Print edition for July 13, 2001

Columnist Kate Maddox: Agassi, Graf ask: Baby, anyone?: Kate Maddox; Confirming widespread speculation that tennis' most powerful twosome were on the brink of parenthood, Andre Agassi and Stefanie (don't call me Steffi) Graf announced Thursday that they are awaiting the birth of their first child.

Creator also a fan of show: Kimberley McGee; "This is the thing I love about 'Sex and the City' ... "

Venetian sidewalk ruled open to union: By Steve Kanigher; The Culinary Union emerged victorious when a federal appellate court ruled that individuals can picket along the Venetian hotel-casino's privately owned sidewalk because it is a public thoroughfare.

Vegas credit union sold: Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Rap music disagreement may have led to slaying: Keith Paul; When Edward Wiggins refused to sign on with a would-be local rap music producer last week, he didn't take the threats that followed seriously.

Airline moves in with American at McCarran: TWA, now a subsidiary of American, is in the process of integrating into the American Airlines system nationwide and part of the transition involved moving TWA's 50 full- and part-time Las Vegas employees to American's ticket counters and gates.

LV firm sues over loss of business: Custom sued International Tele-Services Inc. doing business as D.A. For Less Inc. in U.S. District Court, alleging it undercut Custom's business with its customer, Cox Communications Inc. of Atlanta, by allegedly offering Cox directory assistance call services.

Transportation consultant opens LV office: Dean Hurst, who had been assigned to Jakes' San Jose office, will manage and be the sole employee of the Las Vegas office. Jakes has served as a consultant or has helped design many of the monorails and people movers that operate at Las Vegas' resorts.

Flood control change will save $2 million: The Clark County Regional Flood Control District voted unanimously Thursday to adjust the way it diverts floodwaters, a move that would save about $2 million.

'Race gap' on test scores concerns officials: CARSON CITY -- A report Thursday of a strong showing among students statewide on the High School Proficiency Exam was tempered with concern over results turned in by minority students.

Bankruptcies soar in Las Vegas, nationwide: The number of personal and business bankruptcies in the quarter ended March 31 was the highest recorded since June 1998, according to statistics from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

News briefs for July 13, 2001: The driver of a tractor-trailer was in an Arizona jail this morning after leading police on a chase that ended in a standoff that closed traffic on U.S. 93 Thursday night, Boulder City Police said.

Health officials taking vaccines to the streets: By Emily Richmond; Sandy Hammond of Las Vegas suffered right along with her son three years ago when the 4-year-old came down with chickenpox.

Henderson news briefs: After Arizona representatives for a planned Lutheran church agreed on Thursday to forgo a steeple, neighbors still worried about the flood of Sunday traffic the church would bring to their quiet Anthem neighborhood.

Two hospitals fined over patient handling: By Emily Richmond; Lake Mead Hospital and Valley Hospital Medical Center have been fined for violating federal regulations in denying patients adequate emergency care, according to a report released Thursday by a national patient watchdog group.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: New safety device could catch on soon: The "Humpy Bumper," an energy-absorbing safety device that was conceived and developed in Las Vegas, could be on the front ends of Winston Cup cars by the end of next month, according to one of its designers.

Yucca project budget sliced: Mary Manning and Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- A Senate panel on Thursday slashed funding for the Yucca Mountain project, setting up a battle with pro-Yucca lawmakers.

Student fees going to parties: Audit slams expenses of CCSN student government leaders: Jennifer Knight; Student government leaders at CCSN used money targeted to enhance campus life for expensive parties, out-of-state junkets and to purchase equipment -- some of which has not been accounted for, according to financial documents.

Las Vegas FBI suspect arraigned in New York: James J. Hill, the Las Vegas FBI security analyst charged in the bureau's secrets-for-sale scandal, was arraigned today on federal charges in Long Island, N.Y.

Reid amendment would take back casino land from tribe: Sandra Chereb; Nevada Sen. Harry Reid has sponsored an amendment to block a small band of Indians from acquiring 10 acres of land north of San Francisco where the tribe planned to operate a Las Vegas-style casino.

LV casino supplier sues former employees: JCM American Corp., a maker of bill validators used in slot machines and other devices, sued Harold Richardson, its former support technician and Perry Byrd, its former service supervisor in Clark County District Court.

Slot machine regulators concerned about LV topless club: David Strow; The Nevada Gaming Control Board is considering stripping the gaming license of the Olympic Garden, a prominent Las Vegas topless dancing club.

Binion sues high-roller for casino debts: Grace Leong; Las Vegas gambling figure Jack Binion, whose license in Illinois was denied by the Illinois Gaming Board in part because of his association with high-roller Kamel Nacif, is now suing Nacif to recover $4.177 million in outstanding gambling debts.

Fuel surcharge to be considered: The board is considering a charge of between 10 cents and 20 cents per trip to compensate for higher fuel costs, which have fluctuated dramatically since February.

Reno losing Chicago, Los Angeles flights: One flight to Chicago and another to Los Angeles will be cut Oct. 1, the airline announced Thursday. That will bring to 20 the total number of flights the airline has dropped to Reno in the past year.

Judge overturns citation in battle over long, custom truck: Jeffrey Libby; Bill and Trisha Stickel can continue parking their 17-foot custom truck in their private driveway at the end of each business day spent hauling mobile homes and offices in the Las Vegas Valley.

More changes in works for county officials: Adrienne Packer; At least two more Clark County department heads are considering reassignment within the Government Center after a series of meetings involving incoming manager Thom Reilly and division leaders.

$2 million allocated to protect maglev project managers: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., threw $2 million in federal money to project managers who plan to construct a route for a futuristic 300 mph, levitating train between Las Vegas and Anaheim, Calif.

Library district approves changes in union agreement: Angela Soo; The Clark County Library District Board on Thursday approved a series of revised labor agreements with the Teamsters Union.

Calls for help easier for domestic violence victims: Rebecca Malone; Information

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

Public called upon to help curb 'disease' of domestic violence: Keith Paul; After 21 domestic related homicides in Clark County this year, state and local officials gathered Thursday to call on everyone in the community to help prevent the "disease" of domestic violence.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Saturday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Memoree -- Hustling Espinoza on Hines trainee, daws good post for sprint opener, adds blinkers for this. Covincing -- Draws alongside top pick, Flores scales Vienna trainee, a factor throughout in Cal-bred allowance outing. Value Play -- Our Here Tiz

This week's races: NASCAR WINSTON CUP

Goodman proposes licensing for all exotic dancers: Diana Sahagun; To generate more money for the city, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman suggested Thursday that all dancers at Las Vegas clubs be licensed.

Odyssey Charter School starts to grow: Terry Webster; Following a difficult start-up, Odyssey Charter School is expanding.

Pool players can test skills against the best: Rarely does an ordinary Joe get a chance to test his skills against a top performer in a particular field.

Letter: DDT ban makes malaria worse: Spurred on by environmental radicals from the Environmental Defense Fund, the Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood, the Gorbachev Foundation, etc., the almost total banning of DDT received impetus through the U.N.'s new Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) treaty. This treaty, which includes DDT among a group of so-called "Dirty Dozen" chemicals, has received George W. Bush's enthusiastic endorsement.

Letter: Whites benefit from inequities: Your editorial concedes that those Founding Fathers indeed had warts and were significantly less than perfect, and that they did not measure up to their lofty speeches and writings. The world does owe them its gratitude for constructing a concept of governance, which can serve mankind well.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Baseball has seen its last strike: Dean Juipe; The warning signs were up in April when the baseball season got under way. And the forecast was ominous.

Nurse testifies slaying victim was in good health: Kim Smith; Christine Smith appeared to be in relatively good health just one month before her daughter claims she died of natural causes.

Father faces homicide charge in baby's death: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas man originally facing a child abuse charge is now facing a homicide charge after his 8-month-old baby was removed from life support Wednesday evening.

L.A. Kings to return for game at MGM: In last year's preseason matchup, the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche beat the Kings 5-4 on a goal with 31 seconds left.

Pate savors return to Wimbledon: Victoria Sun; The last time David Pate played at Wimbledon, he was still a full-time professional on the ATP Tour in 1994.

Las Vegas sailors spend their Independence Day on guard at sea: Dick Benoit; Dick Benoit covers individual and unit accomplishments of Southern Nevadans serving in the active duty and reserve armed forces. He can be reached at (702) 641-8664 or by e-mail at dickb@vegas.com

Gagne excels in rehearsal for the Show: Steve Guiremand; Eric Gagne made a brief stop in Las Vegas on Thursday night for a little tuning up before his planned Monday start in Pittsburgh for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Solid cast can't cover up 'Party's' lame plot: Max Jacobson; Max Jacobson covers the food industry and writes movie reviews for the Sun. Reach him at max@vegas.com or 990-2454.

Community news briefs for July 13, 2001: Smith's Food and Drug customers in the Las Vegas area have contributed $16,936 to University Medical Center through "Smith's the Coin for Kids" program.

Obituaries for July 13, 2001: Rebecca T. Angeles, 64, of Las Vegas died Monday. She was born Aug. 31, 1936, in Chicago. A resident for five years, she was a homemaker.

Longtime Sun printer Compston dies: Ralph B. Compston, a longtime printer and composing room monitor for the Sun, died June 26 in Fresno, Calif., following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 79.

Datebook: As part of its "A World of Cinema" series, the group Nevadans Organized to Better Address Diversity will present "Fando and Lis" at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Admission is free. Call 734-6806.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Shriners show that hope floats: Ashley Briggs took her first swimming lesson Tuesday.

Children's theater series kicks off at Reed Whipple: Tears of Joy Theatre Company returned to Las Vegas this week to perform "Cinderella," opening the city of Las Vegas' 17th annual Children's Summer Concert Series.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Morgan carries orchestra in father's tradition: Joe Delaney; Trombonist-band leader Jack Morgan and the Russ Morgan Orchestra will play for dancing, starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, in the Stardust Ballroom ... "Music in the Morgan Manner" is in its 65th year ... During this time, there have been only two leaders ... Jack took over the reins when his father put up his horn and baton for the last time in 1969.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Team Maury takes Hollywood by storm: How sweet it was when Team Maury took the gold medal and $50,000 purse at the third annual National Pastry Team Championship at Beaver Creek, Colo., in June.

Columnist Jerry Fink: Reserve's new club is a top pick for guitarists: Don Marrandino turned a taco stand into a guitar bar at the Reserve, and now he's waiting for copycats to try to pluck his great idea.

Evans 'could not ask for more': Kirk Baird; It's a good time to be Sara Evans.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Being too busy can be tragic: How did we become so busy?

Special Victims Unit handles heavy caseload: Kim Smith; Their clients are not gang members injured in turf wars. They aren't drug dealers shot by other drug dealers. They aren't people who made bad choices.

Patience, and patients: Nursing shortage felt in local ER: By Emily Richmond; Troy Repuszka reaches down to tighten the knot on one of her running shoes, a stethoscope dangling from her neck. She straightens, tugs on the hem of her tropical-print scrub top and reaches for a stack of medical charts.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Roberts tired of Bratty behavior: Kate Maddox; It seems Julia Roberts spent at least a little time giving then-beau Benjamin Bratt the old bait-and-switch routine in Las Vegas.

Everlasting Engelbert: Engelbert Humperdinck hit 65 two months ago, and he isn't slowing down.

Editorial: Government leaders abuse students' trust: As reporter Jennifer Knight disclosed Friday, a CCSN audit obtained by the Sun showed that student government leaders used money, which was intended to enhance student life on campus, in dubious ways. For example, of the nearly $500,000 given to student government, $94,000 was lavished on parties that usually weren't well attended, student senators spent $20,000 on out-of-state junkets -- including one to Santa Barbara, Calif., to attend the musical "Showboat" -- and 15 Dell computers were bought for $18,000 that still haven't been accounted for.

Editorial: Expecting more out of students: That is why it is encouraging that Superintendent of Schools Carlos Garcia wants all Clark County students to take algebra by the time they're in the eighth grade. Currently just 15 percent of middle school students take algebra (that is up from two years ago when only 10 percent were taking the course). In the upcoming school year Garcia wants 25 percent of the students enrolled in this course. In three years the school district wants all students taking algebra before they have entered high school.

Columnist Jeff German: Prostitution allegations embarrass strip club operator: THE OLYMPIC Garden is one of the finer topless clubs in town.

Where I Stand--Mike O'Callaghan: 2008: A repeat of 1936?: LONG BEFORE the International Olympic Committee met in Moscow last week, Beijing had a lock on becoming the 2008 site for the Olympics. Some of those protesting the awarding of the games to China were beaten up by Russian police to let them know where that country's vote was going.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Guinn unveils his comedy act: IN ONE POST-SESSION evaluation of Gov. Kenny Guinn, an observer remarked that the chief executive had perfectly balanced "Professor Guinn, Wise Old Grandfather Guinn, Let's-Step-Outside Guinn and I-Work-For-The-People Guinn."

Letter: DMV problems continue despite Guinn's promise: By the time the door was opened there were approximately 200 or more customers of every disabled group that you can think of: elderly; some using canes, crutches, oxygen bottles; young children and babies, etc. And the temperature in the shade must have been approaching 100 by then. It was well after 10 a.m. before I got out of there for what should have been a 15- or 20-minute job. Approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes. It was a life-threatening, horrible experience for some.

Letter: Nevadans pay for utility's blunders: At the same time, Las Vegas was undergoing some of its hottest days in recent history. To add to the problem, we had more demand on the system from newcomers to the valley and more industry developing in Southern Nevada. What would prompt any rational utility to sell off its excess power when the demand is at its highest?

Columnist Sandy Thompson: Child support boost may be a bust: Sandy Thompson; DID THE 2001 Legislature address the issue of child support?

Boys & Girls Clubs name LV teen Youth of the Year: Kimberley McGee; It was by accident that Mirna Avalos came to the front steps of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas on East Stewart Avenue.

Internet helps owners reunite with their lost pets: Erica Johnson; A national website has been launched to help owners find lost pets. It joins three local websites with the same purpose. Where to find them on the Internet:

Where I Stand 1965 -- Classic Hank Greenspun: Gov. Wallace doesn't want to face reality: The prosecuting witness in a rape case, asked if she were a virtuous woman, replied that she was but that she was no fanatic on the subject.

Free, low-cost shots offered for youths: The required childhood immunizations offered free of charge are: IPV (polio); DtaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis); MMR (measles, mumps, rubella); Hib (H. influenza type b).

Psychic Browne sees through the skeptics: Lisa Ferguson; Bring on the skeptics!

Letter: CAT bus lines well-kept secret at McCarran: There is plenty of signage to rental cars, taxis and the shuttle services. Hidden from any signage is the excellent bus service for the routes No. 108 (downtown via Swenson, Paradise, and Main), and No. 109 (downtown via Maryland Parkway) to downtown with good connections to other transit routes along the way.

Osmond gives fans what they want: Joe Delaney; "This is the Moment: An Evening with Donny Osmond" is the title of the erstwhile teenage idol's first solo concert tour in more than a decade.

Still Roaming: Kirk Baird; Combining the lyrical horseplay of the Ramones with the musical sensibility of the Talking Heads, the B-52's were too punk for pop and too pop for punk.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Expensive can of worms: DIRECTOR OF THE Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety, Richard Kirkland, found a loophole in a recent state law that gets him an extra $70,000 a year. That's what he gets from previous state retirement and now added to his present salary of $103,000 he will be getting $173,000 annually. That's until next year when his $70,000 retirement will go up 2 1/2 percent and every year thereafter for the next six years or when he retires again.

Club has talented couple climbing the walls: Armando Farfan was flat on his back and suspended in mid-air by chains.

Analyst: Hospital developers must look at partnerships: David Strow; A pair of businessmen say they plan to build the largest hospital in Nevada somewhere in the Las Vegas Valley.

Cashman Center eyed for convention space: If the Las Vegas 51s minor-league baseball team moves to a proposed downtown stadium, Cashman Center's meeting space probably would be expanded, a Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority executive says.

Mohegan Sun gives sneak peak of new casino, arena: Diane Scarponi; MONTVILLE, Conn. -- A new gambling palace and entertainment complex, bathed in golden light and inspired by Mohegan Indian traditions, is nearing completion on the tribe's reservation.

Sale hearing delayed again: The delay came as a result of the sudden break-up earlier this month of the preferred group bidding on the Regent. Peccole Nevada Corp., Heller Financial Inc. of Chicago and PDS Gaming Corp. had submitted a $150 million bid for the property, but Peccole withdrew from the group July 1 after disagreeing with the deal's structure.

Editorial: Nevadans deserve better: Obviously the governor is listening to his political advisers, who argue that revealing a tax plan could spell peril for his re-election bid. But the public deserves to know exactly where Guinn stands -- during the campaign. Political campaigns, after all, are supposed to be about a contest of ideas. Guinn repeatedly has said he's a different breed of politician, one who is willing to make decisions based on their merits, not on political expediency. Of course, such a claim is laughable if he'll resort to subterfuge in discussing taxes. The governor not only has acknowledged previously that more revenues ...

Editorial: Prescription benefit needed for seniors: Bush this week did back, as an interim measure, a plan to promote the use of privately run pharmacy discount cards as a way to reduce drug costs. These cards, which typically cost $25 annually, allow the patient in many cases to save 25 percent on their prescription costs. This definitely is a help, but if you have an annual prescription bill of say, $2,000, you still have to fork over a substantial amount, which for many seniors is impossible given their limited incomes.