Print edition for May 24, 2001

Earnhardt Glance: SITE: Lowe's Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C.

Indy 500 Facts and Figures: DISTANCE - 500 miles; 200 laps around the 2 1/2 -mile, asphalt-on-brick Indianapolis Motor Speedway track.

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

Indy 500 Winners: 1912-Joe Dawson

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Wedded bliss becoming more rare: Ruthe Deskin; "Love and marriage. Love and marriage. Go together like a horse and carriage."

Indy 500 Schedule: All times EDT

Obituaries for May 24, 2001: Catherine Ann Avila, 37, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. She was born Sept. 22, 1963, in Las Vegas. A lifelong resident, she was a homemaker.

Letter: Nature protected, homeowners not: Then I read in the New York Times that the Environmental Protection Agency announced on April 16 that it would "leave in place a Clinton administration rule that would expand protection for tens of thousands of acres of wetlands across the United States."

Letter: Flood control project destroys animal habitat: This area, bounded by Stephanie Street, Emerald, Russell Road and Boulder Highway, had been home to an abundance of desert critters -- ducks, rabbits, fox, chipmunks, toads, road runners, snakes, lizards, as well as a broad variety of bird species.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Will Dion pack in crowds at Caesars' Colosseum?: Joe Delaney; When we learned that Caesars Palace was building a 4,000-seat showroom modeled after the Colosseum in Rome, our first thought was that it might be Lions vs. Christians, or a Battle of the Gladiators with meals minus utensils, a much earlier version of "Tournament of Kings" at the Excalibur ... Then it was announced that Celine Dion would perform there 200 times a year, starting in 2002 or early 2003.

Letter: Tax cut fuels economy for rich: TED O. HALL

Community briefs for May 24, 2001: The American Cancer Society will hold its annual Relay for Life from 6 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Saturday at O'Callaghan Park, 601 Sky Line Road in Henderson.

Editorial: This is hardly a renaissance: Vice President Dick Cheney, the architect of the White House's energy plan, was greeted as if he were a conquering hero Tuesday when he spoke before the Nuclear Energy Institute's gathering in Washington, D.C. Cheney, who received two standing ovations from the adoring crowd, reasserted the president's view -- outlined in his national energy strategy last week -- that a repository must be built if nuclear power is to thrive. Since Nevada is the only state under consideration, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand what harm this could mean for Nevada.

Home front: Pearl Harbor' stokes residents' memories of attack: Lisa Ferguson; They still hear the "tat-tat-tat" of bullets blasting in the distance.

Nellis trio named best in entire Air Combat Command: Dick Benoit; Two enlisted women at Nellis Air Force Base, a construction unit first sergeant and a medical group senior NCO, have been named Best in Air Combat Command along with a lieutenant belonging to the base weather station.

Fight schedule: Friday

Columnist Dean Juipe: Botha to headline card at Fremont Street Experience: Dean Juipe; Sterling McPherson appears to have achieved both of his most recent goals.

Free rides home offered to drinkers for Memorial Day: Rebecca Malone; Two weeks from his graduation, 17-year-old Mark Simon was killed by a drunken driver while riding his bike home from work.

Pearl survivor: Las Vegan recalls fateful day aboard USS Oklahoma: Jace Radke; Ray Turpin looked into the morning sky on Dec. 7, 1941, to see a cluster of bombs dropping from a group of Japanese war planes. The bombs appeared to be headed straight at him.

Homeless woman killed over blanket: Keith Paul; Lynn Thorson didn't have much. And, when the homeless woman fought to stop someone who apparently was attempting to steal one of her few possessions -- a blanket -- Thorson was killed.

Assembly passes pot measure: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- The Assembly on Wednesday approved a measure allowing marijuana use and possession for medicinal purposes, but the bill could go up in smoke in the other house.

Davis halts new California Indian gambling compacts: Don Thompson; SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov. Gray Davis won't agree to any additional Indian gambling compacts until legal challenges to the state's tribal gambling law are resolved, his office said Wednesday.

GOP says plan for districts meets needs of Hispanics: CARSON CITY -- Republicans say they can easily fashion Senate and Assembly districts for the Legislature that comply with the wishes of the Hispanic community in Las Vegas.

Litigation arises over Scintas show: Best Shot Entertainment LLC, which owns the rights to the Scintas Production Show, a family entertainment group performing at the Rio, filed suit in Clark County District Court against Front Row Entertainment Inc.

Legislative briefs for May 24, 2001: The Assembly went to the animals Wednesday during consideration of an animal mistreatment measure.

Manteris to head sports books: In his new role, Manteris will oversee race and sports book operations at Station Casinos' Southern Nevada properties.

Equal rights panel chief said absence was misinterpreted: Adrienne Packer; The administrator of the Nevada Equal Rights Commission said Wednesday her failure to attend a federal agency's meeting to discuss the state agency was misinterpreted by U.S. Commission on Equal Rights officials.

Prep notebook: Baseball seniors play tonight at CCSN: The nine-inning game will pit the Sunrise Region, coached by Green Valley's Nick Garritano and Las Vegas' Sam Thomas, against the Sunset Region, coached by Palo Verde's Mike Besser and Bishop Gorman's Ken White. Coaches were selected from the four division championship teams.

Jury deliberation begins in Miller defamation case: Before a jury can discuss the $3 million-plus in damages former Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Miller is seeking in his defamation suit against former two-term Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones, it has to get past one important question:

Former Sen. Bryan appointed to state nuclear commission: CARSON CITY -- Former U.S. Sen. Dick Bryan, who has led the fight against a high-level nuclear dump at Yucca Mountain, today was named to the state's Nuclear Project Commission, which oversees the federal efforts to qualify the site.

PCL box: Tucson-Las Vegas: E--Cintron. DP--Tucson 1. LOB--Tucson 9, Las Vegas 12. 2B--Wilson, Moeller, Huckaby, Aven, Barry, Mota. HR--Hiatt (8). S--Conti, Chavez, Whisenant, Reyes. SF--Conti, Cintron. SB--Wilson, Gilbert 2, Mota. CS--Wilson, Moeller.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: The magic is back for racing fans: The one and only time I tried to change the oil in my car, I nearly drowned in 10W-30. But lack of automotive know-how did not preclude me from becoming a fan of the Indianapolis 500.

Phillips' arraignment postponed because of a conflict of interest: Angela Soo; The arraignment of Vornelius Phillips was postponed Wednesday because of a conflict of interest in the public defender's office.

Resolutions still bog down business: Siobhan McDonough; CARSON CITY -- Several Nevada lawmakers say if there's any resolution that should be brought before the 2001 Legislature, it's one to reduce -- or eliminate -- resolutions.

Man pleads guilty to sex charges involving girl: Jeffrey Libby; A 43-year-old Atlanta strip club security manager pleaded guilty Wednesday to seducing a 13-year-old exotic dancer and transporting her across state lines for sex.

Aven stays hot, but Tucson downs 51s: Steve Guiremand; Until recently you might say the 2001 baseball season was literally a pain in the neck for Las Vegas 51s outfielder Bruce Aven.

Reid, McCain introduce boxing bill: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The sport of boxing needs a national commission empowered to tackle corruption, curb fighter exploitation and set uniform rankings.

Packer, Trump, MGM MIRAGE studying Taiwan casino opportunity: Dow Jones International News reported that MGM MIRAGE officials have visited Penghu, an archipelago in the Strait of Taiwan off the island nation's west coast, to discuss business opportunities.

Court briefs for May 24, 2001: Nevada residents who purchased replacement contact lenses made by three of the leading manufacturers may be eligible for cash rebates on future purchases, under terms of a settlement with Johnson & Johnson.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Friday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Sing Because -- Solis astride Garcia trainee, needs clear trip from inner post for 7-panel opener, competitive at this level. Ira S. -- Pincay scales this one of two Hess--trained 'hidden entries', draws good post, fits this group well. Value Play -- Royal Hill

Editorial: Federal payments to counties revisited: The payments are particularly welcome in Nevada's struggling rural areas -- Nevada's counties received a total of $7.6 million in these funds last year. Still, haggling in Congress over appropriations bills can impede these payments. So Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is seeking legislation that would ensure these payments are automatic and made timely each year. Congress should pass Reid's bill so that eligible counties no longer will have to worry that bickering over the budget will delay this needed funding.

$95,493 spent by lobbyists: Brendan Riley; CARSON CITY -- Assemblymen Morse Arberry and John Oceguera and Sens. Ray Shaffer and Mike Schneider head the list of lawmakers wined and dined by lobbyists, who have spent $95,493 in the first three months of Nevada's 2001 session.

Murphy lawyers seek immunity for snitch: Former jailhouse informant David Gomez, now serving time for perjury in federal prison, has resurfaced in the Ted Binion murder case.

Mental health aid for offenders urged: Siobhan McDonough; CARSON CITY -- A mother of a schizophrenic man told Nevada lawmakers Wednesday that Nevada needs a better court system to deal with mentally ill people who commit crimes.

Crazy Horse nude revue coming to MGM Grand: The late Alain Bernardin, a French show producer who innovated the famed Crazy Horse nude revue, was fascinated by the American Wild West, including its cowboy saloons and gun-slinging tales.

Middle school student maps success in geography bee: Rebecca Malone; Since the age of 3, Jim Hoffman has been interested in maps and the meaning behind their bright colors.

Castillejo takes jabs at Oscar: Dean Juipe; While their press conference in Los Angeles was mostly an exchange of pleasantries, Javier Castillejo did use the opportunity to test Oscar De La Hoya with at least a couple of verbal jabs.

Where I Stand--Brian Greenspun: For the kids' sake: HALF-BAKED in the Big Apple.

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

Regents could name new CCSN president earlier than expected: An ad hoc search committee chose Jack Daniels III for the presidency, but he rejected the offer because he questioned the board's unity.

Nevada to get $3 million from vitamin settlement: CARSON CITY -- Nevada will receive about $3 million in the settlement of a price-fixing suit against six international vitamin makers accused of meeting in secret for the past decade to set prices.

State ranked 11th in traffic deaths: By Emily Richmond; Nevada ranks 11th in the nation for the most motor vehicle deaths, according to federal and state studies aimed at reducing the number of traffic fatalities.

New tax plan emerges: Teachers to benefit in compromise reached today: Cy Ryan and Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- A new plan emerged today to raise some business fees and shift some tax revenues to give schoolteachers a bonus this year and a pay raise next year.

News briefs for May 24, 2001: Amy Wright, who has worked for the state Parole and Probation Division since 1985, has been named deputy chief in the Las Vegas region.

Big Nevada users could leave power grid under Assembly bill: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- The Assembly approved an energy bill Wednesday amid charges that it is unfair to allow only large power users to leave the state's electric utilities.

Casinos are elated over Reid's promotion: Casino industry leaders were ecstatic today over the news that Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., will become the second most powerful member of the Senate.

PurchasePro shares hit all-time low: The business-to-business e-commerce company will not be issuing its already-tardy quarterly SEC financial report until PurchasePro officials and the firm's auditors review accounting issues over the company's first-quarter figures, the company said this morning, adding the review likely will lead to another restatement of the numbers.

National among partners of ticket company: San Francisco-based FairAir, formed in 1999, offers tickets through an Internet site and a toll-free telephone number for flights on Northwest, America West, Midway and National airlines.

EPA ombudsman pledges to examine radiation standards: The Environmental Protection Agency's ombudsman has promised to re-examine radiation exposure standards proposed for Yucca Mountain, if it is approved as the nation's nuclear waste repository.

UFCW leaders urged to embrace technology at LV meeting: Kevin Ferguson; The constantly changing landscape of the business world brought on by the Internet has created a shaky workplace environment for workers.

Jail psychiatrist's background is questioned: Keith Paul and Steve Kanigher; A Las Vegas doctor who provides psychiatric services for Clark County jails has been allowed to practice medicine in Nevada even though he is barred from doing so in two other states.

Union targeting Wal-Mart changes in post-Walton era: Grace Leong; The name of legendary retailing genius Sam Walton is being invoked by the United Food & Commercial Workers union as it accelerates a national organizing drive, centered in Las Vegas, at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Airport might bring windfall of growth: The planned Ivanpah Valley Airport may bring more than just cargo and passenger flights to southern Clark County.

Vegas in airline's two-year plan: JetBlue is kicking off Long Beach service in August with two nonstop flights a day to and from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Boy needs positive input: She says she doesn't want her problems to affect her son's ability to learn and benefit from a positive environment such as summer camp.

Legislators unable to amend renewable energy measure: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Once again Assembly Republicans lost a battle to amend an energy bill designed to spark construction of renewable energy plants in Nevada.