Print edition for August 14, 2000

Local news briefs for August 14, 2000: Metro Police traffic detectives continue to investigate a Saturday afternoon accident that killed an unborn child.

Jailhouse informant says he will take Fifth again: Jailhouse informant David Gomez planned to assert his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination again if called to the witness stand today in the post-trial Ted Binion murder hearing.

Community news briefs for August 14, 2000: Lake Mead Hospital

Cause of death awaited on man who tried to break into cockpit: FBI officials say it will take several weeks to determine the cause of death of a 19-year-old man who attempted to break into the cockpit of a Southwest Airlines flight over the weekend.

New state education chief sought: Jeffrey Libby; A subcommittee of the Nevada Board of Education says it hopes to have a new superintendent of public instruction in place by December.

Investigation at CCSN should be completed next month: RENO -- An investigation into allegations of improper hiring and promotion, misspending, phantom registrations and false grades in some classes at the Community College of Southern Nevada should be completed next month, interim Chancellor Jane Nichols says.

Steelworkers try negotiating first contract with Laughlin resort: Grace Leong; The Steelworkers union is preparing to negotiate what it hopes will be its first contract with the Flamingo Hilton-Laughlin after the union won a second election in April 1999, capping a six-year battle to represent up to 829 eligible hotel-casino workers.

City audit: LV Sportspark in big trouble: Erin Neff; City auditors claim they were denied access to operational records from the beleaguered Las Vegas Sportspark but still found evidence to suggest the public-private recreation facility is headed for financial disaster, according to a draft audit report.

Second Nevadan dies fighting fires: Jace Radke contributed to this report.

Earnings reports mixed for smaller LV casino operators: Coast, the second-largest locals casino operator in Las Vegas, posted revenues of $94.5 million for the quarter ending June 30, a 6.7 percent increase over the year-ago quarter. Cash flow rose 15.5 percent to $22 million, while net income increased 49 percent to $7 million.

Oneidas building cashless slot machines, out to alter gambling habits: William Kates; In an aging, one-time lawnmower plant, the Oneidas are building a new advanced cashless gaming system that allows patrons to make dinner reservations, go shopping or set a golf tee-off time even as they play for the big jackpot. It also can give casino operators a profile of their customers and a way to better tailor their business.

LVMS results from the Strip: Pro

CCSN interim president may be considered for permanent post: RENO -- Interim President Robert Silverman, who appears to have strong local support, finds out this week whether he will be included on the list of finalists for the permanent job of president of Community College of Southern Nevada.

Government to finish building mansion tied to Vegas scam: Linda Rawls; BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The federal government has taken over construction of a spectacular mansion on Lake Boca Raton -- a house commissioned by disgraced Las Vegas businessman Bill Gouldd.

DMV website lessening lines: DMV Director Richard Kirkland calls it a win-win situation for both the public and the state.

Media rights to Rudin's story put on hold for now: Rudin's attorney, Michael Amador, told District Judge James Mahan this morning that Joseph DeLeo has agreed not to act on a media-rights contract Rudin signed several weeks ago.

Sexual assault charge filed against boy, 12: Kim Smith; The Clark County district attorney's office has filed two criminal charges against a 12-year-old Las Vegas boy accused of sexually assaulting his cellmate at the county's juvenile detention center.

Bus service connects Reno and Carson City: Public Rural Ride, or PRIDE, is a publicly supported bus service that hopes to tap into the market of 4,000 people who commute daily between the two cities.

Residents of Kimmswick rally against proposed casino: "Write. Call. Bombard your legislators," said shopkeeper Barb Obermeyer. "Let's try to sandbag this casino. We have to say enough is enough."

Nevada delegates are loyal bunch: Benjamin Grove; LOS ANGELES -- When Rosa Mendoza's parents left Mexico and began raising a family of five children in the United States, her father planted his family's new roots in El Paso, Texas -- and in the Democratic Party.

Two die when Jeep plunges into lake: Keith Paul; A man and a child were killed early this morning after their Jeep plummeted down a 40-foot embankment and submerged upside down in Lake Mead.

Scow vehicle crash caused by split of recalled tire: Jeffrey Libby; News reports became a terrifying reality for Clark County School Board President Mary Beth Scow Saturday afternoon when a Firestone Wilderness AT tire on her 1998 Ford Explorer separated on U.S. 95, causing the sport utility vehicle to crash.

Crash sites: Steve Kanigher and Keith Paul; Las Vegas motorists who like to play the odds would be wise to avoid Sahara Avenue at Interstate 15 whenever possible. It could be their worst gamble.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Fight fans cry foul, but why?: By the time I arrived at the office Sunday morning, I already had received a batch of e-mails that was more hostile than the failed takeover that Oklahoma group had planned for Southwest Gas.

Editorial: It's time to move forward: So at Thursday evening's School Board meeting, the members held a closed session and talked with Garcia about his use of the N-word. The School Board made it clear -- to Garcia and the public -- after its closed-door session that such language simply isn't acceptable. Indeed, Garcia's remarks should have been condemned, but we don't believe he is a racist. Now is the time to move forward and let Garcia do his job, which is difficult enough without such a continuing distraction.

Lawsuit says faulty equipment led to LV worker's death: In a Clark County District Court lawsuit, Green's widow, Tammy, alleged the "clips" were defective and weren't supposed to be used to lift heavy facades or exterior insulation and finish system panels.

Letter: Politicians should stick with issues: I am not interested in your color, creed or where you come from. It's what you can do for me and the people that count. You may have just given a percentage hike to your opponent, although he's hoping his Hispanic nephew will help draw a minority vote. I wish the politicians would stick only to the concerns of everyone and not use crude tactics to get extra votes. If you're fighting for what the majority wants, you'll get all the votes you need.

LV man found shot to death at party: Detectives are looking for a man who goes by the name Peewee, and was last seen leaving the party in an apartment in the 3900 block of East Cheyenne Avenue at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

LV firm wins trademark order: HelloNetwork.com Inc., which offers Internet-based video streaming and web hosting services, accused Gary Gene Black of cybersquatting -- registering Internet domain names using trademarks that belong to others with the intention of selling back the domain names to the original owners at a profit.

DA rips media's role in Pope case: Kim Smith; The media frenzy over the Conan Pope case has landed his defense attorney in hot water with prosecutors, who will be taking their complaints to a judge Tuesday.

Mosley seeking dismissal: Kim Smith; If the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline refuses to dismiss charges against District Judge Donald Mosley today, a federal judge will likely halt this week's hearing.

Columnist John Katsilometes: Buying a car isn't automatic: This is for the younger people out there, the teenagers just old enough to drive.

Brown homer helps Iowa edge Stars: Brown's homer, his ninth this season, broke a 4-4 tie and made a winner of reliever Eric Newman (2-4), who allowed just one hit in 3 1/3 innings.

Road construction will cause Strip delays: That's when construction is scheduled to resume at the corner of Harmon Avenue, just south of the new Aladdin hotel-casino.

Letter: Hazards of nuke shipments are exaggerated: Nuclear power plants, government research facilities, universities and industrial facilities have transported about 3,000 shipments of spent nuclear fuel to date without a single death or injury due to the radioactive nature of the cargo. You might not know that about 3 million shipments of radioactive materials occur annually in our country and most of them on the highways. Transportation of spent nuclear fuel in our country has a proven safety record.

Former jurors defend actions in Binion trial: More jurors took the witness stand today to defend their conduct in the Ted Binion murder case, as defense lawyers continued their efforts to win new trials for Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish.

Las Vegas gymnast rolls the dice: Victoria Sun; Gymnastics coach Cassandra Rice concedes the risk is enormous.

Cyprien likely headed to OSU: Steve Addy; UNLV associate head coach Glynn Cyprien appears ready to leave the men's basketball program.

Biloxi's Grand Casino seeking approval for five-story parking deck: The Grand Casino bought the 2.6-acre site in 1996 for $7.5 million. The variances are required because the two parcels are considered separate pieces of property.

Good Samaritan act ends in two fatalities: A man with two children in a Jeep plunged about 40 feet over an embankment and into the lake a little after midnight, said Elizabeth Dupree, spokeswoman for the National Park Service's recreation area.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Here's a real upset: Spa favorites are winning: Ralph Siraco; Each year when the racing scene shifts to the summertime spas of Saratoga and Del Mar, most handicappers switch gears from their normal handicapping philosophies.

LV hospital operator looks at sale or merger: BRENTWOOD, Tenn. -- Quorum Health Group Inc., the biggest U.S. manager of nonprofit hospitals, said Friday it hired Goldman, Sachs & Co. to explore a possible sale, merger or recapitalization.

Ball gowns of Nevada's first ladies star in museum exhibit: Kimberley McGee; The "Silver Ladies in Golden Splendor" exhibit, at the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society, offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of Nevada's first ladies over the past 100 years. Inaugural gowns from 10 governors' wives are on display along with dozens of photographs and newspaper clippings.

Chopper crash kills pilot at Twin Peaks fire: Tom Gardner; The pilot, who was making water drops on the Twin Peaks blaze 50 miles east of Fallon, went down Sunday afternoon between Fallon and the Clan Alpine Mountains where the fire has consumed 38,310 acres. It was 45 percent contained.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Trends, August 14, 2000: Lisa Ferguson; All tech-ed out

Rise in business inventories indicates strength: Inventories rose 0.9 percent in June, matching May's increase, which was the largest since November, the Commerce Department said. The inventory gain, coupled with a 0.9 percent June increase in business sales, suggests the economy retained its momentum entering the third quarter.

PCL Box: Cubs 6, Stars 5: E -- Gload. LOB -- Las Vegas 14, Iowa 8. 2B -- Faggett, Brock, Brown, Zuleta, Andrews, Glad. HR -- Brown.

TV show to feature bar shootout: Keith Paul; On the season premiere Friday of the television show "America's Most Wanted," a re-enactment of the December shootout between an off-duty Metro Police officer and a robber will be broadcast.

New complaint filed against casino: On July 14, the four unions -- the Culinary Union, Teamsters, Bartenders and Operating Engineers -- said they accepted a contract proposal made by the Santa Fe in January. The proposal had a three-year term, and was to raise wages between 15 percent to 25 percent for 750 workers.

Six finalists for college post called 'stupendous': Jeffrey Libby; Six self-described risk-takers remain in contention for the president's job at the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Obituaries for August 14, 2000: Phillip D. Bragado, 67, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was born July 30, 1933, in Chicago. A resident for 14 years, he was an power company wireman and a member of Bell Telephone Pioneers.

Agreement finalized on United Coin sale: The parties first signed a letter of intent in mid-July. The deal will formally close once the parties receive approval from gaming regulators, a process expected to take nine to 12 months. United Coin is the largest slot route operator in Nevada, with more than 8,000 slot machines across the state.

LVMS results from The Bullring: NASCAR LATE MODELS

Hate crime reports buck national trend, rise in Nevada: Law enforcement officials aren't sure whether the increase reflects an upswing in the crimes or merely an increase in people reporting them.

Southern California's desert casinos could get 20 percent of state's slots: Augustine Band of the Cahuilla Mission Indians plans to open the EagleFlower Garden and Resort Casino by May 15, 2001, near Coachella. That brings the total number of operating and planned casinos in the valley to six.

Arizona tribe faces vote on sharing casino profits: "I'm sure it's going to pass," said French, 61, who helped engineer the casino profits petition that led to the vote. "You're putting this before people who have needs."

Wildlife a key element to Red Rock hiking: The events are free, but reservations must be made by calling 363-1922.

Chopper pilot dies battling Twin Peaks fire: Shadrick was the eighth person killed in this year's furious wildland fire season across the West and the second person killed this month in a helicopter accident in Nevada.

Hancock track rakes in $690,700 from out-of-state bettors: Gamblers at 68 out-of-state outlets bet $151,000 on Friday's races. Saturday's races, which included the West Virginia Derby and other stakes races, raked in $380,500 from 72 outlets. On Sunday, gamblers at 122 outlets bet $239,200, Mountaineer officials said Monday.