Print edition for May 3, 2000

Doctors at VA vote on union: CARSON CITY -- Doctors and nurses will be among the health care officials voting today at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Reno on whether they want to be represented by a union.

Recruit back with Rebels after incident with student: Steve Guiremand; UNLV coach John Robinson said star linebacker recruit Lamar Owens was still a member of the Rebel football team despite a recent altercation with a female student in a class.

PCL Box: Stars 8, Sidewinders 3: E--Beltre. DP--Tucson 1, Las Vegas 1. LOB--Tucson 12, Las Vegas 10. 2B--Mitchell, Counsell, Roskos, Williams, Vitiello, LaRocca. 3B--Counsell. HR--Dellucci (2), Allen (5). SB--Conti, Davis.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Miracle unwrapped at Venetian Ballroom: Elizabeth Foyt; "Unwrap a Miracle," a chocolate and champagne fantasy, made its debut Friday evening at the Venetian hotel-casino. A first event to jointly benefit the Clark County Law Foundation's "Trial by Peers" program and the UMC Children's Miracle Network, the occasion drew a capacity crowd, filling over sixty tables with contributors.

Judge tosses Venetian civil rights suit against LVCVA: U.S. District Judge Philip Pro rejected the resort's claim that the LVCVA violated its First Amendment rights to free speech by threatening legal action against it.

Judge refuses to lower bail for driver involved in six deaths: District Judge Mark Gibbons ruled that the bail for Jessica Williams remain at $5 million.

Odom not helping in probe: Steve Addy; UNLV is still hoping for Lamar Odom's cooperation in its investigation into alleged NCAA rules violations, but the former blue-chip basketball recruit has this message for the Rebels: Take a hike.

Spencer boosts record to 4-0: Steve Guiremand; Stan Spencer's timing couldn't have been any better.

Houston firm behind Wal-Mart development plan: Phil Levine; Houston-based Weingarten Realty Advisers is behind the plan to develop a 564,000-square-foot commercial center at the current site of the Westland Fair shopping mall.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Rifling through the catalogs: Long before dawn I arose with one goal in mind: to toss the dozens of catalogs that sit in piles on my bedroom floor and take up space wherever a catalog-size space exists. How did this happen? It's simple. The darned things come weekly, in such a quantity that I can barely keep up.

Corrections: The Sun corrects its errors. If you find a mistake, call 385-3111 to report it.

Time for business: Spencer Patterson; In the deepest recesses of his mind, Community College of Southern Nevada baseball coach Tim Chambers never imagined an inaugural regular season like the one his Coyotes recently completed.

Grant will help expand jail: Diana Sahagun; A federal grant of $5.8 million will be formally received tonight by the city of North Las Vegas to expand its jail by 100 beds.

Columnist Victoria Sun: UNLV golf team trying to shake tag of inconsistency: Victoria Sun; Ever since Adam Scott left the UNLV golf team after the fall semester to play professionally, the team has struggled with consistency. Coach Dwaine Knight has had to juggle the lineup in hopes of getting the most out of his players.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Manager keeps Botha in limelight: Dean Juipe; It's only May, yet those charged with selecting the sport of boxing's annual awards can go ahead and mail in their ballots for Manager of the Year.

Clinton signs Jarbidge bill: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- President Clinton has signed a bill that transfers a federally held, 2-acre cemetery in Northern Nevada to Elko County.

Your donation can help children go to camp: His time was a positive experience, guardians say. He has grown from his times at summer camp, where life is quieter and safer and children have the freedom to be children.

Incumbent McClain to seek second term: McClain is seeking a second term representing District 15, which includes Las Vegas neighborhoods bounded by Sahara Avenue to the north, Tropicana Avenue to the south, Lamb Boulevard on the east and Spencer Street on the west.

LV executives in control of Millennium: One shareholder is William Paulos, who most recently served as president and director of Primadonna Resorts Inc. From this position, Paulos assisted in the development of the New York-New York hotel-casino on the Strip. Paulos also previously served as an executive with Circus Circus Enterprises Inc., now known as Mandalay Resort Group.

Blood shortage prompts urgent call for donors with Type O: Las Vegas is not immune to a nationwide blood shortage.

Stewart excited about 2,000-mile trek in desert: Ivan Stewart has competed in so many off-road desert races during his 28-year career that the racing legend has lost count.

Community news briefs for May 3, 2000: A workshop on how to construct a Web page and put it on the Internet will be held 2-4 p.m. Saturday at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road.

Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Local anglers keen on catching big stripers: Paula DelGiudice; Although big stripers can be caught at lakes Mead and Mohave anytime, this time of year is usually the most reliable for catching fish. The fish head for the shallows to spawn when water temperatures begin to warm.

Zone Baseball Schedule: 4A SUNRISE REGION TOURNAMENT

Henderson council OKs keeping chief: Greg Harman; The Henderson City Council unanimously approved Mike Mayberry as the new chief of police Tuesday night.

Protests fail to thwart Henderson complex: Greg Harman; When dozens of angry homeowners filled the Henderson City Council chambers Tuesday night to protest the request of what they repeatedly characterized as a dishonest developer, the council members commiserated with them.

Riviera Red Table Wine '97: Max Jacobson; To be classified a table wine, a wine has to be three-quarters of a percent within 12.5 percent alcohol. When that is the case, you won't see the specific alcohol content on the label. Such is the case with this wine made from Rhone varietals such as Carignan and Grenache, in addition to ripe red Zinfandel grapes from sunny Amador County. It really has the color of a dark rose. You'll like it best as a nice summer sipping wine. It is redolent of mountain fruit, with a light, crisp finish.

Obituaries for May 3, 2000: Bernard W. Bellow Sr., 82, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospital. He was born Feb. 22, 1918, in Michigan. A resident for 23 years, he was a retired automotive mechanic and an Army veteran.

History reflected in Reno's old Fourth Street: Don Cox; At the other end of town, census takers also will drop by the Silver State Lodge on West Fourth Street, a collection of old cabins that once sheltered weary travelers but now house longer-term tenants.

Goodman: New fees may aid old areas: RENO -- Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman wants the Nevada Legislature to allow cities to shift impact fees paid on new developments to finance parks in older and poor neighborhoods.

Local news briefs for May 3, 2000: A 22-year-old man accused of beating a Las Vegas woman to death was arrested Monday after being found hiding in the bathroom of a South Third Street home.

Williams bond will remain at $5 million: Kim Smith; The bond for a woman accused of being high on marijuana and ecstasy when her car ran off Interstate 15 and killed six teenagers will remain at $5 million.

Spaceport plan worries Nye County residents: Nye County residents worry that a proposed commercial spaceport at the Nevada Test Site could bring rocket fuel through their towns, generate sonic booms and kick up tons of dust.

Landscaping planned for Boulder Strip: Adrienne Packer; The Las Vegas Strip greets visitors with its world-famous neon lights. Downtown embraces tourists with the dazzling Fremont Street Experience.

Exec named 'Premier 100' info tech leader: The list, released in Computerworld's May 8 issue, recognizes the nation's most influential information technology executives for their leadership and early adoption of powerful new technologies that have a dramatic impact on their companies' future.

Henderson plant to close, new tenant likely: The dyeing, finishing and distribution operation in Henderson will be absorbed into the company's Clarksville, Ark., and Rockingham, N.C., facilities.

Four face prison in med fraud: Greg Tuttle; A Beverly Hills doctor and an employee of MGM Grand hotel-casino in Las Vegas are among four people now facing time in a federal prison for filing false medical insurance claims for breast implant and other cosmetic surgeries.

Jurors questioned by judge in corruption trial: BATON ROUGE, La. -- The judge in former Gov. Edwin Edwards' federal gambling license racketeering trial met with attorneys behind closed doors today as part of a secret investigation related to the trial.

UNLV names police chief: Jose Elique, the newly hired chief of the beleaguered UNLV Police Department, says he hopes to bring noticeable change -- including more community-type policing -- to the force within two years.

Wal-Mart looking at first central city expansion in LV: Phil Levine; Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is considering Las Vegas' beleaguered Westland Fair shopping center as a possible site for its first local supercenter.

Union says tape proves kickback scheme by contractor: Phil Levine; The Nevada Carpenters Union alleges an audio tape proves a Las Vegas subcontractor required several Hispanic workers pay kickbacks from their paychecks to company officials.

Park Place CEO receives ADL award: The ADL is presenting the award to Goldberg "in recognition of his distinguished career, visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to philanthropy." The league cited his financial support of Johns Hopkins and Columbia Presbyterian hospitals, the founding of a scholarship fund at alma mater Villanova University and contributions to the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous.

Lawsuit seeks to block foreclosure sale of Maxim: David Strow; The foreclosure auction of the Maxim hotel-casino has been delayed until next week -- and a state judge is now considering whether to allow the sale to proceed at all.

Nevada ranks 18th in U.S. in slip-and-fall accidents: Valerie Miller; Safety

Local emergency crews train for terrorist attacks: Jace Radke; About 300 of Clark County's emergency services professionals are going back to school this week.

Walters' lawyers accuse Metro of phone tapping: Attorneys for Las Vegas golf course developer Billy Walters and his co-defendants in an alleged unlawful sports betting operation have accused Metro Police of illegally wiretapping their telephones.

Bryan's trip to Russia will focus on nukes, terrorism: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., who in recent weeks has been fighting efforts to move nuclear waste to Nevada, will change his focus to nuclear weapons and terrorism later this month as he travels on a diplomatic mission.

Defense steps up attack on suffocation theory: The battle of experts took center stage today in the Ted Binion murder trial, when the defense's star witness, well-known Pittsburgh pathologist Cyril Wecht, took the stand to contradict the prosecution's chief medical witness.

Senate may hold another vote on president's veto: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Like a horror film monster that refuses to die, the bill that would speed up shipments of nuclear waste to Nevada appeared to perish on Tuesday -- again. But it's still breathing.

Betting ban is still in works: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Tuesday said he may attach his bill that bans betting on college sports to an education spending bill now being debated on the Senate floor.

National forest blaze considered sign of season to come: Arthur H. Rotstein; Dean McAlister, forest ranger for the Coronado National Forest's Santa Catalina District, said regional national forest officials will give priority to fires near homes. They also will have to determine which other blazes will be allowed to continue burning, he said.

Riverboat industry willing to pay a little to get dockside gambling: Guy Coates; The boats would do much better financially if the Legislature would approve dockside gambling. The industry could pay 1.2 percent more of its gross revenue, said Tom McPherson of Bally's. Now, the state tax is 18.5 percent.

New Hampshire gambling opponents fight Senate move: Gene Johnson; A group that included likely gubernatorial candidates from both parties held a news conference Tuesday to urge lawmakers not to consider the bill, which would allow video gambling at the state's four racetracks and at two hotels.

D'Allesandro says video gambling effective, safe state revenue: Rebecca Mahoney; At a news conference, Sen. Lou D'Allesandro said video gambling at race tracks and two grand hotels would increase state revenues without new taxes. A Senate-passed gambling bill come before the House on Thursday.

Bail release imminent for former Nevada death-row inmate: Brendan Riley; Washoe District Judge Peter Breen said he's satisfied with all bail arrangements, including security, but wanted a final look at paperwork on Mazzan's $100,000 bail before releasing him.

Licenses for Old Bridge Ranch restored: The commission yanked the brothel's licenses two years ago after officials voiced concerns about the increased presence of Hell's Angels at the brothel.

Environmental commission allows mine drainage plan: Critics, including Great Basin Mine Watch and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, argued contamination would degrade groundwater near the old cyanide leach heap.

Lawyers want Pope case tried in Juvenile Court: Although Nevada law requires juveniles who are charged with murder or attempted murder to be treated as adults, there is an exception for children who are believed to be substance abusers or who have emotional problems.

Mescalero casino faces federal gambling violations: The phone rang unanswered this morning at the office of Mescalero Apache President Sara Misquez.

Authorities find no signs of foul play in fatal blaze: Authorities say the latest tests have failed to uncover the presence of accelerants at the scene.

Clinton signs Jarbidge legislation: Scott Sonner; The Forest Service had resisted the proposal by Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., arguing the county should swap land for the title to the century-old cemetery in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

FBI to enter investigation of Casino Arizona: The tribe began investigating after casino surveillance officers saw what they believed to be loan-sharking involving patrons making loans to employees and other customers.

Feds' Sierra plan would allow increase in logging, enviros say: John Howard; The proposal released Tuesday covers the Forest Service's management of nearly 12 million acres.

Critics say Park Place's Catskill casino deal could take years: Anny Kuo; Dissenting tribe members and local officials said Tuesday that Park Place Entertainment's deal with Kutsher's Resort Hotel and Country Club would have to go through lengthy federal review proceedings before any actual work could begin.

Bishop lawyer turns down top TRPA job: But he said his two sons wouldn't have been with him if he took the job based at Lake Tahoe, and his family responsibilities came first.

Las Vegas emergency workers learn about terrorism: Angie Wagner; "Everything's blurry," one victim cries.

Auto racing schedules, winners and point standings: Feb. 20 - Daytona 500, Daytona Beach, Fla. (Dale Jarrett)

BLM releases details of plan to restore Great Basin: Sandra Chereb; RENO, Nev. - Nursing the Great Basin back to ecological health will be a monumental task requiring ongoing commitment from the public, land users and governments as well as long-term funding, range specialists say.

Letter: Associations will prevail: He tried to pass laws making board members take college courses and sign documents swearing that they have read and fully understand the associating documents and all state laws governing associations, while legislators and lawyers cannot agree on their interpretation. This bill was watered down but still exists.

Editorial: Fairness wins in a squeaker: Meanwhile, the demagoguery used by repository supporters during the Senate debate illustrates just what is so wrong with this issue. "The president's veto wasn't based on good science, it was based on crass politics," Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Alaska, said. Murkowski, who carries the water for the nuclear power lobby in the Senate, claimed that Clinton's decision was intended to aid the presidential candidacy of Vice President Al Gore.

Letter: Firearms pact penalizes only the innocent: One of the most blatantly intrusive parts deals with ballistics imaging: "Manufacturers will fire all firearms before sale and will enter the digital image of the casings in a system compatible with the National Integrated Ballistics Identification Network and accessible to ATF. This will enable law enforcement to trace crime guns when only the bullets and casings are recovered."

Tuesday's prep results: Las Vegas 3, Cheyenne 0: Rachel Hirsch struck out 15 batters in a two-hit shutout and Danielle Dugan went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs for the Wildcats.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Guinn's new subject: fiscal education: As he began his first State of the State speech more than a year ago, Kenny Guinn was less governor than he was instructor.

Thursday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1 p.m.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Books, bettors catch Kentucky Derby fever: Words like "julep" and "spires" have invaded the popular lexicon.

Welcome to the Golden Arm Club, where membership is earned by hour-plus dice-throwing: Kirk Baird; Henry Lee doesn't cast an imposing figure. In fact, perhaps the most striking feature of the 72-year-old is his smile. A tall, thin man with a roof of white-gray hair, he's cordial, a bit shy and full of quick, easy guffaws.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Thursday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Bienquisto - Flores scales Gonzalez trainee for owners McCaffery & Toffan, ready to graduate. Ben Saw San - Been knocking at the diploma door, draws good rail post for the route run. Value Play -- Reptar

Casino employees get cosmetic surgery in insurance fraud scheme: Angie Wagner; LAS VEGAS - For two years, several cocktail waitresses and dealers at a Strip casino were dealing in more than just drink tips and gambling chips. They also were getting breast implants and tummy tucks by defrauding the company's insurance plan.