Print edition for February 24, 2001

Bayno sees Rebels routed by San Diego State: Steve Addy; SAN DIEGO -- Things got so bad for UNLV on Saturday night, athletic director Charlie Cavagnaro walked out of the arena with 17:17 to play and the Rebels trailing by 13.

Still funny, by George: Kirk Baird; It's easy to think of George Carlin as an American institution, pointing out what's wrong with the world in a brutally honest way that few -- if any -- comedians today can match.

Columnist Jeff German: Guinn in D.C. for big talks: OUR GOVERNOR has lined up meetings with political heavyweights in Washington this week in what may be his most important trip ever outside Nevada.

Columnist Sandy Thompson: Child welfare workers' issues unresolved: Sandy Thompson; STATE AND county workers who would form a new integrated child welfare system, if approved by the Legislature, aren't seeing eye to eye.

Editorial: Will he be there when it matters?: The Associated Press reported that Ensign said Bush and Interior Secretary Gale Norton "will give a little more Western perspective to these issues. Even though Bruce Babbitt was a Westerner, he didn't reflect the West's thinking on things. One of the first things you ask is, 'Do you work with the local people or do you take command and control of the situation without working with the people?' "

Lack of pool regulation leaves some homeowners swimming upstream: Henderson wheelchair user Dale Channell wanted a swimming pool for physical therapy, but for more than a year has been stuck with an empty hole in his back yard.

Big rate increase approved for Nevada Power: The PUC approved the record increase in a 3-0 vote, citing its staff's financial analysis. That analysis showed that not approving an increase could have pushed Southern Nevada's primary utility company and its Reno-based parent company to the brink of financial disaster. Friday's move will increase Sierra Pacific's revenue from Nevada customers by $300 million per year.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Making budget ends meet: GOV. KENNY GUINN is not only trying to balance the budget for this year's legislative meeting, he is looking to the state's future needs. He believes he can get the job done this session without an increase in taxes, but dark financial clouds are causing him trouble when peering into the future.

Murder puzzle unfolds: Kim Smith; Defense attorney Michael Amador has made a promise to those eagerly awaiting this week's murder trial of Margaret Rudin.

Columnist Kate Maddox: 'Bottoms Up' lifting Flamingo: Kate Maddox; Congratulations are in order for Breck Wall, Patrick Maes and Dick Feeney. The producing threesome have had such success with bawdy "Bottoms Up" at the Flamingo Las Vegas, that hotel entertainment brass has torn up the old six month contract and replaced it with an open-ended, year-to-year deal.

Ronald Rudin described as a workaholic who treasured his privacy: Ronald Rudin went to great lengths to avoid publicity -- especially the kind generated by his brutal death.

Editorial: Agency breakups need people's input: The bill requires a consenting referendum of both city and county voters before a breakup could occur. Metro's fate shouldn't be left to the whim of politicians who sit on either the City Council or the Clark County Commission. Metro has shown how government consolidation can save tax dollars and provide better, more efficient services. If this bill becomes law, it is hoped that it quells any other boneheaded attempts to break up Metro.

Letter: Attacks simply a Bush vendetta: The American people are now seeing us involved in yet another war -- not to protect our country, which should be the only possible reason for war -- but as a personal vendetta, no matter what phony reasons we'll soon hear.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Las Vegans rush to judgment: Talk about hitting a nerve.

Former T-Bird pilot credited with saving team after tragedy: A wall of the VIP room in the Thunderbirds Museum at Nellis Air Force Base is covered with pictures of former pilots with the elite squadron who went on to become generals.

A half century of lifting eyes toward the sky: What: Thunderbirds Museum tour.

Jail guards say French citizen warned them he couldn't breathe: Angie Wagner; "He did say forcefully 'I can't breathe,' " Officer Ray Bingaman testified. "I said back to him, if you can talk, you can breathe."

Nevada lawmakers review visitation rights: Siobhan McDonough; "The intention is to make it a bill that benefits all the children in Nevada," Myra Sheehan, president of Nevada Trial Lawyers Association, told an Assembly Judiciary subcommittee.

Bill passed last legislative session may make growing marijuana: John Wilkerson; Prosecutors advised legislators that a bill was needed to fix the potential problem, and on Friday the Senate Judiciary Committee agreed to introduce the needed measure.

Letter: Death penalty validates hate, vengeance: As for the deterrent factor, studies have shown that the death penalty is not an effective deterrent. Homicide rates in death penalty states are not lower than in states without the death penalty, and we continue to have shockingly higher rates of murder than do Western European nations, none of which practice capital punishment. If the death penalty is not used for self-defense, and it is not a deterrent, then the only reason for it is revenge and that is neither a moral nor rational reason. It sends a lesson to society that it is acceptable to kill; that revenge ...

PUC approves Sierra's 17.7 percent rate hike request: Brendan Riley; The rate hike had been opposed by the state's consumer advocate for utility customers, but state Public Utilities Commission member Richard McIntire said quick action was needed.

Seale: Black Panthers wrongly tagged as "hoodlums, thugs": Scott Sonner; "We were not hoodlums and thugs," Seale said in a speech Friday night at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Ralph Siraco's for Sunday's Santa Anita races: 2nd Race -- Tiz Mighty - Part of Hines-trained coupled entry with As We Know It, Baze aboard here, Espinoza there, two-for-one shot in this. Rico Fighter - Brazilian-bred lands good inner post for the mile run, Berrio on Avlia trainee, dangerous duo. Value Play -- Media Beach

More Hearings on deregulation start fourth week of Legislature: Brendan Riley; The committee's hearing Monday will focus on Nevada's power transmission needs. The discussion follows Gov. Kenny Guinn's announcement of a commitment from Nevada Power Co. to fund construction of a major power transmission line that would expand the state's access to the Western power grid.