Print edition for September 26, 2001

Corrections: Corrections

Clarification: Flaherty said this week that faculty productivity was never questioned by the accredidation team. He said the three issues that resulted in the school's continuing accredidation review process were the need for a permanent dean who would provide strong leadership and stability; the need for clearly articulated research expectations and an outcome assessment process related to an effective strategic planning process.

Wal-Mart union drive heats up: Grace Leong; A nationwide union organizing drive at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which is originating in Las Vegas, is kicking into high gear with the first request for a store-wide election and the filing of federal labor law complaints against the nation's largest retailer.

Canadian firm to buy Regent: David Strow; It cost $276 million to build the Regent Las Vegas, the luxury Summerlin hotel-casino that opened in July 1999.

Attacks renew interest in Amtrak service for Vegas: If an economic stimulus package supported by Nevada Sen. Harry Reid continues to pick up steam in the Senate, long-delayed efforts to return passenger train service to Las Vegas could get back on track.

Icahn firm cuts 460 positions in Las Vegas: Lowestfare.com, billionaire entrepreneur Carl Icahn's Internet travel company, has laid off 460 Las Vegas employees.

Venetian discloses layoffs, notes rebound: David Strow; The Las Vegas Strip's Venetian resort has reduced its workers' hours by 27 percent and temporarily suspended construction of a new 1,000-room hotel tower, company officials said Tuesday.

Guinn: State has $500 mil. in trust for those left jobless: Guinn's speech

Hefner waiting for Las Vegas casino deal: "If a deal comes along under the right circumstances, we would consider it," Hefner said.

Legislative panel puts funding for state college on hold: CARSON CITY -- Nevada legislators balked Tuesday at the prospect of loaning $700,000 to the Nevada State College at Henderson.

Political leaders address economy: Adrienne Packer; Thousands of jobs were lost, government budgets were tightened and Las Vegas businesses have struggled to survive in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

FBI list of terror suspects circulated at motels: Jeff German and Keith Paul; FBI agents have circulated a list at motels on the Strip of a half-dozen suspected terrorists and associates to determine whether they stayed in Las Vegas prior to the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington.

Nellis Predator squadron stands by: Jeffrey Libby; Flying 8,000 feet above the Nevada Test Site about noon Tuesday, the Predator, an unmanned single-prop plane, recorded images of construction workers resting alongside U.S. 95.

August counts up 5.2%: McCarran officials reported 3.38 million passengers for the month compared with 3.21 million in August 2000. Those totals brought the eight-month count to 25.2 million passengers, compared with 24.5 million for the first eight months of 2000, a 2.9 percent increase.

Lost profit claim dismissed: Southern Union Corp. of Austin had sought up to $750 million from Southwest and ONEOK Inc., the Oklahoma company that, at one time, had plans to acquire Southwest Gas for $1.8 billion. This deal fell apart, and the three companies became entangled in a web of lawsuits, after claims emerged that ONEOK and Southwest Gas officials had tried to improperly influence Arizona regulators. Southern Union had made an unsolicited, competing bid for Southwest Gas, but was rebuffed by the company.

Warner Bros. closing LV store: Some 44 workers and 11 managers at the Las Vegas store will be laid off.

Local Jews prepare for Yom Kippur: Stacy J. Willis; The Jewish holiday Yom Kippur -- when God seals the future in the Book of Life for another year -- begins at sundown tonight.

Traffic computer model gives grim picture of future: Angela Soo; The future of Southern Nevada's air quality and transportation systems looked grim Tuesday, as a group of community leaders peaked down the road 20 years.

Economic woes could hit schools: Terry Webster; Clark County School District officials are bracing for possible belt-tightening in light of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that have caused the local economy to backslide.

Marijuana measures, other new laws ready to take effect: CARSON CITY -- Those suffering from doctor-certified illnesses will soon be able to grow marijuana for use in easing their pain, and juvenile judges will be allowed to send delinquents to the morgue to get a first-hand look at how they might end up if they don't change.

Juice bar workers give tips to charity: The dozen workers at Jamba Juice health snacks store in Henderson had their best week ever for tips last week.

Majors in arts are favorites at UNLV: Jennifer Knight; A slowing economy seems to be good for business at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, but students are embarking on a different course.

Local news briefs for September 26, 2001: A 46-year-old Metro Police motorcycle officer was in critical condition today following what a witness called a single-vehicle accident that backed up morning commuter traffic on U.S. 95 for several miles, Metro said.

Nevada team leaves for NY: By Emily Richmond; The 62 members of Nevada's urban search and rescue team were to leave today from Nellis Air Force Base to help with recovery efforts in the rubble of what was once the World Trade Center.

UNR publicist joins Guinn: CARSON CITY -- Greg Bortolin, assistant director of communications at the University of Nevada, Reno, has been appointed press secretary to Gov. Kenny Guinn, succeeding Jack Finn, who resigned to enter private industry.

Majors in arts favorites at UNLV: Jennifer Knight; A slowing economy seems to be good for business at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, but students are embarking on a different course.

Obituaries for September 26, 2001: Martha Adkisson, 88, of Brisbane, Calif., died Friday in Las Vegas. She was born Jan. 16, 1913, in Roundup, Mont. She was a retired private school teacher and a member of the Brisbane Garden Club.

Nevada lawmakers: Nuke transport trucks would be inviting targets: Mary Manning and Benjamin Grove; Trucks and trains hauling nuclear waste cross-country to the proposed Yucca Mountain waste burial site would be attractive bomb targets -- or vehicles -- for suicidal terrorists, Nevada lawmakers in Congress said.

Editorial: Folly of term limits found in New York: Term limits were all the rage during the 1990s, as voters passed initiatives to end the stranglehold that many incumbents had held on their offices. But maybe now the tide will shift, and voters possibly will awaken to the realization that term limits actually takes away their right to choose whom they want to represent them. New York City will move forward with or without Giuliani as mayor, but it's a shame that New Yorkers won't be able to make that decision themselves.

Letter: Americans will overcome: The terrorist organizations are outnumbered by our troops, and we have world support, except Cuba and Iraq.

Letter: Train service alive and well: In June my wife and I left from Los Angeles on Amtrak to Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, New York, Washington, D.C., New Orleans and back to Los Angeles with several stopovers.

Letter: Vision of bliss for terrorists was mistaken: I would have enjoyed their consternation (defined: sudden alarming amazement or dread that results in utter confusion) upon arriving at their final destination and being handed coal shovels and coal hods with which to fuel the eternal fires of hell rather than the bliss of Paradise.

World Trade Center victim list: Persons confirmed dead include victims who have been confirmed dead by a coroner's office or the Defense Department. It also includes those for whom death certificates have been issued, even if no body has been recovered. The total number of confirmed dead is 258.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Salesman and Budget Man form dynamic duo: WHO WOULD have guessed it?

Editorial: Questions linger on economy: The terrorist attacks have damaged the nation's economy, which was teetering toward recession already, with shaken markets, job layoffs and a loss of consumer confidence the news of the last two weeks. Tourism-based economies, including ours in Nevada, have suffered, with many visitors forgoing travel for now. But even in a tourism-based economy, there is no reason why a state as prosperous as Nevada should be in such a precarious position.

A History of Howard: Pitching a new book about Howard Hughes on NBC's "Today" show earlier this month turned into one of the most dramatic moments in the life of author Richard Hack.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Silent auction benefits Red Cross efforts: Elizabeth Foyt; Caviarteria and Amandari jointly hosted a benefit evening for the American Red Cross' New York Relief Fund. On display and offered for silent auction were exquisite pieces of Indonesian art from Amandari including paintings, sculpture and tapestries.

Community news briefs for September 26, 2001: The German Festival will be held 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday in Lorenzi Park, 3333 W. Washington Ave.

Jaycees prepare for opening of state fair: Officials of the Las Vegas Jaycees State Fair, which opens Thursday, say the event should offer locals a respite from the sorrow following the Sept. 11 terrorist acts in New York City and Washington.

New low-income housing celebrated: Daniela Mohor; Community leaders, city and county officials inaugurated a low-income apartment complex Tuesday in downtown Las Vegas.

UNLV Calendar: FRIDAY

Columnist Muriel Stevens: No answers for changes at Nordstrom: Driving to the opening of the Nordstrom Rack at Silverado Ranch Plaza, at 9851 S. Eastern Ave., I couldn't stop thinking about all of the years I've been shopping at Nordstrom and fantasizing that one day the Seattle company would come to Las Vegas.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Palms pilot seeking out Hef: Kate Maddox; What better way to get people interested in your new casino than to invite them to a party at Hugh Hefner's house?

Ralph Siraco's selections for Thursday's races at Santa Anita: 1st Race -- Note Of Integrity -- Desormeaux on Hess trainee, needs crafty trip from post draw, diploma may be the Note of Integrity here. Yolla Bolly -- Training at Hollypark, Solis atop Perdomo trainee, draws good post for route opener. Value Play -- Estar De Prisa

Soccer: Rebels' Hernandez Player of the week: The Indio, Calif., native collected his first career hat trick in a 6-1 upset of fifth-ranked and defending national champion Connecticut on Sunday. He currently leads the Rebels in scoring with six goals for 12 points and is tied for second among MPSF leaders in the same category.

Sunia's return lights a fire under Rebels: Steve Guiremand; After James Sunia underwent major knee reconstruction surgery for the second time in five months last spring, the question was not when but if the hard-hitting senior middle linebacker would ever play football at UNLV again.

Savvy wine buys: Edna Valley '99 Pinot Noir: Available at Lee's Discount Liquors, $17.99.

Columnist Jeff Haney: 'Rogue' lines out there, but not easy to find: Veteran sports bettors have been known to lament the lack of variety in betting lines among Las Vegas sports books.

Vending machines offer variety: Max Jacobson; Who among us hasn't dropped a few pieces of change into a vending machine for a soda, snack or sandwich? The technology hasn't changed much over the years, nor has the selection, because of our eating habits.

Tuesday's prep results: Cimarron-Memorial def. Mojave, 15-6, 15-6, 15-3: The Spartans got seven aces from Tammy Troyan in the victory.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: De Ferran's first win of year helps lift dark cloud: Gil de Ferran put it best when he said CART was racing "under a dark cloud" during its two-week stint in Europe.

Columnist Victoria Sun: UNLV improves grade in chemistry department: Victoria Sun; A year ago, tension among cliques on the UNLV men's golf team made it difficult for team members to work together.

QB has grabbed the spotlight at BYU: Steve Guiremand; A year ago at this time, Brandon Doman didn't know if he'd finish his college career as a backup quarterback or a free safety.

Columnist Peter Benton: PGA Tour board announces changes: Peter Benton; With the likes of young amateurs Ty Tryon, Kevin Na, et al, forgoing college golf in favor of turning professional, the PGA Tour Policy Board has made several changes in its eligibility rules and approved an age limit of 18 for tour membership. The new stipulated age limit goes into effect immediately.

Columnist Steve Addy: Rebels, NCAA may soon coexist: Steve Addy; By deciding to let UNLV basketball recruit Ernest Turner suit up this season, the NCAA did more than cut some slack to a kid whose SAT score came up 10 points short.