Print edition for June 28, 2000

Guinn forms strategy on betting bill: CARSON CITY -- The longtime ban on casinos taking bets on Nevada's university teams could be eliminated as Gov. Kenny Guinn seeks to quiet critics in Congress who want to stop any wagering on college sports.

Chain's profit improves: DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co., the nation's largest drug store chain, on Monday reported a 21.5 percent increase in quarterly earnings due to a sharp increase in prescription sales.

Test coaching compared to 'cheating at solitaire': Terry Webster; Cheating on standardized tests is "like cheating at solitaire," a spokesman for the publisher of the TerraNova exam said today.

Reluctant TV bride Darva Conger bares all in Playboy for financial security: Conger said she had no problem accepting a six-figure offer to pose for the nine-page Playboy pictorial. The August issue featuring Conger arrived on newsstands Wednesday.

Business groups hosting mixer to fight tax: The Nevada State Education Association is proposing the tax to improve funding for schools.

City strikes deal for key parcel downtown: Erin Neff; Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman capped his first year in office Tuesday with the biggest news of the past 365 days.

Federal government seek restraining order against July 4th protest: Sandra Chereb; The motion seeks a temporary restraining prohibiting members of the Shovel Brigade, the group's leader, Demar Dahl, "and any persons working with the Shovel Brigade" from venturing onto Forest Service land to rebuild a disputed road near the tiny town of Jarbidge.

$300 million in bonds rated 'B+': S&P reaffirmed its "BB" corporate credit rating, "BB-plus" bank loan rating and "B-plus" subordinated debt rating on Station. S&P's rating outlook is positive.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Unexpected announcement shakes up party: Elizabeth Foyt; A surprise indeed was in store for guests attending a small birthday party for Chelli Wolford at the Las Vegas Country Club. Making the startling announcement of their recent marriage was Chelli's beau-turned-husband, state Assemblyman David Goldwater, who revealed the couple had married a month earlier.

Rhode Island casino backers rally in support of statewide vote on project: Michael Mello; The tribe announced a petition drive for 100,000 signatures they hope will convince the General Assembly to meet after the regular session, which could end as soon as Friday, and override a 10-7 House Finance Committee vote against the project.

UNLV staff starts stocking shelves of new library: Jace Radke; Metallic panels, dark wood work stations and a mammoth atrium that stretches seven stories to a curving metal ceiling will greet UNLV students when the much delayed $50 million Lied Library opens in January.

U.S. Bancorp to acquire Scripps Financial: MINNEAPOLIS -- U.S. Bancorp on Tuesday announced an agreement to acquire Scripps Financial Corp. of San Diego in a stock transaction valued at about $155 million.

Gaming coverage initiated with three strong buys: Hambrecht analyst Jeffrey Logsdon set a $45 price target for MGM MIRAGE, a 38 percent premium over its current price, saying "the consistent outperformance in quarterly results is attracting a significant level of momentum investors."

Nuclear fallout bill aids few in Nevada: A bill that will expand a federal program that pays up to $100,000 to people sickened by Cold War-era uranium mining and nuclear weapons tests is expected to do little to help afflicted Southern Nevadans.

Casino support seen as tenuous in Midwestern, Southern states: David Strow; A new study out of the University of Nevada, Reno said Midwestern residents are generally supportive of the casinos that have sprung up in their communities over the past decade -- but one of the study's authors suggests that support is tenuous at best.

Report calls for tightening of finances for monorail: Adrienne Packer; After months of debate over the funding of a $650 million monorail project, the Nevada Taxpayer Association is chiming in with a report it has developed to tighten state and local financing procedures.

15-year-old will face murder trial in father's death: Kim Smith; A jury will decide whether Conan Pope, the 15-year-old accused of killing his father in January, did so deliberately, in fear or was justified.

DNA samples to be taken in officer shooting case: Kim Smith; Authorities got permission this morning to obtain DNA samples from one of the men suspected in the shooting two weeks ago of a Metro Police officer.

Bill would distribute $121 million to Shoshones in Nevada: Tribal members who opposed the payments have maintained that taking the funds could end the tribe's claim to land that it has longed for since white settlers began to push the native people aside.

Half of cooling, heating plant sold: The stake was held by Conectiv Inc. of Wilmington, Del., which was a joint partner in the plant with Sempra. The plant provides chilled water and steam to both Las Vegas properties, owned by Sheldon Adelson's Las Vegas Sands Inc.

Relatives say father was prone to violence: Kim Smith; Three weeks ago James Pope and Priscilla Falknor did not know that Conan Pope existed. But they knew his father -- their brother -- and that was enough.

Ex-school system treasurer among two sentenced in Dayton: Carozza, who now works as a controller for a hotel-restaurant in Las Vegas, could have been sentenced to three years in prison.

Despite contention, Boulder City council approves salary hike: Greg Harman; Not all of the members of the Boulder City Council were content with the raise they approved Tuesday night.

Washoe court ruling hailed by speed limit critics: Brendan Riley; Dornsife, representing the Nevada Chapter of the National Motorists Association, said Tuesday the ruling by Washoe District Judge Connie Steinheimer "opens up the ability to challenge speed limits if they're not set properly."

Obituaries for June 28, 2000: Elesa Christy Anderson, 33, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. She was born Sept. 28, 1966, in Las Vegas. A lifelong resident, she was a homemaker.

Beauvoir supports casino project: "Beauvoir is proud to support this plan as a fascinating addition to the tourism corridor surrounding the coliseum," executive director Robert L. Hawkins wrote Wednesday on the editorial page of The Sun Herald newspaper.

Boulder City council briefs: The Boulder City Council approved $40,000 for design work that would turn the town's former post office into a new council chambers at an anticipated cost of $600,000.

Sprint refused to sell Vegas, other local operations: Steve Green; Merger rejected

Most Nevada autos will get colorful new license plates: The new license plate will replace the current silver, white and blue plate issued in 1983, showing a Joshua tree and a desert bighorn sheep.

Tanker driver burned as propane bursts into flames: Keith Paul; Propane fumes ignited and burned a truck driver Tuesday as he hooked up his tanker to a fuel tank at a North Las Vegas propane company.

Boulder City Council approves pay raise: Boulder City Council members salaries will increase $5,000 to $15,363 annually. The mayor will receive an $8,000 raise to $20,857 a year. The raises go into effect July 1, 2001.

Wynn buying more MGM assets, moves up DI closure: David Strow; Desert Inn owner Steve Wynn agreed to purchase $17.2 million in assets from his former company, MGM MIRAGE announced today.

Measures target casino ATMs, Internet gaming: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- A leading gambling foe in the House planned today to introduce an amendment that would ban automated teller machines from casino floors.

Riverboat loss limit legislation targeted by audit: Joe Stange; The audit says the commission has allowed the law to be broken because gamblers can enter Missouri riverboat casinos with buckets of tokens, in addition to the $500 limit on tokens that can be purchased inside.

Luxury limousine market growing in Las Vegas Valley: Las Vegas' bid to host more corporate meetings and conferences has created a niche for luxury transportation needs being met by two growing companies.

An XFL primer: Eight, and Las Vegas is a virtual lock to be one of them. The XFL will own every franchise. Chicago and Memphis have been announced, New York and Los Angeles are being finalized, and the other cities are rumored to be San Francisco, Orlando and Birmingham, Ala.

UNLV's Lied Library opening behind schedule: University officials announced Tuesday the opening has been pushed back to Jan. 9.

Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Now is a good time to go night fishing: Paula DelGiudice; While it may seem like the best activity during the summer is swilling iced drinks with the air conditioner whirring while you watch someone else catch fish on television, think again.

Letter: Churches do not deserve any special treatment: No man is entitled to unlimited freedom no matter who he is. A person is free to worship in any manner he chooses but not if it infringes on the quality of life of another person. If what he is doing disturbs another, then he must modify his method of worship or move to a place that offers the surroundings he requires. One person's individual rights stop where another person's rights begin.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Wynn chat steeped in gaming, politics: Steve Wynn, who shockingly decided to reside in the desert rather than in a mirage, is rarely arid when he agrees to an interview.

Missouri Gaming Commission told new casino could doom President: Jim Salter; "There is no room in this market for another casino," Jim Zweifel, the President's vice president, told commissioners meeting in St. Louis Wednesday in an auditorium filled with about 250 people, seemingly evenly split between supporters and opponents of another casino.

Savvy wine buy: Chateau du Trignon '98: Max Jacobson; The southern Rhone produces more than 50 million gallons of wine annually that qualifies as Cotes-du-Rhone, and it is hard to believe that so much quality wine can pour out of this fertile region. The well-known wine importer Kermit Lynch found this one, a ripe, lush wine that blends Syrah and Grenache. The taste is that of ripe berries and the finish is long and smooth. This wine is a wonderful value, and it is ready to drink right now.

Williams' goals: Regain health, rejoin Padres: Victoria Sun; Woody Williams is in a hurry to help the ailing San Diego Padres, but he doesn't want to rush himself back onto the disabled list by returning to the major league mound too soon.

Letter: Expand capital punishment: Nineteen years later, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart noted (while nevertheless concurring in the court's 1972 opinion that temporarily banned capital punishment) that the "instinct for retribution is part of the nature of man and channeling that instinct in the administration of criminal justice serves an important purpose in promoting the stability of a society governed by law. When people begin to believe that organized society is unwilling or unable to impose upon criminal offenders the punishment they 'deserve,' then there are sown the seeds of anarchy -- of self-help, vigilante justice, and lynch law."

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Promotions, books, travel and tanning: The heat of a Las Vegas summer and a stress fracture have curtailed my normal shopping excursions. That's the bad news. The good news is that there's always so much shopping information to share that there's always a backlog.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Bettors like Seattle to stay under, Philly to fly over: The Imperial Palace recently became the first sports book in Las Vegas to post over/under betting lines on the number of regular-season wins for each NFL team in 2000.

LVMS drag racing standings: Pro E.T. (7.50 to 11.99): 1. Chris Naffziger 272; 2. Jeff Bansbach 228; 2. Jerry Mock 228; 4. Doug Schnieder 217; 5. Rudy Long 196; 6. Tim Arden 186; 6. Paul Bledsoe 186; 8. Randall Holly 175; 9. Dana Young 163; 9. Ron Landram 163; 11. Mark Reil 152; 12. Brandon Potts 145; 13. Chiney Mangru 141; 14. Mike Creason 134; 15. Johnny Nicola 120; 16. Kelly Buesig-Wiggins 111; 16. Sandra Darby 111; 18. Robert DeFrancesco 101; 19. Monte Chastain 100; 19. Virgil Boyer 100; 21. Ken Black 92; 21. Ralph Lamermier 92; 23. Joseph Sorrenti 90; 24. Brian King ...

Columnist Victoria Sun: There's no shame in 2nd for May: Victoria Sun; No matter what Jim Rome says, Las Vegan Bob May did not choke when he finished tied for second at the FedEx St. Jude Classic Sunday with a total 12-under-par 272, a stroke behind winner Notah Begay.

Car restoration offers inmates escape: Aaron Clemens; Not going anywhere for a while?

PCL Box: Stars 8, Dukes 7: E--Metcalfe, Vitiello, LaRocca.. DP--Albuquerque 1. LOB--Albuquerque 8, Las Vegas 10. 2B--Grijak, Mota, Ashby, Figga, Darr, Roskos, Vitiello, Davis, LaRocca. HR-- Donnels, Branson, Milliard, Davis. SH--Williams. SF--Tebbs. SB--Milliard. CS -- Grijak, Roskos.

Parents cite crime, traffic in plea for school busing: Lee Scrivner; In what was dubbed by both sides as "a venting session," the Clark County School Board met Tuesday with parents who want to have buses continue to take their children to and from school.

'Xtreme' football likely headed for LV: Steve Addy; Except as a profit-maker for the sports books, pro football has not been embraced by Las Vegas. Local franchises in the Canadian and Arena leagues had brief stays in the '90s, but disappeared quickly, bemoaned by few.

Firefighters gain upper hand on Douglas County wildfire: The fire on Bureau of Indian Affairs lands should be fully contained by Wednesday evening and extinguished by Thursday morning, they said.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Thursday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Aly Babe - Training at Anita, Pincay aboard Eurton trainee, must overcome outside post in route opener. Superget - Draws just inside top pick, hustling Puglisi on Aguirre trainee, jockey-trainer combo productive pair. Value Play -- Hearts Magic

Editorial: Teacher unloads a shocker: What Johnson says she found is shocking. As the Sun's Terry Webster reported this week, some of the teacher's fourth grade students who took the Curriculum-Based Assessment Program test the previous year received perfect scores -- yet when they took the TerraNova test (which is similar in content), they performed abysmally. For example, one student who scored 100 on the CBAP's geometry and measurements section in third grade scored just a 17 percent in geometry and 14 percent in measurement on the TerraNova. Sure, student scores can fluctuate, but this dramatic shift does raise eyebrows. In addition, Johnson claims that ...

Las Vegas area fishing report: Better areas for stripers in the Boulder Basin have been the area from Pyramid Island to the Hemenway Wall, the tires at Las Vegas Bay Marina, Roadrunner Cove, Boxcar Cove and Salamander Cove. Anglers who have been fishing in the Overton Arm have found stripers at Stewart's Point, Fire Bay and Fish Island. Drifting baits and trolling at depths to 70 feet have been catching the stripers. Most of the fish are small with few weighing more than four pounds. Largemouth bass are being caught along cliff walls. Channel catfish are being taken at night in coves.

Nevada's newest wildlife management area set to open: Martin Griffith; RENO, Nev. - The 6,440-acre Steptoe Valley Wildlife Management Area near Ely - prime habitat for elk, antelope, waterfowl, eagles and hawks - is set to become the state's 16th such refuge next month.

Community news briefs for June 28, 2000: The 45-year-old Dula Center gymnasium has some fresh squeak and bounce thanks to a new wooden floor unveiled Tuesday in a reopening ceremony.

Columnist Dean Juipe: New league apt to fail in Las Vegas: Dean Juipe; The "X" in XFL doesn't stand for X-rated, although it's apparent the new football league is going to have a raunchy, outrageous style.

Columnist Peter Benton: Southern Nevada women win Silver Cup: Peter Benton; Last week at the Reflection Bay course, 20 ladies representing the Southern Nevada Womens Golf Association teed it up against their northern Nevada counterparts and were successful in winning the annual Silver Cup competition.

Editorial: It's time to save endangered lake: Mineral County and the Walker Lake Working Group are asking the Nevada Supreme Court to intervene in the issue because they believe current federal-state efforts will fall short. The litigation may not be successful, but it is hoped that it at least spurs government agencies to move quickly to find ways to get more water there before it's too late. It doesn't command the same attention as storied Lake Tahoe, but to sportsmen and other Nevadans, Walker Lake still is a treasure that should be preserved.

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

Celebrate Independence Day with an all-American picnic: Independence Day is a time for families, fireworks, parades and picnics -- a combination that has been the all-American way to celebrate the Fourth of July since the early 1800s.

Fall is ruled suicide: Terry Weiner, 46, of Las Vegas, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lawsuit could affect the future of Southern Nevada's water supply: Environmentalists want to force Nevada and its six fellow Colorado River states to send some of their river water downstream to Mexico's ailing Colorado River Delta.