Print edition for February 28, 2000

Rebels softball team goes 1-3 in tournament: Rebels softball team goes 1-3 in tournament

Letter: Motto suggested for female gangsters: DE ETHEL HORTON

Mapes site focus of discussion: "We aren't trying to come up with one plan or concept, but rather we are trying to come up with a variety of concepts or solutions that best utilize the property," he said.

UNLV joins Peace Corps to program for writers: The university and the organization have entered into an agreement to provide students pursuing a master of fine arts degree in creative writing an option to join the Peace Corps starting next fall.

Rebels' rocky season continues in tourney: Steve Guiremand; The 20th annual Coors Desert Classic illustrated the up-and-down season Rod Soesbe's young UNLV baseball team is experiencing.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Jury duty? 'Pick me, pick me': Dean Juipe; If you've ever been called for jury duty in Clark County you know the ritual: Sit among the 60 or so who have been summoned and wait as the jury panels for two or three upcoming trials are filled.

Man arrested after girl is found: Romoane Shelby was arrested Sunday after the girl was found at a North Las Vegas home.

Rival casino plan for central Missouri: That prompted Bill Grace to ask the Missouri Gaming Commission to reconsider his bid to build a casino in Howard County, just across the river from Boonville. Grace submitted the idea to the agency three years ago.

Two Alabama dog tracks rank among nation's tops, but some say industry declining: The ranking is based on the amount of money wagered on races in 1998, not including money bet on simulcast races.

Letter: Vegas has chance to get it right next New Year's Eve: Now to the point. Why doesn't Las Vegas dig deep and put on a world-class fireworks show at midnight, Dec. 31, 2000, (when the new millennium actually arrives) and not only show up the rest of the world by having the biggest fireworks show ever, but by being the only city in the entire world to welcome in the new millennium.

2000 State basketball playoff results: Thursday's Results

Got air?: What: 16th Annual Festival of Balloons.

Sierra motorists slowed by up to 2 1/2 feet of new snow: Martin Griffith; Chains were mandatory Sunday on all three major trans-Sierra passes: Interstate 80 over Donner Summit, U.S. Highway 50 over Echo Summit and Highway 88 over Carson Pass.

Letter: Cartoon is unfair to airline workers: The Machinists Union lost a member and her family on Alaska Airlines Flight 261. All of us, especially her co-workers at Alaska, feel that loss and the loss of every passenger on that plane personally. The Las Vegas Sun can do better than make light of a tragedy.

Longtime Colorado casino caves to competition: The Sunday closing of the casino that Lorenz named after a best friend and three-time state legislator Otto Blake followed the closing of the Teller House on Friday. The gambling hall in neighboring Central City was operated by an international company with offices in Las Vegas.

Judge wades through deluge of motions in Binion case: Robert Macy; Murphy and co-defendant Rick Tabish still face murder charges in the Sept. 17, 1998 death of Binion, a member of a famous casino family. Judge Joseph Bonaventure dismissed charges of conspiracy to commit extortion and kidnapping against Murphy, saying there was no proof she knew of efforts to extort and kidnap a witness in the case.

Enviromentalists petition to save Yosemite toad, Sierra frog: Scott Sonner; "All throughout the West, if you look at amphibians, you'll find massive declines," said Peter Galvin, chief conservation biologist of the Center for Biological Diversity.

Editorial: Gaining friends in California: While the tail end of the 1980s and the dawn of the 1990s seemed bleak to Nevadans with regard to high-level nuclear waste coming here, that quickly changed after the election in 1992 of President Clinton, who has steadfastly vowed to veto legislation making it easier to store nuclear waste in Nevada. And during the same period Nevada's U.S. senators, Harry Reid and Richard Bryan, have been able to secure enough votes to sustain a veto in the Senate.

Edwards trial: Paying in cash, ripping up the invoice: Natalie Gott; Prosecutors are trying to use the transactions as evidence of crimes. However, Edwards' daughter Anna testifed that Edwin Edwards came by his fondness for cash honestly. She said her father's father raised his sons to be wary of banks after seeing people lose their savings during the Great Depression in the 1930s.

Letter: Alaska Airlines known for safety: SCOTT RUDD

Minnesotan dies on I-80: Troopers said Ross was eastbound on the interstate when his vehicle drifted off the roadway and overturned. The 7:50 a.m. accident was blamed on driver inattention.

Fire forces evacuation at casino hotel in Mississippi: "The exact cause of the fire hasn't been determined," said Teri Farmer, marketing director for Harrah's Vicksburg Corp. "The fire was extinguished by staff before the fire department arrived."

Silver Bandits subdue St. Louis to halt skid: The Silver Bandits (23-16) had lost four in a row and five of their last six but the losing streak came to an end as J.R. Henderson scored 25 points to lead seven players in double figures. The Silver Bandits jumped out to a 37-15 lead by the end of the first quarter and never trailed in the game.

Governors press Clinton for more input on roadless area decisions: Matt Kelley; During a White House meeting sponsored by the National Governors' Association, Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne said western states were left out of the loop on the roadless initiative and other federal land-use plans. Clinton and George Frampton, the president's top adviser on environmental issues, said they would consider the states' concerns, several governors said after the meeting.

In the end, Gaels lived up to expectations: Spencer Patterson; RENO -- As the final seconds ticked off the clock Friday night, Jeff Wagonseller slowly wiped his brow before joining his team and its fans in celebration.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Crowd favorite Pincay to return for an encore: Ralph Siraco; The last time jockey Laffit Pincay, Jr. appeared in Las Vegas he was approaching horse racing's career wins record. That was last October at the Orleans hotel-casino, Pincay's final live appearance in Las Vegas before he broke Bill Shoemaker's standard of 8,833 victories.

IBL Box: St. Louis-Las Vegas: ST. LOUIS (26-11)

Columnist John Katsilometes: Manly rights, Buddy's show and Darva: Today the Scrawl crawl looks at the week that was:

Seven months after New Orleans shutdown, number of machines makes slight comeback: Alan Sayre; On June 30, the lights were turned out on the machines in parishes that decided to outlaw video poker in local-option referendums held in November 1996.

Two casino companies pushing ties with NASCAR: The Sahara Hotel opens its new NASCAR Cafe Thursday, the latest innovation of longtime casino executive William Bennett.

UNLV looks to Wyoming for help: Steve Addy; Just because the Rebels have a clear-cut, well-intentioned plan to make the NCAA Tournament -- win every game, then hope a lot -- it doesn't mean they won't need outside help along the way.

Community news briefs for February 28, 2000: Las Vegas Councilmen Michael McDonald and Lawrence Weekly will host a youth town hall meeting 6-8 p.m. today at Western High School, 4601 W. Bonanza Road.

Ganassi announces he's taking Vasser, Montoya to Indy: CART team owner Chip Ganassi ended months of speculation this morning when he formally announced he would campaign drivers Jimmy Vasser and Juan Montoya this May in the 84th running of the Indianapolis 500.

Yahoo!, News Corp. said to be in talks: Yahoo! founder Jerry Yang met several times in recent weeks with News Corp.'s No. 2 executive Peter Chernin, the New Yorker reported in its March 6 issue, citing an unnamed source familiar with the talks.

State close to having Mattsen testimony: David Mattsen was on the verge of striking an agreement today with prosecutors to testify against Ted Binion's accused killers.

Ex-federal land official continues to push her agenda: Gloria Flora has no regrets about focusing national attention on the atmosphere of harassment and intimidation some federal workers endure in Nevada.

Paying in cash, ripping up the invoice: Natalie Gott; David Kleinpeter said he was working on Edwards Baton Rouge house in 1995, the last full year of Edwards' last term in office. On his first payday, Edwards paid for a job of about $800 with cash - $100 bills.

Shootings sharpen focus on gang culture: Jace Radke; In the world of gangs, a stray glance or a harsh word can be deadly.

Guinn delays electricity competition: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn announced today as expected that he is delaying the start of open competition among electricity suppliers because of the many unsolved problems facing deregulation.

Test Site to get low level radioactive waste: As expected, the Nevada Test Site was named a regional dumping ground for low-level radioactive waste left over from U.S. nuclear weapons development, the Department of Energy announced on Friday.

Judge refuses to drop Binion charges: District Judge Joseph Bonaventure today refused to dismiss murder charges against the two people accused of killing Ted Binion.

Former Test Site workers tell DOE how they've been hurt: Screenings

Merger off for Carnival, Fairfield: The purchase of Fairfield Communities Inc. was worth $725 million when it was announced last month, but the stock market correction has trimmed the value of the all-stock transaction by 38 percent.

Fire Dept. asks city for tax hike: Erin Neff; When Las Vegas residents go to the polls this November, they won't just be casting ballots for president. They likely will be deciding how safe their neighborhoods can be as well.

Reno losing airline: "It's not profitable," spokeswoman Julia Bishop said of TWA's daily nonstop flight between Reno and St. Louis. "We're not making money (in Reno)."

Upcoming business events for February 28, 2000: Marketing -- American Marketing Association luncheon with speaker Scott Gentry of KBLR Telemundo 39 discussing the Hispanic market. Thursday. 593-0883.

Internet gambling company locks horns with attorney general: Alan Sayre; Mardi Gras Holding Group Inc. wants to build a television studio where casino-type games with live dealers would be produced and transmitted by satellite to Antigua where it would be put on the Internet.

New arguments surface about Spring Valley casino: Two new twists and a barrage of previous arguments over a proposed Spring Valley casino were aired Friday before members of the Gaming Policy Committee's review panel.

Man held in girl's abduction: Jace Radke; A 23-year-old man charged in connection with the Friday afternoon abduction of a 15-year-old Clark High School student was held this morning without bail in the Clark County Detention Center.

LV subcontractors told to get vocal: Phil Levine; Southern Nevada subcontractors must unite and speak in a resonant voice if they hope to raise awareness of their issues, a local industry leader said.

Former editor sues Gaming Today to keep job at R-J: Grace Leong; Dirson Enterprises Inc.'s Gaming Today weekly newspaper was sued by former managing editor Len Butcher, who says a non-compete employment contract is preventing him from working at the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Weekend storm dumps up to 4 feet of snow at Tahoe: Martin Griffith; Interstate 80 was open with no controls Monday, but chains or snow tires were still required on other highways, including U.S. Highway 50 over Echo Summit and Highway 88 over Carson Pass.

Addicts' angel: Kim Smith; Her friends say she is addicted to addictions. Her husband says she's an angel. Her patients say she's a godsend.

State medical board adopts pain regulations: RENO -- The state Board of Medical Examiners has adopted a rule that will allow doctors to prescribe drugs to patients in great pain without fear of being disciplined.

Local news briefs for February 28, 2000: A North Las Vegas woman and a 4-year-old girl remained in critical condition this morning at University Medical Center after a Clark County school bus rear-ended the woman's pickup Friday morning.

Players case over in Edwards trial; finances next: Natalie Gott; BATON ROUGE, La. - Former Gov. Edwin Edwards' financial transactions and his friend Andrew Martin's duties - or lack of them - at the Governor's Mansion were the subject of testimony as their federal racketeering trial resumed today in Baton Rouge.

Ready to roll: NASCAR's version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" resumes this weekend as the Winston Cup Series comes to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the third annual CarsDirect.com 400.

State board revokes license of deadbeat dad doctor: RENO -- A doctor who didn't pay his child support and a medical school resident who advertised penile enlargement items over the Internet have been sanctioned by the state Board of Medical Examiners.

Winston Cup Driver appearances in Las Vegas: Jeff Gordon -- 3-5 p.m., All-American Sport Park, 6730 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

Scenic Arizona railroad to fly tourists in from Vegas casinos: An Arizona-based airline will sell a Wild West experience to Japanese tourists, using Las Vegas as a pivot point.

LVMS Race Week Schedule: World of Outlaws: 1/2-MILE DIRT TRACK SCHEDULE PENNZOIL WORLD OF OUTLAWS

Clark County students qualifying in droves, officials say: Some 3,200 students already have the grades and proficiency test scores it will take to cash in on an offer of up to $10,000 in financial aid at Nevada's publicly-funded community colleges and universities. Hundreds more in the Clark County School District's class of 2000 are likely to become eligible after June graduations, if they pass the state-mandated proficiency test and maintain a 3.0 grade point average or better.

Nevada's March 1 deregulation canceled: Brendan Riley; Gov. Kenny Guinn said today he'll instead hold a summit meeting of major participants in deregulation negotiations to find a way to overcome legal and technical obstacles.

Aladdin executive speaking Tuesday: The meeting is Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Palace Station. Prices are $5 for CMA members and Station Casinos employees and $20 for non-members. For more information, call 895-9133.

Historic theater gets new life: Some of the sites in Nevada receiving grants from the state Cultural Affairs Commission:

Sands, LVCVA announce show contracts: Many of the shows are midweek events and some are coming to Las Vegas for the first time.

Obituaries for February 28, 2000: John A. Anderson, 87, of Las Vegas died Thursday in a local care center. He was born Jan. 18, 1913, in Norway. A resident for 12 years, he was a captain in the Merchant Marines, a World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War Navy veteran, a member of the Navy League, Master Mason Pilots Association and American Merchant Marine Veterans High Roller Chapter.

Mentally ill homeless being offered a new salvation: Valerie Miller; The Salvation Army is expanding its services to perhaps the most difficult-to-reach segment of the homeless population -- the mentally ill.

Nevadans face fraud charges: The defendants in 15 separate cases were charged Friday with several Social Security violations including mail fraud, wire fraud and theft of government property.

LVMS Race Week Schedule: LVMS SUPERSPEEDWAY SCHEDULE

MGM Grand increases pressure on Wynn: David Strow; MGM Grand Inc. turned up the heat on Mirage Resorts Inc. today, reminding Mirage CEO Steve Wynn that he would have to achieve a share price "significantly higher than $17 per share" if he chose to reject MGM Grand's $5.4 billion offer for his company.

Deregulated Nevada Power unit will sell more than electricity: The new Nevada Power won't be just about electricity.

Sahara coaster to be LV's fastest: A Maryland company that has pioneered theme park rides propelled by electromagnetic fields is building the fastest roller coaster in Las Vegas at the Sahara hotel-casino.

Columnist Rusty Wallace: Addition of Las Vegas to Cup schedule 'one of coolest deals ever': Rusty Wallace; Although this week's visit to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway is only our third time racing there, this race has quickly become one of my favorites of the whole season.