Print edition for May 19, 2000

Guinn warns regents to trim budget: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn has told the university system its proposed 28-percent increase in its upcoming 2001-03 budget is unacceptable, and at least one regent agrees.

Desert Passage names new tenants: Concurrent with next week's International Council of Shopping Centers annual conference at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Desert Passage developer TrizecHahn revealed the latest additions to the shopping complex.

Study: Tax burden of Las Vegans is minimal: A new study by a Wisconsin consulting firm revealed that Las Vegas homeowners and renters pay among the nation's lowest taxes because there is no state or local income tax.

Nordstrom keeps Las Vegas guessing on plans for local store: Phil Levine; Where and when will upscale retailer Nordstrom establish its first Las Vegas store?

In cyperspace, Fu-Peg gets nod: Here's one more way to look at Fusaichi Pegasus' chances for victory in Saturday's Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course:

Total cost of case reaches $227,000: Jurors in the Ted Binion murder trial began their eighth day of deliberations today, as taxpayer costs in the well-publicized case soared to an estimated $227,000.

PCL Box: Rainiers 11, Stars 5: E--Flores, Davis. DP--Tacoma 2. LOB--Tacoma 4, Las Vegas 9. 2B--Akers, Lesher, Oliver, Milliard, Radmanovich. HR--Lesher (10), Snopek (2), Davis (3). S--Gipson. SF--Nicholson. SB--Flores. CS--Alexander.

Goodman woos new NBA team: Diana Sahagun; Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman continues to focus his efforts on "scoring" a professional sports team for the city.

Luck prevails over skill at poker tourney: David Strow; Professionals always say poker is a game of skill, not luck.

Casinos, Water Authority succeed in effort to delay hearing on Nevada Power rates: CARSON CITY -- District Judge Mike Griffin canceled a hearing set for Monday to decide if Nevada Power Co. should be allowed to immediately increase its rates to customers in Southern Nevada by $110.7 million.

Fire chief will stay in LV: Jace Radke; Mario Trevino has decided to stay on as chief of the Las Vegas Fire Department after pursuing a job heading the nation's fifth-largest fire department in Dallas.

Woman sues ex-fiance for share of Internet lottery winnings: Grace Leong; Las Vegan Gary Kopp won a $1.24 million lottery game on the Internet, but apparently lost his love.

LV woman pleads guilty to abuse in child's death: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas woman accused of killing her young cousin in a car crash while chasing her boyfriend pleaded guilty Thursday to felony child abuse.

Man who stalked Jerry Lewis faces new charge: Kim Smith; The man who went to prison for stalking Jerry Lewis made his initial appearance in court this morning on a new stalking charge.

Nevada unemployment rate steady at 3.8 percent: CARSON CITY -- Unemployment in Nevada held steady at 3.8 percent in April, lower than both the national and California rates.

Money allocated to restore wetlands: The Southern Nevada Water Authority Board for the first time put money on the table in its 2001 budget to begin restoring ruined wetlands in the Las Vegas Wash.

Local news briefs for May 19, 2000: The 74-year-old man paramedics found apparently beaten to death Tuesday in an apartment he shared with his brother was identified as Donald L. Brauch.

Disabled rights activists settle suit against hotel-casino: Richard Armknecht, DRAC's attorney, declined to reveal terms of the settlement, but said DRAC won the settlement because of "strong language" directed by U.S. District Judge Howard McKibben toward the Rio at a March 27 hearing for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.

Woman gets two years in bicyclist's death: Kim Smith; A 35-year-old Las Vegas woman was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday in connection with a drunken driving accident that took the life of a local bicyclist.

Bankruptcies for May 19, 2000: Michael E. Simon, doing business as Simon Says Pest Control, 4859 Rollingwood Circle, filed for Chapter 7, listing assets of $161,164 and liabilities of $183,658.

Lawyer sues State Bar over PR: Greg Tuttle; A public relations campaign sponsored by the State Bar of Nevada to improve the image of attorneys is illegal and a waste of money, according to a federal lawsuit filed by a Las Vegas attorney.

LV firm reports hike in earnings: Net income was less than 1 cent per share, compared to a loss of 3 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. Players Network recorded revenues of $432,000 for the quarter, up from revenues of $101,000 in the 1999 quarter.

Bernstein gets union's support: CARSON CITY -- More than 300 delegates to the Nevada State AFL-CIO convention voted unanimously Thursday to endorse Democrat Ed Bernstein for the U.S. Senate.

Nuke compensation weakens in Congress: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Five weeks after the Department of Energy made a historic $520 million pledge to compensate nuclear weapons workers -- including Nevada Test Site workers -- for work-related illnesses, the proposal is crawling through Congress.

Old neighborhood focus of program: Diana Sahagun; There's a glimmer of hope in some of North Las Vegas' worst neighborhoods.

Officials propose united effort on bees: Concerned about the growing threat of Africanized honey bees, Gov. Kenny Guinn and state officials agreed Thursday to form a statewide task force that will approach potential attacks by Africanized bees as a public nuisance.

$4 mil. bail for suspect in fatal car crash: Kim Smith; A 24-year-old Las Vegas man accused of causing a wreck that killed four people last week will remain in the Clark County Detention Center on $4 million bail.

Joint airline website examined due to antitrust concerns: WASHINGTON -- U.S. antitrust investigators are examining the competitive effects of a website that more than two dozen airlines -- including the five biggest in the United States -- are developing to sell travel services.

Grand Canyon fire moving toward containment, North Rim scheduled to reopen: The North Rim is scheduled to reopen at noon on Monday. The South Rim, which most tourists visit, is open.

Fitness retailer sues over competition: In a Clark County District Court lawsuit against Beltway, Musclemag International Corp. said its sales at the Beltway Plaza were hurt when Beltway leased adjoining premises to J&J, a high-volume discount marketer of multi-vitamin dietary supplements.

Cheers! Microbrewery owners step forward to claim half of Big Game prize: They got a ceremonial check for $181.5 million, but actually opted for the lump sum, which amounts to $90 million before taxes, rather than taking the bigger prize in yearly installments.

UNLV's NCAA West Regional golf scores: UNLV (283)

Durango softball drops close one to Wooster: Zack Hall; Durango softball coach Sandy Morgan says her team has battled all season to earn respect.

Saturday horse racing entries: Post Time 1 p.m.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Lunch succeeds as hospice benefit and culinary treat: The Richard Tyler Fashion Show presented by Neiman Marcus at the benefit lunch for the Nathan Adelson Hospice was the best.

Cunnane gets the call from Padres: Steve Guiremand; While the rest of his teammates had to be at McCarran International Airport at 5 this morning to catch a 6 a.m. flight for Calgary, Las Vegas Stars pitcher Will Cunnane was able to sleep in.

Prep state playoff results and schedules: 4A State Tournament

Columnist Joe Delaney: Steve & Eydie remain consummate professionals: Joe Delaney; Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme are the best husband and wife -- make that male and female -- singing and comedy couples of all time. ... Steve & Eydie are appearing in the Caesars Palace Circus Maximus tonight through Sunday ... Lawrence, son of a cantor, was born in Brooklyn; Gorme, whose parents were Sephardic Jews, was born in the Bronx.

School money shortage addressed: Valerie Miller; A shortage of teachers and a shortage of money to pay for their raises prompted a meeting Thursday between members of the Legislature and the Clark County School Board.

Town's biggest murder trial didn't start out as foul play: Angie Wagner; Becky Behnen knew it was a homicide, even if the county coroner initially wasn't sure. The Sept. 17, 1998, death was ruled an overdose of heroin and the prescription drug Xanax, but the manner of death was undetermined.

Letter: Column afforded escape to shore: In the '40s I saw the Atlantic for the first time and fell in love. I went back several times a year and always made sure I spent time with the roiling Atlantic.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Vasser seeking redemption at Indy: Jimmy Vasser has some treasured memories of racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but the Las Vegas resident would like to erase the memory of his last lap at the Brickyard.

Mary remembers heyday with Peter and Paul: Kirk Baird; Forget her age. At 63 Mary Travers still has a fiery passion that burns as bright as it did nearly 40 years ago.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Saturday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Fierrazo - Productive team of jockey Pedroza and trainer Carava here, draws well, should be a factor throughout. First Time Skier - Well-placed here, draws good inner post for the route opener, Berrio aboard Shulman trainee. Value Play -- Askabout

Sound Check -- Geoff Carter: Primal Scream's latest 'just what we need right now': I can't recall the last time I disagreed with Alex over a musical selection. We developed a simpatico while working together on KUNV's "Radiolucent" (rest in peace), and it has continued right up through today.

Letter: Personal account better deal for retirement: Olivier assumes "current benefits will have to be discontinued or seriously cut back" under the proposal. I would hope so. After 15-20 years of investment into personal investment accounts, less reliance on the public dole will be necessary. Many friends and I have always assumed we will need to be self-sufficient in our retirement.

Obituaries for May 19, 2000: John R. Born Sr., 71, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local hospital. He was born April 24, 1929, in Ardmore, Okla. A resident for 10 years, he was a retired mechanical engineer with a manufacturing firm.

Rebel tandem hoping to bring titles to UNLV: Katarina Malec and Marianne Bakken will attempt to make recent UNLV tennis history repeat itself when they travel to Southern California to participate in the NCAA Women's Tennis Championships.

Rebels 5th in West golf: The Rebels are seven strokes off the pace, set by BYU which fired a 12-under 276. The Cougars also had the individual leader in Manuel Merizalde, who tied with UCLA's Parker McLachlin with a five-under 67.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Duty of U.S. males: EVERY MALE CITIZEN of the United States of America is required to register with the Selective Service System within 30 days after his 18th birthday. It may be a federal law, but young Americans are treating it like a parking ticket and not the felony it is. By the end of 1999 only 84 percent of male Nevadans born in 1980 had registered as required, according to a government report.

Letter: Binion saga entertaining: Not since O.J. have I been so taken with a real-life "soap." I can hardly wait for the movie.

The next step: Ralph Siraco; On Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Maryland, Fusaichi Pegasus will try to take another step toward racing immortality. The Kentucky Derby winner will try to add the 125th edition of the Preakness Stakes to his racing dossier and along with it, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.

Murphy, Tabish found guilty of murder: The 12 jurors, nine women and three men, also found Murphy and Tabish guilty of stealing Binion's valuables after his death, including his $6 million silver fortune in Pahrump.

Datebook: Keith Brantley and Pendelita Toney will host the monthly Poets' Corner, featuring both established and aspiring poets, at 7 p.m. today in the West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd. Admission is free. Call 229-4800.

Editorial: Don't use reckless plan for retirement: With the stock market booming in the past decade, such an idea seems enticing. But Vice President Al Gore, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, is correct to be concerned about Bush's comments. After all, what happens if the stock market nosedives? Will the federal government bail out those who invested poorly? Allowing some nominal amount to be invested in Social Security should be explored, but this needs to be thought out carefully so as not to harm current and future retirees.

Festival planned at UNLV mall: The festival will feature entertainment, dancing, information booths, children's activities and a variety of kosher foods. Organizers are asking that attendees bring nonperishable food items to donate to the Jewish Family Service Agency Food Pantry. For more information, call 732-0556.

UNLV track team leads MWC meet: Freshman heptathlete Chantel Yates, who led after the first day of the competition, finished second overall behind BYU's Anna-Lee Walcott.

Birth announcements for May 19, 2000: May 8: A girl to Paula and James Lewis. May 10: A boy to Maria Behrens-Larson and Byron Hall. May 11: A boy to Stefani Cecil and Ryan Vader. a girl to Lynn and Dean Hudkins; a girl to Ronda and Christopher Domeraski. Danny Dotson.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Baby's at Hard Rock rocked hard: Kate Maddox; Things heated up this week at Baby's nightclub at the Hard Rock hotel-casino. After a monthlong investigation by Metro Police into alleged drug dealings at the underground night spot, hotel management rearranged the club's top brass, firing famed L.A. night-life guru Sean MacPhearson and his Las Vegas-based management crew.

Jury finds pair guilty in death of well-known gambler: Robert Macy; Sandra Murphy and Rick Tabish were convicted of first degree murder and could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Three Nevada patrolman cited for acts of valor: Scott Sonner; RENO, Nev. - A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper who saved an injured man from freezing to death and two fellow troopers were honored Friday for acts of valor.

Silverado looks for revenge vs. Blazers: Spencer Patterson; Back on March 20, the second day of the prep baseball season, Durango and Silverado played an extra-inning game, with the Trailblazers downing nationally ranked Silverado 5-4.

Wild horses to be auctioned via satellite: Sandra Chereb; RENO, Nev. - The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is going high-tech to promote its Wild Horse and Burro Adoption program and find willing owners for animals in need of a new home.

Shelf Life -- Scott Dickensheets: Taking a historical bite out of 'Strange Fruit': Quiet now. She's about to sing that song. Cafe Society, the progressive jazz club in hip-lefty New York, goes dark. A single spotlight hits the stage, framing the face of Billie Holiday.

Loughney lifts Durango to state golf title: Spencer Patterson; First-year Durango boys golf coach Bob Barnett remembers the first time he met sophomore Chris Loughney.

Editorial: Jurors' questions in dispute: Opponents of juror questions argue that the current system of having jurors sit silently, and then weigh all the evidence after the facts are presented, has worked well over the past two centuries and shouldn't be changed. Defense attorneys particularly worry that juror questions could lead to their clients not getting a fair trial. Since either the defense or prosecution can, in effect, veto a query by objecting, some defense attorneys say that their clients might get punished if they believe the defense attorney stopped a question from being asked. In addition, attorneys are concerned that by allowing a juror ...

Columnist Richie Hearn: So far, it's like the Windy 500: Richie Hearn; It's great to be at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and it's wonderful to be given another opportunity to race in the Indianapolis 500. I wish we were running a little bit faster but it's always fun to be here. I love driving on this track. It's a great place to be.

Summer camp can help a child in need: She does so much for others, yet she asks for nothing, school officials say. At such a young age she is seeking direction, but also needs to have fun in her life.

Steve Bornfeld -- That's Life: Don't be a schnook; grab a book: Reading -- just for the joy of it.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Bandits did little more than survive: Dean Juipe; As debut seasons go, the best that can be said for the Las Vegas Silver Bandits is that they survived and made it to the finish line. They didn't pull a Baltimore Colts and call in the moving vans for an unexpected late-night exit.

Decision in fatal crash criticized: Kim Smith; The attorneys for a woman whose husband was killed when his trash truck plunged down a gully in December aren't outraged that Republic-Silver State Disposal isn't facing criminal charges.

Hopper's performance keeps 'em guessing in new gig at Ra: Performers in the "Legends in Concert" and "American Superstars" tribute shows are pure impersonators. They mimic the voices of the stars, but also strive for visual duplicity by copying mannerisms and employing lavish wardrobes, makeup and hairstyles.

Air Force ends Rebels' season: Victoria Sun; This wasn't the way UNLV's Nate Kaup wanted his career to end.

Vasser turns in tops speed at Indy: Vasser, driving the Target/Chip Ganassi Racing G-Force/OldsmobileV8, nailed down the day's fastest lap of 221.681 mph during the final hour of practice. Vasser is the sixth different driver to have the top speed in six days of practice.