Print edition for April 11, 2002

Binion loan aids LV gaming group: The one-year loan carries a 12 percent interest rate, and may be extended for an additional year upon payment of an extension fee. It is secured by Phoenix land holdings in Colorado and a mortgage on Phoenix's non-operating gaming vessel in Mississippi.

NLV officers sued by man they handcuffed: According to the suit, Roosevelt Johnson, 56, was driving south on Martin Luther King Boulevard near Craig Road on Feb. 23 when he was pulled over and ordered out of his car by Officers Mario Noriega, Randy Laswell and Robert Kryszczuk.

Computer glitch responsible for delinquent-tax notices: County Treasurer Laura Fitzpatrick said the computer program had not processed all of the tax payments that were due March 4, even though they had been dated and posted. The computers then spit out delinquent notices that were mailed to between 15,000 and 20,000 taxpayers.

Expo will showcase LV black-owned firms: Grace Leong; The publisher of the Las Vegas Black Business Directory, which lists more than 150 black businesses in the Las Vegas Valley, this weekend is conducting an event highlighting local black-owned businesses.

Slayings, rape suspect could face death penalty: Keith Paul; Donations

Prep standings: Baseball

Anti-Yucca fund gets a push: CARSON CITY -- A state legislative committee pledged $3 million Wednesday to fight Yucca Mountain but only if the Gov. Kenny Guinn can find matching funds from local governments and private donors.

Topless club suit claims cabbie kickbacks: Olympic Garden topless nightclub owner Pete Eliades filed a racketeering lawsuit in District Court Wednesday, accusing managers of a popular rival adult nightclub of conspiring with Las Vegas cabbies to steal business from him.

Federal audit seeks equipment bought for anti-terrorism: Adrienne Packer; Anti-terrorist equipment Clark County purchased with federal funds -- equipment a federal audit claimed was missing or unusuable -- has been accounted for, county officials said.

Sun Athletes of the Week: Jabe Beard and Marie Muscato: School: Foothill

Builders' insurers leaving Nevada: Jennifer Robison; Major insurance companies, burned by construction defect lawsuits, are abandoning the Nevada market and homebuilders say they're facing a crisis similar to that faced by Nevada doctors losing malpractice insurance.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Stars of '87 were more interesting: Having spent the better part of Wednesday afternoon in the empty bleachers at Cashman Field, where I must have stood out like the birthmark on Aaron Neville's forehead, I tried to come up with a reason why the Las Vegas 51s of 2002 aren't anywhere near as popular as the Las Vegas Stars of 1987, my first year on the job here.

High court annuls marriage of girl, 15: CARSON CITY -- In a split decision the Nevada Supreme Court today ordered the annulment of a Las Vegas marriage last year of a 15-year-old girl to her 48-year-old guitar teacher.

Court rejects Binion's petition: The Horseshoe and the Fremont Street Experience are fighting over whether the casino owes back assessments to pay off loans taken to build and run the pedestrian mall in downtown Las Vegas.

Guinn nixes special session, but concern over budget shortfall grows: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn won't call a special session of the Legislature this fiscal year to deal with the growing deficit in state revenues, but he didn't rule out convening the lawmakers after the start of the next budget year to bail out the state.

Freshman senator now at center of Nevada's lobbying campaign: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- As the behind-the-scenes lobbying on both sides of the Yucca Mountain issue intensifies on Capitol Hill, many eyes are on Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: District eliminates middle school athletics: Spencer Patterson; For the second time in a decade, Southern Nevada is officially without middle school athletics.

Business briefs for April 11, 2002: PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway Inc., the third largest U.S. supermarket chain, said it had a first-quarter loss because of an accounting change.

Chicago poor example for museum idea: Diana Sahagun; Las Vegas is not the first city to debate whether to embrace its mob past or keep its skeletons in the closet.

Alliance posts strong numbers for quarter: David Strow; Alliance Gaming Corp. got the gaming industry's winter quarter earnings season off to a strong start Wednesday, as the Las Vegas company reported a 133 percent increase in net income for the quarter ended March 31.

Western music fans moseying down to fest at Sam's Town: Chris Jones; The Western Music Association hopes the return of its annual fall festival to Las Vegas will revitalize interest in the event -- and possibly create some new western music fans in the process.

PCL box: Las Vegas - Edmonton: Edmonton

PCL standings: PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE American Conference Central Division

Planners OK North Las Vegas casino project: The North Las Vegas Planning Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved a five-story, 300-room hotel-casino project to be built in the next three years near Interstate 15 and the proposed Las Vegas Beltway.

Catching Up With: Nicole Ireland: Where she is now: Alabama

Wednesday's prep results: Bishop Gorman 6, Clark 1: Russ Warthen struck out five and allowed an unearned run in a complete-game victory, while Blake Wilson homered and Anthony Garcia doubled for the Gaels.

Scientists plan nuke waste transmutation experiment: A process to convert highly radioactive waste into less dangerous substances, which has been touted as an alternative to dumping nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, may get on a fast track.

Feds will review power contracts: Mark Sherman; WASHINGTON -- Federal energy regulators agreed Wednesday to consider whether power-generating companies used California's energy crisis to pressure two Nevada utilities to sign expensive long-term contracts.

Lake level drops dangerously low: Jace Radke; A jarring crunch sent Joe Mantico and his three friends sprawling Sunday as their 35-foot speedboat unexpectedly struck underwater rocks in the middle of Lake Mead.

Union seeks Sands arbitration: Las Vegas Sands, which owns the Venetian megaresort, was the owner of the Sands hotel-casino that was imploded in November 1996. Adelson sued the union in 1997, alleging it violated a 1994-1997 collective bargaining agreement with the old Sands hotel-casino when it allegedly applied political pressure to delay or deny licenses, permits and approvals for the Venetian in an effort to force Adelson to recognize the union.

Emergency funding OK'd for welfare office: CARSON CITY -- The Legislative Interim Finance Committee Wednesday allocated $496,343 from its emergency fund to hire 67 new workers for the state Welfare Division, which has been overrun with new applications.

UNLV women finish season ranked 16th: The Rebels, who stood at No. 56 in the preseason poll, finished the regular season with a school-record tying mark of 17-3, with all three losses coming to teams ranked among the nation's top 25 (No. 3 Stanford, No. 4 Wake Forest and No. 24 San Diego State).

Sports calendar: THURSDAY

Siraco's selections for Friday's races at Santa Anita: 1st Race -- CAT IN THE COUNTRY - Pedroza aboard one of two Harrington-trained hidden entries of babies here, draws well for dash, could be quick as Cat. AMERICAN FURY - Baze aboard one-of-two Baffert-trained 'hidden entry' here for owner Golden Eagle Farm, draws outside box, has wrath of Fury? Value Play -- SWISS GUY

Investor loses lawsuit against Saxton, auditor: Grace Leong; A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that claimed shareholders of Las Vegas real estate developer Saxton Inc. were defrauded by the company.

Defect meeting set: The coalition will have its first meeting April 18 at Palace Station.

Lagasse serves up pint-sized recipes: Kimberley McGee; "A lot of people are intimidated by cooking," Lagasse said in a recent phone interview from his New Orleans office. "But not kids. They are always coming up to me, so interested in the recipes."

Laughlin flights added: The nonstop locations are San Francisco, Phoenix and Denver.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Our state is in a bad state: Ruthe Deskin; For some time we have acknow-ledged the severe shortage of nurses, the overcrowding of emergency rooms and the high cost of health care.

Editorial: First Amendment, privacy win in case: The court, in its unanimous decision, wrote that the U.S. and Colorado constitutions "protect an individual's fundamental right to purchase books anonymously, free from governmental interference." In addition, the court noted that when a customer buys a book, he "engages in activity protected by the First Amendment because he is exercising his right to read and receive ideas and information." In a time when there is more intrusion into our private lives, it is reassuring to see a court uphold cherished freedoms.

Clearer student-privacy rules urged: Jennifer Knight; Two legislators want to pick up where the state Board of Regents left off and institute clearer and more stringent privacy protection for students.

Busy boxing weekend on tap: Dean Juipe; Three cards in three days, that's what's in store for Las Vegas boxing fans this weekend as the Stardust, the Fremont Street Experience and the Hard Rock take turns hosting fights of varying significance.

Letter: Guinn wants it both ways on nuclear waste: There are two facts that the citizens of Nevada should not soon forget:

Muaina aims to win title -- like brothers: Spencer Patterson; Even before he'd played his first high school match, Shaun Muaina got a taste of what it might be like to win a state volleyball championship.

Court briefs for April 11, 2002: A 32-year-old man has been indicted in a 1997 crash that left one person dead and another seriously injured.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Johnson confident he'll take care of Ruiz: Dean Juipe; Overdue for his mandatory shot at World Boxing Association heavyweight champ John Ruiz, Kirk Johnson said Wednesday that when the fight comes he'll win it.

County tracks missing items: Adrienne Packer; Poor record-keeping placed Clark County on a list of 11 governments nationwide that the U.S. Justice Department claims are missing anti-terrorist equipment purchased with federal funds, county officials said Wednesday.

Gambling interests converge on N.Y. to hear growth plans: Mary Esch; ALBANY, N.Y. -- Civic leaders extolled the economic virtues of casinos as gambling industry representatives and investors networked at New York's first "gaming summit," sponsored by an industry trade publisher.

Plane speaking: North Las Vegas Airport has storied past, bright future: Kimberley McGee; The paved runways cover more than 823 acres of flat desert in the middle of the building-choked valley.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: If Bush were Sharon: Just as soon as it cleans up this nasty business of suicide bombers. Clearly, that is the only thing our president could have meant when he looked the camera straight in the eye -- at least twice -- and told Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel to get out without delay. For sure, he could not have meant, as some of the region's Arab leaders have suggested, that Sharon pull his troops back right now. That would be foolish and a clear dereliction of Sharon's duty to his people to protect and defend them.

Friday's horse racing entries: Post Time 3 p.m.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Top Fuel driver Russell happy despite losing in LV: Taking into account everything Joe Amato's Top Fuel team went through last weekend, it is no wonder driver Darrell Russell considered his second-round loss a huge morale booster.

Fight schedule: Friday

Obituaries for April 11, 2002: Ruth G. Alarid, 89, of Henderson died Monday in Boulder City. She was born Nov. 14, 1912, in Jasper, Ala. A resident for 60 years, she was a retired hotel gift shop manager.

Letter: Students need parents' help: The system in Las Vegas is essentially good, despite the low ratings of the student accomplishments in specific subjects, comparisons with other systems, etc.

Community honors Honor Guard: Dick Benoit; The mayors of Boulder City and North Las Vegas and representatives of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., turned out to recognize members of the Nellis Air Force Base Honor Guard at a luncheon Friday.

News briefs for April 11, 2002: Henderson Police released a sketch of a man who sexually assaulted an elderly woman earlier this month at her Green Valley Parkway home.

Rebels look to fill void on 'D': Steve Guiremand; One of the big questions for the UNLV Rebels in spring practice is who will emerge as the next Kevin Thomas at cornerback?

Rebels free up scholarship as Johnson opts to transfer: Steve Addy; The Rebels will have an extra scholarship to award next season after all, because sophomore guard Lafonte Johnson has decided to transfer.

Letter: State song inspires pride: I am referring to the attempt by several Nevadans to replace our wonderful state song, "Home Means Nevada," with something more contemporary or with the cowboy song, "When It's Nighttime in Nevada." Well, it is not always "nighttime" in Nevada, we have "daytime" also.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Tropicana marks anniversary with Casino Legends: Joe Delaney; Old-timers will remember the Tropicana Blue Room, when Maynard Sloate produced shows that featured classic big-band originals, singers and comedians. ... One very special night, Jan. 9, 1971, the attraction was Louis Armstrong and the All-Stars, and I put together a tribute to Armstrong as part of his 8 p.m. performance that evening.

Las Vegas fails to muster another rally: Victoria Sun; This time, unlike the previous three nights, there were no late inning heroics for the Las Vegas 51s.

Community briefs for April 11, 2002: Henderson Parks and Recreation Director Steve Rongyocsik is retiring after seven years as head of his department, having brought the city national recognition for its parks and recreation facilities.

Wickman leads Rebels over Southern Utah: The win improved the Rebels to 17-18, while the Thunderbirds fell to 5-23.

Editorial: Bungling will teach lessons: Today the Regional Justice Center is only about 60 percent completed, two years behind the original hoped-for opening and a year behind revised estimates as the project got under way. The jail expansion is only about 80 percent completed, 10 months behind schedule. Additionally, the projects are a combined $33 million over budget -- an amount that screams of mismanagement. The early sense of optimism collapsed amid labor problems and a leadership vacuum. No county employee emerged as directly in charge of the project, leaving court officials, who were to occupy the building, free to make 1,100 design changes with ...