Print edition for February 13, 2001

Columnist Susan Snyder: Teen has keys to happiness: Alexandria Le will spend at least part of Valentine's Day with her first true love.

Engagement: Clifford, Bagayas: James' parents are Angel and Mary Bagayas, both of Anchorage, Alaska.

Engagement: Snedeker, McDonald: Dan's parents are Charles and Janice McDonald of Camas, Wash.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Learning from the past: DO YOU REMEMBER the failed "Sagebrush Rebellion" that started and ended in Nevada? It all started out as an attempt to have all federal land in the Silver State turned over to the state. Eventually it evolved into a bill that would have the federal government putting all of the land up for sale. It didn't take long for the ranchers to realize that large corporate cattle, mining and other business operations would gobble up the land on which they had their own cattle grazing for a nominal fee.

UNLV defense pulls a disappearing act: Steve Addy; As if waiting for the most dramatic moment, Kevin Bradley's magic act provided a grand finale for Utah on Monday night.

Community news briefs for February 13, 2001: United Blood Services, 6930 W. Charleston Blvd., has scheduled blood drives at these locations this week:

Lawyer for dead French citizen says coroner withholding autopsy: Keith Paul; A lawyer for the family of a French citizen who died during a struggle with guards in the Clark County jail said the coroner is withholding the autopsy report needed to prepare for an inquest that will determine if the guards' actions were criminal.

Prominent investigator Ruggles dies: It took 38 years for Las Vegas investigator Jack Ruggles to see "Thicker Than Thieves," a 1950 nonfiction book he co-authored, made into a motion picture.

Renowned attorney to bolster Rudin defense: Kim Smith; Famed Las Vegas attorney Thomas Pitaro has been appointed to help Margaret Rudin during her upcoming murder trial.

Columnist Dean Juipe: One Utah team looks like another: Dean Juipe; They clone these guys in Utah. Got it down to a science.

Loss widens for LV casino operator: Quarterly revenues were up 35 percent to $51.7 million. Cash flow EBITDA -- earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, pre-opening expenses, and other special items -- was up 23 percent to $8.1 million.

Rebel basketball notebook: Missed shot was turning point for UNLV: Steve Addy; It was the most unusual shot of the game, and the most pivotal for the Rebels.

California venture discontinued: The development would have been a joint venture between Lakes, MRD Gaming and the Paskenta tribe. Lakes said the decision to terminate the agreement was mutual. Talks ensued about six months ago.

Lied grant will help county's Pro Bono Project: The Clark County Legal Services building downtown has a new name and will collect over three years a $1.3 million grant to pay off the mortgage, freeing up funds to provide free legal representation to the working poor.

Report: Airlines haven't yet eased passengers' distress: WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., on Monday reiterated his call for better airline passenger service and increased capacity for the nation's airlines.

Utes' Cullen displays a hot hand: Victoria Sun; Dalron Johnson did what he had to do.

Another shot taken at repealing motorcycle helmet law: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Assemblyman Don Gustavson is hoping the third time is the charm to repeal Nevada's motorcycle helmet law.

Las Vegas firm sells its Internet subsidiary: American Vantage said it sold its 80 percent interest in Placement 2000.com Inc. back to Placement's former majority owner in return for the 300,000 American Vantage stock options granted to the owner in December 1999. No other compensation was disclosed.

Literacy Night gets grant: The newly established nonprofit foundation awards opportunity grants to teachers and community outreach programs.

Governor's driver in school-bus flap: CARSON CITY -- A mini flap has developed over a driver for Gov. Kenny Guinn who passed a school bus in Carson City with the stop sign on the bus reportedly displayed.

Legislative briefs for February 13, 2001: Nevada's system of determining whether convicted sex offenders are ready for release from prison is inconsistent and needs to be tightened, lawmakers were told Monday.

Del Papa's office accused of 'governmental abuse': The Nevada attorney general's office committed "governmental abuse at its most egregious level," a lawyer for former state investigator Mike Anzalone charged in court papers late Monday.

Better reporting of cancer urged: Brendan Riley; CARSON CITY -- The head of an Assembly panel studying a strange outbreak of childhood leukemia in Fallon called Monday for ways to speed up reporting of such cases.

Letter: Statistic about private schools way off mark: One thing that definitely should be addressed in all schools in modern times is the questioning of any statistics someone throws around. To state that "90 percent of children going to private schools go on to college" is ridiculous.

Obituaries for February 13, 2001: Lenora Brown, 63, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in Las Vegas. She was born Nov. 6, 1937, in Honolulu. A resident for 6 1/2 years, she was a homemaker.

Local news briefs for February 13, 2001: "Big Sister" is pretty lonely this morning.

ESPY winners: Action Sports Performer - Shaun Palmer, snowboarder

Desert Passage caviar bar is in bankruptcy: Grace Leong; The Beluga Bar at the Caspian Sea, one of the high-profile retailers at the Desert Passage mall at the Aladdin resort on the Las Vegas Strip, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Safety of home security bars checked: Jace Radke; A nonprofit housing corporation is joining community agencies and businesses to ensure that residents who have security bars on their homes also have emergency releases on the bars.

Proposed clinic cuts meet with opposition: Relatives of developmentally disabled children have scheduled demonstrations to protest proposed budget cuts affecting the state-run Special Children's Clinics in Las Vegas and Reno.

County checks tapes showing Barrett in building over weekend: Adrienne Packer; Clark County administrators today plan to review surveillance camera footage that captured former facilities manager Bill Barrett in a county building over the weekend.

Another former AG investigator alleges secret intelligence probe: Another former investigator with the attorney general's office has stepped forward to allege that bank records of top Gaming Control Board members were unlawfully sought in a secret intelligence probe.

Editorial: Even more evidence of ineptitude: Anonymous letters should be taken with a grain of salt, but this one contains details that indicates it came from an employee who has considerable knowledge about the program -- from top to bottom. The letter also should provide more fodder for a probe of the Yucca Mountain Project that already is under way. The DOE's inspector general started an investigation of the Yucca Mountain Project last month after the Sun reported that the federal department apparently had been collaborating with the nuclear power industry to gain approval to build a repository at Yucca Mountain.

Stein, founder of Excel Program for seniors, dies: Blanche Tarlin Stein, a longtime Las Vegas businesswoman and intellectual who helped bring to UNLV a program to stimulate the minds of seniors, has died. She was 81.

Teacher arrested on sex-assault charges: Keith Paul; A Clark County middle school teacher was arrested Monday and accused of having sex with a former student just two days after another area school employee was arrested for having sexual contact with a student.

Mountain West men's basketball standings: BYU 69, San Diego State 66

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Latest antics strain new league's credibility: Well, only three more weeks before the folding chairs begin to fly in the XFL.

Utah-UNLV Box Score: UTAH (15-9)

MGM MIRAGE most admired casino operator in survey: Marriott International, which has no casinos, was ranked No. 1 for the second consecutive year in the hotels, casinos and resorts category in Fortune's annual list of the nation's most admired companies. The list is in Fortune's Feb. 19 issue.

Columnist Kate Maddox: ESPN shines at Garden party: Kate Maddox; Monday's ESPY Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena strived to be as Oscar-like as possible. For instance, bleachers were set up for fans to watch arriving celebs and sports stars. An announcer called out the names of said celebs and sports stars, and the funniest lines went to the host and not the presenters, who suffered from the worst writing of the night.

Queen of Hearts: Lisa Ferguson; So, where has Juice Newton been for the past 19 years?

Golf entrepreneur Walters creates veterinary scholarship fund: Kris Hill; In four years the Lied Animal Shelter will have a new veterinarian fresh from Kansas State University's vet school, thanks to a scholarship endowment funded by local animal enthusiasts Billy and Susan Walters.

Lewis, Tyson could fight in summer: Tim Dahlberg; Mike Tyson said Monday he's ready to fight heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis this summer, telling his manager to start negotiations as soon as possible for a fight that could be the richest in the history of the sport.

Power plays in perspective: Contrary to what federal and state officials would like to see, don't expect a flood of new power plants in Clark County, a county health district administrator said Monday.

Casino operator buying back stock: In August 1998, the company announced a repurchase program of up to 20 percent of its common stock outstanding.

Developer says she's ready to break ground on Fountain Plaza: Jeffrey Libby; Gritty, blue-collar downtown Henderson is attracting an upscale crowd with a penchant for perfection.

Woods, Nicklaus top honorees at MGM: Woods won a record four awards, giving him 11 career ESPYs, and Nicklaus received a lifetime achievement award from the ESPN television network Monday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Political notebook: Reid gets Gore aide: Naylor replaces spokesman David Cherry, a Las Vegas native who took a new post as press secretary for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, on which Reid serves.

Letter: Library district is on target: Even without results from a scientific study I think it is safe to say that most parents want their children protected, or shall we say in this case, from viewing what rational people refer to as sexually explicit material.

Letter: Tax credit could be useful tool: The surplus exists only because each year since 1936 the Social Security taxes collected exceeded the benefits paid out. Over the years this has totaled almost $5 trillion.

McDonald lawyer offers 4 reasons for dumping case: Diana Sahagun; Attorney Richard Wright has filed a motion in District Court to dismiss the malfeasance charge against Las Vegas Councilman Michael McDonald, arguing that the ethics rule doesn't apply.

State saves on mail: CARSON CITY -- The state saved more than $1 million during the past two years by consolidating and automating its mail service and taking advantage of postage discounts, a legislative audit says.

Anna virus just an inconvenience: Diana Sahagun; A supposed electronic photo of teenage tennis star Anna Kournikova helped unleash a computer virus that wormed its way through the Las Vegas Valley Monday, but businesses and local governments said anti-virus software prevented anything more than inconvenience.

Bank mergers approved by Fed: FleetBoston agreed in October to buy Princeton, N.J.-based Summit Bancorp. The same month, Firstar, led by Chief Executive Jerry Grundhofer, agreed to buy U.S. Bancorp, run by his older brother, John F. Grundhofer, for $23 billion to become the eighth-largest U.S. bank.

Woman reached deal in death of boyfriend: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas woman accused of murdering the boyfriend who gave her the virus that causes AIDS has cut a deal with prosecutors.

Downside seen in race to build power plants: Proposed power plants face more than regulatory hurdles -- they also will face competition when a flood of new plants comes on line in the West in several years, a local regulatory official said.

Reid hopes EPA won't delay rule: Reid warned the Bush administration not to delay the rule, which he said would cut down on pollution in Las Vegas and other cities. The rule calls for a decrease in sulfur content in diesel by September 2006, said Reid, the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Neal's casino tax gets no support: CARSON CITY --- Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, has introduced his bill to raise the tax on Nevada casinos by $300 million a year but he doesn't have an ounce of support initially from his colleagues in the Senate.

Attorney mum on criminal record of man suing PurchasePro: Grace Leong; An attorney for All Creative Technologies Inc., which accused PurchasePro.com Inc. last week of stealing All Creative's business plan and trade secrets, declined to comment on PurchasePro's charges that the racketeering lawsuit is "without merit" and that the man behind All Creative is a criminal.

Power curtailment may be offered in LV: Nevada Power Co. and its parent, Sierra Pacific Resources Inc., Reno, on Friday announced details of the program, which was proposed last month in a comprehensive energy plan filed with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.

Expert's testimony favors suspect: Kim Smith; A forensic toxicologist testified this morning that Jessica Williams was not impaired by either marijuana or Ecstasy when she hit and killed six teenagers as they were picking up trash on Interstate 15 last year.

Boulder City Council considers air quality standards: Jeffrey Libby; The Boulder City Council tonight will discuss withdrawing from the Clark County Health District's air quality management area in order to have more leeway in bargaining for pollution credits for a second electric power plant.

Ph.D. turnout low in Nevada: Jennifer Knight; Nevada's universities ranked a paltry 44th nationally in the number of doctoral degrees it produced in 1999, according to a University of Chicago study.

PurchasePro stock rebounds on strong revenue report: David Strow; PurchasePro.com Inc., a big Las Vegas Internet company, responded to last week's stock market battering by easily topping analysts' profit expectations for the quarter ending Dec. 31.