Print edition for October 16, 2000

Sheriff: Evidence in McDonald probe enough for arrest: Erin Neff and Keith Paul; Although District Attorney Stewart Bell declined to prosecute two cases against Michael McDonald, Metro Police insist they found enough evidence to arrest the Las Vegas City Councilman, and may take their case elsewhere.

Senate candidates clash on health care, child safety: The only remaining televised joint appearance scheduled for Senate candidates John Ensign and Ed Bernstein is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 5 on KLAS Channel 8.

Editorial: Patient rights get second life: When President Clinton and other Democrats started championing a patient's bill of rights several years ago, Republican leaders in Congress dismissed this as partisan grandstanding. But these same Republican leaders conveniently omitted that there was a growing number of Republicans -- primarily in the House -- who also believed patients should have more protections, including the right to sue health insurers if they have prevented them from receiving needed care. For that matter, last year's vote in the House to approve a patient's bill of rights was decisive -- the final tally was 275-151. Unfortunately not enough Republican senators were ...

Reform sought in pollution monitoring: A legislative subcommittee recommended sweeping changes Friday to the way air quality is monitored and protected, while also asking for a thorough audit of the way the existing agency handles a controversial air pollution control program.

Letter: Social Security plan too risky: Under Al Gore's plan, which is "Social Security Plus," he adds government matches and there is no chance of losing one's money in the stock market.

NRA buys billboards to back Ensign candidacy: The association's political action committee has purchased billboards in Las Vegas that say, "Vote Freedom First ... Elect John Ensign." Mailers have also been sent out to voters on Ensign's behalf from the Virginia organization that vigorously supports gun ownership rights. Ensign is running against Democrat Ed Bernstein, also of Las Vegas.

Gaming people in the news: Harrah's Entertainment Inc. named Bill Keena as senior vice president and general manager of Harrah's Laughlin. Also, Tom O'Donnell is senior vice president and general manager of the Harrah's-owned Showboat in Atlantic City. Michael St. Pierre, currently senior vice president and general manager at Harrah's North Kansas City, will replace O'Donnell as senior vice president and general manager of Harrah's in Joliet, Ill. Bill Noble was promoted to senior vice president and general manager of Harrah's North Kansas City, succeeding St. Pierre. O'Donnell's move to the Showboat follows the resignation of Herb Wolfe, who had been president and general manager ...

Getting It Write: Lisa Ferguson; If you hire an accountant to prepare your taxes, doesn't it make sense to contract a professional to write your resume?

Letter: Thief deserves to suffer for heartless deed: If it was taken for resale value to buy cheap booze or drugs, the person who took it will be disappointed.

Station Casinos exec with role in flier fiasco resigns: Adrienne Packer; Station Casinos executive Mark Brown, who was fined for his role in a political flier that violated state campaign laws, said this morning that his decision to resign has little to do with the well-publicized investigation.

Union agreement reached with two casinos: Affected workers at the MotorCity Casino and MGM Grand Detroit are to vote within days on what will be their first contract, The Detroit News reported.

Member of two pioneer business families, Pursel dies at 79: When Jack Pursel married Berniece Huntington on Aug. 27, 1942, it marked the merging of two prominent pioneering Las Vegas business families.

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

Witty, insightful newspaperman McCloskey dies: Goodbye, Jasper.

Horse rider finds body: Jace Radke; Metro Police responded to two suspected homicides and a body found in the desert over the weekend.

Bernstein is counting on women's vote to gain in race: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Ed Bernstein is banking on stronger support among women than Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., received in 1998 to defeat their common opponent, Republican John Ensign.

Vegas news briefs for Oct. 16, 2000: A 21-year-old California man died Sunday morning in a one-car accident on Interstate 15 at Russell Road, Nevada Highway Patrol officials said.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Riboletta moves into some fast company: Ralph Siraco; The Breeders' Cup is less than three weeks away, and the past weekend served as a preview to the finals of horse racing's championship series.

Bunning releases hold on safe-needle measure: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- A bill that would require safer hypodermic needles and protect health care workers from accidental sticks could be approved this week.

Share repurchase authorized, AC expansion studied: The repurchase plan comes on top of an 8 million-share plan announced in May 1999. Though this June, Aztar had repurchased 6.2 million shares under that plan.

Las Vegas area shows big drop in crime stats: Serious crime fell in Las Vegas last year following the national trend, according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report.

Traces of drugs found in LV Wash: Vegas Wash and the Las Vegas Bay have revealed traces of:

Birth notices: Taylor to Jamie Charleston and Robert Cochran; Gabriel to Jessica Hoagland and Vernon Pilson; Christian to Theresa Schmelzle and Patrick Clayton.

Columnist John Katsilometes: Beatles fans still bonding: When I first met Dennis Mitchell he was about to leave KKLZ 96.3-FM, where his signature show was the Sunday morning program "Breakfast With the Beatles." Being a Beatlemaniac myself, I'd always wanted to meet Dennis, and when I did I made a highly provocative comment:

Obituaries for Oct. 16, 2000: Lilyan Baker, 66, of Las Vegas died Friday in Las Vegas. She was born April 13, 1934, in Brooklyn, N.Y. A resident for 21 years, she was a member of Sons of Norway and Vegas Vikings.

Social Security saves money by offering services on its website: The one-out-of-three people in Nevada who receive retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration -- and all of those who will receive benefits in the future -- should find it a lot easier to get information on those benefits.

Former IRS agent, Valley Bank auditor Manning dies: In the late 1950s the Internal Revenue Service told its Las Vegas agent John Manning to padlock the doors of the Las Vegas Sun because the newspaper owed $44,000 in back taxes.

Job study completed: The study, coordinated with an outside consulting firm, was initiated to determine if county salaries are comparable to similar positions in other state and local governments and the private sector.

Starkville bar owner facing federal betting charges: "It was a joint investigation between the FBI and the Starkville Police Department looking into illegal gambling, which is bookmaking, taking bets on college sports, college football mostly," said Jeffery Artis, FBI media coordinator in the agency's Jackson office.

Tupelo attorney, three others charged with fraud in bingo operation: A 50-count indictment made public Monday claims that Shelton, bingo manager Sue Carnathan and employee Lindon Baker participated in charitable fraud, illegal gambling, money laundering and filing false tax returns.

Democrats unveil new nuclear waste television ad: Lisa Snedeker; The ad says there are significant differences between the presidential hopefuls on the issue and charges that Republican Texas Gov. George W. Bush sides with the nuclear industry. It says Bush would weaken safety standards, paving the way for a nuclear waste dump to be located in Nevada.

Nevada becoming hot stopover spot: She also is scheduled to have an informal discussion with seniors in Henderson and to watch the final presidential debate with members of the AFL-CIO.

Ensign gloats over Bernstein flub, then flubs himself: Bernstein stumbled before partially answering the Walker Lake question. Ensign then listed the Nevada and California counties involved in a longstanding dispute over the amount of Walker River water that flows into Walker Lake. But he got the California county wrong.

NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series Gambler Nationals results: FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Trends, Oct. 16, 2000: Lisa Ferguson; Is your significant other having a nightmare? No. In fact it's Fluffy, and she's trying her darndest to hack up another nasty furball.

Soccer: UNLV men win tourney title: With the victory, the Rebels improved to 8-5-1 on the season, their most victories in a year since 1992. The Rebels scored the game winner at the 27:37 mark on a breakaway by sophomore Tuomas Talvio, who scored his career best-tying fifth goal of the season.

CCSN accused of mental illness discrimination: Jeffrey Libby; A former sign language interpreter for the Community College of Southern Nevada has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the school.

Effect may be profound for Vegas consumers, independent operators: David Strow; If it occurs, the merger of Chevron Corp. and Texaco Inc. would have a profound impact on the Las Vegas gasoline retail market.

Del Webb beats estimates: The Phoenix company expects to earn at least 83 cents a share vs. 74 cents in the year-ago quarter and 72 cents expected by analysts. Del Webb stock rose 37 cents this morning to $25.56 on the news.

Limousine trial set: Judge Ron Parraguirre dismissed motions for summary judgment from the Independent Limousine Owners/Operators Association as well as the state, on behalf of the Transportation Services Authority.

Casinos providing investors more financial details: David Strow; When quarterly earnings season rolls around later this month, even the smallest gaming industry investors will have access to something that once was the domain of only the largest shareholders -- access to company conference calls in which executives discuss their companies' financial performance and outlook.

Business people for Oct. 16, 2000: The managing editor of three publications of the Las Vegas Press says he is resigning to direct a new alternative weekly publication planned by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Geoff Schumacher, managing editor of the weekly Las Vegas Business Press, CityLife and the monthly Las Vegas Senior Press, will join the R-J staff next month to create an alternative weekly publication. Schumacher said the new publication would be wrapped around Neon, the R-J's weekly entertainment tabloid published Fridays, and be distributed free in the community.

Restaurant recruiter works to staff casino in tight market: "We've learned that if I'm going to open another restaurant in Milwaukee, the job market is very hard right now," Bartolotta said.

Nevada Power seeks fifth rate hike: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn stopped the start of open competition in the electric industry in Nevada -- but he didn't halt the monthly increases of the two major power companies.

Deal reached on recorder's office pay standards: Adrienne Packer; Months after giving up on negotiations with the Clark County recorder's office, union representatives reached a long-awaited settlement agreement on the division's merit pay standards.

Farmers' water offer for hunting at refuge rejected: "I'm really uncomfortable with the politics of this," bureau area manager Elizabeth Ann Rieke told the Reno Gazette-Journal. "It would set a very significant precedent."

Columnist Dean Juipe: Smooth run for Invensys debut in LV: Dean Juipe; With weather ordered straight from the Chamber of Commerce and a competitive tournament from start to finish, the PGA Tour's Invensys Classic at Las Vegas had a cohesive and smooth flow to it.

Wacky week sets up dramatic finish: Spencer Patterson; Chaparral 36, Silverado 32

Andrade cleans up: Dean Juipe; Billy Andrade's 2000 Invensys Classic title, by the numbers:

Kaye blase about record: Victoria Sun; Tying his career best round and tying a tournament course record weren't enough to inspire PGA Tour professional Jonathan Kaye to pump his fists in the air or do a little celebratory shuffle when he was finished

NHP troopers plan to join Teamsters union: "I really see no problem here," association spokesman Gary Wolff told the Nevada Appeal.

Prep schedule: TUESDAY

IRL Excite 500 Results: 1. (2) Scott Goodyear, Dallara-Oldsmobile, 208, $123,700

X-rays show Thomas' injury is only a sprain: Steve Guiremand; After Saturday night's devastating 20-19 loss at Colorado State, the UNLV football team was in need of a little cheering up on Sunday.

Carmichael dominates Supercross: It was only fitting that Ricky Carmichael entered the MGM Grand Garden Arena for rider introductions driving the "Grave Digger" monster truck, because the four-time national motocross champion proceeded to bury the competition in the THQ U.S. Open Supercross event.

Jury rules against woman in gender lawsuit against NDOT: "The state of Nevada has a zero tolerance policy against sexual harassment or gender discrimination, but this case was clearly based upon unsubstantiated claims," said Chief Deputy Attorney General Brian Hutchins.