Print edition for May 21, 2001

PurchasePro founder leaves firm: Kevin Ferguson; The founder of PurchasePro, Las Vegas' largest technology company and a once high-flying darling of the Internet industry, has abruptly resigned as chairman and chief executive officer, the company said this morning.

Columnist John Katsilometes: Carefully navigating the median: That's what the census data released last week says. The median age for Clark County residents is 34.4 years. Actually, in Clark County I'm not precisely median; I'm nearly nine months older than median. But statewide the median age is 35, so I'd be an average sort in most Nevada locales, aside from Ely, where they don't take a liking to my sort and why don't I just move along and not cause any trouble, understand?

Police make five arrests, seek two in March killing: Jace Radke; Patient work by North Las Vegas Police and some newfound courage from a neighborhood caught in the crossfire of rival gangs helped investigators make five arrests in connection with the March slaying of a 26-year-old man.

Gambling firm in pact with Gemstar: Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. will get a stake in Youbet.com Inc. in exchange for giving the online betting company access to the horse races broadcast on Gemstar's television network.

Obituaries for May 21, 2001: Louis Beckenstein, 77, of Las Vegas died Friday in Las Vegas. He was born May 27, 1923, in Poland. A resident for six years, he was a retired owner-operator of a dry cleaning establishment, a World War II Army veteran and a board member of Temple Beth El in Closter, N.J.

Compromise in Henderson tax fight fails: CARSON CITY -- Clark County, Las Vegas and Henderson were still at odds today in the battle over the distribution of more than $600 million in tax revenue.

Internet gambling faces hurdles: Kevin Ferguson; Even if the Legislature enacts laws this session allowing online or Internet gambling in Nevada, that will only be one step on a long road to regulating Internet casinos, Nevada's top gaming regulator said.

Fertitta family members sell $8.55 million in stock: Chief Executive Frank Fertitta III and President Lorenzo Fertitta each sold 192,416 shares of stock in seven separate open market transactions from May 3 to May 14 at prices ranging from $14.50 to $15.02 per share. The Fertittas grossed just under $2.85 million each.

Crash has neighbors concerned: Jace Radke; A plane crash that killed the pilot Saturday has left a North Las Vegas neighborhood in the path of the flight a little nervous.

Reapportionment faces long battle: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- The biggest political battle of the decade will wind down this week behind closed doors in the state's Legislative Building.

State plans to raise payments to foster parents by 47 percent: CARSON CITY -- State payments to some 800 foster parents will jump by an estimated 47 percent starting July 1, under plans adopted by the budget committees of the Legislature.

Poker championship leaves Spaniard flush with cash: David Strow; For the second time in three years, poker's ultimate championship rests in the hands of a European.

Palm: Operating loss to double in fourth quarter: May Wong; SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Shares of Palm Inc. tumbled 28 percent Friday after the handheld computer maker warned investors that its balance sheet will get worse before it gets better.

Study: Nevada could lose $50 million in fed funds: Nevada state and local governments stand to lose $50.3 million in federal aid next fiscal year if Congress approves all of President Bush's proposed spending measures, according to a Washington think tank.

Gaming trademarks at issue: Binion, who is secretary of Horseshoe License Co. and chief executive of Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp., accused Todd Ash and two alleged Wichita, Kan.-based companies, Ash Investments and midwestyardsale.com, of "cyberpiracy" in a U.S. District Court lawsuit.

Moody's upgrades Tropicana owner: Moody's raised the rating on $235 million in senior subordinated notes from B2 to Ba3, and the rating on the company's $276 million senior secured revolving credit facility and $50 million term loan from Ba3 to Ba2. Aztar's senior implied rating was hiked to Ba3, and its senior unsecured issuer rating to Ba3. The outlook is stable.

Tech giant sees lower revenue: Michael Dell told analysts Thursday he was confident in the company's aggressive price-cutting strategy, and he predicted the company will profitably gain market share from its competitors.

Mandalay profit beats expectations: The company said it earned $47.4 million or 61 cents per share vs. $48.9 million or 58 cents in the prior-year quarter. Revenue of $669 million was up from $633.7 million.

Letter: Safe storage not a priority for Cheney: Cheney has not addressed the transportation of the waste to the disposal site. The Energy Department estimates that it will take at least 25 trucks a week traveling on our highways for 24 years to move the high-level nuclear waste from reactors to Yucca Mountain. When the people of these areas are made aware of this fact, I doubt if a statement from Cheney that it is "safe" will be sufficient.

Hiatt's blast sinks Fresno: Steve Guiremand; Sometimes it pays to be lucky and good.

News briefs for May 21, 2001: A homeless man has been charged with murder after another homeless man was found burned to death early Saturday morning.

Winston West results: At Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca

NASCAR Truck Jelly Belly 200: At Pikes Peak International Raceway

Furniture shows touch of Gray: He's a history buff who sees the world in 1-inch scale.

Citizens honored by CCSN: Kris Hill; Several Las Vegas residents were honored Sunday during graduation ceremonies at the Community College of Southern Nevada.

James plans more business-friendly tax proposal: CARSON CITY -- Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, said changes are being made in his $65 million franchise-fee plan so that small businesses in Nevada won't be hit with higher taxes.

Indianapolis 500 lineup: Row 1

Checks sought on CCSD's subdistricts: CARSON CITY -- The Legislature plans to keep a close watch on the reorganization of the Clark County School District.

Boy Scout needs help to go to camp: Her 13-year-old son is a Boy Scout who she says is close to earning the Eagle rank, and he would like to go to camp. But the recent problems make it hard for her to afford to send him.

Letter: Only boycott will scare oil firms: Don't be fooled! The way to get them to roll prices back to $1.29 is to stage a boycott for the rest of the year of the industry leaders: Exxon, Mobil and Chevron.

Tinkering by Vegas man, others, improves tech devices: Anick Jesdanun; NEW YORK -- Ken Segler likes to fiddle with electronic gadgets in his spare time. So when the i-opener promised Internet access without a full-powered computer, he grabbed one and tinkered away.

Editorial: Get rid of subsidy for industry: As Sun reporters Benjamin Grove and Mary Manning noted in a Friday story, the Price-Anderson Act (first approved in 1957) protects nuclear power plant companies from having to pay astronomical accident insurance premiums. The law does so by capping liability policies at $200 million per reactor. It's not just environmentalists who don't want to see the Price-Anderson Act renewed. For instance, Taxpayers for Common Sense also will urge Congress not to renew the subsidy. "There are a lot of conservatives in Congress who believe the free market needs to work when it comes to energy policy," said the group's spokesman, ...

Honored student-athletes balanced busy schedules: Spencer Patterson; For most high school students, finding a balance between schoolwork and sports can be difficult, but this year's NIAA/Las Vegas Sun Student-Athletes aren't complaining.

NHRA Matco Tools SuperNationals results: At Old Bridge Township Raceway Park

Tax plans a worry for libraries: Angela Soo; As Clark County continues to experience fast growth, its libraries might have to slow down their pace to meet substantial revenue losses.

2001 spring prep state tournament results: 4A STATE TOURNAMENT

Letter: Forced into complacency: I'm all for building a new children's hospital when we know we can't staff it. This has been proven by the past couple of years of newspaper articles that we have a distinct shortage of nurses.

Birth announcements for May 21, 2001: A girl to Deborah and Daryl Burns.

DOE tracks water flow at Yucca: Government scientists are analyzing results of experiments at Yucca Mountain that could show whether rock fractures allow ground water to move faster than expected through the site of a proposed nuclear waste repository.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Belmont may be site of rubber match: Ralph Siraco; POINT: Monarchos wins the 127th Kentucky Derby sweeping the field with an awesome move for the second-fastest winning time in Derby history, while the favorite, Point Given, checks in fifth to the disbelief of his backers and connections.

Welcome to the dollhouse: Locals relish painstaking details of tiny abodes: Its wallpaper is yellowing. Dust covers the wooden slats of the attic floor where an old photo album lies. A musty smell marks the decades that have passed.

Suspect in killing, high-speed chase indicted: Vornelius Phillips, 25, also faces charges of attempted murder, robbery, kidnapping and battery, according to an indictment unsealed Friday.

NASCAR Busch Nazareth 200 results: At Nazareth Speedway

Columnist Dean Juipe: Hard road led Cordova to Indians: Dean Juipe; I'm a little vague on the exact date, but it was shortly after the Gold Coast opened and almost certainly in the spring of 1989.

Green Valley savors state baseball title: Spencer Patterson; Nick Garritano never thought replacing Nevada high school baseball coaching legend Rodger Fairless would be easy.

Officer cleared in 5-year-old shooting: A Metro Police officer who fired a shot that put a gunman in a coma for five years said he had a responsibility to use deadly force, given that the man already had shot another law enforcement officer and was a threat to other officers and motorists.

HomeBase sues LV coffee chain: The Irvine, Calif.-HomeBase, which said Jitters Gourmet Coffee Inc. failed to pay $6,740 in license fees and $1.515 million for the costs of building cafes in the 26 stores, seeks an order in Clark County District Court to garnish and attach Jitters' funds and assets to satisfy HomeBase's claims.

Trends for May 21, 2001: Lisa Ferguson; Memorial Day is for remembering the heroes who fought for this country's freedom.

PCL Box: Fresno-Las Vegas: E--LoDuca. DP--Fresno 2. LOB--Fresno 5, Las Vegas 4. 2B--Minor, Branson, B. Johnson. HR--Minor (7), Leach (5), Hiatt 2 (6, 7). S--Santana. SB--Melo. CS--Torrealba, K. Johnson.

Nominees meet with White House officials for federal judge seats: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Four nominees are interviewing with Bush administration officials for two open seats on the federal bench.

Top national track performers: 100 meters (10.13 seconds) -- 10.30: Dabryan Blanton, Forney (Texas); 10.32: Edorian McCullough, North Garland (Texas); 10.38: Tyree Gailes, Abilene (Texas)