Print edition for July 19, 2000

Highly touted twins opt to stay together: Victoria Sun; Errick and Derrick Craven.

Gaming industry argues it reaching out to minorities, women: "I really don't see where minorities are benefiting from the industry," said James Crowell, president of the Biloxi branch of the NAACP.

Gorman advances: Spencer Patterson; Just because it's the middle of summer doesn't mean there's no place for an good old fashioned Sunset Region basketball game.

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

Spring training plan takes a hit: Steve Guiremand; No news may not be good news for Stars president Don Logan and his dream of turning Las Vegas into a third spring training mecca.

Columnist Victoria Sun: Royal Links offers a Scottish flavor: Victoria Sun; A trip to Great Britain to play a round at the historic golf courses that have been the site of the British Open could cost thousands of dollars.

NLRB accuses Mirage of violating labor law: Grace Leong; The government filed a complaint against Mirage Resorts Inc. accusing it of violating federal labor laws when it allegedly refused to negotiate a contract with the Carpenters Union for 22 maintenance carpenters and upholsterers at the Mirage hotel-casino.

Tribal leaders criticize Reid's land claim bill: Tom Gardner; Three tribal chairmen used a Tuesday news conference to criticize a bill introduced by Sen. Harry Reid to pay $20,000 to every Shoshone man, woman and child whose ancestors were affected by the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley.

Forum Shops unfazed by rivals: Despite the opening of a new rival at the Venetian hotel-casino last year, retail sales increased at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, which continues to be the most successful shopping mall in the United States.

Fortunes improving at Las Vegas Tropicana: Aztar Corp. of Phoenix, owner of the Tropicana hotel-casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, today reported second-quarter operating cash flow of $52 million, up 23 percent from the year-ago quarter.

Fire leaves Reno families homeless: Witnesses said the fire appeared to have started on the outside of the building near two barbecue grills.

Vegas retail focus shifting to Aladdin, Fashion Show, Desert Inn: After the Aladdin hotel-casino's Desert Passage opens next month, the focus of Las Vegas Strip retail will shift north, a retail expert says.

Power settlement would allow rate hike: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Legislature promised consumers that with the advent of open competition in the electric industry there would be no power rate increases until 2003.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Coaches have all the advantages: Dean Juipe; The trouble with college sports is Matt Doherty.

LV firm to sell $300 million of high-yield notes: The company postponed a similar $400 million issue of 10-year notes in March rather than pay the higher yields needed then to entice buyers.

Protecting public lands could result in ring of nature around town: Some day Las Vegas, one of the most artificial cities in the world, could be encircled by the most protected public lands in the nation, federal officials say.

Violent crimes in schools decrease: Jace Radke; Reported incidents of violent crime and the number of weapons found at schools are down, while arrests are up according to statistics released by Clark County School District Police.

Stock splits 3-2: Prior to Tuesday's market open, Station issued one additional share for every two shares outstanding. The split increased Station's outstanding shares from 40.3 million to just under 60.5 million, and resulted in a per-share price decline of 35 percent Tuesday, to $16.19.

Casino charter jet makes emergency landing: The Boeing 737 carrying 118 people landed safely Tuesday night after reporting hydraulic problems. The plane, operated by Elko, Nev.-based Casino Express, landed without incident at the Des Moines International Airport shortly after 7:30 p.m., airport spokesman Michael Audino said.

PCL Box: River Cats 6, Stars 4: E--Decker, Alvarez, Newhan. DP--Sacramento 1, Las Vegas 1. LOB--Sacramento 9, Las Vegas 8. 2B--Vaz, Encarnacion, Velandia, Tebbs, Roskos, Curl. 3B--Ortiz. HR--Alvarez (1). SF--Darr. SB--Bellhorn, Porter. CS--Porter, LaRocca.

Federal appeals court weighs arguments in dispute over Venetian sidewalk protests: RENO -- The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, meeting for the first time ever in Reno, was told Tuesday that the Venetian hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip has the right to bar union protesters and distributors of pornography from the sidewalk in front of the resort.

Reid bill targets poor airline service: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- A new bill in Congress is aimed at helping frustrated airline passengers fed up with delays, poor service and high ticket prices.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Thursday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Fleet Friend - Flores aboard Cerin trainee for Golden Eagle Farms, draws good post, Friend Fleet enough to win opener? Fishbecks - Nakatani on Dollace trainee, draws good post, lasix and first-time nasal strip. Value Play -- No Resolution

City probes sudden opening, moving of church: Erin Neff; In comedy, timing is everything.

Smooth waters at Lake Las Vegas follow the storm: Greg Harman; An agreement to agree is all it took to keep a major condominium project on track for the southern shore of Lake Las Vegas. And nobody is complaining about the newly calmed water.

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

LV company buys Internet slot seller: PDS finances, leases, sells, manufactures and refurbishes gaming equipment like slot machines for the casino industry.

Flowers' lawyer says put Hillary on stand: Greg Tuttle; He is among the most fervid of Clinton critics, a self-described Ralph Nader of the right.

Consultant: Southern Nevada needs parks, trails: Adrienne Packer; With miles and miles of roads and highways, Southern Nevada is not short on asphalt. And the numerous drainage ditches and flood control channels provide plenty of concrete scenery.

UNR cheerleading coach resigns after fining questions: Soper-Wilson has been under fire since May, when former cheer team captain Nicole Archie filed a complaint with campus police.

Report: Cites need for more officers: Greg Harman; Lack of adequate staffing at the Henderson Police Department restricts the force from reacting to crimes after the fact and does not allow the needed resources to be devoted to crime prevention, an independent study has found.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Betting lines or not, Las Vegas doesn't need XFL: A short compliment and a long complaint directed toward pro wrestling impresario Vince McMahon, who last week announced he's bringing his new football league, the XFL, to Las Vegas:

The high school reunion season hits its stride: Lisa Ferguson; Some people can't wait for their class to gather to celebrate the year they graduated. They long to trade memories and share details about their current lives with pals from their glory days.

Pennsylvania turns party pooper on GOP's "Las Vegas Night": Scott Sonner; RENO, Nev. - A Las Vegas-style casino night that was to be the Nevada Republican Party's biggest fund-raiser at the national GOP convention in Philadelphia has crapped out.

C'mon, folks: Get happy hour: Max Jacobson; In this city, competition for happy hour business is intense, but more among privately-owned restaurants than in casinos. Bellagio Beverage Specialist Seth Martin says: "Because of high volume and drinks provided free of charge to players in the casino, we really don't push it in that direction."

Bernstein calls for Internet privacy: Lee Scrivner; Democratic Senate candidate Ed Bernstein warned of the complications and risks of living in the age of bar codes and personal information databases.

Letter: CAT bus is like Babylon: Since we are already frustrated with multiple lingo on corporate America's menu, why not add a brief recording of the above in French, German, Spanish and one or two Asian languages, for the safety and convenience of the drivers?

Two Southern Nevada seniors will debate issues at Girls Nation: Aaron Clemens; Two Southern Nevada high school seniors will represent the state at Girls Nation next week in Washington, D.C.

Letter: Estate tax must be repealed: We think Roth truly has the welfare of the American people at heart, and if 70 percent of the people want the estate tax repealed and this is not done, then we shall veto every one of those senators who voted against the repeal in the next election as well as the administration that vetoed it.

Protestors say no to Wisconsin casino: "A casino brings a lot of unsavory characters into the area," said Phyllis Mocarski of Kaukauna. "Our children and grandchildren ... will take over and have to deal with whatever happens with this move."

Community news briefs for July 19, 2000: A grand opening celebration of the new Desert Breeze Park pool will be held 5-8 p.m. Thursday at 8425 Spring Mountain Road.

Metro still hopes for break in 3-year-old killing: Keith Paul; Duke Bunnell's killer left behind enough evidence to link him to the brutal beating and slashing slaying. Detectives just need a name.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Robert Maddox earns prestigious NTLA award: Elizabeth Foyt; One of the finest summer gatherings was the gala dinner at Paris Las Vegas honoring Robert C. Maddox as Trial Lawyer of the Year for 2000.

Obituaries for July 19, 2000: Donald George Betzler, 50, of Boulder City died Sunday in Boulder City. He was born Jan. 11, 1950, in Elizabeth, N.J. A resident for five years, he was an automobile mechanic.

Editorial: Monorail questions still there: So it's not surprising that Gov. Kenny Guinn has stressed that the state won't have to pay off the bonds if the project fails or experiences other financial problems. The Public Resources Advisory Group noted that both Moody's Investor Service and Standard & Poor's Corp. concurred that the state would have neither a moral nor a legal obligation to make debt payments if the monorail system doesn't survive.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Cowpokes can check out 'Bunk Out': The Quarter Circle Five Ranch near Lund doesn't offer the derring-do of cattle roundups a la the film "City Slickers," but it does offer "Bunk Out West," a working ranch and dude ranch experience for city folk and wannabe cowpokes.

Grieving relatives testify at penalty phase of trial: Aaron Clemens; A man who admitted killing his ex-wife in front of his 3-year-old daughter cried during the testimony of her relatives Tuesday during the penalty phase of his trial.

Editorial: Online wagering opposed -- for now: After all, at one time casinos opposed the expansion of gambling outside Nevada -- but that was before they discovered money could be made elsewhere. More recently casinos fought Las Vegas-style gambling on Indian reservations in California -- until they realized they could hook up with these tribes and make even more profits. So expect the casinos in time to become Internet wagering converts, setting up their own gambling websites to capitalize on this new technology.

Reports: Boxing promoter and anti-gambling group face lobbying probes: King was not registered as a lobbyist at the time of the calls, and his actions could prompt an investigation by the state Lobbying Commission, the newspaper reported.

Savvy wine buy: Routas '97: Max Jacobson; The poetically named Couquelicot -- which is the French word for poppy -- is an unusual blend of two delicious grapes, the noble Chardonnay and the floral Viognier, a grape indigenious to the Rhone Valley. This stunning wine is the result of a collaboration between Bob Lundquist of Qupe Vineyards in California, and French winemakers. In fact, it is 60 percent Chardonnay, 40 percent Viognier, and has a full, rich flavor. At this price, just try finding a comparable French white.

Letter: GOP proves again it's the party of the rich: Even the pending marriage penalty repeal gives an unjustified break to the rich. On this issue, means testing should be applied. Couples earning more than $100,000 yearly don't need a tax cut. The measure does give a deserved tax break to those earning less than $100,000 yearly.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Stories always on our minds: taxes, Yucca: Two taxing letters and a familiar-sounding nuclear waste position:

Decorated Vietnam War pilot Huisenfeldt dies: Lee Scrivner; Steve Huisenfeldt lived his life with military precision. Even the smallest details could not escape his organizing eye.

Big Time Basketball Tournament results: Green Valley Main

Fight over million-dollar soda goes to court: A jury will decide the $1 million question of who owns a grand prize winning bottle of Pepsi Cola and who is left with only fizz.

Big Time Tournament: Las Vegas team records: Bishop Gorman (5-2 overall, 1-2 pool play)

Valley awaits federal project money: Money flow

80,000 acres blackened in northern Nevada: Fifty miles north of Winnemucca, the Bilk Creek Complex of six fires had spread to 52,000 acres. It, too was 45 percent contained.

Study details effects of Yucca dump: Diana Sahagun; Nuke study

$1 million prize on line in jury trial: Tuesday marked the first day in the trial of Judy Richardson versus Sindy Allen.

Education called crucial in protecting environment: Nevada natural resource planners got a surprise Tuesday night when Las Vegas residents begged for an education plan that will teach children about the environment, especially how fragile the desert really is.

LV trade show operator Miller Freeman USA sold for $650 million: Dutch publisher VNU NV said Tuesday it agreed to buy Miller Freeman USA, the second largest trade show operator in the United States, for $650 million in cash and stock.

Southwest to carry more people between Reno and Las Vegas: Allegiant Air, which began service from Reno to Fresno, Calif., and Portland, Ore., on July 7, is expected to announce later this week or early next additional service out of Reno, also possibly to Las Vegas.

Big health insurer to miss profit forecasts: Aetna said its second-quarter earnings would be 85 to 95 cents a share, well below analysts' estimates of $1.20 a share, according to First Call/Thomson Financial, which tracks company earnings.

Big Time Basketball Tournament schedule: Open Division Championship Bracket

Killing of burglar labeled 'clear case of self-defense': Keith Paul; An armed intruder killed Tuesday when he confronted a homeowner had a string of arrests last year including burglary and robbery charges, Metro Police said this morning.

Aircraft giant posts lower profit: SEATTLE -- Second-quarter profits at the Boeing Co. fell 11.6 percent, in part because of a one-time $34 million charge associated with its rocket program, but the aerospace giant still beat Wall Street expectations comfortably.

Lawsuit claims Rio's hot coffee burned baby: Chiara Ethen and her family were at the Rio's coffee shop in December 1996 when the child grabbed a coffee mug and accidentally spilled its contents, according to Thursday's court filing.

Local news briefs for July 19, 2000: The head coach of the University of Nevada, Reno cheerleading and dance squads has resigned less than two months after two of her athletes alleged she extorted money from them.

Jury set to make life-or-death call: Kim Smith; If not Zane Floyd, then who should be subjected to the death penalty? That was the question Clark County District Attorney Stewart Bell asked the jury to consider this morning as they prepared to head into deliberations.