Print edition for May 9, 2000

Casino industry betting on House races: Benjamin Grove; Donations

Local news briefs for May 9, 2000: The way the death penalty is applied in Nevada is "arbitrary and discriminatory."

Vegas home buyers, apartment shoppers using Internet more: Phil Levine; Las Vegas' new home market began the year on a high note, but industry observers say continued success in the residential sector requires acknowledging changes in both technology and the region's demographics.

LV publisher to move office: The company, which publishes Las Vegas CityLife, the Las Vegas Business Press and the Las Vegas Senior Press, signed a 10-year lease for 38,337 square feet from the park's landlord Railway LLC. Las Vegas broker Insight Realty Associates represented the landlord.

Obituaries for May 9, 2000: Bonnie Lea Allen, 76, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. She was born Feb. 26, 1924, in Hagerman, Idaho. A resident for 36 years, she was a retired Clark County School District clerk in the personnel department for 22 years, a member of the Archaeo-Nevada Society, Las Vegas Rock Art Enthusiasts and a charter member of the Natural Science Scholarship Association.

Momot: A conspiracy with heroin: Sandy Murphy's attorney told the jury in the Ted Binion murder case today that she did not kill the wealthy gambling figure.

County to celebrate National Trails Day: Adrienne Packer; Try promoting National Trails Day to Las Vegas residents and their response will likely be, "What trails?"

Life with parole handed down in toddler's death: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas jury took just two hours Monday to decide a man convicted of beating his girlfriend's toddler to death deserves a chance at parole some day.

PUC member asks for probe of Nevada Power billing practice: CARSON CITY -- The new practice by Nevada Power Co. to have customers who pay by debit or credit card charged extra is coming under scrutiny by the state Public Utilities Commission.

Phone fiasco blamed on loose wires: CARSON CITY -- An investigation by the organized crime bureau of the Metro Police says a loose wire accidentally connected a police telephone with a defense lawyer in the Billy Walters money-laundering case and that there was no illegal wiretap of the phones of attorneys.

LV company sued, accused of backing out of deal: Manuel and Christine Sousa, who operated as Sousa Court Reporters in Manhattan Beach, Calif., decided in 1998 to pursue business in Las Vegas because of the abundance of construction-defect lawsuits in Clark County. The Sousas said while in California they developed technology to put court records on the Internet and on compact discs.

Suit charges teacher had sex with student: The lawsuit, filed in District Court Monday, also names the Roman Catholic bishop of Las Vegas and his successors and the Clerics of Saint Viator, the religious order that ran the school at the time.

French fry giant bids for some of Henderson firm's assets: Steve Green; The company founded by Idaho billionaire J.R. Simplot is bidding for some of the assets of bankrupt grass seed company AgriBioTech Inc. of Henderson, but today denied reports it has agreed to an outright purchase.

Lawyer doubts crossed-wire claim: Keith Paul; A lawyer for Billy Walters says Metro Police are covering up a wiretap by claiming a loose wire crossed the telephone lines of the defense attorneys in the money-laundering case.

$22 million earmarked for military projects in Nevada: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Nevada will get $22 million for military projects in the next federal budget, if the provisions survives the budget process in Congress.

Legislators lining up to support land buyback plan: WASHINGTON -- In an election year and with billions of dollars in the offing, many lawmakers are rushing to support legislation that calls for creating a $3 billion annual conservation fund for land purchases, wildlife protection and restoration of coastal beaches.

Fighting fatigue: Lisa Ferguson; That's a message the Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) Association of America wishes to impart on people, especially this week as Friday marks Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Awareness Day.

How transmutation works: How the process, which reduces the radioactive life almost a hundredfold, works with plutonium:

Columnist Dean Juipe: Don't fight it -- baseball has changed: Dean Juipe; Despite paying the man no outward attention, he was impossible to ignore.

Libertarian to oppose Gibbons: CARSON CITY -- Terry Savage, who ran unsuccessfully for governor two years ago, Monday filed on the Libertarian ticket to oppose Rep. Jim Gibbons, D-Henderson.

Regional Baseball Tournament linescores: Green Valley 15, Chaparral

Regents expected to promote Nichols to interim chancellor: Valerie Miller; The university Board of Regents was expected this morning to appoint Jane Nichols as the state's new interim chancellor, replacing Tom Anderes, who has accepted a job at the University of Oregon.

Prep playoff results and schedules: At Burkholder Field

LVMS 3/8-mile paved oval results: Modifieds Main event: 1. Doug Hamm, 2. Fabian Bray, 3. C.J. Sherkenbach, 4. Wayne Jacks, 5. Don Williams, 6. Randy Swalwell, 7. Larry Gerchman, 8. Wayne Morris Jr., 9. Jerry Walton, 10. Dan Stevens, 11. Jim Petrie, 12. Tom Root Jr., 13. Kal Liedtke, 14. Kurt Miller, 15. Greg Albright, 16. Stoney Gray, 17. Greg Haase.

Clinton proposal would ban roads in 43 million acres of forests: John Hughes; Environmentalists who heralded President Clinton's launch of the rulemaking last October said the proposal was a disappointment.

Access would continue; environmentalists disappointed in roadless plan: ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

Fiery Pyramid Highway crash blamed on diabetes-related problems: Both drivers were killed in the crash as was 6-year-old Shasta Suraco. Her 8-year-old brother Justin died April 7.

State to review costs of cleaning up fuel leaks: "It appears to me we've had a lot of overpayments," she said.

Salisbury voters could decide the future of casinos in Massachusetts: Although the referendum is not binding on public officials, State Sen. James P. Jejuna, D-Methuen, promised that if voters rejected the proposal, he would stop pushing for his bill which would allow three casinos statewide. There are currently none.

No release of names of workers with state credit card debts: The Las Vegas Review-Journal had requested that the employees be identified, but the attorney general's office said privacy rights of the employees outweighed the public's right to know.

Long dispute apparently headed for resolution: The litigation grew out of a dispute between North Ruby Valley rancher Don Duval and the Forest Service over Kelley Spring on Duval's grazing allotment.

Guinn panel releases first audits: A separate audit of the Division of Child and Family Services recommended that the process of contracting out services be streamlined, a proposal that could improve the agency's efficiency by 30 to 40 percent.

Box score: Rainiers 8, Stars 7: E-Darr, Sinclair. LOB-Las Vegas 3, Tacoma 1. 2B-Allen, Vitiello, Monahan, Alexander, Machado, Bloomquist. HR-Newhan (1).

LVMS final results from The Strip: 12.00 to 13.99

Oregon Coast resident owns, shows Elvis' custom-made bus: Those who traveled with him said he liked to unwind after concerts by spending hours behind the wheel of the plush 1976 MCI bus built to his specifications for $160,000.

Henderson, BMI work on deal that will benefit both sides: Greg Harman; It's a land deal that's been under discussion for about a year: one chunk of land dotted by seven waste-water ponds for one swath of undeveloped land bordering the Henderson Water Reclamation Facility.

PCL Box: Stars 4, Rainiers 2: E--Hernandez. LOB--Las Vegas 7, Tacoma 9. 2B--Curl 2, Sanders 2. HR--Darr (3). S--Milliard, Newhan. SF--Darr. SB--Sanders, Alexander. CS--Monahan.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Pride of the airwaves: Yanks return to Las Vegas: The New York Yankees are so popular that when souvenir shops sell out of the team's traditional navy blue caps, they put the intertwined NY logo on red or tan or even garish lime green caps, because they know that somebody probably will buy them.

Silverado, Bonanza enter softball playoffs as favorites: Spencer Patterson; In softball, as in most prep sports this year, the Sunrise and Sunset regions will split up for this week's playoffs. They won't be far apart, though, with the two tournaments sharing the fields at Henderson's Sunset Park.

Community news briefs for May 9, 2000: Free educational hikes and walks are offered each week at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

State workers get free lunch on Diners Club: CARSON CITY -- State Treasurer Brian Krolicki released figures Monday that show employees of three social service agencies are the biggest deadbeats in not paying their Diners Club charge card debts.

LV attorney faces disbarment: Embattled Las Vegas attorney Michael Schaefer is facing potential disbarment.

CCSN honors its top students: The award is an annual event that honors one student in each academic department. Students were nominated by faculty. Fourteen will graduate from the college May 21.

Sam's Town bowling tourney begins: Wendy Macpherson of Henderson and Tennelle Grjalva of Orange, Calif., were in sixth place while Boulder City's Kim Howerton and Christina Wickey of Lemon Grove, Calif., were 29th.

Case of bookmaker's death appealed: Kim Smith; Defense attorney Daniel Albregts was blunt Monday when he appeared before a panel of Nevada Supreme Court justices.

Maxim foreclosure auction delayed again: David Strow; The foreclosure auction of the Maxim hotel-casino in Las Vegas has been delayed yet again, after a key witness fell ill just before a critical court hearing.

Marines recall embassy hot spots: Jace Radke; For a week in late 1956 Neil Huff found himself in the eye of a conflict that threatened to ignite the Cold War into armed aggression.

Caesars executive sues over merger termination: Park Place completed its $3 billion cash acquisition of Caesars World Inc. on Dec. 29 1999.

Golf tournament raises $100,000 for problem gambling research: David Strow; An estimated $100,000 was raised by the gaming industry last week in a Las Vegas golf tournament to help fund research into the causes of compulsive gambling.

County to vote on new big-box store ordinance: Adrienne Packer; An aggressive petition drive launched by Wal-Mart has forced Clark County commissioners to reconsider an ordinance that banned the store's traditional Supercenters and infuriated supporters of consumer choice.

Rio seeks permission to contract with denied applicant: The Rio is seeking permission to contract with John Antone Bertolero as a consultant on security matters. Since Bertolero was denied a license, the Rio needs permission from the board and the Nevada Gaming Commission before it can hire Bertolero as a consultant.

Supreme Court gets tough on child support: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court has ruled that parents behind in child support must make all of the back payments or they may lose their driver's licenses.

Darr's homer gives Stars win: Despite managing just three hits over the first nine innings, the Stars (19-9), thanks to center fielder Mike Darr's two-run homer in the 10th inning, won for the 10th time in their last 12 games, 4-2, over the Tacoma Rainiers on Monday night at chilly Cheney Stadium.

LVMS denied second NASCAR race: NASCAR on Monday formally announced the addition of Winston Cup Series races at new tracks near Chicago and Kansas City, expanding the series from 34 to 36 events in 2001.

Editorial: Parallel universe on justice: The GOP congressional leadership, which has proven how obsessed it is with sending this poison to Nevada no matter what the consequences are, would have been well-served last week if it instead had paid attention to a meeting of scientific experts who gathered in Nevada. The Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board looked at how Sweden was addressing nuclear waste storage, an evenhanded effort that should shame this nation. In contrast to the United States, Sweden's government seeks volunteers for this task -- and any city that wishes to veto a repository can do so. In addition, there is no deadline ...

Editorial: McDonald now is missing in action: McDonald says that his new job with Las Vegas Color Graphics has resulted in him missing these meetings. While the city council is considered a part-time job, with most members having other outside employment, this much time away from official business is inexcusable. The residents of his ward are getting shortchanged. McDonald contends that the city's staff can keep him apprised of what's going on, but there is no substitute for his presence at meetings, which is essential if the needs of his ward are to be adequately considered.

'Fu' real?: Ralph Siraco; Now that the dust has settled from the beating that Fusaichi Pegasus gave a talented and accomplished field of fellow 3-year-olds in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, speculation is high as to who -- if anyone -- can beat the "flying horse" on the next stop in the Triple Crown.

Advanced technology for nuke waste still years off: Technology that could dramatically reduce the harmful effects of radioactive waste may not be available before a proposed repository to store the nation's nuclear trash is scheduled to be built at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Letter: God not allowed in our schools: Letter: God not allowed in our schools

Parole division urged to obtain outside help: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn's internal audit team suggested that $1.3 million could be saved by the state Division of Parole and Probation by farming out work to private industry.

Letter: Unpaid bills have taxpayer annoyed: I want someone to tell me that this situation has been taken care of and no longer exists. As a taxpayer, I have a right to know who these lowlifes are and that action has been taken to stop this action. Now! No one pays my credit card bills, and I sure don't want to pay for anyone else's.

Columnist Kate Maddox: On a lark, Williams dons pricey piece: Kate Maddox; Lark Williams will wear an $8,000 necklace to Thursday night's premiere of the new John Travolta flick, "Battlefield Earth," at the MGM. The KXPT 97.1-FM disc jockey will be sporting the very same pricey piece worn by "Friends" star Jennifer Aniston at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Letter: Face the facts: Nuclear dump is coming here: While opposing interim storage, President Clinton has funded the Department of Energy's study of Yucca Mountain and the "Viability Assessment," which was a study released late last year that said the site was a promising one for a permanent repository.

Illinois company says it acquired Mesquite Star: AmeriResource did not disclose the price paid for the Mesquite Star, saying only that the property was appraised at more than $31 million. The closed property has 210 hotel rooms and a 38,000-square-foot casino

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Denamax - Part of coupled entry with Sybil's Prospect, draws good post, gets Mr. Kentucky Derby in Desormeaux. Morn N' Mist - Draws outside post for the sprint run, hustling Pedroza aboard Carava trainee, team productive pair. Value Play -- She's A Gamble

Columnist Susan Snyder: LV train club still gaining steam: The Narrow Minded People of Las Vegas have a bunch of ideas, but you couldn't tell by just looking.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: A league of its own: It is not what you say about yourself that counts, it is what others say about you.

Raising the bar: Victoria Sun; LOS ANGELES -- Another year, another injury.

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1:10 p.m.

UNLV's Manley earns player of week honors: Manley led the Rebels to a five-game sweep of Air Force at Wilson Stadium this past weekend, going 13-for-20 (.650) with nine RBIs, four home runs and a double. He struck out only once and walked four times.