Stories published November 16, 2001Las Vegas Sun

Columnist Sal DeFilippo: For Tennessee, that last yard seems miles away: Sal DeFilippo; I doubt Jeff Fisher would complain if the NFL changed the length of the field to 99 yards.

Comdex a tough sell for LV economic developers: Kevin Ferguson; City of Las Vegas business recruiter Doug Lein gets frustrated when people ask him where the bathroom is.

Earnings rise in third quarter: Isle of Capri reported net income of $10.4 million, or 35 cents per share, for the quarter. That compares to net income of $9.6 million, or 30 cents per share, for the year-ago period.

Nevada court OKs policy on cash shortages: CARSON CITY -- A casino had the right to withhold money from the wages of a cashier if there were shortages in the cash drawer, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

Think you know Spoonball?: Steve Addy; Are you ready for some Spoonball?

Frohlich, Lady Rebels have high expectations: Victoria Sun; The individual accolades are nice -- and she has plenty of them -- but UNLV senior forward Linda Frohlich would give them all up for just one trip to the NCAA Tournament.

New Comdex gadgets emphasize security: May Wong; At this year's Comdex show, some offerings from tech manufacturers stretched the limits of the human ability to multitask. The quest to cram functions into a single device is reaching the breaking point.

Columnist Steve Guiremand: Tough talk from Utah's Parker rankles BYU -- and its fans: Steve Guiremand; Utah head football coach Ron McBride showed up at a media luncheon this week in Salt Lake City with Ute safety and former Cimarron High School star Arnold Parker in tow.

Agency criticized for urging stores to lobby for lottery: "Even if it's legal, it's unethical to use a public agency to promote a political purpose," the Rev. John Edgar of the United Methodist Church said.

Culinary ordered to halt meetings on property: The Castaways hotel-casino in Las Vegas on Tuesday sued Culinary locals 165 and 226, alleging they violated a "no-strike"provision in the collective bargaining agreement between the casino hotel and the Culinary.

Rebels defeat Aztecs in MWC tournament: The win is also the first tournament victory for the Rebels since the inception of the conference three years ago.

$500,000 to build road sound barrier: Jeff Libby; Highway officials said Thursday they will pay $500,000 to build sound barriers for a southwest Henderson neighborhood adjacent to one of the largest planned road widening projects in Southern Nevada.

This week's races: NASCAR WINSTON CUP NAPA 500

Columnist Dean Juipe: Is Rahman only renting the throne?: Dean Juipe; Hasim Rahman is $10 million richer regardless, but if he doesn't defeat Lennox Lewis in the first defense of his heavyweight championship Saturday night at Mandalay Bay he runs the risk of being labeled this era's Trevor Berbick or Pinklon Thomas.

Heavyweights primed for rematch: Dean Juipe; Lennox Lewis says he will retire if he loses to Hasim Rahman Saturday night in the Mandalay Bay Events Center, while Rahman believes Lewis should already have hung up his boxing gear.

Saturday's horse racing entries: Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Vasser part of new effort to race at Indy: When Jimmy Vasser was hired to drive the Shell car next year in CART for car owners Bobby Rahal and David Letterman, the 35-year-old Las Vegas resident left no doubt as to his goal for the 2002 season.

Good-time Charlie: Steve Addy; Somewhere, for some reason, there must be someone who doesn't like Charlie Spoonhour.

Reaction mixed to Philip Morris name change: Adam Geller; NEW YORK -- Philip Morris will try to clear the air -- with a fresh, new name.

Got questions? We have the answers: Steve Addy; Ten questions and answers about the 2001-02 Rebels:

Company acquires bingo trade show: The show will enter its sixth year when it is held in April 2002 at the Riviera hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip. GEM had produced the show jointly with Dion Entertainment of Surrey, British Columbia, since 1998.

Knight, mayor engage in rap session: Diana Sahagun; News that 21st Century Financial has dropped its plans to build a high-tech center downtown was a disappointment for Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, but Marion "Suge" Knight, who founded Death Row Records, has plans for the site that is rap music to the mayor's ears.

Feds sued over new mining rules: Environmental groups announced today that they have filed suit to block new mining rules established last month by Interior Secretary Gale Norton.

Probe confirms conflict of interest for Yucca law firm: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The Department of Energy could decide within 15 days what will happen to Winston & Strawn, the law firm that is handling the legal work for DOE's Yucca Mountain project.

Mustangs looking for 5th straight state title: Spencer Patterson; Friday's games

The Charlie Spoonhour file: Hometown:: Rogers, Ark.

Arena bidder claims foul on city: Diana Sahagun; Bill Lightbody, a well-known San Diego developer affiliated with the Harlem Globetrotters, thought he was entering into a typical redevelopment partnership with the city of Las Vegas when he began discussions with Mayor Oscar Goodman regarding a downtown arena.

VEGAS WEEKEND SPORTS ON TV-RADIO: VEGAS WEEKEND SPORTS ON TV-RADIO

Tubbs bring his last team to Las Vegas: Victoria Sun; It's fitting that TCU head coach Billy Tubbs, in his final season with the Horned Frogs, will get to coach a few games in Las Vegas, one of his favorite places to play.

Bonanza's Smith signs with San Francisco: Bonanza's Smith signs with San Francisco

A sneak peek at this year's Rebels: Steve Addy; A positional look at the 2001-02 Rebels:

Ralph Siraco's selections for Saturday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- Motto -- Hustling Espinoza aboard Mandella trainee, draws good spot for turf route opener, runs well over this course. Special Ring -- One of three in the field training at Anita, Nakatani on Canani trainee, a factor throughout. Value Play -- Royal Highlander

3 players honored as captains: Steve Guiremand; Five years ago Pete Tramontanas became the first athlete from the northern California mountain town of Alturas to earn a Division I scholarship.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Tax committee is just a cover: WHAT'S IN A NAME? That which the craven political class calls the Governor's Task Force on Tax Policy would still smell as foul.

Civic Symphony tackles overture for season opener: Inspired by his 1829 visit to the western coast of Scotland, German composer Felix Mendelssohn wrote the "Hebrides Overtures," which captured the grandeur of the area's rock formations and the rhythmic wave patterns mingling with the islands.

Letter: World-class ideas required: Even worse than this is his apparent endorsement of a plan to impede traffic on Alta Drive between Valley View and Rancho Drive.

Scouts hope to break record with door-to-door food drive: Daniela Mohor; About 7,500 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts will collect nonperishable food donations for Las Vegas' needy families Saturday.

Community news briefs for November 16, 2001: The Henderson Parks and Recreation Department will host a performance by the Good Times Band at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Whitney Ranch Recreation Center, 1575 Galleria Drive.

Columnist Jeff German: Local lawmen focus on terrorists: SINCE THE SEPT. 11 attacks, law enforcement agencies all over America, including Las Vegas, are rethinking their crime-fighting strategies.

Woman denied daily makeover during trial: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas woman accused of beating a 5-year-old girl to death won't be allowed to undergo a 90-minute daily makeover during her trial.

Columnist Benjamin Grove: Report may give hope to Yucca opponents: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Nevada senators believe the Department of Energy's Inspector General handed them powerful new ammunition this week in their battle to defeat the Yucca Mountain Project.

Laughs abound at Tropicana Comedy Stop: Joe Delaney; Bob Kephart's Tropicana Comedy Stop is a model of comedic consistency week after week. The current lineup with John Joseph, Johnny B and Phil Palisoul, through Sunday, is really a three-headliner show, rather than the usual headliner, second act and an opener who doubles as emcee. It was a capacity crowd at the show caught earlier this week. The laughs were frequent, loud and long.

Letter: Don't socialize airline security: Wages paid have nothing to do with qualifications to perform a job. Some nonunion casinos give better service than those that are organized.

Candid Cassidy: After more than 30 years of entertaining all over the world, David Cassidy has found a deeper respect for his profession.

Huge crowd flocks to new resort: David Strow; Celebrities, sports stars and a crowd in the tens of thousands welcomed the opening of the $265 million Palms hotel-casino Thursday night -- the first major casino resort to open in Las Vegas in 2001.

Letter: We lost our freedom in Election 2000: No, Mr. Murphy, it is you who needs to broaden your horizons. In my opinion, and the opinion of millions of other people, Bush and the Supreme Court did steal the election.

Editorial: DOE doesn't take terrorism seriously: If such extraordinary precautions are being taken to safeguard nuclear power plants, then that must mean the U.S. Department of Energy is doing likewise in its final assessment to determine whether Nevada's Yucca Mountain should be the dump for the nation's 77,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste. For that matter, the department surely would be checking out terrorism's potential impact on transporting nuclear waste to Nevada, because the trains and trucks hauling the waste would give terrorists hundreds of targets in dozens of cities across the nation.

Explosives have become terror weapon of choice: The Middle Eastern hijackers who turned four American airliners into jet fuel bombs Sept. 11 joined a growing list of terrorists who have relied on explosions to create fear.

Editorial: Disturbing conflict of interest: The DOE is supposed to conduct an unbiased review to determine whether Yucca Mountain is suitable to store 77,000 tons of man's deadliest waste. It is untenable for the DOE to have hired as its legal counsel the same firm that was advocating on behalf of the nuclear power industry's main trade group. Winston & Strawn knew when they sought the DOE legal consulting contract in 1999 that the firm had a conflict of interest. But the $16.5 million contract the law firm secured from the DOE apparently was just too tempting for them to say no to such an ...

Columnist Kate Maddox: Is it live or is it Britney?: Kate Maddox; Last year's Billboards featured Creed, also performing "live" on the Rio rooftop.

Columnist Sandy Thompson: Kinship care a step in the right direction: Sandy Thompson; Kinship care is a growing national trend aimed at keeping children in their relatives' care rather than placing them in the foster care system. Most are grandparents who take in their grandchildren because the parents are unable to care for them.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Count on Big Three: The point of that very short romp through ancient history is to reiterate the old adage that says those who don't pay attention to history are doomed to repeat it.

Rabbi keeps audiences rockin' and rollin': As a new rabbi at Temple Israel in Minneapolis in 1987, Joe Black was reluctant to play his guitar before members of the congregation.

ROSS program works to keep senior citizens self-sufficient: Kimberley McGee; On a recent afternoon at the Howard Cannon building at 340 N. 11th St., seven senior citizens sat at computer terminals.

LV man denies ordering cohort to shoot sister: Keith Paul; A Las Vegas man admitted to police that he kidnapped his estranged wife, but he denied ordering a cohort to shoot her sister in what appears to be a hastily planned abduction.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Panic is the enemy in this war: Anyway, the news story was about how U.S. hospitals aren't ready to deal with the aftermath of a major biological attack. For example, if the number of people who need respirators exceeds the number of respirators available, some people won't get them, the commentator said.

Lighting up lives of the less fortunate: Daniela Mohor; Holiday lights

Counting down U2's best albums: Kirk Baird; Twenty-five years, 10 albums. For U2 it's always been about the quality rather than the quantity of its music.

Early morning meteor shower expected Sunday: Southern Nevadans are used to bright lights. But the splendor of those on the Strip could pale Sunday in comparison to the annual Leonids meteor shower.

Nevada to woo other states in Yucca fight: CARSON CITY -- A Las Vegas firm has been selected to launch a media blitz to convince residents of other states to join Nevada in its fight against a proposed high-level nuclear repository at Yucca Mountain.

Former fire dog free of cancer: Josie, the retired arson-sniffing dog for the Clark County Fire Department, is cancer-free.

Obituaries for November 16, 2001: Herschel Auerbach, 83, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospice. He was born June 3, 1918, in New York City. A resident for six years, he was a retired cemeterian, a World War II Army veteran, past president of American Cemetery Association, Illinois Cemetery Association, Zionist Organization of Chicago, Zionist Organization of America, a member of B'nai B'rith International, Jewish War Veterans, Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, National Council of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee and General Council of the World Zionist Organization, chairman of Community Relations Council of Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, national honorary ...

Court rules against petition calling for Council pay cuts: Jeffrey Libby; Elected officials in Boulder City will keep their current salaries for at least another year, thanks in part to a ruling Thursday in Clark County District Court.

Nevada second from last in H.S. grads: CARSON CITY -- Nevada is second worst in the nation regarding the percentage of the state's residents who are high school graduates, and an influx of young people seeking jobs could be part of the reason for it, says the chief of the state Department of Education.

Researchers seeking more casino dealers for smoke study: By Emily Richmond; More than 40 casino dealers have agreed to take part in a landmark study on the effects of second-hand smoke, but researchers say the drive to recruit 375 volunteers has been hampered by the post-Sept. 11 layoffs.

Industrial production, consumer prices decline: The Federal Reserve reported today that output at the nation's factories, utilities and mines plummeted by 1.1 percent last month, on top of a big 1 percent decline in September.

Neighbors unify against proposed shopping center: Mathis Winkler; Just up the road from Michael Humphrey's home at the city's northern end, it's the desert that rules. At least for now.

Cell phone loss a common problem at trade shows: Kevin Ferguson; Mike Charleboix was roaming the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center during the Comdex trade show Thursday, looking like a zombie.

Editorial: Boost to be given to airport security: In addition to the federalization of airport security, the legislation would require that cockpit doors be fortified and the number of air marshals increased. Airports also would have 60 days to expand their inspections of checked baggage; within two years they would have to inspect all checked baggage. Even with the airport security reforms, it still will take some time before travelers are fully comfortable about flying. But the legislation is an important step in that direction to restore public confidence.

Polite robber sought: Keith Paul; A reasonably polite robber apologized to the clerks as he was holding them up. But no matter how good his manners, a gun was still stuck in people's faces, and money was taken.

Police seek national accreditation: A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies will conduct an on-site inspection of the department starting Dec. 15. Police agencies can choose to go through an accreditation process, but it is not required.

Religious paintings have colorful history: Kimberley McGee; Images of faith, hope and adoration have graced home altars of devout Catholics in Mexico and the Southwest United States for hundreds of years.

Court briefs for November 16, 2001: A Nevada inmate has filed a civil rights complaint against almost one dozen state prison employees he claims stood by as a corrections officer threatened to slash his neck.

Senators, Abraham talk counterterrorism school: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham is mulling the plan to establish a national counter-terrorist training school at the Nevada Test Site, Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev., said.

LV Philharmonic players headline concert at UNLV: The second concert in the Las Vegas Philharmonic's "Classical Series" has special meaning for the symphony's musical director, Harold Weller.

Auto dealers file suit vs. city: Kim Smith; The Courtesy Auto Mall Association, headed by Joseph Scala, has filed a lawsuit against the city of Las Vegas, claiming the company lost money when the City Council last month expanded the opportunity for new car dealerships to build in the northwest.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Wynonna strutting her solo stuff at Hilton: Joe Delaney; Wynonna (that's "Winn-nonna," not "Why-nonna") is a vital musical force ... She's back at the Las Vegas Hilton showroom through Saturday ... During her dozen years as the daughter in the very successful Judds, a duo with her monther, Naomi, she was country music's most famous daughter ... Her mother retired in 1991.

State's high court upholds policy on hookers: In other decisions Thursday the court:

Auction site eBay expected to continue growth trend: Kevin Ferguson; Internet auction site eBay has become one of the fastest-growing online companies partly because it makes "tremendous efficiencies out of inefficient markets," eBay Chief Executive Meg Whitman told a Las Vegas audience at Comdex.

The Unforgettable Fire: Kirk Baird; It was almost a month to the day of Sept. 11 when a semipopular rock act canceled its Las Vegas show. Something about logistic problems with all the travel restrictions, and not being able to get everyone in the band to town on time.

Columnist Jerry Fink: New Palms lounge has a ghost of a chance: Scott DeGraff and Michael Morton know something about running bars and restaurants.

Wealth promoter sued by LV law firm: Wade Cook Financial, which sold alleged "get-rich-quick" investment seminars, books and tapes, was accused by government regulators of securities fraud, deceptive trade practices and violations of consumer protection laws. The Federal Trade Commission and several states ended their lawsuits and investigations of Cook's company after it entered into a consent decree last year.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Akashia made a name for herself: Kate Maddox; Her work here is done. After a very successful year, V Bar General Manager and one-name-wonder Akashia is packing it in and heading back to New York. Friends say it isn't because the British-born beauty is unhappy in Las Vegas, but because she came, she conquered and she's going home.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Sky offers constellation prizes: When the biggest light show of the year happens this weekend, Bruce Wingate and his coworkers plan to be sitting on the Lake Mead shore to get the best view.

'Harry Potter' casts a hasty spell: Geoff Carter; I read the book. Three months ago I picked up J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" out of obligation; three weeks ago I read the fourth book in the series, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," strictly out of admiration.

Letter: Storing waste at Yucca ignores terrorist threat: The DOE, nuclear lobby, Nuclear Energy Institute and nuclear power producers have little regard for us or future generations. They want the nuclear waste removed from their 103 operating nuclear reactors and the three decommissioned sites. Operating plants still need a cooling pool and dry cask storage on site for future nuclear waste. There are 106 terrorist targets now, and if the waste were removed there still would be 106 targets, the power plants themselves.

Detention center construction costs continue to mount: Adrienne Packer; The costs associated with the construction of Clark County's Detention Center continue to mount as commissioners mull whether to extend a consultant's contract through September 2002.

Antitrust review latest problem in HP-Compaq merger: The Federal Trade Commission asked for additional information from both companies under antitrust regulations, Hewlett-Packard said.

Emmy-winning TV veteran Krasny dies at 66: Paul Krasny, an Emmy award-winning film editor for the "Mission: Impossible" television series who went on to direct more than 200 television shows and movies from the late 1960s through the mid-'90s, has died in Las Vegas. He was 66.

Tuscany Hills project gets planners' approval: The Henderson Planning Commission on Thursday gave preliminary approval to 1,629 of 1,927 homes planned for the project in eastern Henderson north of Lake Mead Drive and west of the Calico Ridge neighborhood. The Stewart mine was abandoned in the 1980s.

Muslims prepare for month of fasting, prayer: Stacy J. Willis; Dr. Sayed Qazi -- a long-bearded, sock-footed physician -- identifies with James Dean.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports Yucca: Benjamin Grove and Erin Neff; WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has announced a large-scale lobbying effort in favor of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste plan, jilting its powerful local Las Vegas chapter.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Give thanks for plenty of holiday feasts: How about a take-away Thanksgiving dinner prepared by Bellagio chefs?

Minority leaders question admissions proposal: Jennifer Knight; Raise admission standards and shut the university door on minorities. Maintain the status quo and admit unprepared students, who will ultimately fail.

Letter: Transportation will be deadly: They have ignored or just forgotten to tell the public that 140,000 metric tons of high-level nuclear power plant waste and 14,000 very hot metric tons of defense waste will pass through most of our major cities and farmlands from every direction to reach Mercury, Nevada's Yucca Mountain.

Date Book: "Gift of Lights," a drive-through holiday lights event sponsored by Goodwill of Southern Nevada, is on display from 5-10 p.m. nightly, though Dec. 26 at Sunset Park. Admission is $10 per vehicle. Call 597-1107.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Maloof family has no qualms about Palms: Pristine white, the tower that defines the new Palms is a dramatic beacon at night. Bands of bright color light up the marquee. It's a welcoming sight. The Palms opened to the public at 11 p.m. Thursday, one month before the projected opening date.

Editorial: Promises made are to be kept: While we're on the subject of promises being kept, members of New York's congressional delegation are upset that President Bush hasn't honored a commitment to send New York half of the $40 billion emergency package that Congress approved soon after the terrorist attacks. So far slightly less than $10 billion has been directed to New York. "In New York, a promise is a promise," Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., said.

Stratosphere neighbors lose 7-year battle for land: Diana Sahagun; For seven years, two property owners near the Stratosphere have fought attempts by the city of Las Vegas to seize their property in the name of redevelopment.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Time to give thanks: NEXT WEEK we give thanks. Today we should spend a little time thinking about why we are thankful.

Young Dubliners sticking to musical roots: Randy Matin; Talk to Keith Roberts of The Young Dubliners and the story of his Celtic rock band's struggle to reach a wider audience reads much like that of a young garage band. The lifestyle is one of endless touring and recording albums for small, independent labels.