Print edition for June 18, 2001

Casino waitresses agitate over high heels policies: Angie Wagner; High heels and cocktail waitresses go together like neon and buffets in this gambling city, but a group of women wants Nevada to give the casino tradition the boot.

Big Las Vegas website upgrades 'for-fun' gambling offerings: Vegas.com joins a growing number of companies that are offering and promoting "for-fun" casino sites.

Second extension granted: Under the Aladdin's agreements with its banks, the company's shareholders -- the Sommer Trust and London Clubs International -- must invest $8.7 million into the $1.2 billion resort because it failed to meet certain cash flow requirements in the first quarter. This payment was due May 31, but was extended by the banks until mid-June.

Sartini buying slot route, resigning as COO: In connection with the deal, Sartini will resign as Station's COO, though he will remain a director and shareholder of the company. Station is expected to name a new COO shortly.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Open comes to lousy conclusion: Dean Juipe; One by one they dropped from contention, each man tossing away shots and a place in history.

Group vows to protest at BLM meeting: A group that has been critical of Bureau of Land Management control of land in Nevada promises a protest during a public meeting tonight at the West Sahara Library.

NHRA Pontiac Excitement Nationals Results: Sunday

Some regents against increase of 2 members: Jennifer Knight; Some of the Board of Regents, who govern state's higher education institutions, were not happy Friday when news came to them from the 2001 Legislature that two more regents will be added to their already-divided board.

Obituaries for June 18,2001: Cantwell

Le Mans 24 Hours Results: Sunday

Vegas Sports on TV/Radio: Vegas Sports on TV/Radio

USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Results: Sunday

Regulators step up probe of Nevada Bell owner: WASHINGTON -- U.S. regulators said they are investigating more admissions by SBC Communications Inc. that it filed false information as it sought government approval to sell long-distance phone service in Kansas and Oklahoma.

Vegas loses more tech jobs: Kevin Ferguson; PurchasePro, an ailing Las Vegas-based software firm, said this morning it plans to lay off another 200-plus employees, bringing its headcount to below 300. The company fired 103 employees in May.

Footing the special ed bill: Spending plan, OK'd in Senate, may lighten district's funding load: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Late last week, as the Senate voted to spend billions more on special education, Clark County School District Special Education Superintendent Charlene Green was holed up in her Las Vegas office with a calculator.

Camp experience benefits youths: "She really enjoyed the experience," her foster mother says. The girl has done well in school and improved her grades dramatically this year, her foster mother says.

Residents will get chance to publicly oppose college site: Jeffrey Libby; Mission Hills residents for the past three months have voiced opposition to building the Nevada State College on city and federal land in their back yards, arguing not against the college but against the development they say will accompany it.

NASCAR-Pocono 500 Results: Sunday

Approval of mandatory hepatitis, chicken pox vaccines is applauded: By Emily Richmond; Clark County Health District officials are praising a decision by the state Board of Health to make hepatitis A, hepatitis B and chicken pox vaccines mandatory for those enrolling in public and private schools.

4th suspected member of robbery crew nabbed: Keith Paul; The fourth suspected member of a violent robbery crew linked to several casino robberies and a double-homicide in an armored car holdup was arrested this morning, Metro Police said.

Slot cards spreading at big LV gambling houses: David Strow; In the race to develop the Las Vegas Strip area's second multi-casino slot club card, it appears Mandalay Resort Group will win by a nose.

Radisson 200 Results: Sunday

Potential new LV airline is buying planes: JetBlue Airways Corp., a New York-based low-fare airline backed in part by financier George Soros, will buy as many as 48 planes worth as much as $2.5 billion from Airbus Industrie.

Gaming people: Recent gaming industry appointments and promotions: Vicki LePore is vice president of player development for Station Casinos' East Las Vegas operations and William Springgate is director of facilities at Sunset Station.

CART Tenneco Automotive GP of Detroit Results: Sunday

SCCA Speedvision World Challenge GT: Sunday

Guinn signs bill to pay for teachers' raises: Gov. Kenny Guinn has signed a key bill that will balance the state budget and provide $23.5 million for teacher pay raises, his office announced today.

Acropolis Rally Results: Sunday

Catalonia Grand Prix Results: At The Montmelo circuit

Mandalay mall back on track: David Strow; Mandalay Resort Group executives announced to shareholders Friday that the Las Vegas gaming giant is once again moving forward with plans to develop a retail center between its Mandalay Bay and Luxor hotel-casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.

Letter: Try living where the homeless live: Now that the homeless shelters and services in the city of Las Vegas are in a crisis, what compassionate cities in our great valley are willing to lend a helping hand? If the county and other cities would have provided these same services, maybe the homeless situation would not be in the critical stage it is in now.

Editorial: Patient rights get some life: The Senate, which recently came under Democratic control, plans this week to take up a patient's bill of rights, which for years has been stymied by Senate Republican leaders. It's not just Democrats supporting the plan, notable Republicans such as John McCain also back the bill. It also is important that last week Rep. Charlie Norwood, R-Ga., signed on to a similar Democratic measure in the House. Norwood for years had championed a patient's bill of rights, but he had held off his support this year in deference to the White House, which said it wanted to work out a ...

Plan would start new college's classes at CCSN: Jennifer Knight; An offer is on the table to help the Nevada State College save money on its first year of operation by beginning classes at Community College of Southern Nevada's Henderson campus, CCSN officials say.

Group helps low-wage workers: By Timothy Pratt; Nine years ago, Jose Isaac Silva-Ontiveros, 27, crossed the border from Mexico with the help of family who had lived in Las Vegas since 1976.

Variety to choose from at festival: Times

Findlay driven by lending support: Steve Addy; BEST OF THE BEST

Trends for June 18, 2001: Lisa Ferguson; Have you looked at a calendar lately? If you had, you'd know that despite the scorching temperatures summer does not officially begin until Thursday.

PCL box: Las Vegas-Nashville: E--Secrist, Wood. LOB--Las Vegas 3, Nashville 8. 2B--Barry, Hyzdu. HR--Barry (5), Pena (1), Petersen (1). S--Alvarez. SB--Prieto. CS--Petersen.

Judge allows man accused in sex assault to drop plea: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas man accused of drugging and sexually assaulting three women on videotape will face a jury after a Clark County District judge agreed Friday to let him back out of his plea agreement.

Letter: Column about pill hits mark: I did notice, recently, that there was absolutely no problem in getting Viagra covered by insurance! If that isn't discrimination, I don't know what is.

Community briefs for June 18, 2001: United Blood Services, 6930 W. Charleston Blvd., are offering the following scheduled blood drives. For more information, call Michelle Keanini at 228-8400:

Water district targets Hispanics: By Timothy Pratt; When Pat Mulroy, general manager of the Las Vegas Valley Water District, stepped to the lectern last week at a meeting of Las Vegas-area business leaders, she greeted the group in a foreign language.

Carpenters net $43,000 for Kidney Foundation: "This is our third annual drive for the Kidney Foundation and a substantial increase from last year's total," Rick Wilkening, a union spokesman, said. "We are appreciative to all of our union members and their families here in Clark County who donated time and to the people that we stopped in the middle of the street who generously gave money."

The bard in our backyard: Utah Shakespearean Festival celebrating 40 years: The ties binding the annual festival to Southern Nevada extend beyond Interstate 15, the freeway linking Las Vegas to Cedar City, a three-hour drive to the northeast. About a third of the 130,000 people who attend the festival each year travel from Las Vegas.

Tyson Foods donates 30,000 pounds of chicken: "The donation from Tyson will help us meet the demand for food assistance," Bessie Braggs, executive director of the Community Food Bank of Clark County, said. "And best of all, we will be able to provide high-quality protein, a product that is often missing in food banks, to our recipients."

Birth announcements for June 18, 2001: Dane to Ty and Erica Crawford; Justin to Florina DeGuzman and Jerome Canlas.

Contributions help student attend Stanford program: Rebecca Malone; A local high school student will be able to attend the 2001 Junior Statesmen Summer School because of the community's generosity.

Gagne to start tonight: Right-hander Eric Gagne (0-0), a starter for the Dodgers much of the season, will make his first triple-A start of the season for Las Vegas (31-40) and will be opposed by right-hander Brian Cooper (5-4).

News briefs for June 18, 2001: A 58-year-old Las Vegas man died on Sunday after being hit by a minivan while trying to cross Boulder Highway outside a crosswalk.

Herrera takes first step toward bid for Congress: Adrienne Packer; Clark County Commission chairman Dario Herrera confirmed political experts' beliefs Friday morning when he formally changed the name of his exploratory group to the "Herrera for Congress Committee."

Columnist John Katsilometes: A resident's take on The Gate: I live in a gated community.

Business people: Recent appointments, promotions and developments: Kathy Hilty is regional marketing manager for Pardee Homes.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Baffert may be beached for Del Mar season: Ralph Siraco; When Bob Baffert watched his Dubai World Cup winner Captain Steve finish second in the $831,000 Stephen Foster Handicap on Saturday, the high-profile trainer couldn't help but think about another surprising defeat, one that took place under the famed twin spires on the first Saturday in May.

Folding the tents: Homeless people at center of dispute: Erica Johnson; Homeless advocates say the city of Las Vegas has created an unnecessary crisis with its recent initiative to remove encampments of homeless people along the railroad tracks near Main Street and Owens Avenue.