Print edition for February 1, 2001

Water found below Yucca heightens concerns: AMARGOSA VALLEY -- The 5-mile-long tunnel that provides access to underground study sites at Yucca Mountain is damper than experts overseeing the project realized.

Universities investing in nukes: Jennifer Knight; Nevada's higher education system has invested millions in an industry that wants to ship nuclear waste to the state.

Reid stands firm in opposing Ashcroft nomination: Nevada Sen. Harry Reid has joined the majority of his Democratic colleagues in voicing opposition to Attorney General-nominee John Ashcroft.

Yucca backer: Probe a waste: A federal investigation into the Energy Department's possible bias toward the selection of Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository is a disservice to the public, a proponent of the dump said Wednesday.

Regent fires back at its former exec: Denny Weddle, spokesman for the Regent, said the Regent's financial difficulties were caused in large part by delays in opening the Regent in the summer of 1999. And he said that the resort's former focus on the high-end market, "with no regards for locals," contributed to the Regent's struggles.

Sun Athletes of the Week: Chris Gutcher and Vanesha Bailey: Male Athlete of the Week: CHRIS GUTCHER

Sun Girls Basketball Top 10: Records through Tuesday

UNLV notebook: Rebels compete in tennis tourney: Serving as the third leg of the Collegiate Grand Slam, the event will run through Sunday at the Brookhaven Country Club and is hosted by Southern Methodist University.

Sun Boys Basketball Top 10: Records through Tuesday

Columnist Joe Delaney: Wondering aloud about entertainment scene: Joe Delaney; No one asked me, however ... Since the "Forever Plaid" deal did not work out at the Lady Luck, why not try the Golden Nugget at 7 and 10:30 p.m. on either side of David Brenner? ... It could work regular hours on his night off (Monday) and a very early and a late, late show on Saturdays ... The Golden Nugget is the class of Casino Center, and "Forever Plaid" is a class production ... Lady Luck has a coupon deal that works very well; why mess with it?

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Spanning the globe for issues: Ruthe Deskin; A few observations at random:

The forgotten Strip: Everyone in the Arizona Charlie's East lounge knows Louie.

Obituaries for February 1, 2001: Gilbert Beardsley, 57, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospital. He was born Feb. 19, 1943, in Washington state. A resident for 28 years, he was a casino bartender, a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and a member of the Desert Rifle and Pistol Shooting Range.

Community news briefs for February 1, 2001: Frank W. Abangale will present a seminar on fraud prevention for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Riviera hotel.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Showdown at the Mack another success for preps: Spencer Patterson; While the seemingly endless parade of start-up professional teams struggles to generate interest among Las Vegans, one thing remains constant: a high-quality prep event can still pack fans into the stands.

Kitty Hawk shipmates honor Las Vegas sailor: Dick Benoit; Selection as Sailor of the Day may not sound like much of an honor, but when you consider that there are 5,500 sailors aboard the USS Kitty Hawk, the distinction becomes significant.

Here come the Sundevils: Spencer Patterson; The scenario was simple for Eldorado's girls soccer team Wednesday night: win the game and win the Northeast Division.

Tszyu, Mitchell set to meet in pivotal fight: Dean Juipe; It's a fight that features two world champions, each of whom says he would like to do something about his pigeonholed reputation.

January homicides: Jan. 2: Ramon Preciado-Aldecoa, 31, of Mexico, was found dead from a blow on the head in a desert area near South Bermuda Road and Serene Avenue. No suspect is in custody and the motive is unknown.

Murkowski aide to lead energy panel: A key aide to Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Alaska, the senator who spearheaded efforts to send high-level nuclear waste to Nevada before government studies at Yucca Mountain have been completed, was appointed Wednesday to lead President Bush's energy policy panel.

Nevada lawmakers challenge IRS on tax increases regarding income from tips: Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., sent a letter signed by the three other Nevada lawmakers to Commissioner Charles Rossotti seeking explanations on why the IRS is assuming employees are making more money in tips and, as a result, are having more money withheld for federal and Social Security taxes.

Gaming manufacturer in merger pact: David Strow; Paul-Son Gaming Corp. on Wednesday announced it has signed a letter of intent to merge with a French gaming equipment manufacturer -- a deal that would shift control of the long-time Las Vegas company from the Endy family to a French concern.

Gambling on UNR, UNLV games debated: Brendan Riley; CARSON CITY -- The state Gaming Commission's recent decision to lift a long-standing ban on gambling on Nevada college sports teams was questioned Wednesday during a legislative budget hearing.

Some Rebels antsy about next flight: Steve Addy; Who: Rebels at Colorado State When: Noon, Saturday Where: Moby Arena, Fort Collins TV: KBFT (Ch. 6) Radio: KBAD, 920 AM

Desert Passage mall at the Aladdin to be sold: David Strow; TrizecHahn Corp. of Toronto, the developer of the massive Desert Passage mall at the Aladdin, wants to sell its majority stake in the five-month-old Las Vegas Strip project.

Outlaws' ball to help Make-A-Wish charity: The regulation-size football is licensed by the XFL, and has the official markings and logo of the Las Vegas Outlaws. Nikco Sports hopes to raise $25,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada -- a group that makes dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses -- by donating $5 from each ball sold.

Las Vegas executive denies wrongdoing in funds case: Gray sued Douglas Stewart and a partner, Rose Chu, a chief executive of Promote Classic Sdn. Bhd. of Malaysia this month, alleging they defamed her when they accused her of embezzling funds and sabotaging the company's attempt to secure contractual rights for a proposed boxing match between Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: His right to pardon: I KNEW there was a good reason I have stayed a Republican all these years.

State's higher education system faces deficit in account: The reserve account dropped from $202 million in January 2000 to $187 million by year's end. The university and college campuses get 6.4 percent of that balance each month for their operating budget. The percentage budgeted for the schools was supposed to be less than the return on the principle.

Profit tumbles for Las Vegas phone giant: Sprint, the nation's No. 3 long distance company, is the dominant local phone company in Las Vegas.

MGM MIRAGE earnings rise as Strip casinos perform well: David Strow; Casino giant MGM MIRAGE of Las Vegas today reported record earnings for the quarter ending Dec. 31, results spurred by its buyout of Mirage Resorts Inc. and strong performances at several of its Strip properties.

Letter: PUC needs to treat gas company fairly: PUC staffers, with the incomparable advantage of 20-20 hindsight, may be able to find that company officials, who must make their purchasing decisions prospectively, could have made better purchasing decisions some of the time. But it is immensely important in the interest of fairness that staff's advantage in determining fair gas costs after the fact be tempered with reality in deciding whether Southwest overpaid for gas and should not be able to recover some of its costs.

Local news briefs for February 1, 2001: A new traffic light was turned on this morning at the intersection of Ann Road and Centennial Center, near Centennial Parkway.

Golden Nugget hosts 9-ball divisional finals: Lee, otherwise known as The Black Widow, will lend her support at four regional events, the divisional tournaments and the national championship in Las Vegas.

Wednesday's prep results: BOYS BASKETBALL

Catching up with: Eddie Gifford: High school: Las Vegas High ('98)

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Flights must save lives, not money: While it's often difficult to say the right things in the aftermath of a tragedy, such as the plane crash that killed two Oklahoma State basketball players and eight other members of the Cowboy basketball family in Colorado last weekend, a disturbing theme has begun to smolder amid the wreckage.

Intersections on Strip top list of most accident-prone: Jace Radke; Combine tourist traffic with major thoroughfares for local traffic, and the result is Metro Police's top 10 most accident-prone intersections.

Three casinos fined: ATLANTIC CITY -- The three New Jersey gaming halls of Park Place Entertainment Corp. of Las Vegas have been fined a total of $75,000 for underage gambling and drinking violations.

January slayings rank 3rd all-time for Vegas: Keith Paul; With the discovery of a woman dead in a downtown motel, January ended with 19 homicides -- the third highest single-month total in the Las Vegas Valley.

Nongaming amenities included in Tropicana expansion: ATLANTIC CITY -- Atlantic City's Tropicana Casino and Resort is planning a $225 million expansion that will include a 502-room hotel tower, an enlarged gaming room and a shopping, dining and entertainment complex.

LV motel files for bankruptcy, seeks new financing: Grace Leong; The newly bankrupt French Quarter Suites, a 96-unit motel owned by Las Vegas developer Ideal Development Inc., said it will become a Ramada Inn property as soon as it secures a $7 million loan to pay off its creditors.

Editorial: Time is an ally in this fight: Time, at least more of it, is an ally in Nevada's fight against efforts to unfairly place a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain. With each passing day that the Department of Energy takes to assess whether Yucca Mountain is suitable for the permanent burial of 77,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste, it means there is another opportunity for even more scientific evidence to be gathered to show just how unsafe it would be to bury this waste so close to Las Vegas. Although the DOE so far hasn't been receptive to the state's legitimate concerns about the perils of ...

McDonald's lawyer says ethics rule doesn't apply: Erin Neff; Michael McDonald's attorney thinks there's a reason a state statute being used to try to oust the Las Vegas city councilman from office has been so rarely applied.

Park Place execs are promoted in reorganization: Top among the announcements were the promotions of Wallace Barr and Mark Dodson to the roles of co-chief operating officers.

Jarrett's goal: Find consistency in 2001: NASCAR Winston Cup drivers and their speeds from Wednesday's test session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

County joins group seeking more runways: Clark County's Department of Aviation will join with airline companies today to beg for more runways at major U.S. airports.

Hacienda cabaret license denied: Adrienne Packer; A Detroit cabaret owner whose family businesses have been plagued with violence and code violations was denied a liquor license Wednesday, essentially ending his bid for a topless club in Clark County.

Columnist Dean Juipe: LV's Voy tabbed to lead amateur boxing: Dean Juipe; The task of heading the organization that oversees amateur boxing in the United States has fallen to Dr. Robert Voy of Las Vegas.

Prep girls soccer standings: CLASS 4A

Court briefs for February 1, 2001: A Las Vegas man convicted of second-degree murder in an April 1995 shooting won a new trial Wednesday.

Lady Rebels play host to Colorado State: UNLV (13-4, 3-2) will tangle with perennial MWC power Colorado State (14-4, 3-2) tonight before taking on Wyoming (9-9, 1-4) on Saturday. Both games tip off at 7:35 p.m.

Shooting Stars halt Bandits' streak at four: The Stars (7-13) got a double-double from Ray Tutt (23 points, 11 rebounds), and Mason Rocca had a season-high 23 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

LV Speedway owner sued over additive claims: WASHINGTON -- The Federal Trade Commission sued Speedway Motorsports Inc.'s Oil-Chem unit to halt what the agency called false and misleading advertising for auto additives.

Judge orders jurors in Williams case to be sequestered: Kim Smith; Jurors in the Jessica Williams involuntary manslaughter trial will be hard pressed to ignore a judge's order not to talk about the case or watch media accounts of the trial.

Rating agency concerned about debt at Station, MGM MIRAGE: S&P lowered its outlook on Station from "positive" to "stable." The agency reaffirmed its double-B corporate credit, double-B-plus secured bank loan and single-B-plus subordinated debt rating. A positive outlook indicates the possibility of credit rating upgrades in the future.

Editorial: Sanity may finally thwart pay-raise bid: Even Councilman Joe Hardy, who backs the pay raise, acknowledged to Sun reporter Jeffrey Libby that the Charter Commission's decision "probably reflects what the majority of people would feel comfortable with, that people should not give themselves a raise without standing for re-election." It is hoped that this sentiment is infectious, so much so that this questionable attempt to raise members' pay is finally derailed when the City Council takes up this matter again on Feb. 13.

Letter: Exactly where is crime down?: It certainly gives law-abiding citizens a lot of peace of mind to know crime is down! Where? On a desert island?

Letter: Conservatives filled with hate: After that hurtful, stolen November election, I say just add Brian Williams to all those conservative talk shows (i.e., Ollie North, Rush Limbaugh, etc.) and the GOP rags -- the Washington Times, the National Review, the National Enquirer, etc. Also, don't forget the GOP network owned by Rupert Murdoch -- Fox. That network's news seethes with hate, and President Bush's cousin at Fox helped steal the election.

North Las Vegas store to close: Virginia-based Heilig-Meyers filed for bankruptcy protection in August.

Girls basketball standings: CLASS 4A

Prep boys basketball standings: CLASS 4A

Prep wrestling standings: CLASS 4A

Today's frontpage

< Previous | Next >

Most Read
Discussed
Most E-mailed

Complete Listing

Blogs

Elsewhere

Marquardt v. Sonnen scheduled for UFC 109

8 hours, 46 minutes ago

Bloggity, Bloggity, Bloggity

Will a fourth consecutive title by Jimmie Johnson be good or bad for NASCAR?

9 hours, 43 minutes ago

Top Chef: Las Vegas

The Jet Stream: And then there were four

9 hours, 47 minutes ago

Top Chef Episode 12: On keeping it simple

9 hours, 57 minutes ago

Miech Again

Chilly start for Chace, but Stanback says he'll warm up (1 Comment)

11 hours, 24 minutes ago

Elsewhere

Harvard Poker Pro: Texas Hold 'Em skills can help traders

13 hours, 39 minutes ago

Oscar De La Hoya wants to see Pacquiao/Mayweather

13 hours, 57 minutes ago

More blogs »

Live chat: Tuesday, noon PST; Chat with Krista Creelman; Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question