Print edition for January 13, 2000

Fund manager presses for higher price for Southwest Gas shares: David Strow; As Southwest Gas Corp.'s proposed $1.8 billion merger with ONEOK Inc. of Tulsa, Okla., grows increasingly doubtful, the Las Vegas company's largest shareholder is renewing his calls for a sweeter offer.

Las Vegas role downplayed further at N.Y.-based MGC: MGC Communications Inc., which moved its headquarters from Las Vegas last year, now plans to change its name.

Police pursuit of stolen car ends in crash into parking structure: Jace Radke; A 15-minute chase down Las Vegas streets ended Wednesday night when a man Metro Police believe stole a car crashed into a covered parking area at an apartment complex near Arville Street and Pennwood Avenue.

Sierra Health exec resigns: Tom VanSweringen, who has served as vice-president and chief operating officer of Southwest Medical Associates Inc. of Las Vegas and is president of Sierra Medical Management of Baltimore, will assume the position starting Jan. 31.

Japanese slot maker expanding to Las Vegas with 100 workers: David Strow; A Japanese firm well-known for its video game products on Wednesday revealed plans to launch an international slot machine subsidiary based in Las Vegas.

State Farm to drop auto rates by 1.6 %: CARSON CITY -- State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., which covers more than 200,000 vehicles in Nevada, is proposing to drop rates by 1.6 percent or $2.9 million a year.

CES snubs Sands for 2001 show, plans tents in parking lot: CES attendance

California to reconsider plan for Lake Mead water: In November California water officials asked six other Western states sharing the Colorado River to continue to give the Golden State all surplus water from the river for more 15 years while it weans its use down to the 4.4 million acre-feet-a-year limit under the Law of the River.

LVCVA boss Cortez gets raise: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President Manny Cortez has received a 4 percent raise and will be paid $195,000 a year in 2000.

Supreme Court reinstates suit over STD transmission: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court Wednesday reinstated a $15 million suit by a Pahrump woman who sued her ex-boyfriend after she contracted sexually transmitted diseases.

Control Board scolds gaming surveillance expert: David Strow; A high-profile Las Vegas casino surveillance executive failed in a bid to gain licensing from the Nevada Gaming Control Board Wednesday after investigators produced evidence that he had hired a convicted card cheat and then tried to conceal his actions.

Battle raging over control of LV residential development: Phil Levine; A battle in District Court could determine ownership of the Rhodes Ranch master-planned community in southwest Las Vegas.

Local UFO team returns home after studying a reported sighting: Kim Smith; Two members of a Las Vegas UFO research organization returned home Wednesday after spending five days investigating a reported Jan. 5 sighting of a UFO near the Missouri-Illinois border.

Planning commissioners may be forced to resign: Erin Neff; When the Las Vegas Planning Commission meets tonight, the 70 items on the agenda won't be all that is under consideration.

Binion prosecutor won't fight ruling: A prosecutor said Wednesday he won't appeal a judge's decision refusing to force a Las Vegas lawyer to testify about his conversations with Sandy Murphy weeks before Ted Binion's death.

Walters case going back to Judge Mosley: Bill Gang; The money laundering case against politically connected gambler and golf course entrepreneur Billy Walters and three others is going back to District Judge Donald Mosley, who twice before dismissed nearly identical indictments.

Guinn wants prompt services billing to state: Guinn suggested there be a time limit for the bills to be submitted or they would not be paid.

Split of school district sought: CARSON CITY -- A petition to permit the breakup of the Clark County School District will be filed today by Assemblywoman Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, a longtime advocate of smaller districts in Southern Nevada.

Teen says he killed dad to protect sister: Bill Gang; Fifteen-year-old Conan Pope told police after his arrest that he shot his father to death to protect his sister, according to court documents filed in Justice Court.

Board seeking unity after failed attempt to land schools chief: Terry Webster; The Clark County School Board decided Wednesday to interview two candidates for the superintendent's job between March 7 and 20 and to spend almost $150,000 to fill the position that Brian Cram is scheduled to leave in June.

Auditor search: Erin Neff; Despite the headlines two audits grabbed this week, the most controversy arising from Wednesday's Audit Oversight Committee revolved around candidates for the city auditor position.

Report may intensify ambulance battle: Erin Neff; If the preliminary data contained in a blue-ribbon panel report examining emergency medical transportation in the city of Las Vegas is any clue, the contentious ambulance debate is about to get nastier.

Attorney in school shooting given time to challenge new law: Bill Gang; The landmark trial for a teenager charged in the shootings of two students at Clark High School has been postponed until March 13 to give the defense attorney more time to challenge the charges and a new law.

Many slots out of order in new casino: DETROIT -- Some gamblers are growing irate at Detroit's new MotorCity Casino, claiming the slot machines suffer from persistent outages, a Detroit newspaper reported.

Bricks to be sold as demolition souvenirs: RENO -- Though the legal battles to stop the Jan. 30 implosion of the historic Mapes Hotel continue, the demolition crew is making plans to sell pieces of the downtown Reno landmark after the dust settles.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Clash of 130-pounders at MGM could resemble a battle royal: Dean Juipe; If this were wrestling, it would be a cage match.

Arizona casino upgraded: PHOENIX -- A new Indian casino in Northern Arizona is putting a heavy emphasis on family-oriented entertainment amenities.

Woman found dead has record of prostitution arrests: Keith Paul; The woman found dead, wrapped in a plastic sheet inside a Las Vegas town house, had several arrests for prostitution in the last 18 months in the downtown area, Metro Police said this morning.

Feds vow prosecution in slaughter of horses: Jace Radke; If those responsible for the slaughter of four wild horses and two burros near Lee Canyon are caught they will face prosecution by the U.S. attorney's office.

AC casino win hit record $4.1 billion in '99: ATLANTIC CITY -- Gamblers lost $4.1 billion in the city's casinos last year, the highest total in the 21-year history of legalized gambling in New Jersey, officials said Wednesday.

Advisory board disagrees with TRPA: However, the TRPA Advisory Planning Commission, which makes recommendations to the decision-making board, disagreed with staff Wednesday.

Canadian group buys LV auto shop: Located at 3585 W. Twain Ave. and in business since 1981, Auto Magic has 37 employees. A Boyd Group spokeswoman said Las Vegas' rapid growth and high ratio of vehicles to repair shops made the city an attractive market.

Kaufman & Broad earnings beat estimates: K&B reported net income of $64.5 million, or $1.36 a share, compared with $41.8 million or $1.02 a share in the year-ago quarter.

LV firm in pact with female businesses: This will help women-owned businesses sell to firms that buy goods and services from women and minority-owned businesses.

Tahoe regulators continue land-rating despite lawsuit: Last Friday, a property rights group and 252 landowners from around the Tahoe Basin filed suit against TRPA in U.S. District Court in Reno and Sacramento. They allege IPES has illegally robbed them of any ability to build on their land, particularly on the California side of the lake.

Friday at Aqueduct: 1st race 6 fur 3YO Fil Mdn: 1 Heresanna (Castillo) 120; 2 Stealing Beauty (Gryder) 120; 3 Chris's Contender (Gutierrez) 113; 4 Earl's Girls (Teator) 120; 5 Home On the Hill (Luzzi) 120; 6 Sweet At the Wire (Lopez) 120; 7 Cedar Knolls (Beckner) 120; 8 Don't Slew Down (Toscano) 120; 9 Claracoly (Hole) 120; 10 Prelone (Bridgmohan) 120; 11 Glitz N Blue Grass (Castillo) 120.

IBL box: Las Vegas 110, Cincinnati 103: CINCINNATI (14-3)

Lady Rebels battle BYU: The Lady Rebels (8-5) bring a two-game winning streak into the contest and have won four of their past five contests.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Team Tyson drops ball yet again: There's a new addition to the list of all-time worst teams, deserving of a dishonorable mention with the '62 Mets, '72 Sixers, Chicago Cubs (pick your year) and the two imposters who comprised Milli Vanilli.

Union effort discussed at Beau Rivage: BILOXI, Miss. -- Union officials say they plan to meet with workers of Mirage Resorts Inc.'s Mississippi casino today to discuss forming a union.

Friday at Golden Gate: 1st race 1-1/16 mi 4YO & up Clm: 1 Der Walker (Carr) 117; 2 Kelleric (Bisono) 117; 3 Stretch Run King (Campbell) 117; 4 Moscow Missile (Lopez) 117; 5 Platoon (Gonzalez) 117; 6 Flawless (Tohill) 117.

UNLV swimming trio in top 25: Diaconescu, of Bucharest, Romania, who has been dominating the Mountain West, ranks 15th in the nation in the 200 free (1:48.91) and is listed as 25th in the 500 free with a time of 4:52.91. Middleton, of Cathedral City, Calif., remains unbeaten in the 50 and 100 breast events this season. He ranks ninth in the nation in the 100 breast with a time of 55.50. Simon, of Kecskemet, Hungary, has catapulted himself onto the national scene by ranking seventh in the nation in the 500 free (4:23.80). He also ranks 15th in the 1650 free (15:31.19) and 16th in ...

Friday at Santa Anita: 1st race 1 mi 3YO Fil Mdn: 1 Sands Aglow (Valdivia) 120; 2 Annie Li (Garcia) 120; 3 Pearlescen (McCarron) 120; 4 Lovely Cozzen (Flores) 120; 5 More Cal Brea (Solis) 120; 6 Blair's Favorit (Black) 120; 7 Classy Car (Puglisi) 120; 8 Miss Terasit (Valenzuela) 120.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Teams catching up on Gorman: Spencer Patterson; Even before the 1999-2000 prep basketball season started, you'd have been hard pressed to find a coach in Southern Nevada picking anyone other than Bishop Gorman to win this year's 4A state boys title.

Recent shootings prompt review of arrest procedures: The incidents have prompted police to conduct an administrative review to determine whether there is a safer way to apprehend suspects in vehicles.

News briefs: Contestants during Las Vegas week of the television show "Wheel of Fortune" will get at least a token reminder of the fortune they came to town to win.

Las Vegas lighting firm sold: Kalco's assembly and distribution plant, at 6355 S. Windy Street, employs approximately 125 people. Simkar Chief Executive Officer Bill Eagle said that as a result of the purchase, Kalco President Harry Kallick becomes a shareholder in the new company; Kallick will also continue to serve as Kalco president.

Bandits win 8th straight contest: Zack Hall; It had been a long time since the Las Vegas Silver Bandits had run up and down the Thomas and Mack Center -- seven games to be precise.

Clarification: The Sun corrects its errors. If you find a mistake, call 385-3111 to report it.

Big Nevada insurer is cutting jobs: SANTA ANA, Calif. -- PacifiCare Health Systems Inc., one of the biggest health insurers in California and Nevada, said it will cut about 450 jobs, or 5 percent of its workforce, in the next year and take a charge of $7 million to $8 million in the first quarter to cover severance costs.

Editorial: Serious debate on the issues: McCain would seek $237.5 billion in tax cuts, while the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, wants to cut taxes by $483 billion over five years. Bush went so far last week to say he would implement "tax cuts, so help me God," a pledge eerily reminiscent of that taken by his father. During the 1988 campaign for the White House, President Bush said, "Read my lips: No new taxes" -- a vow he later broke.

Temporary regulator named to get electric cases moving: PGE Merger at Issue

Kelly cleared to play: Victoria Sun; Lou Kelly was freed from college basketball limbo on Wednesday when he learned he was cleared to compete for UNLV.

All state agencies must join Internet: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn has set a goal for every state agency to have a Web page and a presence on the Internet within 90 days.

Editorial: Airlines given nudge in customer service: To make sure airlines got the message, Congress ordered the Transportation Department to track consumer complaints in two areas -- overbookings and whether airlines are offering customers the lowest possible fares -- and report back later this year. The follow-up requirement was a smart move, because what often happens is that after attention to the issue fades away, the industry once under scrutiny reverts to its old ways.

Obituaries for January 13, 2000: Josephine F. Dantico, 78, of Henderson died Tuesday in Henderson. She was born March 19, 1921, in Illinois. A resident for 25 years, she was a homemaker.

Nevada regulators recommend Japanese company be licensed: The Nevada Gaming Control Board recommended that Konami Co. of Tokyo be given a gambling license. The Nevada Gaming Commission will have final say on the application at its Jan. 27 meeting.

Businesses get OK for tax breaks: The Ford Motor Credit Co., which is establishing a call center for account services and collections in Henderson, will employ 525 people full time at an average hourly wage of $17.90, company representative John Strang said Wednesday. As many as 200 part-time employees will also be hired, he said.

Letter: Make casinos pay more taxes: I understand our gaming taxes are the lowest in the country. This has enabled our casinos to take their huge profits out of Las Vegas and build casinos elsewhere, even internationally.

Wild horse gather scheduled in burn area: Jim Gianola, a BLM wild horse specialist in Carson City, said the Clan Alpine Herd Management Area encompassing about 323,000 acres is overpopulated with about 1,400 wild horses.

Mesquite casino changes name, announces remodeling plans: "What was happening was that people were confusing us with other properties and we're getting people coming here thinking we're the Mesquite Star and vice versa," said Marketing Director Kathy Poindexter.

Gaming Board sides with California woman in jackpot dispute: The state Gaming Control Board has sided with a California woman who claimed she was cheated out of a $112,600 slot jackpot at a Reno casino last year.

Community news briefs for January 13, 2000: The Southern Nevada census offices will host an open house Jan. 20 to inform and involve elected officials, business leaders and community groups in Census 2000.

Boys Basketball standings: SUNRISE REGION

Calif. lineman says he'll play for Rebels: Steve Guiremand; UNLV's football recruiting continued to pick up steam on Wednesday when one of the top line prospects in Southern California announced he would sign with the Rebels on national letter of intent day Feb. 2.

Australia comes to Las Vegas: The Bank of America Down Under Tour has arrived in town, bringing a virtual Australia and a chance to taste a bit of the U.S. Olympic experience.

Letter: Mayor's warning threat to tourism: As a lawyer, the mayor should be fully aware that his proposed ordinance is a violation of interstate commerce and is meaningless. The mayor clearly has his politician hat on and is doing a classic Nevada politician nuclear waste grandstanding act. The problem is that the mayor and his mouth are the real danger to our community.

Kidnapping/rape suspects set for trial: The trial date was set Wednesday by Washoe District Judge Steven Kosach.

Warm weather, lack of snows, keeping Tahoe bears from winter slumber: Sandra Chereb; Generally, the bears tend to ease toward hibernation sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, wildlife officials said.

Cox Interactive website names LV manager: Claudine Langan will lead the Las Vegas studio's efforts to launch a CIMedia city website that offers a local and national search engine, local news, weather and sports. The site also will offer lists of community events of Las Vegas organizations.

Sale of souvenir bricks still on: Officials on Wednesday said if all goes as planned, souvenir bricks from the Mapes will be available after demolition for $1 each.

Prep wrestling standings: SUNRISE REGION

Nevada government services to be available on Internet: "The Internet has changed the way business is done in Nevada, across the country and throughout the world," Guinn said. "I want to make sure Nevada's government adequately responds to the changes new technology has brought to our society."

Tax breaks OK'd for LV-area firms: CARSON CITY -- The state Commission on Economic Development on Wednesday approved tax breaks for two companies -- one locating in Henderson and the other expanding its business in Las Vegas.

Sun Boys Basketball Poll: Teams ranked jointly by the Las Vegas Sun and the Daily Sparks Tribune.

Colleges, casinos gear up for congressional fight over sports betting: Laurence Arnold; The National Collegiate Athletic Association this week urged its 1,031 member colleges and universities to lobby members of Congress to support the bill, which Sens. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., plan to introduce Jan. 26.

In the path of 'The Hurricane': Tom Cohen; That stormy style inspired the nickname synonymous with the man. And his swarming, straight-ahead approach has been the lone constant in six decades of contrasts so striking that his survival seems remarkable, his triumph impossible.

Lawlor Events Center awaits confirmation of Elton John concert: The concert would be a stop on "An evening with Elton John solo: The Medusa Tour."

Longtime educator Richardson dies: Mary G. Richardson, longtime educator in the Clark County School District, died Tuesday at a local hospital. She was 67.

Entertainment has the spotlight at Preview 2000 show: Grammy Award-winning recording artist Lee Greenwood and popular Las Vegas showman David Cassidy will perform at and address the event Jan. 25 at the Thomas & Mack Center. About 2,000 people are expected to attend Preview 2000, which begins with a breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and will conclude at noon after a series of speeches and presentations.

Girls Soccer standings: SUNRISE REGION

Hearing brings out few people to discuss nuclear waste transportation: C.G. Wallace; SALT LAKE CITY - The prospect of hauling spent nuclear fuel through Utah dominated a hearing Thursday to give people a chance to comment on a proposed nuclear waste dump in Yucca Mountain, Nev.

Democratic leader joins Berkley to unveil prescription drug pricing study: Trevor Hayes; Medicare counselor Jackie Ridley has seen senior citizens forced to choose between buying food and paying for their medicine.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Lesson: Broadway-length shows require money, commitment: Joe Delaney; Years spent in the recording industry have revealed that most hit releases were accidents. ... The record producer can join in the selection of material to be recorded, try to match the music with the best possible interpreters, and set a climate most conducive to bringing out the utmost from everyone concerned. ... But there is no guarantee the public will respond accordingly.

Letter: Corporations ruining Las Vegas with their greed: Before the corporations moved in and the so-called mob ran the hotels and casinos, their formula was to give the people nice rooms, good food and drinks, and good entertainment -- all for a cheap price.

Regulator: State can hit deregulation deadline: The state Legislature set the deadline last summer when it revised the law on electric utility deregulation. It gave Gov. Kenny Guinn authority to delay the start of competition if the governor deems it necessary.

Girls Basketball standings: SUNRISE REGION

Attorneys for Billy Walters get requested judge: District Judge Donald Mosley, who twice before dismissed nearly identical indictments against the men, will hear the latest indictment, thanks to a decision Thursday by Chief District Judge Lee Gates.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Older folk wield clout in new Vegas: Ruthe Deskin; Young marketing geniuses hell-bent on catering to youth should look at some recent statistics about our area: The Las Vegas Valley has the fastest-growing population of people 60 or over, a recent Sun article said.

Sun Girls Basketball Poll: Teams are ranked jointly by the Las Vegas Sun and the Daily Sparks Tribune.

Back in the game: Spencer Patterson; Long before he had ever heard the horrifying words "Necrotizing Fasciitis," Jason Burkett was a promising talent on Southern California's youth basketball scene.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Boy belongs with dad: Let's hear it for family values.

New trial sought in postal killing: Bill Gang; As defense and prosecution attorneys argued before the Nevada Supreme Court about whether a disgruntled former postal worker who murdered a U.S. Postal Service official should get a new trial, it began to sound like a Catch-22.

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