Print edition for May 15, 2001

Police union holds off challenge: Keith Paul; The Metro Police officers' union fought off a nearly yearlong power struggle with a competing union, winning a vote by rank-and-file officers last week to continue representing them.

Housing haven: City offers options for those in need of help: Kris Hill; In February Ivory Williams and her three daughters moved from their home near Rainbow Boulevard and Alta Drive to a townhome at Buena Vista Springs apartments in North Las Vegas.

2001 spring prep playoff schedule, results: BASEBALL

State Assembly panel approves bill authorizing private gambling salons: CARSON CITY -- The Assembly Judiciary Committee on Monday unanimously approved a bill allowing big Las Vegas casinos to set up private gambling rooms to attract international ultra-high-rollers.

Teachers wage time protest: Area educators won't stay for after-school programs: Terry Webster; Angered by increasing class sizes and no salary raises, Clark County School District teachers at three middle schools began this week working only the minimum time required by their contracts.

Solidarity falls by the wayside: City, county leaders were to oppose revenue shift: Adrienne Packer; A meeting between Clark County and the city of Las Vegas to show solidarity was canceled Monday, raising doubts that local governments are unified in fighting legislation that would shift money from them to the state and school district.

Limits on residential casinos opposed: CARSON CITY -- A bill to make it tougher to build casinos near residential neighborhoods in Las Vegas ran into tough opposition in the Assembly Judiciary Committee Monday.

County drawing up new district boundaries: Adrienne Packer; After a decade of disproportionate growth in Clark County Commission districts, county planners are tapping into 2000 Census figures to draw new boundaries.

Nevada regulators move against three LV firms: Grace Leong and David Strow; The Nevada Attorney General's office is suing three unrelated Las Vegas companies that have been the subjects of complaints over alleged securities sales, the marketing of puppies and sales of debt-reduction services.

Interest rate cut expected: Another rate cut is needed, they say, given the beleaguered state of the nation's manufacturing sector, which many believe is in a recession of its own, and the weakened job market.

Earnings mixed for retailers: Net income in the quarter ended April 30 rose to $1.38 billion, or 31 cents a share, from $1.33 billion, or 30 cents, a year ago, Wal-Mart said today. Sales rose 12 percent to $48.1 billion.

Wisconsin governor blocks casinoplan tied to Babbitt investigation: JR Ross; MADISON, Wis. -- Gov. Scott McCallum has refused to give his consent to an off-reservation casino proposed by three tribes, effectively killing a project that was the focus of an investigation of former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt.

Downtown Vegas casinos try energy-saving measures: David Strow; Will the bright lights of Fremont Street be going dim soon?

Coverage initiated on slot maker by Goldman Sachs: Kent set a 12-month target of $24 for the Chicago-based slot manufacturer, a 17 percent premium over Friday's closing price of $20.51. Kent projected earnings per share would increase 31 percent to $1.46 for the fiscal year ending in June, followed by a 17 percent increase in fiscal 2002.

Union settles complaints with two casinos: The sole provision of the settlement is that the MGM Grand and Caesars Palace post employee notices for the next 60 days outlining employees' rights under federal labor law. The notices, for example, inform employees that their jobs can't be threatened if they support the union, that employees won't be under surveillance to discover if they're backing the union, and that the company can't tell employees it would be futile to join the union.

Aladdin mall tenants sue to keep leases: Amici II Ltd., doing business as Casablanca Clothiers, and Furniture Out of Africa Inc., doing business as African Odyssey, made the filings last week after the stores received notices of delinquent rent payments.

Phones fail in southern LV: The outage struck neighborhoods bordered by St. Louis Avenue, McLeod Drive, Flamingo Road and Interstate 15.

Metro Police officer injured when his motorcycle collides with car: Police said Officer Shawn Allen ran into the right side of a 2000 Jaguar driven by Susan Aronson, 60, who is accused of failing to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Buffalo and O'Bannon drives about 6 p.m.

Police call off 45-minute chase: The chase started about 11:15 p.m. near the Spaghetti Bowl, and continued south on Interstate 15, down Interstate 215 to McCarran International Airport and back onto I-15.

News briefs for May 15, 2001: Authorities on Monday identified a Las Vegas boy killed when a thunderstorm washed him into a canyon at Zion National Park, Utah.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Nevada needs to re-think playoff ban: Dean Juipe; I've always categorized these endless State of Nevada budget-crunch stories as deceptive, if not downright bogus.

Rebels to meet Aztecs in tourney: Victoria Sun; The UNLV baseball team lost five of six regular-season meetings to San Diego State.

Reed, Wooster come to town with eyes on title: Spencer Patterson; Just two weeks ago, it seemed a foregone conclusion that defending 4A State Softball champion Wooster would repeat with relative ease.

Firm angered by competing bid for jail construction: Diana Sahagun; Martin-Harris Construction claims the city of North Las Vegas is being duped and plans to protest the city's expected award of a jail contract to another company.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Iam The Ice Miss - Draws good outside post for sprint opener, Solis aboard Mitchell trainee, crack The Ice with the Miss. Cafe Del Mar - Baze takes O'Neill trainee, needs clean trip from inner post, solid rider and trainer here. Value Play -- Miss Mystery

Father fights teen cleanup bill: John Wilkerson; CARSON CITY -- The father of a boy killed while picking up trash along Interstate 15 urged a state Senate committee on Monday to prohibit highway work for youths doing community service.

Longtime dentist is critical of bill: By Emily Richmond; The Legislature is considering a bill that defines rules for dentists based on the demographic makeup of the area in which they practice.

Editorial: Legal questions over medical marijuana: Still, many legal analysts said that the decision was narrowly tailored to that of distribution, and that the ruling left intact ballot initiatives or laws passed in states, including in Nevada, to allow medical marijuana. To clear up any confusion, however, Congress should grant states the flexibility to put in place programs that would permit marijuana to be used for strictly medical purposes. Decency and respect for those who are seriously ill warrants congressional action.

Editorial: Resolution to shortfall is in sight: Until as late as last week many legislators would have just as soon had James drop what they believed was a politically perilous option. But how times change. Now it appears that momentum is building for James' proposal to levy a $500 fee on every company that registers with the secretary of state. This plan admittedly became politically palatable only after in-state companies were exempted from the new fee. Supporters of the plan contend Nevada companies deserve this exemption since they already are hit with the state's business activities tax, which amounts to a $100 assessment for every employee.

Where I Stand--Brian Greenspun: High court snuffs pot: IS THE COUNTRY going to pot?

Letter: Learn from California: What in the world is going on? Haven't they learned anything from California? What's wrong with waiting for two years to see what happens with energy supply and prices?

Letter: Dentist exams are not fair: Most dentists from out of state have taken one or more clinical examinations. Some of those states have accredited dental schools, unlike Nevada.

Letter: Gasoline boycotts would get oil barons' attention: What to do about it? There is power in unity. This means it is time to work together on this (and you will see results). No company can afford to sit on their products, especially the oil cartels.

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

Sacramento rallies in sixth to defeat 51s: Kiefer had yielded just one hit, a third-inning RBI double by Sacramento second baseman Jose Ortiz that barely bounced fair inside the left-field line, as the 51s built a 3-1 lead.

Killer gets no sympathy from daughter of victim: Angela Soo; Facing her mother's killer in court during a sentencing hearing Monday, Deborah Parks didn't allow Termaine Lytle to mistake who the real victim was.

Carroll: Original MASH deal is OK: Diana Sahagun; A new contract for MASH Village is likely to be postponed indefinitely, a city spokeswoman said Monday.

Ruling doesn't affect Nevada bill: CARSON CITY -- Supporters of the state's medical marijuana bill say the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court Monday would not deter them from moving forward with legislation to permit seriously ill persons to grow their own plants.

Court briefs for May 15, 2001: Two men expected to be tried in the death of a Las Vegas woman will have separate trials.

Vucanovich joins women's hall of fame: RENO -- Former Rep. Barbara Vucanovich and longtime Reno activist May Shelton were inducted Wednesday into the Nevada Women's Fund's Hall of Fame for their contributions to women and children.

Scholarships, charities help local Italian-Americans improve image: What the public knows about Italian-American business leaders sometimes comes from sources such as the television show "The Sopranos," about a fictitious New Jersey mob family.

Community briefs for May 15, 2001: United Blood Services, 6930 W. Charleston Blvd., has scheduled blood drives at these locations this week:

Immunization schedule for May 15, 2001: NORTH LAS VEGAS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Space invaders: Experts offer advice for eradicating ants: By Jerry Fink; Stanley, owner of Enviro Pro Pest Management Service, started his company 13 months ago to focus on ant control, although he will take on any pest.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Regent players getting gamey: Kate Maddox; The game began April 24.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Showgirl auditions a tall order: Vegas, baby.

Nevada battles feds on Yucca water: SAN FRANCISCO -- The federal government and Nevada squared off in an appeals court Monday over where to store 77,000 tons of radioactive waste.

Pattison, former Sun and Utah newspapers sportswriter, dies at 56: Dan Pattison, a former sportswriter for the Deseret News, the Salt Lake Tribune and Las Vegas Sun, died May 8 in Salt Lake City of a bone marrow disorder. He was 56.

Sinatra estate sues over bootleg Caesars tapes: David Strow; The children of legendary entertainer Frank Sinatra have taken a Las Vegas man to court in an attempt to block his efforts to market secretly recorded audio recordings of their father performing at Caesars Palace.

Council to decide fate of topless club: Diana Sahagun; The fate of a topless club that has been the target of a stream of lawsuits and ethics complaints will be decided by the Las Vegas City Council Wednesday, when members are scheduled to vote on whether to extend the club's permit.

Polite boy deserves to go to camp: His mother says the changes have been tough on him. Her son loves the outdoors, but has never been to camp.

Obituaries for May 15, 2001: Alma Jo Atkinson, 43, of Las Vegas died Friday in a local hospital. She was born Oct. 26, 1957, in Alabama. A resident for eight years, she was a hotel housekeeper.

Business briefs for May 15, 2001: A mortgage company filed a lawsuit in Clark County District Court, seeking a judge's order that would enable it to take over a land parcel at the Champion Village development in Henderson.

PCL Box: Las Vegas-Sacramento: E--Gilbert, Hart. LOB--Las Vgas 6, Sacramento 4. 2B--Aven, Ortiz. HR--B. Johnson (5). SF--Hart. SB--Prieto, Piatt.

Three UNLV players on Mountain West team: Senior shortstop Racheal Goodpaster batted a team-high .349 this year and belted nine home runs. She also led the team in doubles with 13 and tied for the team lead in hits with 53.