Print edition for December 8, 2000

Editorial: Share power in the Senate: Democratic gains mean the U.S. Senate likely will be tied 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans when Congress convenes next year. Democrats believe that this equal split should result in power sharing. The GOP leadership, though, argues that one party must be in the majority and exercise control. If George W. Bush ultimately becomes president, and since Dick Cheney as vice president would break any ties, they argue that Republicans should alone have committee chairmanships and hold a majority of seats on the committees. The Republican leadership's insistence that equality can't work is just plain wrong, however, especially since statehouses have ...

Score one for the MWC: Steve Guiremand; While UNLV was staving off a last-minute Hawaii rally in balmy Honolulu on a late Saturday night, Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson kept his fingers crossed while watching the outcome on his satellite TV about 4,000 miles away in chilly Colorado Springs in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Obituaries for December 8, 2000: Robert Edward Boyle, 63, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. He was born Jan. 5, 1937, in Ohio. A resident for 30 years, he was a bartender and a member of the Culinary Union.

Beaver: Don't count me out yet: Victoria Sun; They had written him off before.

Another year, another title for barrel racer Charmayne James: Victoria Sun; In 1994, Charmayne James' streak of 10 consecutive world champion barrel racing titles came to an end.

Arco formally agrees to join in cleanup at Superfund site: Brendan Riley; Sandy Stash, Arco vice president, said in an interview Thursday that she'll send a letter Friday to the EPA outlining Arco's agreement on the mine, designated a Superfund environmental site last May.

New Mexico judge refuses to dismiss state lawsuit against tribes: Madrid filed a lawsuit in June against two tribes and 10 pueblos to force them to pay the state 16 percent of their slot-machine revenue.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Plug pulled on Electra event: Kate Maddox; It looks like Carmen Electra might not be shakin' it at the Aladdin after all. The news conference scheduled for today to announce her new production show at the hotel has been abruptly canceled.

UNR not an easy mark for Rebels: Steve Addy; RENO -- Strictly by geography, UNLV and Nevado-Reno are unquestionably basketball rivals.

Secretary: New casinos 'years' away: JR Ross; Department of Administration Secretary George Lightbourn said he wanted to quell the notion that a new casino would be approved soon.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Handling of student is puzzling: Ray Curnan is a very small piece of a very big puzzle.

Battle over grazing rights heats up in Nevada: Lisa Snedeker; LAS VEGAS - It's a story as old as the West. Ranchers are locked in a fight over grass, but it's not cattlemen pitted against sheepherders. This time the foes are environmentalists.

Some opposition emerges over gambling compact: Harrah's now runs a 60,000-square-foot casino on the Cherokee reservation that employs 1,500 workers and provides money to every tribal member. The casino drew 3.2 million visitors last year, making it the most visited private tourist spot in North Carolina.

Fired captain claims he lost job for refusing to keep boat at dock: The suit claims the casino questioned Hill's decisions on when it was safe or unsafe to cruise and eventually fired him.

Mississippi judge throws out award in wrongful termination case; parties reach settlement: Grand Casinos said Mitchell was fired because of the impropriety of a personnel director having sex with a subordinate. A jury ruled in favor of Mitchell in October.

Nevada Open scores: Nevada Open scores

Greenbrier spent nearly $1.2 million on gambling campaign: On a per-vote basis, the hotel's campaign amounts to "the highest, most expensive election in the history of West Virginia," said Mike Queen, a political consultant hired to coordinate the opposition's campaign.

Buckaroos behind bars, breaking wild horses: Brendan Riley; Williams, 41, and 10 other convicts at Nevada's Warm Springs Correctional Center showed off the results of their cowboying on Thursday: nine once-wild horses "gentled" and ready for adoption.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: As time slips by ...: Las Vegas was once a very small community.

Editorial: Independence for disabled Nevadans: While some delays have been caused by the federal government, which had to sign off on the use of Medicaid funds for these purposes, state government should move as quickly as possible to implement this worthy program. If a disabled man has the ability to be on his own and receive medical care at home, then reasonable steps should be made so that he can live independently.

Thursday's prep results: BOYS BASKETBALL

Datebook for December 8, 2000: Opportunity Village presents its annual Magical Forest attraction, featuring a train ride, animated figures, entertainment, crafts and food booths, through Dec. 31 at 6300 W. Oakey Drive. Call 225-TREE.

Workers' comp case reversed: CARSON CITY -- A young automobile painter, who suffered a heart attack in Las Vegas after inhaling paint fumes from a defective respirator, is going to get another chance to prove he qualifies for workers' compensation benefits.

Officials: No fear of power shortage in Nevada: While some people are predicting blackouts from colder weather projected for next week, Las Vegas weather officials say things may not be so bad and Nevada Power Co. officials say they are ready for any increase in local power usage.

Gas tax revenue shifted to big counties: CARSON CITY -- Despite concerns of rural representatives, a legislative committee Thursday stamped its final approval on plans to shift more of the receipts of the gasoline tax to the big counties of Clark and Washoe.

Reid asks for DOE Yucca probe: Nevada Sen. Harry Reid today formally requested an internal Department of Energy investigation into whether federal laws were violated in the drafting of a report that recommends Yucca Mountain as the nation's high-level nuclear waste dump.

Sun Girls Basketball Top 10: Records through Tuesday

City officials attend Boston summit: Erin Neff; Sometimes city officials think they're the only ones struggling with redevelopment, race relations and the new economy.

Environmentalists: BLM off-road strategy falls short: Environmental groups said they are disappointed in the Bureau of Land Management's draft plan to handle off-road vehicle traffic.

Clinton OKs payments for ill nuclear workers: President Clinton signed an executive order on Thursday that offers broad-based compensation to nuclear workers with job-related illnesses at Department of Energy facilities, including the Nevada Test Site.

Resort alleges builders in scheme for kickbacks: Grace Leong; The Regent Las Vegas is seeking a court order to compel the deposition of a J.A. Jones Construction Co. project manager, whom it alleges to be at "the center of the focus of a possible scheme of kickbacks and conspiracy to defraud" the hotel-casino of millions of dollars.

Schutte makes move in Nevada Open: First-round leader Dean Kennedy, who fired a 63 on Wednesday, slipped to 72 on Thursday and was five shots back in fourth place.

Ethics panel rules against BC mayor: Jeffrey Libby; Boulder City Mayor Robert Ferraro violated state ethics codes when he failed to disclose personal retirement benefits connected with an $8,000 salary increase approved in June by the City Council, the state Ethics Commission ruled Thursday.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Holmes and Co. bring Broadway to Las Vegas: Joe Delaney; Harrah's headliner Clint Holmes joins Broadway legend John Raitt and Paige O'Hara in a program of Broadway hit songs and holiday favorites entitled "A Vegas Broadway Christmas," 2 p.m. Sunday in UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall ... The performance, produced by Myron Martin, will benefit Golden Rainbow and the UNLV Performing Arts Center.

'Proof of Life' frequently comatose: Max Jacobson; Grade: **

Health district ripped for not using clean-fuel cars: Launce Rake and Ed Koch; A longtime member of a key air-pollution board today charged that the agency entrusted with protecting air quality is failing to use clean-fuel cars in its own fleet.

Construction begins on much-delayed project: Erin Neff; The steel beams rising at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Ogden Avenue don't look very inviting.

Regional public shooting range sought: Diana Sahagun; The shrinking Clark County desert has become a haven for gun gurus who make use of old refrigerators and tin cans for target practice.

Prosecutor says anti-racists died for a cause: Kim Smith; Caught unexpectedly just yards away from a dead body out in the middle of the desert, John Butler tried to cover his tracks. He asked the strangers to call 911.

Columnist Steve Addy: By quitting, Badgers' Bennett found way to delete his own expletives: Steve Addy; When someone as classy and beloved as Dick Bennett leaves college basketball, it makes you want to say, "#@$%&!"

Bandits ready for opener against defending champs: Victoria Sun; Before the Las Vegas Bandits play their season opener at St. Louis Saturday, the Swarm will receive the International Basketball League championship rings it earned last summer by beating Richmond.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Saturday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Meteor Game - Training at Anita, draws tricky rail spot for 7-panel opener, Solis on Dutton horse, has been knocking on diploma door. Flying - Draws just outside top pick, bug boy Baze on Gaines entrant for Harris Farms, Inc., another that needs clear sailing on inside. Value Play -- Ace's Valentine

Court sustains National's contracts with vendors: Grace Leong; National Airlines of Las Vegas, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday, won a court order to stop 111 airline carriers from suspending or terminating several inter-airline services National says are crucial to sustaining its operations and reorganization efforts.

Animal rights activist uses video truck to protest rodeo: Jace Radke; While thousands of rodeo fans make nightly trips to the Thomas & Mack Center for the annual National Finals Rodeo, Steve Hindi is driving in circles outside the arena hoping to show a different side of the sport.

Saturday's horse racing entries: Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Construction companies may try to seize Regent: David Strow; While the $270 million Regent Las Vegas hotel-casino operates under the protection of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, bondholders owed about $220 million are awaiting repayment.

Man draws life sentence in slaying: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas man who claims he accidentally killed a man and then tried to give him CPR was sentenced to life in prison Thursday.

Weather is again cited as cause of helicopter crash: Pilot error and bad weather were cited as the probable cause of a Flight for Life helicopter crash last year at Indian Springs that took the lives of the pilot and two flight nurses.

Sun Boys Basketball Top 10: Records through Tuesday

Parole possible for killer after 10 years: Kim Smith; Claudia Vargas decorated her Christmas tree with angels this year. The angels, she told her children, represent their father, their guardian angel.

Travel plans a hassle after failed merger: Victoria Sun; The failed merger between the International Basketball League and ABA 2000 produced a very busy week for Bandits trainer and equipment manager Patrick Ballinger.

Controversy raging over casino support of National: David Strow; Following the bankruptcy filing of National Airlines, a debate has developed on both Wall Street and the Strip -- who, if anyone, should help the airline survive its most difficult days?

Cox to hike Las Vegas cable rates: Cox, the primary cable television provider for Southern Nevada with more than 330,000 local subscribers, is requesting an increase that would boost the cost of basic service 43 cents from $11.03 a month to $11.46.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Arkansas, UNLV may save bowl: Dean Juipe; We all know and can recite the reasons for the Las Vegas Bowl's innocuous history.

Wayne Brady brings improv act to Monte Carlo: Kirk Baird; When: 10 p.m. today and Saturday.

Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Kicker gives one coach leg up while another gets the boot: Sal DeFilippo; What a difference a yard makes.

Pop undercurrent runs through Evans' album: Tom Gardner; Who: Sara Evans

Letter: Bush, Gore could never replace Clinton: Clinton's intriguing skill is his articulate, exciting performance in ceremonial instances, including with foreign leaders. Can you envision either of these two "losers" in these roles?

Comedian downplays his cowboy connection: Kirk Baird; Who: Rodney Carrington.

Bankruptcies for December 8, 2000: Lawrence S. Levine, formerly doing business as Larry Levine Enterprises, 2776 Heritage Circle, filed for Chapter 7, listing assets of $45,480 and liabilities of $8,734.

Joe Delaney remembers 1972: Minnelli at the Riviera: Joe Delaney remembers 1972: Minnelli at the Riviera

FAA official: Big LV carrier in danger of being grounded: The magazine quoted Nick Lacey, Federal Aviation Administration flight standards director, as saying America West is "perilously close" to losing its operating license.

Analysts: Increase in passengers would cover fuel price hikes: If National Airlines could put about 15 to 20 more passengers on each of its 56 flights, it could whether the volatile fuel price crunch that has helped to throw the Las Vegas-based carrier into bankruptcy, observers say.

Where I Stand 1972 -- Hank Greenspun: Nixon-McGovern race has family votes split: A house divided.

Judge throws out award in wrongful termination case: GULFPORT, Miss. -- A federal judge threw out a $1 million award in a wrongful termination suit shortly before a settlement was reached in the case.

Barbara Greenspun remembers 1972: Test Site blasts were cause for concern: In is apparent to all who have so vigorously protested making Yucca Mountain the nation's high level nuclear storage waste repository, that the Department of Energy has targeted Nevada from the beginning.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Zanardi: Mo Nunn is formula for success: Alex Zanardi's motivation is simple for returning to the CART FedEx Championship Series after a two-year absence.

Comedy greats represented in New Frontier's 'Legends': Joe Delaney; "Legends of Comedy" is a Bill Kirchenbauer-Art Vieluf production at the New Frontier. Both Kirchenbauer and Vieluf have extensive comedy club management experience and seem to have made the most of the space provided.

Airline cancels LV-Long Beach flight: Citing the rising cost of jet fuel, Allegiant said it would end all of its scheduled flights except its lucrative Fresno-Las Vegas run, which operates once a day and twice on Fridays and Sundays. That means Allegiant will discontinue its one daily flight to and from Las Vegas and Long Beach, Calif., beginning today.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Venetian restaurants combine for educational event: Good things come to those who patiently wait. At long last Las Vegans and visitors will have an opportunity to participate in "a series of educational and entertaining epicurean experiences," thanks to the newly formed Venetian Culinary Institute.

News of the Day: 1972: Story: President Nixon and Premier Chou En-lai wound up five days of historic talks yesterday with "basic agreement" on some issues, apparently including a general pledge to seek accord throughout Asia.

Letter: Voting system favors wealthy: The error we may repeat is not just that we may have another close election, but that all elections may repeat the systemic unfairness of the varied voting methods in Florida.