Print edition for January 30, 2001

LV tech firms in joint venture: ProfitScape's product, eNet30, is an online, automated purchasing system. By guaranteeing payment from pre-approved buyers, the product reduces credit risk from Internet transactions with anonymous buyers and streamlines the collection process. The system is backed by GMAC Commercial Credit, a subsidiary of General Motors Corp.

Prominent patron of the arts in LV, Allen dies at 67: Kris Hill; Tove Allen used to tell her daughter, Cathy, about her experiences as a girl in Denmark during World War II.

Senate commerce panel to examine airline mergers: WASHINGTON -- American Airlines parent AMR Corp.'s agreement to buy Trans World Airlines Inc. will come under review this week from the Senate Commerce Committee as the industry faces passenger complaints and record flight delays.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Bandits fit for popular quiz show: Dean Juipe; With the popular and long-running TV game show Jeopardy having been in town for some taping in recent days, let's get into the spirit and see how you would fare as a contestant.

Bandits hold off Trenton: The Bandits (12-7) were led by rookie guard Eddie Gill's 19-point performance. The team also got help from Mike Jones with 15 points and Damian Cantrell with 10. J.R. Henderson added a double-double with 10 rebounds and 14 points, despite shooting only 2-for-10 from the free-throw line. Doug Swenson tied his season high for points with eight.

NASCAR testing notebook: Sadler, Gaughan impress at LVMS: Elliott Sadler and Las Vegas native Brendan Gaughan proved to be the biggest surprises on the first day of a week-long NASCAR open test at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Busch crash mars session at LVMS: NASCAR Winston Cup drivers and their speeds from Monday's test session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

Report: Pitino nixes UNLV: Steve Addy; Rick Pitino's "friends" say he is no longer interested in becoming the Rebels' next basketball coach, but the former Celtics coach hasn't told UNLV anything of the sort.

Las Vegas City Council faces rocky month: Erin Neff; Mid-February won't be all Valentines for the city of Las Vegas as five of its council members face ethics hearings.

Ashcroft seen as ally in NCAA battle: In a twist of irony, Nevada's congressional delegation is eyeing Attorney General-nominee John Ashcroft, a strong gambling opponent, as an ally in its sports betting fight with the NCAA.

Top-ranked Gorman roars past Durango at the Mack: Spencer Patterson; Like so much else this season, Bishop Gorman's boys basketball team made the adjustment to an unfamiliar environment look easy Monday night.

Community news briefs for January 30, 2001: The American Heart Association will hold its 15th annual Heart of Gold Ball at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Aladdin.

Calif. utility is broke after making billions: Brian Melley; SACRAMENTO -- Critics of Southern California Edison pounced on an audit showing the cash-strapped utility reaped nearly $5 billion in dividends in the years leading up to California's energy crisis, saying Edison "took the money and ran."

Jury selection process continues in Williams case: Kim Smith; Attorneys in the Jessica Williams trial continued to whittle their list of potential jurors this morning in the second day of jury selection.

Dissatisfaction with airlines at record level: Jonathan D. Salant; WASHINGTON -- Airline flights are being delayed more than ever and passenger complaints have reached record levels, according to a new government report.

LV man quietly fined by state over mortgage brokering: Grace Leong; A Las Vegas businessman was quietly fined $50,000 by the state last summer for brokering real estate development loans without a license.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: XFL was lucky to avoid rainy opener: Vince McMahon is lucky the NFL took an extra week to hype all those "pantywaists" playing in the Super Bowl.

Kenny ethics charge will go forward: Adrienne Packer; A two-person ethics review panel decided Monday to pursue one of five complaints launched against Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny after an alleged Watergate-like scheme in August.

Local news briefs for January 30, 2001: Metro Police are looking for a felon twice convicted of sexual assault in Alabama in connection with several attacks on women in Las Vegas beginning in August.

New Flamingo Road hotel-casino under construction: Tuscany Suites is the first gaming development by CMH Real Estate Development, operator of three Las Vegas-area apartment complexes. Located on Flamingo Road east of Koval Lane and west of Paradise Road, the property will feature 1,000 rooms and a 60,000-square foot casino with 1,000 slots.

MWC honors Rebels' Jermaine Lewis: Lewis averaged 17.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and three steals while helping the Rebels to a 2-1 record last week, including MWC wins over New Mexico and San Diego State. He shot 21-of-37 from the field (56.8 percent).

Aladdin partner subject of takeover speculation: David Strow; As his company tries to regain its financial footing, the chairman of London Clubs International is downplaying speculation that a deal for his company could result in the complete sale of its stake in the Aladdin.

Slot maker posts earnings gain: The consensus analyst estimate had been 33 cents per share.

Small plane lands on Tropicana Avenue: Jace Radke; Ben Merliss was enjoying chicken wings as he sat in his cab off East Tropicana Avenue Monday night when he noticed some curious traffic headed west.

Aladdin says it's generating positive cash flow: Just as important, Richard Goeglein said he expects the property will be able to make an interest payment of $11.7 million on its bank debt due Thursday.

Obituaries for January 30, 2001: Darryl K. Allen, 54, of North Las Vegas died Dec. 17 in North Las Vegas. He was born June 13, 1946. A resident for many years, he was a laborer in the construction industry and a Vietnam War Army veteran.

Legislature moving against slot thieves: DENVER -- Colorado has become a training ground for professional slot-machine thieves and a bill unanimously passed by a Senate committee Monday aims to rid the state of such criminals.

Record rate hike to be fought: Nevada Power Co.'s parent company says a plan it filed Monday with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada will stabilize energy markets and spare the Silver State from the energy chaos gripping California.

Council's strategic plan put on back burner: Erin Neff; The city of Las Vegas has a strategic plan to help staff understand the council's vision and to adequately shape the budget around that objective.

Candidates file for seats in Las Vegas, NLV: Henderson, 41, filed for the Department 2 seat currently held by Betsy Kolkoski. Kolkoski, who was appointed last year, is seeking to retain her seat.

Bartender targeted in tavern killing: Keith Paul; A Las Vegas bartender gunned down in a bar Monday offered money several times to a masked gunman before being shot.

Supreme Court overturns Wynn's award in libel suit: Ed Koch and Steve Kanigher; The omission of a single word -- "serious" -- in jury instructions has cost casino giant Steve Wynn a $3.3 million defamation award from a New York publisher who hinted that Wynn had mob ties.

Ex a suspect in women's death: Keith Paul; Metro Police are investigating a 27-year-old Las Vegas woman's ex-lover who is suspected of hiring two men to break into her home and kill her.

Woman dies in LV blaze: Jace Radke; The death of a 29-year-old woman found Monday night in a burning home near downtown is under investigation by both homicide and fire investigators.

Boulder City Council may have to delay pay raises until after election: Jeffrey Libby; When the Boulder City Council meets Feb. 13, council members will have to decide whether to accept as a mandate a recommendation Monday from the Charter Commission that would kill any chances of keeping raises they voted themselves last July.

Manufacturer reports loss: The loss was based on net sales of $106.5 million for the quarter, up slightly from the $105.5 million reported for the same quarter a year earlier. In 1999, the company reported a loss of $17.5 million, 56 cents a share.

Minimum gambling age of 21 upheld: NEW ORLEANS -- The Louisiana Supreme Court on Monday upheld a law setting 21 as the minimum age to play the state lottery or video poker.

Bomb materials are found in shootout scene: Keith Paul; An arsenal of assault rifles, shotguns and handguns along with a chemical component used for making bombs were found in the apartment where three Metro Police officers were ambushed, police said this morning.

IBL Box: Trenton-Las Vegas: TRENTON (6-13)

Achieving the Vegas glow: Jennifer Prosser; Beauty shops in Vegas are as varied as our casinos - some are flashy, some more muted, but all are colorful. Whether you're looking for a youthful, in-your face look, something more refined, or a natural glow, Vegas cosmetics stores cater to all tastes and styles.

Editorial: Tough assignment in store for judge: The McDonald case could be exceptionally difficult to decide since the ethics law at hand rarely has been invoked. For that matter, the stakes involved couldn't be higher: If McDonald is found to have violated the city's ethics code, he could be removed from office, an extraordinary action that should be reserved for the most egregious of offenses. Mahan also is believed to be under consideration as a nominee to be a federal judge, which would put most judges under even more pressure. No matter what Mahan decides in the McDonald case, he likely will come under criticism. From all ...

Letter: It is time for our troops to come home: The largest contingents of our troops are in Germany, 69,572; Japan, 40,570; and 36,263, South Korea. Other deployments include 11,564 in Italy; 11,274 in Great Britain; 7,169 in Bosnia-Herzegovina; 5,469 in Kuwait; 5,423 in Serbia (including Kosovo); 5,397 in Saudi Arabia; 2,123 in Spain; 2,105 in Turkey; 1,677 in Iceland; 1,598 in Belgium; 1,112 in Bahrain; 977 in Portugal; 774 in the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; 670 in the Netherlands; 627 in Diego Garcia; and 517 in Greece. There are also small contingents in Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen, Uganda, Russia and 12 countries that formerly comprised the Soviet ...

Comedy troupe fancies the unpredictable: Billionaire Ross Perot as a vampire?

Lawmakers to keep close eye on programs for badly disabled: Brendan Riley; CARSON CITY - A state program that helps a small group of severely disabled Nevadans has been improved after lengthy delays, but lawmakers were told Tuesday there's still a long waiting list.

Nevada given C in government: A university study gave Nevada an overall C grade for the way its state government is managed, a slight drop from a C+ two years ago.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Boomers address mid-life: Remember Pong?

Editorial: When kids fall through the cracks: A legislative interim committee chaired by Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, recommended last year that the two biggest counties -- Clark and Washoe -- handle this responsibility alone (the 15 rural counties still would have the state offer child welfare services). It was encouraging then when Gov. Kenny Guinn last week signed on to this proposal, too. The governor wants to spend $86 million over the next two years to better child welfare services, including the money needed to consolidate the existing system. Still, the Legislature will have to pore over every facet of Guinn's proposal to ensure ...

Letter: Let's prevent another tragedy: As issues like road construction, which letter writer Ron Bourgoin mentioned Thursday, are glossed over by those adamant on moving nuclear waste out of their back yards and into ours, the possibilities of another preventable tragedy increase. One knowledgeable person unfortunately too far down the decision making chain knew the O-rings on the rockets had a high probability of failing under the launch conditions. He was outvoted.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Changes at C2K are not OK: Kate Maddox; The forecast has changed dramatically for C2K, the nightclub at the Venetian, since this time last year. The once-popular hot spot appears to have fallen on seriously hard times.

Anniversary: Amlong: Thirteen-year residents, Earl is retired and works for Catholic Charities delivering Meals on Wheels. Noretta is a homemaker and an avid oil painter.

Nevada Power parent seeks big 17% rate hike: Walt Higgins, chairman and chief executive officer of Sierra Pacific Resources Inc., Reno, said the company's comprehensive energy package proposes long-term contracts to purchase power, financial assistance for low-income customers and conservation and tiered price increases.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Energy future is now: AMERICANS ARE SCRAMBLING again to meet the challenge of energy shortages. Remember back in 1974 and 1975 when the first major oil embargo was foisted upon us by nations that produce it? Nevadans weren't hurt to the same degree as California and Oregon, but it did have an impact on tourism. We hustled to provide enough gasoline to assure Californians they could fill up their tanks before heading home after a visit to Las Vegas or Reno.