Print edition for December 27, 2001

Slot giants in patent litigation: "Despite the fact that Casino Data has no license to the confidential information, and despite the fact that (its predecessor) was precluded from transferring any rights it had in IGT's confidential information to Casino Data, Casino Data is presently operating as if such a transfer occurred," the suit said.

Holiday sales mixed for LV stores: Grace Leong; Amid industry predictions of smaller gains in holiday sales this year, Las Vegas retailers and malls reported mixed results.

Vegas casino operator sues over Internet names: Station sued to recover two domain names, "kenomania.com," a domain name owned by Icrystal of British Columbia, Canada, and "sunsetcasino.net," a domain name owned by Robbins Carnegie Inc. of St. John's, Antigua, in U.S. District Court.

City may fight request for hike in power rate: Diana Sahagun; The city of Las Vegas may be the second government in the Las Vegas Valley to dispute Nevada Power Co.'s record-breaking rate hike request, which could have a dramatic effect on the city's operating costs.

Anchor selling casino stake prior to merger: David Strow; With its $1.4 billion-plus merger with International Game Technology just days away, Anchor Gaming of Las Vegas announced Wednesday it plans to sell its stake in a huge California tribal casino.

Lag in Nevada numbers called unacceptable: David Strow; Analysts are so accustomed to the long lag time that they weren't overly excited when Gov. Kenny Guinn delayed the release of gaming win numbers for October by a day.

Former Nevada Power president dies at 47: He was 47.

Judge grants delay in Ibeabuchi case: Mathis Winkler; Minutes before his scheduled sentencing today for sexually assaulting an outcall dancer, former heavyweight boxer Ikemefula "Ike" Ibeabuchi asked a Clark County District Court judge to withdraw his guilty plea, claiming that medication prevented him from thinking clearly when he entered his plea.

Las Vegas Bowl sets records for attendance, TV ratings: Steve Guiremand; (Paid attendance in parentheses)

Rate cut proposed: The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada was asked to cut rates effective Feb. 1.

Las Vegas companies settle litigation: The companies today announced they reached a compromise that would have Mikohn license Acres' bonusing patents for use in its MoneyTime System, a network of slot machines used by several local casinos.

Pageant to be in AC next year: The pageant's board of directors met Wednesday and decided to turn down offers to move the pageant next year to Las Vegas, Florida, or Connecticut, home of the Mohegan Sun Casino, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Thursday on its Web site, citing sources. Pageant officials planned a 1 p.m. news conference Thursday to announce its decision.

Letter: Economy has been destroyed: How can I tell? Well it's like this. My retirement portfolio during the eight years of Clinton lost a total of $18.75 but gained overall by roughly $11,000.

Guest columnist Kenneth Bayless: School days changing: FINALLY, THE FLOOR was ours. Everyone put down their pencils, stopped their meetings and listened to us. At the 46th annual Sun Youth Forum, students from around the valley conversed and debated issues ranging from national concerns to the way the Clark County School District operates.

Columnist Joe Delaney: A plethora of great movies, musicians to consider: Joe Delaney; Favorite albums: Miles Davis' "Porgy and Bess," "Porgy and Bess" on Bethlehem with Mel Torme and Frances Faye; and all three of Tony Bennett's tribute albums -- to Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday ... Singles: "West End Blues" (Louis Armstrong); "Solitude" (by Ellington and Holiday, individually); "Can't Get Started" (Bunny Berigan); and "After You've Gone" (Roy Eldridge).

Letter: Meat-packing jobs should go to U.S. citizens: Your call for improving the salaries and working conditions in this nation's meatpacking plants misses an important point.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Big bucks spent on newsletters: Ruthe Deskin; Now I learn it costs taxpayers several hundred thousand dollars a year to print and mail it to approximately 600,000 households. That might seem a paltry sum to public officials, but there is something to be said about saving a little here and there.

Editorial: Tougher visa policy is sensible: The Sun's Timothy Pratt reported this week that some higher education officials in Nevada are worried that the extra scrutiny of foreign students will give the United States a bad image. If the number of students declines, educators also note it could adversely affect what has become a billion-dollar business in this nation. The concern was heightened following the recent arrests in San Diego of 10 Middle Eastern students who had violated the terms of their visas.

Editorial: Regulators should stand by customers: We believe that the FCC should come down on the side of a customer's privacy rights. No company should release one iota of information to an outsider until permission is granted from the customer. The burden should be on the company, not on the individual.

Historical figures: Las Vegas man keeps an eye out for area collectibles: "I like a man who likes to talk," Kasper Gutman (played by Sydney Greenstreet) said to Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) in the 1941 film "The Maltese Falcon."

Columnist Dean Juipe: Move to Las Vegas paid off for Adams: Dean Juipe; Sitting at his kitchen table this week and looking out into the spacious backyard that complements his new home, Bones Adams finds it easy to reflect on what is and what might have been.

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

UNLV student earns degree, with Army commission: Dick Benoit; Former Army medic Lisa Beth Mendez, a Clark High School alumna, participated in UNLV's December commencement exercises, graduating with a bachelor of science in business administration and marketing.

NFL injury report: BALTIMORE AT TAMPA BAY -- Ravens: DOUBTFUL: CB James Trapp (groin). QUESTIONABLE: G Bennie Anderson (shoulder); RB Jason Brookins (foot); DE Rob Burnett (low leg); OLB Brad Jackson (low leg); DT Tony Siragusa (low leg:knee). PROBABLE: DT Sam Adams (knee); OLB Peter Boulware (ankle); WR Qadry Ismail (low leg:back); C Joe Maese (leg); TE Shannon Sharpe (leg). Buccaneers: DOUBTFUL: S Eric Vance (knee). QUESTIONABLE: K Martin Gramatica (hamstring); C-G Todd Washington (knee). PROBABLE: CB Ronde Barber (hamstring); G Cosey Coleman (ankle); RB Warrick Dunn (turf toe); S David Gibson (ankle); DT Anthony McFarland (thigh bruise); WR Frank Murphy (ankle); DT ...

Fight schedule: Friday

Sun boxing rankings: (with WBC, WBA and IBF champions identified)

Obituaries for December 27, 2001: Joan Aldrich, 82, of Henderson died Tuesday in Henderson. She was born Oct. 7, 1919, in Ireland. A resident for many years, she was a school crossing guard for the city of New York.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Friday's races at Santa Anita: 1st Race -- Diamond Tiara -- Solis aboard Headley-trained and co-owned runner, draws good post for mile outing, should get good trip for graduation attempt. Stonebridge Lady -- Training at Hollypark, Baze on Mitchell trainee, adds blinkers for this, but, must overcome outside post. Value Play -- Grade Nine

Friday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1 p.m.

Nevada joins fight for privacy regulation for FCC: CARSON CITY -- Nevada has joined 38 other states in urging the Federal Communications Commission to again adopt a regulation that stops telephone companies from selling customers' personal information without the customers' written permission.

VEGAS SPORTS ON TV-RADIO: VEGAS SPORTS ON TV-RADIO

Las Vegas area fishing report: Cold weather hits Lake Mead; bass heading for deep water: Typical winter fishing is now being found as largemouth and striped bass have taken to deep water at Lake Mead while rainbow trout fishing has been fair following the weekly plants.

Security breach reported at McCarran: Keith Paul; Two people rushed through a security gate at McCarran International Airport Christmas Day, prompting an evacuation and search of a terminal and delaying flights for about two hours, officials said.

City Council will consider connection with Internet gaming: Diana Sahagun; The debate over whether the city of Las Vegas should get involved in the unchartered territory of Internet gaming will take center stage after the new year.

County's balance of power shifting: Adrienne Packer; For two decades constituents and government watchdogs have viewed Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury as the "voice of reason" on a board often faced with controversial choices.

Sanctuary: Fountainhead of Las Vegas to serve as urban respite: Jeffrey Libby; On a recent weekday morning at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, the dominant features of a wintry 28-acre detention basin were the orange, folded-up arm of a diesel crane and commuter traffic zinging along U.S. 95.

Las Vegas, Cheyenne, Green Valley post wins: Las Vegas downed Wellington, Canada 71-42 behind 17 points by Zach Queen, Cheyenne handled Temecula Valley, Calif., as Johnny Wheeler and Keith Richardson combined for 29 points and Green Valley routed Granada Hills, Calif., 75-45 behind Mitch Platt's 19 points.

Valley set to meet air quality standards: Jace Radke; Despite the hazy cloud of smog that drapes the winter sky, the Las Vegas Valley is set to meet key federal clean-air requirements for two dangerous pollutants, Clark County officials said.

Former utility president dies at 47: He was 47.

Search for lost insurance money nears end: CARSON CITY -- Another unhappy chapter is nearing its end in the turmoil that rocked the 55,000-member state health insurance program and cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars in 1996-97.

Community briefs for December 27, 2001: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area offers hikes and walks free of charge, with reservations. All programs begin at the Visitor's Center. To make reservations or for information call 363-1922. Some upcoming programs:

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Trojans equal tradition: By Ron Kantowski; As I sat in the stands -- still the best place to watch a college football game, regardless of how much leg room these new press boxes have or the quality of the wine and cheese in the skyboxes -- at the Las Vegas Bowl on Christmas Day, it occurred to me that this must have been what former UNLV athletic director Jim Weaver had in mind when he suggested that Rebels fans fly UNLV flags from their car antennae on football game days.

Two warm-ups left for UNLV: Steve Addy; WHAT: Tennessee State (3-6) at UNLV (5-4)

State eyeing appeal in battle over Yucca water: CARSON CITY -- The state may appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in its fight to stop the Energy Department from getting water rights to operate the proposed nuclear dump at Yucca Mountain.

Police investigating man's death: A woman returned to her apartment in the 100 block of South Martin Luther King Boulevard near Bonanza Road about 2 a.m. to find her roommate dead. Detectives found preliminary indications the man's death was a homicide, police said.