Print edition for August 21, 2000

Narragansetts, in casino battle, say they carry on ancestors' fight: Michael Mello; Connecticut's Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos pay for programs to help Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribal members attend college, buy homes and preserve their culture.

NAACP wants probe of bail policies: "There have been a number of minorities who have tried to bail out on their own recognizance for charges less severe than the deaths of two people and who have had to post substantial bail," said Lonnie Feemster, president of the Reno-Sparks chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Nevada prepares for possible attacks by bioterrorists: "It may seem kind of sensational and scary, but we're not putting out information to frighten the general public," he said.

Mississippi schools want chance to get casino classes: Mississippi's nearly $3 billion a year gaming industry employs 40,000 people.

TV sports/Radio for Aug. 22-26: TV sports/Radio for Aug. 22-26

Begay won't defend championship at Reno-Tahoe Open: But there will other PGA Tour players vying for a win at the Montreux Golf & Country Club.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Frankel teams up with top jock to win his first Million: Ralph Siraco; Bobby Frankel has done just about everything a trainer can do in the highly competitive world of thoroughbred racing.

May's wife really loves that Bob: Victoria Sun; Whether PGA Tour golfer Bob May comes in first place, second place or last place, it's all the same to his wife, Brenda.

Busch waiting patiently for Cup promotion: Kurt Busch's racing career has been on a fast track from the time his racing career began eight years ago on the quarter-mile clay track at Pahrump Valley Speedway.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Fantastic weekend for Las Vegans: Dean Juipe; The weekend opened with at least three Las Vegans poised and in position to make sports history.

Durocher finding his niche as Stars closer: Spencer Patterson; Though he's picked up the odd save here and there throughout his eight-year professional career, Jayson Durocher never really considered himself a closer before this month.

Marion shows NBA form in charity game: Steve Addy; When the Phoenix Suns head to training camp in October, Shawn Marion will be a veteran, at least by the strictest NBA definition.

Letter: Floyd doesn't deserve pity: SHIRLEY THOMAS

Editorial: Residents' views are essential: Some West Las Vegas residents interviewed by Rake said they want more businesses to move into the area -- but they don't want establishments selling alcohol included in that mix. The city of Las Vegas should be extraordinarily cautious, then, as it moves forward with this review. There is an important quality of life issue regarding the sale of alcohol that can't be ignored, whether it's the proximity of bars and taverns to churches or to area neighborhoods.

Columnist John Katsilometes: A solemn Desert passage: The hotel uses the boxes as restroom decor, serving only to complement golden fixtures and the trim around the mirrors.

Letter: Elephant lives life to fullest: Gilda doesn't need to be together with other elephants. She needs instead to live with her human families, who love her and treat her in a wonderful way and take care of her. If she lived with other elephants, she would be an outsider and might even be afraid of the other elephants. I believe it could make her physically sick.

Letter: Jury accusations in Binion case are shameless: WILLIS R. EICHEL

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Trends, August 21, 2000: Lisa Ferguson; If you thought you wouldn't have to answer anymore census questions for another decade, think again.

David Copperfield switches homes, reflects on career: Kirk Baird; Neil Sedaka once sang "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do." In David Copperfield's case there was little choice.

Teen drowns in new Sparks marina: Other swimmers and lifeguards immediately began searching for the youth, but it took the Washoe County Sheriff's department an hour and a specially trained dog to find his body in more than 30 feet of water at the converted gravel pit.

PCL Box: Game 2 - Trappers 2, Stars 1: DP -- Las Vegas 1. LOB -- Las Vegas 11, Edmonton 1. 2B - Roskons, Eckstein. 3B -- Nicholson. HBP -- LaRocca 2, Fraraccio, Eckstein. SF -- Alvarez. SB -- LaRocca, Fraraccio. CS -- Eckstein.

PCL Box: Game One - Stars 2, Trappers 0: E -- Herndon. DP -- Las Vegas 1. LOB -- Edmonton 4, Las VEgas 6. HR -- Alvarez. HBP -- Johnson. SB -- LaRocca, Milliard.

Stars franchise could become minor league 'free agent' today: Steve Guiremand; Contrary to popular belief, the Los Angeles Dodgers haven't moved their triple-A affiliation to Las Vegas.

Bradeson aims to beef up run 'D': Steve Guiremand; John Robinson has had some top-notch secondary coaches during his college coaching career.

Goodman frustrated after deal with family not signed: Erin Neff; The city of Las Vegas left a negotiating session Thursday thinking its multimillion-dollar offer would finally settle a seven-year battle with a local family whose property was taken to make room for a downtown parking garage.

Slot tech gets probation: Frederick Mensing, 53, of Buena, N.J., a longtime employee of Tropicana Casino Resort, was also ordered to repay the $20,000 he stole and banned from entering any casinos.

Shareholder may seek shakeup at bankrupt retailer: With the Richmond, Virginia-based Heilig Meyers filing for bankruptcy last week, B&C Investments said it might consider proposing "management changes, sale of assets, a merger, reorganization or liquidation," the Securities and Exchange Commission filing said.

McDonald's worker accused of harassment: Marlene Santana-Crespo, the mother of Melissa Serrano, 11, Daniel Serrano, 7, and Francis Serrano, 12, alleged a McDonald's employee named "Shauna" told Melissa -- who on March 9, was playing at the restaurant's play area for children under age 12 -- that she must leave because she was "too big, fat and tall to play in the play area."

Cell phone records to be public: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Press Association, an organization of newspapers, is applauding a unanimous ruling Friday by the state Supreme Court that Clark County must open its records of cellular telephone calls made and received by county commissioners and top appointive officials.

Casino owner accumulating stake in GM stock: Icahn sent GM a short letter on Wednesday describing his intention to buy at least $15 million of the automaker's stock and up to 15 percent of the company's outstanding shares, GM said in a statement Friday.

Local news briefs for August 21, 2000: A 53-year-old woman died after she was run over by a Citizens Area Transit bus Saturday morning in the 1800 block of Las Vegas Boulevard North, North Las Vegas Police said.

Kincaid, Smith turn up the heat in television debate: Adrienne Packer; Contentious campaigns tend to get personal, and the bid for Clark County Commission reached that point Friday when District B incumbent Mary Kincaid faced Stephanie Smith in an informal televised debate.

Mattsen wants public funds for defense: David Mattsen, awaiting trial in the theft of Ted Binion's $6 million silver fortune, says he's "penniless" and needs taxpayer money for his defense.

Aladdin, like the Venetian, likely to overcome initial problems: David Strow; It was a scene the Las Vegas Strip had seen just 15 months before -- the newest hotel-casino opening hours behind schedule as last-minute fire and safety tests held up its scheduled soft opening.

Worker deaths fall for state, nation: The number of work-related deaths fell both nationally and statewide in 1999, continuing a 10-year trend, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

Community news briefs for August 21, 2000: Lake Mead Hospital

Judge denies retrial for Floyd: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas man who gunned down five people in a local grocery store last summer will not get a new trial.

Hotel-casino, union sued: In a Clark County District Court lawsuit, Watson Newman, a former maintenance engineer, alleged he was terminated on Sept. 4, 1998, in retaliation for a complaint he filed on Jan. 20, 1998, accusing Bobby Stocker, an assistant chief engineer and Larry Wiker, another engineer, of altering their time cards by "clocking themselves out one-half hour early and ... adjusting the clock to steal two hours overtime."

Detective put on unpaid leave over shots fired at man: Keith Paul; A Metro Police detective is on paid leave this morning after he fired two shots at a man accused of trying to drive over an officer with a sport utility vehicle on Saturday.

Builders seeking permits to start Neonopolis: Erin Neff; Neonopolis developers have requested building permits from the city of Las Vegas to begin construction of the long-delayed entertainment center downtown.

Congressman pushing for black member of Gaming Commission: The Gaming Commission, responsible for regulating the state's $2.5 billion casino industry, currently has three commission members, all of them white.

Brush fire spreads onto Wayne Newton property: Mary Manning and Jean Reid Norman; An urban wildfire Sunday in a Clark County park scorched 37 acres of a nature preserve before jumping a 10-foot wall and burning an acre of brush on the property of entertainer Wayne Newton. The fire also burned 11 acres adjacent to the park that are believed to be owned by Newton.

Decline seen in Lake Mead water levels: By Mary Manning; Federal officials are seeing the first signs that Lake Mead water levels may dive over the next couple of years.

Obituaries for August 21, 2000: Wayne Agapitos, 77, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospice. A World War II Army veteran, he was born April 14, 1923, in Mason City, Iowa.

Casino boats welcome displaced video gamblers: The casino boats have live dealers and offer blackjack, craps, roulette and slot machines.

W.Va. ethics panel fines former state schools chief: Marockie was a finalist last year for the Clark County school superintendent's job.

Valley homeless search for refuge: Greg Harman; In the sandy washes on the outskirts of southeastern Henderson, in abandoned automobiles and on city buses steering through illuminated corridors, Henderson's hundreds of homeless sleep.

Nichols makes chancellor cut: Jeffrey Libby; A search committee chose three finalists for chancellor of the University and Community College System of Nevada after 10 hours of interviews with five candidates on Saturday.

Math proficiency test a problem for area students: Terry Webster; Twice the number of Southern Nevada high school students failed the mathematics portion of the High School Proficiency Exam than last year, according to a report issued Friday by the Clark County School District.

Officials court donor for justice center: Kim Smith; Court officials who are scrambling to find funding to add a floor to the new Clark County Regional Justice Center say using private donations to build government facilities, even judicial buildings, is not precedent-setting.

Club Utopia shareholders sue owner: Grace Leong; Three shareholders of the popular nightspot Club Utopia sued its owner, David Cohen, and his business partner, Richard Renner, alleging they hired away the club's employees and misappropriated the club's monies to fund the rival club Drink.

Mosley expected to appeal formal discipline panel ruling: Sun reporter Kim Smith contributed to this report.

LV bank operator expands in Texas: Washington Mutual said in a statement today that the deal -- subject to regulatory review and approval of Bank United's shareholders -- would give it expanded banking operations in Houston and Dallas.