Print edition for January 28, 2002

Metro detectives to help with Olympics: Keith Paul; Two Metro Police intelligence detectives went to Salt Lake City last week to join the intelligence-gathering effort at the Olympic Games, but they will also watch out for any potential threats to Las Vegas.

Initiative aims to consolidate slots: However, no other tribe in the state has voiced support for the plan from the Colorado River Indian Tribes, also known as CRIT.

Nervous Congress members call off LV visit: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Nevada lawmakers routinely roll out the red carpet for fellow members of Congress who travel to Las Vegas.

Registrations taken for spring leagues: Call 454-6000 for more information.

Court rejects killers' appeals: CARSON CITY -- Two inmates who were members of a prison gang that killed another convict for his drugs have lost their appeals to the Nevada Supreme Court.

UNLV baseball schedule: The 2002 UNLV baseball schedule:

LV dream seekers face reality: Angie Wagner; Nightfall comes to the dingy Las Vegas street corner, and the flickering lights of the 7-Eleven keep watch over the prayer group trying to bring the divine to a carnal city.

Cool to the X-treme: Trade show unveils hot equipment, accessories for winter sports: Kirk Baird; A jacket that can be easily inflated or deflated to warm up or cool down, depending on the surrounding temperature.

Grand plan: Relatives get help from state in raising children: When 15-year-old Christopher and his 5-year-old sister Jennifer showed up on their grandparents' doorstep two years ago, concerns about where the money would come from to raise them were foremost on the Boulder City couple's minds.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Tyson misled NSAC at 1998 hearing: Dean Juipe; In a story that I wrote that appeared in this newspaper and was dated 10-20-98, Mike Tyson emerged from a licensing hearing in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission and pledged to become a new man.

Trends for January 28, 2002: Lisa Ferguson; Finally, a board game for those of us with volumes of useless trivia sucking up space in our heads.

Moore's chariot ride finds bumpy road to state college: Jennifer Knight; If the Nevada State College at Henderson were to open today, it would have only 15 students -- not even enough to fill a classroom.

Collins struggles in '02 SCORE opener: LAUGHLIN -- The first SCORE International off-road race of the New Year, the eighth annual Laughlin Desert Challenge, was not kind to the defending champions in the featured classes.

Seizure of Binion's assets OK'd: But Clark County District Judge Gene Porter ruled that the writ of attachment -- a document that allows the Clark County sheriff to seize funds to secure an unsecured claim -- will not be enforced for 14 days to give Binion's an opportunity to file an appeal with the Nevada Supreme Court.

Letter: Focus on how nuke dump can help Nevadans: Let's let science decide the issue. I urge everyone to take a tour of the site and get your questions answered by the scientists working on the project. I urge our legal eagle mayor to stop the name calling. Calling the secretary of energy a jerk and piece of garbage doesn't do any good and is just another example of how he sometimes speaks before he thinks about what he is saying. In fact, the name calling does no good in our state's fight against the project -- it only damages our already weak credibility back in the Beltway.

Auto dealers happy: The approximately 1,200 dealers who packed a Ford meeting during the National Automobile Dealers Association convention here even gave Jim O'Connor, president of the company's Ford division, a standing ovation. O'Connor said fences needed mending with Ford because of its forays into retailing, recycling and repair.

Wranglers to hold 'town hall' meeting: Fans are invited to attend and meet Wranglers front-office personnel, obtain season ticket information and place deposits and/or buy season tickets. Wranglers merchandise will also be available.

Services set for pilot of balloon: Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Thursday for Robert Bowers Jr., pilot of a hot air balloon who was killed when it crashed Saturday with six passengers onboard.

Local student, teacher study Alaska: Rick Anderson, a ninth grader at Green Valley High School, and Patty Moore, a fifth grade teacher at William G. Bennett Elementary School, will join scientist and explorer Robert Ballard from Monday through Friday as "argonauts" on the "JASON XIII: Frozen Worlds" expedition.

Study: Fees, auditor freedom not linked: Gary Gentile; LOS ANGELES -- A study of company proxy statements is challenging the notion that accounting firms that earn consulting fees from companies they audit have a built-in conflict of interest.

Letter: Don't blame 9-11 on drug abusers: It is ludicrous to write, as Tominsky did, that, "Indirectly, the American illegal drug user is responsible for the deaths of September 11 and future deaths." Even if drug money was used to finance the terrorist attack on America, that just supplied the means. The motive was supplied by the terrorists themselves, by their radical hatred for America. That hatred drives them to finance their terrorism by any means. Tominsky's accusation that illegal drug users are the enemy takes the blame off of those who are ultimately responsible for this tragedy.

Tyson set to plead case: Dean Juipe; Security figures to be tight and public access limited when Mike Tyson appears before the Nevada State Athletic Commission at the Sawyer Office Building near downtown Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Editorial: Water ills need close attention: On Jan. 18 the EPA released a draft report stating that perchlorate may be a health hazard at levels above one part per billion. California, which had informally considered anything under 18 parts per billion as reasonably safe, responded by announcing a new standard of four parts per billion, which is currently the lowest amount that tests can detect. Water from Lake Mead is testing at about 14 parts per billion.

Heller backs election legislation: CARSON CITY -- Secretary of State Dean Heller announced Friday he is joining Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., in supporting a bipartisan election-reform bill before the Senate.

Politician upset over nude dancing at casino: Commissioner Jim Reno suspects that Planet Lockwood, a bar and casino in suburban Lockwood, opened a "gentleman's club" last month to coincide with the beginning of the American Bowling Congress Tournament, which runs from February through June.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Oakland landscaper wins national title: Ralph Siraco; The third annual Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championships were held over the weekend at the MGM Grand.

Laughlin Desert Challenge: TROPHY-TRUCK (Unlimited Production Trucks, 104 miles) -- 1. Dan Smith, Riverside, Calif., Ford F-150, 1:35.29 (65.35 mph); 2. Damen Jeffries, Oak Hills, Calif., Ford F-150, 1:36:14; 3. Brian Collins, Las Vegas, Chevrolet Silverado, 1:39:14; 4. Scott Steinberger, Cypress, Calif., Ford F-150, 1:46:36; 5. Mark Post, San Juan Capistrano, Calif./Jerry Whelchel, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Ford F-150, 1:53:22; 6. Gus Vildosola, Mexicali, Mexico, Ford F-150, 1:55:21; 7. Darren Skilton, Lakewood, Calif., Kia Sportage, 2:08:26. (11 starters, seven finishers.)

Investors describe how they lost their money: Kim Smith; Husbands and wives. Mothers and sons. Daughters and mothers. Cousins. Friends.

Rebels hope to grow from win at SDSU: Steve Addy; The Rebels finally won in a pinch. Now, have they grown an inch?

Obituaries for January 28, 2002: William L. Aplin, 71, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was born Jan. 4, 1931, in Las Vegas. A lifelong resident, he was a self-employed welder, a Navy veteran for 20 years and past president of the Eagles.

Transportation operators sue state over rulings: Angelo's said the TSA's denial was "in violation of constitutional or statutory provisions and in excess of the statutory authority of the agency."

Bush briefs Ensign on Medicare: Bush is expected to outline his goals on the topic in his State of the Union address Tuesday night. Bush had proposed new prescription drug benefits last year at a White House ceremony attended by Ensign and other Republican lawmakers whom Bush had tapped to help shepherd Medicare reform proposals through Congress.

Nevada support high for tax breaks on U.S.-produced films: The Nevada Film Office continues to participate in efforts to stop "runaway production" by supporting federal legislation that would offer tax credits for wages paid on films produced in the United States.

Nevada doctors face insurance crisis: By Emily Richmond; A Minnesota company's decision to get out of the medical malpractice insurance business could force nearly 40 percent of Nevada's physicians to either pay painfully high premiums for new coverage or close their office doors.

Storm snarls traffic across northern Nevada, more snow en route: AP; Much of Elko County was under a snow advisory while a winter storm warning was posted for White Pine County and northern Eureka and Lander counties. Travel was not recommended in many spots, including Interstate-80 east of Wells, because of poor visibility in blizzard-like conditions.

Birth announcements for January 28, 2002: Jan. 17:

LV officials take post office, homeless issues to D.C.: Diana Sahagun; As Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman lobbied his fellow mayors in Washington last week about Yucca Mountain, two city officials who traveled with him worked behind the scenes on projects that have captured the city's interest.

Marine backs off admission of rape: Kim Smith; A Marine who confessed to raping a Las Vegas woman last year after one of his colleagues was sent to prison for the crime has recanted his confession.

Report: Voters rubber-stamped special-interests' candidates: CARSON CITY -- Organized labor contributed more money than any other group to political candidates in 2000, says a new study by the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada.

No charges to be filed in fire at Equal Rights Commission: No charges will be filed against a former employee in a July 2000 blaze at the Nevada Equal Rights Commission offices, 1515 E. Tropicana Ave.

News briefs for January 28, 2002: The federal trial of a man accused of sending threatening letters to various politicians, including Sen. Harry Reid, has been scheduled for March 11.

Las Vegas to get direct flights from Hong Kong: Singapore Airlines, giving a boost to the Las Vegas hotel-gambling industry, is planning the first nonstop flights between Hong Kong and Las Vegas beginning in August.