Print edition for September 13, 2000

U.S. trade deficit broke record in quarter: In the April-June quarter the deficit widened 4.6 percent from an imbalance of $101.5 billion recorded in the previous quarter, the Commerce Department said Wednesday in its "current account" report on international transactions.

Station Casino Kansas City leading in market share: Station passed Harrah's North Kansas City Casino & Hotel, which reported revenues of $14.67 million.

Plan moves ahead for golf course: Greg Harman; The Boulder City Council is pressing on in its drive to surround the community with well-shorn golf links, a use considered compatible with the town's "clean, green" image and its drive to attract tourist dollars.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Mayor: Let the public bet on Rebels games: A number of elected officials have talked about ending the age-old ban on betting UNLV games in Nevada sports books.

Strike-authorization vote taken among unionized Detroit casino workers: Jim Suhr; "I think there's a good deal of frustration, and people would like to bring this to closure," said Phil Schloop, spokesman for the Detroit Casino Council, a labor coalition representing the MGM Grand Detroit and the MotorCity Casino workers.

Trio of restaurants feature fine Mexican seafood: Max Jacobson; Let's remember that Mexico has two enormous coastlines, the Atlantic and Pacific. On the Pacific side, the locals eat fish tacos, seafood cocktails, the red snapper called huachinango and a variety of ceviches. Meanwhile, on Mexico's Atlantic coast, people feast on fish cooked in the style of the city of Veracruz (tomato sauce and green olives), fresh oysters and fish steamed in banana leaves.

Savvy wine buy: Greg Norman Estates '98 Cabernet/Merlot: Max Jacobson; Name recognition isn't what should draw you to this delicious wine, but yes, it is the same Greg Norman from the golf world producing this lush Bordeaux-style blend. It's 90 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 10 percent Merlot, so it isn't a classic Bordeaux blend, but it does smell like one. Coonawarra is one of the best wine regions in Australia, and terrific bargains such as this one abound from it. This wine has a dark color, dense, jammy fruit and forward tannins. It should drink well for at least five more years.

Costs rising on delayed veterans home: CARSON CITY -- The construction of Nevada's first veterans home in Boulder City will be completed in December, later and more costly than predicted.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Casino industry joins big-game politics: You hear the Strip doyens talk about it all the time, how they have ratcheted up their influence on Capitol Hill, mostly through their conversion of a percentage of gaming winnings into campaign contributions to congressmen and senators.

Nevada PUC chief has no answers yet on deregulation: Chairman Don Soderberg said he will meet with Guinn and "share information" on whether competition in the electric industry should be started on Nov. 1, as called for in a "global settlement" approved by the utilities commission earlier on a 2-1 vote.

Columnist Peter Benton: Fernandez prevails in amateur tourney: Peter Benton; In the recent 54-hole Women's Nevada State Amateur Golf Championship played over the Painted Desert Golf Club, 16 year-old Christine Fernandez, a Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association member, won overall low gross honors after rounds of 68-66-72-206 over the par-72 layout.

Sen. Rhoads proposes two new Senate seats: Much of that area currently is represented by Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, a member of the reapportionment committee and one of two key sponsors of the plan to add two rural seats.

Nevada tourism officials hatch golf promotion stunt: Scott Sonner; But Carson City and Carson Valley tourism officials are hoping it will be a memorable one for two dozen golf writers who plan to sample the two best holes of nine different courses along the Sierra Nevada's eastern front.

Homicide case suspect found dead in desert: Hudec apparently died of dehydration and exposure, according to the National Park Service. Official results of an autopsy by the Clark County coroner are pending.

Bandits set to address need for a point guard at draft: Victoria Sun; Even if Isaac Burton and Michael Johnson return to play for the Las Vegas Bandits of the International Basketball League this fall, first-year head coach Lionel Hollins said getting a point guard in Thursday's draft will be a top priority.

Regulators approve Icahn's takeover of casino; deal closes Sept. 29: John Curran; In a 4-0 vote, the state Casino Control Commission approved Icahn's plan to invest $65 million in cash and issue $110 million in new bonds to prop up the casino, which has remained operating while reorganizing in bankruptcy.

Busch testing at Dover: Kurt Busch will test a Roush Racing Ford Taurus today and Thursday at Dover Downs International Speedway in what could be a prelude to the native Las Vegan making his NASCAR Winston Cup debut at the mile oval next weekend.

Owners to replace President Casino with theme boat: The newer riverboat, which was used on the Red River in Louisiana, will be in place in April when the company plans to begin marketing its new name and theme.

Vegas brand emphasized in new ad campaign: A $41 million Las Vegas advertising campaign that will reinforce what the city is famous for without focusing on individual hotels, restaurants and shopping malls was unveiled Tuesday to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Letter: Casinos sound like terrible places to work: After an exchange in property ownership there is bound to be a restructuring, a weeding out or paring down of unnecessary positions, a merging of job descriptions and a trial period to see if all goes well with the changes. But not mass rejection.

Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Arizona angler leads bass tourney: Paula DelGiudice; Bass anglers invaded Southern Nevada early this week in search of big largemouth bass in the 10th U.S. Bass Open. The bass tourney got under way Monday at Callville Bay Marina and wraps up with final weigh-ins today.

Burglar caught answering victim's door: Mark Anthony Jacques, 36, of Sparks was booked on charges of residential burglary and possession of drug paraphernalia, which police found in his original clothes stashed in a storage shed.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Goodman honored for literacy contributions: Elizabeth Foyt; International Literacy Day was celebrated in Las Vegas at the Imperial Palace. Ed Cripsell, general manager of the hotel-casino, led the committee with Gov. Kenny Guinn, as well Rod Davis, Dr. Thomas Gutherie, Marsha Lindsey, Paul Lyle, Steve Schorr and Pat Shalmy. Co-chairing the event were Richard Sgaglio and Karen Bramwell Thomas. Wally "Famous" Amos, National Literacy spokesman, was a most entertaining guest speaker. His fees and expenses were a gift from What's On magazine publishers Pamela, Stacey and Haley Hertz, who also provided reading lights and magazines for each attending guest.

New CEO appointed at Summerlin resort: Paul Hanley, the new CEO, has more than 25 years of experience in the hotel industry with companies including Omni Hotels and Hyatt. Luery will remain involved with the Regent, the company said, and has been named vice chairman of the board of directors for the general partner of the Regent.

Suncoast resort opens with no union: David Strow; For the Culinary Union, the Suncoast represents an extension of what's becoming a very uncomfortable trend.

Vegas home buyers surveyed: Tied for second in the overall ranking were Coventry Homes and Del Webb Corp.

Judge delivers face-to-face sentence: With his nose just inches from Jorgensen's, Kosach said, "I want you to feel how those little girls felt, just a little bit - just a little bit, Mr. Jorgensen.

Community news briefs for September 13, 2000: A drum and bugle band from Mexico will be among the entertainment at a civic ceremony that will celebrate Mexican Independence Day 2 p.m. Friday at Las Vegas City Hall.

Four Seasons manager moving to Bellagio: But as of Oct. 9, the Bellagio's 3,000 rooms will be in Morton's hands.

Justice Department: Delay in road closure harming bull trout: Scott Sonner; Forest Service officials told U.S. District Judge David Hagen in Reno this week the dispute over jurisdiction of the South Canyon Road near Jarbidge has left the dirt road in an unsafe condition.

Juvenile offenders get adult viewpoint: The commission directed its staff on Tuesday to obtain an appraisal for the site on Parr Boulevard, south of the jail, and begin negotiations for the 16 acres owned by the Ferrari family.

Editorial: Future of Lake Tahoe is at stake: Finding ways to protect the clarity and health of Lake Tahoe has been discussed for years, but it wasn't until Clinton and Vice President Al Gore visited the lake in 1997 for a daylong summit that momentum gathered to marshal funding for the lake. A $908 million plan, which would cover 10 years, would create erosion-control projects, close old logging roads, restore wetlands, pay for fire restoration and prevention, and purchase land to protect the lake from development.

Newest casino opens in northwest Las Vegas: Lisa Snedeker; The $200 million Suncoast hotel-casino opened Tuesday night with what has become a Las Vegas tradition - a $75,000 fireworks display followed by hordes of gamblers rushing through the doors to be the first to try their luck on the new machines and tables.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Miller's time has expired: Dean Juipe; The jury has ceased deliberating. The verdict is in.

Cameroon center commits to UNLV: Steve Addy; The Rebels already have a centerpiece for their 2001 basketball recruiting class.

Editorial: Just too darn busy for trifling matters: Even for jet-setters such as Cheney, however, the fact is that Texas makes it easy to cast an absentee vote. And Cheney's rationale will irritate mothers and fathers of working families who do find the time in their genuinely hectic schedules to vote on Election Day. Meanwhile, Cheney's executive living and wooden demeanor haven't caught on with voters -- and his handlers are running out of time. Maybe, just maybe, Cheney could find his niche as the apathetic voters' candidate. Of course, the only problem with that strategy is that he'd be appealing to the very people who don't vote ...

Local theater company stages celebrity-penned play: Kirk Baird; What: "Bermuda Avenue Triangle."

Foresty division will collect $600,000 in fire costs: So far, $1.5 million in bills have been sent to the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, the two agencies with the biggest debts, for fire fighting costs the state has picked up since July.

Letter: Politicians ignore the 'little guy': Not one of these politicians ever had to worry about where their next paycheck was coming from. Are the taxpayers the ones who pay for these politicians' livelihood?

Analyst raises earnings estimates: Linde hiked estimates for the third quarter of 2001 from 44 cents per share to 50 cents per share, and fourth-quarter 2001 estimates from 21 cents to 24 cents per share. Linde also raised his 2002 earnings estimate to $2.04 per share, up from $1.90.

Nevada free of fire at last: The only other fire in the state, the 2,367-acre Phillips Ranch blaze 55 miles southeast of Ely has been burning for a month and a half and is being allowed to smolder until rain or snow extinguishes it. Three people are keeping an eye on it.

Carson mayoral candidate Tatro hospitalized with chest pains: Tatro, a division fiscal manager at the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, is challenging incumbent Carson Mayor Ray Masayko.

Hit-and-run victim identified: Family members reported Orbeta missing after she apparently disappeared from a casino. Her body was discovered about a half-mile from the casino where she was last seen.

New Orleans tax study panel, after deadline, doesn't have members: "Several of the appointees that had been chosen had conflicts," said Christine Gallatig, a spokeswoman for Mayor Marc Morial. "I'm not sure when we'll be ready."

Big expansion of Santa Fe hotel-casino announced: The announcement was made at today's meeting of the state Gaming Control Board, which recommended the Nevada Gaming Commission approve Station's purchase of the Santa Fe when the commission meets later this month.

Thomas facing test early in season: Steve Guiremand; Great expectations.

Columnist Victoria Sun: Major golfing companies are no-shows at Las Vegas event: Victoria Sun; The most notable thing about the PGA International Golf Show that concluded today at the Las Vegas Convention Center was the number of equipment manufacturers that weren't represented.

Inspectors lose jobs at Foxwoods casino in Connecticut: "This action is part of a process of review that is designed to make the tribal government more streamlined," said MacDonald. "We are constantly utilizing both new technology and analysis of operations to become more efficient as a tribal government, and this is one example."

Coast already looking at further expansion in Vegas, Mississippi: David Strow; With the thunderous roar of an $80,000 fireworks show still echoing in the Summerlin night, the Suncoast hotel-casino opened Tuesday evening.

Panel OKs bill to ban NCAA wagers: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The House Judiciary Committee today passed a bill that targets Nevada casinos by banning bets on college and Olympic sports.

National study links air pollution to children's problems: For the first time a national environmental study has linked child development, learning and behavior disorders to toxins in air pollution.

Jail officials eager to be free of Murphy, Tabish: Clark County Detention Center officials are looking forward to turning over convicted killers Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish to the Nevada prison system after Friday's sentencing.

Feds increase affordable housing: A decision by the federal government to spend $100 million a year to expand its rental-assistance program could result in a housing boom for Las Vegas' poorer residents.

News briefs for Sept. 13, 2000: A 19-year-old man died from a gunshot wound at Lake Mead Hospital Tuesday night.

Mandalay Resort Group funds UNLV graduate creative writing program: Jeffrey Libby; UNLV President Carol Harter announced a new partnership Tuesday with casino-giant Mandalay Resort Group to establish a post-graduate creative writing program with a $2 million endowed chair.

911 line down for two hours: Jace Radke; For nearly two hours Tuesday night Las Vegas residents were without 911 emergency phone service after a power outage shut down the new Metro Police 911 center.

Women in spotlight for Ensign, Bernstein: Ensign, a former two-term congressman from Las Vegas, unveiled a television advertisement in which Nevada's first lady, Dema Guinn, touts his positions on women's issues.

Arrest made in double homicide in Henderson: Cynda Ann Wasso of Las Vegas was booked into the jail Tuesday on two counts of murder in connection with the Aug. 22 slayings of David A. Bender, 21, and Steve M. Szany, 22, in the Sunset Winds Apartments on the corner of Sunset Road and Eiger Way.

More prison money grudgingly OK'd: CARSON CITY -- The shifting of $1.2 million to complete the High Desert State Prison near Indian Springs was reluctantly approved Tuesday by the Legislative Interim Finance Committee.

Audit clears police union fund: Keith Paul; An audit of the Metro Police union's health insurance fund, aimed to allay officers' concerns of the plan's financial well-being, showed no wrongdoing on the part of union officials.

Regents' meeting subject of probe: CARSON CITY -- The state attorney general's office confirmed today it plans an inquiry into whether Nevada's open meeting law was violated last week when a committee of the university Board of Regents discussed a report critical of UNLV Police.

Garcia: Combine Spanish testing, English teaching: Terry Webster; Third grade teacher Jerri Arredondo makes the transition between English and Spanish look easy.

Feds to probe Nevada's rate of dropouts: Terry Webster; Calling it long overdue, Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., has ordered a federal probe into Nevada's high school dropout rate.

Water Authority to pay tab from 1965 project: Southern Nevada residents paying for drinking water will save $10 million on the pipes and pumps that draw Lake Mead to their taps.

Nuke waste prompts legislative action: CARSON CITY -- An increased amount of low-level nuclear waste is being shipped to the Nevada Test Site for storage, and that concerns some state legislators.

Neal foe Clinton requests recount: Erin Neff; Bolstered by a discrepancy at one voting machine, state Senate candidate Uri Clinton is hoping a recount focussing on mail-in and absentee ballots will find enough similar errors to push him into the general election.

Endowment attracts Nobel Laureate to UNLV college: A $2 million donation will fund an endowed Chair of Creative Writing. Its first occupant is Wole Soyinka, a Nigerian dramatist, poet and essayist who received a Nobel Prize in 1986.

Gaughan family's LV gaming ties stretch to '46: The Gaughan family's involvement in gaming stretches over four generations -- three in Las Vegas. Jackie and his son Michael have owned more local casinos than any other father-son duo in the city's history.

Obituaries for Sept. 13, 2000: Joseph T. Canella Sr., 60, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospice. He was born Oct. 10, 1939, in Chicago. A resident of four months, he was a retired insulator in the construction industry, an Air Force veteran and a member of International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators Local 17.

Officials: Errors did not affect outcome of vote: Adrienne Packer; A handful of counting errors were committed by election staff during the primary elections last week, but government officials insisted Tuesday that none would have changed the outcome of even the closest races.

Regent may benefit from competition: David Strow; From the north side of the new Suncoast hotel-casino, it isn't hard to miss.

UNLV to finally get fair share of funds: Jeffrey Libby; One hurdle remains to what could prove the resolution of a decade-long university funding feud between Northern and Southern Nevada.