Print edition for July 11, 2000

Dust plan will cost landowners: Clark County residents probably may not realize the personal financial impact of new dust-control regulations passed by the Clark County Health District board three weeks ago, local government officials said Monday.

Suspect in slaying remains at large, but cops find car: Keith Paul; The getaway car Metro Police suspect a man used to flee a construction area where a worker was killed last week was found Saturday.

Hilton sales talk heats up again: The Las Vegas Sun reported in September 1999 that major lodging companies like Marriott International and Hyatt Hotels, as well as private investors, were interested in buying the off-Strip property.

Pecos/Warm Springs office building on hold: Developers AM-PM want to build a 228,000-square-foot, two-story office and business center at the site, but the proposal has generated opposition from nearby residents.

Nevada auto insurer seeks rate hike: Home insurance

Harrah's in pact with soft drink giant: Harrah's which operates 21 casinos in 17 markets under the Harrah's, Rio and Showboat brands, said the agreement will include the installation, stocking and maintenance of fountain equipment as well as vending machines at all existing and future-owned Harrah's locations. Most of the vending equipment will be converted from 12-ounce to 20-ounce capacity.

Caesars goes after 'Scissors Palace': Sun Staff; In a U.S. District Court lawsuit, Caesars Palace, which operates a salon called the Venus Salon that offers the same types of salon and spa services as Scissors Palace, and caters to tourists and locals, said it could lose more business because consumers are confused by the similar-sounding names.

CCSN wins new approval, praise: CARSON CITY -- The fast-growing Community College of Southern Nevada has gained renewal of its accreditation from the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, which praised the school for serving community needs and providing student access.

Nevada Power hearing canceled, settlement talks under way: CARSON CITY -- An out-of-court settlement may be near to resolving Nevada Power Co.'s $120 million rate dispute with the state and to clear the obstacles that have stopped deregulation of the Nevada electric industry.

Local education briefs for July 11, 2000: About 6,500 Nevada high school graduates are eligible to receive state Millennium Scholarships, and officials said the number could grow to 6,800 by fall.

Plea deal expected in hitman case: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas man who is serving six life sentences and is scheduled to go to trial later this month for allegedly hiring a hitman to kill a prosecutor is on the verge of taking a deal.

Obituaries for July 11, 2000: Geraldine Aikins, 94, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local care center. She was born Oct. 1, 1905, in Bonesteele, S.D. A resident for 15 years, she was a homemaker.

Judge weighing arguments in union organization drive at Jensen Precast: Grace Leong; The government says Nevada concrete products maker Jensen Precast must be forced to immediately recognize the Carpenters Union because possible delays in hearings on labor law charges against the firm may hurt workers' rights to join the union.

Democrats charge Porter with campaign violation: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Republican congressional candidate Jon Porter violated federal election laws when he took $6,000 from a political action committee, according to charges by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Wells Fargo expanding in Iowa: SAN FRANCISCO -- Wells Fargo & Co. said it agreed to buy Brenton Banks Inc. and a subsidiary for $264.5 million in stock, boosting its presence in Iowa.

Trial begins in death of woman: Jury selection at the trial of Fernando Hernandez continued this morning, and opening statements were expected this afternoon.

LVMS may land IRL race in 2001: Las Vegas Motor Speedway will have to wait until 2002 to host a Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) race, but that does not necessarily mean the Speedway will be without open-wheel racing next season.

Firm in Sprint picture looking at VoiceStream: The Financial Times of London reported Bonn, Germany-headquartered Deutsche Telekom had offered about $30 billion for VoiceStream. There was no immediate confirmation of the bid.

Washington news briefs for July 11, 2000: WASHINGTON -- The House on Monday passed a Senate-approved bill that transfers a part of the Las Vegas water-delivery system from federal to county control, which should make it easier for local officials to maintain it with fewer red-tape hassles. The bill will be sent to President Clinton for signature.

Stock declines for doughnut maker: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Stock of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. fell $6.375 to $73.125 Monday.

Nevada gaming win growth rate slows: CARSON CITY -- Enjoying strong slot machine play, Nevada casinos won $799 million in May, an increase of 5.3 percent.

Local court briefs for July 11, 2000: A Florida pharmacy owner was spared prison time Monday when a U.S. District Court judge sentenced him to six months of home detention for his role in a prescription drug scam.

Jury selection begins in Floyd murder case: Kim Smith; Jury selection in the Zane Floyd capital murder trial began this morning with 30 of the 120 potential jurors being dismissed even before they entered the courtroom.

Courthouse security increased for Bellagio heist hearing: Aaron Clemens; A SWAT team in military fatigues stood guard with M-4 automatic weapons just inside the Clark County Courthouse this morning.

New York-New York in dispute involving 14 Teamsters workers: Representatives of Teamsters Union Local 995 set up a picket line at the New York-New York hotel-casino Monday afternoon and said they will continue to demonstrate until a contract is reached for 14 Teamsters who work at the hotel's receiving dock.

Second suspect jailed in shooting of officer: Keith Paul; A second suspect was arrested Monday night in connection with last month's restaurant robbery that led to a Metro Police officer being shot in the face.

Trial of woman held in 6 deaths set for January: Kim Smith; The young woman accused in the deaths of six teenagers on Interstate 15 in March will be heading for trial in January -- three months earlier than what her defense attorney wanted.

Family renovating Continental hotel-casino buys Jackpot route: The family behind a chain of gas stations and the defunct Continental hotel-casino has acquired the slot route operated by Jackpot Enterprises Inc. of Las Vegas.

Officers kill robbery suspect; girl, 13, hurt: Jace Radke; Four Metro Police officers shot and killed a robbery suspect and wounded the passenger in his car, a 13-year-old runaway girl, late Monday after he tried to run over an officer, witnesses said.

Court says warning about hot coffee unnecessary: CARSON CITY -- Spilling a cup of hot coffee on one's self may cause injury, but the Nevada Supreme Court isn't going to require restaurants to post labels on coffee containers about the potential danger.

Mayor presses Greektown Casino to increase minority stake: The Greektown Casino has been under pressure from Mayor Dennis Archer to increase the local minority stake in its ownership.

Editorial: Openness would be welcome: As the Sun's Stacy J. Willis reported Sunday, members of the public who want to find out whether a doctor has had a malpractice lawsuit filed against him likely will run into roadblocks. It's not as if the data don't exist: The National Practitioner Data Bank is a wonderful resource -- and includes information on malpractice lawsuits against physicians -- but it only is accessible to hospitals and health insurers. The American Medical Association has been able to block the release of these records to the public.

Compassion helps Alzheimer's patients cope: Kirk Baird; Shelton Wells sits quietly at one end of a small table in a large room. A thin, elderly man with a mixture of dark and gray hair that's shorn close to the scalp, by all appearances he's the same as anyone you might encounter on the street.

Henderson council faces busy schedule: Greg Harman; After a relaxed Fourth of July week, when few city employees braved municipal office life, Henderson City Council members are catching up on lost time.

Danoski-Clark engagement: The wedding will be Aug. 11.

Cherokee lures crowds and new development since casino's arrival: Money left by the stream of gamblers has triggered a public works bonanza for the tribe, which owns the casino and pays Harrah's Entertainment to run it. New hotels, restaurants and other businesses also have flocked to town.

Letter: Kenny wasting time promoting frivolous law: Kenny's proposed new law must have more behind it than she claims. People who live near Sahara know that there are car dealerships there. Sahara is a business street, not a residential street. No one can miss this.

Exotic dancer pleads not guilty to manslaughter, other charges: Lisa Snedeker; Family members and friends of the victims filled the courtroom wearing T-shirts bearing the names and photographs of those who were killed. They were audibly and visibly upset after Jessica Williams entered her plea.

Community news briefs for July 11, 2000: University Medical Center's Silver Advantage program is offering free cholesterol screenings 9-11 a.m. Wednesday at Nellis Quick Care, 61 N. Nellis Blvd., to Clark County residents 50 years of age and older.

Dockside gambling paying off big in Illinois: Bigger crowds have meant more money for both the casinos and the state. Casino revenues have risen from about $1.1 billion in the year before dockside gambling began to about $1.5 billion in the 11 months since the Legislature stopped requiring gambling boats to leave the dock before gaming tables could open. Casino visitors also can gamble 24 hours a day.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: USC's Kahn to join Rebel broadcast booth: The USC-to-UNLV pipeline apparently is bubbling again.

LV Hilton sold for $365 million: Park Place said it expects to take a $32 million non-cash loss on the sale.

Statistics about Alzheimer's disease from the Alzheimer's Association: * The average lifetime cost per AD patient is $174,000.

Editorial: Loutish parents a stain on sports: Two fathers in a quarrel, ironically, over whether a youth hockey game had become too rough, got into a fight in front of the children, some who were as young as 10. Thomas Junta, who weighs 275 pounds, allegedly pummeled the 150-pound Michael Costin until he was unconscious. Costin, the single parent of four children, died later from the injuries he suffered; on Monday prosecutors charged Junta with manslaughter. All parents should heed the death in Boston as a sobering wake-up call.

Candidates' arrest disclosure proposed: CARSON CITY -- Sen. Ray Shaffer, D-North Las Vegas, jokes that if his bill passes the 2001 Legislature, there may be a lot fewer people running for public office.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Sampras' first tutor a UNLV gem: Dean Juipe; The greatest tennis player of all time had to start somewhere, and Pete Sampras got his start at the Jack Kramer Tennis Academy in Southern California. He was 9 years old.

Jackpot selling slot route in second such deal Monday: This follows Monday's earlier announcement that Alliance Gaming is selling its slot route operation, United Coin Machine, to an investment group for $118 million.

Kozicz-Carter engagement: Judge William Jansen will officiate at the ceremony. Melody Mooney will be the maid of honor.

Students receive notice of Millennium Scholarships: Not surprisingly, the bulk of the scholarship recipients hail from Nevada's two most populous areas. Clark and Washoe county students have combined to receive nearly 5,000 of the awards so far.

Baker anniversary: Jonathan has been a Las Vegas resident for 10 years. He is retired but keeps busy and delivers newspapers. Thelma is retired and also keeping busy.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Time Is Gold - Pincay rides Carava trainee, draws good inner post for the route opener, should get the trip from there. Memo To Dixie - Trainer May employs bug boy Baze here, training at Anita, needs to get position on first turn for best chance. Value Play -- Spot Hammer Dent

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Driving people away: A long, hot, Las Vegas summer.

Letter: GOP, as usual, spews rhetoric: They claim that it is "socialism" for the government to tax people to provide for their health care (single payer system) but it is "capitalistic" to tax people in order to give money to insurance companies to provide for their health care! (vouchers)

Supreme Court turns down appeal in O'Aces bar killing: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court says a man convicted of first degree murder in Las Vegas should not be able to profit from his own misconduct at the District Court trial.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Tour a Supreme disappointment: Kate Maddox; Proving the old adage "what goes around comes around," Diana Ross and her Supremes' "Return to Love Tour" has gotten the ax. After a stormy send-off -- which left both former group members and Supremes fans wondering, where the did the love go? -- the "reunion" was marked for doom from the get-go.

Loan from lawyer comprises most of backing for Arkansas casino proposal: On Friday, the group turned in 80,881 signatures to the secretary of state. To get on the ballot, the secretary of state's office needs to certify that 70,701 signatures are those of registered Arkansas voters.

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1:10 p.m.

Employees testify in Bellagio robbery hearing: Lisa Snedeker; The testimony came during a preliminary hearing for Oscar Sanchez Cisneros, 23, and Jose Manuel Vigoa, 40, who appeared before Justice of the Peace Deborah Lippis. The pair face 16 charges stemming from the June robbery of the Bellagio in which three armed men wearing body armor robbed the main change cage and fired shots at security guards as they escaped.

Thirteen charged in Atlantic City casino cheating scam: John Curran; State Police found out about the cheating plan in advance and arrested all 13 on Thursday as they carried it out at the Claridge Casino Hotel, according to Katherine Lyons, a spokeswoman for the state Division of Gaming Enforcement.

North Carolina House approves toughened video gambling moratorium: Scott Mooneyham; The plan, which places a three-machine limit on businesses, was approved by a 96-15 vote after two hours of debate.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Out of the ashes comes compassion: It's been almost a year and a half since the tragedy that linked Joe Planck and Elizabeth Gonzalez, but he says it's still hard to visit her.

Shay-Winchester engagement: The bride-to-be is a graduate of Bonanza High School, an interior design graduate of UNR and an education graduate of Sierra Nevada College. She is a teacher with the Clark County School District.