the main producer of the waste.

State joins in lawsuit against music distributors: CARSON CITY -- Nevada joined with 30 other states today in filing a federal antitrust suit against the nation's largest distributors of recorded music, accusing them of conspiring to fix prices.

UNLV spikers picked 4th in MWC poll: The Rebels and Aztecs both earned 36 points.

Nevada electric utility loses $20.2 million in quarter: The 1999 quarter's loss included $70 million of unanticipated fuel and purchased power price increases caused by hot temperatures and tight power markets in the West.

Union leaders praise Gore, Lieberman at Vegas convention of Steelworkers: Grace Leong; National AFL-CIO President John Sweeney says unions will have a greater voice and more political clout if they support and help elect Democrat Al Gore in the presidential campaign.

Trout Canyon wildfire is 50 percent contained: Firefighters have kept the Trout Canyon wildland blaze near Mount Charleston from consuming more acreage, but U.S. Forest Service officials don't expect the fire -- 50 percent contained as of this morning -- to be declared contained until the end of the week.

Local news briefs for August 8, 2000: A Metro Police undercover officer has taken in the five puppies found starving in a closet on July 28 after nearly one week with no food or water, the Animal Foundation said.

Man, six children, found safe on Peavine Peak: McRae had taken his three children, two neighbor children and a nephew on an outing when their truck broke down. He and the children, who range in age from 2 to 10, stayed on the mountain through the night.

Phone company shuts down LV operation: Colorado River Communications, a company that has offered local exchange and long-distance telephone service in Las Vegas, shut down its local phone operation Monday in the wake of a billing dispute with Sprint.

Worker hits city with suit: Greg Tuttle; A woman employed at the Las Vegas Department of Building and Safety is seeking $1 million from the city in a federal lawsuit that claims she was passed over repeatedly for promotions while less qualified men were advanced.

Steelworker says Timet's business up: The Denver-based company, which currently has about 357 workers in Henderson after laying off 83 workers due to a weak market for titanium in aircraft production, recalled some 16 production workers to Timet's ingot melting and x-ray departments in Henderson, said Rick Taber, president of the United Steelworkers of America, Local 4856. The first worker cutbacks occurred in November 1998.

Mesquite mayor beats recall: Mesquite Mayor Chuck Horne should get himself recalled more often if the results of Monday's recall election in Mesquite are any indication of his apparent popularity.

Problem gamblers urged to seek help: David Strow; As long as there has been gambling, there have been people who will take gambling too far. But what can the casino industry do to help those patrons who have become addicted to their product?

Young arson suspect reportedly raped in jail: Kim Smith; Metro Police are investigating a report that an 11-year-old boy suspected of setting a string of fires last week was sexually assaulted over the weekend by his cellmate at the county's juvenile detention center.

Upcoming business events for August 8, 2000: IABC -- Kara Kelley of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce speaks at luncheon of the International Association of Business Communicators local chapter. Friday. 391-5517.

Woman suing Rodman wants video examined: Greg Tuttle; A videotape that may show a former Las Vegas Hilton cocktail waitress being fondled by former basketball star Dennis Rodman should be examined by an expert, say attorneys for the woman who filed a federal lawsuit following the incident.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Rebels fans are busy plotting Mack attacks: If it's a little more raucous in the Thomas & Mack Center this winter, UNLV coach Bill Bayno can thank the hellish weather we've been having and the personal computer.

Thunderbird Gaming to buy 90 percent of casino: SAN DIEGO -- Canada's International Thunderbird Gaming Corp. said it plans to acquire a 90-percent stake in Costa Rica's privately held Casino Concord.

Teen could get parole in 4 years for shooting: Kim Smith; One of the teenagers involved in a gang shooting outside Clark High School was sentenced Monday to four to 30 years in prison.

Where I Stand -- Tim Hay: Clean energy crusade: In 1997 and again in 1999, the Nevada Legislature affirmed its commitment to offering customers a choice in how they will buy electricity in the future. Additional changes in how electricity is bought and sold are taking place in other states.

Park opening set: City Councilman Michael Mack will take part in an indoor ceremony from 5 to 7 p.m. at the park at Cimarron and Ann roads.

Editorial: Let's head off this nuke waste disaster: Editorial: Let's head off this nuke waste disaster

Discount tobacco firm faces fines: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Tax Commission decided Monday against a maximum $1.8 million fine against a wholesale company that sold "gray market" cigarettes at below cost in violation of the state's price-fixing law.

Stars' road trip gets off to rough start: First, the team's connecting flight Monday from Denver was delayed for several hours because of mechanical problems with their airplane, which also included players from Omaha returning from Albuquerque. That forced the game to start about 30 minutes late.

Letter: Dealership stance raises questions: The Cashman family is selling its Cadillac dealers to the nation's second largest auto retailer. This retailer already owns a few other auto agencies here in the Las Vegas area. The largest auto retailer in the nation also owns several new auto dealerships here in the Las Vegas area. Is the handwriting on the wall? Why would large retailers want to be closed on their best selling day?

Jackson praises choice of Lieberman: Jace Radke; The Rev. Jesse Jackson took time out from speaking at a convention of union workers at the Mirage hotel-casino to call Al Gore's choice of Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., as his running mate a heroic decision.

History Channel probes daunting Sierra: Tom Gardner; RENO -- Speeding over the Sierra on a summer day it's easy to forget how fickle the towering mountains can be in winter -- or how deadly.

Community news briefs for August 8, 2000: A 55 Alive driving workshop will be offered 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Silver Springs Recreation Center, 1951 Silver Springs Parkway, Henderson.

Letter: Garcia needs to polish English: Nitpicking? I don't think so. We should expect him to make better choices of words and to use the words properly. A mind trained to communicate properly and effectively doesn't make these mistakes, especially in a public forum.

City seeks higher limit on impact fees to build new parks: Erin Neff; Although the Legislature won't open its 2001 session for another six months, the city of Las Vegas is preparing to fight an onslaught of bills aimed against it as well as to offer three proposals of its own.

Letter: Drug-dependent generation is sad and cowardly: When I met my wife many years ago, I loved her with my eyes and heart. I didn't go to a bar or whatever, all drugged out and her being drugged out on the latest drug craze, "ecstasy."

The Strip at LVMS point standings: Pro E.T. (7.50 to 11.99) 1. Jeff Bansbach 364; 2. Chris Naffziger 354; 3. Randall Holly 344; 4. Doug Schnieder 343; 5. Jerry Mock 310; 6. Tim Arden 268; 7. Rudy Long 267; 8. Paul Bledsoe 238; 9. Ron Landram 223; 9. Mark Riel 223; 11. Chiney Mangru 212; 12. Robert DeFrancesco 183; 13. Kelly Buesig-Wiggins 182; 14. Johnny Nicola 180; 15. Mike Creason 164; 16. Dana Young 163; 17. Virgil Boyer 160; 18. Brian King 156; 19. John Thompson 153; 20. Brandon Potts 145; 21. Sandra Darby 141; 22. Monte Chastain 130; 23. Joseph Sorrenti 120; 24. Ken Black ...

Local swimmer competing in Olympic Trials: While most 13-year-olds are preparing for the start of the school year, textbooks and class schedules will be far from Andrea Axtell's mind this week.

Reaction positive to choice of Lieberman: Stacy J. Willis; When Rabbi Sanford Akselrad welcomed U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman to Congregation Ner Tamid last fall, he didn't realize his guest would be the next Democratic vice presidential candidate.

PCL Box: Golden Spikes 2, Stars 1: LOB--Las Vegas 7, Omaha 6. 2B--Jennings, Pelaez, Roskos. HR--Jennings (5). SB--LaRocca 2.

Goodman's proposal for Legislature pulled: Erin Neff; Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman spoke freely Monday in favor of a pulled proposal that would have given him and other public officials the ability to invest in downtown projects.

Correction: The Sun corrects its errors. If you find a mistake, call 385-3111 to report it.

Redemption in the ring: Dean Juipe; Seeing and meeting Beatriz Miranda today offers no clue to her turbulent past.

Hair-care giant John Paul DeJoria calls Las Vegas home: Kimberley McGee; John Paul DeJoria was living out of his car when he made the best, and possibly the riskiest, decision of his business career.

Legislators updated on clean-air plan: Pollution timeline

Columnist Dean Juipe: Rap star failing in new venture: Dean Juipe; James Prince is doing his best to ruin one promising boxing career. Now there's reason to believe he's trying to spoil a second one.

NHRA Results: Top Fuel

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Del Mar: 1st Race -- Corwyn Belle - Fits this opener well, Desormeaux on Hess trainee, should roll right for the lead from rail post. Coy Spirit - Another who should be in the mix throughout, Solis aboard Garcia trainee, could get catbird trip. Value Play -- Sapphire Star

Hammond, Borders wedding: Carlee Van Kempen was the maid of honor and Bryan Land was best man. The groomsman was Martin Schlageter.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Unsung hero praised by mom: Someone ought to make a bumper sticker for Nikki H. Box.

Editorial: Lieberman a boon for Democrats: The deeply held values of Lieberman, who is an Orthodox Jew, and his willingness to take positions at odds with those held by the Democratic Party's liberal base, would serve a president well. Gore has shown that he is willing to select someone who won't blanch when he disagrees with a president, who will provide straight talk to the occupant of the Oval Office. After all, Lieberman was the first Senate Democrat to publicly criticize President Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky affair. Gore tapped a thinker, not a yes man.

Wisconsin casino proposal removed from agenda after petition filed: But opponents presented a petition signed by 1,064 people calling for an end to talks with the Lac du Flambeau band of Chippewa Indians and the banning of the city from negotiating a gaming facility in the future.

Margaritaville casino theme contemplated: BILOXI, Miss. -- The new owners of Casino Magic are not letting chances of a Jimmy Buffett-themed casino expansion waste away.

Jury clears Metro, officers in lawsuit: Greg Tuttle; Two Metro Police officers did not use excessive force when they subdued a man five years ago while searching for a suspected drug dealer, a jury has determined.

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 2 p.m.

The Bullring at LVMS point standings: Mini Stocks: 1. Casey Kingsland 426; 2. Mark Schottmuller 394; 3. Michael Aleknwicus 364; 4. Dayne Hagan 338; 5. Tony Leonard 264; 6. Shane Coons 264; 7. Jason Patterson 204; 8. Mike Morton 118; 9. Rick Schottmuller 84; 10. Duke Reifler 46; 11. Charlie Fouts 40.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Monks battle monks for bucks: Kate Maddox; The Shaolin Monks, followers of peace, enlightenment, simplicity and, of course, kung fu, are in a battle. However, their fight has nothing to do with saving the free world, stopping a rogue enemy or defending their monastery. In fact, the peaceful and passive monks are battling a more serious adversary -- capitalism.

Obituaries for August 8, 2000: Hetta Christine Crouse, 75, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. She was born Aug. 29, 1924, in Chicago. A resident for 12 years, she was a clerk at the Dula gym and a board member of the Atrium Gardens Home Owners Association.

Firefighters hold their own as new fires break out: "This is still the priority fire in Nevada because of its location near that community," he said referring to the hamlet of two dozen homes in Trout Canyon, just south of Mount Charleston and bout 50 miles west of Las Vegas.

Proposal would let gamblers ban themselves from casinos in New Jersey: John Curran; The state of New Jersey, which maintains a list of mobsters, cheats and others who are banned from entering casinos, is proposing a "self-exclusion" program that would allow problem gamblers to ban themselves.

Report says cleanup of Test Site impossible: The Nevada Test Site is one of 109 federal government locations used to build nuclear bombs that a scientific committee said will never be clean enough to allow public access to the land.

Aladdin to retain its nonunion status: David Strow; The Culinary Union, having failed so far in gaining recognition at the new Aladdin, is vowing to picket on opening night at the $1.4 billion resort on the Las Vegas Strip.

Clinton inspects wildfire damage, meets with firefighters in Idaho: Deb Riechmann; By Deb Riechmann ASSOCIATED PRESS

Combination of factors spell end for raising critters in city of Las Vegas: Jeffrey Libby; When Rick Grange answers the front door of his Shoen Avenue home, he's just another bare-chested homeowner trying to keep cool, his honey-colored hair knocked back in a wave. You wouldn't know it, but he's the last registered beekeeper within the city limits of Las Vegas.

Clinton inspects wildfire damage, meet with firefighters in Idaho: Deb Riechmann; "You need to know we are proud of you and grateful to you," Clinton told firefighters in the Payette National Forest in west-central Idaho. "I know that Mother Nature will burn in our forests one way or another, but it matters how it happens."

Criminal probe of CCSN is launched: CARSON CITY -- The state attorney general's office has been called in to investigate possible criminal wrongdoing at the Community College of Southern Nevada, state officials confirmed today.