Print edition for December 30, 2002

State workers' pay falls behind others: CARSON CITY -- The state pays its employees 18.7 percent less than other employers in Nevada, according to a survey by the state Personnel Department.

Editorial: Audit should address air marshal concerns: It's important to understand the harsh life of a marshal, who must stay alert for exceedingly long hours, be away from home much of the time and sometimes fly without a partner due to staff shortages. Our hope is that as the marshal service evolves, some of the hardships that are now causing reported high turnover will be eased. A federal audit of the program is under way and we hope input from the marshals and managers will lead to a stable workforce. Flying is much less stressful, knowing that marshals are likely aboard.

Editorial: Board size may not be the issue: Usually, such emotionally tinged initial responses die out and are replaced by thoughtful suggestions. This latest Board of Regents' flare-up, however, has produced one immediate response that will linger and could even result in a permanent change. Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, a respected veteran legislator, is proposing that the board be limited to seven members. Currently the board expands proportionate to population growth. Next month the board's membership will expand to 13 from the current 11 -- elections for the two new seats were held in November.

Letter: Environmental source no expert: So while tamarisks make salt -- Ohmart brings plenty of his own.

Letter: GOP makes good on cruel ideology: Now, maybe, just maybe, this is exactly what the majority of the public wants. But if they do I have only one thing to say to them -- someday you may be poor, someday you may be sick, you damn sure will be old and maybe all three. Just what good will all the warmongering "patriotism" do you then? Just keep electing Republicans and you will starve and freeze.

Rebels get win despite foul trouble: the numbers; First Half: UNLV 43-41

Runnin' Rebels box: 3-Point Goals: 12-23 (Hopkins 5-11, Ross 1-2, Isham 3-3, Simpson 1-2, Miller 1-2, Atkins 1-3).

Banks comes through again: Steve Guiremand; Ho-hum.

Letter: Consequences severe if U.S. fails to attack: If you're Jewish, an attack on Israel would demand a response (remembering that Israel does have nukes), one that will invariably draw in the United States. If you're Christian and believe in Revelations (as 900 million Catholics do), Israel cannot fall, because in the minds of many, this would be the beginning of Armageddon. If you are Moslem (like 1.2 billion other people), you'd find your ancient cities, such as Baghdad, in ashes from that Israeli retaliation.

Attorney's conflict forces delay in gun hearing: Erica D. Johnson; One of two men accused of stealing weapons from a state armory has been assigned a new attorney because his initial attorney cited a conflict of interest.

VIDEOGAME REVIEW: 'Serious Sam' a wild shooter: AP; Don't look at "Serious Sam," a wild and woolly shooter that offers armies of uglies requiring an almost constantly twitching trigger finger.

Las Vegas news briefs for December 30, 2002: In preparation for a possible war with Iraq, the Pentagon on Friday notified several units at Nellis Air Force base to be ready for deployment overseas.

Deadline draws near for water decision: The U.S. Interior Department has issued what could be the final warning for California and Nevada: Affirm a Colorado River agreement on the table, or lose billions of gallons of water.

Gay LV couple in line for cloning, group says: Dan Kulin; A homosexual couple from Las Vegas is among the next group of cloning customers for the company founded and run by members of a religious sect that believes extraterrestrials created people, company officials said.

Driver in DUI death sentenced: Dan Kulin; The man driving the car that killed Sun executive Sandy Thompson on Aug. 9 will spend at least the next five years in prison.

New year brings new airport baggage rules: Jace Radke; Transportation Security Administration travel tips:

Cities challenge population count: CARSON CITY -- State Demographer Jeff Hardcastle says he hopes to reach an agreement with Clark County and four cities in Southern Nevada on estimates of their populations, which they have challenged as too low.

Group sues Fremont Street Experience over drink stands: Grace Leong; An activist group for people with disabilities is battling the Fremont Street Experience LLC over temporary bars, which allegedly aren't accessible to wheelchair users, at the downtown Las Vegas attraction.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Look back at '02 on the track: Ralph Siraco; On the eve of another new year, it is that time again.

Plaza may hold key to downtown future: Judy Odierna; The growls and fumes of Greyhound buses welcome visitors as they arrive at the Plaza on Main Street.

Existing-home sales strong despite decline: Existing-home sales slipped to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.56 million in November, the National Association of Realtors reported today. The 3.5 percent decline followed a brisk 5.9 percent sales increase in October.

LV Teamsters' turmoil boils over into suit: Grace Leong; A former president of Teamsters Local 631 in Las Vegas, who was embroiled in events leading up to the local being placed under emergency trusteeship in 2000, has leveled wrongful termination and racial discrimination claims against the union and several Teamsters officials.

City considers naming street for promoter: The city council was scheduled to take an initial vote today on Councilman William Marsh's proposal to rename part of Mississippi Avenue, between Atlantic Avenue and the boardwalk, as Don King Boulevard.

Council hopefuls get head start: Dan Kulin; Bill Dolan is so intent on trying to unseat North Las Vegas Councilwoman Shari Buck that he moved from his home of more than 10 years just to qualify to run against her.

Community news briefs for December 30, 2002: The Barbara Greenspun WomensCare Center of Excellence will offer a support group for new mothers from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday.

Security crackdown said to be too heavy-handed: Ian Stewart; SAN FRANCISCO -- Travel executives say the nation's $91 billion foreign tourism industry is in peril because of a growing perception overseas that the United States has become "Fortress America."

New CFO named at Nevada Power parent: Atkinson, previously vice president, treasurer and investor relations officer of Sierra Pacific Resources, succeeds Dennis Schiffel as CFO. Schiffel, who joined the company in July 2001, said he's leaving to pursue other interests.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Lady Rebels find points are elusive: Dean Juipe; It isn't as easy as it once was for the Lady Rebels.

Groups say 2003 will be the year of the human clone: Dan Kulin; Clonaid, the company claiming to have produced the first cloned human, and the religious sect behind the company, the Raelians, which believe extraterrestrials created life on Earth, both have ties to Las Vegas.

LV casinos eye last-minute New Year's Eve business: Ryan Pearson; Showgirls at the airport and packed resorts greeted visitors arriving Sunday to celebrate New Year's Eve on the Las Vegas Strip. Big-name concerts and a $500,000 fireworks show are expected to attract 270,000 people over the holiday.

Colorful fireworks display to erupt over Strip at 2003 debut: Dan Kulin; Six months of planning, designing and creating will go up in a blaze of silver, gold, green -- and red, white and blue -- over the Strip in the first eight minutes of 2003.

SBC expanding long-distance service in California, Nevada: The Federal Communications Commission has approved a request to allow SBC Communications to provide in-state long-distance service in California.

Obituaries for December 30, 2002: Shirley M. Birkenmaier, 81, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. She was born June 24, 1921, in Chicago. A resident for 13 years, she was a homemaker and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary 2048.

Active, retired military warned of identity theft: More than 25,000 Nevada military personnel and military retirees will receive letters this week warning that someone has their Social Security numbers and enough additional personal information to steal their identities and wreak havoc with their lives.

Storm slows skiers' travel to Tahoe resorts: Martin Griffith; RENO -- Thousands of holiday travelers faced slow going over the Sierra Nevada after another potent storm dumped up to 2 feet of snow.

Lady Rebels halt rival UNR's winning streak: Adam Candee; All week long in practice, Lady Rebels coach Regina Miller preached the importance of being aggressive to her team. After all, Miller had just watched her team turn into lambs a week earlier against the massive front line of Arizona in a blowout loss.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: LV (hic) prepares for another wingding: Las Vegas is generally acknowledged as the party capital of the nation, if not the world.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Tuesday's races at Santa Anita: Tuesday's card

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

Trends for Dec. 30, 2002: Lisa Ferguson; So, what are your plans for the remaining days of 2002? If you hosted company at your humble abode over the holidays, chances are there's a bit of cleanup work to be done on the sofa and carpets, courtesy of clumsy guests.

Film at 10: Roger Ebert; It was a year when more movies opened than during any other year in memory. A year when the big Hollywood studios cast their lot with franchises, formulas, sequels and movies marketed for narrow demographic groups focusing so much on "product" instead of original work that they seemed likely to be shut out of the Oscars, as they were essentially shut out of the Golden Globes.

Supreme Court upholds adoption rules: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court has upheld a state law that justices acknowledged may cause many birth mothers to lose contact with their children after the babies are adopted.