Print edition for July 31, 2001

Crime briefs for July 31, 2001: Metro Police homicide detectives are investigating the slaying of a 28-year-old man in a southwest Las Vegas apartment complex Monday night.

Berta, 50-year vendor of speciality items, dies: Angela Soo; Some say Frank Berta's shop was way ahead of its time.

New leagues are now being formed: The leagues are for ages 8-17 or grades 3-12 of the next school year. The program is being coordinated by former Bonanza High School head basketball coach Steve Boyack. To register, call 454-6000 or 871-1617.

Boulder City boys to compete in Akron: Harvey will participate in the Super Stock division and White will be in the Stock Car division.

PCL box: Las Vegas-Tucson: 2B--Hiatt, Gil, Wilson, McNally. 3B--Prieto. SB--Prieto (24).

Packer games slated at Draft House, Two Dogs: People who sign up for the Packers Fan Club will receive a Packer polo shirt, lighted cap and T-shirt. The sign-up party will be held Aug. 11 at 4 p.m. at both locations.

Obituaries for July 31, 2001: Anna R. Allese, 78, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. She was born July 4, 1923, in Pennsylvania. A resident for 21 years, she was a homemaker.

Letter: Why no outcry over transport of nuke weapons?: These weapons are arguably more hazardous than spent fuel since they contain plutonium, weapons grade uranium and tritium, and high explosives.

Locals gaming giant lays off 24: Lesley Pittman, director of corporate and government relations for the company that owns seven Las Vegas-area properties targeting the locals market, said Station also eliminated 16 positions that had been unfilled.

County keeps control of air rulings: Look to the Clark County Commission for clean air. The group of seven men and women, elected from throughout the region, will be responsible for planning and enforcing rules to control air pollution.

Lone Burgess jury holdout denies he slept through trial: In the 1950s melodrama "Twelve Angry Men," a lone holdout for acquittal overcomes the wrath of fellow jurors to painstakingly change their minds.

Nevada wants Yucca lawyers probed: Mary Manning and Benjamin Grove; The law firm hired by the Energy Department to review Yucca Mountain documents -- and is now the focus of conflict-of-interest charges -- has begun an internal examination of the charges, the firm's chairman told the Sun today.

Cab firm will donate its used vehicles to two nonprofit groups: Nevada law requires cab companies to replace their vehicles every four years, but instead of selling them, Jason Awad, owner of the company, will be donating them. Awad hopes to donate 10 cars a year to both nonprofit groups.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Younger Busch earns ride in Roush truck: Nobody was more surprised than Kyle Busch when the 16-year-old Las Vegas native learned he would be driving for Roush Racing in Friday's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Media magnet: Steve Guiremand; Jason Thomas faced his first blitz of his 2001 season today.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Del Mar: 1st Race -- Estrella Prisa -- Draws good spot for 7-panel opener, co-owner and trainer Aguirre tabs leading rider Solis here, Estrella winn-a? Naughty Nacho -- Hustling Espinoza on Baffert trainee, rider-trainer combo are hot at seaside, needs crisp start from inner post. Value Play -- Codger

Hard Rock plays unlucky, but profit still improves: The financial improvement was achieved despite a below-normal level of money held by the casino at its gaming tables. Customers playing lucky caused casino revenue to decline from $14.3 million to $13.5 million.

LV man gets life term in sex assualt: Erica Johnson; A Las Vegas man convicted of sexually assaulting a mentally challenged woman and later hiring a hit man to kill her was sentenced to life in prison Monday.

Where I Stand--Mike O'Callaghan: McManis analyzes Ellis: RECENTLY THIS COLUMN was dedicated to the uncomfortable matter of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and college professor Joseph Ellis lying to his students. Ellis, a distinguished historian, when teaching about the Vietnam War, worked himself, as a participant, into the course as a combat paratrooper. He didn't see combat in that, or any other, war and therefore was lying.

LV timeshare operator hit with involuntary bankruptcy filing: Epic Resorts LLC, King of Prussia, Pa., which owns the Desert Paradise Resort, 5165 S. Decatur Blvd., and other timeshares around the country, said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that its properties will remain open.

Business briefs for July 31,2001: Hilton Hotels Corp. has executed nearly 30,000 electronic purchase orders in the past year through its proprietary hospitality marketplace, said PurchasePro, the Las Vegas-based firm that powers the online network.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: NCAA hypocrites throw up another brick: The way the NCAA conducts business reminds me of the way George Carlin once described the Catholic Church:

Council to hear auto mall plan: Diana Sahagun; After enduring a backlash from the rejection of a new-car dealership outside the Town Center limits in northwest Las Vegas, the City Council Wednesday will attempt for the second time to introduce an ordinance that would create a concept similar to the Henderson Valley Auto Mall.

Letter: Without illegals, no produce: Before this gets much support, Wolf and all other like-thinking individuals should drive through the Central Valley of California, where much of our fruit and produce comes from.

Chairman of LV hospital operator to step down Jan. 1: Michelle Williams; NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Thomas F. Frist Jr., co-founder of HCA, said Monday he is stepping down as chairman of the nation's largest for-profit hospital chain, effective Jan. 1. Jack O. Bovender Jr., president and chief executive, will replace him.

DOE investigates low-level nuke shipment in Wendover: A container holding scrap metal contaminated with low-level radiation has been repacked and is being inspected today after white foam was discovered on a truck bed.

Southwest LV apartment blaze forces 20 from homes: Jace Radke; A Metro Police officer suffered smoke inhalation while alerting residents in a southwest Las Vegas apartment building of a fire Monday evening.

Maritz Wolff gets concessions: Last week Maritz Wolff was designated the new preferred bidder for the Regent, with an $80 million cash offer. Other interested buyers will be able to make counterbids for the property, though Maritz Wolff will have the option of matching any higher offers.

Editorial: Conflict of interest inexcusable: As the Sun's Benjamin Grove and Mary Manning reported Sunday, the DOE in 1999 needed outside legal expertise to help it prepare a license application for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission if Yucca Mountain eventually was found suitable. The DOE awarded a $16.5 million contract to Winston & Strawn, one of the nation's biggest law firms. It just so happens, however, that Winston & Strawn also were lobbyists for the Nuclear Energy Institute, the nuclear power industry's principal trade group that vigorously has sought the construction of a nuclear waste repository in Nevada. Winston & Strawn suddenly ended its representation for ...

2001 MWC media poll: 2001 MWC media poll

CSU selected to win MWC: Steve Guiremand; Colorado State was selcetd to repeat as Mountan West Conference football champions -- with UNLV a close second -- in a poll of MWC media members released today during media day at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Editorial: Just what was he thinking of anyway?: If Washington had hurt himself while on the job in the Senate chambers, he would have been justified in filing a workers' compensation claim. But an after-hours, charity basketball game? Come on. Washington's compensation claim is a symptom of a larger problem, one where some politicians have a sense of entitlement, a feeling that they deserve to be taken care of if they meet misfortune. But elected officials are supposed to lead by example -- something that Washington failed to do in this instance.

Stirring emotions: Swizzle stick collectors fervent about hobby: The International Swizzle Stick Collectors Association Convention next week at the Boardwalk is stirring up interest among the curious.

Community briefs for July 31, 2001: The ceremony will be at the County Government Center on Oct. 20.

9 Nevada contractor licenses revoked: The nine Las Vegas-area companies that had their licenses revoked include:

Reilly begins new life in office: Adrienne Packer; When Clark County Manager Dale Askew vacated his office last week he left behind a few posters and a short note that perhaps warns his replacement of what to expect.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Osmond rumors still 'Alive': Kate Maddox; Insiders are talking as if it's already a done deal, but Donny Osmond has yet to officially sign on as Rick Springfield's replacement in "EFX Alive!"

Immunization schedule for July 31, 2001: DISTRICT HEALTH CENTER: 625 Shadow Lane, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Delay sought for 911 locator: Sprint PCS joins a long list of industry players, including Verizon, AT&T, Cingular and Nextel, to request a waiver from the October 1 Federal Communications Commission deadline.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Mariners top story of season: Dean Juipe; I don't know about you, but I've developed a fondness for the Seattle Mariners.

Missouri casinos boost earnings for LV company: Las Vegas-based Ameristar acquired properties in Kansas City and St. Charles from Station Casinos Inc. in December for $475 million. Those casinos generated $88.5 million in revenues in the second quarter, ended June 30.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Picking the right time to picket: It's been a long time since Elizabeth Meinhold carried a picket sign. About 34 years, actually.

NLV advised to pay settlement to man shot by police officer: Keith Paul; The North Las Vegas City Council is being advised by the city attorney to pay $500,000 to a man shot by a SWAT officer last year to avoid a possible larger payout if the case went to trial.

Letter: Nurses fired for speaking out: Recently it was reported in the media that four nurses refused to take report of their patients until they had enough nurses to safely care for their patients. This is as the state board of nurses has advised the nurses to do in these situations. Two of the nurses went to the media and reported their situation. In the next few days the two who went to the media were fired.

Speculation begins over Del Papa successor: CARSON CITY -- The announcement by Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa that she won't run for a fourth term sets off a fresh round of speculation on possible successors.

Three teens in youth prison uprising take deals: Kim Smith; Three teenagers who sought to prove their participation in a juvenile prison uprising was justified have taken deals.

Nevada unemployment rate inches up: CARSON CITY -- Unemployment in Nevada inched up to 4.5 percent in June with an estimated 50,400 people out of work, the state reported today.

Two Las Vegas Internet operations in bankruptcy: Kevin Ferguson; Financial difficulties have forced two unrelated Las Vegas-based Internet search engine businesses to halt operations and file for bankruptcy protection from creditors.

London Clubs engineers deal for control of Aladdin: David Strow; British casino operator London Clubs International announced today it is the new majority shareholder of the $1.2 billion Aladdin hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip.