Print edition for March 29, 2000

Fourth juror booted from Edwards case: Natalie Gott; U.S. District Judge Frank Polozola did not give any reason for dismissing Juror No. 350. But in the past week he has strongly warned jurors about discussing the case in public, telling them to walk away if anyone tries to talk to them about it.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Athletes at mercy of coaches: Dean Juipe; In many respects college athletes are little more than indentured servants.

Panel opens debate on betting bill: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sen. John McCain drew a crowd -- and criticism from Nevada officials -- today during the first Congressional hearing on a bill that would ban betting on college sports in Nevada casinos.

Boulder City may welcome bikers for fall event: Jace Radke; As many as 50,000 leather-clad motorcycle riders looking for a party may find their way to Boulder City this fall.

Local news briefs for March 29, 2000: A 52-year-old motorcyclist died this morning after driving into a parked car at Lake Mead Hospital, North Las Vegas Police said.

'Road rage' suspect sentenced to probation: Kim Smith; A 24-year-old woman charged in the road-rage death of a motorcycle rider trapped between two tractor-trailers was placed on probation Tuesday.

Ashley marks one year at LV FBI helm: Kim Smith; From the moment Grant Ashley saw Jimmy Stewart in "The FBI Story," he knew. He may have been only 6, but he knew how he wanted to spend the rest of his life.

State senator rips big schools: CARSON CITY -- A state senator criticizing the Clark County School District said Tuesday that building smaller schools will turn out better students.

Jury set after only two days: A 12-member jury has been seated in just two days in the well-publicized Ted Binion murder trial.

High court member raps disputed jackpots: CARSON CITY -- A senior member of the Nevada Supreme Court suggested today that the state's welfare is being endangered by refusal of casinos to pay off jackpots based on technical reasons.

Bandits sign Ackles: During the 1988-89 season Ackles shattered the UNLV single-season record for blocked shots with 64. He broke his own record two years later with 77 blocks, which now ranks second at UNLV behind Keon Clark's 112 in 1996-97.

Henderson citizens protest downtown expansion proposal: Valerie Miller; A move to possibly triple the size of Henderson's downtown redevelopment area was met with skepticism by some of the nearly 200 residents who heard about the plan Tuesday, but officials voted to recommend a study despite their concerns.

Gambling industry, colleges swap blame for student betting: Laurence Arnold; WASHINGTON - Boosters of the Nevada gambling industry and college athletic leaders blamed each other Wednesday for the proliferation of illegal betting among college students.

Fourth-generation driver ready for first big test: Mike Harris; FORT WORTH, Texas - Kyle Petty isn't sure when son Adam first thought about becoming a stock-car racer.

Officials dig deeper into contaminated well: Nevada environmental officials have expanded an investigation into the source of the gasoline additive MTBE after a small amount of it was detected in two supplementary drinking-water wells in North Las Vegas.

Lawyer can look for Supreme Court ruling mistake, judge says: Kim Smith; A District Court judge is giving a local defense attorney the chance to prove that the Nevada Supreme Court made a mistake during an appellate hearing in a death penalty case.

Columnist Peter Benton: Norman just misses out on Hall ballot: Peter Benton; No new PGA Tour members have gained selection to the World Golf Hall of Fame, but Greg Norman came the closest in balloting last week.

Busch emerging as top rookie: Four races into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, Kurt Busch has a pair of second-place finishes, four top-10 showings, is third in the championship and leading the Rookie of the Year standings.

Sho-Ban compact ratified, stage set for court battle over casino machines: Bob Fick; "We need to get on with it and resolve the dispute," Republican Sen. Moon Wheeler of American Falls said.

Papis finds confidence, success with Rahal: Mike Haris; Max Papis knew exactly what he was getting into when he agreed to drive for retiring star Bobby Rahal.

Slot player's jackpot appeal heard in Nevada Supreme Court: Brendan Riley; During arguments on Cengiz "Gene" Sengel's appeal, Senior Justice David Zenoff said, "The good will of the state of Nevada is at stake in a situation like this."

Auto racing schedule, results, winners: Feb. 20 - Daytona 500, Daytona Beach, Fla. (Dale Jarrett)

Key chairman backing Black Rock Desert effort: Scott Sonner; Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said last week there wasn't enough time to get Bryan's measure through the House and Senate this year.

Consolidation of Washoe fire departments moves closer: While officials wouldn't release details of the deal, Reno Mayor Jeff Griffin said on Tuesday the four-year contract is a crucial step toward what's expected to be a money-saving merger.

NCAA Tournament Final Four schedule: National Semifinals

Columnist Victoria Sun: Pak getting her game back on track: Victoria Sun; Akiko Fukushima has more in common with Se Ri Pak than the fact that they both play on the LPGA Tour.

Higher gas prices hurt Ely Buss effort: State transit programs are partially subsidized by the federal gas tax, which is administered by the Nevada Department of Transportation, or NDOT, Cameron said. He and other operators were seeking the funding from the department.

Aerospace museum may land elsewhere: Jace Radke; Scott Fisher hasn't given up on his vision of a multimillion-dollar aerospace museum in Southern Nevada, but the facility may not be located in Boulder City as originally planned.

Pining for victories: Spencer Patterson; Desert Pines first-year varsity records:

Father, son implicated in Tahoe girl's murder: Brendan Riley; Thomas Soria Sr., 39, whose son, Thomas Jr., 19, is in jail for the March 19 murder of Krystal Steadman, hasn't been charged in her death. But Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini said, "We are now considering him a suspect in that case."

Judge rejects bond reduction against driver in I-15 accident: Kim Smith; The 21-year-old part-time Las Vegas resident accused of running over and killing six teens as they picked up trash along Interstate 15 will remain in the Clark County Detention Center on $5 million bond, for now.

Linebacker Owens has seen, played against top players: Steve Guiremand; When it comes to producing college football talent, few areas in the United States do it any better than western Pennsylvania.

Man faces death penalty in skinhead killing case: Defense attorney Joseph Sciscento asked District Judge Michael Douglas to toss out the possibility of the death penalty in the John Edward Butler case, saying Nevada applies the law unfairly.

Reno called "quirky": The magazine's senior editor, Gabrielle deGroot, says quirky is cool. Quirky towns are offbeat.

Gibbons praises Clinton's courage in opposing nuclear industry: Scott Sonner; Rep. Jim Gibbons voted for Clinton's impeachment in December 1998 and has been a consistent conservative critic on issues from the environment to the military.

Nevada's first congressman finally getting marked grave: Next month, Sen. Richard Bryan and veteran Nevada newspaper publisher David Henley of Fallon will change that.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Violinist Milenkovich shines at Steelman soiree: Elizabeth Foyt; The performance was given in the living room, which boasts of coffered ceilings and proved ideal for the majesty of the musical selections.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Mining history to find gaming parallel: The issue was taxation, and the moneyed powers wanted none of it. In pursuing an exemption from taxation, as Michael Bowers noted in "The Sagebrush State," they were "clearly exhibiting one of history's oldest political axioms: additional costs are fine ... as long as someone else picks up the check."

NCAA probe costs Rebels recruit: Steve Addy; The possibility of NCAA sanctions against UNLV's basketball program has cost the Rebels a point guard recruit.

Editorial: Home run isn't likely in this bid: Editorial: Home run isn't likely in this bid

Judge OKs hitman trial: Kim Smith; A judge has ruled that the Clark County district attorney's office may prosecute a case involving a man accused of hiring a hitman to kill a deputy district attorney.

Father loses deportation battle; son's fate in doubt: Mohammed Alshiabat has been ordered deported to the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where he lived before entering the United States a decade ago.

Despite initial fears, gambling has improved economy for Lincoln City: Trumpeting the results, Delores Pigsley, the tribal chairwoman, said the study proves that initial concern about the casino's social and economic impact was unwarranted.

Louisiana officials prepare for Harrah's tax cut: BATON ROUGE, La. -- A House committee decided Tuesday to renew for only one year the money New Orleans gets for police and other services at Harrah's Entertainment Inc.'s casino in case the casino's $100 million annual tax is cut.

Letter: District attorney licking its chops over Williams: If Jessica Williams, with premeditation and malice, aimed her car into the median and killed six people, then the full weight of the law should rightfully be brought to bear.

Community news briefs for March 29, 2000: The local chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen will hold its Explore the World of Aviation program to introduce kids to flight Saturday at the Jean Airport, 20 south of Las Vegas. Members of the club will take youngsters with signed permission slips on flights in private airplanes. Registration is required. Call 314-8369 or e-mail Lynhazel@prodigy.net.

Edwards' second trial set for June 19: U.S. District Judge Frank Polozola moved the trial back from May 15 because of the length of Edwards' current trial on charges of corrupting the state's riverboat casino licensing system.

Conservationists ready petition to list sage grouse: Scott Sonner; Leaders of the American Lands Alliance say they will petition the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in coming months to use the Endangered Species Act to protect the northern sage grouse in several Western states.

Woman pleads guilty in case where body burned: Kim Smith; The second of two people accused of killing a Las Vegas man and then burning his remains has entered a plea agreement.

Obituaries for March 29, 2000: Larry R. Arigoni, 52, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. He was born Jan. 14, 1948, in Tonopah. A lifelong resident, he was a carpenter, a veteran of the National Guard, a member of Carpenters Local 1780 and the Las Vegas Ski Club.

Initial response rate for census good: CARSON CITY -- Nevadans are responding to the census better than the national average, Secretary of State Dean Heller said Tuesday after initial figures were released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Pence: Probe of worker harassment sad but not surprising: Sandra Chereb; As former ranger of the Carson District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Pence was the target of two bombings six years ago. The attacks left him and his family unhurt, but shaken, and prompted the Forest Service to transfer him to Idaho for their safety.

Editorial: Bungling is par for the course: Board member Larry Mason thundered back: "And you didn't tell us?" Attea's reason for withholding this critical fact after nearly two hours of discussion? He didn't want to spoil the debate on the candidates' strengths and weaknesses. But it is ridiculous for a consultant, who is getting paid a hefty fee by the school district for his professional services, to keep elected members of the School Board in the dark about such a critical fact.

Winner of Desert Research award warns of invasive species: Scott Sonner; "Most people think about temperature and climate when they think about global change," said Harold Mooney, an environmental biologist at Stanford University.

Mississippi Senate panel delays action on gaming courses bill: Sen. Terry Burton, D-Newton, chairman of the Senate Universities and Colleges Committee, said Wednesday that the bill, which does not authorize classes in things like dealing black jack, has stirred up some controversy as do all gambling bills.

Nevada to get $2 million for mag-lev project: The 42-mile rail linking Las Vegas and Primm is part of a high-speed train route which could eventually shuttle riders between Southern Nevada and Southern California.

New bank president's challenge: Growing while staying small: Phil Levine; President Calvin Coolidge once declared that "the business of America is business."

Nevada Power wants law on deregulation struck down: Nevada Power and its Reno-based parent company want the law that deregulates the electrical power industry in the state declared unconstitutional.

Detroit casino licensing delayed: DETROIT -- State gaming regulators on Tuesday deferred hearings on licensing Detroit's third planned casino, further pushing back the opening of the nearly finished Greektown site.

Crain: Perlman said Edwards told him to vote for DeBartolo project: Natalie Gott; State gambling board chairman Hillary Crain said Tuesday that he learned of Edwards' directions to board member Ralph Perlman only after the investigation into Edwards was made public and Perlman had testified before the federal grand jury in this case.

DMV testing its new services: Ginny Lewis, deputy director of the department, says the DMV hopes to roll out its new Internet and telephone service for renewing car registrations and driver's licenses in late April or early May.

Nevada lawyers arguing in nation's high court: Las Vegas federal public defender Michael Pescetta will argue that the courts have unfairly denied hearing the federal appeals of Antonio Slack, convicted of second-degree murder in 1990 and now in a Nevada state prison.

45 percent of forms returned statewide: Census Bureau figures show 45 percent of Nevada households have mailed back their census forms, compared to 44 percent nationally.

Beehive destroyed at school: About 800 children remained in the school at Cielo Vista Avenue and West Lake Mead Boulevard while the hive was destroyed as a precaution against the threat of Africanized bees. No one was stung.

Club's anniversary prompts dining at last generation's prices: Tom Gardner; RENO, Nev. - A hamburger for 40 cents? A dime for french fries? Prime rib for $2.95?

Publisher posts annual results: The loss was up substantially from a net loss of $248,000, or 6 cents per share, in 1998. These increased losses were triggered by a one-time charge of $2.1 million, taken to account for 1.5 million additional restricted shares issued to top level executives and board members. The company's merger agreement with Gaming Venture Corp. called for these shares to be issued to Casino Journal's original shareholders if revenues of $8 million were posted in 1998 and $9 million in 1999.

Savvy wine buy: Paso Robles White Wine '98: -- Max Jacobson

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Get your Extra Value points: Here's how the limited promotion works: For every $100 spent you'll receive a certificate good for 100 Extra Value points. From April 24 through May 4, the points give customers extra savings on new purchases. This is in addition to the ticket sale price. Certificates are issued by the cashier.

LV students take top fair honors: LV students take top fair honors

Clinton announces new restrictions on Grand Canyon flights: Matt Kelley; The Federal Aviation Administration rules would increase a "no-fly zone" from 45 percent of Grand Canyon National Park to 75 percent of the park. Planes and helicopters would have to fly about 3,500 feet higher, and the number of flights also would be capped at present levels.

Forum Shops at Caesars expansion moving ahead: David Strow; After a two-year wait, the owners of the Forum Shops at Caesars are moving forward once again with plans to expand the mall a second time -- but they've yet to receive the final blessings of Caesars Palace owner Park Place Entertainment Corp.

Letter: Garcia may be making big leap: In making a jump to the rapidly growing school system fraught with so many "growing pains" it brings to mind if he knows what he may be getting into.

Two men charged in shooting death of Las Vegas teen: Jace Radke; Two Las Vegas men were arrested Tuesday in connection with the fatal drive-by shooting of a 17-year-old Western High School student on Feb. 19.

Dog Run teams up with pet adoption: The Clark County Parks and Recreation Department is hosting the grand opening of the Shadow Rock Park Dog Run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is being coupled with a pet adoption sponsored by Media Partners for Pets. More than 40 dogs will be available for adoption.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Thursday's races at Santa Anita: 1st Race -- Go Go Mustang - Solis aboard Frankel trainee, adds blinkers, training at Hollypark. Reptar - Draws good outside post for the sprint, Nakatani aboard Hess trainee, good spot. Value Play -- Next Eclipse

Crain: Fuller asked him for second copy of state police report: Natalie Gott; BATON ROUGE, La. - The gambling board member accused of passing along a report about riverboat casino applicants for former Gov. Edwin Edwards requested but did not get a second copy, according to testimony Wednesday in Edwards' federal racketeering trial.

President expected to raise $400,000 on Vegas visit: Since he became president, Clinton has raised about $1.95 million for his party through appearances in Las Vegas.

Ruffin denies Advent accusations on San Francisco-themed resort: Grace Leong; New Frontier owner Phil Ruffin denied casino designer Mark Advent's accusations that Ruffin stole his idea to build a San Francisco-themed resort on the Las Vegas Strip, saying a San Francisco-themed resort concept is in the public domain.

Columnist Jeff Haney: 'Fearless forecasts' meet Las Vegas lines: Bill Mazeroski is best known as the Pirates' second baseman who sent Forbes Field into a frenzy with a celebrated World Series home run on an October afternoon some 40 years ago.

Greenbrier County commission not in hurry to act; opponents get organized: Jennifer Bundy; An anti-gambling group is considering a court challenge to the 1999 law that authorizes the casino in the White Sulphur Springs resort. The law says Greenbrier County voters must first approve. The county commission has sole power to decide when, and if, to put the measure on the county ballot.

Jury selected in Binion case: Jury selection, which began Monday, went faster than expected. Prosecutors and defense attorneys had initially estimated it to last several days to two weeks.

New restrictions planned at Grand Canyon National Park: Flights would be limited to help quiet manmade noise in the landmark under new rules announced by President Clinton.

Ex-PUC member to become consumer advocate: CARSON CITY -- Tim Hay, the newly appointed state consumer advocate, says his major goal will be protecting the freeze on power rates for homeowners when Nevada opens its electric market to competition.