Print edition for June 6, 2001

Columnist Peter Benton: Corona-Raynes team up for LVCC crown: Peter Benton; The Las Vegas Country Club's three-day, 54-hole Memorial Weekend Member-Member Tournament saw the full field play Chapman Scotch Foursome the first day of play.

Pac-10 Conference in Las Vegas Bowl: Under the one-year agreement, which is expected to be officially announced this afternoon, the Las Vegas Bowl would get sixth choice of Pac-10 schools who are bowl eligible and would match that squad against the runnerup of the Mountain West Conference.

Hospital dead: County Commission is blamed for defeat: Adrienne Packer and Emily Richmond; A fierce game of politics prompted Southern Nevada voters to fumble away Clark County's chances of building an independent children's hospital, proponents infuriated with the outcome said Tuesday.

Shocker! Las Vegas posts another shutout at home: Steve Guiremand; Isn't Cashman Field supposed to be a hitter's park?

Survival legacy: Holocaust group considers LV for 2003 convention: The places where Ben Lesser grew up had names that today still send shivers up the spines of thousands of survivors of one of the worst purges in the history of mankind.

LV company launches in-room gaming venture: Station said it plans to initially market its first product, "eSlots," to cruise lines and Indian casinos, but will later market the product to major hotel-casinos, both in Nevada and elsewhere. The company anticipates launching the product in 2002, subject to regulatory approvals.

Critics: Video lottery terminals could create Ohio casinos: Liz Sidoti; COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Putting video lottery terminals in the state's racetracks ultimately would create casinos, which voters already have shot down twice, gambling opponents told a Senate committee Tuesday.

Competing measures pass; ruling still to come: Jeffrey Libby; Boulder City elected officials could keep their current pay. But they won't be able to vote themselves raises without first being re-elected.

Water district makes power deal: Two power companies that have proposed plants for northeast of Las Vegas at Apex have been approved for water in exchange for a portion of their power.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Downtown boxing card is a hit: Dean Juipe; Wearing his biggest smile even when he wasn't in the ring enjoying his celebrity status, Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman was predictably pleased at seeing a professional boxing card find its way not only downtown but outside and underneath the Fremont Street Experience.

Regent operating ahead of expectations as sale nears: David Strow; The Regent Las Vegas is continuing to perform ahead of financial expectations as it nears the final chapter in its journey through bankruptcy.

News briefs for June 6, 2001: A former Clark County juvenile probation officer accused of having sexual relations with one of his probationers has accepted a deal.

PCL box: Iowa-Las Vegas: E--Snopek. DP--Iowa 2, Las Vegas 2. LOB--Iowa 8, Las Vegas 8. 2B--Short, Snopek, Hiatt, B. Johnson 2. SB--Gilbert. CS--Mota.

Two-year pact signed with Station Casinos: Under the agreement, Players Network's 24-hour cable television network will be installed in hotel rooms at all of Station's existing and future properties. The company will also provide "streaming media" services to Station's Internet site, allowing Station to provide more than 150 gaming-related videos through its website.

Blaze destroys four condos near UNLV: Erica Johnson and Ed Koch; A laundry basket full of black dachshund puppies was the only thing Gail Cox and her 15-year-old daughter, Stormy Hinkler, could salvage when a two-alarm fire ripped through their condominium early today.

Father of leukemia victim vows action: After spending every night for weeks at his son's Southern California hospital bedside, watching the 10-year-old die of childhood leukemia, Richard Jernee wants to return home to Fallon and find out what made the boy sick.

Attorney off the hook in hit-and-run case: Kim Smith; The fiancee and former attorney of a Las Vegas man accused of killing three people in a hit-and-run accident in April will not be charged in the case.

LV casino sues website operators over its name: New York-New York, which said it owns the domain name "nynyhotelcasino.com," sued Dan Gallagher and his two Costa Rica companies, International Commercial LLC and International Commercial Financial LLC; Mike Sattler of Nine Mile Falls and Media One Ent. Ltd. of St. Johns in U.S. District Court.

Casino operator praised for tech workers' environment: The Las Vegas-based casino operator came in third, behind Home Depot and Nationwide Insurance of Columbus, Ohio.

Botha picks up decision under Fremont canopy: Dean Juipe; Head hunting is a risky vocation.

Teachers discover bizarre recipe for raises: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Nevada laws are chock full of ingredients they don't teach kids in civics classes.

Power conservation sought: Print and TV ads will begin Friday as the authority goes public with its message. Articles will also appear in the Southern Nevada Water Authority newsletter and inserts will be placed in water bills. Information will also be posted on the authority's website at www.snwa.com.

Gator teammates among local draftees: Spencer Patterson; Three weeks after they captured the 4A state baseball title, the Green Valley Gators took center stage again on Tuesday.

Cab firm corrects payoff in suit: Kim Smith; A 22-year-old Las Vegas woman whose infant son was killed when a taxicab driver veered off the road and struck them three years ago has settled her lawsuit for $4 million, not the $10.9 million reported by her attorneys.

Public safety, library service tax hikes fail: Jeffrey Libby; The police and fire departments will have to make due with what they've got.

Retailer: Competition stiffening: That compares to a profit of $179 million or 42 cents on sales of $9 billion in the year-ago quarter.

'People's Choice' trio loses City Hall bid: Mesquite City Council Results of the Mesquite City Council election, with percentage of votes received:

America West's losses to continue: America West Airlines' announcement of a second-quarter charge prompted an analyst to downgrade the stock of the airline -- the second-biggest serving McCarran International Airport and flying gamblers in for Las Vegas casinos.

Lakers setting records in sports books: Victoria Sun; The Los Angeles Lakers may or may not make NBA history by becoming the first team to go undefeated during the playoffs.

LV fuel line to be expanded: The pipeline currently consists of two lines, one used exclusively for jet fuel and another for all types of fuel. Kinder Morgan said its jet fuel line is currently running at full capacity, and that the expansion project will increase its ability to transport jet fuel to McCarran International Airport.

Labor secretary: Union relations better: Leigh Strope; WASHINGTON -- Organized labor and the Bush administration have gotten off to a rocky start, but the relationship is improving as they focus on areas of common interest, such as jobs, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said Tuesday.

Lawmakers must sort through chaotic finish of session: CARSON CITY -- The New York Stock Exchange during a panic has nothing on the closing hours of the 2001 Nevada Legislature.

Raises for judges beat deadline: CARSON CITY -- Supreme Court and District Court judges will get a pay raise after the next election, but other state and county elected officials won't.

Reapportionment delay violates state Constitution: CARSON CITY -- The 2001 Legislature apparently violated the Nevada Constitution by failing to approve a reapportionment plan at the session that closed Tuesday morning.

Gaming lobbyists earn their pay: CARSON CITY -- The muscle of the gaming industry was never more evident than at the closing of the Nevada Legislature Tuesday.

Business briefs for June 6, 2001: A conference and exposition that met in Las Vegas for the first time last year has outgrown its hotel venue and will meet at the Las Vegas Convention Center later this year.

Las Vegas area fishing report: Striped bass fishing has been good throughout the lake and anglers are now taking fish with shad imitations near the lake's surface. Boaters who are fishing in the Boulder Basin have been having excellent results by trolling near the algae line.

Rhodes loses council seat: Diana Sahagun; Several North Las Vegas City Council members who stayed neutral during Robert Eliason's campaign against eight-year incumbent John Rhodes are now calling his victory a milestone for the city.

Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Free Fishing Day set for weekend: Paula DelGiudice; A busy weekend lies ahead for anglers. Saturday is this year's annual Nevada Free Fishing Day. On this day, anglers throughout the state can fish without a fishing license or stamps. The Nevada Division of Wildlife has a very busy day planned for anglers of all ages. In addition to stocking the state's waters to improve "catching" success, there are many organized activities planned.

LV ice rink cuts hours to cope with energy costs: Grace Leong; Soaring electricity costs have prompted one of Las Vegas's four ice skating rinks to cut its operating hours.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Thursday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Bold Fever -- Training at Anita, hustling Julio on Shirreffs trainee for owner Thoroughbred Corporation, good post for 7-panel maiden-claiming opener. Ladir -- Baze aboard Mandella trainee for owners Moss, needs prompt start and clean trip from inner post, sitting on graduation. Value Play -- Sullivans Travels

Columnist Victoria Sun: If you can beat the heat, now is the time to play cheap golf: Victoria Sun; For most of the year, it certainly isn't cheap to play a round of golf at most area clubs.

Professionals stunned at failure of Nevada problem-gambling bill: David Strow; Nevada professionals devoted to fighting problem gambling are stunned and disappointed following the Legislature's failure to approve a bill that would have provided public funds for their efforts for the first time.

DOE step makes Yucca more likely: Mary Manning and Benjamin Grove; The Environmental Protection Agency today reaffirmed its radiation standard for burying nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, but a change in the technical details may make it easier for the Department of Energy to build a repository.

Thursday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1:10 p.m.

Reid becomes budget pointman on Yucca project: Benjamin Grove; Reid's new duties

Letter: Gas-hog SUV owners targeted: Olivier is after the owners of SUVs that get about 10 miles per gallon of gas.

Hanford officials not waiting for Yucca outcome: Instead of waiting for a proposed repository at Yucca Mountain to open, the Energy Department has constructed three huge underground vaults at Hanford, Wash., to hold its plutonium-laced reactor fuel and radioactive liquid wastes.

Judge agrees to reduce bail for man accused of killing three: Kim Smith; District Judge Joseph Bonaventure reduced Mitchell Dettloff's bail from $2.2 million to $500,000 after a two-hour hearing Wednesday.

Letter: Jeffords worthy of our praise: I sent letters to Jeffords and to Sen. Harry Reid to thank them for the hope that has been restored to my heart and, I believe, to our country and the world. The voices of all the voters in this past election may count for something after all.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: De la Renta designs shine at benefit: Elizabeth Foyt; Oscar de la Renta, the world-renowned fashion designer, in his first personal appearance in our city, proved to be a gracious presence who easily conversed with guests and later presented his fall and holiday 2001 collection to the audience. Master Chef Julian Serrano of Picasso at Bellagio, preparing his grandmother's favorite paella at the garden cooking center of the home, received acclaim for the Spanish-flavored dinner.

Five arrested after gunmen hold up LV bank: Jace Radke; Five suspects in federal custody were expected to be charged today in connection with the noontime takeover robbery Tuesday of a northwest Las Vegas bank.

Pair dropped from murder charge: Kim Smith; A North Las Vegas Justice of the Peace dismissed a murder charge against two of five men accused of shooting a rival gang member in March, after the state's sole eyewitness recanted a portion of her testimony.

Las Vegas man to stand trial in mother's death: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas man suspected in the bludgeoning and stabbing death of his mother will stand trial.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: A return to Philadelphia freedom: Philadelphia, my hometown, was once considered so dull and predictable it was the favorite target of such professional wits as W.C. Fields. If only he could see the vibrant, exciting metropolis it has become. Four days in the "City of Brotherly Love" is hardly time enough to spend time with my brother, visit favorite haunts and take stock of the renaissance taking place here -- especially in Center City, where I stayed at the Four Seasons Philadelphia.

Cookbooks can be found at bookstores or on Internet: Max Jacobson; Las Vegas lacks a bookstore devoted solely to the cookbook, such as Kitchen Arts and Letters in Manhattan, or Food Arts in Los Angeles. But local bookstores have large cooking sections: Borders, Barnes & Noble, and the used book store Albion Books, to name just three.

Residents say no to nuclear dump: More than 80 Southern Nevada residents Tuesday urged the Department of Energy to find alternatives to the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear dump.

Editorial: Tracking winners ... and losers: Regarding the rest of its work, this Legislature won't be remembered for having made any sweeping changes. Then again, this Legislature also doesn't appear to have passed legislation that produced a substantial amount of harm, either. For that matter, since Gov. Kenny Guinn is likely to run for re-election in 2002, the governor refrained from pursuing an agenda that could result in political peril, which also aided in the creation of a bland session.

Auto racing schedules, winners and point standings: Feb. 18 - Daytona 500, Daytona Beach, Fla. (Michael Waltrip)

Vintage Vegas: Classic couture making a comeback: The cotton floral dress, covered with light splashes of sequins, hangs next to other vintage dresses in Valentino's Zootsuit Connection, a specialty shop on South Sixth Street owned by Parker and his wife, Beverly.

County equalizes merit raises: Angela Soo; Merit pay for Clark County employees will be capped at 4 percent beginning next month, a move that will save the county money and end criticism of unequal treatment under the program that rewards good job performances.

Community briefs for June 6, 2001: A silk greenhouse workshop will be held 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Lorna J. Kesterson Valley View Recreation Center, 500 Harris St., Henderson.

Review: Swordfish: Lowering the boom: Geoff Carter; Starring: John Travolta, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry and Don Cheadle.

Water bills can be paid on district's website: Electronic bill presentment and payment (EBPP), will allow the Water District's 800,000 Southern Nevada customers to view and pay their bills at the company's website (www.lvvwd.com).

Letter: Suggestions for schools fall on deaf ears: When our new administration came on the scene, I remember hearing a message of hope and encouragement. One in which open communication and the sharing of ideals would be encouraged.

Obituaries for June 6, 2001: Marta Aponte, 63, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospice. She was born Sept. 26, 1937, in Puerto Rico. A resident for three years, she was a homemaker.

Boulder Dam Hotel gets second chance: Jeffrey Libby; On a weekday morning in the mid-1930s, Ann Pittman, a waitress at the Boulder Dam Hotel, began to circulate a rumor.

Columnist Jon Ralston: A fitting end to the Session of Nothing: CARSON CITY -- No one who was not there will ever be able to fully appreciate it -- the end of the 121-day session as it descended into paralysis, chaos and then travesty.