Print edition for October 1, 2001

Stagnant LV air fouled by dust, smoke: The haze hanging in this morning's air came as light winds brought smoke, dust and humidity from former hurricane Juliette into the valley from the east, National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Fuis said. Juliette has now been downgraded to a tropical storm.

Prep schedule: MONDAY

LV firms issue profit warnings: The companies didn't specify precisely how badly their profits have been hurt by the slowdown hitting the travel industry.

Gaming chairman selected: Gov. Kenny Guinn on Tuesday plans to name Las Vegas lawyer Peter Bernhard as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, the Las Vegas Sun had learned.

Postponed conference now canceled: The conference, which was expected to draw 300 to 400 people from across the state and guest speakers from across the country, originally was scheduled Sept. 13-14 at the Stardust hotel-casino.

Nevada Power seeks higher rates: The dominant electricity provider for Las Vegas is filing for a general rate increase covering administrative expenses today and will seek another much larger increase to cover higher fuel costs in December. If they're both approved by the PUC, they could both take effect in April.

Pollution alert issued in Southern Nevada: Stagnant air, distant forest fire smoke and dust combined over the Las Vegas Valley today to cause unhealthful air conditions.

Rebels could lose Brandon for six weeks: Steve Guiremand; After suffering another heartbreaking last-minute defeat, this time a 35-31 setback to No. 20 BYU on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium, UNLV head coach John Robinson boldly predicted his 0-4 club would win its final seven games of the season and play in a bowl game.

Aladdin future up in the air after filing: David Strow; With the immediate threat of closure now lifted, officials with the Aladdin hotel-casino now must formulate a plan to get the $1.2 billion Las Vegas Strip resort out of bankruptcy.

National Guard volunteers sought for airport security: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada National Guard is seeking volunteers to beef up security at the airports in Las Vegas, Reno and Elko.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Robinson's pitch has some merit: Dean Juipe; He said it after Saturday night's game and he'll say it again at today's weekly fan-club luncheon. John Robinson expects his UNLV football team to win the remainder of its 2001 games.

News briefs for October 1, 2001: A 25-year-old Las Vegas woman died and five others were injured Sunday in a three-vehicle accident.

Crowds return to LV Strip: Traffic jams and long lines never looked so good.

FBI tracking pilots' LV movements: FBI agents this morning were tracking down the movements in Las Vegas of a jailed Algerian pilot who British prosecutors alleged was the "lead instructor" of four of the hijackers in the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Prep races begin to sort out 2001 Breeders' Cup fields: Ralph Siraco; Twenty-seven days from today, the Breeders' Cup will be renewed for the 18th time. America's championship day at the races will be held at Belmont Park. It seems appropriate that horse racing's crowning day should be in a city that has showcased so many heroes since the tragic events of September 11.

Mining pits environment vs. economy: ELKO -- Northern Nevada is seemingly a world away from the deserts and flashy casinos of the southern part of the state. Wind-swept grassy valleys lie between mountain rises. Instead of a single urban giant, a few small towns are scattered throughout hundreds of miles of otherwise empty landscape.

Obituaries for October 1, 2001: Randel Scott Bartle, 47, of Las Vegas died Thursday in a local hospital. A resident for 38 years, he was born Sept. 17, 1954, in Salt Lake City.

Valley residents struggle with unemployment: Mathis Winkler; The four lowestfare.com co-workers still get up early, even though they no longer have to report to the Internet-based travel agency. And they can't fall asleep at night, they say.

BYU-UNLV statistics: First Quarter

State owed $147 million in old debts: CARSON CITY -- The state is owed more than $147.6 million by merchants or individuals who issued bad checks or failed to pay bills or taxes within 60 days, state Controller Kathy Augustine said.

Stadium security has quiet night: Steve Addy; Just as stadium director Daren Libonati had hoped, most of the action at Saturday's UNLV-BYU game was on the field.

UNLV notebook: Women's soccer team shuts out Utah State: Other UNLV results Sunday:

Foothill RB Ford 'doubtful' for this week's game: Spencer Patterson; Green Valley 28, Basic 20

Trends for October 1, 2001: Lisa Ferguson; Note: The following column was inspired by people who apparently have entirely too much time on their hands, seeing as how they devised such pointless/asinine /obsessive-compulsive products and guidelines as these.

Great balls of bingo: Players, venues keeping up with changing times: At 3 p.m. every day Martha Cowley breezes into the bingo room at Arizona Charlie's on 720 S. Decatur Blvd.

Birth announcements for October 1, 2001: Sept. 13:

Stand Down to provide help to homeless: Angela Soo; The Southern Nevada Homeless Coalition will hold its ninth annual Las Vegas Stand Down for the Homeless 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at Cashman Center.

Yucca hearings ordered in all counties: DOE officials and a court reporter will collect comments during 29 field hearings beginning Wednesday.

Three lawsuits still pending in political flier case: CARSON CITY -- Three court cases are still pending after Las Vegas political consultant Tom Skancke agreed last week to an out-of-court settlement in the dispute over an anonymous flier designed to damage the reputation of former County Commissioner Lance Malone.

House finds a new home: Daniela Mohor; The biggest show Sunday wasn't on a stage anywhere in Las Vegas. It wound along the streets of downtown.

Rescue team can't describe the devastation: Angela Soo; Members of Nevada's Urban Search and Rescue Team returned to Las Vegas Sunday after spending four days in the ashy remains of the World Trade Center, helping in the recovery effort.

Metro to test battery-powered bicycle during patrols on Strip: Jace Radke; Metro Police bicycle officers on the Strip will test a new prototype electric bicycle designed to add power for pedaling after perpetrators.

Flag-waving child becomes a celebrity: With one snap of his camera's shutter Las Vegas Sun photographer Ethan Miller captured the emotions of a nation the day following the terrorist attacks that killed thousands of people in New York and Washington, D.C.

Correction: Correction

Bankruptcy filing bails out Aladdin: David Strow; The $1.2 billion Aladdin hotel-casino came within mere hours of the unthinkable Friday -- shutting its doors to the public.

Hawaiian visitation strong: Thousands of casino workers in Las Vegas have been laid off because of few visitors. But some Las Vegas hotels frequented by Hawaii visitors have had hardly any layoffs.

Editorial: Lump sum a terrible proposal: There also have been efforts among pro-dump lawmakers in Congress to end the legislative branch's oversight of the spending on the Yucca Mountain Project, although fortunately those haven't gotten too far. But as the Sun's Benjamin Grove and Mary Manning reported last week, those efforts are being renewed from another source. For the first time the DOE is asking Congress to consider paying for a dump at Yucca Mountain in one fell swoop instead of approving smaller annual appropriations to pay for the work there as it goes.

Letter: Why is U.N. flag superior to ours?: These linguistically and mentally challenged persons, who can't express themselves in free speech, are using the symbol of our freedoms, for which many have sacrificed their lives, to make a statement. The U.S. Supreme Court and the Senate have said their nonverbal communication is protected by the First Amendment as free speech.

Lawyer: White House mum on 'Net gaming: Kevin Ferguson; The federal government's stance on whether states can set their own rules on Internet gambling has gotten more murky since the change of administrations, said an Internet gambling lawyer.

No. 2 Las Vegas carrier plans sale to lure customers: Tempe, Ariz.-based America West is offering $68 round-trip fares on some routes. Among the ticket prices for Las Vegas routes: $68 for a round trip to San Diego, $70.50 to Los Angeles, $81.50 to San Francisco and $198 to Indianapolis.

Nevada unlikely to lose federal money laundering exemption: The U.S. Treasury is considering new regulations that would extend suspicious transaction reporting requirements to casinos across the country.

Letter: Teach kids to shun violence: I would like to see education in human relations in every school, teaching our children how to get along with each other. I don't want your child to hurt my child and also I don't want my child to hurt your child. You can't fight fire with fire -- it gets out of control. We certainly do not want our children out of control. The school motto should be: Kill hate, kill violence, not our children.

Letter: Strip resorts pay price for ignoring locals: Well, earning a degree from UNLV in marketing, this became apparent to me that this would one day backfire. How can anyone ignore a local market of what say 1.5 million? As we all know this is not just a problem for Harrah's, it seems to be a haunting ghost of the past all up and down the Strip at present.

NHRA Nationals results: At Route 66 Raceway

Busch team encouraged by ninth-place showing: KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Kurt Busch needed a sign that he and his NASCAR Winston Cup team are making strides despite a rash of bad luck this season.

Gordon extends lead with win at Kansas: KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Jeff Gordon had the third-best car in the field for Sunday's Protection One 400 NASCAR Winston Cup race at Kansas Speedway.

UNLV-BYU Analysis: Rebel offense struggles; late drive boosts Cougars: the Numbers; First Quarter: UNLV 21-10

Culinary Union was divided on work-hour reductions: David Strow; The Culinary Union was sharply divided Friday as its members voted to accept reductions in their work hours for the next two months in an effort to bring laid-off Las Vegas union members back to work.

Area airports get $25 million: Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev., and Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said the funding will enable airports in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson to continue runway improvement projects and rehabilitate and expand terminals.

F1 U.S. Grand Prix results: At Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Hispanic workers hit hard by layoffs: By Timothy Pratt; Enriqueta Salazar, 31, is worried about the $200 she sends to her daughters in Mexico twice a month. Octavio Ramo, 50, is holding a garage sale this weekend to raise money for household expenses. Marilyn Lopez, 34, has trouble explaining to her 5-year-old daughter why she can't have Maizoro, her favorite cereal, every morning.

Employees optimistic about move: Chi Chi Wolfe managed a laugh at the irony of her Friday-afternoon responsibilities at the Aladdin hotel-casino.

LV tech firm warns of shortfall: Las Vegas-based software firm PurchasePro warned investors Friday it will not meet its third quarter sales expectations.

NASCAR Winston Cup results: At Kansas Speedway

LV council grapples with conflicting plans for Alta: Diana Sahagun; Information

Hundreds participate in Muslim Open House: Stacy J. Willis and Daniela Mohor; Sandy West had just slipped out of her sandals and stepped barefooted onto the red carpet in Jami Mosque.