Print edition for December 17, 2002

Columnist Jeff German: Sweep just brushed aside drug problem: Metro Police and Las Vegas marshals, with reporters in tow, conducted a sweep of Fremont Street, ostensibly to bust a growing number of drug dealers plying their trade east of Las Vegas Boulevard.

Court briefs for Dec. 17, 2002: One of five men charged in the drive-by shooting death of a North Las Vegas woman won't be sentenced until January.

Revised LV Strip monorail plan unveiled: The Regional Transportation Commission on Monday unveiled a revised extension of a monorail spur route that would place a station above the Las Vegas Strip between the Riviera and the Stardust hotel-casinos.

Firm cleared in copyright case: Moscow-based Elcomsoft Co. Ltd. was charged with five counts of marketing software that prosecutors contended was designed solely to crack the security codes of Adobe Systems' electronic book publishing software.

Democratic Party in Nevada faces leadership change: Erin Neff; Nevada State Democratic Chairman Terry Care said Monday he will resign from his party position prior to next year's legislative session to concentrate on his role as a state senator.

City Council to vote on Internet traffic school: The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday will consider a contract that would create the city's first Internet traffic school.

Ex-police clerk avoids jail in theft of evidence: Erica D. Johnson; The former North Las Vegas Police clerk accused of stealing cocaine from an evidence vault won't go to prison because the substance in question was actually a cutting agent.

High meth levels cited in victim: Jace Radke; The amount of methamphetamine in John Perrin's blood the night he was shot and killed by a Metro Police officer was enough to kill a person, an expert toxicologist testified Monday during a $25 million civil rights trial.

Obituaries for Dec. 17, 2002: Myrtle E. Anderson, 86, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospice. She was born Sept. 26, 1916, in Wisconsin. A resident for six months, she was a homemaker.

State issues temporary permit for water runoff from Cascata golf course: Cascata is owned by Park Place Entertainment and used by high rollers who visit the casino group's properties.

Community briefs for Dec. 17, 2002: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area offers hikes, walks and programs free of charge. To make required reservations or for more information on the following or upcoming programs, call 363-1922:

Letter: Bush is scaring the whole nation: I wonder what the next topic of panic will be? Maybe digging foxholes in our back yards! A war on a country just in case they might be developing something. What about our young men and women in the military who will be putting their lives on the line for Mr. Bush, not the safety of our nation?

Editorial: Of swords, pens ... and stormy nights: We thought we had heard the last of this ill-conceived idea that foreign public opinion should be shaped through covert means. But on Monday The New York Times reported that the Pentagon is again considering engaging the military in secret operations to influence public opinion, even in countries that are our allies. The methods would include under-the-table payoffs to reporters and the clandestine financing of books and even religious schools.

Neighbors oppose instrument system at NLV Airport: Dan Kulin; A neighborhood association and environmental group have formally opposed the installation of a system at the North Las Vegas Airport that helps pilots land in bad weather, saying the potential 20 percent increase in flights would significantly add to the noise in the area.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Decide Lott's fate now: As America moves in on the Christmas season, American business moves away from the hard decisions that haven't yet been made. I don't know why it is that way, but it is the case that if it hasn't been dealt with by this time of the year, most matters can be delayed until "next year." And they are.

DA calls shooting execution-style killing: Erica D. Johnson; A man murdered his friend execution-style even though the two had been close most of their lives, prosecutors said in opening statements Monday at the trial in a shooting at Western High School.

Assembly Required: No effort spared for Bellagio Conservatory's holiday display: Hands in his pockets, he sauntered up to her and asked, "Are you the person that made this look so nice? Good. You did a good job. Two thumbs up."

Columnist Susan Snyder: Fifth grader drawn to card design: Remember her name. She just might be a famous artist someday.

Letter: Rodeo should drop two events: True to form, the ESPN coverup was as dishonest as last year's when the bucking horse High Plains suffered a broken back. Have you ever seen a calf roping "jerk-down" on ESPN? Doubtful. They should be sued for public fraud.

Editorial: A tough, yet wise, judgment: Some political strategists believed Gore would have been a weak candidate since he already had lost to Bush. Still others, however, believed he would have been Bush's most formidable opponent: Gore may have lost the 2000 election, but he did receive the most popular votes. The remaining Democratic field may not be well known, evoking memories of the Democrats who ran for the nomination in 1992 and were derided as the "Seven Dwarfs." But it was a little-known governor from Arkansas, Bill Clinton, who captured the nomination and defeated then-President Bush, who had been viewed as unbeatable due to his ...

Letter: Don't confuse personal, medical use of marijuana: Medical use is already approved in Nevada and personal use of marijuana would have passed if it weren't for two reasons: Sandra Thompson lost her life to a driver under its influence and the public was astonished at the actual amount of three ounces of the substance.

Non-stop flights to link LV, Wichita: The airline, which has its administrative headquarters in Las Vegas and its operational center in Fresno, Calif., will offer four flights a week beginning Feb. 27. Allegiant will fly twin-engine, 161-seat MD-83 jets on the route, which will run Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: UCLA has the ticket -- but using it is optional: Based on early returns, it would appear New Mexico is going to bring a lot more warm bodies to the Las Vegas Bowl than UCLA, but maybe that's because UCLA is marketing the game to the wrong group of warm bodies.

Residents fight for Red Rock: Meeting A second public meeting on Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is planned at 7 tonight at the Gardens Community Center, 10401 Garden Park Drive, Summerlin.

Friendly foe: Steve Guiremand; NEXT UP

Columnist Dean Juipe: McCain bill to challenge Nevada again: Dean Juipe; For a sports fan living in Las Vegas, the greatest fear isn't that the city will never acquire a legitimate professional team or rise to major-league status. It's that the federal government will stick its nose where it's not wanted and find a way to ban sports gaming.

Former governor files appeal with Supreme Court: The high court had already refused to let Edwards stay free pending the filing of his appeal. And Edwards has acknowledged in the past that the odds are against him -- the Supreme Court hears only a tiny percentage of the appeals it receives.

Ensign appointed to Senate Armed Services Committee: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- When the new session of Congress begins next month with an anticipated focus on a possible war with Iraq, Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., will have a front row seat for the discussion.

Lorenzi pond called safe for fish: Judy Odierna; A man was seen dumping a suspicious liquid into the pond at Lorenzi Park last week, but city officials say they have tested the water and found it safe for fish and other wildlife.

Expanded resort tops Foxwoods in slot handle: Figures released Monday show that Mohegan Sun for the first time has topped Foxwoods in the total amount of money bet on slot machines in a month.

Strippers, club owners disagree over licensing: Judy Odierna; Strippers and the owners of clubs in which they work are so far apart on proposed licensing requirements that city officials want more time to work on the plan.

Unclaimed lottery prizes used to construct homes: Roger Alford; HAZARD, Ky. -- Rachel Miller is a lottery winner, sort of.

Law allows students to transfer from unsafe schools: By Emily Richmond; Students at Nevada schools where violent crimes or criminal offenses repeatedly occur may be able to demand transfers to safer campuses as part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Defendant pleads guilty in fraud scheme: Trudy Anson, 54, of Lytle Creek, Calif., pleaded guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud in connection with the scheme that ran from 1998 to 2000 from bases of operation in Incline Village, Las Vegas and Nassau, Bahamas.

Family, friends pray for officer's recovery: About 100 friends and family gathered in a University Medical Center parking lot under falling rain Monday to pray for the recovery of Metro Police Officer Enrique Hernandez, who was shot six times last week.

Metro officer critically injured in chase: Jen Lawson; For the second time in less than a week, a Metro Police officer was critically hurt in the line of duty.

Senators question deficit projection: Erin Neff; Two unlikely political allies are working together on a tax plan they say will solve Nevada's revenues problems without burdening businesses.

Longtime LV attorney, regent Foley dies: Ed Koch and Jennifer Knight; Joe Foley wasn't afraid to speak his mind, and at times took heat for his outspoken views and fighting spirit.

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

INS anti-terrorism policy criticized: By Timothy Pratt; About 45 citizens of countries that the federal government says are likely to produce terrorists had registered in Las Vegas by Monday's deadline for a new policy, an Immigration and Naturalization official said.

Man killed by police had a record: Jen Lawson; Metro Police said Monday that the man killed by three veteran SWAT team members last week was a 24-year-old convicted car burglar, but this morning a spokesman for the department said he could find no such conviction or any other felony convictions on the man's record.

News briefs for Dec. 17, 2002: Metro Police are investigating the slaying of a man in his mid- to late 20s discovered in a driveway of an apartment complex at 98 S. Martin Luther King Drive about 7 p.m. on Monday.

Ensign says he still supports Lott: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said he will continue to support embattled Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott but prodded Lott to become a new champion of minority issues.

Fashion giant may be sold: The Wall Street Journal reported that Calvin Klein is near a deal to sell the company to the shirt manufacturer for about $400 million in cash, in addition to roughly $30 million in stock and potential royalties that could be valued at $200 million to $300 million over time.

Fast-food giant to post first-ever loss: Separately, McDonald's Corp. and Fazoli's agreed to form a joint venture that could lead McDonald's buying Fazoli's, an Italian food chain.

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

Monday's prep results: Girls Basketball

Former director arrested: Prosecutors allege Frank E. Walsh, 61, did not disclose $20 million in payments for helping broker Tyco's acquisition of CIT Group.

Report: Vegas retail growth to continue: Jennifer Shubinski; Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Brokerage Co. is optimistic about the local retail industry as the Las Vegas Valley economy continues to expand.

Mosley prepared to reclaim status as one of premier boxers: AP; Mosley, who already has reached a deal with Top Rank's Bob Arum to face Oscar De La Hoya in a September rematch, said he's ready to dispatch both boxers and reclaim his status as one of the world's best - this time as a junior middleweight.

Norton threatens water shutoff: Interior Secretary Gale Norton repeated a direct warning to California and other users of Colorado River water Monday: Resolve the issues blocking a multistate agreement on water use or the federal government will cut the flow of water.