Print edition for January 26, 2001

Yucca probe expansion sought: An investigation into possible bias in selecting a Yucca Mountain high-level nuclear waste repository by the Department of Energy should be expanded to include all contractors, Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said today.

Northwest parcel slated for housing: Erin Neff; American CityVista is moving ahead with plans to develop new housing in mature parts of Las Vegas.

News of the Day: 1979: Story: Thousands of Iranians marched peacefully through the Iranian capital Tuesday to celebrate the 1-day-old "provisional government" of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, as Prime Minister Shahpur Bakhtiar pushed what could be his own government's last major pieces of legislation through Parliament, denounced as "illegal" by the Moslem religious leader.

Gaming briefs for January 26, 2001: INDIANAPOLIS -- After more than two hours of debate, the Indiana House approved legislation Thursday that would legalize dockside gambling and raise taxes on Indiana's 10 floating casinos.

Barbara Greenspun remembers 1979: Memories rekindled from a trying time: When the Sun was destroyed by a devastating fire we were faced with almost insurmountable problems, mostly financial. As Hank explains, J. Kell Houssels Sr. was one of those who came to our rescue with financial aid in the form of loans, all of which were repaid when the Sun began to prosper again.

TV listings: TV listings

Regional master guide prepared: A regional plan designed to make sense of a hodgepodge of land-use plans throughout the Las Vegas Valley is almost ready for public comment.

Super Bowl roster -- Baltimore Ravens: Super Bowl roster -- Baltimore Ravens

Joe Delaney remembers 1979: Charo at the Sahara: Joe Delaney remembers 1979: Charo at the Sahara

Dust fine waived for mining firm: A six-figure fine for kicking up desert dust will be waived under a proposed settlement with a sand mining operator near Sloan.

Panel allows bets on state school sports: David Strow; Restrictions against betting on Nevada's college teams were lifted Thursday, as the Nevada Gaming Commission approved reforms aimed at improving the state's regulation of betting on college sports.

Letter: Give boosters the chair: Ron@lasvegassun.com; There are too many around here trying to be big shots and that's precisely why this university remains in trouble all the time. When you have no leadership at the school, you have people like Steve Wynn prancing around as though they're running the university.

Letter: Animal cruelty plagues nation: The fact that some people still wear fur is an example. Knowing how animals suffer horribly so that a selfish human being can unashamedly ignore this horror, and continue this very old-fashioned practice, is truly hard to believe. Maybe in the faraway past the excuse was that we "didn't know any better" -- but that certainly is not true today.

Letter: Open-wheel war of words: Ron@lasvegassun.com; Sure do miss coming to Las Vegas to see the Indy Racing League, though.

Editorial: Welcome boost for disabled: Most disabled advocates cheered Guinn's initiatives, including the doubling of the amount of state funds that are dedicated to keeping physically disabled individuals at home with their families instead of staying in institutional care (going from $1.2 million to $2.4 million). But some advocates are concerned that a new agency wouldn't be a stand-alone department since it will be housed within the Department of Human Resources. The key, however, isn't where a new office is placed on the bureaucratic tree. The real issue is ensuring that the governor and the Legislature maintain a commitment to providing an efficient delivery of ...

Guinn meets with Fallon officials over cluster: Angie Wagner; Hotline

Gaming Control Board to decide if Pac-Man slots will appeal to children: David Strow; "Hollywood Squares"

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Wallace will take part in LVMS test: Rusty Wallace posted the top speed among the three manufacturers during testing this month at Daytona International Speedway, but the veteran NASCAR Winston Cup driver isn't about to predict his first Daytona 500 win is imminent.

Bankruptcies for January 26, 2001: Aberline M. Kennedy, also known as Aberline Demmon, doing business as Sunra Adult Line In, 3749 Bossa Nova Drive, filed for Chapter 13, listing assets of $138,875 and liabilities of $273,775.

Local news briefs for January 26, 2001: of The father of a 25-day-old boy was charged in connection with the death of his son.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Tax cut sounds good: I HAVE SEEN the light. Alan Greenspan showed it to me. Where do I sign up for this tax cut thing?

Letter: Good made right call: Ron@lasvegassun.com; Let coach Max Good do his job. I think he is doing a very good job. Try to remember, the athletic director said there is no "interim" in front of the coach's title, regardless of the shameless attempt to kiss Rick Pitino's overpaid butt to come to Las Vegas.

Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Despite woes, Dilfer makes Ravens the pick: Sal DeFilippo; I've said some pretty bad things about Trent Dilfer over the years.

Super Bowl roster -- New York Giants: Super Bowl roster -- New York Giants

City maps strategy for Yucca suits against feds: Erin Neff; Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said the city's initial examination of potential lawsuits against the federal government appears to merit bringing the case to court.

Relationships explored in 'Art': What: Actors Repertory Theatre presents "Art"

Metro is reviewing recommendation after cop acquitted: Keith Paul; A Metro Police internal investigation completed months after an officer was accused of a drug-related crime in 1999 recommended he be fired. But since a jury acquitted the officer on the charges this week, Metro officials are reviewing that recommendation.

Supporters of public safety tax show strength before Henderson council: Jeffrey Libby; Retired resident Diane Booker aired the lone voice of dissent Thursday in council chambers packed with supporters of a tax initiative that would likely put more than 200 new public safety officers on Henderson streets over the next seven years.

Court briefs for January 26, 2001: District Court Judge James Mahan will decide Tuesday when to hold a hearing that will determine Michael McDonald's future on the Las Vegas City Council.

Letter: Japan loves the LV 51s: Ron@lasvegassun.com; I was also shocked by the fact there are so many baseball fans in Las Vegas who do not like the new name of the team. I think that Peter Guber made the right decision and the team should not care about the rap. Stay with the new name and keep playing good ballgames. Then the rap will be never heard after this season.

Ex-Marine, state worker Daggett dies: Jace Radke; William Daggett, a former U.S. Marine in the South Pacific during World War II and employee with the state of Nevada, died in Las Vegas Wednesday. He was 78.

Baseball: Rebels play alumni in Saturday game: The alumni team will include pro players Ryan Ludwick (Oakland), Kevin Eberwein (San Diego), Mike Zipser (Philadelphia) and Brian Hertel (Seattle).

Rebels fail tall test in capital: Steve Addy; WASHINGTON -- The wrong guy came back to haunt Max Good and the Rebels.

Harter says UNLV has land, needs money for Summerlin: CARSON CITY -- UNLV President Carol Harter says on March 31 the university will acquire 80 acres to develop a Summerlin campus, but money for developing the campus doesn't appear to be in this year's state budget.

Obituaries for January 26, 2001: Elaine Adelman, 93, of Las Vegas died Thursday in Las Vegas. She was born Oct. 10, 1907, in Brooklyn, N.Y. A resident for six years, she was a homemaker and a member of Grand Court Assisted Living Clubs.

Suspect in fatal crash indicted: Kim Smith; An indictment against an Illinois woman accused of causing a crash that killed a Sandy Valley couple two weeks ago is expected to be unsealed today.

Local developer Champion Homes hit with disciplinary complaint: The board accused Champion Homes of substandard workmanship and failing to comply with a notice to correct, pay monies due, cooperate with a board investigation, establish financial responsibility and to maintain a bond.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway test drivers: Monday and Tuesday

Letter: Abortion foes have morality on their side: We fought to give the slaves freedom. We died to give the Jews a right to life. We argued to give women the right to vote, but we don't give the unborn a right to live.

Where I Stand 1979 -- Hank Greenspun: Tropicana's Houssels was a ray of sunshine: In listening to the comforting expressions of Bob Cannon and Mike Hines about our good friend, J. Kell Houssels Sr., I believe that Kell's life can best be characterized by the words of a popular song: "He touched me."

Columnist Joe Delaney: Comedian Sinbad took long road to stardom: Joe Delaney; Comedian Sinbad will be performing 10:30 p.m. shows tonight and Saturday in the Mirage's Danny Gans Theatre ... Gans, off tonight, returns Saturday for his regular 8 p.m. performance ... Sinbad is one of six children in the family of Dr. Donald and Louise Adkins of Benton Harbor, Mich. ... He is a comedian who doesn't tell jokes and never curses.

Bandits continue to give Swarm fits: Spencer Patterson; As it did last season, the St. Louis Swarm owns the top record in the International Basketball League, having brought a sparkling 12-2 mark into Thursday night's game at the Thomas & Mack.

Letter: UNLV: An epic tale: Ron@lasvegassun.com; There were ominous signs of discontent from the local peasants as previous forays into the unknown had cost the village counsel millions of farthings. The local citizenry was in a state of wonderment as to the past debacles involving the Provence of Rebel. The quick demise of Weaver the Wanderer, James the Strong and Horton the Hero had left a bitter taste in the mouths of the local peasants. Money was tossed about like village confetti. The results were chaotic dealing with Massimino the Quick and Bayno the Brave.

New regulations for table game payouts set: The new regulation affects only "aggregate payouts," made when more than one player makes a winning wager in a single hand. It does not apply to slot machines or sports betting, or for games with a top payout of less than 50-to-1.

School budget cuts are OK'd: Terry Webster; Positions were frozen and programs were eliminated Thursday as the Clark County School Board approved nearly $18 million in cuts from the 2000-2001 budget.

Shafer bowls way to Orleans crown: Victoria Sun; After Jeff Lizzi bowled three consecutive strikes in the title match of the Orleans Casino Open Thursday night at the Orleans Hotel and Casino bowling center, defending champion Ryan Shafer thought the worst was yet to come.

Troubled Techworld's charter officially revoked: Terry Webster; Techworld Public Charter School's brief legacy in Las Vegas -- 11 weeks -- began with numerous start-up troubles and left behind a list of shady practices.

Editorial: Maddening delays finally come to end: The delay upon delay in implementing the program was maddening for governors, for legislators and, most importantly, for the families who were supposed to be served by a more streamlined child-support payment system. The name of the computer system is Nevada Operations Multi-Automated Data Systems, a mouthful that led to it frequently being referred to by its acronym, NOMADS. This was an appropriate moniker as the state has wandered for years in search of a solution to the glitches that plagued the start of the computer system, which initially was supposed to cost a little more than $22 million. Now ...

Orleans Open final results: 1. Ryan Shafer, Elmira, N.Y., 210 (1 game), $25,000

State approves rate hike: The commission approved a hike of 0.042 cents per kilowatt-hour, or about 0.5 percent, for residential customers effective Feb. 1. The average residential customer consumes about 1,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month.

America West changes will help New Yorkers get to LV: America West Airlines' plan to shuffle its Las Vegas schedule to put more daytime flights into the city will be accomplished without adding any employees to the local station.

NLV warehouse workers OK union pact: The new contract, which expires on Dec. 31, 2003, includes an average wage increase of more than 22 percent over the life of the contract, a freeze on employees' insurance premiums in the first two years, a new vision care plan and a substantial increase in pension benefits.

Victims to mark NTS anniversary: As Energy Department workers recall 50 years of nuclear weapons experiments at the Nevada Test Site on Saturday, residents and military veterans who lived and worked under the radioactive fallout plan demonstrations in Las Vegas and Utah.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Super Bowl is destined for pay TV: Dean Juipe; It took a filmography expert to come up with the name of the movie.

Rocker Rick Springfield prepares for his latest leading role: Lisa Ferguson; Besides the obvious, that is. All have been the star, at one time or another, since the 1995 opening of "EFX" at the MGM Grand, with Springfield's stint in the production show's spotlight scheduled to begin Tuesday.

UNLV-Georgetown Box Score: UNLV (11-8)

Company buys Coast's North Las Vegas land: Station said it paid $9 million for the land parcel earlier this month. The 29-acre gaming-entitled land parcel is located at the intersection of Smoke Ranch and Rancho roads, just north of Station's Texas Station and Fiesta.

Letter: Giants win is in the stars: Ron@lasvegassun.com; The key is in the mood numbers for several of the Ravens' players. Sharpe, Ismail, Jamal Lewis and placekicker Stover all have down moods on Super Bowl evening. And coach Billick is empty! I can't see a Super Bowl winner with an empty chart.

Goodman listens to concerns of gay citizens: Kris Hill; Members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community told Mayor Oscar Goodman on Thursday that they no longer wanted to be a large but invisible part of Las Vegas.

IBL Box: St. Louis-Las Vegas: Percentages: FG .446, FT .750, 3P .250.

Chancellor searches for faculty pay raise funds: CARSON CITY -- Chancellor Jane Nichols says she's "scrambling" to find $16 million in the proposed budget of the University and Community College System of Nevada to give faculty pay raises, but she added she doesn't plan to increase tuition to get the money.

UNLV basketball notebook: Rebels' recruits play waiting game: Steve Addy; WASHINGTON -- UNLV's early basketball recruits have said they are keeping their options open in case coach Max Good isn't brought back next season.

Court to rule on regents meetings: Jennifer Knight; After nearly six months of waiting for a Nevada Supreme Court decision, one of five viable candidates has already dropped out of contention for the president's job at Community College of Southern Nevada, but the case is drawing to an end.

Projects snarl two major thoroughfares: Jace Radke; Motorists trying to get from one side of the Las Vegas Valley to the other are finding that construction on Charleston Boulevard and Sahara Avenue is making for a slow commute.

Health board says hold off on proposed audit: The question of what company will do an audit of a troubled air pollution program wasn't answered by the Clark County District Board of Health on Thursday.

Political notebook for January 26, 2001: Erin Neff; Bryan: Lobbying not in his future

Lawmakers like Guinn's increases in human services - but still cautious: Brendan Riley; CARSON CITY - Lawmakers had high praise for Gov. Kenny Guinn when he unveiled a $1.1 billion human services spending plan on Monday. But some grew cautious as they began scrutinizing the plan on Thursday.

Performing Arts: Mozart's birthday

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Menu, service superb at NBT ball: Nevada Ballet Theatre's recent Black and White Ball, in honor of the indomitable Debbie Reynolds at Caesars Palace, was a well-orchestrated evening of fabulous food and festivity. Dinner chairwoman Phyllis McGuire produced a terrific show, and put the icing on the show when she sang; the ongoing kibbitzing between honorary chairman Tony Curtis was affectionate and fun. Like NBT, Phyllis is a Las Vegas treasure.

Basile makes a big entrance at Tropicana: Joe Delaney; The Tropicana Comedy Stop will soon celebrate its 11th anniversary in Las Vegas and 17th at the Tropicana in Atlantic City. Both Comedy Stops usually go all out on an anniversary week. The Las Vegas branch would be hard-pressed to put together a show with more laughs or three comedians more compatible than the mono-named, bombastic Basile (pronounced "Bay-zill"); soft-spoken British import Scott Angrave and personable opener Scott Bruce.

On Display: The Contemporary Arts Collective, 103 E. Charleston Blvd., presents "Perfect Trim," featuring the work of local artists Heanne Voltura and Deirdre Pope, and Susan Whitmer of Dallas, today through March 6. Call 382-3886.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Still no new home for 'Plaid': Kate Maddox; You can't blame him for trying to spruce up the tent/showroom at the Lady Luck, but "Forever Plaid" producer Richard Martini may have pushed a little too hard. The deal to bring the popular "Plaid" show downtown didn't get signed this week, after the Lady Luck's corporate parents, Isle of Capri, decided that revamping the showroom to Martini's liking was not a top priority.