Print edition for April 9, 2002

Community briefs for April 9, 2002: The St. Jude's Ranch for Children Antique Car Museum will celebrate its grand opening at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at 100 St. Jude St., Boulder City.

Highlights of February win report on Nevada casinos: AP; -STATEWIDE: $752.6 million, up 7.8 percent.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Laws alone can't make good parents: And I'm going to handle it in an indelicate manner.

Editorial: When neighborhoods, thrill rides don't mix: The Stratosphere has a new plan, one that would reduce the height and speed of the roller coaster. The roller coaster would travel 93 mph instead of 120 mph and the tower would be 325 feet instead of 416 feet. The Stratosphere executives may believe that is a major concession, but nearby residents still believe, understandably, that the ride is incompatible with a residential area and would hurt efforts to rejuvenate their neighborhood. This is a project where city government should listen to the wishes of those who would be most inconvenienced by a roller-coaster ride. The city Planning Commission, ...

Editorial: Red-letter day in the Yucca fight: In Nevada, we have been hearing for the past decade all the reasons why Yucca Mountain will not work as the nation's single burial site for the world's deadliest material. But millions of people in other states are only vaguely aware, if that, of the burial plan's national implications.

Still rolling: Tiny Matchbox cars celebrate 50 years of fun: Kirk Baird; Source: Matchbox

NAB showcases a Laugh-In' love-in: On hand to accept the honor were the show's producer, George Schlatter, and six of "Laugh-In's" numerous cast members, including Lily Tomlin, Ruth Buzzi, Henry Gibson, Jo Anne Worley, Gary Owens and Alan Sues.

Letter: Community must stand firm against waste: Daily I am reminded of the underlying dilemma we are living with, that of the choosing of our state as a "nuclear repository." I am astounded to find overwhelming apathy on the part of many of our elected officials and citizens to this issue. I get the uneasy feeling these people are resolved that to fight this issue is a waste of our resources, as it will eventually become a reality.

Letter: 'West Wing' full of inaccuracies: Further, transuranics is not the term used for the materials used at Rocky Flats. It is more appropriately used to describe some waste products at the Savannah River Plant. But the fast one they slipped in was the tunnel fire at 1,500 degrees F. Many of us have stainless steel pots and pans and some have gas stoves. Has anyone seen a pot melt on the stove? No, because its melting point is about 2,500 degrees F. And, by the way, has anyone seen a pot corrode through in their lifetime?

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Lead the way, governor: But, for Nevadans, can there be any more important news than that which our governor, Kenny Guinn, is making in Washington, D.C., where he is delivering the first-ever veto of a U.S. president's decision.

Gaming revenue improves: Cy Ryan and David Strow; For the first time since Sept. 11, Nevada's casinos reported a monthly increase in gaming win, the state Gaming Control Board reported this morning.

PCL box: Las Vegas-Edmonton: Edmonton

Experts debate Le Reve delay: David Strow; Steve Wynn's proposed resort on the Las Vegas Strip became embroiled in a political debate Monday, when President Bush claimed Wynn couldn't get financing for the $1.65 billion Le Reve because Wynn lacked terrorism insurance.

PCL standings: PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE American Conference

Yucca project believed to be 'legally dead': Erin Neff; Nevada officials plan to use Gov. Kenny Guinn's veto of the proposed nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain to boost their efforts to stop the project in the courts.

Rebels' Frohlich heads to pre-draft camp: The camp offers WNBA coaches and general managers the opportunity to evaluate the skills of prospective players prior to the 2002 WNBA Draft on April 19. The draft will be broadcast live on ESPN2 for the second consecutive year from the NBA Entertainment studios in Secaucus, N.J.

Incident at MLK parade may have led to slaying: Kim Smith; Gwendolyn Jones died last May 25 in a hail of bullets, but new details emerging about the case indicate the events that led to her death began four months earlier -- during a parade to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Obituaries for April 9, 2002: Robert Agnetti, 44, of Glendale, Ariz, died Saturday in a local hospital. He was born May 17, 1957, in Scotland. A resident for two years, he was a retired waiter.

Monday's prep results: BASEBALL

Lifesavers: Girls in semis of national science contest with baby-saving device: By Emily Richmond; After attending the funeral of a Las Vegas infant who died after being left in a hot car by his parents, 12-year-old Kelsey Hand wondered what she could do to keep such a tragedy from happening again.

Thrill ride firm went bankrupt in December: Diana Sahagun; Arrow Dynamics Inc., the firm hired by the Stratosphere to design and build a 500-foot thrill ride, will have only a limited role in the project if the ride is approved by the city, as the company operates under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Entertainer, hotel settle: According to court records, the terms of the settlement, which has yet to be signed by all parties, are confidential.

AOL Time Warner exec: Content still driving force: While thousands of broadcast executives this week get close-up views of digital equipment that will change television in the years ahead, the National Association of Broadcasters' keynote speaker reminded conventioneers it's content that will continue to drive the industry.

Judge refuses to block election: The state agency is the Bureau of Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired (SBV). It oversees 20 vending stands operated by blind vendors. They include snack bars and cafeterias in Carson City, Clark and Washoe counties.

Guinn takes case to D.C.: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The Yucca Mountain project is riddled with flawed scientific research, broken laws and centers on bad public policy, Gov. Kenny Guinn said today in the glaring spotlight of the national media outside the Capitol.

Herrera cyber foe identifies himself: The man known on the website as "Trixie," identified himself as Rodney Helm.

NASCAR Winston Cup Samsung/Radio 500 Results: Monday

Mediator sought in dispute: Both sides plan to ask U.S. District Judge Alan Johnson on Wednesday to appoint a federal mediator to resolve the issue.

Private investment proposed to cut state shortfall: CARSON CITY -- State Treasurer Brian Krolicki is working on a plan to produce a one-time $30 million windfall to help the state solve part of its budget crunch this year.

Calif. Assembly honors Tarkanian: Calif. Assembly honors Tarkanian

Portable toilet removed from homeless camp: By Timothy Pratt; A portable toilet was removed from a homeless camp in downtown Las Vegas on Saturday morning after the city said it was obstructing a public right of way, homeless advocates said.

Central Enron figure at Andersen agrees to enter guilty plea: Ted Bridis; WASHINGTON -- A senior Arthur Andersen auditor was charged today with a single criminal obstruction charge, and has agreed to plead guilty to thwarting the government's investigation into the collapse of Enron Corp., people familiar with the matter said.

Story of Kidman role in LV denied: A spokeswoman for Nicole Kidman denied today reports that the actress is headed to Las Vegas to re-create her Oscar-nominated role in a stage version of Moulin Rouge

Restraining order denied: MGM MIRAGE sued Riverwood Resources Corp. and Stargate Enterprises Group Inc. in U.S. District Court last week, alleging they linked the domain names "mgmcasinoandsportsbook.com," "miragecasinoandsportsbook.com" and "mirageonlinegaming.com" to their Antigua, West Indies-based online casino "MGM Casino and Sportsbook."

Tracks clash with tribes, governor: Scott Thomsen; PHOENIX -- Horse and dog racetracks clashed Monday with Indian tribes and Gov. Jane Hull as the Senate Government Committee started the Legislature's deliberations on whether to approve new agreements for Indian casinos.

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1 p.m.

Letter: East side denied share of beltway: When Bruce Woodbury, Myrna Williams and Company withdrew support for the eastern beltway they doomed the Sunrise community to decades of decay. Without the badly needed road improvements on the east side of town, its future is bleak.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Santa Anita: Wednesday's card

Dealers vote to decertify: One hundred twelve dealers voted in favor of decertification, while 105 voted against, said Mike Chavez, agent in charge of the NLRB's Las Vegas office. One year ago, the Stratosphere dealers voted 116-48 in favor of the union.

Commentator joins CNBC: The new program, "Louis Rukeyser's Wall Street," debuts at 8:30 p.m. ET on April 19 on the cable news financial network.

Utility's tax refund may lower rates: Customers of Nevada Power Co. and a fellow subsidiary of parent Sierra Pacific Resources are expected to benefit from an unanticipated $170 million tax refund the utilities will receive under a new federal law.

CIBC hikes estimates: Gaming analyst William Schmitt raised his first-quarter cash flow estimate by 6 percent to $251.9 million, and his earnings per share estimate by 21 percent to 57 cents. Schmitt also hiked his 2002 cash flow estimate from $1.03 billion to $1.06 billion, and his 2002 earnings estimate from $2.28 per share to $2.50 per share.

County may add $1.5 mil. to fight Yucca: Adrienne Packer; Clark County Commission Chairman Dario Herrera tried to make a motion to designate $1.5 million toward the Yucca Mountain fight -- even though he could not legally do so because the item was not on the agenda at a county budget workshop Monday.

Eviction of two men blocked by JP: Jace Radke; Two men alleging that an apartment complex manager wants them out because they are black will not be evicted from low-income housing in downtown Las Vegas, a justice of the peace ruled today.

News briefs for April 9, 2002: Metro Police today continued searching for a 28-year-old charged in Thursday's double slaying and sexual assault in a downtown home.

Greene catches on in Las Vegas: Victoria Sun; The pitchers lobbied for him.

House minority whip expects new anti-Yucca votes: Erin Neff; The House of Representative's second-ranking Democratic said she thinks opponents of a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain will make strong gains from a 2000 vote on the issue.

Construction continues on new hotel-casino: Construction continues on new hotel-casino

Gibbons predicts long presence: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- U.S. troops serving under trying conditions in Afghanistan likely will become a familiar presence there for years, much as they have in Bosnia and Kosovo, Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said.

Tabish lawyer's motion divides defense team: J. Tony Serra filed the motion on behalf of defendant Rick Tabish last week, accusing Bonaventure of being biased against his client, because he signed books at an August book signing for "Murder in Sin City," written by Sun reporter Jeff German.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Flat tires ruin Busch's day at Texas Speedway: Midway through Monday's Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, Kurt Busch appeared to be headed to his third top-10 finish in seven NASCAR Winston Cup races this season.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: NHRA crowds just fine as they are: As I drove past Nellis Air Force Base en route to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Sunday's SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals about a half-hour before eliminations were to begin, traffic was virtually non-existent.

Review board recommends officer be retrained: Keith Paul; A Citizen Review Board panel ruled a Metro Police officer arrested a motorist last summer "based strictly on the complainant's race and the officer's bias" and recommended the officer be retrained.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Senior Tour eyes celebrity event here: Dean Juipe; This being early April and this being Las Vegas, tradition has it that the PGA Senior Tour is about to hit town for an annual event that has 16 years' of memories attached to it.