Print edition for February 6, 2000

Q&A: Broadway Betty: Kimberley McGee; While daytime TV stars -- Kathie Lee Gifford, Susan Lucci, Judith Light -- seem to be migrating to Broadway, Broadway seems to be seeping into the Las Vegas scene with production shows such as "Chicago" (which ends its run at Mandalay Bay at the end of the month) and "Notre Dame de Paris" at Paris Las Vegas.

Editorial: Gaming company steps up for clinic: As reported by the Sun's David Strow, the Problem Gambling Center, set to open Tuesday in northwest Las Vegas, will offer treatment for $5 a session. A similar low-cost program that operated in Las Vegas closed about two years ago. That left patients seeking help with the option of needing insurance coverage or making full payments, a choice many could not afford.

Despite Humane Society plea, Gov. Bush accepts hunting group's award: Martin Griffith; Former President Bush was scheduled to accept the Safari Club International's "Governor of the Year" award on behalf of his son here Saturday night.

Letter: District must follow special education rules: It is well past time for the lies to stop. It is well past time for the false platitudes to stop. It is well past time for the Legislature to put its money where it says its concerns are. If Gov. Kenny Guinn had the heart he claims, he would include full funding for special education in his budget as a separate line item, not as part of the general fund.

Letter: Japanese can't run from history: If the German people and their government can admit to their wrongdoings, and attempt to rectify these wrongs, why can't the Japanese do the same? This is a question to which we all deserve a viable answer ... not just excuses! Ignoring what happened will not change the facts. It is about time that the Japanese government and its people stand up and do what is right.

Gambling board takes hit from Edwards tria: Alan Sayre; Nearly four years later, the reform regulatory panel known as the Louisiana Gaming Control Board is something of a sideshow to the main event in Baton Rouge: the trial of former Gov. Edwin Edwards on charges of extorting riverboat casinos.

Second round brings 15 bids for electronic gambling monitoring system in Montana: This was the second bidding opportunity. Only one first-round bid came in last November, and Division Administrator Jim Oppedahl rejected it and re-opened bidding in February. He said the November bid from Tetragenics Co. of Butte, a subsidiary of Montana Power Co., was incomplete and lacked the detail needed by the state when it solicited proposals last August. Tetragenics is one of the companies planning to bid this month.

Guidry back on witness stand: Natalie Gott; Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Harper began to requestion Guidry late Friday afternoon, after defense attorneys ended three days of heated cross-examination.

Woodruff sends U.S. past Zimbabwe in Davis Cup; Agassi assists: Andre Selsky; Woodruff, facing immense pressure as a Davis Cup rookie, defeated Wayne Black 6-3, 6-7 (2) 6-2, 6-4 to lead the United States to a 3-2 victory in the first round.

Michigan: Witness says former chief knew of illegal gambling: The inquiry involves Mayor Mark Steenbergh, his former police commissioner and allegations of rigged bids, campaign finance abuses and police corruption, The Detroit News reported Sunday.

Editorial: Balancing privacy and access: There is an evil side, however. Criminals have graduated from burglarizing homes and businesses and cracking safes to intercepting credit card information and doctoring stolen checks, all with the help of computers. Pedophiles can feed their sickness by transmitting child pornography or seducing innocent children over Internet chat lines. Crippling viruses can invade a victim's computer hard drive, causing all his files to be destroyed. It is possible now to go online and steal the identity of another person.

Letter: Rogers viable as superintendent: An encouraging local opportunity has developed with the offer of exceptionally talented James Rogers to serve, pro bono, for an interim period. This presents a progressive candidate with known -- successful -- business, media and philanthropic credentials. One can assume it is less likely that he will be diverted by, possibly, profit-making or political distractions.

New York comptroller: Declare a moratorium on gambling expansion: Joel Stashenko; The state needs to "take a breath" to make an accounting of compulsive gambling and other downsides before contemplating adding more lottery games or casinos, McCall said Saturday.

Louisiana casinos want to rake in the video poker dough: Dale Darrough, general manger of Casino Rouge, said his boat's marketing consultants figure at least $40 million "disappeared" when the poker machines were unplugged.

Bellagio's Picasso paints perfect dining experience: Stacy J. Willis; No fish.

Locals casino market continues to expand: David Strow; Neighborhood casinos keep springing up in the Las Vegas Valley for one simple economic reason -- they're serving one of the fastest-growing gaming markets in the United States.

5-star cuisine puts LV dining on map: Until last month, when the city's reputation as a gastronomic bottom-feeder was officially laid to rest when the Mobil Travel Guide bestowed its prestigious five-star rating on two Las Vegas restaurants. Both the Bellagio resort's Picasso and the Mirage's Renoir earned the distinction, two of only 18 restaurants in the United States and Canada to receive the honor.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Local cleaner keeps stars stain-free: In Hollywood circles they call him "Mr. Vic."

Renoir chefs work to create culinary works of art: Martin Kuz; Executive chef Alessandro Stratta chats away inside a life-sized jewel box, also known as the ornate confines of Renoir. Around him, the walls quietly boast three paintings wrought by the French impressionist whose name graces the restaurant, along with five pieces produced by Renoir's students.

Columnist Kate Maddox: LV-bound monks find L.A. a real drag: Kate Maddox; It sounds like a mediocre B-movie, or a new Fox special: The Shaolin Monks take on Hollywood and, of course, laughs and craziness ensue.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Gang of Four has difficult task ahead: Rarely has a task of this magnitude confronted Nevada's congressional delegation, always outnumbered and constantly besieged.

Firm eyes theme park, casino in Monroe County: For the project proposed between Interstate 75 and Toledo Beach Marina, Sungold has options to buy about 142 acres of vacant land owned by Toledo Beach Investments and has commissioned International Theme Park Services Inc. to do a feasibility study.

Experts say compulsive gamblers may have brain malfunction: But what's hard to see is the destruction gambling and gambling addiction could be causing. Experts say that sometimes the desire to gamble can outweigh everything else, and can lead to debt, divorce and crime.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: A very strange message: The recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the power of states to limit election campaign contributions was most interesting. By a 6-3 vote the justices slapped down the arguments that to limit contributions would violate a person's First Amendment right to free speech and association.

Columnist Sandra Thompson: Child welfare system on verge of change: Sandra Thompson; There is no quick way to fix broken children and families.

House committee discusses changes to the New Mexico lottery scholarship program: Chris Roberts; Currently, 60 percent of state lottery profits are used for construction and renovation of school buildings. That leaves 40 percent for the scholarships, which now pay 100 percent of the tuition for New Mexico students who qualify.

Man pleads guilty in attack of daughter's coach: Justice Court Judge John Tatro suspended a 90-day jail sentence, but ordered Paterson to perform 40 hours of community service, undergo an anger management evaluation and write a letter of apology to the coach.

Local casinos draw fire: By Launce Rake; Big, garish and sometimes literally next door, locals casinos got started two decades ago in the Las Vegas Valley with the start-up of Sam's Town on Boulder Highway. Since then the number of these hotel-casinos, heavily marketed to the valley's own residents, has grown to more than a dozen.