Print edition for January 5, 2000

Defense buries move to exhume Binion: Defense lawyers for Richard Tabish today formally withdrew their motion to exhume Ted Binion's body.

LV, Reno bus operator is sold to British firm: ATC Group, the privately held company that operates the Citizens Area Transit bus system in Las Vegas and buses in Reno, is being sold to a British company.

Columnist Peter Benton: Local event raises $86,000: Peter Benton; The Fairway to the Future golf tournament, recently hosted at Royal Links Golf Club, raised a little more than $86,000 for the Nevada Child Seekers charity.

Prosecutors want judge to view seized disks, tapes: A prosecutor Tuesday took steps to find out what's on a computer disk and two microcassette tapes seized in February from a Henderson apartment shared by Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish.

UNLV assistant goes to Midwest: UNLV assistant goes to Midwest

Silver State trucks had problems: Keith Paul; Silver State Disposal Co. trucks were put out of service 11 times in the past two years after failing roadside inspections, including five times for brake problems, according to Nevada Highway Patrol inspection reports.

Columnist Victoria Sun: Stars flock to Las Vegas for DirecTV event: Victoria Sun; During his 20-year career as a professional hockey player, Wayne Gretzky has suffered his share of bumps and bruises.

Panel backs school fill-in: Terry Webster; Media mogul Jim Rogers is the man -- at least according to the Superintendent Selection Process Committee.

Plan for Harmon Avenue extension gets nod: Adrienne Packer; It took legal action, postponements and months of intense meetings before Clark County reached an agreement Tuesday with Las Vegas Strip landowners on the Harmon Avenue extension.

Cirque du Soleil files trademark lawsuit against Florida business: Grace Leong; The operator of two Cirque du Soleil shows in Las Vegas is seeking an injunction against Cirque Inc. of Hollywood, Fla., to prohibit the company from advertising and selling entertainment services and merchandise that it says infringe on Cirque du Soleil trademarks.

BLM recommends land sale in blocks: Diana Sahagun; The Bureau of Land Management set the stage for the future of North Las Vegas on Tuesday by recommending that 7,500 acres of federal land be used for master-planned communities.

Thursday at Golden Gate: 1st race 1 mi 4YO & up F & M Mdn Clm: 1 Mistippintime (Warren) 116; 2 Delmarlady (Meza) 118; 3 Coreopsis (Perez) 118; 4 Procrastination (Baze) 118; 5 La Melinite (Radke) 113; 6 Spice Eba (Dieguez) 116.

Thursday at Aqueduct: 1st race 1-1/16 mi 4YO & up F & M Mdn: 1 Anjikahn (Beckner) 120; 2 Reel Jigity (Beitia) 120; 3 Blues Inthe Valley (Aguilar) 120; 4 Edgefield (Bravo) 120; 5 Jovial Forecast (Vergara) 120; 6 Doniphan (Gryder) 120; 7 Al Dor Rob (Luzzi) 120; 8 Bullfrog (Velasquez) 120; 9 Improver (Pezua) 120; 10 Glacier Point (Lopez) 120; 11 Flint River (Husbands) 120; 12 Ariel Chief (Bridgmohan) 120.

Thursday at Santa Anita: 1st race 1-1/16 mi 4YO & up Alw: 1 Captain Hook (McCarron) 118; 2 Ledbetter Heights (Flores) 118; 3 Long Run (Valenzuela) 120; 4 Greedy Guy (Puglisi) 116; 5 Dixie Law (Martinez) 116; 6 The Wicked Path (Nakatani) 116; 7 Gone Courting (Pedroza) 116; 8 Sunny Forecast (Enriquez) 120.

Arson suspected in downtown hotel fire: Jace Radke; Las Vegas Fire Department investigators are looking for an arson suspect in connection with a Tuesday morning fire at a downtown hotel.

North Las Vegas lands distribution center: Komatsu signed a 10-year lease with ProLogis, owner of the Las Vegas Corporate Center. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The distribution center at 3010 Alexander Road will initially employ between 40 and 50 people.

Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Here's a banquet worthy of support: Paula DelGiudice; It's not easy for organizations to raise money here anymore. There are so many groups and so few sportsmen's dollars to go around. Nearly ever group holds a banquet, so it's often hard to pick which ones to support.

County enjoys drop in homicides: Keith Paul; Henderson reported no homicides last year, while the other police departments in the Las Vegas Valley showed decreases from 1998.

Seminoles get last laugh on Hokies' Moore: Steve Guiremand; NEW ORLEANS -- Virginia Tech defensive end Corey Moore's bark turned out to be much worse than his bite.

Cox shares slide on downgrade: Shares of Atlanta-based Cox, which had risen 30 percent from July through Tuesday, aren't expected to continue their rise, Morgan Stanley analyst Richard Bilotti said in a report.

Southwest Gas, ONEOK urged to withdraw merger request: David Strow; The staff of the Arizona Corporation Commission is recommending against approval at this time of ONEOK Inc.'s proposed acquisition of Las Vegas-based Southwest Gas Corp., calling such a move "premature."

Frohlich fires in 24 as UNLV cruises by Navy: Victoria Sun; No mercy.

Interest in Henderson plant sold: Pioneer Companies Inc. said it sold its minority interest for $12 million to Boulder Power LLC, a Nevada company.

LV spared from restaurant closings: In addition to its other Las Vegas restaurants, Lone Star operates Del Frisco's, an upscale steakhouse at 3925 Paradise Road.

Initial investigation says shooting justified: Keith Paul; There was no wrongdoing on the part of a Metro Police narcotics officer who shot a man during an undercover drug buy last week, but the wounded suspect faces the possibility of attempted murder charges, according to a preliminary police investigation.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Bayno's job safe in spite of criticism: Dean Juipe; Callers seem outraged and e-mailers are equally perturbed.

Camp scheduled in Mesquite: Camp scheduled in Mesquite

Rebels attain new low point in difficult win over High Point: Victoria Sun; Let the healing begin.

Kelly set to join Rebels: Victoria Sun; The paper trail surrounding future UNLV men's basketball player Lou Kelly appears -- mercifully -- to be coming to an end.

Tech Peters out: Steve Guiremand; NEW ORLEANS --- Frame it!

Judge signs water deal after issue floated five years in the courts: CARSON CITY -- A final decree has been signed by a district judge settling the ownership and priorities on underground water rights in the Las Vegas Valley.

Image is everything: Diana Sahagun; North Las Vegas spent the '90s trying to reinvent itself and a new motto says the effort paid off, that the bad old days of "Northtown" are waning and the new millennium will see a whole new city at the top of the valley.

Review board dispute centers on authority: Adrienne Packer; The Metro Police citizens review board, which was approved almost a year ago, is expected to be assembled as soon as Clark County and Las Vegas officials can agree on who has the power to fire the executive director.

Petition to ban same-sex marriages cheered: Hours after an initiative petition drive was launched Tuesday to make gay marriage unconstitutional in Nevada, debate on the issue became loud and passionate.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Titans draw early action in playoff wagering: To paraphrase late gamblin' man Jerry Garcia, "Bettors head back to Tennessee, Jed."

Cimarron's Miller commits to Utah: Spencer Patterson; The first day of college football's signing period is still nearly a month away, and already it's looking like a banner year for Las Vegas' prep players.

Henderson council approves plan for laying groundwork for new college: Valerie Miller; The Henderson City Council Tuesday approved $75,000 to develop a plan to open a state college in the city.

Vegas room rates strong: Weekday room rates for major Strip properties for the week ending Jan. 29 are averaging 17.4 percent higher than in the year-ago period, he said, even though there aren't any significant events or entertainment attractions scheduled this year.

Interfaith council will host MLK celebration: The event honoring the civil rights leader who was slain in Memphis in April 1968 will take place 7 p.m. Monday Jan. 17 at the Cashman Center Theatre, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

1999 was a dangerous year for pedestrians in valley: Jace Radke; Clark County roadways became a more dangerous place for pedestrians in 1999, despite the drop in the total number of fatal traffic accidents in the Las Vegas Valley.

Community news briefs for January 5, 2000: The Service Corps of Retired Executives and the Small Business Administration presents the Women's Business Breakfast Roundtable 7-9 a.m. Friday at the Business Information Center, 1951 Stella Lake St., Suite 30.

State OKs casino purchase over investigators' objections: Shortly thereafter, on Nov. 30, the Gaming Board approved a $609 million deal for Binion's Horseshoe Gaming to buy the Empress riverboat casinos in Joliet, Ill., and Hammond, Ind. The regulators' decision, on a 3-1 vote with one abstention, came on the last day before deadlines for financing and regulatory approval that could have sunk the deal.

Lawyers spar over grand jury evidence: Moreau testified Tuesday at a hearing before U.S. District Judge Frank Polozola on motions in a criminal case against Edwards, the former Louisiana governor, and others whom the government said manipulated the riverboat casino licensing process for their own financial benefit.

Alliance Gaming stock price sinks as investors complain at annual meeting: David Strow; Frustrations over the continued struggles of Alliance Gaming Corp. boiled over Tuesday, as investors grilled company officials at the company's annual meeting -- and shareholders engaged in a huge sell-off of Alliance stock.

Missing Arkansas couple alive: The Treeces were last seen during a trip to Lady Luck Casino in Mississippi just across the river from Helena. Their white 1998 Jeep Cherokee was discovered abandoned in Helena under the U.S. 49 bridge approaching the Mississippi River.

Carson chief deputy named deputy DMV chief: Curtis also is a Douglas County commissioner. DMV spokeswoman Kim Evans said the attorney general and the Douglas County district attorney reviewed the matter and determined he could serve as commissioner and deputy DMV chief without conflict.

U.S. women's hockey team at Santa Fe: U.S. women's hockey team at Santa Fe

Right machine, right time equals big, big payoff: With just three pulls on the one-armed bandit, she hit the big jackpot.

AC casino win rose 3.27% in '99: ATLANTIC CITY -- Atlantic City's 12 casinos hit $4.18 billion in win during 1999, a New Jersey newspaper reported Tuesday.

Bandits win 4th straight: The IBL's leading rebounder, Rocky Walls, grabbed a season-high 22 rebounds and scored 14 points for Las Vegas. It was his league-leading 11th double-double.

Campaign disclosure forms give candidates nightmares: The way Secretary of State Dean Heller and the attorney general's office interpreted the law, candidates no longer had to total contributions and expenses, they just had to list them.

Amendments may trim Caesars purchase price by $100 million: The original agreement Park Place signed with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide last spring called for Park Place to pay Starwood $3 billion for Caesars World's assets when the deal closed.

Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson felt free to create 'Magnolia' on his own terms: Joshua Mooney; Anderson has utilized that freedom to the limit for "Magnolia" (opening Friday), a sprawling, three-hour-long drama set in 1999 in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley. "Magnolia" is very much Anderson's private vision -- he wrote, directed and produced the film. One thing is for certain: the guy has a way with actors. Some of Hollywood's best, including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Baker Hall, Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly and William H. Macy, are part of "Magnolia's" big ensemble cast. These actors have all worked for Anderson before, and when asked to describe him as a director, they throw around terms such ...

10,000 shovels to help citizens in Nevada's bull trout rebellion: "We need to band together," he said Tuesday from Eureka, Mont.

Intelligence issues on agenda for Gibbons trip: Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is set to leave Thursday for a 12-day trip to the Indian subcontinent. Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., left Monday for three weeks in Africa.

Park Place shuffles AC management: The newspaper said Audrey Oswell, only the third female chief casino executive in Atlantic City's 21 years of gaming, was fired Tuesday just 11 months after taking over as president at Caesars and leading the property to its best year ever.

Imprisoned ex-LV doctor dies in hospital: Kim Smith; A former Las Vegas doctor serving a four-year prison term for selling $1.5 million worth of drugs to patients who didn't need them has died.

High Point-UNLV, box score: HIGH POINT (6-6)

Company halts gambling boat effort in Hyannis: The boat's reception among local and state officials wasn't much smoother.

Choosing the best: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Two statues from nearly every state in the nation adorn the halls of the U.S. Capitol: 96 notable Americans immortalized in marble and bronze for embodying the spirit of their state.

News briefs: A 2-year-old girl died Tuesday night, despite her mother and grandmother's efforts to rush her to the hospital.

Obituaries for January 5, 2000: Donald Lee Roy Backus, 66, of Las Vegas died Thursday in Las Vegas. He was born March 13, 1933, in Michigan. A resident for 10 years, he was a roofer and an Army veteran.

Letter: Dr. Laura spreads hate against gays in her column: Apparently Dr. Laura feels gay kids should not embrace their sexuality, but rather they should be subjected to wacko therapy to be, as Dr. Laura puts it, "normal" heterosexuals.

Three lawsuits against former basketball star resolved without trials: The attorney declined to give any details of how the cases were resolved, and would not say if any of the plaintiffs received monetary settlements. Attempts to reach Rodman's attorney Michael Harrison for comment on the cases were unsuccessful.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Getting hot over range of ranges: As noted in last week's column, when my range was just about destroyed by a minor kitchen fire I was forced to look for a new one. The GE double oven, one-piece unit in my condo had served me well for many years, but these single units are no longer made, so I couldn't replace it.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Buchanan & Co. light it up for holidays: Elizabeth Foyt; New Year's Eve was a black-tie celebration much enjoyed by guests of James "Bucky" Buchanan and his sweetheart, Gianna Orlandi. Held at the Buchanan's home on the upper reaches of Sunrise Mountain, the party hosted by the two attorneys offered splendid vantages of our glittering city from nearly every room. Several hundred guests were guided to the private home by means of maps and huge spotlights which lit up the mountainside.

Letter: Grease poles to discourage climbers: It's the simple solutions that always seem to make the most sense.

New casino hotel opens at East St. Louis casino: The $15 million, 157-room hotel became the first major hotel built in East St. Louis in more than 40 years. It is staffed by 45 full-time employees.

Letter: Clinton popularity a media deception: Do you think that the media is protecting the big lie theory -- keep repeating lies and eventually they are accepted as truths -- or do they depend on complacent and uninterested citizens to blindly accept their poll results?

Editorial: Judiciary could use more help: His New Year's Day message this year also is relevant. Rehnquist's most pointed remarks were made regarding the fees for lawyers who accept appointments under the Criminal Justice Act. The Supreme Court's landmark 1963 ruling -- Gideon v. Wainwright -- found that all criminal defendants have the right to an attorney. If the defendant is indigent, then the court must appoint an attorney to represent him at government expense. Until 1999, when Congress approved a $5 raise, court-appointed attorneys in federal court were receiving $65 an hour for in-court work and $45 an hour for out-of-court work. But Rehnquist argues ...

State announces problem gambling initiative: "Gambling can be a form of entertainment - it is a form of entertainment for most people," said division Director Janet Corson. "That is what it should be. It shouldn't be a whole way of life."

Montana rejects gmabling network bid: His office will send out another request for bids later this month in hopes of getting more and better responses.

Wisconsin governor seeks curbs on video gambling: Instead of facing felony charges, including a $10,000 fine and two years in prison, those bar owners now face a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 misdemeanor fine - as long as each establishment has no more than five machines.

City to debut television station: In addition to rebroadcasting City Council meetings several times a week, the channel will feature four city programs, which will also be shown repeatedly.

Big Black casino lawsuit moved to federal court: Paul Payne; "We think we can get a fair trial in either place but we prefer state court," said McComb attorney Wayne Dowdy on Tuesday, who won $3 million in a previous suit against the companies. That trial was held in Pike County.

FBI revelations may clear the way for Bulger's sister to claim lotto winnings: When Bulger fled in 1995 from a federal racketeering indictment, the U.S. attorney seized the lottery winnings. That year, Holland petitioned Norfolk County Probate and Family Court to be named his receiver.

Las Vegas eschews fireworks, fails to attract national exposure: Some of Nevada's top tourism officials said the national media missed the boat by dwelling on negatives rather than on the world-class entertainment inside Las Vegas resorts.

Fernley murder suspect pleads guilty: He said he always thought there was a possibility of a plea at some point, but he didn't expect it any time this month.

Judge orders Harrah's to make shuttle ADA compliant: Harrah's Entertainment Company spokeswoman Jan Jones said the company plans to modify the buses by the deadline.

Letter: Y2K was much ado about nothing: GEORGE NUNN

Brown asks judge to lift gag order: In court Monday, Daniel Small, the attorney for former Gov. Edwin Edwards, said the government has not provided defense attorneys with the transcripts of testimony of state Sen. Greg Tarver; Robert Vosbein, an attorney for Treasure Chest Casino; state police Lt. Col. Kenneth Norris and state Rep. John Alario.