Print edition for August 21, 2001

Cradle and all: Parents going gaga over accessories for babies' nurseries: Kimberley McGee; But today's parents are also turning the nursery into a family affair by creating a whimsical room with which to greet the baby on arrival.

Community briefs for August 21, 2001: These locations are available for blood donations this week, hosted by United Blood Services, 6930 W. Charleston Blvd.: Wednesday: 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Nevada Federal Credit Union, 2645 S. Mojave Road.

Letter: Doctors kill more than firearms: Before the AMA inserts itself into the daily lives of "fellow citizens" who peaceably own firearms, it should look to its own house to deal with the minority of licensed medical practitioners who have everything to do with hundreds of thousands of patients killed or maimed yearly by "medical misadventures."

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Del Mar: 1st Race -- Corissa's Birthday -- Trainer Carava tabs main man Pedroza, needs prompt start and clear trip from inner post in sprint opener, Birthday celebration? Moossa's Girl -- Top jock Solis aboard Sise trainee, quick foot necessary from rail post, trip the key here. Value Play -- You're On Your Own

Editorial: Needless squeeze on outpatient care: Congress got itself into this situation when it limited high-tech outpatient procedures to just 2.5 percent of all spending, a decision that is forcing proposed cuts, which are set to take effect Jan. 1. Instead Congress should scuttle the arbitrary cap and recognize the value of outpatient care.

Letter: Bush, GOP work to contain health care costs: My family has been insured by HMOs for over 30 years now -- Kaiser Permanente in California and Secure Horizons here in Nevada. Those HMOs have taken care of all of our medical needs for our children, my wife and I with the highest standards possible, from broken bones to congestive heart failure and cancer.

Editorial: Surplus is quickly evaporating: The White House has dismissed concerns about the eroding surplus, arguing that there is plenty of funding. "We are awash in surplus money," said Mitch Daniels, the White House budget director. "We ought to call a cease-fire and congratulate each other." But the surplus this year is only expected to be $160 billion, considerably less than the $275 billion surplus that the White House and the Congressional Budget Office had predicted earlier this year. The administration's downplaying of the surplus' importance is a refusal to acknowledge that a key reason why the economy did so well during the 1990s was ...

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 2 p.m.

Vegans go in opposite directions at Amateur: Godfrey, 27, of Clemson, S.C., birdied the first three holes at East Lake Golf Club and stood at 9-under after 16 holes. He bogeyed Nos. 17 and 18 but still matched the course record set by Vijay Singh at the 1998 Tour Championship.

Lady Rebels unbeaten during European trip: Frohlich also had 10 rebounds and nine steals, while Petra Glaser added 10 points. The Lady Rebels will return to Las Vegas on Wednesday.

News briefs for August 21, 2001: A California man drowned Sunday on Lake Mohave, a National Park Service official said.

New York company promotes remote gambling system: Kenilworth Systems Corp. calls the system "Project Roulabette." The system would broadcast table games being played live in Las Vegas, and allow customers to bet on the outcome from remote locations. The company said it is talking with the Nevada Gaming Control Board about regulating the system under the same rules that currently oversee remote betting on horse and dog race simulcasts.

Quarterly earnings improve for LV gambling company: The company reported net income applicable to shareholders of $5.61 million, or $1.02 per share. This compares to a net loss of $5.03 million, or 91 cents per share, in the year-ago period. This was attributed primarily to decreases in deprecation, amortization and interest costs, as Fitzgeralds is now operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Hoyas' Hunter coming to UNLV: Steve Addy; The last time Demetrius Hunter was looking for a place to play basketball, UNLV didn't have room.

Bowled over on Christmas: Steve Guiremand; Do college football bowl games and Christmas mix?

Crowton ready to lead BYU into new era: Steve Guiremand; Facts and figures on the BYU Cougars:

Suit killed against station that used victim's name: Kim Smith; A lawsuit filed against KVBC Channel 3 by a rape victim whose name was aired during her attacker's trial has been dismissed by District Judge Ron Parraguirre.

Creditors try forcing Laughlin developer into bankruptcy: Biltmore Vacation Village LLC, which in May 1999 announced plans for a 264-unit development in Bullhead City, Ariz., was named in the bankruptcy petition by three creditors, investors Roger Bruce, Helen D. Bruce and Richard Gralinski.

LV woman questioned in shooting death of husband: The woman called 911 this morning to report a disturbance at her apartment on Pirates Cove Road near Westcliff and Buffalo drives.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Bowl will need help from Santa: Within 10 minutes of receiving an e-mail that the Las Vegas Bowl was moving to Christmas Day, the phone rang. It was Tina Kunzer-Murphy, the LV Bowl's Executive Director and the hardest working woman in the bowl business.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Series to endorse head-and-neck restraint system: Two days before NASCAR released the results of its six-month investigation into the death of Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr. bowed to peer pressure and donned a head-and-neck restraint device for Sunday's Pepsi 400 Winston Cup race at Michigan International Speedway.

Mason will get call on key downs: Steve Guiremand; Last year it was "Third-and-Nate."

Defendant fails to show for sentencing: Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker said he was shocked that Isidro Rubio didn't appear before District Judge Nancy Saitta Monday, considering he might have received probation if he had.

Cabbie receives probation in death of passenger: Kim Smith; A former Las Vegas taxicab driver was sentenced to three years' probation Monday in the New Year's Eve death of one of his fares.

Jury rejects self-defense claim: Kim Smith; Prosecutors who hope to obtain the death penalty for a Las Vegas man convicted Monday of shooting two men to death four years ago will begin presenting evidence Wednesday.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Bad service exacts a heavy price: I'm sure the woman behind the bagel counter would have recanted if she truly had heard what she said when I told her I wanted to buy 18 bagels.

PCL box: Las Vegas-New Orleans: E -- Pena, Stankiewicz. DP -- Las Vegas 2. LOB -- Las Vegas 8, New Orleans 4. 2B -- Brieto, Johnson, Stankiewicz, Alvarez, Chavez, Ensberg, Cole, Luuloa. 3B -- Christensen, Pena. HR -- Hiatt (41), Post (2), Ensberg (20). SB -- T. Mota (20). CS -- Ginter. S -- Alvarez.

Letter: Smoke keeps customers away: Just a note to the powers-that-be in Nevada. My in-laws frequently go to the casinos in Las Vegas, and many times in the past we joined them. We stayed in your hotels, ate in your restaurants, and gambled alongside them in your casinos.

Wheeling, dealing Vegas company in bankruptcy: Kevin Ferguson and David Strow; Mirage Computers Inc., once a high-flying member of Southern Nevada's technology industry, has filed for bankruptcy in Las Vegas federal court.

EPA lauds efforts on air quality: CARSON CITY -- The federal government is a "long way from discussing penalties" against Clark County for failing to comply with the clean air standards, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency said today.

Officials present case for transit funding: Angela Soo; The federal government should help those who help themselves, say local transportation officials.

Herrera, Porter take different approach to race for House: Erin Neff; The race for Nevada's 3rd Congressional seat started long before its lines were even drawn.

Businessman promotes idea of LV venture capital fund: Kevin Ferguson; A technology-made millionaire living in Northern Nevada is interested in establishing a venture capital fund to jump-start small tech companies in Southern Nevada.

Interest rate cut due today: Private economists were looking not only for a seventh rate cut at the end of the Fed's meeting today but also an eighth at the next Fed meeting Oct. 2.

FBI breaks ring stealing fast food game prizes: Officials describing the investigation on grounds of anonymity said the criminal ring allegedly was led by the security director of a company responsible for game security.

State faces new pension requests: CARSON CITY -- More requests to allow employees to receive pensions while on the state payroll go before the state Board of Examiners on Thursday.

U.S. cities graded on quality of life for children: Mathis Winkler; Population growth and a lack of park space got the Las Vegas Valley's major cities less-than-sterling grades in kid friendliness, according to a study released today.

Bus stop: Parents scramble to get kids registered for transportation as Aug. 30 nears: Terry Webster; Information on the school district's busing policy is available by calling the phone bank at 799-8111.

Senators' land-use proposals to be discussed: Proposals to make some areas protected federal wilderness and to turn over other government land for development will be discussed this week during a series of three meetings.

Desert project foes say water is problem: CARSON CITY -- Lobbyist-businessman Harvey Whittemore wants to start construction on his desert community 50 miles north of Las Vegas, but opponents say the project should be delayed until there is firm evidence of an underground water supply.

Greyhound doesn't track driver fatigue in accidents: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Greyhound bus officials do not list driver fatigue as the cause of an accident in company reports, even if investigators rule a driver fell asleep at the wheel.

Slot machines with Ray Charles theme in the works: The Las Vegas-based company said its slot machine business unit, Bally Gaming and Systems, plans to introduce three video slot machines by year's end. The game titles -- "Ray Charles' America the Beautiful," "What'd I Pay," and "Ray's Jukebox" -- will feature newly recorded video of Charles.

LV council plots two-year strategies: Jeffrey Libby; Priorities set by the Las Vegas City Council Monday are unranked:

Obituaries for August 21, 2001: Victoria Alvarado, 45, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. She was born April 15, 1956, in Mexico. A resident for one year, she was a room attendant at the Marriott.

Where I Stand -- Guy Rocha: Political torch is passed: GROWING UP in Las Vegas in the 1960s, I witnessed a burgeoning Southern Nevada surpass Reno and Northern Nevada as the economic engine driving the Silver State. However, economic power and greater population did not mean the reins of political power were relinquished without a fight.

Meetings set on disabled kids' services: The public workshops will focus on improving early intervention services. Child care will be provided for parents and families attending the meetings.

Jaggers, daughter of Hughes aide, dies: As a teenager, Christine Maheu was touted as a possible professional tennis star of the future.

Rogers is named Education Hero: A graduate of Las Vegas High School and a longtime Las Vegas attorney, Rogers was selected for his support of higher education and elementary schools and his arts philanthropy.

Jaramillo, consul general of Ecuador in LV, dies at 74: In 1963, Peter Jaramillo was part of a group of Ecuadorean citizens unhappy with what had been a seemingly endless string of military coups and dictatorships.

Immunization schedule for August 21, 2001: HENDERSON PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 129 W. Lake Mead Drive, Building A, Suite 10, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Jones, gaming supply firm founder, dies: Bernard "Bud" Jones, founder of a Las Vegas gaming supply company and member of the Gaming Hall of Fame, has died at 86.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Seven loses its Country roots: Kate Maddox; The restaurant/club Seven had an opening bash on Sunday night, giving VIPs a sneak peak at the interesting new nightspot. Seven is across the Strip from the Harley-Davidson Cafe -- located in the space previously occupied by the Country Star theme restaurant. But after an intense overhaul and redecoration (by local team Society by Design), it's safe to say Seven is more urban chic than country kitchen. In fact, pretty much the only thing left tainting Seven's image as the latest hip hangout is the goofy giant jukebox on the corner of the building. Thankfully, it's coming down. Managing partner ...

Lawsuit seeks to sort out water rights for casinos, power plant: Grace Leong; The Primm family, which sold a casino entertainment complex to MGM Grand Inc. of Las Vegas, is now suing the buyer over water rights on 740 acres of casino property and surrounding desert land where a power plant is planned.

Bankrupt Vegas hotel-casino considering new funding: Tim Heers, one of Vacation Village's major shareholders, declined to identify the new potential lender.