Print edition for February 8, 2002

Eldorado girls soccer has tough draw in tournament: Spencer Patterson; Eldorado's girls soccer team didn't lose a game in Nevada this season, but the year's most important decision went against it on Tuesday.

Schedule turns in Rebels' favor beginning Saturday: Steve Addy; WHAT: BYU (14-6, 4-3) at UNLV (11-8, 3-4)

Insurance firm closed after fraud claims: Chris Jones; A federal judge has shut down a Nevada-based health insurance company that regulators say bilked consumers out of nearly $15 million in premiums.

'Budweiser' slot machines coming by year's end: Nevada will be among the states where the slots will be submitted for approval, said Shuffle Master Senior Vice President Brooke Dunn. Shuffle Master licensed the Budweiser brand from Anheuser-Busch Inc.

The Sky's the Limit: Kirk Baird; The past few months have been a blur for David Gravatt.

Nevada Power plan under attack: Malcolm Hall; A witness for the state Bureau of Consumer Protection says Nevada Power Co.'s proposed monthly "customer charge" in its $22.9 million general rate increase request is nearly twice as high as any other electric utility in the West, and would contribute to big rate hikes for homeowners while big business customers will get a rate cut.

Nevadans say they got president's attention: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- For Nevadans aligned against putting a nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain, the future is this weekend and it sits in the hands of George W. Bush.

Union challenges Mesquite casino election results: Grace Leong; The Industrial Technical and Professional Employees union, which lost an election in December to represent workers at Randy Black Sr.'s three casinos -- Oasis, Casablanca and Virgin River in Mesquite -- challenged the election results with the filing of an unfair labor practice complaint last week.

UNLV notebook: Women's soccer lands five recruits: UNLV notebook: Women's soccer lands five recruits

Prep schedule: FRIDAY

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: WoO star Lasoski set to battle owner: Danny Lasoski might be a rookie in the International Race of Champions, but the 2001 Pennzoil World of Outlaws champion isn't worried about finding a drafting partner when the all-star IROC series opens its four-race 2002 season next Friday at Daytona International Raceway.

Firms claim pipeline owner overcharged for fuel delivery: Malcolm Hall; Three major oil companies say they were overcharged by at least $2 million for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel delivered in Las Vegas over the Calnev pipeline in 2000.

Glaser emerges as key part of UNLV's 'Big 3': Steve Guiremand; Petra Glaser has a theory about why she's been playing so well lately for the UNLV Lady Rebels.

Two LV gaming shows merging: David Strow; The American Gaming Association today said it acquired the World Gaming Congress & Expo, a move that spells the end of the gaming industry's longest-lived trade show.

Boyd beats expectations, has 'huge' fourth quarter: David Strow; Strong performances in downtown Las Vegas and the Boulder Strip helped carry Boyd Gaming Corp. to a fourth quarter well ahead of analyst expectations.

Pianist Brickman on solid career footing: You can't avoid destiny, no matter how hard you try.

Sluggers to battle at Cashman Field: Bonds, who broke Mark McGwire's single-season home run mark with 73 last season, is the top seed in the eight-man competition, which will be taped for broadcast by ESPN and shown starting on March 23. Bonds will take on Troy Glaus (41 homers in 2001) of the Anaheim Angels in the first round.

Barrera-Morales postponed: Barrera suffered a rib injury in sparring which will preclude him from facing Morales in their highly anticipated rematch. Morales was awarded a decision in the action-packed first fight in February 2000.

Police want to close violence-plagued bar: Keith Paul; Metro Police want the Clark County Commission to pull the liquor license of a northeast bar they say has a six-year history of violence, including three unsolved homicide cases.

Vegas company settles litigation: The Las Vegas casino table game equipment maker said none of the parties admitted liability in the settlement and all parties entered into mutual releases.

LV phone firm in Chap. 11: "One Source is evaluating its options to come out of Chapter 11 in the near future. The Chapter 11 was filed to protect One Source customers and the company. One Source customers will not have any interruption of service," said Mitch Altman, One Source's president.

Library tax OK'd for ballot: The Clark County Debt Commission on Thursday unanimously approved the elective tax for the ballot. The question will ask home owners in the Henderson Library District to pay $14 annually over 30 years for every $100,000 of a home's taxable value.

State moves on in Yucca fight: Erin Neff; Now that President Bush has heard Nevada's personal appeal against a Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, state leaders are preparing for the fight.

Golf course developer backs out: Jeffrey Libby; Less than a week before formalizing an agreement to build and operate a $15.5 million golf course in Henderson, a Dallas-based developer has pulled out of the deal, raising questions as to whether a course can be built anytime soon on the sometimes brackish, low-lying land.

Terror grant sparks debate: CARSON CITY -- Part of a $10.4 million federal terrorism grant for Nevada should be used for training doctors and nurses and buying medical equipment, Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said.

Columnist Sandy Thompson: Domestic violence court plan must be solid: Sandy Thompson; That was the grim assessment of a Family Court official quoted in this column Jan. 30, 2000.

Columnist Jeff German: Bush may be hiding true nuke decision: Nevada's top elected leaders, Gov. Kenny Guinn and Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign, came away from a 25-minute meeting with the president last week believing he actually might have concerns about whether Yucca Mountain is scientifically sound to store 77,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel.

Guest columnist Kenny Guinn: Is Yucca recommendation being made too hastily?: Kenny Guinn; Last month Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham called to inform me of his decision to press ahead with plans to bury 77,000 tons of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

Editorial: Law should not be enforced selectively: Airport security needs tightening and that means the paperwork on all employees needs to check out. Taking away their airport jobs is acceptable. Imposing punishment not imposed on all other undocumented immigrants is unacceptable.

Rate hike would squeeze local economy: At the Koala Motel & Apartments, where occupancy has plummeted because of street closures downtown, the likelihood of another energy rate hike may push Juanita Wilson's business over the edge.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Inside the president's meeting: GWB: CatDog! That's good. OK, bring them in, Karl.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: A record that's safe: THE 2002 WINTER OLYMPICS opens in Salt Lake City today. It was but three years ago that the International Olympic Committee was wracked with scandal. The IOC members were going home, after visiting proposed Olympic sites, loaded with expensive gifts including cash. Salt Lake City had become the latest victim of a corrupt system protected by IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch.

DVD review: 'Tron,' 'Atlantis' show scant signs of aging: Geoff Carter; No animation studio takes the risks Walt Disney Animation routinely takes. You can gather up "Waking Life," "Princess Mononoke" and "Shrek" and just roll 'em up and smoke 'em, because without "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and "Toy Story," not one of those films would exist.

Douglas to make stops in Vegas: When: Noon Saturday.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: A man of his word?: I remember the play on Broadway. I don't remember a play that has brought any more joy than that one did almost 30 years ago. Perhaps it was the old-fashioned moral about making and keeping promises that tugged so hard at my emotions.

Ordeal of USS Indianapolis remembered: WEEKEND EDITION

Obituaries for February 8, 2002: Fannie Bandiera, 85, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in Las Vegas. She was born July 11, 1916, in Brooklyn, N.Y. A resident for nine years, she was a homemaker.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Olympics expose our many biases: Dean Juipe; If politics and business had nothing to do with sports at the Olympic level, we might have seen the torch pass through Las Vegas and the war in Afghanistan would continue unabated.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Show closes after fun run: Kate Maddox; Since I couldn't figure out what to say (for once) I asked around for tips on how to get out of this thing gracefully. As you might have guessed, grace is not my forte.

Community briefs for February 8, 2002: National Public Radio's "Living on Earth" will feature a report Saturday on Yucca Mountain, site of the proposed a high-level nuclear waste dump.

Editorial: Why does this sound so familiar?: The Nevada officials' remarks, while cautious, still have a familiar ring. Nevada's top Republican politicians -- including Guinn, Ensign and Rep. Jim Gibbons -- assured us during the 2000 presidential campaign that George W. Bush would treat the state fairly when it came to Yucca Mountain. They even gave a ringing endorsement to a weak, bland statement Bush made on using "sound science, not politics" to decide Yucca Mountain's fate. In a letter to the editor to the Sun that was published earlier in the campaign, Gibbons defended Bush's views on nuclear waste storage, writing in March 2000 that "Nevadans ...

Busch draws pole post: Kurt Busch had planned to use Sunday's Budweiser Shootout as a bonus test session for next week's qualifying races that set the field for the Feb. 17 Daytona 500.

Guest columnist Larry E. Craig: Is Yucca recommendation being made too hastily?: Larry E. Craig; Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham made the right decision: Abraham has recommended to President Bush that Yucca Mountain is scientifically suitable for burying the nation's high-level nuclear waste.

Letter: Investments hurt by Bush: Reagan's famous question -- "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?" -- will be the question we should ask in November 2002 and 2004. The honest answer should be a resounding "no."

Nuke casks can be damaged: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- As Nevada officials mull their next strike in an intensifying battle against the Yucca Mountain project, a videotape may be their new weapon.

Martino was never married to the mob: When: 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Event tickets, flights to Salt Lake City are still available: When Las Vegas was gearing up for its Millennium Celebration in 1999, the city's resorts offered $3,000-a-night rooms and big-ticket entertainers for a once-in-a-lifetime event.

'Dr. Naughty' a good time at Greek Isles: Joe Delaney; Dr. Naughty, billed as the "X-Rated Comedy Hypnotist," is conducting his seminars nightly at the Greek Isles' Star Theatre. Comedy-hypnotism was most recently the exclusive province in Las Vegas for the original Dr. Naughty, Dean Sterling, now busy training Dr. Naughtys for various venues worldwide.

For Richards and for poorer: WEEKEND EDITION

Columnist Susan Snyder: Bidding adieu to a trusted, old friend: We'd been together eight years. So it was hard to let go.

Campaign reports warning issued: CARSON CITY -- Public officials who filed last year's financial disclosure statements late have been warned not to repeat the offense.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Jones' career marked by epic ups and downs: Joe Delaney; George Jones, country music legend, performs at Sam's Town Live! at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday ... Jones is the quintessential male country song interpreter; his songs are often autobiographical or chosen because he can relate to the lyric's message personally ... He ranks near the top of his field as a singer and a songwriter.

Girl names changing, but boys much the same: WEEKEND EDITION

Center hosting eight shows in nine days: LVCVA officials said the center is the site of eight shows in nine days, attracting 67,000 people to events that will occupy more than 1.7 million square feet through Feb. 14.

Columnist Benjamin Grove: President has two options to consider: Benjamin Grove; And Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham recommends Yucca Mountain as a suitable site for the nation's high-level nuclear waste dump.

Immigrant workers at airport face prison, deportation: By Timothy Pratt; Severiano Lopez considered Carmen Reyes, 31, and Mireya Bravo, 27, his best employees.

AeroTech officials criticize handling of blaze: Keith Paul; Officials at a model rocket manufacturer questioned the way county firefighters handled a deadly blaze at the company's plant, saying quicker action could have prevented an explosion that destroyed the building.

Travelers boost spending, slot play at McCarran: McCarran International Airport says many passengers, faced with spending more time in the concourse waiting for flights since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, are using that time to play slot machines and are spending more on concessions.

Adelson, Wynn win licenses for Macau casinos: David Strow; Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson won the race to Macau last night, as the government of the Chinese coastal city awarded provisional -- and potentially lucrative -- gaming licenses to the two Las Vegas gaming figures.

News briefs for February 8, 2002: Metro Police detectives are looking for a 13-year-old Las Vegas girl who was last seen on Sunday at an eastern Las Vegas supermarket.

Use-of-force board clears Metro officer in fatal shooting: Keith Paul; A Metro Police oversight board voted Thursday night that an officer did not violate department policy when he shot and killed an armed robber in November.

March antitrust hearing set: U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly left open the possibility of having a one-day hearing, as requested by the parties, but said she may want them to present evidence as well.

Downtown pedestrian project will include man-made waterway: Diana Sahagun; Las Vegas officials didn't show much interest in the early '90s when casino mogul Steve Wynn wanted to transform paved streets into Venice, Italy-like canals.

Monday Night Live: Steve Addy; The Mountain West has put on a good show on ESPN Big Monday this season. The first four games were decided by five points or less, with two going into overt ime, and the fifth was by eight points. Here is a recap, with the MWC's remaini ng Big Monday schedule:

Taubman still navigating life's journey: When: 3 p.m. Sunday.

Jacobsen temporarily takes over as governor: CARSON CITY -- For a few hours Thursday a lawmaker who believes the state has a responsibility to accept high-level nuclear waste -- which would be buried at Yucca Mountain -- governed Nevada.

Golf course developer quits: Jeffrey Libby; Less than a week before formalizing an agreement to build and operate a $16 million golf course in Henderson, a Dallas-based golf course developer is pulling out of the deal.

Man offers to pay restitution: According to court documents filed Thursday in District Court, Jerome Breland is asking District Judge Michael Cherry to allow him to split $6,750 between the players.

Dogs' owner to handle euthanizing: Jace Radke; The owner of four Great Danes that mauled an 11-year-old boy in January has tentatively agreed to euthanize the animals, Las Vegas Animal Control officials said today.

VEGAS SPORTS ON TV-RADIO: VEGAS SPORTS ON TV-RADIO

Wynn, Adelson win licenses for Macau casinos: David Strow; Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson won the race to Macau this morning, as the government of the Chinese coastal city awarded provisional gaming licenses to the two Las Vegas casino resort developers.

Letter: Plight of valley teachers becomes worse and worse: This is my fourth year of teaching fourth grade for the Clark County School District. In that time, I have seen my benefits whittled away, while the premiums I'm charged have continued to increase. In all that time, I have received a 1 percent raise ($280), while the cost of living has increased 3 percent each year. Last November the teachers in this county were informed that the insurance benefits were increasing as of Jan. 1. At that time, I paid $108 per paycheck to insure my family. As of January, I began paying $233 per paycheck. Last year we ...

Columnist Jerry Fink: What would you do if they sang out of tune?: Karaoke is the kudzu of the entertainment landscape.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Our nation's etiquette is flagging: It's hard to do the right thing.

Letter: Photo, caption showed casino in negative light: As a business owner in North Las Vegas for nearly 40 years, I too join in these same hopes. As a business owner in North Las Vegas, I was pleased to read such a well-rounded and honest commentary depicting the efforts of our community in its struggle to "rehabilitate" public opinion about North Las Vegas.

Editorial: Love-hate affair with Olympics: It's not just the IOC showing poor judgment, though. While television viewers in nearly all the nation will see much of the Games as they unfold live, viewers in four Western states will have to settle for tape-delayed coverage. Instead of providing coverage from 5 p.m.-8:30 p.m. to coincide with the rest of the country, Nevada, California, Oregon and Washington will have to wait until 7:30 p.m. NBC doesn't want to irritate its advertisers, who want the biggest audience possible to see their commercials in prime time, but tape delay kills one of sport's essential ingredients: suspense.

Blind vendor's future on line after theft: Alicia Chang; ALBANY, N.Y. -- For the past decade, Jim Welch has been a fixture for state workers who stroll to his newsstand on breaks and buy a candy bar, a pack of cigarettes or, more likely, a lottery ticket.

State panel told of Metro efforts to fight terrorists: CARSON CITY -- Metro Police vice and gang officers have been transferred to intelligence details to guard against the threat of terrorism in Southern Nevada, a deputy chief said Thursday.

Review: Remake of 'Rollerball' a stupid, vicious cycle: Geoff Carter; John McTiernan's remake of Norman Jewison's "Rollerball" is bad. I don't even know how to tell you how bad. How do you approach something this big and awful? On an offhand, I'd advise you not to approach it at all, but if you go in for this sort of punishment, there are a few things you should know.

Review: Arnold's inaction limits 'Damage': Geoff Carter; Forget for a moment that the nation seems to need a movie such as "Collateral Damage" right now. (The advance screening, at Brenden Theatres at the Palms earlier this week, was prefaced by the introduction of several heroic firefighters, a brief appearance by a group of men in camouflage carrying replicas of automatic weapons, and "America the Beautiful.") The fact of the matter is that it's just another Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, and a middling one at that.

Editorial: Game, set, match: Tennis idea is a hit: Mayor Oscar Goodman loves referring to Las Vegas as a "world class" city, but in the area of public parks it has a ways to go before reaching that point. Public amenities such as this proposed tennis complex would give the phrase meaning beyond mere boosterism. Truly, in the city that boasts of Andre Agassi as one if its own, this proposal, with its 20 acres, 23 courts and prospects of pro and amateur tournaments, is a 120 mph ace of an idea.

Marine reservists say goodbye as they head to active duty: Jace Radke; They don't know when they'll be back or if they'll be put in harm's way, but a group of about 100 local Marine Corps reservists are more excited than they are nervous about being called to active duty.

Letter: Finding best way to lift economy: On the other hand, what can you buy the person who has nothing, or let them buy themselves? Anything, including the basics (food, shelter, health care, etc.)

McCarran a checkpoint for private planes: Dozens of private aircraft have begun arriving at McCarran International Airport and while many of them are carrying big-spending tourists, they aren't transporting high-rollers to Las Vegas casinos.

Neonopolis gets second anchor: Diana Sahagun; Jillian's, an entertainment complex, is the second anchor tenant signed for the Neonopolis project, slated to open May 2.

Saturday it's viva la Vega at House of Blues: Kirk Baird; In 1987 the quirky folk-pop song "Luka" became the hit that launched Suzanne Vega's career.

Columnist Kate Maddox: Stern broadcast features a bust: Kate Maddox; You win some, you lose some. And so goes another Howard Stern betting spectacular. On Wednesday night a Stern listener who had a particularly sad life story was even more sadder after she took a hit on 15 (against the dealer's 10) and busted at the blackjack table.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: ESPNZone hits a home run for comfort food: Pigging out at ESPNZone at New York-New York is not something I normally do, but friends kept telling me I was missing the best kind of comfort food. They also reminded me that I should go hungry, that portions were enormous. Right on all counts.

Council to consider surplus $3 million: Mathis Winkler; While other cities and governmental agencies are worried about their economic future, North Las Vegas City Council members will have the luxury Tuesday of deciding how to spend some leftover money.

Political notebook: Fed suit sidelines candidates: Erin Neff; With the Enron fiasco fresh in people's minds, a local company's trouble has claimed two GOP Assembly candidates.