Print edition for April 9, 2001

Lawsuit filed over slot operating platform: Innovative Gaming Corp., which last year relocated its corporate headquarters to Las Vegas from Reno and continues to manufacture machines in Northern Nevada, filed the suit in Washoe County District Court.

NHRA notebook: Locals struggle at home: So much for the home-field advantage.

'Austin Powers' slot to premiere: The new slot machine is based on the two "Austin Powers" movies, and is aimed at players in their 20s and early 30s, a group far younger than the typical slot machine player.

Internet gambling bill clears key hurdle: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- A bill to legalize Internet gaming in Nevada has overcome its toughest obstacle.

Energy bill would protect only casinos: CARSON CITY -- Nevada casinos are keeping alive an opportunity for big business to seek cheaper electricity rates while leaving the general public behind.

Business briefs for April 9. 2001: NEW YORK -- A federal appeals court halted today's planned sale of Trans World Airline's assets to American Airlines' parent company after a group of TWA workers from Israel protested the transaction.

DOE gets extension, but only three years, on use of Yucca land: Mary Manning and Benjamin Grove; The Air Force has granted a three-year right-of-way extension to the Department of Energy to continue studies at the proposed nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain.

Bill may aid in legal video poker expansion in West Virginia: Malia Rulon; CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Bob Wise's bill to regulate and tax video poker machines has unearthed new debates, statistics and anecdotes -- but the underlining differences over the legislation are nothing new to West Virginia.

Motives for college questioned: Jeffrey Libby; State legislators are suggesting that Henderson officials have larger plans in mind for the proposed Nevada State College at Henderson.

Columnist Larry Dixon: Trip to Victory Lane didn't work out as planned: Larry Dixon; I had hoped to be writing my last column for the Sun and telling you all about our winning weekend here at Las Vegas Motor Speedway but, unfortunately, it didn't work out that way for us this time around.

Seniors might get extra try at math test: CARSON CITY -- More than 2,700 high school seniors still must pass the math proficiency examination before they can graduate in June, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack McLaughlin is willing to give them an extra try.

Las Vegas firm's stock punished on downgrades: Analyst George Santana of Wedbush Morgan Securities on Tuesday issued a rare "sell" rating on PurchasePro stock, citing aggressive accounting practices such as listing stock warrants from partners as revenue.

Vegas sports on TV/Radio: Vegas sports on TV/Radio

Defense attorney claims friend behind slaying: Kim Smith; Sharron Cooper, a longtime friend and business associate of Ronald Rudin, re-took the stand this morning as the Margaret Rudin murder trial entered its seventh week.

Mandalay Bay, Stardust eye convention center growth: Mirage debuts new space: David Strow; Despite fears of a general slowdown on the Las Vegas Strip, two gaming operators -- Mandalay Resort Group and Boyd Gaming Inc. -- are looking at big expansions of their Strip convention operations.

Gaming briefs for April 9, 2001: A Nevada technology association has thrown its support behind a legislative bill that aims to legalize Internet gambling for Nevada hotel-casino operators.

Las Vegas flights planned from two Canadian cities: The company will offer two flights a week each, Thursdays and Sundays, between McCarran International Airport and Calgary, Alberta, and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Internet spin-off dropped: Seth Sutel; NEW YORK -- NBC is shutting down its loss-ridden Internet subsidiary, acknowledging that any hopes of it becoming profitable had vaporized along with the online advertising market. Many of the 300 jobs there will be eliminated as the unit's assets are integrated into NBC.

Rev. Moon to visit Las Vegas to discuss recent gang deaths: Stacy J. Willis; He's been called a cult leader and a prophet, a convicted felon and a business tycoon. Now the Rev. Sun Myung Moon is being called upon to bring peace to violence-plagued neighborhoods in the Las Vegas Valley.

Police back study on race profiling: CARSON CITY -- Law enforcement officials in Las Vegas and Reno have endorsed a bill authorizing a study of whether police stop black and Hispanic drivers more often than white motorists.

Expanded drug court receives approval: CARSON CITY -- The Assembly Judiciary Committee today approved a bill that would make more prison inmates eligible for entry into drug courts in Las Vegas and Reno.

Thomas slated for MRI on shoulder: Steve Guiremand; The good news for UNLV football fans is that star quarterback Jason Thomas' right foot feels fine.

Obituaries for April 9, 2001: Kenneth Robert Anderson, 72, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. He was born May 9, 1928, in California. A resident for five years, he was a rancher and a Korean War Army veteran.

Tech recruiting conference set for Vegas: The speakers include Microsoft Internet recruiter Paul Spagenberg, Tanya Singer of Yahoo! and Tony Lee of CareerJournal.com.

Las Vegas news briefs for April 9, 2001: Pending the outcome of an attorney general's investigation into allegations against Vince Ricci for enrollment padding, community college officials have canceled his all-expenses paid sabbatical.

Trends for April 9, 2001: Lisa Ferguson; It wouldn't be Easter without Hallmark, right? At least, that's what the greeting-card maker would have you believe.

Letter: Scouts punished for protecting innocent kids: How odd since in Las Vegas a case was just heard in court how a deviant took sexual advantage of young boys who were 12 to 15 years old and was their baseball coach. In our newspapers and TV news broadcasts we are showered with news of some local schoolteachers having sex with their students. In today's news we find three teachers in Woodstock, Ga., being accused of having sex with their students.

Controversy over halfway houses goes to commission: Kris Hill; County commissioners next month will hear a request to build a fourth halfway house in a neighborhood near Sandhill and Flamingo roads.

Columnist John Katsilometes: Cat scratch fever has a message: Bob Barker might convey the message better, but I'll say it, too: Spay or neuter your pets.

Resort hotel sues Las Vegas nude dancing club: In a U.S. District Court lawsuit, Park Place Entertainment Corp.'s Caesars sued Worldnet Investment Corp. doing business as Teasers Palace, 3100 Sirius Ave., Suite D8.

Community briefs for April 9, 2001: The 18 Society Foundation presents the 15th annual Salute to Seniors to be held 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Cashman Center, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

UNLV plays wait and see with recruiting: Steve Addy; Don't expect the Rebels to make a big recruiting splash Wednesday when the spring signing period begins.

Baseball team gets a win at New Mexico: The Rebels put up six runs in the second inning and never looked back, parlaying 21 hits into 15 runs for the game.

Senate changes forfeiture rules: CARSON CITY -- A bill that would require prosecutors to present a higher degree of evidence before money or property can be forfeited to law enforcement is headed to the Assembly.

Murder case goes beyond expectations for weird revelations: Kim Smith; Most people considered the gruesome slaying and decapitation of Ronald Rudin bizarre enough, but that was before the trial began against his fifth wife.

PCL standings: PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Dropout rate falls in Clark County: CARSON CITY -- The number of students dropping out of Clark County high schools declined dramatically last year, even though there was an increase in enrollment, the state Department of Education said.

Public information sessions planned on Edison takeover: Terry Webster; Edison Schools, contract in hand to take over seven Clark County schools in the fall, is gearing up its staff training and preparing to let parents know what their children can expect.

NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series Advance Auto Parts 250 Results: At Martinsville Speedway

Dayton Indy Lights Results: Sunday

Editorial: No-shows displayed cowardice: Admittedly it would have been a tough vote since there were questions as to whether voters would have the appetite to approve two separate measures on the June ballot -- an $80 million bond question for a children's hospital and a $46 million bond to to build four new libraries. So supporters of a children's hospital, such as Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny, may have thought that leaving the library question off the ballot would have been the politically shrewd option, enhancing the odds that the hospital would be approved by voters. But even if that were the case, they ...

Letter: Get facts before criticizing Bush: The president needs our support, not aimless second-guessing. Your paper bears the responsibility for supporting the president and providing facts, particularly at a time of national crisis.

Old faces coming to town with Beavers: Steve Guiremand; Those longtime followers of the Las Vegas Stars who were upset the team changed its affiliation with the San Diego Padres might want to stop by Cashman Field the next four nights.

Assembly passes car stereo limits despite opposition: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Booming bass sounds emitted from motor vehicles often come from rap music.

XFL standings: EAST

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Point Given emerges as clear Derby favorite: Ralph Siraco; We are now less than a month away from the 127th Kentucky Derby.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Zealots can give religion a bad name: Dean Juipe; Sitting in the front row at Miami's AmericanAirlines Arena, Muhammad Ali was as conspicuous as ever.

Birth announcements for April 9, 2001: Remington to Williama and Michele Foster, Jr.

Mother of Year deadline nearing: The 31st annual awards ceremony will be at 2 p.m. May 6 at the Gold Coast. Awards will be presented in several categories, including exemplary, motivational, inspirational, education, nurturing, community service and military.

Officer on leave following shooting at standoff: Jace Radke and Ed Koch; A 12-year Metro Police officer is on administrative leave after being wounded in a shootout with a three-time felon Friday who died Saturday from apparent self-inflicted wounds.

Box score: Rainers 11, 51s 4: WP -- Pineiro, Masaoka, Kiefer. HBP -- by Kiefer (Akers).Umpires -- Samuels, Pasch, Kelley. Time -- 2:57. Attendance -- 4,257.

Trio wins again in 2nd trip to Strip: You can bet that nobody is looking forward to the second National Hot Rod Association national event this year in Las Vegas more than Kenny Bernstein.

Bill seeks more info on lobbyists: CARSON CITY -- The Assembly passed a bill Friday that would make local governments release more information about the hundreds of lobbyists they have sent to the state capital.