Print edition for October 3, 2000

Economy continues to slow: Amy Baldwin; NEW YORK -- For the fourth consecutive month, a key measure of U.S. economic activity fell slightly, the latest sign that economic growth is continuing to slow, an industry group said today.

Final defendant accepts plea deal in Binion case: Kim Smith; District Judge Joseph Bonaventure will be sentencing the four remaining defendants in the Ted Binion case Thursday now that the fourth has accepted a plea deal.

State commission studies school funding plans: CARSON CITY -- A state commission is considering ways to raise money to pay for up to $1 billion in improvements and maintenance needed at Nevada public schools.

Sparks anniversary: The couple are 12-year residents. Clyde has worked as a structural steelworker and is an honorary member of the Ironworkers Local Union 377 in San Francisco, a decorated World War II veteran, (having served as a paratrooper in the European theater) including participation in the invasion at Normandy. He is presently retired. Wanda worked in the steamship industry, was a member of the Marine Engineers Union, and was president of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women for two consecutive years.

Pope anniversary: The Popesculs are 10-year residents of Las Vegas. William worked as an electrician for Chrysler in Sterling Heights, Mich. He is a member of the Southern Nevada Council of United Auto Workers Retirees and is presently retired. E. Virginia worked as a secretary for Michigan National Corporation. Both are members of St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church.

Politicians jog the extra mile for vets: Kris Hill; Local politicians hit the gym Monday to help the Council of Nevada Veterans Organizations raise money for a new handicapped-use elevator.

Harrods mulls Vegas venture: David Strow; Harrods, the prestigious European retailer, is in preliminary talks with casino operator Mandalay Resort Group to open its first U.S. store on the Las Vegas Strip.

Driver, company sued in four deaths: The estates of Mary Lynn Sargent, James Burton Hendron, Michelle Jamieson and Julius Azzari filed suit against Michael Pickett, Kolob Heating & Cooling, Mark Matthew Sanson and Brian Thornton.

Court asked to order Neal-Clinton runoff: CARSON CITY -- The Independent American Party has asked the state Supreme Court to order a runoff in the general election between state Sen. Joe Neal and challenger Uri Clinton.

El Rancho figure accused of diverting funds to casino ship: The investment allegedly was made while creditors of the bankrupt businessman, including the SEC, were scouring the globe for millions of dollars he is alleged to have hidden.

Nellis searches for live bomb dropped by disabled plane: Nellis Air Force Base personnel were searching a rugged and remote area of public land 17 miles north of the base today for a 2,000-pound live bomb that one of its disabled airplanes jettisoned.

Killer of 4 gets death sentence: Kim Smith; Twenty-six months after four young men were found bound, gagged and shot to death, Donte Johnson, the last defendant convicted in their slayings, was formally sentenced to death this morning.

Services for businessman Darling scheduled: Darling, 40, of Henderson, was killed Saturday when his motorcycle collided with a truck on a road near Kanab, Utah, the Kane County Sheriff's office said. No further details of the crash were available this morning, a spokeswoman in the sheriff's office said.

Local couple allege defective tires caused accident: Kim Smith; A Clark County couple has filed a lawsuit against Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. over an August accident they claim resulted from a tire defect.

Suspects sought in string of bank robberies: Keith Paul; A man believed to have robbed 18 area banks this year apparently struck again Monday, marking the 11th bank heist in the past 10 days in the Las Vegas Valley.

Charges leveled in Stupak incident: Kim Smith; Misdemeanor charges were expected to be filed today against an 80-year-old man who allegedly assaulted gambling figure Bob Stupak at an upscale restaurant in August.

Jobless benefits' fund seen as healthy: CARSON CITY -- Nevada's unemployment trust fund, which pays weekly benefits to the jobless, has reached $505 million and has passed the state's solvency test.

Business groups sue to stop tax petition: CARSON CITY -- A lawsuit has been filed in District Court seeking to stop the initiative petition that calls for a 4 percent business profits tax to support public schools.

Democrats go after Hispanic vote: Erin Neff; Claiming Republican policies have been harmful to Hispanics, former Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros on Monday evening urged the Hispanic community to vote Democrat.

Strip says adios to El Rancho: Jace Radke; THE 13-STORY El Rancho hotel-casino tumbles to the ground early in the morning on Oct. 3, 2000. The building, which belongs to Florida-based Turnberry Associates and has been vacant since 1992, was imploded by Las Vegas-based LVI Environmental Services Inc. and Maryland-based Controlled Demolition Inc. Turnberry Associates is currently building Turnberry Place, a high-rise condominium project, adjacent to the doomed El Rancho, but no plans for the land where the hotel sat have been announced. R. MARSH STARKS / LAS VEGAS SUN

Ex-HUD secretary scouts sites for affordable housing: Erin Neff; The CAT bus maneuvering the city's core Monday afternoon was "Not in Service."

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Only four more years: Australia has long been a special country for me and thousands of other Americans. The Aussies who served with the British Commonwealth Division in Korea reminded me of Americans who live in the West. Australian infantrymen knew how to climb mountains and fight with the world's best troops.

Judge upholds firing of schools contractor: A Clark County School Board order to disqualify a local drywall contractor from bidding on school construction projects is legal, a District Court judge ruled Monday.

Labor agreement reached at Henderson plant: Denver-based Timet said in a statement that the agreement, which covers about 300 production and maintenance workers represented by United Steel Workers of America Local 4856, "provides modest increases in wages and pensions over its term."

Bank sues Las Vegas theme park for loan payment: The bank filed suit in Clark County District Court against All American SportPark LLC, which operates a family entertainment center at 121 E. Sunset Road.

Editorial: Revised lands bill is a shame: The reason for the smaller size is that there were objections to committing such a vast sum for such a long period of time. This always was a specious argument, though, since the program wouldn't create new taxes or hike existing ones. The money would tap the revenue that the federal government receives from oil and gas drilling leases, money that now goes into the federal treasury. In addition, some members of Congress were opposed to the original legislation because it took out of their hands the ability, in succeeding years, to change how the money would be targeted. Yet ...

Columnist Ron Kantowski: UNLV finally decides on 'quality' kickoff time: Given some of the wacky times at which UNLV has played home football games over the years, one might think Rebels officials used an old Dr. Pepper bottle rather than rhyme or reason for inspiration.

Letter: United Nations is tower of shame: Behind the smoke screen created by such words, the international socialists and despots gathered at the Millennium Summit to call for totalitarian world government through "global governance" and the empowerment of the United Nations that such governance would necessarily require.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Santa Anita: 1st Race -- Princess Belle - Flores aboard Baffert trainee, draws outside post for opening dash, rings the bell here. Meditate - Draws better inside post, Solis on Greely trainee, might get the maiden-breaker trip. Value Play -- Beauty And Style

Editorial: Privacy bill moves, but why not earlier?: Identity theft has become one of the most worrisome areas in the realm of privacy invasion. Stealing a Social Security number allows a criminal to take on the identity of the unwitting victim, permitting him to make huge purchases, which can destroy the victim's credit rating and throw him into financial ruin before the matter is cleared up.

Downtown land swap hits snag: The agreement between the city and Lehman Brothers will be held for another two weeks as attorneys for both sides "tweak" the agreement, according to Lesa Coder, the city's director of business development.

Columnist Kate Maddox: New name springs to 'EFX' talk: Kate Maddox; Rick Springfield wishes he had Tommy's job. Tune, that is. Springfield is the latest name to crop up as a replacement for Tommy Tune, who will depart the show in January, when his contract expires.

Local news briefs for October 3, 2000: Two Las Vegas residents were charged Friday in connection with the April 22 beating and strangulation of a 38-year-old man found in a trash container.

Harrigan wants third gold medal: Steve Addy; When she turned 30 last month, Lori Harrigan officially became one of the old hands on the U.S. Olympic softball team.

Tyson sued amid feud over chef: Kim Smith; Boxer Mike Tyson is being sued by a local gourmet food provider that claims Tyson stole away one of its chefs.

Columnist Dean Juipe: In case you missed the season ...: Dean Juipe; For motivational reasons, unless you live in a city that has a team it's difficult to keep pace with everything that happens during the course of a 162-game, six-month Major League Baseball season.

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

Obituaries for October 3, 2000: Sally Mineva Mary Bosse, 94, of Henderson died Sunday in a local care center. She was born Dec. 19, 1905, in Springfield, S.D. A resident for 47 years, she was a Clark County School District teacher.

Community news briefs for October 3, 2000: Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center and the Diabetes Treatment Center will host Health and Diabetes Fest 2000 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Desert Springs Hospital parking lot, 2121 E. Flamingo Road.

Plea agreement made in hospital sex attacks: Kim Smith; A convicted sex offender faces a potential life sentence after pleading guilty but mentally ill Monday in two hospital attacks.

Great beyond: Art exhibit encompasses global works: Kimberley McGee; What: "Art Beyond Borders."

Whitney Township pioneer Cassedy Davis dies: Nina Cassedy Davis, whether running a Henderson business, helping to develop the Whitney township or just riding through her panoramic Southern Nevada ranch aboard her favorite horse, Buck, embodied the true pioneer spirit of Nevada.

Man pleads guilty in 23-year-old murder case: Sandra Chereb; RENO, Nev. - A child molester accused of killing a California girl 23 years ago in Reno while on parole has pleaded guilty to the crime under an agreement with prosecutors that let's him avoid a possible death penalty.

Monday's prep results: BOYS TENNIS

Rhymin' Simon back with 'You're the One': Edna Gundersen; NEW YORK -- The opening verse on Paul Simon's new album lays down an agenda while raising a question:

Letter: Shared parenting the only solution: We advocate shared-parenting for many reasons: the parents are the parents and no one deserves to be treated like the visitor unless that is their choice. They made the children together and should share parenting just as our law states.

U.S. Supreme Court rejects Nevada appeal: WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Supreme Court has denied an appeal filed by death row inmate Michael Mulder, convicted for the murder of a 77-year-old Las Vegas man. The court dismissed the plea without comment on Monday.

Suit challenges teacher's tax petition as unconstitutional: In the filing, the Nevada Pro-Education Alliance charges that the proposed 4 percent tax on business income is flawed, unfair, and a thinly disguised personal income tax, which is barred by the Nevada Constitution.

Draft study: video gambling revenues could vary widely: Shaheen launched the study to help the next Legislature evaluate revenue sources to pay for schools. Pending results of the study, her first choice is video gambling at the state's four race tracks, which she says would bring in at least $145 million a year.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Nave truly is a model for success: Alisa Nave really, honestly, never thought her family and friends would see her this way:

El Rancho implosion marks end of an era: Lisa Snedeker; The 2:30 a.m. demise of one of the oldest properties on Las Vegas Boulevard went off without a hitch as more than 2,000 spectators watched from parking garages, neighboring hotel rooms and an empty lot across the street.

Soccer: MWC honors UNLV's Sims: UNLV forward Janae Sims has been named the Mountain West Conference women's soccer player of the week following her three-goal performance last week. She scored the first hat trick of her career in the Rebels' 4-2 victory over Long Beach State on Friday. It was also the first hat trick in UNLV women's soccer history.

Thomas savors shot at UNR: Steve Guiremand; UNLV quarterback Jason Thomas, named the Mountain West Conference's offensive player of the week for his 316 yards in total offense in the Rebels' 34-13 upset of previously unbeaten Air Force on Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium, showed Monday he is equally adept with his wit as he is with his arm and feet.

Candidates hope to avoid blunders in crucial debate: Walter R. Mears; TV coverage

Letter: 1991 law gives associations license to abuse: When their common interest ownership law was passed by the 1991 Nevada Legislature, these culprits immediately began conspiring with vindictive homeowners association directors to harass homeowners by fining us such exorbitant amounts of money that we could never pay this extortion.