Print edition for April 29, 2002

Council redistricting raises problem: Diana Sahagun; Las Vegas Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald plans to ask her colleagues to delay redistricting council boundaries until after the spring 2003 election to protect the rights of more than 4,000 voters.

Park money may be diverted to Yucca fund: Diana Sahagun; What's more important -- funding a new park or putting more money toward the state's fight to keep high-level nuclear waste from coming to Nevada?

News briefs for April 29, 2002: A Las Vegas man died in a three-car accident about 10 p.m. Friday at Eastern and Reno avenues, Metro Police said.

Rhodes won't face sexual charges: Kim Smith and Keith Paul; Clark County prosecutors this morning announced they will not file sexual assault charges against former North Las Vegas Councilman John Rhodes.

Couple killed in crash on way to event: Sparks and Cherry were riding their motorcycles Friday on U.S. Highway 95. An oncoming car drifted into their lane and struck them about 1:45 p.m., the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

Baseball team romps to win over New Mexico: Rebel reliever Jared Bonnell (4-3) picked up the win. He kept New Mexico scoreless in 4 1/3 innings while striking out three. Starter Giovanni Pupo gave up three runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Man indicted in slaying of estranged wife: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas man accused of stabbing his estranged wife to death in front of their 6-year-old child has been indicted.

Prep Schedule: MONDAY

Trends for April 29, 2002: Lisa Ferguson; Las Vegas didn't see much in the way of those fabled April showers this month. But that wasn't enough to stop the folks at bubble-bath maker Calgon from playing off the tired, old cliche about soggy weather when presenting the results of its latest survey.

U.S. National Wrestling Championships: Las Vegas Convention Center

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Jockeys jockey for Derby rides: Ralph Siraco; The post position draw for Saturday's Kentucky Derby is rapidly approaching. And the only certain thing about this wide open Derby is the multitudes of those who want to participate. Either this is a deep year of talented sophomores or a year of deep-pocket owners who want to see their colors carried in America's most famous horse race.

Obituaries for April 29, 2002: Patricia Ann Abney, 55, of Bullhead City, Ariz., died Saturday in Las Vegas. She was born May 12, 1946, in Illinois. A resident for three months, she was a homemaker.

Cimarron claws back on top after bumpy early ride: Spencer Patterson; A 5-7 start wasn't exactly what anybody expected from Cimarron-Memorial, ranked No. 2 in the state before the 2002 prep baseball season began.

Letter: A sad, broken mountain awaits its fate: I'm sorry that $6 billion-$7 billion have been spent, but what that expenditure has revealed is that the mountain cannot be a safe repository. It's time to cut our losses and move on.

Binion trial witness accused of securities fraud: Grace Leong; The Securities and Exchange Commission sued Las Vegas businessman Larry Stockett, whom it accused of being a "recidivist securities violator ...with a lengthy disciplinary record" with both state and federal regulators since 1989, alleging he defrauded penny stock investors out of $1.37 million.

Estate tax fund eyed for college: Jennifer Knight; For the third time in a year, university system officials are hoping to make a withdrawal from the state's dwindling reserve of estate tax funds -- this time to cover a budget mistake made last year that shortchanged the Community College of Southern Nevada.

New Nevada malpractice insurance firm gearing up: CARSON CITY -- A company owned by Las Vegas physicians has taken a major step toward gaining state approval to start writing medical malpractice insurance to ease the crisis that has hit Southern Nevada doctors.

Letter: Resident tired of living in fear: I have lived in this house for 35 years and never had a problem with scorpions, until the nursery moved in. We had a meeting with the planning commission -- they gave the nursery three months to move. When it went in front of the City Council, Mr. Reese gave them a year.

IAP candidate wants to take on feds: CARSON CITY -- David G. Holmgren lives on his cattle ranch in Mineral County, about 30 miles from the nearest community -- tiny Gabbs.

Letter: Off-road group is irrational: Without fail, every time a member of the off-road community opens his mouth, we get a clearer perspective of their irrational rhetoric. Their unwillingness to review the facts of the Citizens' Wilderness Proposal is proven by Dayton's statement. By the way, Dayton is a member of Southern Nevada Off Road Enthusiasts, which in February was suspended from racing on BLM land due to 8 of 14 violations at a race outside of Laughlin.

Gordon pleased for teammate: FONTANA, Calif. -- Jeff Gordon said it had been a long time since he felt so happy after a 16th-place finish.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Gamez falters after fling at Greensboro: Dean Juipe; As an infrequent visitor to the leader board and a national television audience, Robert Gamez caused a number of his fans, acquaintances and followers to sit up and take notice over the weekend.

County growth stays high: By Timothy Pratt; Clark County continues to draw newcomers in great numbers, placing in the top 10 counties nationwide in population growth from April 2000 to July 2001, according to a report released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Town picks up the pieces after violent outbreak: Jeffrey Libby; A group of Harrah's cocktail waitresses starting the Sunday morning shift gathered around a waist-high hole in the wall next to their service station.

Wynn partner cleared of tax claim: Steve Wynn's Japanese business partner in the development of a proposed Las Vegas Strip report has been cleared of complaints filed by Japanese tax authorities in Tokyo District Court.

Business briefs for April 29, 2002: LANHAM, Md. -- Marriott International's first-quarter earnings were down 32 percent from last year, but still surpassed Wall Street expectations and the hotel operator's own earnings forecast.

First quarter earnings dip slightly: The bank's loans and other assets climbed to $118.7 million from $88.7 million one year ago, said Barry Hulin, president and chief executive officer.

Vegas hopes to cash in on airline's new fares: In the bloody fare war set off by America West Airlines last month, Las Vegas has emerged as a big winner.

Latest LV tourist publication targets Hispanic visitors: The newest entry in Las Vegas' crowded tourism publication market will have a new face or, more precisely, "Nuestro nuevo rostro."

Transfer players give Rebels high marks: Steve Guiremand; Deon Burnett rushed for almost 1,000 yards as a true freshman at Washington State. Larry Croom started parts of two seasons for the University of Arizona.

Gas-n-Go: FONTANA, Calif. -- Kurt Busch may have spent the first 21 years of his life in Las Vegas, but Southern California native Jimmie Johnson gave Busch a lesson in gambling Sunday afternoon at California Speedway.

Solid gains in economy shown: Jeannine Aversa; WASHINGTON -- Consumers kept their pocketbooks and wallets open in March and increased their spending by 0.4 percent. Incomes rose by the same amount, the government said today.

General Motors to sign takeover deal: Daewoo spokesman Kim Sang-won said the signing will include GM Chairman Jack Smith, Daewoo Chairman Lee Jong-dae and Jung Keun-young, head of the state-run Korea Development Bank, Daewoo's main creditor bank.

Park Place closing AC mall for renovation: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- The Shops on Ocean One, a shopping mall built to resemble an ocean liner, will close this year for a two-year renovation project.

Amusement game fued moves to federal court: Jack Elliott Jr; JACKSON, Miss. -- The long running feud between amusement companies and gambling regulators has entered a new arena -- the federal courts.

Suit over Indian casinos dismissed: Dane County Circuit Judge John C. Albert noted in his decision that Dairyland faced a Catch-22 because the tribes are considered sovereign nations, which gives them the ability to claim immunity to such lawsuits.

Tribe's casino immune from suit: However, the high court's decision did not answer the legal question of whether current gambling compacts allow such personal injury lawsuits in state court against tribes with casinos.

Editorial: Riots caused harm, not social progress: Or so it is tempting to believe. But it would be a mistake to credit the riots with instigating positive social change. The riots caused death and injury and millions in property damage. That's all they caused. Because the violence is seared into peoples' memories, April 30, 1992, may be a date associated with the beginning of change in West Las Vegas. But issues affecting West Las Vegas were being discussed -- although not being fully addressed -- in the months and years before the riots. West Las Vegas had indeed been neglected for decades, as had inner cities throughout ...

Editorial: Tax plan offers only a Band-Aid: In addition to conducting its own research, the task force is listening to individuals and groups that have their own views on what the state should do to bolster its treasury. Last week the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada announced its solution to the state's looming budget deficits. The alliance, consisting of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, labor groups, the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association and numerous other organizations, came through with a proposal it says would add $932 million to the $1.7 billion a year the state now collects through taxes. While all proposals are welcome, this one ...

PCL box: Las Vegas - New Orleans: Time -- 2:37. Attendance -- 5,734.

Witnesses describe wild scene in casino: Mary Manning and Jeffrey Libby; As Friday night rolled over to Saturday morning, things went like any other during the Laughlin River Run -- motorcyclists gathered in casino bars talked and joked and partied into the night.

Teen hijacker had plans to bomb school: Keith Paul; A 15-year-old armed with a Samurai sword hijacked a school bus this morning as part of a plan to blow up Pahrump High School, Nye County Sheriff's officials told the Sun.

Motorcycle enthusiasts downplay outlaw culture: The violent deaths of three in a Laughlin casino early Saturday morning cast a shadow over all motorcycle enthusiasts -- an unfair judgment, Harley riders said.

Quake hazards may force Las Vegas building costs up: Jennifer Robison; A national program designed to unify construction codes and reduce earthquake hazards will demand strengthened building standards in parts of Southern Nevada.

Weber may face death penalty: Keith Paul; Prosecutors are expected to decide in the next two weeks whether to seek the death penalty for double-murder suspect Timmy J. Weber, who was captured Sunday night at a mobile home owned by his slain girlfriend's father.

Immunization schedule for April 29, 2002: NORTH LAS VEGAS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Garcia plans series of public forums: The forums will also be attended by the Clark County School Board representatives from each district, as well as other educators and administrators.