Print edition for March 13, 2000

Federal prosecutors lay out final scheme in trial: Natalie Gott; In laying out the final stage of Edwards' 10-week old federal racketeering trial, prosecutor Mike Magner said Edwards yielded considerable power in Louisiana politics in late 1996, after Edwards had left his fourth and final term in office and when DeBartolo was seeking a license.

Whitman pledges to defend affirmative action, plans to order race bias research: Ralph Siegel; The governor said the study will provide the evidence that administration lawyers need to defend in court New Jersey's affirmative action business programs at Atlantic City casinos and elsewhere in state and perhaps local government.

Mississippi justices hear arguments on casino case: Jack Elliot Jr.; Joseph Deprimo, an attorney for Tupelo-based American Family Association Law Center, told Supreme Court justices that Hinds County Circuit Judge James Graves was limited to the initiative's title and summary in a challenge filed by the Mississippi Gaming Association.

Ricky Martin plans return visit to Las Vegas: Martin sold out two shows at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in November 1999.

Nevada governor urges end to spending trend: But the first-term Republican governor says state support for public schools could eat up nearly all of the budget in the next eight years if there's no change in tax receipts.

Palm Springs tribe to build new casino, expand another: Ben Fox; The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians will be the first tribe in the state to finish a new casino and the first with two casinos under rules approved by California voters last week with the passage of Proposition 1A, tribal chairman Richard Milanovich said.

Treasurer to stop campaign solicitations of Massachusetts Lottery agents: John McElhenny; The Boston Herald reported Monday that campaign workers for State Treasurer Shannon P. O'Brien sent out hundreds of requests for donations to businesses in recent weeks. A Treasury spokesman denied that the requests put unfair pressure on Lottery agents.

UNLV golfers eighth: The Rebels (293-285-290 -- 868) finished tied with Houston (291-287-290 -- 868) at 4-over for the tournament, 20 shots out of first place.

Hill becomes war zone in test exercises: Still, the tension was there as about 1,000 Air Force reservists from Utah, Idaho and Nevada tested their combat and medical skills. They erected tents and other contraptions to turn the Utah base into a facility in southwestern Asia called "Base X."

Softball Preview: South looks to end championship drought: Zack Hall; 1. Wooster 2. Reed 3. Galena 4. Durango 5. McQueen 6. Bonanza 7. Carson 8. Cimarron-Memorial 9. Silverado 10. Douglas

Rebels softball team splits in Louisiana: The Rebels are now 13-9 on the season and will be participating in the Kia Classic Tournament starting Wednesday at Fullerton, Calif. UNLV will compete against No. 20 DePaul, No. 10 Oregon St., and No. 5 Oklahoma in the Rebels toughest road trip of the year.

Bradley back on the witness stand in Edwards trial: Natalie Gott; But Mark Bradley insisted to the end that he felt Edwards' friend and codefendant, Bobby Johnson, could make good on alleged threats to have Edwards kill the license.

County to simplify zoning, development code: Clark County has had an increasingly complicated mix of different rules governing new construction and development for more than 50 years, but county workers promise a new, easier-to-use code is on its way.

Vegas-Hartford service to begin April 1: The Phoenix-based carrier will offer overnight round-trip flights to Hartford's Bradley International Airport, the second-busiest airport in New England. Flights will leave Hartford at 9:04 p.m., arriving at McCarran at 11:19 p.m. The flight leaves Las Vegas at 12:33 a.m., arriving at Hartford at 8:15 a.m.

Ford buys LV auto wrecking yard as part of its recycling initiative: Phil Levine; Ford Motor Co. hopes acquisitions such as its purchase of Las Vegas-based King Auto Parts will add a green hue to its corporate image.

Guinn urges end to spending trend: CARSON CITY -- Can the state keep spending at its present rate for the next eight years and stay out of the red? Probably not, says Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Same-sex marriage gets new defenders: "It's another hurtful act to say that gays and lesbians are not welcome," Pillard said.

High-tech labs boost UNR profile: Tuesday's ribbon cutting is for the James E. Rogers and Louis Wiener Jr. Bridge Structures Laboratory on the university's main campus which has the ability to simulate conditions of a massive earthquake.

Bellagio expansion on hold: David Strow; Mirage Resorts Inc. disclosed today that the $250 million expansion of the Bellagio hotel-casino is on hold because of the company's merger with MGM Grand Inc.

Man facing at least 10 years in prison for July 4 DUI deaths: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas man has pleaded guilty in connection with a July 4 accident that claimed the lives of two local women and seriously injured a 12-year-old girl.

'Flutie Gang' wows fans: They came to see Buffalo Bills quarterback Doug Flutie play Friday night.

UNLV women tennis team loses 1st at home: UNLV women tennis team loses 1st at home

Nevada has final say on soils with mercury: The federal Environmental Protection Agency will not allow mercury-tainted sludge into the United States unless a hazardous waste company wins a Nevada environmental permit.

UNLV-Tulsa game breakdown: UNLV (23-7)

Munitions burning may get stricter controls: "Right now, there are Army procedures Sierra Army Depot has to follow but it can change those rules internally," said Ken Smith, the county's air-pollution control officer.

NLV man shot in struggle with officer: Jace Radke; Reporter Keith Paul contributed to this report.

Rebels invited to dance: Steve Addy; Gratified but not satisfied, the Rebels are going to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years.

Insurer to split in two, rebuffs takeover bid: The troubled insurer will be separated into two independent, publicly traded companies "as soon as an orderly separation can be achieved," the Hartford, Conn.-based company's board said.

$260 million locals resort set for Green Valley Ranch: David Strow; Station Casinos Inc. and American Nevada Corp. today unveiled a partnership, a groundbreaking date and other details on a long-planned resort casino in Henderson.

Bernstein making Senate race official: Las Vegas attorney Ed Bernstein, known to Nevadans through his billboards and television talk show, planned to announce his bid today for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev.

Malone attorney vows revenge over mailer: Adrienne Packer; An attorney for Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone vowed to identify the party responsible for a bruising mailer accusing Malone of being influenced by major campaign contributors.

Location is the name of the casino game: Patrick Hoge; SACRAMENTO -- When it comes to getting rich off Nevada-style gambling, one factor has been decisive for California's Indian casinos: location, location, location.

HORSE helps homeowners find solutions for rippling wallboard: Diana Sahagun; At least a dozen homeowners in northwest Las Vegas cannot hang wallpaper or pictures on their walls because of rippling wallboard in their new Kaufman & Broad homes.

Local news briefs for March 13, 2000: Metro Police homicide detectives are looking for a 17-year-old in connection with Thursday's fatal drive-by shooting of 16-year-old Antonio Ramos.

New trial ordered; conviction tossed: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court has voided the first-degree murder conviction of Anthony Petty, who was accused of fatally shooting another man after an argument over a pair of pants.

Pope's apology pleases Nevada Catholics: Monsignor Robert Bowling said the apology is a reminder that the church is a human organization run by human beings inspired by God who sometimes make mistakes.

Bandits routed at St. Louis: The loss drops the Silver Bandits (26-20) a half-game behind idle New Mexico and puts them in third place in the IBL West. St. Louis has the best record in the league at 32-11 and leads Las Vegas in the season series 6-5.

Nevada joins suit threatening state tourism: The outcome of the suit could prohibit the promotion of tourism in Nevada and 38 other states until environmental assessments are completed, said Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, chairwoman of Nevada's tourism commission.

Wild horse death draws investigation: The death occurred shortly after deputies heard reports that a man on an all-terrain vehicle was chasing a band of wild horses from the nearby Via Bianca mobile home park.

Obituaries for March 13, 2000: Franklin "Shorty Harris" Burkhart, 66, of North Las Vegas died Thursday in North Las Vegas. He was born Aug. 17, 1933, in Oakland, Calif. A resident for 38 years, he was a retired automobile mechanic and a Korean War Army veteran.

Pros, cons of casino listed: But it has also been followed by a doubling in the number seeking help for substance abuse on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation and a 29 percent increase in traffic on U.S. 160 near the casino, the report said.

Maxey won't face charges in robbery case: Kim Smith; A District Court judge Friday dismissed burglary and robbery charges against a teenager sentenced to life in prison for murder last month after prosecutors said they were satisfied with the life sentence.

Caesars riverboat writes plan to clear mud and silt: The water jets could help Caesars avoid potential shutdowns like one last June that closed its riverboat for two weeks for emergency dredging, costing Caesars at least $7 million in lost gaming revenues.

UNLV notebook: Vitale takes shots at Rebels selection: Steve Addy; None of Dick Vitale's preemptive strikes could keep UNLV from receiving an NCAA Tournament bid Sunday, but ESPN's college basketball motormouth didn't go quietly.

Gore scores big in state caucus: Martin Griffith; RENO -- Vice President Al Gore was expected to have Nevada's 29 delegates solidly behind him after an uncontested victory Sunday in the state's Democratic caucuses.

Gaming industry merger talk heats up in wake of MGM deal: David Strow; Merger talk in the gaming industry is heating up in the wake of MGM Grand Inc.'s agreement to acquire Mirage Resorts Inc. for $6.4 billion.

UNLV faces Tulsa in opening round: Steve Addy; It's time for the UNLV Rebels to expand their goals.

Judge: Childhood doesn't excuse man's crimes: Kim Smith; Henry Amarillas may still be young enough to commit crimes when he gets out of prison, but U.S. District Judge Philip Pro told the armed robber that he hopes he stays away from gangs and makes something of himself.

Prep schedule: TODAY

Gore an 8-to-5 favorite to win U.S. presidency: Las Vegas oddsmaker Jackie Dell has made Vice President Al Gore an 8-to-5 favorite to be the next president of the United States.

Ethics Commission plans to get tough on financial disclosures: CARSON CITY -- The state Ethics Commission plans to get tough with public officials who fail to file their financial disclosure forms by the March 31 deadline.

Computer hitch slows permit processing: The computer problems in the city's Development Services Center were unrelated to the well-publicized computer problems with the Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety and other agencies, a city spokesman said.

Alleged mobsters plead guilty: Kim Smith; Four of the reputed mobsters arrested two years ago during a lengthy FBI investigation into the Los Angeles mob's attempted takeover of Las Vegas pleaded guilty last week.

Building a better house: Diana Sahagun; Ill-trained workers are largely responsible for the high incidence of construction defects in the Las Vegas Valley, says a consultant who has formed a new group to promote a better trained building industry.

Jackpot winner injured, sister killed in crash: Ed Koch and Jace Radke; Sun reporters Kim Smith and Keith Paul contributed to this report.

Zions, First Security deal looking more doubtful: Phil Levine; The proposed merger of Salt Lake City-based banking giants First Security Corp. and Zions Bancorporation -- owner of Nevada State Bank -- is in doubt because of an advisory decision by investment banker Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Elephant trainer departs after elephants are gone: For the past 15 years, the couple has lived in a small apartment above the elephant barn in the parking lot at the Nugget, where Boomer trained Bertha and Angel.

Three pets die in morning fire: A two-alarm apartment fire today left 10 people homeless and killed a dog and two cats, the Clark County Fire Department said.

Key Nevada lawmaker pitches tax plan for e-trade: Brendan Riley; The reaction from members of the Legislative Commission, which handles policy issues between the lawmakers' regular sessions, ranged from enthusiasm to caution. No decisions were made.

Letter: Philharmonic performance dazzles locals: One of the pleasurable parts of the evening was the size of the audience. A capacity crowd of more than 1,750 Las Vegans was treated to one of those magical moments that make you proud of your community. The fact that we have such talented musicians capable of playing such difficult and magnificent works puts our city on the same cultural plateau as other major cities. It was great to see the Philharmonic get the kind of audience and reception it deserves. We have a lot to be proud of in Las Vegas, and a high quality symphony orchestra tops ...

LV Intercollegiate golf tournament results: x-Won playoff.

Schedule: Baseball

Bernstein says abortion will be key issue in Nevada Senate race: Scott Sonner; "I think choice is a huge issue," Bernstein said in an interview before he planned formal announcements in Reno and Las Vegas today announcing his candidacy for the Democratic nomination.

Report: Fewer women hold key posts under Guinn: Women held nine of 30 top jobs during Guinn's first year in office compared with 15 of 34 top positions during Miller's final year, the organization says.

Community news briefs for March 13, 2000: Clark County Legal Services, a local nonprofit service that offers civil legal services to residents in need, opens its new office building Tuesday at 800 S. Eighth St.

Impasse over gaming ends land negotiations in New York: The state's stand exasperated the court-appointed mediator, the Indian nation, and people living on the 250,000 acres of disputed land. All now expect a lengthy and costly federal trial.

Columnist John Katsilometes: Casing party towns via the 'Net: The concept started out of thin air.

UNLV women left asking 'why' after NIT snub: Steve Guiremand; Down the hallway from where Bill Bayno and his team were celebrating the Sunday afternoon announcement of their selection to the NCAA Tournament, things were much more somber for Lady Rebels coach Regina Miller and her staff.

UNLV women's tennis results: Sunday At Fertitta Tennis Complex

Letter: Guns not cause of people's deaths: Now you have the correct information. Not someone who is totally unknowledgeable on the subject. So please do not condemn people who have guns. They are a secure way to protect our homes and family, since we cannot depend on law enforcement.

Regents urged to take refresher course on open meeting law: The letter came after Oldenburg completed an investigation into a grievance filed by Regent Tom Kirkpatrick against the 11-member board.

Sen. Edwards, ACC's Swofford use ACC Tourney title game to push for gambling ban: The bill would ban betting on college, Olympic and high school sports in Nevada, the only state that allows widespread sports betting. Congress banned sports betting in most states in 1992, but exempted Nevada. The state's gambling industry took in $2.3 billion in sports wagers in fiscal 1999, with 30 percent to 40 percent bet on college sports.

She loves the Knight life: What: "Smokey Joe's Cafe," starring Gladys Knight.

Scholarships available to HS seniors: The scholarships are awarded through 21 different programs -- academic and athletic as well as others that target specific trade groups and students who have overcome personal challenges or adversities.

Student claims rights violated by use of Social Security numbers: Natalie Durante, a 25-year-old student at the college, cited inconveniences she has faced in having to block the school from using her Social Security number in a class-action suit filed in federal court earlier this month.

Federal prosecutors lay out final scheme in Edwards trial: Natalie Gott; In laying out the final stage of Edwards' 10-week-old federal racketeering trial, prosecutor Mike Magner said Edwards wielded considerable power in Louisiana politics in late 1996, after Edwards had left his fourth and final term in office and when DeBartolo was seeking a license.

Editorial: Viewing Nevada as garbage pit: The past two decades have witnessed a rush by private industry and government to send deadly garbage to Nevada. The most visible -- and dangerous -- effort has been the federal government's plans to build a repository at Yucca Mountain that would store 77,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste. Nevada also was one of three states that had a dump for low-level radioactive waste.

IBL box: Las Vegas-St. Louis: LAS VEGAS (26-20)

NCAA Men's Tournament schedule: First Round

Gary Sinise is a man on a 'Mission': David Neil; Contrary to his off-screen personality, he is quite the opposite concerning his busy career. At the age of 18 the Chicago native helped found the Steppenwolf Theatre Company (along with Terry Kinney and Jeff Perry), in which he served as artistic director for seven years. Finally he crossed the bridge from stage to screen and made his directorial debut with "Miles from Home" (1988) before directing himself in the remake of the classic "Of Mice and Men" (1992).

Report: Colorado casino generates $9 million a year for local economy: The report, commissioned by the state, tribe and county, noted that during the past five years, the Ute Mountain Utes' gaming operation has pumped $13 million to $15 million a year into the state's economy, with the bulk of that, up to $9 million a year, infusing the Cortez area, the report said.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Will Bayno call Tark for advice?: Dean Juipe; They don't exchange phone calls or e-mails, nor do they send each other greeting cards or love notes.

Former casino executive acquitted in Missouri River dredging case: "You're supposed to be happy," his lawyer, Rudy Rivera Jr., told him after jurors left the courtroom Friday night.

Letter: Scrap plan for Yucca Mountain: 1. Nye County officials reported that ground water outside the boundaries of the Test Site contained radiation 25 times higher than allowable limits;

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Orleans contest winner brings home $123,900: Ralph Siraco; Horseplayers enjoyed their own dose of March Madness on Sunday at the Orleans with the conclusion of the fifth edition of the National Handicapping Challenge. While the field of 708 players was much larger than the NCAA's field of 64, it took only three days and seven race tracks to crown the winner of the racing competition.