Print edition for May 1, 2000

Bids dribble in at water auction: An auction of ground-water rights sold for less than expected Saturday, auctioneers said today.

Federal investigators probe plane crash that killed two: Keith Paul; Investigators continue to search for the cause this morning of a plane crash at the North Las Vegas Airport Friday that killed two Arizona men.

Gibbons: Betting ban in trouble: CARSON CITY -- Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said today legislation to ban betting on collegiate sports won't be approved by Congress this year.

Special ed funding a concern: CARSON CITY -- The state Board of Education will be asked in June to guarantee that local school districts will not have to spend money out of their own pockets to reduce class sizes for a majority of the 35,000 special education students in Nevada.

Former El Morocco, Eden Roc owner Uchitel dies at 88: Maurice Uchitel, who parlayed a fortune he made in New York's garment industry with successful investments in restaurants and a hotel, has died in Las Vegas. He was 88.

Coin truck robberies start anew: Keith Paul; After three men were arrested in January, a rash of coin truck heists that plagued the Las Vegas Valley for three months stopped -- temporarily. Apparently some other robbers have recently decided to borrow the method.

Proud Tina still rollin' on LV concert stage: Was that Tina Turner, sitting on a stool in the middle of a farewell concert performance Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena?

Judge makes Tabish felony conviction fair game: Jeff German and Kim Smith; District Judge Joseph Bonaventure today denied a request to bar prosecutors from referring to Rick Tabish's 1988 felony conviction should he take the witness stand in his own defense in the Ted Binion murder trial.

Crime scene expert disputes handling of gambler's murder: Robert Macy; Paul Dougherty, who now runs his own laboratory and does consulting work for the Ventura County, Calif., Sheriff's office, called the investigation by local police "incomplete."

One dead, one arrested, in I-80 accident near Truckee: Jason Crosby, 21, of Richmond, Calif., was driving a 2000 Oldsmobile Alero when the westbound car drifted off the roadway and struck a guardrail, according to the CHP in Truckee, Calif.

Opponents seek to stop mining company from desert dumping: Scott Sonner; The opponents say it marks the first time the Bureau of Land Management has granted permission to drain waste materials from a cyanide leach heap into the ground.

Government ready to start helping sick workers file claims: Former workers from the Fernald uranium processing plant outside Cincinnati and the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio, will be among the first who can seek help, said David Michaels, the department's top health official.

Tourism dollars up in Warren County, reflecting a statewide trend: The Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development figures showed that Warren County businesses received $101.4 million in non-gaming revenue from visitors in 1999. That amounts to an increase of 11.2 percent over the $91.3 million received in the previous year.

Park Place commits to 2,000-room resort in New York: The Catskills are just 90 miles from New York City, from which casinos in Connecticut and Atlantic City draw a lot of gamblers.

Connecticut casinos ban smoking from poker rooms: "For the first time, you could see clearly from one end of the poker room to the other."

Investigation continues in shooting death of Sparks teen: Authorities said the victim was shot after a confrontation with several unidentified young men. He died at the scene.

Casino regulators to learn about compulsive gambling: James Webb; In a day-long public hearing starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the state's James R. Thompson Center, the Illinois Gaming Board expects to hear thumbnail testimony from more than 20 researchers, addiction counselors, casino industry officials, anti-gambling activists and other experts.

Mild winter brings nasty spring for allergy sufferers: Duane Harris of the Intermountain Allergy and Asthma Clinic in West Valley City, Utah, says pollen from mulberry trees last week measured at above 1200. Anything above 50 is considered extreme.

Murderer to get new penalty hearing: The court said defense attorneys David Schieck and Lew Wolfbrandt should have presented evidence of Browne's mental state during the penalty hearing. A jury may have found Brown suffered from genuine mental problems and decided against a death sentence, the court said in a unanimous decision.

Drunken driver asks families to forgive: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas man responsible for killing two people in an Independence Day drunken-driving accident begged members of Stop DUI to get their message out to more people Friday as he was being sentenced.

Community news briefs for May 1, 2000: Free cataract surgery for those who can't afford it will be available in May as part of Mission Cataract USA, a nationwide project involving hundreds of eye surgeons throughout the United States.

Local news briefs for May 1, 2000: Police are looking for the driver and passenger of a pickup involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed a 44-year-old Las Vegas man on Tropicana Avenue.

PCL Box: Cannons 8, Stars 7: E--LaRocca, Nicholson. DP--Calgary 1, Las Vegas 2. LOB--Calgary 13, Las Vegas 9. 2B--Raven, McNally, Raleigh, Tremie, Milliard. 3B--Castillo. HR--Gibson (4), Curl (1), Vitiello (2). S--Drumright. SF--M.Martinez. SB--Raven, Gibson, Darr, Allen.

Mayfield shows courage under fire: FONTANA, Calif. -- Although everything seemed to be going against him, Jeremy Mayfield still managed to snap a 62-race winless streak Sunday by capturing the NAPA Auto Parts 500 at California Speedway.

Accreditation team: UNLV shorted on funds: Valerie Miller; UNLV does not get its fair share of money from the state, an accreditation evaluation team in town for the university's reaccreditation has found.

Cool reception for off-track betting bills: Malcolm Johnson; But it's hardly a hands-down winner, and may be lucky to get out of the starting gate.

State environmental officials plan crackdown against Harrah's Reno: The ground water seeps into the bottom of the casino's elevator shafts, which sit at or below the water table, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.

Shedding new light on school: Greg Harman; In the battle of the bright lights, the Henderson Planning Commission agreed that neighbors should be able to judge for themselves whether Foothill High School stadium lights have been properly adjusted.

Nevada intranet betting service suspended: The suspension came as the result of ISW's recent contract to supply its "SportXction" software system to Global Interactive Gaming Inc., which will use the system for sports wagering over the Internet. ISW said this 14-year contract could be worth up to $140 million.

$200,000 Internet site makeover to debut in July: Terry Jicinsky, manager of the research department for the LVCVA, said the $200,000 makeover is being developed by R&R Partners, the agency's advertising consultant, and United States Destination Marketing, a Corpus Christi, Texas, company specializing in Internet travel marketing.

Rodriguez trail gets colder: Jace Radke; In the thousands of cases that cross the desks of Metro Police missing person detectives there is always someone who saw something, heard something or knows something.

Hammering home their message: David Strow; The Nevada Carpenters Union stepped up its pressure on the Mirage hotel-casino Friday as union members protested outside the property to demand recognition.

Rookie Kenseth is not satisfied with third place: FONTANA, Calif. -- Matt Kenseth had his best day as a NASCAR Winston Cup rookie, but you wouldn't have known it by his demeanor after his third-place finish in Sunday's NAPA Auto Parts 500 at California Speedway.

State, Odyssey plan negotiations: An initial hearing on a lawsuit filed by parents of Odyssey students was to be held in District Court Thursday but was pulled off the calendar at the parents' request, state schools Superintendent Mary Peterson said.

Hearings to look at Yucca: Hearings

Prep Schedule: Boys Golf

Suspects sought after man killed on street: Jace Radke and Keith Paul; Metro Police have determined the identity of the man found fatally shot on a Las Vegas street Sunday, but they are still trying to figure out who killed the man.

Two Nevadans join national groups: Nevada State Assemblywoman Barbara Cegavske has been appointed to the position of vice chair of the Education Commission of the States, a nonprofit group that helps legislators develop and implement policies to improve the quality of student achievement and learning.

Woman dies in NLV fire: Jace Radke; A 41-year-old woman was burned and suffered smoke inhalation in a Friday night fire at 2984 Capistrano Ave., Clark County Fire Department spokesman Bob Leinbach said. Her name was not released this morning.

Food writers get a taste of LV's new dining delights: Jace Radke; More than 80 food writers and editors are in Las Vegas through Tuesday as part of a conference put on by the National Chicken Council and the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association.

Planned casino at MLK, Craig draws opposition: Diana Sahagun; Bright lights and the clanging sounds of casino tokens dropping into slot machine trays don't appeal to Bonnie Kelley, who lives just over half a mile from a proposed casino site in North Las Vegas.

Losing bidders for D.I. look at alternative Strip locations: David Strow; The day after Steve Wynn landed the Desert Inn, his competitors for the 50-year-old property each had the same basic message: "Congratulations, Steve. We'll be back."

MGM Grand purchase of Mirage ahead of schedule: Wynn is expected to close on the $270 million acquisition of the Desert Inn "no later than June 30, 2000," said Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.'s Friday press release.

Hearings on LV monorail delayed: Adrienne Packer; Hearings on the proposed Las Vegas monorail system reportedly have been delayed while the state's financial advisers await additional reports from the MGM Grand-Bally's Monorail LLC, sources said.

Oregon penalizes LV company: The agreement, which admits no violation of the law, calls for the company to make a full refund offer to Oregon clients as well as pay a $10,000 fine to the Department of Justice consumer protection and education fund.

Bagel operator in bankruptcy, LV stores remain open: Company spokeswoman Anita Marie Hill said none of the company's six Las Vegas stores are affected by the move.

Obituaries for May 1, 2000: Aurelia V. Beniquez, 91, of North Las Vegas died Friday in North Las Vegas. She was born June 1, 1908, in Puerto Rico. A resident for 14 years, she was a homemaker.

Upcoming business events for May 1, 2000: Test Site -- John O'Reilly of NTS Development Corp. discusses technology business development opportunities at the Test Site. Tuesday. 798-5156.

One dead, four wounded in bar shooting: Jace Radke and Keith Paul; Metro Police homicide detectives continue to investigate a Saturday morning bar shooting that left one man dead and four others wounded.

Measure targets rules on worker safety: A group of roofing contractors is pushing for changes to Nevada's Occupational Safety and Health standards to limit fines and change the rules providing for protections against falls.

Some British papers reject Las Vegas ads: Movie connection

Man in wheelchair dies in shootout: Police believe Theodore Stewart rolled his wheelchair up to the area of Hawken and Fitzpatrick drives where an 18-year-old man was at a barbecue Sunday. Stewart and the teen apparently exchanged words, Sgt. Kevin Manning of Metro Police's homicide unit said.

Man gets life sentence in death of bartender: Kim Smith; For the second time in five years, a Las Vegas man has been sentenced to two life prison terms for a 1992 robbery that ended in the death of a bartender.

Open-meeting law violation foils student election at CCSN: Future politicians at the Community College of Southern Nevada learned a valuable lesson about following procedures after a failure to do so nearly wiped out their recent student elections.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: New faces grab spotlight this Derby week: Ralph Siraco; The first Kentucky Derby of this century will be run at Churchill Downs on Saturday, and a full field of runners will test prerace favorite Fusaichi Pegasus for the chance of a lifetime ... in a lifetime of chance.

Letter: Seance coverage was a mistake: Letter: Seance coverage was a mistake

Columnist Dean Juipe: Stars lost their luster in the '90s: Dean Juipe; There was a time when the Las Vegas Stars were covered closely by the local media and their games really seemed to mean something to sports fans in the community.

Letter: Always shop for best pill prices: My wife and I are both retired, low-income seniors. Due to the many prescription drugs that we require it has always been a necessity to check prices with several pharmacies before making the purchase, as Medicare pays nothing and our secondary medical plan pays only a small yearly percentage.

Padres decide to take longer look at Lopez: Steve Guiremand; Las Vegas Stars manager Duane Espy already had Rodrigo Lopez penciled in to start Saturday night's series opener at Tacoma.

Letter: Citizens stand by as illegal-drug trade flourishes: The trial you're watching today is your trial. You will be proven guilty. The jury that proves you guilty are the souls of the victims. It's time to put your hands down and demand these low-life scum be exterminated from our society.

Editorial: Slot rule passes its initial test: The commission correctly determined that the slots should only be used by those who have unrestricted licenses, which typically are casinos that have 15 or more slots. Not only will this decision effectively prohibit the "Addams Family" slots from being located in bars and taverns, but it also means that this specific slot machine can't be placed in grocery stores, convenience stores drug stores, which are frequented by children. In addition, the commission ruled that the "Addams Family" slots placed in casinos will have to be in areas where children wouldn't have access. So these slots couldn't be situated near ...

State website a new source for obtaining applications: Silversource

Deliberations continue in Edwards trial, attorneys meet with judge: Natalie Gott; Attorneys rushed from U.S. District Judge Frank Polozola's chambers to private meeting rooms and back to the judge's chambers throughout the afternoon.

Texas woman, New York man win millions: The money may be pocket change now for 51-year-old Vernia Thora of Midlothian, Texas. Thora won $3,889,527 Sunday on a Wheel of Fortune MegaJackpot at The Mirage hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

Max Baer Jr. hasn't given up on Hillbillies casino: "Dreams are nice, but dreams without a lot of reality are nothing," said Baer, whose project is based on the television show he starred in 30 years ago as the dimwitted Jethro Bodine.

UNLV baseball falls to Lobos: The first-place Lobos, who outscored UNLV 38-10 in the series, improved to 31-16 overall and 19-5 in the MWC. UNLV dropped to 17-30 overall and 7-15 in the MWC (fifth place).

Music therapy eases suffering for patients: The bottom of the wallet-sized picture is folded so that it stands up in front of her, becoming a sort of nameplate -- a source of self-identification, reminding her of who she is: mother with child.

Six Northwest utilities may form joint venture for power transmission: The Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the venture Monday, said the new company could manage power lines and substations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Nevada. The entire network was estimated to be worth $1.8 billion.

Box score: Stars 6, Cannons 0: E-Raven, Simon, Gibson, Castillo, LaRocca. DP-Calgary 2, Las Vegas 3. LOB-Calgary 7, Las Vegas 6. 2B-Gibson, Milliard, Roskos. HR-Davis (1), Nicholson (2). SB-Milliard 2. SF-Allen.

Box score: Stars 7, Cannons 4: E-Castillo, Funaro. DP-Calgary 1. LOB-Calgary 6, Las Vegas 13. 2b-Radmanovich, LaRocca 2. HR-Simon (1), Gibson (3), Allen (4).

Bandits edge Slam in playoff preview: Victoria Sun; Unless the final game of the regular season represents an opportunity for a team to gain homecourt advantage for the pending playoffs, it is usually little more than a formality.