Print edition for June 25, 2001

Trends for June 25, 2001: Lisa Ferguson; We at Trends are all for putting on appearances. In honor of our vanity issues, this week's column is brought to you purely for aesthetic reasons.

Obituaries for June 25, 2001: Bina Bernard, 75, of Las Vegas died Friday in Las Vegas. She was born Oct. 21, 1925, in New York. A resident for 20 years, she was in public relations for a television station.

Birth announcements for June 25, 2001: Amanda to Rui and Patricia DeSousa; Zachary to Michael and Regina Flannery.

Review: The Cult raises ghosts at House of Blues: Geoff Carter; I'm having a fair amount of difficulty reviewing The Cult's June 22 show at the House of Blues. I have too much history with vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy; the music of The Cult is too thickly ingrained in my high school years. I couldn't hear the band's songs without drifting into memory."Rain" evoked that cool Gothic girl I never quite hooked up with;"Love Removal Machine" reminded me of my first (and last) band;"She Sells Sanctuary" recalled an old club I used to frequent.

They're For Real:Las Vegans featured on MTV's reality series: Lisa Ferguson; There's a lot to be said for living in the real word and on "The Real World."

Letter: Tax rebates have downside: Enjoy your little tax rebate check (if you get one) because Bush's tax plan is going to significantly reduce federal funds that normally come back to the states.

Editorial: Privacy 'safeguards' are pathetic: Well, the letters informing customers of their privacy rights are just now going out and guess what's happening? Some members of Congress are telling federal regulators that not only are the letters confusing, but that they also may be discouraging people from taking action to protect their privacy rights. Rep. John LaFalce, D-N.Y., says that in some cases the privacy terms are printed so small in the notices that older Americans with limited eyesight may have trouble reading them. It also doesn't help that sometimes the notices are written in legalese, rendering them difficult to understand, or that they come ...

Rescue mission offers hope and new play area for homeless kids: Erica Johnson; Nine-year-old Trista and her little sister, Kayla, were longing for a place to play. They got their wish Wednesday, climbing on a colorful new plastic playground unit outside the Las Vegas Rescue Mission's Women and Children's Shelter.

Golf marathon will raise needed funds: SilverStone Golf Club will host the event, which will involve up to 50 golfers in an all-day challenge to raise money for local Scouting programs.

Letter: City ignores downtown need for post office: Now when the city took over the equally historic Fifth Street School, referenced in the story, it had long before ceased to be used as an elementary school. Not so, however, with the post office.

Columnist John Katsilometes: A read on e-mail practices: Acomic once observed that postcards always dumb down the writer.

Former Better Business Bureau director Nutter dies at 75: Paul M. Nutter, who in 28 years as director of the Las Vegas Better Business Bureau took on everyone from crooked mechanics to nationwide telemarketing scammers, has died. He was 75.

Metro board OKs officer's settlement: Keith Paul; The Metro Police fiscal oversight board this morning approved a $235,000 payout to an officer who was charged with but was later cleared of drug crimes.

Casinos to be improved for historic event: The Lewiston-area Clearwater River Casino may get a facelift, possibly with a hotel, entertainment and convention center, food and beverage outlets and a golf course.

Reno residents breathe easier: Martin Griffith; RENO -- Despite a second straight day of high winds, fire officials remained upbeat Sunday that they could contain a 14,500-acre forest fire west of here by the end of the week.

Vacation Village creditors voting on sale of bankrupt hotel-casino: Grace Leong; The Vacation Village hotel-casino in Las Vegas is still seeking last-minute refinancing in a bid to emerge from its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. But its largest creditor, a Los Angeles loan company, is moving ahead with plans to force a sale of the hotel-casino to recover a $19 million loan.

Experts say gambling revenues leveling off: Jack Ketterer, a spokesman for the Iowa State Racing and Gaming Commission in Des Moines, said when fiscal 2001 ends Saturday, the adjusted operating revenues at race tracks and riverboat casinos are expected to be close to the $879 million record set last year.

NHRA results: At Gateway International Raceway

Gambling, entertainment chiefs bullish on Las Vegas: David Strow; With the building boom of the '90s over and the U.S. economy slowing down, what does the future hold for Las Vegas?

Casinos taking dollars from lottery: "I'd rather go to the casino," she said. "I have a better chance at winning."

Five Nevada mines affected: "They'll be gaining efficiencies through the elimination of duplication," said Russ Fields, president of the association that represents suppliers and contractors as well as many of Nevada's 59 mines, 100 wells and 14 geothermal plants. "They're looking for ways to become better poised for growth.

Perkins had bumpy ride in first session as speaker: Erin Neff; The 2001 Legislature began with more hope to meet Southern Nevada's needs than any recent session, thanks to a new leader in the Assembly.

Lower pump prices could lift tourism: Although high petroleum prices this spring had little effect on visitor volume and gaming revenue in Las Vegas, a recent sharp drop in gasoline prices in California should help boost Southern Nevada summer tourism, a local tourism official said today.

Officer kills man during traffic stop: Jace Radke; A Henderson Police officer is on paid administrative leave today after fatally shooting a man during a traffic stop Saturday night.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Hallowed Dreams still running strong: Ralph Siraco; Just about a year ago, we wrote about a little filly from Louisiana that had just reached a summit in the Sport of Kings -- joining racing's historic equine icons Citation and Cigar.

Police sergeant faces up to one-month suspension: Keith Paul; A Metro Police sergeant accused of falsifying an investigation that cleared another officer will be suspended for up to one month, but will not be fired, police officials told the Sun this morning.

Two Scouts look forward to camp: The boys are in a foster home and have gone camping with their foster family, but both are active, helpful Scouts who are looking forward to camp.

News briefs for June 25, 2001: Former U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan was expected to be released today from a Reno hospital, where he spent more than a week recovering from what was described as a throat infection.

Peoples paces Sky Sox to win: That's Peoples as in Colorado Springs left fielder Mike Peoples.

Public invited to comment on Yucca: The meeting at the County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway, will offer residents a chance to hear about potential consequences of burying 77,000 tons of commercial spent fuel and defense nuclear wastes at the mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Chain misses expectations: The company said its third-quarter profit would have been higher but for heavy investment in expansion, which will peak this year after four years of rapid growth. About 475 Walgreens will open in 2001 -- an average of one every 18 hours.

NASCAR Winston Cup results: At Sears Point Raceway

PCL box: Las Vegas-Colorado Springs: E--Thompson, K. Johnson 2, Bell, Hiatt, Mota. DP--Colorado Springs 3. LOB--Las Vegas 10, Colorado Springs 13. 2B--Brumbaugh. HR--Peoples (11), Kelly (6).

Columnist Dean Juipe: Cavagnaro failed as fund-raiser: Dean Juipe; Every good schmoozer has the ability to say to an acquaintance, "Let's sidle up to the bar" and then steer the conversation toward a specific goal.

Henderson makes final cut for DirecTV center: Mike Cook, general manager of Hughes Network Systems, said both cities meet the physical requirements for its Spaceway program, which needs a dry climate, clear view of the southern sky and access to fiber optic cables.

Defects alleged in development: The development is in the area bordered by Craig Road, Decatur Boulevard, Lone Mountain Road and Jones Boulevard. The defendants' attorney could not be reached for comment on the allegations.

ESPN Classic special to profile Agassi: Victoria Sun; Andre Agassi's storied tennis career is well-documented in an ESPN Classic-Sports Century profile scheduled to air next week.

$141 million California lottery jackpot lures many Nevadans: Jeffrey Libby; NIPTON, Calif. -- Edward Magdaleno's wife called him while he was at work in Von's bakery at 1 a.m. Saturday to instruct him that when he was through with his shift, he and his10-year-old son would be driving south to Nipton for California Lotto tickets.

LV thrift operator buying bank for $5.2 billion: The companies said today the deal was approved by their boards and is expected to be completed early next year. It requires approval by Dime shareholders and regulators.

CART results: At Portland International Raceway

Payback: Gaming pioneer Redd looks back on a lifetime of giving to those in need: Tears welled in the aged eyes of Las Vegas gaming legend William "Si" Redd as UNLV President Carol Harter talked about him at a recent tribute dinner.

Both sides applaud LV merger ruling: Until early 2000, Las Vegas-based Southwest Gas had planned to merge with ONEOK in a $1.8 billion deal. The company had shunned an unsolicited takeover offer by Southern Union, despite the fact Southern Union had offered more money.

County limits role of redistrict specialist: Adrienne Packer; A redistricting specialist who re-drew boundaries for Las Vegas and the state had his role restricted in Clark County, prompting some to believe a movement exists to dilute the Democratic stronghold on the commission.

Formula One European Grand Prix results: Sunday

Past sins haunting Teamsters in Vegas: Sun Staff and Wire Reports; James P. Hoffa will likely be the near-unanimous presidential choice of the 1,800 delegates attending the Teamsters Union convention, which opened in Las Vegas this morning at the Paris hotel-casino.

DOE must study a volcano blast's effect on Yucca: The Energy Department has been ordered to estimate the consequences of a volcanic eruption at a proposed high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

FBI suspect Hill held in isolation: FBI security analyst James J. Hill, facing charges of selling top-secret investigative information, is in federal protective custody at the North Las Vegas Detention Center.

Letter: Mr. President, please stay home: Isn't it time for someone to tell this character to stay home? He will do world cooperation less damage back here paying off oil and industrial barons for their election favors. He has already done about all the social damage to this continent for them he can; now he is taking on world affairs. No wonder the world turns sour on our leadership. And this guy is using our tax money for his travels.