Print edition for April 19, 2002

Community briefs for April 19, 2002: The Women's League of Temple Beth Shalom will host Education Day Sunday at the temple, 8516 W. Lake Mead Blvd.

Review: 'Metropolis' a nice place to visit: Geoff Carter; 'Metropolis'

On Display for April 19, 2002: "Pictorial Space," paintings of fruits and vegetables by Las Vegas artist Delores Nast, is on display through May 31 at Arts Factory's X Space Gallery, 101 E. Charleston Blvd.

Lewis blocks pain for busy tour: For the first time in 37 years, Jerry Lewis says he is free of pain.

Regents make state college official: Jennifer Knight; The state Board of Regents delivered the final word on whether a proposed state college in Henderson would continue operations, and the answer was "Yes."

Performing arts for April 19, 2002: Plays staged

Six finalists selected for ethics panel chief: RENO -- Six candidates who have a wide variety of backgrounds have been selected as finalists to be interviewed for the job of executive director of the state Ethics Commission.

Datebook for April 19, 2002: The Las Vegas Highland Games & Clan Gathering, featuring Scottish athletic competitions, cultural demonstrations, food and entertainment, will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Freedom Park at East Washington Boulevard and North Mojave Road. Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for seniors; $5 for children ages 6-12. Call 369-0210.

Columnist Jerry Fink: DiNapoli's voice arrives in the Nick of time: Someday, hopefully not for years to come, Tony Bennett will retire, having left his heart in San Francisco.

'Pippin' settles in at Horn Theatre: When: 8 p.m. today, Saturday and April 26-27; 2 p.m. Sunday and April 28.

Hackett and Co. making an impression: Joe Delaney; Sandy Hackett's Comedy Club at Greek Isles is the newest entry in the comedy club competition. It differs in that it is performed seven nights a week at 9 p.m., that Hackett is the constant, joined by a second comedian, with a different co-star, starting each Monday, and (for an extra dollar) you can get a steak-and-shrimp dinner, before or after the show, in Yanni's restaurant.

EPA fines Calnev Pipe Line: Calnev increased the size of its piping and pumps to boost gasoline flow processed at its terminal on North Sloan Lane without first getting a permit that would have required the company to install controls on new equipment.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: LVMS on TRAC for stock-car league: A new stock-car racing series set to debut next year, TRAC, will have a strong presence in Las Vegas if series president Jon Pritchett has his way.

Judge denies bias toward Tabish: "I have no implied or express malice toward Richard Tabish or Sandra Murphy that would prevent me from sitting in a fair and impartial manner on cases where they are defendants," Bonaventure wrote.

Review: 'Scorpion King' wears crown of idiocy: Geoff Carter; 'Scorpion King'

Columnist Susan Snyder: A candid look at Neonopolis: Itoured the soon-to-open Neonopolis this week fully prepared to eat some crow.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Tracing trumpeter Anthony's rise to stardom: Joe Delaney; Ray Anthony, now in his seventh decade as a star trumpeter and band leader, returns with his big swing band to Stardust Pavilion at 7 p.m. Saturday for a nostalgic listening and dancing session ... This is part of the Big Band Series Stardust has been presenting continually since 1996.

Highland Games celebrate Scottish heritage: What: Las Vegas Highland Games & Clan Gathering.

Regulators continue talks on Internet gambling: CARSON CITY -- An electronics expert told the state Gaming Commission Thursday there are pitfalls, including computer viruses and hackers, that could plague Nevada casinos that want to start up Internet gambling.

Thursday's prep results: BASEBALL

Recyclers say Clark County, Republic are stifling competition: Grace Leong; Two small construction debris recyclers are challenging a county ordinance on waste management they say is "ambiguous" and allegedly allow their rival Republic Silver State Disposal Inc. to monopolize the waste recycling market.

Editorial: Senate tosses out flawed energy idea: Rather than trashing the environment -- whether it's drilling in ANWR or trying to dump nuclear waste in Nevada -- Congress should adopt an energy policy that would incorporate sensible measures, such as increasing the fuel economy of cars and trucks. But most Republicans haven't looked at conservation and clean sources of energy -- such as solar, wind and geothermal -- because green power's supporters aren't big campaign contributors for GOP politicians. Until the GOP cuts its blind allegiance to the oil, coal and nuclear power industries, a national energy policy that recognizes the value of the environment will be ...

LV exec promotes liquor ads to group of national stations: Chris Jones; The head of Southern Nevada's NBC television affiliate says he's disappointed with the network's recent decision to drop liquor ads and is now working to place such commercials on the nation's airwaves.

Board approves minorities' recruitment proposal: Jennifer Knight; The state Board of Regents voted unanimously Thursday to support recommendations by minority advocates to improve retention and recruitment to offset the negative effects of increased admissions standards.

Goodman likes Nellis general for manager: Diana Sahagun; After alluding to him for weeks, Mayor Oscar Goodman says his top choice for city manager is retiring Nellis Air Force Base Maj. Gen. L.D. Johnston.

Panel questions state's death penalty statute: Erin Neff; A panel studying possible reforms to Nevada's death penalty was told Thursday that tourists might stay away from Las Vegas if the state continues to allow children and mentally retarded citizens to be executed.

Man sentenced to 25 years in killing: Kim Smith; In June 1999 Dana Rae Rasmussen prepared a "To do" list. One of the final items on it read "Take care of Michael, he needs love and understanding."

Channel 10 to air 'Wall Street': "Louis Rukeyser's Wall Street," a half-hour show produced by CNBC, will be shown on Las Vegas' Public Broadcasting Service affiliate at 12:30 p.m.

Charges to be filed against priest in sexual assault case: Kim Smith; Charges will be filed against a Henderson priest who has been accused of sexually assaulting six boys over a five-year period, Chief Deputy District Attorney Ron Bloxham said this morning.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Saturday's races at Santa Anita: 1st Race -- JALISCO - Irish-bred training at Hollypark, draws good rail post for turf route opener, Nakatani on Drysdale trainee. ADDICTED - McCarron astride Hofmans trainee for owners Heerensperger, nedds crafty trip here, backers hope filly Addicted to winning. Value Play -- LAST TANGO

Bird taken as No. 1 pick: SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Sue Bird was taken No. 1 by the Seattle Storm in the WNBA draft this morning, one of four players from unbeaten NCAA champion Connecticut in the top six selections.

Review: 'Murder' proves deadly for Bullock: Geoff Carter; 'Murder by Numbers'

Political notebook: What helps make Oscar happiest mayor? Donations: Erin Neff; The Happiest Mayor, in just one week, has pulled in about a quarter of the money needed to run for governor .

No. 1 Centennial rides strong arm of Rider: Spencer Patterson; The Centennial Bulldogs have ascended to the state's No. 1 baseball ranking this season largely behind their high-octane offense, scoring in double-digits in 19 of their 26 games.

Editorial: City vision of 61 acres still foggy: Or, the City Council could have said, "Yes, bring us a development plan that includes a minor-league baseball stadium." That would have gone against the advice of a $74,000 feasibility study, but at least people could have left the four-hour meeting understanding the city's vision. The meeting, after all, was scheduled to at long last synchronize the City Council and the company it chose as the master developer. To ensure there would be clarity of vision at meeting's end, the city paid a Washington, D.C., consultant $2,450 to lead the discussion.

Keller overturns citizen board's ruling on officer: Keith Paul; Sheriff Jerry Keller on Thursday rejected a Citizen Review Board ruling that said an officer was racially biased when he arrested a motorist last summer, saying there was no evidence to support the allegation.

ESPN's 2 Minute Drill coming to Las Vegas: Those interested in becoming a contestant can register at Findlay Toyota in the Valley Auto Mall or at any Sonic Drive-In through Sunday. Preliminary contestants can also register at the Galleria Mall on April 27 beginning at noon.

Las Vegas commercial vacancy rates rising: Jennifer Robison; Vacancy rates in industrial, office and retail space are up around the Las Vegas Valley, but still remain at healthy levels, said brokers of Colliers International at a market update meeting Thursday.

LV Council releases new ward map: Diana Sahagun; Las Vegas' long-awaited redistricting plan gives Hispanics their first majority council seat but leaves several council members vulnerable, as they will face new voters when they run for re-election in 2003.

Old sexual harassment claims haunt Timet as case heats up: Grace Leong; A legal battle is heating up between Denver-based Titanium Metals Corp. and a federal agency that claims several women were sexually harassed at Timet's big plant near Henderson between 1997 and 2001.

Porn on Weber's computer may provide clues to killing: Keith Paul; Child pornography found Thursday on the computer of fugitive murder suspect Timmy Weber re-enforces detectives' beliefs that an obsession with the teenage daughter of his slain girlfriend was the motive for the killings, investigators said.

PUC warns Nevada Power on hookups: State regulators issued a stern warning to Nevada Power Co. on Thursday saying that its certificate to operate could be jeopardized if it fails to serve future customers.

Band of brothers: Kirk Baird; When: 8 p.m. Saturday.

Debate heats up over DNA testing: Kim Smith; Two different DNA cases. Two different results. Both made headlines this week in Clark County and fed the debate over when DNA testing should and should not be conducted.

In LV, Israeli man details devastating toll of violence: Stacy J. Willis; He is here to share his grief. To ask for understanding. To call attention to the horrors of recurring terrorist attacks in the Middle East.

Yucca hearing flows against Nevada: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- A familiar pattern of point and counterpoint arguments emerged Thursday during the first congressional hearing on the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.

Letter: Nevada Power playing games?: Is Nevada Power playing hardball? Or is the company attempting to pressure the builders to have them put pressure on the utilities commissioners to change the unawarded money? Are we, the new home buyers, being punished for something we had nothing to do with?

Business briefs for April 19, 2002: SANTA ANA, Calif. -- PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. shares rose as much as 17 percent today after the biggest operator of Medicare health plans said it won a two-year extension on $735 million in debt.

Obituaries for April 19, 2002: Earl D. Adams, 82, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. He was born Nov. 6, 1919, in Indianapolis. A resident for many years, he was a retired Air Force senior master sergeant and a World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veteran and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Online casino signs deal with UK ISP: Station signed a pact earlier this year to acquire 50 percent of Sun Online Ltd., holder of an online gaming license from the Isle of Man, a British dependency. Sun Online has an operating Internet casino named after its Bahamas-based casino resort, the Casino Atlantis; however, the site bars bets from American players.

Homeless task force disagrees on its course: By Timothy Pratt; Though budgetary items in a regional plan to reduce homelessness were narrowly approved, membership in a task force meeting Thursday was sharply divided over the very philosophy on which the plan is based.

Metro orders review of 273 DNA cases: "We are obviously taking this extremely seriously," Deputy Chief Ray Flynn said. "There was no problem with the scientific testing. The problem was typographical."

For Cimarron grad, 'Rent' is Justin time: Marilyn LaRocque; What: Rent.

UNLV's Palepoi, teammates hope to receive call: Steve Guiremand; UNLV draft sketches

Pro tour finale at June 13-15 at MGM: Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 474-4000 or the MGM Grand at 891-663-0360. Ticket prices are $25, $50 and $100.

Ayoub resigns from athletic commission: Ayoub, the first female member of the commission, said she was gratified by her 29 months as one of five members on the NSAC and cited increased business concerns for her decision to resign.

Fight escalates over Louisiana casino: JCC Holding Co. claimed, in a suit filed Thursday in state district court, that Las Vegas-based Harrah's violated its agreement to manage and market the casino, diverting potential customers to other casinos fully owned by Harrah's.

Yucca director plans visit: The new Energy Department director in charge of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository is scheduled to visit with local officials in Las Vegas, a spokesman said.

News briefs for April 19, 2002: Metro Police are searching for a woman believed to have shared a room in the Polo Towers with a 27-year-old Las Vegas man when he was killed in February.

PCL box: Las Vegas-Sacramento: Time--3:14. Att.--9,747.

Dangerous drug: Parents of girl who died from taking Ecstasy are on mission to educate others: Jace Radke; www.nvbest.org

Boyd earnings soar; plan for Stardust considered: David Strow; Boyd Gaming Corp. on Thursday posted a 210 percent increase in earnings per share for the quarter ending March 31, topping its own estimates for the quarter.

Mandalay opposes Halloween parade: David Strow; One of the Strip's largest casino operators said Thursday it will not support a proposal to hold a Halloween parade down Las Vegas Boulevard.

Columnist Dean Juipe: 'Pretty Boy' now seen in lesser light: Dean Juipe; The "Pretty Boy" tag is meant to be cute, and there was a time when Floyd Mayweather Jr. had sort of a cherubic look to him.

$1 billion seen for new pipeline: Jeffrey Libby; The fix for clean drinking water in Southern Nevada could come in the shape of a $1 billion wastewater pipeline, Las Vegas Valley officials said Thursday.

S. Nevada records sixth unhealthy day in 2002: On Wednesday one of the 17 area air quality monitoring stations -- the one at Rainbow Boulevard and Ann Road -- recorded unhealthful levels of PM-10 dust as a result of blustery winds, said Bob Folle, compliance manager with the Air Quality Management office.

LV firm sells utility: Mego Financial Corp., which recently announced that it is changing its name to Leisure Industries Corp. to more accurately reflect its primary business, announced Thursday that it has sold Central Nevada Utilities Co., for $5.5 million.

America West, United post huge losses: America West Holdings Corp., the parent of America West Airlines, today said its first-quarter loss widened as the carrier flew fewer passengers at lower fares and had expenses for restructuring and an accounting change. United Airlines also posted a huge loss while Alaska Airlines said it also lost money in the quarter.

Pro tour finale June 13-15 at MGM: Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 474-4000 or the MGM Grand at 891-663-0360. Ticket prices are $25, $50 and $100.

New Four Queens owner hopes to boost downtown: Sun Staff; CARSON CITY -- Terry L. Caudill, who is buying the Four Queens Hotel & Casino for $21.1 million, says tourists don't have any trouble with the homeless if the tourists stay within the confines of the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas.

Letter: Critics should look in mirror: Let me make sure I understand this right. Are these the same locally elected officials who are responsible for the outrageous mismanagement of the Regional Justice Center?

Liberty tabs Frohlich: Steve Guiremand; Linda Frohlich added another honor to her impressive UNLV basketball resume today when she became the first Lady Rebels basketball player to be selected in the WNBA draft.

Letter: Cowards hide behind children of Palestine: The argument they give is that they are freedom fighters who are so desperate they have nothing but their bodies to give to their cause. Freedom fighters are the partisans of World War II who didn't kill innocent women and children. Their efforts were directed against supply trains, troop transports and communications.

Editorial: Hearing in House all for show: Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, who doesn't like to be bothered by nagging questions about nuclear waste's storage and transportation, told committee members that Congress should quickly approve a dump at Yucca Mountain. Abraham indicated that members of Congress shouldn't worry too much about their decision because the experts at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which would have to grant the project a license before it is built, still would have the final say. "We're confident enough to go to the next stage," Abraham said. "Those who oppose (Yucca) wouldn't even test it." Of course, the reason why Abraham and the nuclear ...

The mayor, the mouth: Diana Sahagun; WEEKEND EDITION: April 21, 2002

Columnist Sandy Thompson: Hold batterers accountable for their actions: Sandy Thompson; "Of all the areas of law and social problems, domestic violence is one of the most critical to be addressed," said Nevada Supreme Court Justice Miriam Shearing.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Earth Day a study in savings: Hurray for life after 30.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Guinn challenger must be strong: Deputy Attorney General Matthew Dushoff, who announced his candidacy against Gov. Kenny Guinn a week ago, is correct that without an alternative, no issues will be discussed. And they should be -- taxes, health care, education funding, social programs, medical malpractice, construction defects and so on.

Letter: Palestinians scream loudly, and world listens: First, there never has been a country called Palestine, and therefore there cannot be "Palestinians." Second, most "Palestinians" were originally Jordanian or, as in the case of Yasser Arafat, Egyptian.

Letter: Shame on U.S. for role in coup: Either you are for democracy or you aren't, and a fairly and popularly elected communist or even fascist government is just as much a democracy as one which toes the free market.

Mac the Nice: WEEKEND EDITION: April 21, 2002

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Powell in line of fire: SELDOM HAS A SECRETARY OF STATE PLEASED ME as they went about their world travels. President Bill Clinton's Madeleine Albright and Warren Christopher both found my pen to be a sharp needle. Albright, especially, acting as the "secretary of bombing," triggered my animosity. Neither of them was as bad or inept as the senior Bush's James Baker. He was a total loss as he played games more political than diplomatic.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Nuclear confrontation: By the time you read this I will have already taped an appearance opposite former governor Bob List for a half-hour debate about Yucca Mountain on "This Week in Las Vegas." (This is being written Thursday night, we taped the show Friday morning, and it will air on Channel 3 tonight at 7.) So much for up-to-the-minute news!

Columnist Erin Neff: 'Yucca Bucks' machine just might do the trick: Erin Neff; An hour of parking downtown? A tip for a waitress? Or three seconds on a nickel slot machine with the maximum bet. A dollar's value is hyped by cheesy long distance ads and Nevada politicians alike for its ability to make a real difference. Gov. Kenny Guinn has asked Nevadans to dig not so deep to pull out a buck and contribute it to stop the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Wu family strengthens Las Vegas ties: Restaurateur Kevin Wu recently honored his mother and father, Ming Wing and Chien Hsiung Wu, at a private dinner at his Royal Star restaurant at The Venetian. Joining the Wus were a small group of Las Vegas friends. Although the Wu family still lives in California, they have developed an extended family in Las Vegas.

Columnist Benjamin Grove: House unlikely to back Nevada on Yucca vote: Benjamin Grove; House energy subcommittee chairman, Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, on Thursday had impaneled an impressive group of witnesses to testify both for and against Yucca Mountain.

Columnist Jeff German: Culinary Union is abuzz with strike talk: But talk of a strike on the Strip is making the rounds inside the union these days as it faces tough collective bargaining negotiations with some 36 casinos.