Print edition for May 8, 2000

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Trends, May 8, 2000: Lisa Ferguson; Lights, camera, action

Ranchers oppose proposed state fee increase: Under the plan, the fee would jump from $700 to $1,000 for a rancher to have 1,000 head of cattle inspected before being sold or shipped out of state.

Attacks leave indelible impression on ranger: The Carson City sheriff's office received calls from people who reported hearing what they thought was a loud gunshot about 7:30 that night, but the damage was not discovered until the next morning.

Community news briefs for May 8, 2000: The "I Have a Dream" Foundation is holding its second annual fund-raising dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Desert Inn.

Reno woman held after son's death: The suspect told police she had been using methamphetamine, causing her to fall asleep when the boy was left in a bathtub Friday morning at the MacGregor Inn.

Release of state employees' names still undecided: The Las Vegas Review-Journal has requested that the employees be identified, but the AG's office said it must balance the right of privacy for the employees with the public's right to know.

Green Valley senior named Student Journalist of the Year: The award was one of several presented Wednesday to student journalists from across the Las Vegas Valley in the second annual high school journalism competition co-sponsored by the Las Vegas Sun and CLASS!, a newspaper for, by and about high school students.

Obituaries for May 8, 2000: George Wesley "Chas" Curry III, 30, of Las Vegas died Thursday in a local hospital. He was born Nov. 14, 1969, in Pittsburgh. A resident for one year, he was a commercial photographer.

Washoe airport employees face firing: The job cuts would become effective July 1.

Son to plead guilty, father's prelim continues in Tahoe murder: Under terms of a proposed plea agreement, Soria Jr. wouldn't face the prospect of a death sentence. Execution remains a possibility for his father, Thomas Soria Sr., 39, if convicted of kidnapping and killing Steadman by slashing her throat. The victim's nude body was found dumped down a U.S. 50 slope, a day after her disappearance.

Bird lovers to flock to Fallon festival: Martin Griffith; The event will feature canoe and walking tours of two premier wetlands in the Nevada desert that draw more than 250 bird species: the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge and state-run Carson Lake.

Marlene Ricci soldiers on: Where: Addison's Lounge at the Regent Las Vegas.

Editorial: Primaries needing sanity: That is why it is so encouraging that a commission appointed by the Republican National Committee has offered a plan that would restore some rationality to this process starting in 2004. In a bid to prevent the existing leapfrogging by states, which has seen many of them in recent years move up their primary dates so as not to be left behind, the national party would set the election dates. Under this proposal, which still would have to be approved by Republicans at their national convention this summer, the state primaries would be clustered into four groups, with the first ...

Singer undergoes emergency appendectomy: Gans was forced to cancel his show at The Mirage, saying he was concerned he was suffering from food poisoning.

Columnist John Katsilometes: Feeling foreign in Cuernavaca: We don't have a lot in common, Larry and I. He's a man of the world, a Canadian who was raised in Cuba and worked in Manilla as a high-ranking executive for Johnson & Johnson.

Prosecutor says no one had "license" to kill Ted Binion: Robert Macy; Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger disputed defense suggestions that Binion committed suicide with a lethal dose of drugs.

Letter: Feds becoming more oppressive: Unless there is protest from "we the people" it will get worse. Phone and write the politicians to express your concern.

PCL Box: Stars 6, Rainiers 2: E--Spencer, Alexander. LOB--Las Vegas 9, Tacoma 6. 2B--Milliard, Monahan, Nicholson. HR--Neill (4). S--Hansen, Neill. SF--Sanders. SB--Allen, Sanders.

Suit filed to block taxing device used to bring in slots: Alan Sayre; The suit, filed Friday in district court in Baton Rouge by St. Landry Citizens for Quality Life Inc., is aimed at Evangeline Downs' plans to build a new track near Opelousas, complete with a separate slot-machine casino.

Letter: U.S. treatment of Elian an example of open society: Maybe this would be a good time for all of us private citizens, and politicians alike, to examine our embargo against Cuba and re-evaluate our position. To punish the good people of Cuba because of our dislike of one man and his government is a disgrace to common sense. Let's open our hearts and borders for our Cuban neighbors and allow them to decide what they want.

Prep baseball playoff schedule, results: At Burkholder Field

Letter: Cuban boy issue a family matter: SYLVIA LAMPE GROSS

Metro official: Wiretaps not used in case: Keith Paul and Steve Kanigher; While Billy Walters' lawyers claim to have a recording suggesting a wiretap on their phone, a Metro Police official told the Sun that detectives have no taps on anyone related to the money-laundering case.

A different nuke waste approach: Sweden, like the United States, is struggling to find a solution to a national nuclear waste problem. But unlike in the United States, the process in Sweden has given local officials an active role in deciding where spent nuclear fuel will go.

Struggling Las Vegas entertainment firm in pact with lender: Last fall ICCMI sued On Stage, alleging the company defaulted on more than $13 million in loan payments. On Stage operates shows around the nation, including the Legends In Concert production at the Imperial Palace hotel-casino.

Police union left in turmoil after board vote: Keith Paul; The vote taken Thursday also has led about 100 rank-and-file members to quit the union or say they plan to quit, several union members said. In addition, a few officers have said they want to inquire how to decertify the Las Vegas Police Protective Association.

'Constructive trust' is proposed in Wynn art suit: David Strow; In a court filing late last month, Crandon Capital Partners asked for the Bellagio's art collection to be placed in a "constructive trust." The move would permit the Bellagio to continue displaying the art, but would freeze any proceeds from the sale of pieces of the collection.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Rebels may have saved coach's job: Dean Juipe; As the school year nears an end, none of UNLV's head coaches expects -- or deserves -- to be let go for any performance-related reason. To varying degrees, each has met or exceeded not only his or her goals but the reasonable standards of the university and community.

Two killed in weekend accidents: A 52-year-old Las Vegas woman was killed Sunday when she was thrown from a sport utility vehicle that overturned on Highway 95 north of Russell Road. The Nevada Highway Patrol said Betty Jean Kendrick was riding in the back seat of the vehicle and it was not equipped with a seat belt. Two others were injured in the crash.

Wynn kidnap figure ordered returned to jail: Greg Tuttle; After twice violating his supervision by smoking marijuana, Watkins was ordered Friday by an irritated U.S. District Court Judge Lloyd George to spend the next 11 months in jail.

Slam tops Bandits to force Game 3: Four other Slam players scored in double figures. Keith Carter, Jason Sasser and Taymon Domzalski each had 13 points, while Lenny Holly contributed 10.

Study details university, community college salary gap: The salary study conducted by the American Association of University Professors shows that the mean salary for all faculty at the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas climbed from $64,100 last school year to $65,600 this year.

UNLV runners impress at OSU: Sophomore Michele Davis made perhaps the biggest splash at the meet, trimming 0.25 seconds off her NCAA provisional qualifying time in the 200 meters and climbing from the nation's 16th-best performance to ninth on the list. Davis clocked 23.23 in the event and finished second.

Jury hears DA's closing arguments: Closing arguments began today in the Ted Binion murder trial, as the case entered its seventh week.

Officer wounds passenger in oncoming car: Jace Radke; A Metro Police officer is on paid administrative leave this morning after shooting at an oncoming car Sunday evening while responding to reports of a large fight in a northeast Las Vegas park.

IBL Box: Las Vegas-New Mexico: LAS VEGAS

Rebel softball team splits with CSU: Rebel softball team splits with CSU

LV bank reports profit: The bank's assets now total $88.5 million.

Davis eyes Koivisto's seat in Assembly: Davis, a community activist, is a member of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, the National Rifle Association, the Sierra Club and volunteers with Big Brothers-Big Sisters.

Court opponents stay apart, even over new fed building: Greg Tuttle; They work on opposite sides of the courtroom, so maybe it should be no surprise that the head of the federal prosecutor's office and public defender's office in Las Vegas have different views on office space.

Gaming debt bad check charges dropped against businessman: Sukamto Sia was accused of writing $6 million in bad checks to the Rio hotel-casino more than two years ago.

Stars celebrate Bat Day in ninth: Fans got their free piece of lumber upon entering the stadium. It took the Las Vegas Stars about eight innings longer to find their bats.

Pedestrian hit on Strip April 19 dies: Jace Radke; Mike Wienkes, 36, of Mineral Point, Wis., died just before 4 a.m. Sunday, a nursing supervisor said.

Mirage shareholders to meet on merger: David Strow; Shareholders of Mirage Resorts Inc. will vote May 30 on the proposed $6.7 billion merger with MGM Grand Inc.

Pushing morals of marriage issue: Stacy J. Willis; Religion and politics are inseparable bedfellows to Richard Ziser.

Nevada Power parent misses forecast: The company, which merged with Nevada Power last summer, had higher revenue and lower net income in the quarter than the two companies had combined in the first quarter of 1999.

Torrid Rebels playing with poise after sweep: Although the UNLV baseball team has won 15 of its past 20 games, it still may be a stretch to say that the Rebels are peaking at the right time.

Pegasus gets off to a flying start: Ralph Siraco; LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Land of the Rising Sun was in Bluegrass Country on Saturday.

Prep tournaments kick into high gear this week: Spencer Patterson; If last week's baseball action served as an appetizer, Southern Nevada prep sports fans will be treated to the main course this week, as nine postseason tournaments will be played in the next five days.

Juror had doubts about case, newspapers say: Polozola dismissed the juror Thursday, saying he refused to follow instructions. Defense attorneys were furious with the ruling and immediately asked for a mistrial - a motion that was denied.

Officials dismissed amid turmoil: The union's board of directors voted two weeks ago to begin proceedings to remove Anderson. On Thursday, with more members present, the board voted to stop the process.

Revenues increase, losses widen for phone company: Mpower, a broadband data, Internet and telephone services company that is attempting to position itself as a leader in voice over digital subscriber line service, had revenue of $25.5 million in the first three months of 2000 compared with $8.4 million for the first quarter of 1999.

Golf course plans raise concerns over water: Greg Harman; But city water supplies will be stretched if all of the courses are constructed without alternative supplies being negotiated.

Rhodes' defense his top priority: Adrienne Packer; "I haven't made a final decision" on whether to run for the county board, Rhodes said. "I'm concentrating right now on defending who I am as opposed to looking at who I want to be. That opportunity will always be there; it's not going anywhere"

Chain expanding in LV: Chain expanding in LV

Bankrupt LV developer fighting First Security Bank over loan: A temporary restraining order was issued on the sale of property being developed as Rancho Classic at 2600 Vegas Drive. A hearing on whether to permanently block the sale is scheduled for Thursday.

Upcoming business events for May 8, 2000: Accounting -- Stephen Nicolatus of Houlihan Valuation Advisors speaks to Nevada Society of Certified Public Accountants. Thursday. 385-3703.

Stalker of Lewis back in trouble: Jace Radke and Greg Tuttle; The man who spent more than four years in prison for stalking Jerry Lewis is headed back to Las Vegas after the FBI arrested him in Wyoming in connection with a threatening letter to the entertainer.

DA to retry man for brothel knifing: The jury could not determine guilt or innocence on the murder and attempted murder charges.

New federal courthouse unusual downtown building: Greg Tuttle; "We wanted the courthouse not to be seen as this hostile, impenetrable building, but a welcoming building," said Mehrdad Yazdani, a Los Angeles architect who drew the plans for the building that is nearing completion at 333 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

Linescore: UNLV 21, Air Force 12: Linescore: UNLV 21, Air Force 12

Feds drop high-profile discrimination complaint over Vegas airline employee: David Strow; WASHINGTON APPLICATION

Court upholds ruling on gaming trade secrets: CARSON CITY -- A Las Vegas company that sold slot machine tracking cards to casinos is entitled to damages because one of its former employees and a rival company stole its trade secrets, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled.