Print edition for February 26, 2002

Rallies now common for Rebels: Steve Addy; Ask the Rebels why they've depended on comebacks so often this season. All you will get are shrugs and sheepish grins.

Regents: Contractor must make deadline: Jennifer Knight; Regents voted unanimously Monday to penalize contractors $50,000 a day if the construction deadline is not met on the Fire Science Academy in Carlin.

Mountain West meet back in Oklahoma City: Two-time defending conference champion BYU leads the eight-team Mountain West field. The Cougars' men's and women's teams captured the 2000 and 2001 MWC Championships and enter this year's event in search of the school's third straight league title. However, UNLV will look to challenge for the conference crown with the help of four Olympians.

Boy, 12, escapes kidnap suspect: Jace Radke; Metro Police have arrested a 50-year-old Las Vegas man in connection with the kidnapping and sexual assault of a 12-year-old boy Sunday afternoon.

UMC lone holdout in deal with coalition: By Emily Richmond; A coalition representing 140,000 Southern Nevada workers and their families has reached a deal with Lake Mead and Boulder City hospitals for reduced-cost medical services, leaving just University Medical Center as the holdout in the continuing negotiations.

Columnist Rusty Wallace: Unveiling of Elvis car highlights week: Rusty Wallace; We've got a lot of really cool functions going on this week leading up to Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which gives me even more reason to be excited about coming to Vegas.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Petree gives Mike Wallace a ticket to ride at LVMS: Winston Cup team owner Andy Petree has decided to run his second car, driven by Mike Wallace, in Sunday's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway even though he has not yet secured a primary sponsor for the No. 33 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

Court order fails to stop killing: Keith Paul; A Las Vegas man was charged Monday with the stabbing death of his estranged wife, who had obtained a temporary protection order barring the man from coming within 1,000 feet of her home.

Dry dock: Coast Guard's desert outpost still vital: Jace Radke; Coast Guard Petty Officer Jim Pulse has hunted Russian submarines in the Bering Strait, rescued stranded boats in the Atlantic Ocean and helped catch drug smugglers off the coast of Florida.

City undergoes shuffling to prepare for college: Jeffrey Libby; A former manufacturing plant bought by the city of Henderson at considerable expense three years ago may finally be put to full-time use this September as part of efforts to open Nevada State College.

News briefs for February 26, 2002: Ken Tyndall, also known as Ken Hamilton, on Monday sued Journal Broadcast, the parent company of Channel 13; and the station's president, Jim Prather, and general manager, D.R. Oswald, alleging they refused to reinstate him even though no formal charges were filed against him.

Neal lobbies for gaming tax increase: But MGM MIRAGE Chairman and Chief Executive Terry Lanni maintained a hard line against Neal's efforts, saying they would badly damage the state's economy.

Five Southern Nevada contractors lose licenses: The companies that had their licenses revoked include:

Casino files new plan for slower thrill ride: Diana Sahagun; The Stratosphere filed new plans with Las Vegas officials late Monday for a controversial thrill ride that has been opposed by residents near the hotel.

Anti-Enron mood may boost Yucca fight: Erin Neff; Yucca Mountain opponents are hoping anti-Enron sentiment and questions about the Bush administration's energy policy will bolster their fight against the nuclear waste repository.

Four casinos have taxable value reduced: Adrienne Packer; Four of six Las Vegas casinos will pay less in taxes after the assessed value of their properties was reduced by a total of $94.5 million Monday.

Aladdin auction process nearly identical to one used by Regent: David Strow; Attorneys for the bankrupt Aladdin hotel-casino have formally proposed selling the Strip property in a court-supervised process.

Principals testify at judge's hearing: Kim Smith; Two former school principals of the son of District Judge Donald Mosley testified Monday they weren't influenced by letters the judge sent them on his official stationery.

Player charges to be dropped: Steve Guiremand; UNLV football coach John Robinson said North Las Vegas police will drop gross misdemeanor charges against two starting Rebel football players who were arrested over the weekend after an altercation at a party.

Woman battles brain tumor to deliver healthy baby boy: Mathis Winkler; Daniela Vezzoza wasn't supposed to have a baby.

College's future in doubt after president resigns: Jennifer Knight; Just six months from opening the Nevada State College at Henderson, the resignation Monday of its controversial founding president, Richard Moore, has some critics questioning whether the project should continue.

Homeless man sentenced: District Judge John McGroarty sentenced Ronald Mulder after he admitted prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him of first-degree murder.

Trucking firm in bankruptcy: Simon, which specializes in providing temperature-controlled transportation for groceries, laid off 47 office workers by Monday evening. The company has about 3,500 employees.

Gaines' bond increased: Gaines' bond increased

LV Yellow Pages ad sales fall: But Donnelley said it managed to increase its quarterly profit by improving productivity and cutting costs. The per-share profit also jumped because of a stock repurchase program.

Sending the right signals: Neurostimulator ends 15 years of tremors: Mathis Winkler; An expert on terrorism, Joseph Albini made himself scarce when asked to comment on the Sept. 11 attacks.

Gambling legislation advances in Nebraska: Scott Bauer; LINCOLN, Neb. -- The third time was the charm for a proposal to legalize casino gambling on Indian reservations in Nebraska.

MGM MIRAGE leader says diversity initiative advancing: David Strow; For the first time since launching its diversity initiative 21 months ago, MGM MIRAGE has released detailed numbers showing its progress.

Idaho tribe to expand casino: Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee Chairman Samuel Penney made the announcement during a meeting to celebrate the cooperation between the city and the tribe during the sewer project.

Trivial Pursuit slot planned: The company announced today that it has secured the rights to the game under an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Hasbro Inc., Pawtucket, R.I. Terms were not disclosed.

Nevada's students at high risk of addiction: By Emily Richmond; Nearly a third of Nevada's high school students, who say they first tried alcohol before age 13, are the most likely of their peers to face a lifetime of addiction, according to a national report released today.

Former spokesman for county fire dept. sues chief: Steve La-Sky has sued Clark County Fire Department Chief Earl Greene, claiming he was booted from his post as department spokesman as punishment for being a whistle-blower of a potential coverup.

Housing authority may face additional complaints: Adrienne Packer; The Federal Bureau of Investigation's decision Monday not to pursue an investigation into a public relations contract awarded by the Las Vegas Housing Authority doesn't protect the agency from further complaints, a board member said.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Reno-Tahoe has to copy SLC's formula: Dean Juipe; Salt Lake City is within driving distance of Las Vegas, yet throughout the just-concluded Winter Olympics it may as well have been a million miles away.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Some unfair roadblocks: She qualifies for Nevada's Millennium scholarship that Gov. Kenny Guinn and the 1999 Legislature approved. It's a great program that Guinn, a former educator, brought forth in his State of the State address. A Nevada high school student who spent his or her last two years in one of our high schools and graduates with a 3.0 grade point average or more qualifies for the $2,500 a year scholarship at UNLV or UNR or $1,250 granted if attending a community college. The award is based on grades and residency and not on technical immigration problems some may face.

Spending healthy despite decline in confidence: The New York-based Conference Board said today that its Consumer Confidence Index fell to 94.1 this month from a revised 97.8 in January.

Editorial: Hire on merit, not influence: Clark County Manager Thom Reilly is facing one of those times right now in regard to hiring practices at the Clark County Fire Department. He has made the right decision in calling upon Fire Chief Earl Greene to develop a policy to ensure that unsolicited advice, including calls or letters from county commissioners, has no bearing on who gets hired. Reilly has also expressed concern about the perception of nepotism. Firefighting often runs in the family, with sons and daughters committed to carrying on their parents' work. And it's common for politicians at all levels to call or write on ...

Editorial: 'Sandstone' hiatus in election years: The policy changes affecting the newsletter and television station should have been made a long time ago by previous administrations. Four years ago concerns were raised about Sandstone providing an unfair advantage to incumbents over their challengers because the newsletter contained flattering stories about the commissioners -- yet no one from county government did anything about it.

18 Nevadans are nominated for honors: The awards, in conjunction with Women's History Month, are sponsored by the National Association of Women Business Owners Southern Nevada Chapter. The award winners will be honored at a March 9 dinner at the Palms.

Those old Coke items can aid kids: Archivist Phil Mooney will offer expert appraisals on collectors' rarest Coca-Cola treasures. A silent auction, with proceeds going to the Boys & Girls Club, will offer patrons the opportunity to bid on Coca-Cola memorabilia.

Letter: Power customers get burned twice: What hasn't been addressed in this discussion about an increase to an individual bill, is the increased cost to all our consumer products.

ABA's Las Vegas Slam set for home debut: Victoria Sun; Delayed but not derailed, the Las Vegas Slam basketball team of the ABA 2000 league will make its home debut at 7 tonight at the Cox Pavilion.

NASCAR appearances during Race week: Wednesday

Anderson, Walters are Nevada ambassadors: Ryan, 9, a third grader at Mountain View Lutheran School, will serve as state ambassador this year. He is the eldest of two children of Jon and Kerry Anderson. Ryan was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at age 5.

Community briefs for February 26, 2002: The Henderson Parks and Recreation Department will present Drum Fest, two free cultural arts events that explore and celebrate rhythm and percussion 7-10 p.m. Friday.

Indian nation: 'Powwow' exhibit focuses on tribes' traditions: Kimberley McGee; The faces are a reminder of the past and present.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Growing pains hit Summerlin: Well, not all of us. Just Summerlin.

Letter: People have selves to blame for fixed elections: The writer goes on to complain that special interests buy elections. If the poor unwashed masses all vote together there isn't a corporation or group of corporations in existence that could withstand it in a vote count.

Letter: Bush turns deaf ear to Nevada: Well, Georgie Boy, what about listening to Nevada citizens and our concerns about Yucca Mountain?

Obituaries for February 26, 2002: Margaret Budik, 74, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. She was born April 26, 1927, in Illinois. A resident for 22 years, she was a homemaker.

Steering him straight: Jimmie Johnson is living every young racer's dream.

Letter: Residents must not give up fight: Don't let Washington turn our state into a radioactive graveyard. Grass-roots opposition is worth every citizen's effort. Make your voices heard and remember who approved the dump.