Print edition for July 3, 2002

Golden Gate braces for strike: The Golden Gate Tuesday braced for the long haul on the second day of a Culinary Union strike, hiring replacement workers and installing surveillance cameras around the entrance to the Fremont Street property.

LV executive moves announced: Tim Quillin, former vice president of marketing with Hall Communications, has received a license under the name of Q Advertising and Public Relations.

Women becoming force at UNLV, CCSN: Jennifer Knight; UNLV history professor Hal Rothman would look out over his classroom 20 years ago and see more men than women, but the landscape has changed.

Downtown union workers forgo big pay hikes to keep health care: The new five-year contract for downtown casinos protects free health care for Culinary Union members, but leaves them with far less money for wage hikes than Strip workers.

Fourth of July will likely be strong for LV resorts: By Liz Benston; Fears of terrorist threats, lingering economic woes and triple-digit temperatures won't keep tourists away from Las Vegas this July Fourth weekend, the city's hotel-casinos, tourism authority and other experts say.

Candidate Porter reports break-in at his business: Porter said someone entered the back door to his Farmer's Insurance office on Whitney Ranch Drive near Sunset Road, tripping an alarm about 12:20 a.m. Saturday. The suspects then ripped the alarm's wires out of the wall, triggering the alarm company to notify Porter's assistant -- the contact person for the company.

DA's office can try man who says he's Wynn's brother: Kim Smith; Despite a defense attorney's efforts to remove the district attorney's office from the case, Clark County prosecutors will be able to take to trial next week a man charged with trying to extort casino mogul Steve Wynn.

Gamblers return to Deadwood casinos: Chet Brokaw; DEADWOOD, S.D. -- When the Holiday Inn Express and Gold Dust 777 Casino reopened this week, at least one gambler was eager for a little action after a forest fire had shut down the town for two days.

Gulf Coast hotels filling up for Fourth of July: The holiday falls on a Thursday this year, which means many workers will get a four-day weekend.

Vegas sports on TV/Radio: Wednesday

News briefs for July 3, 2002: A teenager was killed and a man was shot twice inside his North Las Vegas home during a gun battle early Tuesday.

Police join forces for holiday safety: Metro Police and Nevada Highway Patrol officers plan to join forces this weekend to keep drunken drivers off the streets.

Bond rating assigned to Indian casino: Proceeds from the proposed sale will be used to help fund the construction of an expansion and repay existing indebtedness. S&P's outlook on the enterprise remains stable.

Nevada-Reno hires new coaches: Nevada-Reno hires new coaches

NBA championship trophy at ESPN Zone: Fans can have their picture taken with the trophy for $5, with proceeds benefiting the Ronald McDonald House and the Las Vegas Indian Center.

Chamber of Commerce runs pro-Yucca ads: The chamber, which announced its support for the Nevada nuclear waste dump project in November, is sponsoring pro-Yucca radio advertisements in dozens of markets in 13 states.

Widow rejects trooper's story: Kim Smith; A Eureka woman whose husband was struck and killed by a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper's car four years ago testified Tuesday that the trooper did not hit her husband after swerving to avoid a bicycle in the road.

Nevada insurer buys Calif. firm: Terms were not disclosed. EICN said in March it was negotiating to buy Fremont as a way to give EICN access to new markets. This will help EICN better serve Nevada policyholders with operations in other states, EICN said.

Water district to assess vulnerability to terrorists: The Las Vegas Valley Water District will do another assessment -- its third -- of its drinking water system's vulnerability to terrorist attack.

Nuke weapons project may move to NTS: Los Alamos' Technical Area 18, or TA-18, facility is used for testing and measuring nuclear materials, as well as training, according to the DOE.

Feds reward state for welfare cuts: CARSON CITY -- The state Welfare Division has received a $2.2 million bonus from the federal government for its efforts in putting people to work and keeping them on the job in fiscal year 2000.

Insurance plan looks for help: CARSON CITY -- The health insurance plan for state workers, which is sinking deeper into the red, may try to tap into a legislative emergency fund rather than raise premiums for employees or cut benefits.

Nebraska group targets proposal on video slots: Joe Ruff; OMAHA, Neb. -- A group opposed to expanded gambling in Nebraska says it will campaign to defeat a proposal to legalize video slot machines if the proposal makes the November ballot.

City celebrates start of outlet mall: Diana Sahagun; Barren railroad land that has sat vacant for decades west of downtown Las Vegas began its transformation Tuesday into a high-end outlet mall that developers say will draw more than 8 million tourists per year.

Valley hospitals feeling pressure: Many local hospital officials say they fear that staff physicians will resign or seek leaves of absence in order to avoid the liability of having to treat trauma patients.

Holiday events light up the valley (and beyond): Your long Independence Day weekend begins tonight. Choose from music, picnicking, parades and fireworks this Fourth of July holiday.

Police seek suspect in shooting: Warrants are on file charging Zepferino Elizonda with attempted murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied structure.

Teen slayings becoming more common: Keith Paul; On June 23 Ramiro Lopez was accused of gunning down his pregnant girlfriend after an argument.

Safety, not terror, police's main holiday concern: Keith Paul; "I am more concerned that a child will get hurt using illegal fireworks than I am of a terrorist attack," Sheriff Jerry Keller said. "We are at a heightened state of alert (for terrorist attacks), but we aren't doing anything different than any other July Fourth."

Park Place weighs Bally's options: By Liz Benston; Park Place Entertainment Corp.'s global reach and its resources as the biggest revenue generator in the gaming industry have paved the way for potential expansion opportunities galore.

Effect of insurance crisis on state economy debated: Steve Kanigher and Ed Koch; Nevada's medical malpractice insurance dilemma could slow the state's economic recovery by reducing the number of new jobs in the health-care industry, one local economic analyst says.

Edison Schools makes deal to pay debt: By Emily Richmond; Edison Schools Inc. has cut an 11th-hour deal to pay off the more than $2 million it owed in philanthropy funds to the seven Las Vegas Valley schools it manages, Clark County School District officials said Tuesday.

Trace of rain ends streak of dry days at 100: National Weather Service rain gauges recorded one-one hundredth of an inch at its office on the southwest side of town. Gauges at McCarran International Airport recorded a trace about 6:30 this morning, meaning less than one-five hundredth of an inch.

Call for ethics review eased: Jeffrey Libby; Henderson doesn't need to review its city ethics codes after all, Henderson Councilman Steve Kirk and Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers have decided.

City staff blamed for allowing drug treatment facility near school: Diana Sahagun; A "vicious" staff member is to blame for placing a drug treatment center in the middle of a neighborhood, and taxpayer dollars may have be used to correct the problem, Las Vegas Councilman Michael McDonald said this morning.

Savvy wine buys: '00 Acacia Pinot Noir: Available at Lee's Discount Liquors and Marche Bacchus, $25.99.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Family, friends surprise Peltyn with birthday bash: Elizabeth Foyt; Sworn to secrecy and told to be prompt, guests obliged by assembling in the spacious lounge of the Tuscany Hotel to await the arrival of the honoree and her husband. Well-wishers were many and reflected the couple's diverse community and charitable endeavors as evidenced by a well-mixed guest list. Attending were Nevada Supreme Court Justice Nancy Becker, TV personality Robin Leach, Drs. Ted and Parvin Modaber Jacobs, Eleanore and Edward Doumani and Dan and Denise Reichartz.

CAT to compensate bus riders with new passes: Regular bus riders hit by a five-week drivers' strike can get free 30-day bus passes, the Regional Transportation Commission announced Tuesday.

Lawsuit filed over hazardous waste: Basic Management Inc. and subsidiaries Basic Remediation Co. LLC and Basic Environmental Co. LLC filed a civil Superfund cleanup suit in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas last week.

Letter: Golf course thefts infuriating: In the past few years I have lost two watches, a cigar case, a five iron (with my name and address on it), two personalized towels, a pair of prescription sunglasses, a Tiger Woods head cover, a Super Bowl hat, and this week a Hawaiian visor (that I really liked) and a cell phone. None were ever turned into the pro shop, although a guy looking for a reward did call to tell me he had my cell phone.

Community briefs for July 3, 2002: As part of Red Robin's Tiki Time food and beverage celebration, a silent auction for bids in $10 increments will be held for a Tiki log to benefit the Nevada Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Editorial: July Fourth symbolic of our common cause: That Jefferson succeeded spectacularly is a matter of history. With a few revisions, the Second Continental Congress approved his Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It is written that news of the event was followed by church bells ringing throughout Philadelphia.

Letter: God will always be worth noting: D. Kelley's June 26 letter asked if the masses in the United States, in essence, have lost their morality and are only interested in the good old American dollar. Tragically I have to agree with Kelley's pronouncement that most of the people of America have done just that.

Wedding to soften 9/11 tribute at convention: Native Las Vegans Ken Teeters and Destiny Esposito met at Kenny Guinn Junior High School, became best friends at Clark High School, started dating while attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and have courted for 12 years.

The story behind the shirts on their backs: Victoria Sun; To sports fans, the number 23 will forever be associated with Michael Jordan, just as No. 99 conjures images of the Great One, Wayne Gretzky.

Obituaries for July 3, 2002: Robert L. Bellinger, 61, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. He was born Nov. 11, 1940, in Olney, Ill. A resident for 25 years, he was a retired home builder and a member of the Southern Nevada Homebuilders Association.

Bras will stretch along Strip to support breast cancer research: But the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and Goodwill of Southern Nevada Inc. are currently collecting bras to do just that on July 28.

Columnist Victoria Sun: Welch to fire Canon shot in Aug.: Victoria Sun; Durango High School graduate Whitney Welch has qualified for the 13th annual Canon Cup competition for the second consecutive year.

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

Visitors court variety on the Strip: Max Jacobson; New York-New York

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Nexcite enhances market: The plot for "Genie in a Bottle" comes from the true story of how the Swedish product Nexcite, a nonalcoholic so-called "romance enhancer" became a best-seller in America. The product is made by Nordic Drinks in Stockholm.

Riviera employees give to Camp Fund: This is the fourth year the foundation has contributed to the Camp Fund. Bob Nickels, a director of the foundation, said he became aware of the need to send children to camp when he read about it in the Sun.

Interstate 15 median cleanup to begin: Stephen Curran; A highway cleanup should ease an urban eyesore becoming more prevalent in the Las Vegas area, officials from the Nevada Department of Transportation said.

Columnist Dean Juipe: UNLV loses link to its baseball past: Dean Juipe; Notes today, leading off with Lou Pisani.

PCL box: Las Vegas - New Orleans: Time-- 2:40. Attendance-- 8,749. Umpires: HP-- Riley; 1b--Horton; 3b--Higgins.

Carter wins national criticism award: Carter's work was honored in Division I, which covers newspapers across the country with circulations up to 75,000. He was cited for his reviews of "3,000 Miles To Graceland," "The Mexican" and "Vanilla Sky." The full list of annual award-winners was posted on the Internet at aasfe.org on Tuesday.

County news briefs for July 3, 2002: Clark County commissioners agreed Tuesday to join the city of Las Vegas and the state in a legal battle challenging a final Environmental Impact Statement on storing high-level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain.

$3.5 mil. collected in tax amnesty: CARSON CITY -- The state has collected an extra $3.5 million from taxpayers who either didn't know, forgot or tried to avoid paying their just dues.

Letter: Palestinians stand between rock, hard place: On the other hand, some of his statements in supporting Israel and placing the blame for violence entirely on the Palestinian people are shameless. At last week's G-8 meeting, according to U.S. newspapers, the president stated that he did not rule out using military force against the Palestinian "people."

Ralph Siraco's selections for Thursday's races at Hollywood park: 1st Race -- WEST STOW -- Training at Santa Anita, bug boy Krigger on Gonzalez trainee for owner McCaffery, solid connections for graduation. MECANICO -- Draws good post for sprint distance, P. Val on co-owner Bean trainee, sans blinkers for maiden/claiming opener. Value Play -- BOLD AIRMAN

Editorial: Alarming lapses in security: It's also disturbing that the poor performance occurred even though the agents, posing as passengers, were told to pack their bags like an average passenger, rather than trying to conceal the fake weapons in ways that a terrorist would. There is no telling how high the failure rate would have been if a "real-world" scenario had been used instead. The TSA oversees airport security, but the new agency is just starting the nationwide hiring of federal airport security screeners, a responsibility that previously fell to the airlines.

Holiday closings: Holiday closings

Thursday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1:15 p.m.

Roles are reversed for Forrest-Mosley rematch: Dean Juipe; He did it once when no one was looking and a second time when everyone was, but now Vernon Forrest is being asked to beat Shane Mosley again.

Columnist Peter Benton: Interclub winners announced: Peter Benton; Host pro John Creaney of Las Vegas Country Club led his team to victory in last week's Men's Interclub Tournament.

Anti-tobacco questions draw large following: Adrienne Packer; Some indication of how anti-tobacco ballot questions might fare with Clark County voters in November came early in the process: the selection of committee members to prepare arguments for both sides.