Print edition for July 24, 2001

Columnist Susan Snyder: Married to spectacular bridal show: It seems odd to host a huge bridal show in a town where people can meet, get a marriage license, marry and have a honeymoon is less time than it takes to renew a Nevada driver's license.

PCL box: New Orleans-Las Vegas: DP--New Orleans 1. LOB--New Orleans 5, Las Vegas 5. 2B--Chavez, Rosario, Branson. HR--Truby (10), Chavez (5), Luuloa (5), Barry (12), Hiatt (32), Rosario (1), K.Johnson (9), Prieto (15). SB--Lydy (6). CS--Lydy, Chavez.

News briefs for July 24, 2001: Metro Police's fiscal oversight board Monday approved a $112,500 payout to four people who filed suit after officers searched their home.

Cool school: Local colleges revive jazz for Las Vegas students: Jennifer Knight; The horn section wails away on brass instruments in small tornadoes of syncopated sound. And the tap, tap, tap of the drummer's cymbals are in perfect cool rhythm to the 1950s jazz music, pushing back time for a moment.

Editorial: Privacy even vexes pharmacies: Larsen's revelation resulted in quite an impact -- for the police officer and for himself, too. The North Las Vegas Police Department fired the officer, Gina Carmody (the state Board of Pharmacy said she had sought the prescriptions for controlled substances after becoming addicted to them following a painful shoulder injury). Carmody is attempting to get her job back and the dispute is now being handled by an arbitrator. Larsen, meanwhile, faces the prospect of the board imposing sanctions, which could result in his license being taken away.

Immunization schedule for July 24, 2001: NORTH LAS VEGAS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Letter: Tax cut foes use scare tactics: All of the items he mentioned -- national debt, Medicare, Social Security and education -- are fully funded prior to the reserve being touched.

DNA evidence leads to conviction of Reno man in poaching case: He faces up to a year in jail and possible fines as determined by the court when sentenced Aug. 3, said Steve Martarano, spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Game in Sacramento.

Editorial: Marriage sure can't stop secretive ways: So what's the top secret? Believe it or not, infidelity doesn't lead the list. According to the poll published in the August issue of Reader's Digest, nearly half of those who said they kept a secret said it dealt with the real price of something they bought. Yes, that's right, apparently men don't want to tell women how much they threw away on that brand new lawn mower and women don't want to share with men how much that new love seat actually cost. One wife gave this reason for concealing the true amount of her purchases: "I don't like ...

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Del Mar: 1st Race -- Penteli De Gras - Desormeaux on Dolan trainee, needs clean trip from inner post in sprint opener, subject to get a trip here. High And Rising - Draws good outside post, Baze atop Sadler trainee, jockey-trainer combo always dangerous. Value Play -- Silky Goose

Letter: English-only proponents out of touch: Spanish is one of the major languages in the world, spoken by a very large segment of the population. If these folks don't want to say "hola," they also may want to drop Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and other words from their vocabulary.

Judge to replace jury in sentencing West in mother's death: Kim Smith; The attorneys in the Brookey West case have agreed to allow District Judge Donald Mosley to sentence her instead of the jury that convicted her of first-degree murder.

Letter: Ralston columns expose politicians: I loved it! Jon Ralston did it again. He wrote a piercing column about Gov. Kenny Guinn and his ploys and tactics to try to screw the public out of seeing who he really is and who he really represents.

Where I Stand--Brian Greenspun: Hearts of winners: STRIKING it rich in California. Not an unfamiliar theme.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Stylist's career hits a big snag: Kate Maddox; It's a bad day when Las Vegas social somebodies can't get an appointment with their hairstylist because he's tangled up with other clients.

Community briefs for July 24, 2001: United Blood Services, 6930 W. Charleston Blvd., offers the following scheduled blood drives. For more information, call Michelle Keanini at 228-8400:

Volunteers work to ease conflicts with residents, wild horses: Members of the posse and representatives from the BLM and University of Nevada Extension Service are scheduled to discuss the horse management partnership at a meeting Thursday night.

Vegas air conditioning firm expands with deal: Both companies are privately held. Terms were not disclosed.

Competition, energy costs hurt Vegas Riviera profits: Cash flow of $10.6 million was up 6.5 percent and included $2.8 million from Riviera Black Hawk in Colorado. That property's cash flow was up 11 percent from the first quarter of this year.

Lineup stumbles as crowd grumbles: Steve Addy; Another awful outing by starter Eddie Priest put the 51s in a 5-0 hole in the first inning, and they never recovered despite five homers. Priest has allowed 21 runs (17 earned) in his last two games. Keith Luuloa's pinch-hit two-run homer in the eighth cemented New Orleans' win as the teams split the series. The 51s' home runs included Phil Hiatt's PCL-leading 32nd.

Moody's posts ratings on casino company bonds: The New York-based financial rating company also confirmed ratings on five other bond notes, including a $500 million senior secured revolving credit line. Ba1 ratings were confirmed on the revolving line, and on two $100 million senior secured-term loans. A Ba3rating was assigned to $200 million 9.25 percent senior notes due in 2003 and a B1 rating was listed on $250 million 9.5 percent senior subordinated notes due in 2007.

Dispute over loan threatens bailout of Vegas casino hotel: Grace Leong; Vacation Village's plans to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and to become a Holiday Inn franchise are in question over a dispute over a bailout loan for the small Las Vegas strip hotel-casino.

Vegas casino operators considering a bet on legalized gambling in Macau, Britain: David Strow; In most respects, the Chinese coastal city of Macau and the United Kingdom are about as different as two areas of the globe can get.

High-end casino action strong: David Strow; MGM MIRAGE, continuing to defy fears of a slowdown in the Las Vegas gambling industry, today reported a substantial jump in earnings for the second quarter of 2001.

Mayors, critics argue over Chicago-area casino: "They're sending a message to pass the deal and give us the money," the Rev. Tom Grey, a gambling critic, said as the Illinois Senate Executive Committee's gambling subcommittee went into session.

Sidewalk protections: Adult-ad distributors say ruling will aid business on Strip: An outcall-service operator believes a new federal appellate court ruling gives him fresh ammunition to distribute nude-dancing advertisements on sidewalks that Strip resorts deem private property.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Rebels' Thomas gets high grade from guru: In that I've never studied yoga, practiced transcendental meditation or pored over the NFL draft selections, I've never had much use for gurus. But in that Mel Kiper has a steady gig on ESPN and he has been talking up one of Las Vegas' own, I'm willing to make an exception.

LV gaining long-haul flight from the East: Vegas airline numbers

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: LV's Gaughan comes on strong in Winston West: After winning two races and finishing in the top 10 in 11 of his 12 starts en route to winning the NASCAR Winston West Series championship a year ago, Las Vegas native Brendan Gaughan set out this year to prove his 2000 season wasn't a fluke.

15,000-20,000 jobs to be cut: The announcement today came as the embattled telecommunications maker posted a fiscal third-quarter loss of $3.25 billion, far wider than expectations.

Teen eludes charges, then gunned down: Keith Paul; In the span of eight months Vernon Craft was accused of a gang-related drive-by shooting and a gang-related murder. Both times the charges were dismissed after the evidence didn't pan out or a victim recanted.

Hazardous shipment study sought: Reid last week seized on a freight train accident in a Baltimore tunnel in which hazardous materials leaked from burning rail cars.

Union criticizes firing of nurses: By Emily Richmond; Union leaders say that hospital officials who ask nurses to care for too many patients risk not only the safety of the patients but their own careers as well.

Big Time Tournament sites: Big Time Tournament sites

Obituaries for July 24, 2001: Lucille Brown, 85, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local care center. She was born May 31, 1916, in Scranton, Pa. A resident for 11 years, she was a retired bookkeeper in the investment business.

Planning Commission to take up proposal for new hospital: Angela Soo; Developers of a new North Las Vegas hospital located on a portion of the Craig Ranch Golf Course hope for approval Wednesday by the Planning Commission.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Trial proves Atlanta is no Las Vegas: Dean Juipe; If it had happened in Las Vegas, no one would have given it a second thought.

Business briefs for July 24, 2001: Washington Mutual Inc. of Seattle, an aggressive consumer and mortgage lender in Las Vegas, reported second quarter earnings of $798 million or 91 cents a share, up 49 percent from the year-ago quarter thanks largely to acquisitions.

LV welcomes hoops world: Spencer Patterson; Among the most highly touted high schoolers expected to participate in this week's Big Time Tournament are:

School district sues union over health plan: Erica Johnson; The Clark County School District has sued the union that covers school bus drivers, custodians, secretaries and other support workers to force it to continue health insurance for more than 150 retirees and 35 dependents.

Bob Hubbard to host youth hoops camp: Bob Hubbard to host youth hoops camp

It's a boy, announces LV's Agassi, Graf: Agassi, number one in the ATP Champions Race, is in Los Angeles to compete in the Mercedes Benz Cup.

Sentence upheld in securities fraud case: Steven Trapp pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud in July 1997 and was sentenced to four months in prison and four months of home confinement, to be followed by two years of supervision when released.

Goodman seeks Senate's help with his wish list: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- A monorail whisking tourists and Las Vegas residents from the Strip to downtown was at the very top of Mayor Oscar Goodman's wishlist when he and three other mayors on Monday implored Congress to send more federal money to the nation's cities.

University building bids get closer look from state: CARSON CITY -- State Budget Director Perry Comeaux says the state is going to scrutinize the design of university buildings to save money.

Libonati to take over as interim director: Libonati, a former UNLV football player, will serve as interim director while UNLV conducts a national search to replace Pat Christenson, who resigned earlier this month to become president of Las Vegas Events.

No messin': Army chow of yesteryear replaced by culinary delights: Mixed Pickle Salad

Former inmate sues over AIDS medication: Jace Radke; A man dying of complications from AIDS has filed a $10 million lawsuit against the Clark County Jail's medical director, Metro Police and a health care company, which was penalized in New York last week because of inadequate work in that state's prison system.

McDonald's case called ethics guide: Diana Sahagun; A written opinion by the Nevada Ethics Commission on a case involving Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald will serve as a reference guide for public officials facing similar situations.

Judge: Abuse allegations won't affect youths' cases: Kim Smith; A Family Court judge told attorneys representing a group of boys accused of rioting at a juvenile prison that she doesn't believe allegations of sex and drug abuse at the facility should affect how she handles their cases.

Green Valley's Dittler signs with Indians: Dittler, a 6-3 right-handed pitcher, went 5-2 with two saves, a 2.44 ERA and 49 strikeouts and 11 walks in 43 innings last spring, helping the Gators to the 4A state championship. The Indians took him in the second round, with pick No. 51 overall.