Print edition for July 1, 2002

Additional taxes rejected: McGreevey's plan to require casinos to pay sales taxes on complimentary rooms, meals and other freebies given to gamblers would have raised $33 million.

London Clubs continues to work on new loans: LONDON -- London Clubs International Plc, a U.K. casino owner that expanded into Las Vegas with poor results, said its lenders will continue to waive breaches of the company's bank covenants as it negotiates new facilities.

IPO delayed again: Medco's $1 billion sale, initially scheduled for Thursday last week, is now slated for some time next week, said people familiar with the offering. Medco also delayed a $1 billion bond offering.

Controversial BLM practice not limited to one firm: CARSON CITY -- The Bureau of Land Management's controversial practice of using "hosted employees" paid for by private companies has been going on since 1998, and it hasn't been confined to Nevada Land Resource Co.

WorldCom investigating more possible irregularities: Marcy Gordon; WASHINGTON -- WorldCom Inc., already facing charges over nearly $4 billion in disguised expenses, told the government today that it is investigating possible irregularities in its reserve accounts.

Downtown deal reached: The Culinary Union early this morning averted an overall strike downtown, reaching tentative five-year contract agreements with 10 of 12 hotels after a marathon collective bargaining session.

Suspect in Wynn extortion allegedly threatened family: Kim Smith; A Clark County prosecutor said a man who claims he is Steve Wynn's long-lost half-brother not only tried to extort Wynn, but also his own brother.

RF Allen is well-armed: Steve Guiremand; Las Vegas 51s right fielder Luke Allen is to the Pacific Coast League what John Stockton is to NBA basketball.

District, teachers may be near deal: By Emily Richmond; Clark County School District's lead negotiator said this morning he is "optimistic" that contract talks with the teacher's union are moving forward.

Daschle, Reid man phones to solicit 'no' votes: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and his top deputy, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., will make phone calls to their Democratic colleagues this week in a final-hour effort to secure "no" votes on Yucca Mountain, Daschle said.

Sign language: Planners hope to change laws to dress up businesses' appearance: Diana Sahagun; Business owners will do just about anything to sell their message to the public -- even turn a giant vacuum cleaner into a sign beckoning customers.

Malpractice crisis hurts prenatal care programs: Two major community programs that help pregnant women get access to prenatal care regardless of their ability to pay are being stretched thin by the medical malpractice crisis.

National adding service: The airline, operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, will have one daily nonstop round trip to Palm Beach. Flights will leave Las Vegas for Palm Beach at 4:20 p.m., with the return flight leaving Florida at 8 a.m. National is getting new Boeing 757 twin-engine jets to schedule the service.

New state laws take effect with start of fiscal year: CARSON CITY -- State agencies receive an infusion of $1.9 million today, and their employees will receive a 4 percent pay raise.

Sony to report a profit: Sony announced today that it would post a group operating profit for the April-June quarter, reversing its own April estimate of a loss for the period.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Hollywood Park trainers threatening a boycott: Ralph Siraco; As we approach the midpoint of a fleeting year, we're reminded that the great racing sprawled across the four-day Independence Day weekend is ours to enjoy because of the precious freedom that is the essence of the holiday.

Letter: School district would benefit from a lottery: In the past I think casinos have blocked all efforts to have one, due to the fact it would take money out of their pockets. Why not attract more customers by having tickets on sale on the properties?

Immunization schedule for July 1, 2002: NORTH LAS VEGAS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Editorial: Hypocrisy not getting in their way: Abraham shouldn't feel too lonely in his hypocrisy, though. The nuclear power industry's point man on Yucca Mountain, John Sununu, could teach Richardson a thing or two. In 1986, when Sununu was governor of New Hampshire, he waged a campaign against a plan to bury high-level nuclear waste in his state. But now Sununu, a highly paid pitchman for the nuclear power industry, has the gall to accuse Nevadans of being unpatriotic if we don't roll over and accept nuclear waste. Sununu proves that anyone can be bought -- if the price is right.

PCL box: Las Vegas - New Orleans: PB-- Kellner. Time -- 4:06. Attendance -- 1,926.

Community briefs for July 1, 2002: "Red, White and Splash," a grand opening celebration of the Walnut Recreation Center and Pool will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at 3075 N. Walnut Ave.

Birth announcements for July 1, 2002: June 20:

Trends for July 1, 2002: Lisa Ferguson; Just a few days until the feast known as the Fourth of July gets under way. No one knows that better than the makers of Tupperware. After all, the company's containers are bound to house holiday leftovers until they resemble science projects.

Outcall industry proved vulnerable to mob: FBI agents knew from their work in "Operation Thin Crust" that the competitive outcall service industry in Las Vegas was vulnerable to the criminal element.

Great Pains: Overexposure to sun's rays poses dangerous consequences: Maureen Young wasn't yet 30 years old when the dry, scaly patch appeared on her face.

End of an era: Last residents scramble to vacate closed mobile home park in NLV: By Timothy Pratt; Roberto Garcia was one of the lucky ones Friday morning at Sun City Mobile Home Park. Days before a Sunday deadline for closing the park, he was among the few moving to another location with his mobile home in tow.

Editorial: Ballot box no place for juvenile games: Politics isn't for the faint of heart, but these kinds of name games go beyond being the ordinary rough and tumble -- they're immature and despicable. Millions of Americans have died in battle or have been wounded to preserve our freedoms, all of which revolve around the existence of fair and honest elections. With July Fourth coming up, it's time to reflect upon the importance of our serious candidates and upon the disgrace of those people who wish to further their agendas by treating the ballot box like a playpen.

Higher bail sought in fatal stabbing: Kim Smith; Clark County prosecutors, who now believe a 21-year-old woman free on $50,000 bail intentionally stabbed her aunt's boyfriend to death, are seeking to have her bail increased to $500,000.

Equipment maker to offer 'intelligent' poker game: Gamblers can play a more traditional version of poker by bluffing, raising, calling and folding, as well as standard video poker, Mikohn said.

News briefs for July 1, 2002: Area residents woke up to find a brown haze covering the Las Vegas skyline this morning, but the brown haze covering the city appeared worse than it was, officials of the National Weather Service said.

Nonresidents' casino winnings to be taxed: The measure is retroactive to Jan. 1.

Postage rates go up 3 cents: The price of mailing a first-class letter went up three cents Sunday, and local U.S. Postal Service officials say they have plenty of the new 37-cent denominations and three-cent "make-up" stamps in reserve.

Mob meltdown in Las Vegas: Sudden slaying stunned agents: Editor's note: This is the second of a three-part series on the FBI's last major assault on organized crime in Las Vegas.

Aladdin bankruptcy issues move closer to resolution: The resolution of three key issues in U.S. Bankruptcy Court could speed the sale of the Aladdin hotel-casino in the weeks ahead.

Water agency plans projects: The Southern Nevada Water Authority is rolling out a $328 million capital improvements program this week, looking for local approval for a range of projects designed to recover, treat and move water throughout the Las Vegas Valley.

Clarification: The Sun corrects its errors. If you find a mistake, call 385-3111 to report it.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Pregnancy takes toll in WNBA: Dean Juipe; Actually, with some 240 players and coaches in the league it's a wonder it doesn't happen more often.

Obituaries for July 1, 2002: Ralph E. Bailey, 66, of Henderson died Saturday in Henderson. He was born Aug. 28, 1935, in Rochester, N.Y. A resident for four years, he was a retired aerospace material manager and a member of the San Pedro Elks Lodge.

Letter: Nuke rods to be worth a fortune: We could get billions of dollars for the state of Nevada. We should also claim ownership of the spent nuclear rods. Sometime in the future they are going to find a use for them and they will be worth a fortune.

Local sports calendar: Pro baseball: New Orleans at Las Vegas 51s, 7:10 p.m., Cashman Field.

Vegas sports on TV/Radio: Monday

Another colony of aggressive fire ants found in LV area: Pest test

Letter: Poor handling of potential threat: It infuriates me that there is talk of prosecuting this man! We've been told by every major authority that we are to be diligent and report any suspicious activity as our part in homeland security. How many of us will be willing to do that if we are dismissed out of hand and threatened with prosecution?

Fired City of Hope worker files complaint with state: By Timothy Pratt; The City of Hope website says compassion for the seriously ill was the driving force behind the charity's founding in 1913.

No fires allowed in picnic area at Mount Charleston: As the Fourth of July holiday approaches and more than 2 million acres have burned in the West, federal officials in charge of Southern Nevada wildlands have placed further restrictions on open flames because of extreme fire danger.

Lionel Hollins goes back to the Grizzlies: Hollins, 49, was interim head coach with the team during the last 60 games of the 1999-2000 season, finishing with an 18-42 record. The Rancho High graduate was the team's lead assistant coach for the 1995-96 inaugural season until becoming interim head coach.

Williams' challenger Williams off ballot: Candidate Michael Williams was deemed ineligible to run for the Commission E seat by District Judge Michael Douglas.

Resident turns Yucca fight into civil rights suit: Jace Radke and Christina Littlefield; A Clark County resident has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the Energy Department has purposely designed nuclear waste shipment routes through minority neighborhoods.

Most airlines pass on federal loans: Jonathan D. Salant; WASHINGTON -- Less than half of the major U.S. airlines sought government-backed loans under a program created to help the industry recover from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.