Print edition for December 27, 2000

Kambala defends his image: Steve Addy; Kaspars Kambala wants to know what all the fuss is about.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Thursday's races at Santa Anita: 1st Race -- Ramelles Lad - Training at Hollypark, draws good inner post for route opener, Puglisi on Aguirre horse. G L's Gold Strike - Another who ships across town, Espinoza on Bean runner, comeptitive at this level. Value Play -- Livingonthestrand

High school dropout rate falls to 6 percent: Terry Webster; A new report is expected to show the Clark County School District's high school dropout rate fell from about 9 percent during the 1998-99 school year to 6 percent during the 1999-2000 school year, Superintendent Carlos Garcia said.

Lawsuit over slots won't block sale of LV hotel: WWF sued Capado in February, alleging WWF was inhibited from selling the hotel-casino because of a dispute with Capado over a $250,000 fee that Capado claims it is entitled to. Capado says it is due the fee because WWF caused its gaming license to be terminated when the hotel's restaurant closed. An operating restaurant was one of the license's requirements.

Henderson bank robbed: The robbery happened just before 1 p.m. when a man handed a teller a note demanding money.

Governor is briefing Greenspan, Clinton on California energy crisis: WASHINGTON -- California Gov. Gray Davis planned to meet with President Clinton today to discuss his state's energy crisis and the effect surging power prices may have nationwide, Davis spokesman Steve Maviglio said.

Supporters vow to fight on for Henderson college: Jeffrey Libby; The proposed state college at Henderson may not be in Gov. Kenny Guinn's 2001 state budget, but supporters of the four-year school say the project still will go through.

Durango wins first tournament test: In other first-round games involving local teams, Peninsula, Calif., downed Green Valley 58-53, Crossroads, Calif., trimmed Silverado 59-50 and Reno's Bishop Manogue topped Cimarron-Memorial 68-63.

Manager of nightclub slain: Paramedics were called to the Palomino Club in the 1800 block of Las Vegas Boulevard North about 3:30 a.m. to treat a victim of a fall. But when they treated Kenneth R. Rowan, 53, they found that he had been shot in the stomach, police said.

The place to party: Erin Neff; Still looking for something to do this New Year's Eve?

UNLV students, staff members given awards: Two UNLV students, undergraduate Kelli Jones and graduate student Cheryl Radeloff, have been honored by the regents with $5,000 scholarship awards.

LV gaming company's stock on a roller-coaster ride: Mikohn stock traded this morning at $2.63, down 81 cents from its Tuesday close of $3.44.

Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Comment now on OHV issues: Paula DelGiudice; The Bureau of Land Management's draft of National Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Management Strategy is now available for comment. The strategy offers guidance and recommendations to help BLM field offices create a framework for reviewing and resolving local OHV-related issues.

Las Vegas area fishing report: LAKE MEAD: Very few anglers were fishing over the Christmas holiday and those who were found relatively slow action for largemouth and striped bass, according to the Nevada Division of Wildlife.

Next legislative session will have plenty of hot issues: Brendan Riley; Reapportionment is at the top of a long list facing the lawmakers, who are allowed to meet for only four months every other year. Also high on the agenda are a big tax plan pushed by Nevada teachers, utility deregulation and a $3.74 billion, two-year budget that Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn will propose in his Jan. 22 state-of-the-state address.

Red Lake Band opens expanded Warroad casino: If 500 machines aren't enough, as band officials suspect, they will use the profit from the temporary expansion to pay for a new casino, said Red Lake Chairman Bobby Whitefeather.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Kambala has found new calling: Dean Juipe; When he showed up on the campus of UNLV almost four years ago, Kaspars Kambala was focused on basketball.

Columnist Jon Ralston: 'Tis the season to send political message: Most people are coasting this week, enjoying the afterglow of Christmas and anticipating a celebration of the New Year. But Nevada's two most powerful Republican elected officials don't have that luxury and must answer questions about whether to give out belated holiday gifts and what will be on their New Year's resolution lists.

Report: Canterbury Park has convicted felons among employees: Of the 3,100 people licensed to work at Canterbury this year through October, 42 had other criminal convictions on file with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the newspaper reported.

Southwest Gas cutting Nevada rate hike request: Southwest Gas Corp. has sold excess natural gas capacity to California utilities to lessen the blow of higher rates in Nevada.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Irreverent author rates some LV sports books: The only flaw in Jesse May's first novel, the 1998 release Shut Up and Deal, is that it was too true-to-life for the comfort of some poker players.

LV courthouse builder sued by subcontractors: Flooring Co. Inc. of Las Vegas sued J.A. Jones in U.S. District Court, alleging it defaulted on a $236,725 payment for carpets and flooring tiles.

Ice storm forces airlines to cancel hundreds of flights: American canceled 738 flights at Dallas, or about 60 percent of daily operations at its largest hub. Northwest Airlines said no more than half of its flights would operate at its Memphis hub, also because of ice. American said disruptions could continue today in Dallas.

Nine suspects indicted in Massachusetts in connection with mob gambling ring: The indictments are the latest development in a 15-month investigation that has targeted, among others, a barber, a baker and a former civilian police dispatcher.

Work card for clergy tabled: Clark County Clerk Shirley Parraguirre said today she is suspending new regulations that would have required police background checks on ministers who perform marriages.

Alleged hit-and-run driver held on bail: Deputies later found the vehicle and arrested John G. Glover.

Editorial: High milk prices are troubling: It is extremely difficult for the government to prove when companies engage in price fixing. Often what happens isn't a conspiracy but a situation where competitors constantly monitor each other's prices, and if there is no noticeable letup in consumer buying, then they all will keep their prices higher than what otherwise would be the case. Still, despite the daunting task ahead of it, the Nevada Dairy Commission did the right thing last week when it decided to undertake its probe.

Bandits hold off Richmond: Victoria Sun; For three quarters against the Richmond Rhythm Tuesday night, the Las Vegas Bandits looked like the Harlem Globetrotters beating up on the Washington Generals.

Tribe adds 180 slots in test of gambling market: The addition, which opened Tuesday, brings the total number of slot machines to more than 500 at Seven Clans Casino-Warroad, formerly known as Lake of the Woods Casino.

One dead in knife fight: Police said they still don't know what prompted an argument between the two that led to the deadly duel Monday night on Lake Street. No arrests have been made.

Phone company to hike charge: Starting Monday, the No. 1 U.S. long-distance phone company will raise the Universal Connectivity Charge to 9.9 percent of state-to-state and international long-distance calls from 8.6 percent, spokesman Mark Siegel said in New York.

Summary of 2001 legislature issues: Assemblyman Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, wants to lower the legal standard for drunkenness in Nevada from 0.10 to .08 - a proposal that failed in the past due largely to resistance from the casino industry. But his bill's chances of passages improved when Congress mandated the lower blood-alcohol level.

DOE lacks funds for Test Site nuke storage: If Congress next year approves temporarily storing nuclear waste in Nevada, the Department of Energy won't have funds for developing a storage facility at the Test Site.

Editorial: Polygraphs have no merit in ethics probe: This tit-for-tat exchange on polygraph tests is such a waste of time. Polygraphs more accurately should be called "sweat-detector tests," since con artists have been known to beat them. For that matter, innocent people can unfairly be caught in the polygraph's snare, with the test sometimes showing them to be lying when all they're guilty of is being nervous. The Ethics Commission then should sift through facts, not pseudo-science, to get to the truth.

For some, holiday ends in tragedy: Essie Oten's family had been hoping for a miracle to bring her out of a coma after a brutal attack several months ago, but the 57-year-old grandmother died on Christmas Eve.

Heftel Media sued by former executive: In a Clark County District Court lawsuit, Dave Plunkett, a former vice president of Heftel Media, an advertising firm, alleged he received a $25,000 check after he resigned on April 14, but has yet to receive an outstanding $22,917 in salary, health insurance benefits and other reimbursements.

Letter: Bush victory is legitimate: Hold onto your hats. The next four years are going to be a thrill ride, as the stock market, the economy, energy concerns and Democratic obstruction in Congress is the order of the day. I wouldn't miss this for the world.

Community news briefs for December 27, 2000: To ensure there is enough blood on hand this New Year's weekend, United Blood Services and Stop DUI are kicking off a blood drive and DUI awareness event 11 a.m. to noon on Thursday.

Letter: Mom's priorities are all wrong: She works 65 hours a week and two jobs to accomplish that for her three kids. I cringed at the thought of a mother thinking that useless gestures like that can be a replacement for spending as much time as possible with your children.

LV developer Saxton hit with fraud allegations: Grace Leong; A shareholder of Las Vegas real estate developer Saxton Inc. filed a class action lawsuit against the company and three executives Tuesday, alleging Saxton misstated its financial results to dupe him and "thousands" of other shareholders into buying its shares at "artificially inflated prices."

Medical panel urges marijuana research: CARSON CITY -- A team of doctors and pharmacists has recommended that the state conduct research to determine if marijuana is effective in treating ailments such as cancer, AIDS or glaucoma.

Thursday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1 p.m.

Census dilemma looms over redistricting: The Census Bureau is almost certain to announce population figures Thursday that will grant Nevada another seat in the House of Representatives.

Nevada legislator mulled for Bush position: CARSON CITY -- Las Vegas Assemblyman Dennis Nolan could be headed for Washington, D.C., for a mid-level job in the administration of President-elect George W. Bush.

Police identify man killed in Reno knife fight: A second man involved, Maurice Meka, 38, was listed in stable condition Wednesday.

Obituaries for December 27, 2000: Lillie Belle Bolden, 52, of North Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. She was born Dec. 31, 1947, in San Diego. A resident for 36 years, she was a homemaker.

Plenty of Nevada-made goodies to go around: Max Jacobson; Made In Nevada is a statewide program intended to boost commerce and to raise awareness levels about these companies. It is sponsored by the Nevada Commission for Economic Development, in partnership with MAP, an acronym for Manufacturing Assistance Partnership. The program started as Nevada's Best 10 years ago. In November 1998 it became a full-fledged program with a website, madeinnv.com.

Computer problems shuts down Reno's 911 and non-emergency phone lines: While incoming calls were not ringing through the system, communications supervisors overseeing the upgrade could see them coming in, he said.

SLED to investigate new sweepstakes game: State Rep. John Hawkins, R-Spartanburg, said that sounds like video gambling and has asked the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate.

Savvy wine buy: Champagne Comte Audoinde Dampierre: Max Jacobson; Many of us like to ring in the New Year with authentic French champagne, but most of them, other than low-end, large production champagnes, are prohibitively expensive. This one combines both high quality and reasonable affordabilility. This champagne is beautifully crafted and intense, and has been gathering high marks in wine journals throughout the world. It has a fresh, fruity taste with subtle citrus and mineral flavors in the nose and a toasty, lingering finish. It's probably at its most enjoyable right now, so don't plan to sit on it until the next New Year rolls around.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Riviera set the stage for celebrity-filled concert: Elizabeth Foyt; Robert Vannucci, president and chief operating officer of the Riviera, provided an evening rich in musical entertainment and dining during the recent Colors of Christmas concert. The festive program, now a popular family event for locals and visitors, featured Roberta Flack, Bill Medley, Peabo Bryson and Marilyn McCoo, backed by a 20-piece orchestra and choral group.

Extravagance reigns supreme in Vegas' high-end shops: Jennifer Prosser; First stop, Via Bellagio (http://www.vegas.com/shopping/bellagio.html), Vegas' answer to 5th Avenue. The shopping arcade, home to the fashionable Chanel, Gucci and Prada screams exclusivity. Case in point: Nevada's only Tiffany & Co., which, among other pricey pendants, offers an exquisite, one-of-a-kind yellow and colorless diamond necklace, which retails at $1.25 million. Also striking is the strand of South Sea cultured white pearls with emerald beads and diamond rondelles. The price for necklace varies; it's calculated by millimeter. The famed jewelry store is the perfect place for those with stars and dollar signs in their eyes to do some serious spending.

Kwanzaa celebrants explain the principles behind annual festivities: Kimberley McGee; It's not really a holiday at all, but a celebration of culture.

The seven symbols of Kwanzaa: Mazao, the crops, symbolizes work and the basis of the holiday. It represents the historical foundation of Kwanzaa, the gathering of the people that is patterned after African harvest festivals in which joy, sharing, unity and thanksgiving are the fruits of collective planning and work.

Environmental part of proposal sent to Dept. of Interior: The rest of the application, containing facts, figures and opinions on whether a casino would be beneficial to the tribe or detrimental to the community, has yet to be forwarded, Smith said.

Washington casino opening delayed: "We're making sure everything is ready to go," Guenther said.

Letter: Election result was foregone conclusion: Bush was accused of cocaine use and refused to discuss it, saying only that he "had made mistakes." Perhaps that's good enough for you?