Print edition for March 14, 2000

Condemned killer's case goes before clemency board: Walter Berry; Poland, who appeared at the hearing, was scheduled to die by injection on Wednesday for the 1977 slayings. His brother, Michael Poland, was executed last year.

Government committed to restoring trout to Truckee: "If a group comes in and says, 'We want to maintain what we've got and we want the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to go away,' it ain't happening," Williams told the angler-intensive crowd.

Government focuses on alleged scheme to extort ex-NFL owner: Natalie Gott; The tape of the conversation was played Tuesday for the jury in Edwards' federal racketeering trial. Edwards, a four-term governor who had left office, is accused of extorting $400,000 from DeBartolo, whose involvement in the case cost him control of his NFL franchise.

NCAA men's tournament schedule: First Round

Nevada Supreme Court backs DNA testing: CARSON CITY -- A 1997 law that requires DNA testing of those convicted of certain crimes is constitutional and does not violate a person's right against unreasonable search and seizure, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled Monday.

Palm Springs confronts new role as casino destination: Ben Fox; PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - It's a fast-growing desert getaway from the sprawl of Southern California. Frank Sinatra lived there, and the rest of the Rat Pack used it as a stomping ground. It even draws the lounge acts of Wayne Newton and Tom Jones.

Palm Springs tribe to build new casino, expand another: Ben Fox; The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians said Monday it would build the casino near Interstate 10 in the Coachella Valley, about two hours east of Los Angeles. The tribe also plans to spend at least $150 million to expand its existing casino in nearby Palm Springs.

Backer for Michigan theme park has past of plans that never materialized: Sungold, formerly Sungold Gaming, once planned to build two South Korea casinos before the troubled Korean economy scuttled the ventures, said Kim N. Hart, the company's president.

Letter: Suspend taxes on gasoline: CALVIN D. BANKS

Letter: Seated passengers wouldn't get hurt: RICHARD EVERDING

LV man sentenced in attempted assault: Shawn Michael Thomson pleaded guilty in December to one count of first-degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon and attempted sexual assault.

Wednesday at Santa Anita: 1st race 2 fur 2YO Fil Mdn: 1 Meteor Game (Antley) 120; 2 Carson City Red (Bravo) 120; 3 Liberty's Greeting (Baird) 120; 4 Order Glamour (Enriquez) 120; 5 Big Sky Flicka (Valdivia) 120; 6 Smokin' Charlotte (Garcia) 120; 7 Credit Me Carol (Bautista) 120; 8 Rachel Two Socks (Sorenson) 120.

Letter: Clinton's 'new economy' near end of the road: If history is any indication of where such high energy costs will lead, we expect an increase in the consumer price index, followed by an increase in the prime rate by the Fed to "slow inflation," followed by a slowdown or reversal of growth in the stock market. So much for the Clinton administration's "new economy."

Letter: Texan knows of speedway woes: It is still a problem out here with our track -- I was not surprised to learn that you all had the same situation. Local government needs to be involved in trying to resolve race day traffic jams.

Services held for three small children killed in fire: The three, 4-year-old LeDeana, 3-year-old Jae and 2-year-old Eric Williams III, were buried Monday next to their father, Eric, who died in 1997 of diabetes.

LV designer in Calif. Indian casino pact: Located in Sonoma County near the 101 Freeway, the casino will be complete in fall 2001. Advent said the 175,000-square-foot property will be able to hold up to 2,000 slot machines and 50 table games. The property will be owned by the Dry Creek Band of Pomo Indians.

Union fights for butchers: TYLER, Texas -- The United Food and Commercial Workers is seeking an injunction against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to prevent the giant retailer from eliminating meat cutting departments at 180 stores.

Study favorable to police criticized: Valerie Miller; A new study says that police officers who use excessive force are the exception, not the rule, and that police violence against minorities is not widespread.

Man charged in prostitute attacks wanted in Nevada on child sex charges: Deputy District Attorney Debra Vogt said the Nevada charges came to light as local police prepared for Allen's trial on the Oregon charges.

Affidavits aimed at exposing AG probe: Five former gaming regulators have signed sworn affidavits urging a district judge to unseal documents that may show the attorney general's office wrongly targeted them in a secret intelligence investigation.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Motormouth Vitale way out of line: When it comes to college basketball, Dick Vitale has kissed more hind ends than a Chicago alderman with Mayor Daley (the old man) in the house. Rarely does he have anything negative to say about anything or anybody wearing baggy shorts or owning a shoe contract.

Lettero joins new resort as CFO: Lettero, who will be CFO of Aladdin Gaming, said he'll leave the Stratosphere within 90 days. A replacement has yet to be found.

Federal prosecutors lay out final scheme in Edwards trial: Natalie Gott; The government alleges the former governor extorted DeBartolo, who was seeking Louisiana's final riverboat casino license.

Monday's prep results: Valley 17, Centennial 5: Kaveeh Akbari went 3-for-4 with three doubles and six RBIs to lead the Vikings to a road victory.

Killer gets 65 years: SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A South Bend man convicted of murdering a man for his casino winnings was sentenced to 65 years in prison.

Gates keeps Mosley on Walters trial: Kim Smith; Saying he saw "no evidence whatsoever" of bias, Chief District Judge Lee Gates denied a prosecution motion to remove District Judge Donald Mosley from a money laundering case involving well-connected golf course developer Billy Walters.

Thoroughbred legend Pincay honored, roasted at Orleans: Ralph Siraco; Las Vegas has always been a town where legends are made.

School District overloaded at top, critics say: Terry Webster; Cost of Administration Salaries and benefits for Clark County Superintendent Brian Cram and 22 assistant and area superintendents:

Alcoa buying shuttle contractor: PITTSBURGH -- Aluminum maker Alcoa Inc. is acquiring Cordant Technologies Inc., a major supplier of aluminum airplane parts, fasteners and solid-fuel rockets, for $2.3 billion in cash.

Arizona firm joins Houston company in power plant plans: One of the shared projects will be a plant already under construction west of Phoenix. Two others will be in the Las Vegas area and one other will be in northern Nevada, probably near Reno.

LIFT keeping poor out of the dark: More than 8,107 families have been helped by LIFT, Low Income Financing Together, since September 1985, receiving more than $140 toward their past due utility bills.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Santa Anita: 1st Race -- Meteor Game - First baby race of the season sees this gal drawing the rail for the quarter-mile drag race, jockey Antley and trainer Dutton forte. Smokin' Charlotte - Garcia aboard first-time starter, draws well, maybe name best endorsement. Value Play -- Carson City Red

Lawsuits likely over floundering bank merger: Phil Levine; Corporate tensions are rising and threats of lawsuits loom as hopes for the successful merger between Salt Lake City rivals Zions Bancorporation and First Security Corp. begin to dim.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Dumping on Nevada: We've been down this road before.

Nonstop Mexico flights planned: Copyright 2000 Las Vegas Sun

Sparks policeman accused of stalking: Gentry was placed on leave Friday while the Reno Police Department investigates the charges. Neither Deputy Reno Police Chief Jim Weston nor Sparks Police Chief John Dotson would discuss the case.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Taking a stand with a 'gas-out': Call it the revenge of the four-bangers.

Five Las Vegas hotels sign partnership deals: The Phoenix-based company announced agreements with the Circus Circus hotel-casino, the Four Seasons Hotel, the Hard Rock hotel-casino, the Palace Station hotel-casino and the soon-to-open Aladdin hotel-casino.

Obituaries for March 14, 2000: Barbara J. Ballinger, 75, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. She was born Oct. 4, 1924, in Jackson, Mich. A resident for 50 years, she was a homemaker.

Wynn gains options to buy Bellagio art collection: David Strow; Though Steve Wynn will probably depart Mirage Resorts Inc. after its merger with MGM Grand Inc., he's come up with a way to maintain control of Mirage's prized $400 million art collection.

Passion 4 PL8S: Kimberley McGee; What: Nevada International License Plate Society Convention.

State seeks to invest in business: CARSON CITY -- Legislators are making a second attempt to change the state Constitution to allow taxpayer money to be invested in private business to spur economic development.

$200 million bid for Desert Inn called 'flaky': David Strow; A European investment group today bid $200 million for the Desert Inn hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip -- an offer immediately rejected by the property's owner as inadequate.

Power plants set for LV, Reno: Pinnacle West Energy, like APS a subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp., is sharing the projects with Reliant Energy Power Generation Inc. of Houston.

Community news briefs for March 14, 2000: The Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada, an agency that provides resources for people and organizations to volunteer in the community, recently appointed Fran Smith as its new executive director.

Reno teen pleads guilty in firebombing: Meanwhile, officials have charged a 16-year-old Reno girl in the case. She was arrested last month on suspicion of first-degree arson, manufacturing an incendiary device, use of an explosive to damage property and conspiracy to commit arson.

Megabucks winner still serious after fatal accident: Cynthia Jay-Brennan was injured Saturday night in a chain-reaction auto accident at Boulder Highway and Indios Avenue that killed her 45-year-old sister, Lela Anne Jay.

Teen shooter pleads guilty: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas teenager arrested in connection with a shooting outside Clark High School on October 11 pleaded guilty Monday, the day his trial was supposed to start.

GOP says draft memo shows Clinton forest initiative is biased: John Hughes; The Forest Service confirmed it is negotiating an agreement with one of the groups, the World Wildlife Fund of Washington, D.C., and that the agreement could involve work on roadless-area issues.

Station Casinos stock soars: David Strow; Shares of Station Casinos Inc. soared nearly 20 percent this morning on news that the company would substantially beat analyst expectations for the first quarter -- and that the locals casino operator is already eyeing its sixth hotel-casino in the Las Vegas Valley.

Legendary football coach Andree dies: Ed Koch and Spencer Patterson; Kenneth H. Andree, the legendary Boulder City High School football coach of the 1950s and '60s, who later as mayor of Boulder City spearheaded the drive to get the municipal golf course built, has died. He was 70.

Wednesday at Bay Meadows: 1st race 1-1/16 mi 4YO & up F & M Clm: 1 Sunnydawn Miss (Meza) 117; 2 Native Date (Delgadillo) 117; 3 Qui Paquito (Campbell) 117; 4 Bronxville Doll (Tohill) 117; 5 Conezdesertglitter (Castro) 117.

Kidnapping added to charges against cop: Keith Paul; Prosecutors filed more serious charges Monday against a North Las Vegas Police detective accused of accosting a woman, charging him with first-degree kidnapping -- a felony punishable by up to life in prison.

Nevada Supreme Court upholds genetic testing: Among those was Melvin Taylor Gaines, who was convicted of one gambling cheating charge and then arrested for two burglaries.

LV mansion developer sues Brunei government to overturn injunction: Grace Leong; The owner of a Las Vegas luxury villa sued the youngest brother of the Sultan of Brunei and the Brunei government in hopes of overturning a Brunei court injunction that threatens to block the project's completion and impede the sale of the property and other assets.

Man pleads guilty in shooting at high school: Maynor Villanueva will be sentenced by District Court Judge Joseph Bonaventure May 5 on a charge of attempted murder.

Rebels to meet Hawaii: Steve Guiremand; When the University of Texas last week decided to pay a $100,000 penalty for pulling out of its game at the University of Hawaii next fall, Rainbows coach June Jones didn't mince any words.

Ambulance firm's suit to proceed: Adrienne Packer; Clark County attorneys were hardly fazed Monday after a district judge denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit by the county's ambulance service, American Medical Response.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Showroom to become pricey suites: Kate Maddox; In a town where entertainment and high rollers vie for attention from big-name casinos, the closing of the Caesars Palace Circus Maximus showroom will ultimately be a coup for the gamblers.

Tulsa hot over seeding snub: Steve Addy; Even before suiting up against UNLV on Friday, Tulsa has received its biggest break of the NCAA Tournament. Jerry Tarkanian and his Fresno State team will be thousands of miles away.

Ex-Gorman coach Adras has NAU in line for upset shot: Steve Guiremand; Northern Arizona's basketball team was making the long trip back from Missoula, Mont., on Sunday when coach Mike Adras decided to pull the team bus into a sports bar called Max's Sports Lounge in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale.

Expired permits threat to clean water: Nevada leads all states in expired permits to discharge treated waste water, effectively issuing industries a license to pollute water sources, two national environmental groups said.

Wednesday at Aqueduct: 1st race 1 mi 3YO & up Mdn Clm: 1 Southern Ensign (Arroyo) 108; 2 Three Day Jack (Montalvo) 118; 3 a-Devil's Tombstone (Blake) 114; 4 Revere (Rojas) 121; 5 Alyregal (Rosario) 104; 6 Quick Devil (Bridgmohan) 123; 7 a-Heart Two Beat (Velasquez) 121; 8 Desert Comet (Rocco) 118; 9 Make Smart (Luzzi) 123.

DMV pulled into class action law suit: According to the suit, Albert and Karen Parra purchased a used car that showed 56,641 miles on its odometer, but the car actually had been driven nearly triple that amount because the odometer had been rolled over.

Possible Binion jurors get TV quiz: What do "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal" have to do with the Ted Binion murder case?

Editorial: Voters deserve their say: On the positive side, according to an analysis by the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate, Republican John McCain's insurgency campaign created a record turnout in 12 of the 18 Republican primary contests held through last Tuesday. The nonpartisan research group found that 13.6 percent of voting-age Americans turned out in Republican primaries, which was 4.3 percentage points higher than in 1996. The Democrats, though, didn't generate the same level of enthusiasm. Just 10.1 percent of the voting-age population turned out in Democratic primaries, registering their second lowest turnout in 40 years.