Print edition for September 5, 2001

Henderson council briefs: A $41 million construction project that will more than quadruple the size of Henderson City Hall should be advertised for bid Sept. 13.

Vineyards transformed into Polynesian casino resort: The owners of the Castaways hotel-casino in Las Vegas have purchased 32 acres near the Valley Auto Mall in Henderson to build a $150 million Polynesian-themed resort.

State charges 210 cats put to death by unlicensed veterinarian: CARSON CITY -- A Las Vegas man, who has been called the Dr. Kevorkian of the animal world, has been charged with practicing veterinary medicine without a license and putting 210 cats to death.

Hard Rock to host volleyball: Pool play will be Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the sand court stadium in the Hard Rock parking lot on Paradise Road, and the finals are Sunday from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Editorial: Just say no to dump for nuclear garbage: Tonight, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the U.S. Department of Energy will hold a public comment hearing in North Las Vegas on plans to bury 77,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

A primer on Vegas' best steaks: Max Jacobson; Most supermarkets sell a grade called Select, which is beef with the least amount of fat marbling, and is either straw or hay fed. The higher grades Choice, Top Choice, and the highest of all, Prime are more generously marbled and available commercially in Las Vegas in several venues.

Berkley's optimism for peace in Mideast fades after recent visit: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Israeli officials said they will return to the negotiating table if peace in the region lasts for seven days, Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said today, a day after a return from the Mideast nation.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Bettors should heed the 'Two Minute Warning': A few years ago, a twentysomething sports nut named Roland Beech decided he wasn't satisfied with traditional NFL statistics.

Editorial: Racism talks lure extremists: Pulling out of the conference wasn't something that the United States took lightly. "I have taken this decision with regret because of the importance of the international fight against racism and the contribution that this conference could have made to it," Secretary of State Colin Powell said. A Palestinian official said that the United States was using Israel as an excuse to not deal with other tough issues, including attempts to obtain slavery reparations. But it would have been unconscionable for the United States to attend such a meeting that had nothing but hate for Israel, a nation that has ...

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: IRL champ Hornish looking forward to finale: Sam Hornish Jr. has plenty of time to celebrate his Indy Racing League championship before the next race Sept. 16 at Texas Motor Speedway, but the 22-year-old plans to begin his preparation for the season finale today.

Letter: Power rate increases are rubber-stamped: It is rumored Nevada Power is seeking other slogans such as, "Considering our exorbitant rates, we can afford to drive you to the poorhouse," or "Just cut off the air-conditioning, old-timer, and we'll provide transportation to the nearest funeral parlor -- without extra charge, to prove we are all heart."

Paloma: Picasso's daughter uses jewels as her medium: Kimberley McGee; But Paloma Picasso's large, bold pieces of jewelry are a reflection of the designer who has become a famous name in fashion not because of her father, famed abstract artist Pablo Picasso, but for her own larger-than-life style.

Metro braces for expunging of work cards: Adrienne Packer; A civil rights attorney raised more questions about the Metro Police Department's use of work card records after Clark County commissioners discussed a plan Tuesday to begin purging the documents.

Electric atmosphere to greet Agassi-Sampras matchup: Victoria Sun; NEW YORK -- Tennis legend Martina Navratilova called the rivalry between Pete Sampras and Las Vegan Andre Agassi "right up there with (Bjorn) Borg and (Jimmy) Connors."

State poverty rate lower than nation: Nevada continues to boast a lower poverty rate than the nation as a whole, a trend a local economist attributed to the state's healthy economy and vibrant job market.

Former boxer Green dies at 76: Harold Green, a boxing contender of the 1940s who fought three future world middleweight champions, including Rocky Graziano three times, and one former world welterweight champ, died Tuesday in Las Vegas. He was 76.

Friday night football schedules to collide: Steve Addy; FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

Letter: Social Security is not a fund: In her second sentence, she is concerned about the "Social Security fund." Sorry, but there is no "fund." All monies are given to the government and spent as the government sees fit. If you look at the federal budget, "Social insurance taxes and contributions" is a section of net receipts. The government did not set up a separate budget for Social Security, it is just additional revenue to spend.

County lifts moratorium on Quick Cares: By Emily Richmond; Clark County officials are no longer considering a moratorium on University Medical Center's plans to build additional Quick Cares, the public hospital's drop-in medical offices.

Letter: Hunters only part of equation: Too often these days I am hearing about hunters who act as if wilderness, indeed the public lands in general, are our personal playgrounds. It is time hunters confessed that we are only a part of the equation, not the equation itself.

Gaming company seeks Hispanics in upper levels: By Timothy Pratt; Irene Bustamante, daughter of a Mexican-American mother who earned her high school diploma at 33 and a Mexican father who was a California farm worker, knows about hard work and self improvement.

Serena makes semis: Victoria Sun; NEW YORK -- The old Serena Williams might have lost her composure after blowing two match points in a second-set tie breaker.

Music festival brings classics to the canyon: The festival's 18th season features music by classical composers Debussy, Brahms and Schubert as well as modern composers Gerswin, Sondheim and Copland.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Dentons celebrate quarter-century of wedded bliss: Elizabeth Foyt; District Judge Mark and Alice Denton recently took a trip down memory lane when they returned to Humphreys, Neb., for their 25th wedding anniversary. Guests of Alice's parents, Rita and Maynard Schumacher, they were honored at special services at the historic church where they were married, followed by a family party at the Schumacher home in Columbus, Neb.

Problem with witness leads to deal in sex case: Kim Smith; A St. George, Utah, man who believes a popular drug for attention deficit disorder may have caused him to sexually assault a small girl will receive a life sentence with parole possible after five years after agreeing to a plea bargain Tuesday.

Anderson: The big 'Eau': Steve Guiremand; Next up

Columnist Jon Ralston: Energy is key topic for next year's campaigns: IT'S THE ENERGY, stupid.

Dining yacht says casinos ruined its business: The Starship will leave its dock at the Grand Casino and head for Tampa, Fla., at the end of the month. The last excursion by the $7 million ship was Sunday night.

News briefs for September 5, 2001: A 22-year old Las Vegas man died and another was injured Tuesday night when their pickup rolled after a tire went flat, Nevada Highway Patrol officials said.

Aladdin debt downgraded, LCI stock slumps: Meanwhile the dispute caused the stock of London Clubs International, the Aladdin's minority shareholder, to take a steep 40 percent plunge Monday, as fears rose that the Aladdin's troubles could bring LCI down as well.

Downed pilot was getting experience in A-10 fighter: U.S. Air Force Capt. Frederick H. Sellers, who ejected safely as his plane crashed in Arizona was on a mission to gain flight experience, the USAF 4th Fighter Wing said today.

Bush to nominate Reno attorney for fed post: WASHINGTON -- President Bush this week said he plans to nominate Daniel Bogden of Reno to be U.S. attorney for Nevada.

Grant would help police talk kids out of gangs: Mathis Winkler; North Las Vegas Police officials want to help the city's 2,119 eighth graders resist involvement with gangs, but first they have to get money to pay for a program.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Wolf Creek may be golf's toughest test: Dean Juipe; There is a price to be paid for playing the most difficult golf course in America, and it requires more than simply digging into your wallet.

Tuesday prep results: BOYS SOCCER

Copter engine may have malfunctioned: Lisa Snedeker; A preliminary examination of the helicopter engine involved in last month's deadly Grand Canyon air tour crash has revealed it might have malfunctioned, investigators said Tuesday.

Community briefs for September 5, 2001: The Las Vegas Chapter of the American Parkinson's Disease Association will hold its seventh annual Walk-A-Thon 8 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Saturday at MGM Grand.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Cruise the 'Net for travel deals: This is the time of year when traveling is, for me, most pleasurable. The heat of summer is dropping, the kids are back in school and, with a little patience and some time on the telephone or Internet, there are still bargains to catch.

Obituaries for September 5, 2001: Oscar Thomas Abdoulah, 71, of Henderson died Monday in Henderson. He was born April 4, 1930, in Saskatchewan. A resident for 10 years, he was a businessman.

Galleria mall expanding: Galleria, an 891,00-square-foot mall that opened in 1996 and is currently 93 percent leased, said the expansion will include Galyan's Trading Co. an Indianapolis-based upper-end sporting goods store connecting to the mall at both levels.

Medicare insurance plan to be offered: PacifiCare Health Systems Inc., which has 68,200 commercial and health-maintenance organization customers in Nevada, is introducing its Secure Horizons Medicare supplement in four packages ranging in price from $87 a month to $127 a month for a 65-year-old non-smoker.

Olympics not generating much Las Vegas business: Though the cost of lodging will be steep in Salt Lake City during the Winter Olympics in February, Las Vegas casinos aren't gearing up to accommodate spectators who may want to commute to the Games on airliners.

Trash bag factory OK'd despite residents' protests: Jeffrey Libby; A Texas-based trash bag maker received permission from a reluctant Henderson City Council Tuesday to build the largest manufacturing plant constructed in a decade in the Las Vegas Valley, just a stone's throw from an upscale rural neighborhood in southeast Henderson.

Delay sought on desert development: A Reno-based conservationist has filed an appeal to stop the federal government from turning over any land to a developer of a proposed desert resort and upscale residential community.

County proposes funds to fight dump: Commissioner Myrna Williams said the money will come from board members' discretionary funds and will help the state battle the federal government over the proposed nuclear waste repository. The board will vote on the funding Sept. 18.

Remains may be missing woman: Keith Paul; Bones and a skull found in the desert last week may be the remains of a missing Salvadoran woman who was last seen with her family in a Jean casino in January, Metro Police said.

Public urged to attend Yucca hearing: Gov. Kenny Guinn said residents need more information to properly comment on the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

Athletic club gets OK for cabaret: Adrienne Packer; The Sporting House athletic club has been given permission to trade in its weight machines for strip poles.

LV firm hit with refund lawsuit: Grace Leong; National Audit Defense Network Inc. of Las Vegas, already the subject of hundreds of consumer complaints, is now being sued by a San Diego man alleging the tax audit defense company cheated thousands of its clients nationwide when it allegedly refused to honor its "no questions asked" money back guarantee.

Kenny calls for help for valley's homeless: Adrienne Packer; After a daylong tour of homeless camps and shelters, Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny reiterated Tuesday a need to address homelessness and denounced fellow elected officials for rejecting her funding challenge.

Friar rallies homeless at Las Vegas City Hall: Jace Radke and Diana Sahagun; A group of homeless people and Franciscan friar David Buer brought their plea for funding for a temporary homeless shelter to the Las Vegas City Council this morning after holding an all-night vigil in front of the council chambers.