Print edition for January 30, 2002

Community briefs for January 30, 2002: Senior Friends will host the program "High Blood Pressure -- What Could It Mean For You" 1:30-3 p.m. Thursday at the Sunrise Office, 3101 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 314.

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

Obituaries for January 30, 2002: Ilene Adler, 63, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. She was born May 10, 1938, in Boston. A resident for 10 years, she was a retail saleswoman, a lifetime member of Hadassah and a member of Women's American ORT.

Yucca on minds of Nevadans: Erin Neff; Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn thought President Bush was delivering "an outstanding" speech Tuesday night.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Busch posts top speed in LVMS Winston Cup test: Call it the home-track advantage. Las Vegas native Kurt Busch posted the fastest lap Tuesday among the 32 NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series drivers taking part in the second day of a four-day test at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Fast-track system established for civil lawsuits: Kim Smith; Every year thousands of car accident victims file lawsuits hoping for justice, knowing their day in court could be years off.

Free prescriptions will be available to more seniors: CARS0N CITY -- More seniors will be able to get free prescription insurance coverage from the state because of recently negotiated lower premiums.

'Significant transfer of wealth' feared: A majority of the Clark County Commission expressed concern about requests from Nevada Power Co. to raise electricity bills by as much as 25 percent, saying the rate hike would hurt people on fixed incomes.

Letter: Cheney banished because he has outshown Bush: Let's put some common-sense into perspective and ask ourselves: Why is Mr. Cheney out of sight and in hiding?

Editorial: Challenges confronting president: Bush's approval ratings in public opinion polls are stratospheric, due principally to his successful war on terrorism. But this President Bush knows that his father once had an incredibly high job performance rating in the Gulf War's afterglow. A sluggish economy, and reneging on his "no-new-taxes" pledge, tripped up the elder Bush, who was defeated by Bill Clinton in 1992. So President Bush on Tuesday signaled that creating jobs will be his top domestic concern. Still, while there is near universal agreement on the president's military strategy in the war on terrorism, there is a sharp divide over domestic policy. ...

Marines might try new rape case: Kim Smith; Col. William Durrett, a Marine staff judge advocate in San Diego, said that if Hardcastle grants Flores a new trial, he would immediately try to arrest the lance corporal and obtain jurisdiction in the case.

Nevada delegates give speech high marks: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The question for Nevada's delegation is whether Congress can respond this year to President Bush's specific call Tuesday night to help the nation's laid-off workers, who now number 69,000 in the Silver State.

The myth and reality of curry: Max Jacobson; Perhaps nothing in the food world is more misunderstood than curry, a generic term that exists in many forms across many cultures. In England, for instance, it is often found in the form of a yellowish sauce used with meats and accompanied by sweet chutneys, raisins, shredded coconuts and various other sweetmeats.

Doctors eye their own malpractice insurance company: CARSON CITY -- Nevada doctors are exploring setting up their own company to provide medical malpractice coverage as the state insurance commissioner set hearings to explore rising rates and a loss of coverage.

Bitter cold grips state of Nevada: AP; But for cold, Ely plunged to minus 23 early Wednesday and Elko to 18 below. The mercury hit minus 27 at Spring Creek High School and forecasters said remote data showed some valleys at 40 below.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Determined Ayoub rises in stature: Dean Juipe; When she was appointed to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Amy Ayoub seemed to represent everything that was wrong with the system. It had become so political that a political consultant had found her way to the board and was taking a spot, I remember writing, that rightfully belonged to someone with closer ties to athletics and a greater understanding of the intricacies of the boxing industry.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: A walking tour of Vegas malls: Win some, lose some: Amandari was a delightful discovery, and so was the new Amen Wardy home store, 4230 S. Decatur Blvd. (734-1433).

Letter: School district is in bad shape: Veteran teachers and administrators are leaving in record numbers, instructional programming lacks uniformity, funding and purpose, zoning is a constant struggle for good families trying to provide continuity with their children's education, a uniform discipline plan is nonexistent, and budgeting is out of control, without clarity and without accountability.

Motel operator to expand: An existing 75-room motel at 9570 W. Sahara Ave will reopen as a La Quinta Inn & Suites within the new few weeks, said spokeswoman Teresa Ferguson.

Deal falls through in fight over cabbie tips and strippers: Kim Smith; A possible settlement over the issue of adult nightclub owners tipping cab drivers who refer patrons to their clubs fell apart Tuesday morning when a club owner fired his attorneys.

Sex down but drugs up in teen survey: Cy Ryan and Emily Richmond; CARSON CITY -- Sex and smoking among high school students have declined in the last eight years, but marijuana and cocaine use has risen since 1993, according to a study released by the state Department of Education.

Park funding policy starting to take hold: Adrienne Packer; A tour through aging Las Vegas neighborhoods reveals an obvious trend: Many strip malls linger until they become dilapidated, vacant stores ripe for crime.

Ralph Siraco's Santa Anita selections: 1st Race -- Moneymakinmamma -- Flores on Baffert trainee for owner Pegram, needs clean trip from inner post for sprint opener, mamma makes Money here? Calista's Star -- McCarron takes Greenman--owned and Greenman-trained filly, draws good post for claiming outing, Star shines here? Value Play -- Syn Can Do

Savvy wine buys: Vega Sindoa '00 Tempranillo/Merlot: Available at Las Vegas Wine Company, $5.49.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Manns will reign over Mardi Gras Ball: Elizabeth Foyt; The Manns, longtime supporters who made significant contributions to the emergency room building and facilities at the hospital's Sienna campus, will preside over the gala evening at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino on Feb. 9. Guests will enjoy a sparkling occasion with highlights to include a gourmet dinner, dancing and entertainment, as well as the opportunity to purchase some of the season's most lavish items by live and interactive video auction.

Letter: Ignorant will torture animals: First, the fact that loving and caring for animals never cancels out also loving children, helping the homeless or the belief that every living being has the right to live their life in as much safety and comfort as possible and with the absence of any cruel mistreatment.

Sons of Thunder musicians have long line of credits: AP; - Carlo Driggs, vocals, percussion, lead singer for Paul Revere and the Raiders and Foxy.

Shareholders OK LV firm's takeover: The transaction is set to close in early February. Following the close, Chadmoore will be dissolved.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Promoters: Big fights aren't going anywhere: Las Vegas prides itself in being the "Boxing Capital of the World" and it will remain as such. No matter how many unfounded yarns the columnists Back East spin about our casinos threatening to bail out on the fight industry because it refused to license Mike Tyson to fight Lennox Lewis in a proposed April 6 bonanza at the MGM Grand, boxing as we know it around here is not going anywhere.

Tyson KO'd: Dean Juipe; Mike Tyson came out of his licensing hearing with an MGM limousine at his disposal and perhaps a need for the Yellow Pages.

State defends right to sue over Yucca: The project ultimately could make the desert site 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas a permanent burial ground for the nation's high-level nuclear waste.

Jury can't decide fate of convicted killer: Jurors were unable to decide if Robert Whitesell, 33, should receive a 40-year to life prison sentence, a no-parole term or 50 to 100 years for the death of Tiffany Averill. As a result, Loehrer will make the final determination next month.

Robby Gordon enjoys role of 'bad boy': In the aftermath of Dale Earnhardt's death last year in the Daytona 500, many NASCAR observers wondered publicly if NASCAR's staggering popularity would wane without its biggest star -- and the driver some fans loved to hate.

Bitter cold grips state: AP; But for cold, Ely plunged to minus 23 early Wednesday and Elko to 18 below. The mercury hit minus 27 at Spring Creek High School and forecasters said remote data showed some valleys at 40 below.

Editorial: Iron Mike versus Nevada's iron will: Commission members expressed some tolerance of the theatrics involving Tyson and Lennox Lewis during a Jan. 22 press conference in New York. It was what happened afterward that the four commissioners -- John Bailey, Amy Ayoub, Dr. Tony Alamo and Dr. Flip Homansky -- found so intolerable. They saw that once again Tyson exhibited uncontrolled anger despite the professional help he had received. While Luther Mack, the commission's chairman, voted in favor of a license for Tyson, the commission as a whole acted correctly in not allowing Tyson to withdraw his application once it became clear that he was going ...

Private fund started to battle Yucca dump: Jeff German and Cy Ryan; Gov. Kenny Guinn today planned to officially begin a private fund-raising drive for the Nevada Protection Fund in the fight against the high-level nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain.

News briefs for January 30, 2002: An East Coast car dealer has officially dropped a lawsuit filed against Las Vegas Councilmen Michael Mack and Larry Brown.

Judges to add input on jury system: Kim Smith; Clark County jurors want better pay, shorter hours and access to more information. On Thursday, local judges and attorneys will be asked to add to that list.

DA to review criminal charges: Retiring District Attorney Stewart Bell said this morning that he's asked the three prosecutors running for his post to help him decide whether to file sexual assault charges against boxer Mike Tyson.

Some public schools weigh mandatory uniform policy: By Emily Richmond; Her bell-bottom jeans fashionably faded, sixth grader Alyssa Reinhart grimaced at the thought of trading her white Old Navy T-shirt with pink trimming for a blouse with a Peter Pan collar.

Analysts eye local Kmart real estate: Jennifer Robison; Las Vegas retail analysts say any local store closures by bankrupt retailer Kmart Corp. would add to a growing glut of "big-box" retail space in the Valley.

Judge OKs National plan to reorganize: U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Linda Riegle gave tentative approval Tuesday to a reorganization plan for National Airlines that converts most of its debt into equity and places control of the company into the hands of its creditors.

Park Place eyes Chicago project: But Park Place Chief Executive Tom Gallagher said such an effort isn't likely to include a buyout of the current license owners, a concept Gallagher called "flawed."

ESPYs get a new home in Hollywood: ESPYs get a new home in Hollywood

Panel looks 'past the money' in decision: Erin Neff; The tale of the tape before Tuesday's Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing seemed to favor ex-champ Mike Tyson.

UNLV men lose to UCLA: UNLV men lose to UCLA

Company gets slot exclusive: The agreement gives Harrah's the right to exclusively place the slot machine at its casinos across the country for a 60-day period, subject to regulatory approvals. The Game of Life was introduced by Milton Bradley in 1960.

Judge dismisses suit: Harrah's subsidiary Showboat Development sued Penn National of Wyomissing, Pa., in July. Harrah's claimed it and former partner Bryant Development Co. had agreed to develop a casino at the Charles Town, W.Va., track.

Record cold grips state of Nevada: AP; Wells set the frigid pace on Wednesday with a low of minus 27, breaking its previous low of minus 25 set in 1957. Eureka, which set a record on Tuesday with 18 below, set another one Wednesday with minus 25. That was far below its old Jan. 30 mark of minus 12, also set in 1957.

Columnist Victoria Sun: Henderson's Barlow is eager to return to links: Victoria Sun; It has been almost five months since PGA Tour player Craig Barlow has played a round of golf.

Storm leaves icy roads, bitter cold in northern Nevada: AP; Lows on Monday ranged from a record minus 18 in Eureka to minus 14 in Elko, minus 12 at South Lake Tahoe, Calif., 12 in Reno and Winnemucca, 13 in Tonopah and 18 in Fallon. But cold was Wildhorse at 36 below.

Nuke expert says no data shows Yucca suitable for repository: PAHRUMP -- A former Department of Energy nuclear waste chief said he has reviewed numerous scientific reports on Yucca Mountain and can find no information that would prove the site is suitable to serve as the nation's nuclear waste repository.

Big customers say utility should cut rates: Malcolm Hall; Casino giant MGM MIRAGE said Tuesday that Nevada Power Co. should lower its general rates by nearly $107 million instead of increasing them by $22.9 million.

December passenger count off: McCarran officials said 2.54 million people arrived and departed from Las Vegas' airport, down 14.3 percent from the 2.96 million who used the airport in December 2000. The December figures resulted in an annual total of 35.2 million passengers, down 4.5 percent from the 36.8 million who used McCarran in 2000.

Columnist Peter Benton: Senior Tour welcomes changes: Peter Benton; Although the Senior PGA Tour season began with the recent MasterCard Championship (for 2001 tournament winners only), the "regular season" begins this week with the Royal Caribbean Classic.

Lady Rebels have date with 2001 MWC champs: Steve Guiremand; The UNLV Lady Rebels certainly know what it feels like to get stung in the Beehive State.

Tropicana looking at LV options to expand: David Strow; A Phoenix company announced today it plans to buy out its partner in the Tropicana hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip -- a move that could be the first step in demolishing the current Tropicana and replacing it with two mid-size casino resorts.

Harrah's plan for casino advances: David Strow; Harrah's Entertainment Inc. is asking Clark County officials to approve a hotel-casino project directly north of its Rio resort on Flamingo Road, near the Las Vegas Strip.

Dust bowl: Planners consider paving alleys in city's downtown area: Jeffrey Libby; About twice a year, Henderson resident Michael Sager, 65, climbs between two sawhorses and sits in a chair balanced on an old door. Using a screwdriver, he pokes new holes in the dust-caked pads of the swamp cooler outside his downtown home.