Print edition for July 3, 2001

Rebels close to hiring new coach: Victoria Sun; UNLV is close to hiring a baseball coach to replace Rod Soesbe, who was fired on May 21.

Bias suit task force unveiled: The task force will have Bill Lann Lee, the former assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Justice Department; M. Anthony Burns, chairman of Ryder System Inc., the Miami-based truck rental company; and Rene Redwood, former executive director of the federal Glass Ceiling Commission.

Heat sparks valley power crisis: More blackouts remain possible: They said it probably wouldn't happen.

Panel gearing up for online gaming: David Strow; On Sunday Nevada's much-discussed Internet gambling bill formally went into effect.

Contract ratified for Reno properties: Starting Sunday, workers at the Reno Hilton and Flamingo Hilton-Reno received a 4.25 percent boost in wages and benefits, said Scott MacKenzie, secretary-treasurer of the union local.

LV Hilton lawsuit could open doors to Park Place dealing: James Rutherford; Much of what happened inside Park Place Entertainment Corp. after the unexpected death last year of its hard-driving chief executive, Arthur Goldberg, remains cloaked in the official secrecy of the company, the largest casino operator in the world.

37 injured when bus runs off road: Keith Paul; A Greyhound bus on a cross-country trek to Los Angeles crashed down a 30-foot embankment this morning in Glendale, sending all 38 people on board to area hospitals and critically injuring at least four, including the 70-year-old driver.

State to investigate LV suspect in FBI case: The Nevada Division of Investigations is launching a probe into the activities of a former investigator for the attorney general's office charged with selling confidential FBI information.

LV man killed during construction: Guenther George Gruber, a service technician mechanic with Lewis Equipment of Henderson, died when a counterweight used in an equipment lift fell on him at the construction site located on the Pechanga Reservation.

Reid: Betting ban bill dead this session: Scott Sonner; RENO -- Sen. Harry Reid has stopped worrying about a ban on college sports betting being passed by Congress this year.

Developer plans tower for Atlantic City resort: Colony Capital LLC of Los Angeles, which bought the city's first casino in April for $140 million, will build a 30-story hotel tower beginning later this year and is considering a renovation of Steeplechase Pier -- across the Boardwalk from the casino -- that would add hotel suites, a swimming pool and a convertible atrium.

'Big O' to receive key to the city: Robertson, who played with the National Basketball Association's Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks from 1960-74, is an NBA Hall of Fame inductee and a 12-time All-Star. During the 1970-71 season, Robertson teamed up with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to help the Bucks win the world title.

Data center opens in Las Vegas: The new data center will be used as a processing and customer service call center. Those services for the five-year-old bank were previously conducted in California by another bank.

Soccer: Mexican teams to meet at Sam Boyd: Spencer Patterson; Two of Mexico's top professional teams will square off in an exhibition match at Sam Boyd Stadium tonight at 7:15.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Christenson will be missed: Some people judge others by the way they look, or the company they keep. Others consider a person's legacy, or his ability to be productive within a framework of constraints, be they budgetary or logistical.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Earnhardt Jr.: Daytona is still 'the greatest track': Less than seven months after Dale Earnhardt was killed in an accident on the final lap of the Daytona 500, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series returns to Daytona International Speedway with heavy hearts for the 43rd running of the Pepsi 400 on Saturday.

Complaint filed against former Goodman aide: Kim Smith; The Clark County district attorney's office Monday filed a formal criminal complaint against a former aide to Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, charging him with battery.

Letter: Bush can't have it both ways: Since he gave away all the money in a reckless tax cut, where is the money going to come from? I suspect he wants to use my Social Security and Medicare funds for this round of spending.

Boggs McDonald to consider run for Congress: Erin Neff; Las Vegas City Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald's phone is ringing off the hook, and the callers on the other end don't even know about the current air quality agency controversy.

DUI driver gets 12 years in fatal crash: Kim Smith; Moments after sobbing that he wishes it had been he who had been killed, a 20-year-old man was sentenced to three to 12 years in prison Monday.

Charities will benefit for next 20 years from Las Vegan's estate: Angela Soo; Businessman Charles Tarr Jr. made sure his legacy of charitable donations would continue well after his death.

Plea deal made in porn case: Kim Smith; A former Las Vegas elementary school teacher awaiting trial on 100 counts of possession of child pornography has agreed to take a deal that will guarantee him a five to 13-year prison term.

Bill to pave way for foreign chefs: Reid, D-Nev., and Ensign, R-Nev., introduced a bill late last week that would make it easier for restaurants that specialize in international cuisines to bring skilled foreign chefs to the United States. The Culinary Worker Relief Act would offer special work visas to foreign chefs, similar to those currently offered to certain educators, scientists, athletes and artists.

Sandoval arraignment set Aug. 2: Jennifer Knight; The arraignment date for Orlando Sandoval, a former associate vice president of Community College of Southern Nevada, has been set for Aug. 2, according to prosecutors.

Immunization schedule for July 3, 2001: NORTH LAS VEGAS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

SWAT officer cleared in shooting at fugitive: Keith Paul; Metro Police's use-of-force board has ruled a SWAT officer acted within department guidelines when he shot at a car carrying a man wanted in California, who had allegedly pointed a gun at the officer.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Group shows impeccable citizenship: The 77 men and women filed into Courtroom 6B of the Lloyd D. George United States Courthouse dressed in Sunday clothes, even though it was a hot Friday toward the end of June.

Obituaries for July 3, 2001: Chloe Amanda Campoy, 1 month, 4 days old, of Henderson died Friday in Las Vegas. She was born May 25, 2001, in Henderson.

News briefs for July 3, 2001: Nevada has joined a $100 million lawsuit against two major drug companies accused of keeping the generic version of the heart medication Cardizem CD off the shelf, Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said Monday.

Editorial: Liberty still is vibrant in this nation: But nostalgia can overshadow reality, and the Founding Fathers were far from perfect and had all the frailties that today's leaders possess. For instance, Thomas Jefferson, the man who penned the Declaration of Independence and its most famous line -- "all men are created equal" -- was a slaveholder. While Adams is enjoying a rebirth in popularity, he also had his flaws as a number of commentators recently have pointed out in reviewing David McCullough's biography of Adams. After all, Adams signed into law the notorious Alien and Sedition Acts. The Alien Act gave the president the power to deport ...

Letter: Why no charges of child neglect?: I do know that in most cases it is not hard for young males and young females to become mothers and fathers. I also know, however, in not all cases are there young adults who know how to be real parents. Which brings me to the question as to how can parents forget about their children, especially very young babies. Especially leaving them for hours to be "baked" in a vehicle for hours. Shouldn't it constitute "child endangerment or child neglect." Yet no prosecution, why? I know that intent to harm may be one that has to be proven. But ...

Community briefs for July 3, 2001: United Blood Services, 6930 W. Charleston Blvd., is hosting blood drives at these locations:

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1 p.m.

Letter: Retiree's work on Yucca issue will be missed: Bechtel is a man of great integrity, character and principle who worked tirelessly to protect the interests of the county and the state from a federal program intent on forcing a high-level radioactive waste repository on Nevada regardless of the site's suitability or the wishes of Nevada's citizens.

Gagne waiting for call from L.A.: Steve Guiremand; Center fielder Chris Prieto's suicide squeeze brought in John Cotton with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Las Vegas (42-44) won its third straight game, 5-4, over the Memphis Redbirds (39-46) on Monday night at Cashman Field.

Former news photographer, native Las Vegan Potter dies: When Leon Potter ran for the Nevada Assembly in 1966, he championed tougher laws to stem what was then a rising tide of teen consumption of alcohol.

UMC putting an emphasis on safety: By Emily Richmond; In response to growing concern about medical errors nationwide, University Medical Center administrators want to add a significant word to the public hospital's mission statement: safety.

Perfect harmony: Philharmonic conductor Harold Weller enthusiastic about holiday concert: Harold Weller remembers a particular evening more than 50 years ago in Dayton, Ohio. He was 5 years old. It was the Fourth of July and he was at a band shell listening to a concert band blare patriotic favorites.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Cat Ballado -- McCarron aboard Gonzalez trainee for owners McCaffery & Toffan, needs prompt start from rail post in short dash opener, promising filly. Pure Instinct -- Training at Anita, Gomez scales Lukas trainee for owner Padua Stable, another well bred gal with respected connections. Value Play -- Tempera

PCL box: Memphis-Las Vegas: E--Garcia, Hiatt. DP--Las Vegas 1. LOB--Memphis 5, Las Vegas 9. 2B--Garcia, Whitmore, Cookson, Aven. S--Smith, Prieto, K. Johnson 2. SF--Mashore, Barry. SB--Prieto, Aven, Barry. CS--Barry.

Christenson steps down as T&M director: Spencer Patterson; 1980: Moved to Las Vegas; named assistant wrestling coach and event coordinator for UNLV athletics.

Where I Stand-- Mike O'Callaghan: New award for president: MEMBERS OF THE SIERRA CLUB, the Wilderness Society, Alaska Rainforest Campaign, Defenders of Wildlife, American Rivers, Scenic America and all other protectors of Mother Nature please stand back and listen. Allow me to nominate President George W. Bush for the 2001 Champion of the Environment Award. Don't laugh, no person in recent history has done more to wake up environmentalists than our present chief executive. Republican President Theodore Roosevelt was one of our first great conservationists but his accomplishments may be surpassed by the man occupying the White House today.

Holiday closings: SAFETY: Police and fire emergency services as usual. Administrative offices closed.

Cousins want chance to camp: "He is a good boy and he deserves so much more than I can give him," she says.

Fiddling around: Boulder City youths, shunned at inaugural, get their chance to play in Washington: Asad story about a troupe of young fiddlers who were denied a performance in the presidential inauguration in January will have a happy ending Wednesday.

Water deal to save supply, money: Two pacts were due to be signed today that will save water and money for Las Vegas Valley residents.

Humidity will raise as rainy season hits: Temperatures in the Las Vegas Valley are expected to reach 112 degrees or more today.

Reilly's record salary on line: Adrienne Packer; County Commission task force members were expected to recommend today that incoming Clark County Manager Thom Reilly earn $193,000 a year, a salary that was agreed upon during a meeting last month.

Loan looms as ethics nightmare for Mack: Diana Sahagun; A dispute about car dealerships in the far northwest of the city of Las Vegas would be just that -- a dispute -- if it weren't for a $60,000 loan.