Print edition for March 6, 2000

Former dealer wins $500,000 in lawsuit over firing: Michele Armstead, of Pleasantville, sued the casino after she was fired in October 1997 after working at the casino for 18 years. The casino cited excessive absenteeism in firing her.

Officers cleared in fatal shooting: Keith Paul; A Clark County coroner's inquest jury took just 30 minutes to rule Friday afternoon that two Metro Police officers were justified in last month's fatal shooting of 23-year-old John Charles O'Banion.

Racing notebook: Burtons go head-to-head, again: For the second year in a row, the Burton brothers made things interesting for several laps at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Nevadans try creating 'Silicon Oasis' in Las Vegas: Gaming still dominates Las Vegas economy

Anchor Gaming chief resigns: Analysts at Bear Stearns & Co. and Prudential Securities downgraded Anchor stock after the move, with Bear Stearns moving the security from attractive to neutral and Prudential from strong buy to hold.

Receiver named for property: Randy Black Sr. closed the property's casino this morning but kept the hotel open.

National Guard gears up Nevada recruiting efforts: Want a part-time job as a wire and cable lineman? How about hauling fuel? Maybe even a gig as a marching band member?

Former casino operator critical following assault at gas station: A Las Vegas man who once operated a casino boat in Dubuque, Iowa, was in critical condition today at University Medical Center following an assault last week.

Appeal: Dave, not David, shot clerk: David Pellegrini, who is on death row, appeared before District Judge Kathy Hardcastle Friday to ask for a hearing to allow expert witnesses to testify about disassociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder.

LV Internet firm teams with GMAC, focuses on trade show commerce: Phil Levine; A Las Vegas-based technology company hopes to profit by accelerating the speed of business-to-business commerce.

Smaller Sun debuts: Or maybe you can -- if your fingers are touching the margins.

DOE extends comment period: The DOE said it extended the written comment deadline because an incorrect address for the comments had been published. The agency is asking Energy Secretary Bill Richardson to streamline the guidelines for siting a repository at Yucca. Yucca Mountain is the only site under study by the federal government to store 77,000 tons of highly radioactive waste.

Supreme court orders new trial in killing: CARSON CITY -- Kenneth Kelly, convicted of first-degree murder in the 1995 shooting death of his neighbor, Michael Shreve, after a dispute over water in a remote area of Clark County, is going to get a new trial.

Smooth comings, tougher goings at NASCAR: "It moved much smoother," Metro Police Sgt. Bob Roshak said.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Rain makes for gloomy day at track: Regardless of what Karen and Richard Carpenter said, it's rainy days and Sundays that always get the average race fan down.

It's official: Ensign begins Senate race: CARSON CITY -- Former Rep. John Ensign formally launched his campaign for the U.S. Senate today, saying Nevadans are in "a fight for our lives" to stop a proposed nuclear dump from being built at Yucca Mountain.

Wounded deputy honored at Snowfest: Doyle has been in and out of hospitals since being shot five times here in December 1996 by a man who was later convicted in a string of bank robberies across the West.

Elliott bounces back for fourth: Steve Guiremand; If at first you don't succeed ...

Walls collects 24 rebounds as Bandits down Baltimore: The win leaves Las Vegas five games behind St. Louis in the IBL West. Baltimore is one game ahead of Richmond in the battle for the third and final playoff spot in the IBL East.

Local news briefs for March 6, 2000: Metro Police homicide detectives who thought a man was killed after being run over by a compact car say this morning that the man was shot.

Wynn's role unclear after record deal: David Strow; MGM Grand Inc. today announced an agreement to acquire Mirage Resorts Inc. for a record-breaking $6.4 billion -- a deal that will create a new king of the Strip market.

Obituaries for March 6, 2000: Margaret "Margo" Broomfield, 80, of Las Vegas and Henderson died Friday in Henderson. She was born Nov. 28, 1919, in Fort Worth, Texas. A resident for nine years, she was a retired retail saleswoman.

Prep girls soccer all-stars named: Prep girls soccer all-stars named

Court rebuffs utilities in nuke fight: WASHINGTON -- Consolidated Edison Inc. and three other utilities failed at the U.S. Supreme Court to revive a lawsuit seeking to limit the fees the Energy Department can charge for storage of spent nuclear fuel.

Community news briefs for March 6, 2000: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area offers free hikes and walks. Reservations are required. Call 363-1922. Some coming programs:

Columnist Rusty Wallace: Cold weather wreaked havoc on our car: Rusty Wallace; Other than the weather Sunday, it was a good week for us in Las Vegas. We enjoyed ourselves and we had a fine time.

Reno officer faces treatment sentence: At the same time, Mussell was ordered to spend one day in jail and to pay for the alcohol treatment program as well as nearly $600 in fines.

Santa Fe restaurant reopens: The Santa Fe, which opened in 1929, was closed for the last two years because of a family dispute, said Philippe Zubillaga, son of one of the owners.

Detroit MGM casino president is a gaming industry gamer: Becky Yerak; DETROIT -- MGM Grand Detroit Casino's blackjack dealers have come a long way.

UNLV men's tennis team defeated: UNLV men's tennis team defeated

Rain Man II: Jeff Burton admits to having a run of good fortune when it comes to being in the right place at the right time in rain-plagued races.

Airliner barrels off runway into street: The chairman of Southwest Airlines today called the skidding crash of Flight 1455 from Las Vegas to Burbank, Calif., "the most serious" in the 29-year history of the airline.

Cops check armored-car holdups: Keith Paul; Henderson Police today will review three Las Vegas armored-car holdups to see if there is any link to Friday's slaying of two armored-truck guards during a robbery in a busy shopping center's parking lot.

Teachers to unveil tax plan: CARSON CITY -- A teachers union proposing a business tax in Nevada says the package won't drive industry from Nevada or hurt small companies.

Proposed waste site causing concern: Diana Sahagun; The Holiday Inn motto proclaims there is always something new.

UNLV takes on role as tournament favorite: Steve Addy; After two months in furious pursuit of the Mountain West lead, the Rebels' well-timed ascension to the top spot has suddenly imposed a headier role upon them -- favorite.

UNLV's Frohlich wins third award: UNLV's Frohlich wins third award

High court won't hear ex-justice's suit: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit by former Justice Charles Springer of Reno, who claimed he was shortchanged in his pay during his final term on the court.

Charles E. Wiggins, former judge and congressman, dies at Las Vegas home: Charles E. Wiggins, a former federal judge and congressman who was a staunch defender of President Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal, has died from complications of diabetes and heart problems. He was 72.

UNR professor wants NCAA betting legalized nationwide: "There would be no legalized sports books in the United States to keep an eye on things. The sports books are a major guard against fixed games," Davies said.

Rogich lobbies for permit for Vegas bar: Erin Neff; The lobbying at City Hall is expected to reach another fever pitch this week as the city's most powerful political operative asks individual council members for a permit to turn an office building into a bar.

MGM Grand in deal to buy rival casino company Mirage Resorts for $4.4 billion: Robert Macy; The deal will combine some of the most striking assets in the gambling industry, including Mirage's $1.6 billion Bellagio resort and MGM's 5,005-room MGM Grand hotel-casino, the largest hotel in America.

Mattsen deal off, DA says: A prosecutor said Sunday he no longer is seeking David Mattsen's cooperation in the Ted Binion murder case.

Upcoming business events for March 6, 2000: Taxpayers -- Nevada Taxpayers Association luncheon with speakers discussing proposed tax increases. March 15. Noon at Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

Northern Nevada buildings get official "historic" listing: The Farmers' Bank of Carson Valley on Esmeralda Avenue was built in 1909 and served its original function for a decade. It was one of the first buildings H.F. Dangberg Jr. erected after he founded Minden in 1905.

Hauling trash: The place where trash from valley residents was once buried is out of sight but not out of the minds of officials who have to clean it up.

Indians vote on casino: The Tribal Council approved a resolution to build the casino in September 1999.

Ensign: Voters who liked Reid's seniority will back me this time: Scott Sonner; Ensign, who lost to Democratic Sen. Harry Reid by 428 votes in 1998, predicts he'll gain the support of many swing voters who backed Reid because of his seniority and political clout.

Kambala, Johnson, Bayno earn conference honors: Rebels guard Mark Dickel made the all-conference second team.

Mikohn sheds outdoor sign business to focus on slots: David Strow; Las Vegas-based Mikohn Gaming Corp. has sold its outdoor sign division for $6.5 million -- a move the company says will help it focus on its growing slot machine business.

Reid donor list released: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., today disclosed the identities of soft-money donors to his political action committee, the Searchlight Leadership Fund.

Gambling a part of the New Mexico budget dispute: Barry Massey; But the thorny issue of gambling - whether the state should change the payment rate for tribes with casinos - is inextricably part of the budget debate.

Birmingham dog track serves as hub for offshore gambling: The Birmingham Racing Commission approved the Birmingham dog track operating as a hub, or processing center, for other betting operations, including RGS. But commission executive secretary Claude Williams said the commission doesn't keep watch over the money because it is not being bet from Birmingham and is not subject to state and local wagering taxes.

MGM Grand, Mirage agree to $6.4 billion merger: The equity portion of today's deal is worth $4.4 billion. MGM Grand is assuming $2 billion in Mirage debt, making the total value of the deal $6.4 billion.

Prep schedule: TUESDAY

Letter: Candidates a bit too cozy with Christian causes: We have Bush discussing litmus tests for candidates to the U.S. Supreme Court to assure that the Christian Coalition's agenda is successful if elected. We have private "Christian" religious schools frothing at the mouth over the prospect of having taxpayer dollars supporting their causes through a thinly veiled "voucher" system. If anyone in this country believes that religious-based schools will not proselytize, I know a tooth fairy you would probably like to meet.

New York's lottery-funded scholarship program criticized by Democrats: Joel Stashenko; The Republican governor needs legislative approval before authorizing the so-called "Leaders of Tomorrow" scholarship program, the Democrats contended.

Choctaw Indians prepare for new casino referendum: The Tribal Council approved a resolution to build the casino in September 1999.

Letter: Gore is against plan for Yucca: With Gore against this legislation, he will keep waste out of our community; he supports my vote against Yucca Mountain. On March 12, I shall support Al Gore as well.

Editorial: Targeting deceptive advertising: "As the phone business becomes more and more competitive, we get more and more complaints from consumers," FCC Commission Chairman William Kennard said. For instance, between Jan. 1, 1998, to June 30, 1999, the federal government received almost 3,000 complaints about deceptive advertising by long-distance phone companies. Both consumer groups and trade organizations agreed that the guidelines were a positive step.

Puyallup tribal casino aids festival: "We are not a rich tribe," Tribal Chairman Larry LaPointe said. "We have debts, too. But we found the money because we want to see it succeed. The tribe and the Daffodil Parade are part of the community."

Former Dubuque boat owner injured in Las Vegas: Kehl, the father of Catfish Bend Casinos manager Dan Kehl of Burlington, was attacked Wednesday.

Casino magnate weighing options after $4.4 billion Mirage buyout: Robert Macy; He returned in 1967 to become the city's casino king, parlaying a land deal with Howard Hughes into a gambling bonanza that changed the industry.

Mr. Tea: You get much more than tea and sympathy at the Healing Cup in Green Valley. You also gain insight into alternative paths to wellness.

Letter: Neal takes fair stance on casinos: I think it would have been better to just have Nevada and New Jersey as gambling meccas. How about us -- the people who enter your enticing casinos and mostly we give our money away? Give some of it back to the locals who made you rich!

Trotters still No. 1 court jesters: Victoria Sun; Former Harlem Globetrotter Clyde "The Glide" Austin sat on the sidelines of the Thomas & Mack Center with family and friends, chuckling at the antics of the current Globetrotters on Sunday afternoon.

Girls Soccer All-Stars: All-Southern Nevada: Amber Woodward, Gor; Amanda Grange, Eld; Jeanette Perry, Bon; Jennifer Breeden, GV; Shawna Wergin, Dur; Lindsay Demaree, Val; Vanesha Bailey, Cim; Ciera Diaz, Bas; Mariel Chandler, Cim; Lyndsey Sobrero, Chap; Kelly Smith, Cim; Kathy Konops, Ran.

Moonglows get 'Sincerely' rewarded in hall of fame: Harvey Fuqua and the Moonglows were doo-wop before doo-wop was doo-wop.

Reno-Tahoe tourism officials not as worried as some about gas prices: Pauline Arrillaga; With the cost of fuel projected to surge past $1.70 a gallon this summer, tourism officials and guides across the West worried Monday that the usually booming summer travel season could be a bust.

Williamson storeowner convicted in gambling case: Georg ran the Store of Florence, in the town of the same name, about 40 miles north of Austin.

Peden stays unbeaten: Dean Juipe; Given the extensive number of fights in Las Vegas over the weekend, Sunday's boxing card at the New Frontier figured to have an anticlimactic feel to it.

Sierra Pacific to auction off 8 power plants: The plants belong to the utility holding company's two wholly owned subsidiaries, Reno-based Sierra Pacific Power Co. and Las Vegas-based Nevada Power Co.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Big 'Cap is a nice fit for the 'General': Ralph Siraco; Racing was the common denominator this weekend in Las Vegas.

Columnist John Katsilometes: Bill Bradley politically apathetic: Bill Bradley hasn't yet determined his favorite presidential candidate.

Airline's safety record takes a hit with slide off runway: Susan Parrott; The accident was the most serious in the airline's 29-year history. Although 15 people reported some sort of injury, no one died.

Three killed in 1-15 rollover in Utah: The car flipped at around 6:50 a.m. eight miles south of Nephi, rolling three times before coming to rest on the median. The only apparent cause was driver fatigue, according to Utah Highway Patrol trooper Nathan Lindsey.

Affleck happy to play 'Reindeer Games': Jeffrey K. Howard; In his latest outing, "Reindeer Games," co-starring Charlize Theron, Affleck is carrying a big-budget action flick by himself for the first time.

Victims' families sue killer's doctor, father, lottery officials in Connecticut: The dozens of lawsuits were filed in state Superior Court on Friday.

Former Lady Rebel sues school, coach: Kim Smith; A former UNLV basketball player has filed a lawsuit against the university and a former assistant coach claiming the coach assaulted her during a practice last year.

Hood River is tribes' 'ace in the hole' in casino siting dispute: Brad Cain; Hood River could be in for yet another image change, and those thousands of "boardheads" who descend on the town each year to ride the river's waves might be joined by crowds of gamblers.

Casino giants close $4.4 billion deal; Mirage's Wynn not expected to stay: Robert Macy; The merger, announced Monday, creates what one casino analyst described as "a juggernaut of a company" with 14 properties and about 1,000 acres of land for development in three states.

Police confident that killers of two guards will be caught: The gunmen, who escaped with several bags of money in the robbery, remained at large Monday, but Henderson Police Capt. Richard Perkins said detectives were working a number of promising leads.

IBL box: Baltimore-Las Vegas: BALTIMORE (13-24)

Woman accused of murdering husband ordered back to Nevada: Lt. Wayne Peterson, a Las Vegas homicide detective, dismissed that claim.

In Atlantic City, mega-merger spells more delays: John Curran; Mirage, which persuaded the state to build a $330 million road-and-tunnel connector and to pass a measure giving sales tax breaks to the developers of former landfills, agreed Monday to a $4.4 billion buyout by MGM Grand Inc., another Vegas company planning to build in Atlantic City.

Top hotel-casino corporations listed: Top hotel-casino corporations listed

Mississippi gaming company shifting focus to casinos: Hollywood Park is now Pinnacle Entertainment and the California-based firm has more changes coming that will affect its Boomtown and Casino Magic casinos in Biloxi and Bay St. Louis.