Print edition for May 3, 2001

A look at the Derby horses: A look at the Derby horses

Sprint planning fun-only casino games: Kevin Ferguson; Sprint PCS is adding a host of interactive games -- including play-for-fun roulette and craps -- to its wireless web network. Some say this is a step toward developing wireless, hand-held, casino-style gambling devices.

LV satellite customers still waiting for local stations: Kevin Ferguson; More than 18 months after satellite TV providers were given permission from Congress to add local TV stations to their networks, Las Vegas stations still aren't carried on satellite TV services.

Guilty verdict not end of Rudin murder case: Kim Smith; Margaret Rudin was convicted Wednesday of murdering her husband, but her case -- and the fallout from it -- is far from over.

Favorite has an 'outside' chance: Ed Schuyler Jr; LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Point Given will be outside looking in when he tries to give trainer Bob Baffert a third Kentucky Derby victory in five years.

City weighs options to find new fire chief: Jace Radke; The city of Las Vegas is evaluating whether to conduct an internal or national search for a new fire chief after Mario Trevino resigned Wednesday to become fire chief for the city and county of San Francisco.

Navajo racer hopes to be hero to Indians: Paul Newberry; Cory Witherill gets plenty of attention when he shows up at an Indian reservation - especially when he brings along his race car.

Brush with greatness: Gilbert Alejendre, a sales representative in the paint department of Home Depot in Henderson, says the majority of homeowners in the Las Vegas Valley hire contractors to do the work.

City Hall slams door on homeless shelter: Diana Sahagun; Six more weeks was all Kelli Arrieta needed.

Four-time CART champion takes on Winston Cup: Mike Harris; As a smiling Chip Ganassi strolled down pit lane, crewmen stopped working on their cars to watch or nod to NASCAR's famous newcomer.

UNLV notebook: Rebel tennis player on All-MWC first team: Zivkovic, 17-9 playing at No. 1 singles, is ranked 87th nationally and will look to earn his first singles bid into the NCAA Championships later this week.

Developers ponder ideas for land in downtown LV: Diana Sahagun; A decision on which projects will be chosen for 61 acres downtown could come as early as next month.

Health briefs for May 3, 2001: UMC's new Family Resource Center officially opened to the public Wednesday. The center provides free community services to help couples prepare for parenthood.

Berkley urges EPA official to study Yucca radiation: As two federal agencies battle over the amount of radiation that would be allowed to escape from a proposed high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, a Nevada representative has asked for an independent review.

Catching up with: Mike Nannini: High School: Green Valley ('98)

Lawmakers press for women's health platform: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- An Assembly panel unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday establishing a women's health care platform to address the inequities in health care between men and women.

Las Vegas council briefs for May 3, 2001: The Las Vegas City Council has approved a resolution supporting the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition's efforts to coordinate strategies on Yucca Mountain.

Here's the real dirt on Legislature: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- With a major bill deadline and news from the Economic Forum behind it, the Assembly took to some ceremonial issues Wednesday.

Letter: Bus shelter is finally removed: Since buses no longer stop there, there has been no need to have this shelter there. In all this time I have been writing letters to all concerned to remove this bus shelter and locate it where it is needed. I wrote a letter to the mayor, care of City Hall. Oh, yes, I did get a reply. In May 2000 I received a letter from City Hall that an order was given to the maintenance to remove that bus shelter. It never was removed, and I continued on my effort to get them to move this bus shelter.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Saxe family has a long history in Las Vegas: Joe Delaney; Show and business are two separate words ... If the show does not do business, it will soon be history ... David Saxe serves as producer for his sister, Melinda, First Lady of Magic, who has recently expanded her show schedule at the Venetian ... Melinda's production is in a profit mode despite its sub-lessee status and paying an unusually high fee to ticket brokers -- quite an accomplishment.

Market reacts to Nevada insurers' profits: PacifiCare reported an 82 percent drop in first-quarter profits after the financial markets closed Wednesday. But earnings per share exceeded Wall Street's expectations. Net income fell to $13.1 million, or 39 cents a share for the Santa Ana, Calif., health insurer.

County says no to more billboards...for now: A sign of the times -- no new billboard rules for Clark County, at least for 60 days.

3 perspectives: Joppy says he can beat Trinidad ...: Dean Juipe; Like many champions before him, William Joppy believes he has what it takes to defeat Felix Trinidad.

PCL Box: Las Vegas-Calgary, game one: E--Waszgis. DP--Las Vegas 1. LOB--Las Vegas 10, Calgary 5. 2B--Mottola, Thompson, Mota, Erickson. HR--Castro (5). S--Knotts. SF--Branson.

Wyoming angler hits jackpot in contest: Twenty-five striped bass were tagged with one specially numbered and designated as the million-dollar fish.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Trial sparks memories of sordid tale: Ruthe Deskin; Amurder trial in Mexico City has a Las Vegas twist and memories for some of us who remember the flamboyant Cora Galenti.

News briefs for May 3, 2001: Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., has announced Nevada will receive $1.1 million for a program to fight violence against women.

Colleges expect worst from state budget cuts: Jennifer Knight; Nevada's higher education system is expected to take hefty cuts in its two-year budget to help the state make up for its $121.5 million deficit, higher education officials say.

Price, former big band singer, wife of late columnist, dies: Angela Soo; During the '40s and '50s, Dottie Price's love of singing took her to the stage with the big bands of Ray Noble and Jan Garber.

Commission delays hydro-plant action: Blue Diamond Power Partners, a consortium headed by a St. George, Utah-based engineering firm, asked for a two-week hold on the company's application at Wednesday's zoning meeting of the county commissioners.

Speeding dad is back on probation: Kim Smith; A 44-year-old Las Vegas man convicted in connection with the death of his wife and a daughter in a car crash three years ago was placed back on probation Wednesday with a stern warning after being caught driving 100 mph with his other daughters in the car.

Movement reported in pilots' negotiations: The 18-4 vote Wednesday by Delta's master executive council, a division of the Air Line Pilots Association, forwards the contract for a decision by the carriers 9,800 pilots.

NLV council backs off car-dealer Sunday rule: Kris Hill; A lack of new car dealerships in North Las Vegas prompted the City Council Tuesday night to withdraw a resolution that would require dealerships to be closed Sundays.

Boggs McDonald, Montandon face ethics hearings: Diana Sahagun and Kris Hill; CARSON CITY -- Two high-ranking local politicians will face full hearings into allegations of unethical conduct that in different ways relate to Station Casinos.

Where I stand--Mike O'Callaghan: No easy assignment: SEVEN MEN moving in the pitch-black night are in enemy-held territory. They have no air support and can't call in artillery fire because there isn't a friendly unit within miles. Their mission was to quickly upset a meeting to be held by a local Viet Cong secretary and then move back to the boat that had delivered them. In the process some women and children were killed in the village when the men returned fire coming from the dark. The secretary's meeting evidently wasn't held in that location and the men returned to their base.

Education briefs for May 3, 2001: Six area fifth graders will compete Saturday in the state poster contest for Tar Wars, a national anti-tobacco education program.

Adrian Beltre to join 51s: And for a few games at least, the 51s are going to get it in the form of Dodger third baseman Adrian Beltre.

Community briefs for May 3, 2001: National Park Service rangers and boating safety professionals will host the annual Boating Safety Day Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lake Mead Marina.

Letter: Nuke dump is enough for state: All those towers with propellers on top near Palm Springs and on the Tehachapi Mountains may be fascinating to look at as we drive by, but how long will we love them when we have to live with them? Do we long to see the sun setting behind the high-tech windmills of Mt. Potosi? What songs will that inspire?

Letter: Protect county's share of funds from DMV taxes: I believe that teachers deserve a pay raise, but not at the expense of the citizens of Clark County. Clark County services will surely suffer if this bill passes.

Business called key to county recycling: An engineering firm hired to revise Clark County's Solid Waste Management Plan suggested that local businesses can do the most to help the county meet the state's 25 percent recycling goal.

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

Sun Athletes of the Week: Robert Grana and Emily Eskin: School: Cimarron-Memorial

Editorial: Hardball negotiating may do more harm: But UMC may get its comeuppance for playing hardball. Southwest Ambulance will keep its contract with UMC for now, but the firm says it may hire its own nurses in the future. "We can't be held hostage every time UMC changes its mind," said John Wilson of Southwest Ambulance. Touche.

Court order against Murphy dad sought: Jason Frazer, a key witness in the Ted Binion murder trial, planned today to seek a restraining order in Montana to stop the father of one of the gambling figure's convicted killers from meeting with him.

Obituaries for May 3, 2001: James O. Bellamy, 71, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. A nutritionist, he was born Sept. 22, 1929, in Seattle.

Editorial: Same old tired song in capital: The governor's budget submitted to the Legislature already was pared down to the bone. So making any more cuts not only would be bad public policy, but it also could invite a public backlash, especially if further reductions are made to popular education programs.

... Vargas knows why he didn't ...: Dean Juipe; Soundly beaten and down five times in a fight with Felix Trinidad Dec. 2, Fernando Vargas looks back on the experience and feels he knows what went wrong.

Betting ban bill clears hurdle: Ensign within one vote of defeating NCAA legislation: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- In a moment of dramatic legislative maneuvering, Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., today nearly killed a controversial bill that would outlaw betting on college sports in Nevada.

Budget shortfall threatens problem gambling bill: David Strow; Nevada's budget shortfall is raising fears that funds won't be available for a bill designed to combat problem gambling in the state.

Reid seeks U.S. aid in Nicaragua elections: The offer comes after Reid met with a delegation of Nicaraguan military and community activists on Wednesday, a Reid spokesman said.

MWC Golf Championships par scores: MWC Golf Championships par scores

Casino giant MGM MIRAGE buys California lottery outlet: David Strow; MGM MIRAGE, a big casino operator on the Las Vegas Strip, is getting into the one type of gambling it can't offer in Nevada -- the lottery business.

Kentucky Derby field: Trainers (by post position): 1, John Dowd. 2, David Hofmans. 3, Todd Pletcher. 4, Joseph Orseno. 5, Steven Asmussen. 6, Saeed bin Suroor. 7, Tony Richey. 8, Bob Baffert. 9, Nick Zito. 10, Dallas Stewart. 11, John Scanlan. 12, Simon Bray. 13, Todd Pletcher. 14, Niall O'Callaghan. 15, James Cassidy. 16, John Ward. 17, Bob Baffert.

Guinn to spare state college: Teacher bonuses, workers' raises also escape governor's budget cuts: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn said today startup money for the proposed college in Henderson will not be cut from the budget.

Group: State leaders are loyal to special interests, but not to social causes: CARSON CITY -- A group that advocates social causes is complaining that children, senior citizens, the poor and the mentally ill will be hurt by a lack of leadership from Gov. Kenny Guinn and the Legislature.

Prep boys golf standings: CLASS 4A

Wednesday's prep results: SOFTBALL

Friday's horse racing entries: Post Time 3:30 p.m.

Public could thwart Yucca plan, ex-DOE official says: Mary Manning and Benjamin Grove; Public opposition to a permanent nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain could stop the project within a year, a former Energy Department official told a gathering of nuclear scientists in Las Vegas this week.

Juror assures Nevadans 'justice was served': Kim Smith; As far as Ron Vest is concerned, prosecutors Gary Guymon and Chris Owens couldn't have done a better job prosecuting Margaret Rudin for the slaying of her husband.

Prep baseball standings: CLASS 4A

Man indicted in scam probe: Xian Zhang is charged with two counts of wire fraud, four counts of false use of means of identification and four counts of false use of a Social Security number in connection with a Jan. 25 trip to Las Vegas.

Sun Top 10 Softball Poll: Records though Tuesday

Columnist Ron Kantowski: New schedule does not cut the mustard: Like most Americans, the older I get, the more set in my ways I get. At this rate, it won't be long before my ways are set in quick-drying concrete.

Fight schedule: Friday

Swimmer shows spirit: Spencer Patterson; Brian Benedict has a dilemma on his hands.

Activists move against Binion's, Fremont Street Experience: Nevadans for Equal Access, which fights on behalf of individuals who are disabled for better access to local businesses, sued the downtown hotel-casino in U.S. District Court in 1997. The group charged that facilities available to the public, including rest rooms, snack bars and hotel rooms, were not in compliance with the 1990 federal law.

Two dealers arrested in thefts: Keith Copher, head of the control board's enforcement division, said the board charged the dealers with petty theft, a misdemeanor, after the Plaza alerted the board of the thefts. The poker dealers, whose names were not released, were taking chips both from chip trays and from player pots, Copher said.

PCL Box: Las Vegas-Calgary, game two: E--Branson, Mota. DP--Las Vegas 2. LOB--Las Vegas 5, Calgary 9. 2B--Martin, Erickson. HR--Gilbert (4). S--Leese. SB--K. Johnson, Mottola.

Park Place fined $25,000: Park Place Entertainment Corp.'s Parball Corp. agreed Wednesday to pay a $25,000 fine for the violation.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Friday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Mr. Vice Prizident - Draws good post for route opener, Baze aboard Mitchell trainee, vote for victory here. Southernly Wind - Berrio takes Salazar trainee, draws just outside top pick, adds blinkers for this. Value Play -- Prized Demon

Two re-appointed to panel: Two re-appointed to panel

Columnist Dean Juipe: ... and 'Tito' wants to stay perfect and win title: Dean Juipe; Preparing to fight for the first time in a third division, Felix "Tito" Trinidad expects to enjoy the same type of successes at 160 pounds that he achieved at both 147 and 154.

Nellis personnel named tops in Combat Command: Dick Benoit; Two members of the 99th Communications Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base have been recognized as tops in their field in the Air Combat Command.

Prep softball standings: CLASS 4A

Prep boys volleyball standings: CLASS 4A

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Various sports ready to spring into playoffs: Spencer Patterson; This weekend marks the close of regular season competition in all spring sports, and that can only mean one thing: the playoffs are just around the corner.