Print edition for September 14, 2000

Fight schedule: At Denver, (ESPN2), Jose Luis Castillo, Mexico, vs. Stevie Johnston, Denver, 12, for Castillo's WBC lightweight title; Butterbean Esch, Jasper, Ala., vs. Marcus Rhode, St. Joseph, Mo., 4, heavyweights; Terrance Churchwell, Nashville, vs. Antonio Ramirez, Dominican Republic, 10, lightweights.

Bombers recall WWII heroics: Not everyone who played an important role in the Allied victory over Nazi Germany on D-Day fought at Normandy.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Let the Games be bullet free: "They're all gone."

Furyk to return to Las Vegas: Furyk to return to Las Vegas

UNLV notebook: First-year coach has big plans for women's soccer: Dan Abdalla may be in his first season as UNLV's women's soccer coach, but that isn't preventing the former Rebels player from setting lofty goals for his team.

'Dream homes' going on display: The event enables builders, architects, interior designers and landscapers the opportunity to show their work in high-end settings in one location. Homes in this year's show range in value from $1.2 million to $2.9 million and in size from 4,400 to 7,700 square feet.

Feds say LV travel firm had role in brothels: Greg Tuttle; An Asian prostitution ring that forced women smuggled into the United States to work in brothels across the country was a "very organized structure" that included a Las Vegas travel company, a federal prosecutor said Wednesday.

Census: West has decidedly foreign flavor: The West is the best -- at least for immigrant waves from Asia and Latin America, a report issued by the Census Bureau finds.

It's hot even for Nevadans: Hot enough for ya?

Shareholder payment boosted: The world's second-largest automaker said it would buy the shares in the open market and expects to complete the purchases by the end of 2001.

Proposed casino near I-15 rejected by planning panel: Diana Sahagun; A request to extend permission to build a casino in an industrial area near Cheyenne Avenue and Interstate 15 had the North Las Vegas Planning Commission wrangling again Wednesday with the issue of neighborhood casinos.

State signs settlement over sweepstakes ads: CARSON CITY -- Nevada is among 47 states that have signed a settlement with American Express Publishing Corp., which has agreed to change a misleading advertisement on its sweepstakes.

City asks court to overturn ruling against eminent domain: Erin Neff; When Paul Moldon first began to fight the city's attempt to seize his property five years ago by eminent domain, he strode into court on two sturdy legs and with an air of confidence.

Nevada takes wait-and-see approach to Station's problems: David Strow; As Station Casinos Inc. faced Nevada gaming regulators Wednesday for approval of its latest purchase, company executives faced concerns ranging from a union's fury over job security to questions about a regulatory battle the company faces in Missouri.

High court hears Fine's appeal over firing from bench: CARSON CITY -- An attorney for former Family Court Judge Fran Fine of Las Vegas told the Nevada Supreme Court this morning there was insufficient evidence presented to the state Judicial Discipline Commission to merit what he called a "death penalty" for a judge by tossing her off the bench.

Killer given life without parole: Kim Smith; The Hanlon family didn't get what they wanted Wednesday -- their beloved son and husband back -- but they did get some measure of relief.

Vegas news briefs for Sept. 14, 2000: CARSON CITY -- Notices have been sent to 3,300 lawyers that applications are available to succeed the late District Judge Gary Redmond, who died last month in Las Vegas.

Citizens' panel on tax collections to probe experts: CARSON CITY -- Before predicting state tax collections for the next two years, members of the Economic Forum are going to ask experts in private business about Nevada's economy.

Girls prep volleyball standings: CLASS 4A

Officials aim for public shooting range near Nellis: CARSON CITY -- There are an estimated 100,000 gun owners in Clark County, but there's a declining number of places people can go for target practice.

Students accuse teacher of using racial slurs: Terry Webster; For the second time in just over a month, a racial slur controversy has emerged in the Clark County School District.

California Indian casino plans massive expansion: The Soboba Band of Mission Indians showed off plans for a $147 million casino expansion Tuesday, the most expensive in the Inland area since the passage of Prop. 1A in March.

Regulators approve Icahn's takeover of Sands: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- Billionaire financier Carl Icahn moved a step closer to owning the Sands Hotel & Casino on Wednesday after New Jersey regulators endorsed his plan to pull it out of bankruptcy.

DOE to reveal list of private nuclear work sites: Peter Eisler; WASHINGTON -- The Department of Energy, reversing decades of government secrecy, will release the names of hundreds of private companies that processed radioactive and toxic material for the U.S. nuclear weapons program in the 1940s and '50s.

Tax break denied for big company expanding in Vegas: CARSON CITY -- The nation's largest food distribution company failed Wednesday in its effort to get a tax break from the state of more than $525,000 to locate a plant in Clark County.

Company sells record $850 mil. in investment-grade bonds: The 10-year senior notes were priced to yield 8.59 percent, MGM MIRAGE President and Chief Financial Officer Jim Murren told the state Gaming Control Board. Proceeds were used to refinance a term loan taken out to finance the $6.4 billion acquisition of Mirage Resorts Inc. earlier this year.

Rebels linebacker wants win at home as birthday present: Steve Guiremand; UNLV linebacker Shanga Wilson celebrates his 21st birthday on Saturday. And the 6-1, 215-pound junior from Corona, Calif., says he already knows what he'd like to get for a present.

Destination added: Dallas-based Southwest, which will have more than 160 daily flights to and from Las Vegas when it expands in the next three months, did not announce schedules and said it would determine next month whether Las Vegas would be among the nonstop destinations from the new city.

State against credit for time served: Prosecutors filed papers Wednesday opposing a recommendation to give Sandy Murphy credit at her sentencing for time served under house arrest.

Homicide case vs. trooper will drag on into next year: Jeffrey Libby; A homicide case that has yet to go to trial after 11 years of hearings and seven trips to the Nevada Supreme Court was delayed again this morning despite concern from both sides that several witnesses in the case are getting older and declining in health.

Hill withdraws from Saturday's card: Dean Juipe; It was obvious while talking with Virgil Hill Tuesday night that he didn't feel he was physically ready for the challenge of fighting World Boxing Association cruiserweight champ Fabrice Tiozzo Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden.

Dwindling gold production costs jobs, tax revenues: "The theme throughout the report is that the industry is changing," said Russ Fields, president of the Nevada Mining Association.

Guinn studying legislative intent on power deregulation issue: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn said Wednesday he will study the transcripts of hearings in the 1999 Legislature to learn if a so-called "global settlement" allowing periodic increases in electric rates is legal.

Casino unions agitating for contract in Detroit: Jim Suhr; DETROIT -- More than 90 percent of voting workers at Detroit's two casinos authorized bargainers to take whatever action necessary to reach a contract with the casinos, a spokesman for a labor coalition said.

Columnist Dean Juipe: LV's Norwood loses fight, alienates trainer: Dean Juipe; A week ago Freddie Norwood was the World Boxing Association featherweight champion, albeit a cantankerous one.

Activists at MGM Grand seek decertification of Culinary Union: Grace Leong; An employee of the Las Vegas Strip's MGM Grand hotel-casino filed a petition Wednesday with the National Labor Relations Board to decertify an estimated 3,500 hotel workers who are represented by the Culinary Workers Union local 226 and the Bartenders Union local 165.

Retrofit ordered for Boeing 737, workhorse of Las Vegas aviation: James Wallace; The Boeing 737 jet is a staple at McCarran International Airport with the top three carriers using it heavily on flights to and from Las Vegas.

Ex-Clark star hopes sore wrist won't kill her dream: Steve Addy; Charlene Tagaloa's wrist is killing her, in the wrong place, at the worst possible time.

Obituaries for Sept. 14, 2000: Margaret F. Adamo, 80, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. She was born July 25, 1920, in Rockford, Ill. A resident for 15 years, she was a homemaker.

NASCAR hoping for better fate this time: Dick Brinster; LOUDON, N.H. - NASCAR wants to get through a weekend in New Hampshire without death being the big story.

Auto racing schedule, winners and points standings: Feb. 20 - Daytona 500, Daytona Beach, Fla. (Dale Jarrett)

Honolulu bank enters Vegas banking market: The deal moves BancWest into the hyper-competitive Las Vegas banking market for the first time. It entered the Nevada banking market last year with the purchase of SierraWest Bancorp, which operates in Northern Nevada and California.

Evernham, Atwood building foundation: Hank Kurz Jr; RICHMOND, Va. - Ray Evernham, labeled a genius while guiding Jeff Gordon to greatness, sweated out qualifying like a novice.

Nevada tourism officials hatch golf promotion stunt: Scott Sonner; RENO - It won't be your typical round of golf - about 11 hours to play 18 holes.

Peppers keep up hot pace: Geoff Carter; The last time I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers play live, Ronald Reagan was still president.

Championship fight headed for wire: Piero Valsecchi; MONZA, Italy - Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher are getting ready for the unknown.

CART teams and guests fed like royalty: Make Harris; The roar of 900-horsepower engines washed over rows of tent-covered pavilions filled with diners, a reminder that this was a race track - not a four-star restaurant.

Gambling foes critical of Hull in casino talks: Paul Davenport; Critics said Thursday that Hull should leave the issue for her successor - the compacts begin expiring in 2003 when she leaves office. Some also criticize the terms she wants, including a proposal to require that a 7 percent share of the tribes' casino profits go to a "community benefit fund" doled out by an appointed panel of state and tribal representatives.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Facing another uprooting: Ruthe Deskin; What to keep and what to throw away.

Nevada tribe wants to stop Army burning of munitions in California: The Army is in the process of seeking a new permit to continue the operations at the depot at Herlong, Calif., upwind from Pyramid Lake.

Editorial: Regulators, gag orders don't mix: The allegations made by the workers were serious, which makes a gag order sanctioned by a government agency even more disturbing. The workers said that managers from the company, which is a subcontractor for the Clark County School District, required kickbacks of $200 or more each week from them and even mandated that workers put fewer hours on their time cards than they actually worked. Jetstream didn't respond to the Sun's inquiries about the settlement, but previously the company denied the allegations, asserting that the Carpenters Union fabricated them in an attempt to unionize the drywall construction company.

CAP conducts search-rescue training: Dick Benoit; Fifteen pilots and 30 observers took to the Nevada skies Saturday, and another eight pilots and 16 observers participated Sunday as part of a search and rescue exercise conducted by the southern region of the Civil Air Patrol's Nevada Wing.

Community news briefs for September 14, 2000: Southern Nevada veterans will remember and honor prisoners of war and those missing in action 9:30 a.m. Friday at the Veterans Center and Museum, 3333 Cambridge St., just south of Desert Inn Road.

Girls prep golf standings: CLASS 4A

Boys prep tennis standings: CLASS 4A

Letter: Many careers undermine need for a diploma: Policies on hiring must be changed by many establishments as to where you need that graduation diploma before being hired, or after being hired getting a G.E.D. during their six months probationary period. Otherwise, this situation will never be resolved.

Sun Athletes of the Week: Steven Jackson and Chelsea Pendleton: School: Eldorado

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Few miles but long wait: It wasn't much, but it was certainly a positive step last month when 100 North Koreans and 100 South Koreans went to the opposite ends of the peninsula to visit relatives. I say it wasn't much because 76,000 South Koreans applied for the opportunity to see family members now living in the north. The 100 were chosen by a national lottery from among the applicants who haven't seen family members since the Communist forces of Kim Il Sung invaded South Korea June 25, 1950.

One of state's oldest stores burns in Wellington: Flames had engulfed the building before firefighters arrived just after 9 a.m., said Charlie Mann, Smith Valley Volunteer Fire Department's assistant chief.

Self-defense plea avails Reno man nothing: Ellison admitted he struck John Riesen Jr. in April 1999 with an auto part resembling a shock absorber. The two men worked at Borgman auto repair in Reno and Riesen was on the verge of getting fired.

East Coast tourist hits $1.3 million jackpot: The winner, who asked to remain anonymous, put $36 into the progressive slot machine and had been playing 10 minutes when he won Wednesday, hotel officials said.

Boys prep soccer standings: CLASS 4A

Niagara Falls, N.Y., eyes future after casino opens in Canada: It should generate 12,000 full- and part-time jobs for the Niagara region, including 5,000 jobs at the casino itself. It is tentatively expected to open in 2003.

Strike-authorization vote taken among unionized Detroit casino workers: Jim Suhr; Phil Schloop, spokesman for the Detroit Casino Council, a labor coalition representing the MGM Grand Detroit and the MotorCity Casino workers, said 92.2 percent of voting workers authorized the committee to take whatever action necessary to reach a settlement, but that didn't mean workers would go on strike.

Local artist takes a spiritual quest on canvas: Kirk Baird; When: Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday.

Life sentence given for Board of Education murder: Jurors recommended the sentence Wednesday after 10 hours of deliberations.

Letter: Judge, lawyers did fine job: My hats off to prosecutors David Roger and David Wall also. Although I live out of state, I have followed this trial very closely and am thrilled to know that justice does exist!

Gorman, BC set to enjoy travel benefits: Spencer Patterson; The way the Las Vegas area has grown during the past decade, parents may feel like they've driven to the ends of the earth to see their sons play high school football.

Federal recognition issues draws state and local officials in Connecticut: Denise Lavoie; SHELTON, Conn. - If an American Indian casino is built in Bridgeport, the increased traffic could cause all-day gridlock on Interstate 95, a traffic consultant predicted Thursday.

Behind the scenes: Joe Kloeckner: Football official

Nevada court reviews casino dealers' secondhand smoke case: Brendan Riley; The Nevada Supreme Court arguments are part of a U.S. District Court case that began with a 1997 lawsuit by dealers that alleges tobacco companies lied about adverse health effects of breathing secondhand smoke.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Locals struggle against out-of-state foes: Spencer Patterson; There's no question that high school football has come a long way in Southern Nevada during the past decade.

States prepare for flu vaccine delay: C.G. Wallace; Vaccine manufacturers told the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this summer to expect delays in vaccine shipments and possible reductions of available vaccine for the 2000-01 season.

Kazor: Big-time challenge at small-time school: Dean Juipe; Here is this season's schedule, with results to date, for Steve Kazor's football team at Wayne State University:

Girls prep tennis standings: CLASS 4A

Sun Statewide Prep Football Top 10: Teams ranked jointly by the Sun and the Sparks Tribune.

Reid asks Congress for cash to commemorate California Trail: "These settlers often sacrificed their lives in search of the American dream, and left a pioneering mark on our American heritage," he said.

Picks: Cimarron to continue its mastery of Las Vegas: Spencer Patterson; Two OT losses and those suddenly red-hot Desert Pines Jaguars contributed to a tough week in what is quickly becoming an unpredictable season. But have no fear: Week three has 11-0 written all over it.

Regulators endorse $205 million Station purchase of Santa Fe resort: The state Gaming Control Board recommended the deal, with little mention of various difficulties that Station Casinos now faces here and in Missouri. The board's parent Nevada Gaming Commission will have final say Sept. 28 on the Santa Fe deal.

Reid "concerned" about NCAA gambling bill; criticizes Dean Smith: Scott Sonner; Reid, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, also offered some advice to former University of North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith: "Stick with coaching."

Russian MiGs, Blue Angels star at Reno's 37th annual Air Races: Scott Sonner; "We were looking for some high-performance jets that would do well on the air show circuit and none were available," said Randy Howell, 46, who flys 747s when he isn't thrilling crowds as the pilot of the lead Stoli MiG.

Police in search of slot thief: The latest target was Smith's Food and Drug store in northeast Sparks about 1 a.m. Wednesday, police said. He displayed a gun and demanded money from the slot machine cashier at the front entrance.

Editorial: UNLV gets boost with new program: On Tuesday UNLV announced it was creating a post-graduate creative writing program with the help of a $2 million donation by the Mandalay Resort Group. Soyinka will be the program's chair, which also means UNLV will get its first faculty member who is a Nobel laureate. This program alone won't propel UNLV into the ranks of prestigious universities, but this truly is an exciting development.

This week's races: NASCAR

BLM challenges state's water rights law: Brendan Riley; Justice Department lawyer Andrew Mergen argued the 1995 state law is discriminatory and unconstitutional, and the case could advance to the U.S. Supreme Court if the BLM loses in Nevada's highest court.

Charges dismissed against Nebraska bar owner for gambling materials: Fitzgerald opted to pay a $2,000 fine to the commission instead of having his liquor license suspended for 40 days.

Midwestern family values disrupt casino industry's staffing needs: "In the Midwest, there is much more focus in this area on the family as the priority, and work is secondary," Faccadio told a gathering of casino-industry human resources executives at the Northern Gaming Summit in Detroit on Wednesday. "On one side, it's a nice reflection into the past. On the other side, it presents a challenge to an employer trying to fill three shifts and with the concentration of business on the weekends."

Gorman names new boys basketball coach: Spencer Patterson; It has been 12 years since Bob Hubbard coached basketball full-time, but the new Bishop Gorman boys coach says he's ready for the pressure of taking over for Nevada's defending 4A state champs.

Prep football standings: CLASS 4A

Slash happy to be in Snakepit: Michael D. Clark; What: AC/DC, with Slash's Snakepit

Western responses to flu vaccine shortage: Western responses to flu vaccine shortage

NTSB investigating bus crash; status of amputation changes: Lisa Snedeker; Fifteen of the most seriously injured in the crash that hurt all 41 on board remained hospitalized in Reno and Las Vegas.

Columnist Joe Delaney: UNLV ushers in another 'Big City Season': Joe Delaney; This weekend's main event is the UNLV Performing Arts Center's "Big City Season" premiere with multiple-award winning composer-conductor Marvin Hamlisch and a full orchestra in concert at 8 p.m. Friday in Artemus Ham Hall ... On Sunday at 2 p.m. in Ham Hall, it's Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the first event of this season's World Stage Series.

Letter: Crowding causes schools to fail: Forty-eight students in a government class. Yikes! How can any type of meaningful learning take place? A teacher burns up 15 minutes just taking roll and handling paperwork.