Print edition for July 8, 2002

Longtime Sahara publicist McDonald dies: Herb McDonald, who invented the cheap all-you-can-eat buffet that has become a Las Vegas trademark and worked as publicist and promoter at the Sahara hotel-casino for 25 years, died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was 83.

Editorial: Just what exactly will pop his cork?: Who was the individual and what was the policy that Guinn referred to?

Community briefs for July 8, 2002: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area offers hikes, walks and programs free of charge, but reservations are required. To make reservations or for more information, call 363-1922. Some upcoming programs:

Birth announcements for July 8, 2002: June 25:

Letter: Give more help to homeless: There is such a thing as showing humanity to your fellow human beings. When you look into the eyes of a homeless person, who maybe cannot help it, he is in dire conditions.

Letter: Municipal power authority good for Clark County: I am a retired power engineering manager from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which is the largest municipal power department in America. A vote by Clark County residents on a possibility of creating municipal power authority is a good decision by the commission.

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

Letter: Bush and his pals fleecing us all: We will all wait for the call for Congress to appoint a special investigator to clear the air. Considering the millions spent on Whitewater to find nothing, I am sure Ken Starr and his team would like to look into Mr. Bush's finances.

Holyfield honored, 13 inducted to Hall: Steve Guiremand; The African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame bestowed Evander Holyfield with its Fighter of the Decade Award at its annual banquet on Sunday night at the Castaways Hotel. But the four-time heavyweight champion, who turns 40 this year, said he is in no hurry to hang up the gloves.

Guest columnist Russ Fields: Mining not looking for escape from new taxes: Russ Fields; Russ Fields is president of the Nevada Mining Association.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Hewitt's win softens loss of old stars: Dean Juipe; There will be those who will write or say today that the highlight of the Wimbledon men's final Sunday was the male streaker who proved to be surprisingly elusive as he showcased his wares.

LV's Keever enjoys her Open experience: Victoria Sun; Before the final round of the U.S. Women's Open, Stephanie Keever made up her mind that she wouldn't look at the leaderboard at the Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan.

Guatemalan candidate brings campaign to Southern Nevada: By Timothy Pratt; Alvaro Colom, a soft-spoken business consultant who is running for president of Guatemala, may have signaled a growing trend with his visit to Las Vegas last week.

A wide 'Net: From Marcia to Dirk, no celebrity is too obscure for the Web: Kirk Baird; Actor Dirk Benedict, perhaps best known as Starbuck on "Battlestar Galactica," has written a book. See kamikazecowboy.com.

City of Las Vegas opens Family Film Festival: Melodically uttering such phrases as "spit spot," "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and "just a spoonful of sugar ... " while forever changing the lives of the wealthy Banks family with her magic and righteous attitude, the nanny would be adored and occasionally mocked for decades.

Editorial: Deal calls for review of ethics: The project itself, redevelopment of former mining lands to include a 525-acre master-planned community known as Tuscany, was pretty normal. Cities routinely engage in redevelopment projects, which grant developers short- and medium-term tax breaks in exchange for the long-term benefit of converting blighted land into vital, tax-producing housing, commercial or industrial areas. What wasn't normal or routine about this project was that the two top managers of Commerce Associates, the company that proposed the redevelopment project, sat on the redevelopment board. One was even the board president. They didn't resign until shortly before the board voted its approval, a vote ...

Coast announces name change: The name change is part of a settlement with Coast Hotels Ltd., a Canadian hotel chain that sued Coast Resorts last year over rights to use the Coast trademark. Coast Hotels, which markets under the "Coast Hotels" and "Coast Hotels & Resorts" brands, said it aimed to expand its services into the United States.

Record temperatures expected: This week's daytime temperatures could set records, National Weather Service forecasters say.

Suppliers strike slot deal: So-called "coinless" slot machines are equipped to accept and dispense paper tickets rather than simply coins or bills.

Promoter sues over Celine Dion's contract: Caesars owner Park Place Entertainment Corp. has said Dion's production, which is expected to open in March 2003, is a collaboration of AEG Concerts' Concerts West, producer Franco Dragone's company DRAGONE, and CDA Productions, run by Dion and her husband, Rene Angelil. Dion's contract is for 600 shows over three years at Caesars' new 4,000-seat Colosseum.

Slot maker unveils Playboy games: Slot maker unveils Playboy games

PCL box: Las Vegas - Fresno: Caraccioli (L, 2-3)

Regents haven't heard the end of privacy issue: Jennifer Knight; A proposed state bill would ban Nevada's universities and community colleges from profiting from private student and alumni information -- an issue advocates say has drawn interest from several legislators.

Yucca history: 1978 -- First test hole is dug at Yucca Mountain in Nevada as part of a nationwide search for a nuclear waste site.

EBay to block PayPal gambling payments: SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Online auction giant eBay Inc. announced today it is buying electronic payment facilitator PayPal Inc. for more than $1.3 billion in stock, in a long-rumored deal that the companies hope will make Internet trading faster, easier and safer.

'Catastrophic' radiation could be released if canisters fail: CARSON CITY -- New research suggests that "catastrophic" amounts of radioactivity could be released into the atmosphere at Yucca Mountain due to a failure of the canisters that would be holding high level nuclear waste there.

GOP sees big vote gains on marriage initiative: Erin Neff; With more than 70 percent of Nevadans already behind Question 2, the ballot initiative is sure to both pass this fall and, some say, pass on votes to conservative candidates.

Final Yucca lobbying under way: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- This week, the U.S. Senate is expected to take up the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, drawing years of congressional wrangling over the project to a close.

VIDEOGAME REVIEW: Wild motorcycle racing game for PS2: AP; There's the purist, who loves realistic competition in such games as "Gran Turismo 3," which features dozens of real cars which react much as real cars do.

County seeking program for kids with state: Adrienne Packer; Clark County will likely shift its long-term care programs for senior citizens to the state so that it can afford to take over the entire child welfare system, including adoptions and foster care, according to county officials.

Wider fraud suspected by congressman: Oxley, a Republican from Ohio and chairman of the Financial Services Committee, also said he suspects WorldCom's former Chief Executive Officer Bernard Ebbers knew about the accounting tricks the company used to fabricate profits for the past five quarters.

Investors pumping $500 million into broadband operator: Level 3 and companies such as Global Crossing Ltd., which is operating under bankruptcy protection, spent billions building networks in anticipation of a surge in demand for phone and data traffic that never materialized. Buffett, who has avoided Internet stocks in the past, said in a statement that he thinks Level 3 can capitalize on its rivals' difficulties.

News briefs for July 8, 2002: Henderson Police are investigating the shooting death of a 19-year-old man late Sunday.

Desert Springs leads treatment of trauma patients: Mary Manning and Ed Koch; Three trauma patients arrived at Desert Springs Hospital's emergency room early today, making it the busiest hospital for trauma injuries since the University Medical Center's Level One Trauma Center closed last week.

Candidates say getting an A-frame sign is all politics: Erin Neff; Glancing at the A-frame election billboards dominating empty lots around town, you'd never know some people can't get their hands on them.

Nevada real estate agency gets new leader: Jennifer Robison; The Real Estate Division of the Nevada Department of Business & Industry received a new leader last week.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Sunday's races: First Race MISTRESS PAGE -- Baze aboard Dollace trainee, draws good box for sprint maiden/claimer opener, turns Page on diploma. FAX BLITZ -- Training at Santa Anita, bug boy Krigger on Gonzalez trainee for owners McCaffery & Toffan, adds blinkers for this graduation try. Value Play -- SHEZA GLADIATOR

Literacy program trains teachers, students: Jennifer Knight; Reading list

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Frankel triggers holiday weekend fireworks: Ralph Siraco; The Independence Day holiday provided more than traditional fireworks to celebrate our nation's birthday over the long four-day weekend. It also supplied the equine version on tracks across the great land we honored.

State to release frozen funds for homeless pilot project: CARSON CITY -- After a firm push from state legislators, Gov. Kenny Guinn's administration has decided to release $500,000 for a pilot project to find and treat the mentally ill homeless in Southern Nevada.

Culinary, hotel to resume talks: The Culinary Union planned to resume negotiations with the Golden Gate joined by a federal mediator late today or Tuesday, as a strike at the small downtown casino entered its second week.

Area hospitals stay busy with new trauma patients: Mary Manning and Ed Koch; Three trauma patients arrived at Desert Springs Hospital's emergency room early today, making it perhaps the busiest hospital for trauma injuries since University Medical Center's Trauma Center closed last week.

Protesters rip Yucca plan: It was high noon at the Clark County Government Center amphitheater Sunday, and several community groups were taking what they called their last stand against Yucca Mountain before the U.S. Senate votes on the proposed nuclear waste dump this week.

Analysts adjust ratings: Separately, Prudential Securities gaming analyst William Lerner raised earnings estimates on two casino stocks. Earnings per share estimates on Harrah's Entertainment Inc. increased from $2.61 to $2.84 in 2002 and from $2.85 to $3.15 in 2003. Lerner raised his target price from $58 to $62 per share and maintains a "buy" rating on the stock.

RTC likely to levy only fraction of potential fine: The Regional Transportation Commission will likely fine the bus system's operating company only a fraction of what it could for lost service during a five-week strike, the commission chairman said.

Innovative Gaming names CEO: During his tenure as president and CFO, Adbo improved the company's financial status by increasing revenues and reducing expenses, outgoing chief executive Tom Foley said.

Obituaries for July 8, 2002: Mildred O. Aguilar, 82, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in Las Vegas. She was born May 13, 1920, in Florence, Ala. A resident for 38 years, she was a homemaker.

Sports briefs for July 8, 2002: World road champion Oscar Freire won the second stage of the Tour de France today, and three-time champion Lance Armstrong slipped to fourth place in the overall standings.