Print edition for June 5, 2000

Senator takes a hands-on approach to battle 'air rage': Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, author of "air rage" legislation in Congress, stepped in to break up a nasty marital spat during a recent cross-country flight.

No negotiations in Vegas concrete workers' dispute: "There've been no calls or contact between the companies and the union negotiating teams over the past few days because we've been tied up in the legal process to get the temporary restraining order to allow us to remain working," said Ray Brown, spokesman for CSR and Nevada Ready Mix.

Commercials more frequently filmed in LV: Phil Levine; A new Volkswagen or a cheeseburger may not have the star appeal of Mel Gibson, but promoting products like these provides the cornerstone for Southern Nevada's burgeoning film industry.

Three Vegas radio stations sold: Beasley, which seeks to maximize revenue by clustering groups of radio stations in the 100 biggest U.S. markets, will acquire Las Vegas stations KKLZ-FM, KSTJ-FM and KJUL-FM and three stations in New Orleans.

Canada cited as example for TV production: Phil Levine; One of the highlights from this year's Academy Awards presentation was the musical number "Blame Canada."

Local news briefs for June 5, 2000: Metro Police detectives are investigating a weekend slaying that left a man dead on a second-floor walkway at an East Harmon Avenue apartment complex.

Going green: Diana Sahagun; What is now 60 acres of a rough concrete flood basin in North Las Vegas could one day be home to lush soccer fields and a meandering trail system.

Obituaries for June 5, 2000: Donald Clark, 69, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospice. He was born Aug. 12, 1930, in Tulsa, Okla.

New air pollution agency recommended: An independent consultant, who two weeks ago sharply criticized local pollution control efforts, has issued a sweeping recommendation for reorganization of Clark County's regional air pollution control agencies.

Suspect arraigned in 23-year-old murder case: Scott Sonner; Stephen Robert Smith, 57, Sparks, was ordered held without bail in the 1977 death of Lisa Marie Bonham of Martinez, Calif.

Governor's prescription plan on hold: CARSON CITY -- A state program to help low-income seniors pay for prescription drugs has been delayed and may be in jeopardy because of a lack of funds.

Teen who escaped sent to new youth facility: Kim Smith; One of two teenagers who took part in a daring jail escape in which a guard was beaten and a family held hostage has been sentenced to the new youth correctional center.

Three men sought in Bellagio robbery: Jace Radke; Metro Police are looking for three men in connection with the Saturday morning robbery of the Bellagio hotel-casino's main cashier cage.

Atkinson Gates call irks ethics panelist: Cy Ryan and Adrienne Packer; CARSON CITY -- State Ethics Commissioner Bill Flangas fears the public might believe the panel is soft on ethics violations following its recent decision to drop an appeal to the state Supreme Court in the case of County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates.

Four hurt in crash at Carson City airport: The pilot, William Hobbs of Folsom, Calif., and another man on board, Dr. Damon Stutes of Reno, were flown to Washoe Medical Center in Reno and admitted in critical condition. They were upgraded to serious Monday.

Buck Springs blaze spreads: Mary Manning and Jace Radke; PAHRUMP -- Up to 660 firefighters swarmed over Buck Springs today in an effort to contain a 3,500-acre wildfire that threatened to burn across the top of the Spring Mountains as hot, dry, windy weather fueled the blaze.

MGM Grand sells portion of Bellagio art for $124 million: Eleven paintings from the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art have been sold for $124 million -- three to former Mirage Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn and the rest to an undisclosed buyer or buyers.

Father accused in baby's death gets July hearing: Kim Smith; A July preliminary hearing date has been set for a Las Vegas man accused of allowing his daughter to drown, but his bail hearing has been rescheduled for Tuesday.

Poppa Gar, restaurateur to the movers and shakers, dies at 92: Aaron Clemens; For 33 years Poppa Gar's Restaurant could be counted on for a good breakfast, high-powered clientele and a welcoming ambience.

Flurry of mergers could reshape airline industry: Laurence Zuckerman; International merger

Forbes will attend Porter fund-raiser: F. Birusk Tugan; Despite their disagreements about legalized gambling and storing nuclear waste in Nevada, wealthy publisher Steve Forbes is coming to Las Vegas to help raise money for Republican congressional candidate Jon Porter.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Trends, June 5, 2000: Lisa Ferguson; It's June and you know what that means: prepare to eat cake. Wedding cake, that is.

Hoosiers worry casino's location will hurt industry: The Belterra is slated to open in August near the Markland Dam in Switzerland County, south of two casinos already established along the Ohio River.

Tollberg shows his stuff in Stars' win: But if the 27-year- old right-hander continues to pitch as well as he did in the Stars' 7-2 win over the Nashville Sounds on Sunday afternoon at Greer Stadium, it would seem only a matter of time before Tollberg is packing his bags for San Diego, too.

Medical board cool to testing: RENO -- A proposal that would require physicians to take competency tests every 10 years has received a cool reception from the state Board of Medical Examiners.

Tribe that wants to operate casino in Illinois files lawsuit for land: The tribe was one of several tribes that had talked to state officials in recent years about their claims to land in the state in an effort to allow their members to live there and develop and operate casinos.

Correction for June 3, 2000: Correction for June 3, 2000

Indian firefighters hope for best: Jace Radke; PAHRUMP -- When the wildfire handcrews left their Crow and Cheyenne Indian reservations Thursday for Pecos, N.M., they expected to be fighting the 25,094-acre Viveash Fire.

For the little guys, casino's bankruptcy is a bad deal: "You do business with the Sands, you figure 'Here's a casino that's been in business for years, they're big enough to pay their food bills,"' said Al Glenn, 34, shaking his head. "We were wrong."

Letter: Put lake fee to good use: Contrary to Mr. Friddell, I believe the entrance fee is a good idea, and I am happy to pay it. That is, providing that the money is put to some good use. Hopefully we will see enforcement of current litter laws and some improvements as they have already done with the new lake shore drive.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Injury to keep Fusaichi Pegasus out of Belmont: Ralph Siraco; Afew hours after the Preakness Stakes was run at Pimlico, the harsh reality that there would be no Triple Crown bid this year was tempered by the anticipated match between Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus and Preakness winner Red Bullet in the Belmont.

Tahoe bike ride raises nearly $4 million for leukemia society: "The good news is that 75 cents of every dollar raised goes to leukemia research," she said.

Fires restricted at Lake Mead: The new restrictions for the Shivwits Plateau area on the Arizona side of Lake Mead were implemented by fire management officials on May 26 because of dry weather.

5,400 acres scheduled for annexation: Greg Harman; More than a year after striking an interlocal agreement with Clark County officials to absorb land at its southwest border, the Henderson City Council is ready to conduct its largest annexation in 29 years.

City Council putting billboard proposals to vote: Diana Sahagun; Meg Maguire, president of the national nonprofit organization, has sent a letter to the mayor and council asking the members not to weaken the proposals, which require the removal of signs after 10 years.

Community news briefs for June 5, 2000: The Henderson Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring several workshops.

City asked to annex 2 parcels, increasing limits by 223 acres: Diana Sahagun; The city of North Las Vegas is looking to grow by 223 acres.

Southern Baptists plan evangelizing drive around Philadelphia: In an attempt to set up a high-energy "regional church" that will create satellite churches of its own, seed money and advance workers have already been sent to the Montgomeryville area. Plans in the next few years call for church "plantings" and evangelizing drives around Philadelphia.

Buildings feel a squeeze: Diana Sahagun; While the North Las Vegas Police Department struggles to make use of every nook and cranny at its aging headquarters, city staff is making plans to build a larger facility and an expanded City Hall campus.

Force of 600 facing blaze northwest of Las Vegas: The fire was first reported Saturday morning in an area between Las Vegas and Pahrump, Nev., along Wheeler Pass. It was reported 25 percent contained Sunday morning, but 8 mph winds out of the southwest Sunday afternoon fanned the embers, causing the wildfire to spread.

Knight pleased by 'courageous effort' at championships: Victoria Sun; OPELIKA, Ala. -- There was one reason Michael Kirk transferred to UNLV two years ago: to play golf.

Lack of "sin tax" compromises means Louisiana's budget hole remains $250 million: Kevin McGill; There was no apparent consensus Sunday night on a third "sin tax" - an increase in riverboat casino taxes. Negotiations on that issue were continuing among lawmakers and lobbyists.

PCL Box: Stars 7, Sounds 2: E--Allen. DP--Nashville 2. LOB--Las Vegas 8, Nashville 4. 2B--Darr, Roskos, Allen, Vitiello, Nunez, Wilson. 3B--Allen. HR--Brown (3). S--Tollberg.

Letter: Lazy parents must be more responsible: To drop your child off or let them walk to school 30 to 40 minutes early, so they can play at the park before going to school, is just lazy parenting. You may as well take your child to the kidnapper's house and leave him or her there. It would save the kidnapper the trouble of walking to the park to take your child (which could easily be done), and I am sure you would make it to work on time.

Environment tops Nevadans' lists: "Contrary to what many of our legislators believe, Nevadans want more environmental protection and enforcement, not less," said Marge Sill of the Sierra Club.

$20 mil. entertainment venue set: The Beverly Hills, Calif.-based company expects to break ground in about 60 days on the 60,000-square-foot, non-gaming venue. The complex will feature a nightclub and disco. Constructed in the shape of a two-level dome, the building will also offer a special events area with a 360-degree view of high-tech laser projections.

Las Vegas heads list of top 200 trade shows: It was the sixth straight year Las Vegas has headed the list. Chicago had 23 of the top shows in 1999 and Orlando, Fla., and Atlanta each had 18.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Speedway, Supercross a perfect fit: There are two givens when it comes to motor sports in Las Vegas:

Poll: Voters want environment protected: Nevadans do not believe protecting the environment has to be sacrificed for a healthy economy, a recent voter poll revealed. The survey, commissioned by the nonprofit League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, found that residents are particularly concerned about the quality and quantity of water in the most arid state in the nation, as well as clean air and a proposed high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

Tribe's joint venture gambling cruise has an abrupt end: The Enchanted Sun, a joint venture between the Viejas Indian tribe of Alpine and Commodore Cruise Line of Hollywood, Fla., suspended operations Friday after about two months of operation.

LV company honored for responsible gaming efforts: The award is to be presented at the annual Gaming Hall of Fame dinner coinciding with the World Gaming Congress, which is co-sponsored by the American Gaming Association and International Gaming & Wagering Business.

Inmates treated to Vegas-style show: The only spotlights were located in towers where armed guards made sure no members of the audience decided to walk out in the middle of a performance.

GV star projected to go in Round 1: Spencer Patterson; Green Valley senior David Krynzel is well aware of the projections surrounding today's Major League Baseball amateur draft.

Editorial: Disabled access is lacking: If it weren't for the determination of Verne Lewton, the parent of a disabled son who attends the school, and the insistence by the administration at Chaparral to get something done, the improvements that recently have been made -- and are on the way -- might not ever have happened. David Broxterman, administrative manager of the school district's facilities division, says one of the chief problems is that funding to improve access just hasn't kept pace with the school district's population explosion. But Laurie Howard, Chaparral's special education facilitator for more than a decade, said school district officials have ignored ...

Court upholds action in malpractice case: CARSON CITY -- A Las Vegas surgeon has lost what may be his final battle in an eight-year fight against malpractice charges in the death of two patients.