Print edition for January 9, 2002

Gambling debate continues in Hawaii: Bruce Dunford; HONOLULU -- The people of Hawaii and not the Legislature should decide whether Hawaii should legalize some form of gambling, Gov. Ben Cayetano said Tuesday.

UNLV official: Grades not on credit card list: Jennifer Knight; Hundreds of parents whose children attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas receive credit card solicitations initiated by the school's alumni office, university officials said.

Aladdin performance improved in December: David Strow; The Aladdin hotel-casino is performing far better than expected after three months in bankruptcy, attorneys for the Strip hotel-casino said Tuesday.

Creditors try to close airline: The Chapter 7 petition filed with the federal bankruptcy court in Wilmington, Del., claims Sun Country owes the trio a total of $3.1 million related to leases on Boeing 727s. The creditors are Pegasus Aviation Inc. and Pegasus Aviation Lease Asset Securitization in San Francisco, and Riverhorse Aviation Group Inc. in Santa Monica, Calif.

Police: Suspect shoots himself: Keith Paul; A suspected bank robber fleeing from pursuing Metro Police crashed his getaway car into a bus stop Tuesday and then apparently shot himself.

Topless clubs again ordered to not tip cabbies: Kim Smith; Despite a judge's recent order to stop tipping cab drivers, numerous topless clubs continue to do so and could face contempt of court charges, local attorney Tony Sgro said.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Schmidt back with Treadway for IRL season: Sam Schmidt is reuniting with Fred Treadway for the 2002 Indy Racing League season in hopes of rekindling some of the magic they enjoyed when Schmidt drove for Treadway in 1999.

Lottery Internet site defaced: Sunday night's attack was not the first for the Texas Lottery Commission's website.

Philippines fugitive seeking asylum: Kim Smith; Charlie Atong Ang, a friend of former Philippine President Joseph Estrada charged with stealing from the the Philippine treasury, applied for political asylum Tuesday.

Lawmakers told mentally ill, drunks crowd LV hospitals: By Emily Richmond; Mentally ill patients and public drunks are overburdening Southern Nevada emergency rooms, and the problem has reached crisis proportions, community advocates told members of the Legislative Committee on Health Care Tuesday.

Strip's party a safety success: Local public safety officials called Las Vegas' New Year's celebration a success from an emergency management perspective.

Las Vegas prepared to sue if waste set for Yucca: Diana Sahagun; The city of Las Vegas stands ready to file a racketeering lawsuit against the federal government if Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham recommends Yucca Mountain as the nation's nuclear waste repository.

Reid asked to recuse himself in ethics case: Erin Neff; Several watchdog groups are asking Sen. Harry Reid to recuse himself from an ethics case involving fellow Democratic Sen. Robert Torricelli because Reid donated money to the New Jersey senator's defense fund.

Shooting victim speaks out in domestic violence case: Kim Smith; Her eyes welling up with tears, Carol Jones took a deep breath and told District Judge Jeffrey Sobel, "I'm glad to be here."

Broad new authority for state is considered: By Emily Richmond; It's a scenario no one wants to imagine, but a possibility nonetheless: Bioterrorists strike Nevada, unleashing potentially fatal organisms and chemicals on an unprepared population.

Sacramento's Pollard has plenty of flash, style on and off court: Victoria Sun; The Sacramento Kings' Scot Pollard is not a strait-laced Mormon.

DMV holiday backlog leaves motorists waiting for tags: The Department of Motor Vehicles is experiencing a three-week delay in mail-in renewals of auto registrations, and this time the glitch-plagued $35 million Genesis computer system is not the scapegoat.

High-tech homeland security items showcased at CES: Erin Neff; Although the economy drives exhibits at the main conference center of the Consumer Electronics Show, a side pavilion is focused squarely on homeland security.

Tiguas back in court to keep casino open: Chris Roberts; EL PASO, Texas -- The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today is to hear an appeal of a federal district court ruling that the Tigua Indians must cease gambling operations at their Speaking Rock Casino.

Soccer sign-ups: The Silver State Girls Soccer League announces registration for the 2002 Spring League for girls between the ages of 4-18. The cost is $40 per player. No experience is necessary and each player needs to bring one wallet-size photo and a copy of her birth certificate to register. Dates, times and places: Tuesday, Jan. 22 -- 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Galleria Mall, lower level next to JC Penney's. Saturday, Jan. 26 -- 1-4 p.m. at the Rainbow Library, 3150 North Buffalo at Cheyenne. Thursday, Jan. 31 -- 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Las Vegas Library, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Wednesday, Feb. ...

Brokerage cut 9,000 jobs: Merrill Lynch said today the steps would result in a pretax charge of $2.2 billion against its earnings in the recently completed fourth quarter.

Maxfield is eager to rise as force in county: Adrienne Packer; For one year Clark County Commission newcomer Chip Maxfield sat quietly at the end of the dais. He listened, he observed, he learned.

Hotel-casino abruptly closes: Employees at the 315-room property at Las Vegas Boulevard South and Sunset Road said they have been told very little about the sudden closure, but some said it stemmed from a dispute between the former owner and the Las Vegas developer who acquired it in an auction in November.

Thursday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1 p.m.

Bonds would pay for courthouse, police station: Mathis Winkler; If all goes well, North Las Vegas officials will be able to open a new courthouse and a second police station by early 2004.

Junior lightweights trade put-downs, try to gain upper hand: Dean Juipe; There are no language barriers when it comes to the art of intimidation.

Administration tiptoes around nuke-test issue: WASHINGTON -- Bush administration officials are walking a fine line on the question of whether to resume underground nuclear bomb tests at the Nevada Test Site.

Police probe beating death: Keith Paul; No arrests have been made in the bludgeoning death of a man who drove a truck through a cinder block wall Monday, but Metro Police officials expect arrests will be made soon.

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

Yucca seen as a key to avert terror: Laura Meckler; WASHINGTON -- The United States must determine how the Energy Department "can move ahead" with its plan to bury nuclear waste beneath Yucca Mountain, the conservative Heritage Foundation says in a new report recommending steps to increase homeland defense.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Familiarity greets NFL wild cards: Dean Juipe; "Say, this looks familiar," the fans in the stands and those watching on TV are apt to say.

Senator: Some fees abusive to home buyers: Marcy Gordon; WASHINGTON -- Beatrice Hiers, a single working mother who struggled to buy her home in Fort Washington, Md., relied on a mortgage broker to find a good deal for her. But she ended up paying a higher interest rate than what she qualified for while the broker collected $10,800 in fees, including $4,538.87 from the lender for getting the higher rate.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Lee Pete: '12,000 shows is enough': Very few sports figures who were active in their field in 1951 are still going at it today.

Mysterious discoloration of water at new school puzzles officials: The cream-colored water was discovered in a kitchen faucet late last month, school district spokeswoman Pat Nelson said this morning. Tests by a private laboratory have shown the water to be "completely safe," Nelson said.

Columnist Peter Benton: PGA Tour will have a very foreign flavor: Peter Benton; Although the 2002 PGA Tour officially got under way with last week's Mercedes Championships (for 2001 event winners only), the rank and file start their year this week at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Immigration reform coalition halts efforts: By Timothy Pratt; A national coalition of business groups and immigration attorneys that gained national attention lobbying for eased immigration standards in the months before Sept. 11 has put its work on hold.

Probe results in charges: Another 25 people face minor betting charges as a result of the probe, University Police spokesman Joe Sharkey said.

News briefs for January 9, 2002: Duncan was charged by the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board with six counts of misconduct but he never filed an answer or showed up for a hearing. The disciplinary board was able to track down Duncan in Florida, though he never returned to Nevada to defend himself.

HP CEO says Compaq is needed for expertise: The high-profile feud over Hewlett-Packard Co.'s plan to acquire Compaq Computer Corp. spilled onto the stage of the Las Vegas Hilton Theater Tuesday in an International Consumer Electronics Show keynote address.

Tourist traffic jam angers LV mayor: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman had 8 1/2 hours to think about what he was going to say to a consultant working to find solutions to highway traffic problems between Southern California and the city.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Pigskin party rings in new year: Elizabeth Foyt; Guests enjoyed easy vantage of their favorite teams at play from multiple television screens throughout the home, with Neil and Paul Huffey, Charlotte Hill, Bill and Marilyn Flangas, Sharon and Tom Beatty, Dr. Tommy and Joyce Thompson and the Rev. Melvin and Lillian Pekrul among the football enthusiasts.

Savvy wine buys: Robert Biale Vineyards Napa, Calif.: Available at Las Vegas Wine Company and Nevada Wine Cellars, $33.99.

Obituaries for January 9, 2002: Frank Avila, 50, of Las Vegas died Thursday in Las Vegas. He was born March 21, 1951, in Mexico. A resident for five years, he was a construction worker.

Causing a stir: Personal chefs setting up in Las Vegas homes: Kimberley McGee; "It's so much easier to come home and have meals prepared for you," said Carolyn Nadler, a local semiretired woman who hired a Las Vegas personal chef last January, to ensure gourmet meals would be cooked at home without the fuss. "I get home and I don't have to spend time in the kitchen."

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Airing out some flying complaints: We were advised early on that flying on the weekend before a holiday made it necessary to get to the airport three hours before departure. A second call to the airline said two hours would be soon enough. We decided to cut the difference in half. Checking in at the curb was a cinch. No lines, no hassle.

Editorial: Let's boost money for education: With respect to how Nevada is faring when it comes to paying for education, there was good news and bad news this week. Education Week magazine gave the state a B for its funding equity, a recognition that the state does a pretty good job in making sure that the dollars spent per pupil are roughly the same from school to school. But that good grade shouldn't overshadow a serious problem: the overall level of funding for students isn't adequate. The state of Nevada allocates $5,911 per pupil, but this is considerably less than the national average of $7,079, so ...

Henderson State of the City scheduled: Jeffrey Libby; Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson, in his third State of the City address Monday, will explain how the events of Sept. 11 affected the city's budget.

Awards: Metro Police Officer Bernard Whalen was to receive the American Police Hall of Fame's Honor Award today for his service in the Laughlin community.

Bargains in store for stellar cellars: Max Jacobson; Because wine is an organic substance, and "cooks" at high temperatures, it is a bit dicey collecting wines in Las Vegas. Wines can't be left on a living room rack in Las Vegas. So look for the coolest spot in the house (there's always one) to store wine.

Community briefs for January 9, 2002: Brian Williams of MSNBC will be the featured speaker at An Evening with Class at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Four Seasons hotel.

Letter: Dissection is outmoded teaching tool: While few voice their objections as openly and articulately as sixth-grader Laurie Wolff did in the Sun's Dec. 21 story, "Student leads drive against dissections," compassionate youngsters nonetheless find the experience upsetting, a circumstance that may dissuade them from promising careers in science or medicine.

Editorial: Aviation concerns justify more security: There are 18,000 small airports that handle an estimated 340,000 student and private pilots in the United States, so it wouldn't be practical to implement the same level of security at small airports as is being done at the large metropolitan airports in the wake of Sept. 11. And it admittedly is impossible to put in place security measures that always will foil terrorists. Still, the federal government should require some steps to be taken to improve security at the small airports, measures that include controlling access to the airfields, maintaining closer oversight of who is flying the planes and ...

Letter: Drug users are the enemy: When will these drug users, whether they live in a penthouse, or a ghetto, or in between, get the message? They are making these drug dealers, from many cesspool countries, rich beyond their wildest dreams, and many scum Americans rich also. The day is coming when we in this country will have no choice but to deal harshly with drug dealers and the scum lawyers who protect them.

Letter: Call bin Laden by another name: His birth name is long gone because he has grown up to be a monster, and his name now is: "Ima Insane."

State establishes health goals: CARSON CITY -- "A Public Health Agenda for Nevada," a list of five-year goals envisioned by the state Health Division, was to be released today.

Residency program in psychiatry urged for LV: By Emily Richmond; Southern Nevada needs a facility dedicated to emergency medical services for mentally ill patients and a residency program to train psychiatrists to staff it, community advocates told the Legislative Committee on Health Care Tuesday.