Print edition for December 3, 2002

Oregon lottery chief resigns: Brad Cain; SALEM, Ore. -- Embattled Oregon Lottery Director Chris Lyons announced her resignation Monday, only weeks after an audit found $750,000 in questionable expenses and perks provided to Lottery employees.

Judge grants extension on sale: U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert C. Jones on Monday approved an extension of an agreement that gives the Aladdin the exclusive right to negotiate a plan.

Coast says company is not for sale: By Liz Benston; Las Vegas neighborhood casino operator Coast Casinos Inc. has never talked to Harrah's Entertainment Inc. about a possible acquisition, a Coast executive said Monday.

Engelstad honored: Engelstad honored

Medical insurance debate reopened: Dan Kulin and Erin Neff; The Legislature will be forced to reopen the contentious medical malpractice debate when it convenes in February because of a doctor-backed petition that was qualified Monday by the Secretary of State.

Two LV-Chicago flights added: Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, which already has three daily flights to and from Chicago's Midway Airport, will add two more Feb. 9, further filling gaps left with the folding of National Airlines last month.

Internet gaming issue tossed to lawmakers: By Liz Benston; The potential legalization of intrastate Internet gambling in Nevada may be delayed or even rejected because the state Gaming Control Board wants input from the Legislature when lawmakers meet in February.

Judge approves sale of Binion home: Erica Johnson; The house of slain gaming figure Ted Binion could be sold within the next 10 days, despite protests from Binion's girlfriend and convicted killer, Sandy Murphy.

Salt Lake beats Vegas for more Washington flights: The U.S. Department of Transportation last week announced that the two slots formerly held by defunct Las Vegas carrier National Airlines have been awarded to Delta Air Lines for flights between Salt Lake City and Washington. A "slot" is a takeoff or landing. The Atlanta-based airline announced that it would begin daily service in early 2003.

Modest Nevada gaming growth foreseen: CARSON CITY -- Nevada's casino industry should continue to rebound in the next two and one-half years but there are some pitfalls ahead such as a possible war and the explosive growth of gaming in California.

Debt payment delayed: United's parent company exercised the option of extending repayment until Dec. 12 on aircraft-backed securities to the German bank Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau.

Potential London Clubs deal sparks controversy: LONDON -- The London Stock Exchange is considering launching an investigation into irregular trading in London Clubs International shares after the price rose by 40 percent in the two weeks before the company received a bid from rival casino operator Stanley Leisure, the Independent newspaper reported today.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: NASCAR drivers triumph in Nations Cup: NASCAR Winston Cup drivers Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson teamed with reigning Superbike world champion Colin Edwards to win the fourth Michelin Race of Champions Nations Cup last weekend in Gran Canaria, Spain.

Columnist Jeff German: 'Due care' cases to get day in court: City Attorney Brad Jerbic must have that feeling every time he thinks about his chief criminal prosecutor, Ben Little.

News briefs for Dec. 3, 2002: Charges won't be filed against a nightclub security guard in the August shooting death of former UNLV football player Amar Brisco, Metro Police homicide Sgt. Rocky Alby said Monday.

Apex developers may scrap homes: Developers of the 21,000-acre Apex industrial park north of Las Vegas may scrap plans to build homes beneath flight patterns of bomb-carrying military aircraft, officials said.

County may require Walters to buy land: Adrienne Packer; Clark County commissioners are considering recommending that golf course developer Billy Walters be required to purchase a 65-acre parcel in Spring Valley where he plans to build a massive shopping center and office complex.

Homeless man dies in flood control channel: After rescuing one man during the weekend and retrieving the mud-covered body of another Monday, police and firefighter crews with dog teams continued searching today for more homeless people who may have been swept downstream from their camp in a culvert during Saturday's rainstorm.

State files major brief challenging Yucca plan: WASHINGTON -- Yucca Mountain cannot be used for disposal of the nation's nuclear waste, the state of Nevada said in a complex legal brief filed Monday.

Groups seeks stay on Mexican trucks in U.S.: Colleen Valles; SAN FRANCISCO -- Citing concern over air pollution, a coalition of environmental, labor and trucking industry groups sought an emergency stay Monday that would delay the opening of U.S. highways to trucks from Mexico.

Editorial: Censure is option for voters: Fueling the controversies over the past several months were the disclosures that Regent Linda Howard reviewed thousands of confidential student records as well as records pertaining to County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates, who is a part-time employee at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Howard's actions stand out because of the sheer volume of records she demanded and received from staff members of the university system. Her actions, clearly an abuse of power, were allowed because university staff relied on traditional interpretations of a regent's authority. There has been no clear policy governing such requests. After Howard's actions became known, ...

Lawmaker wants schools to stem moral lapses: By Emily Richmond; Assemblyman Wendell Williams, D-Las Vegas, said Monday he wants the Clark County School Board to adopt seven initiatives aimed at stemming "moral, ethical and racial transgressions" by employees and students.

Haggling over NLV fire station nearing conclusion: Dan Kulin; A monthslong struggle over a North Las Vegas fire station being built by a developer in return for permission to put commercial and residential development around the property may be coming to an end.

Editorial: White House wages a scorched-earth policy: There is no need, however, to change the Clinton regulations, which were intended to protect national forests from unnecessary logging by timber companies. But President Bush is determined to implement policies that benefit large corporations at the expense of the environment. For instance, the logging announcement followed by just one week the White House's decision to weaken federal mandates that are supposed to limit pollution from coal-fired power plants and oil refineries.

Letter: Tax cuts won't fix the economy: At a time when Republicans are pushing a plan to take $2 trillion out of the Social Security revenue stream, which will require cuts in both current and future benefits, this payroll tax "holiday" will simply exacerbate the problem. Also, because the Social Security surplus is used to finance part of the deficit, it will raise the deficit by about a $100 billion or so next year.

Reid calls monorail future of transportation: Sen. Harry Reid received a birthday present Monday from regional transportation officials: A look at the monorail under construction along the Strip, a system that Reid is working to expand with federal dollars.

Tribe disappointed with city casino resolution: The council Monday night approved a resolution empowering the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Golden Hill Paugussett Indian tribe.

City Council to struggle with pay raise, ethics panel: Judy Odierna; Two contentious issues remain undecided as they hit the Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday.

Letter: Good example for Las Vegas: Don't look for answers at City Hall. To get from A to B one has to walk around fiascoes of the city's past. No use repeating them.

Sale of Binion's home is approved: Erica Johnson; The house of slain gaming figure Ted Binion could be sold within the next 10 days, despite protests from Binion's girlfriend and convicted killer, Sandy Murphy.

Lawmakers agree to enforce rules limiting lobbyists: Erin Neff; Lawmakers will have to rely more on common sense than on rule changes to manage their time and keep lobbyists in check during the 2003 session, a committee decided Monday.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Hollywood Park: Wednesday's card

Events in the Sacramento area: AP; 8:30 a.m., SACRAMENTO - Agricultural Pest Control Advisory Committee meets, training rooms east and west, first floor, 1001 I St. Contact: Glenn Brank, 916-445-3974.

Doors concert comes unhinged: The Doors postponed Sunday's scheduled show at Rain in the Desert at the Palms after drummer Stewart Copeland broke an arm while mountain biking near his home over the weekend. The show will be made up on Jan. 19 at 8 p.m. at Rain.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Dialed in on phone dangers: Harvard Center for Risk Analysis researchers cited a growing public health risk by using estimates to update 1997 cell phone usage and crash statistics, according to an Associated Press report.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Helper of needy is gone: Ralph promoted the hiring of handicapped workers by bringing many of them into his business. Ed Crispell, his trusted manager of the Imperial Palace, has always been the first person to step forward and offer Ralph's business and community support for people less fortunate. The elderly, downtrodden and needy have all benefited from this largess.

Race for slots at tracks heats up in Pennsylvania: Marc Levy; GRANTVILLE, Pa. -- For 20 years, as attendance at the Penn National Race Course has dwindled, Lee Savant has enjoyed squinting through binoculars from the grandstands, watching the horses finish and marking the winners on his racing form.

Las Vegas enchanted with New Mexico: Steve Guiremand; New Mexico head coach Rocky Long said Monday afternoon that when he broke the news to his team that it had been selected to play in the 11th annual Sega Sports Las Vegas Bowl "our players were so excited they could hardly stand still."

Obituaries for Dec. 3, 2002: Charles Alleman, 82, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in Las Vegas. He was born Sept. 14, 1920, in Halifax, Pa. A resident for 25 years, he was a retired truck driver and a World War II and Korean War Army veteran.

Columnist Dean Juipe: New Mexico poor choice for LV Bowl: Dean Juipe; New Mexico? Are you kidding? In the Las Vegas Bowl when a far better choice, the Air Force Academy, was equally available?

Testimony of witnesses contested in murder case: Jace Radke; District Judge Kathy Hardcastle was expected to rule today on whether key witness testimony will be allowed in the trial of a man accused of raping and killing a teenage girl in a Henderson restroom.

Petition on council policies turned in: The petition could put a question on the city's April 8 ballot that would make several changes to the city's meeting rules, including:

Letter: Feds must take over airlines, health care: We also have to go to a socialistic medical system. I for one and many of the people I know are fed up with the high cost of medicine and the constant meddling of insurance companies with our health care system.

Community briefs for Dec. 3, 2002: Southern Nevada skiers will get an early Christmas present on Wednesday when two lifts are expected to open at the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort at Mount Charleston's Lee Canyon after about 6 inches of snow fell over the weekend.

Brian's Song: Tireless crooner takes another crack at Las Vegas: The 32-year-old crooner says his style of music built Las Vegas, and he wants to bring it back to the forefront.

New Mexico to play in Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 25.: AP; The University of New Mexico was picked Monday to represent the Mountain West Conference in the 11th annual Las Vegas Bowl.

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Ethics panel clears Sparks senator of conflict of interest: CARSON CITY -- Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks, who was re-elected to a third term last month, has been cleared by a panel of the state Ethics Commission of allegations of conflict of interest and abuse of power.

Local soccer star killed: Adam Candee; Joe Zaher filled 18 years with vibrance and accomplishment, both in athletics and in life. A talented MVP on the soccer field and a person that his college coach called "everybody's best friend" off it, the Bishop Gorman graduate appeared to have the world in front of him.

Monday's prep results: Boys Basketball

UNLV football, hoops volleyball players cited: The 5-foot-10, 205-pound Croom, a junior transfer from the University of Arizona, was named MWC Co-Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 222 yards on 20 carries and one touchdown against the Rams, the eighth-best single game rushing total in school history.

Guinn says state needs $800 million: CARSON CITY -- The numbers are in and the state will need an additional $800 million over the next two years just to break even, Gov. Kenny Guinn said Monday.

Prepaid college tuition rates may increase by 50 percent: Erin Neff; State Treasurer Brian Krolicki said Monday he will have to raise prepaid college tuition rates by 30 to 50 percent when the program is again offered early next year because of projected tuition increases at Nevada colleges and the current stock market performance.

Lawmakers face sobering task of meeting budget demands: Erin Neff; Monday's recommendations by the state Economic Forum were a sobering reminder for lawmakers just how critical the decisions they make in the 2003 session will be.