Print edition for June 11, 2002

Cable channel to air two big cases: Las Vegas ONE is planning live television coverage of Nevada Supreme Court arguments in two high-profile criminal cases later this month.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Robinson enjoying dual roles: Dean Juipe; Congenial and responsive, he's the antithesis of his predecessor and a delight in social settings.

Nevada fails to reach funding goal: CARSON CITY -- Nevada has fallen short of raising $3 million in state matching funds to fight Senate approval of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump, officials said.

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

Enron sues Nevada utilities: The lawsuit by Enron, the bankrupt Houston energy giant, was filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York, Nevada Power-Sierra Pacific parent Sierra Pacific Resources disclosed today.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Hollywood Park: Wednesday's card

Gibbons: Intelligence network still scattered: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- America's intelligence network is scattered like pieces of a puzzle, Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., told a congressional panel today. It's as if dozens of federal agencies have grabbed a handful of pieces and are working separately in different rooms to put the puzzle together.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Albuquerque team may be chemically induced: I/'m not a big fan of The Simpsons, even though I do think Bill Simpson, the auto racing safety pioneer, got a raw deal from NASCAR and racing fans over that Dale Earnhardt seat belt deal.

Casino operators upgraded: "While we still have a cautious view of the gaming sector, (MGM MIRAGE) is at a more attractive valuation than it has been since last fall," UBS Warburg analysts said.

America West helps speed up airport check-ins: America West helps speed up airport check-ins

Vegas company optimistic about loan guarantee: Craig Hansen, at a U.S. Bankruptcy Court hearing Monday, expressed optimism despite a report last week in which sources said National was likely to be rejected for the guarantee because of losses by the company.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Gaughan credits Orleans crew for first truck win: Brendan Gaughan will be the first one to admit that any success he has enjoyed in racing is the result of surrounding himself with good people.

PBA Gold Coast: First Round

Maximum jobless checks to rise: CARSON CITY -- The maximum check to the newly unemployed after July 1 will rise from $300 to $309, the state Employment Security Division said today.

Nuclear waste in the neighborhood: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Nevada officials say a new website that shows users exactly how close they live to proposed nuclear waste routes could damage Yucca Mountain's popularity in the Senate.

Sept. 11 adds solemn air to graduation day: By Emily Richmond; When the sea of Las Vegas Academy seniors in teal caps and gowns began their solemn march into the theater at Cashman Center Monday evening, dozens of hand-held video cameras shot up in the audience to capture the moment.

Duke deal boosts confidence in N. Power: Barring a record heat wave, malfunctioning power plants or a shutdown of the Western power grid, Nevada Power Co. officials are confident they will be able to keep the lights on in Southern Nevada this summer.

Judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit by parents of teens killed in crash: Scott Garner Jr., 14, Alberto Puig, 16, Anthony Smith, 14, Jennifer Booth, 16, Malena Stoltzfus, 15, and Rebeccah Glicken, 15, were struck and killed by Jessica Williams' vehicle on March 19, 2000.

UNLV's Moore to take spot among stars: Victoria Sun; Ryan Moore, the golf fan, will try his best not to gawk at the PGA Tour professionals he sees this week at the U.S. Open.

Las Vegans enjoy rare solar eclipse: Mary Manning and Christina Littlefield; Ancient astronomers were terrified of eclipses, but Las Vegas residents viewed Monday's moon shadow crossing the sun safely through darkened glasses.

Stock rated 'underperform': WMS' subsidiary WMS Gaming has obtained some of the most coveted licenses to well-known themes for its slot machines and has streamlined its operations in a new plant in Illinois, gaming analyst David Barteld said.

Governor hopeful he can bring doctors and lawyers together: Erin Neff; Gov. Kenny Guinn expressed cautious optimism Monday that the disparate sides in the state's medical malpractice crisis can come to a consensus in the next 45 days.

PCL box: Las Vegas - Salt Lake City: HBP--Short (by Ellis), Amezaga (by Ellis), Kinkade (by Shields).

Vegas lender's business booms: Jennifer Robison; Vestin Group Inc. of Las Vegas said today that its subsidiary, Vestin Mortgage, originated $118 million in loans in May.

Gaming Control investigation of hotel-casino under way: Venetian officials voluntarily reported the alleged incident to the board, prompting the investigation, board member Bobby Siller said today. Siller said Venetian executives told the board that employees who were connected to the contest have lost their jobs.

Girl testifies in stepfather's sexual assault trial: Kim Smith; A 16-year-old former Las Vegas resident told jurors Monday she was a virgin when she gave birth to a boy nearly two years ago -- despite DNA tests that show her stepfather is the toddler's father.

Police weighing neglect charges in boy's death: Keith Paul; North Las Vegas Police will determine if a case against the mother of a 5-year-old boy found dead in a hot parked car over the weekend will be forwarded to prosecutors for charges.

Jury deliberating for sixth day: Jurors resumed deliberations today, their sixth day.

News briefs for June 11, 2002: A possible drug deal gone bad left a 17-year-old Las Vegas boy dead, Metro Police said.

Letter: Homeless need to get a job: We finally were able to start buying a house and now we face higher taxes to support the people who won't work, won't do anything to support themselves. What all the able-bodied need is a job, and let them work and support themselves.

Culinary, Stratosphere reach agreement: The Culinary Union reached a tentative five-year agreement with the Stratosphere Monday, leaving 15 casinos, mostly from downtown, still without contracts with a looming July 1 strike deadline.

Nevada Power, Sierra deny any shady deals: Nevada Power Co. and sister utility Sierra Pacific Power Co. of Reno have formally denied participating in certain types of energy trades that are being investigated by the federal government.

Editorial: Safekey program is big help for parents: The Safekey program's costs are relatively low -- $13 a week for before-school care and $28 a week for after-school care. A private school could end up costing several hundred dollars more per year for one child alone. If Safekey didn't exist, some families struggling to make ends meet might not be able to afford private-run facilities, which would mean no supervision until the parents get home. Not only might the children get into trouble -- instead of doing their homework at Safekey, as is often the case -- but they also could be harmed if they're out roaming the ...

Rebels gearing ticket campaign toward families: Steve Guiremand; During his head coaching days at Southern Cal, one of John Robinson's strong sales pitches to recruits was to join what longtime alums commonly referred to as "The Trojan Family."

Obituaries for June 11, 2002: Yelena Yela Aellig, 75, of Las Vegas died Thursday in Las Vegas. She was born Feb. 2, 1927, in Sarajevo, Bosnia. A resident for 28 years, she was an employee at the Tropicana and a member of the Culinary Union for 28 years.

New controversies erupting at Tyco: CONCORD, N.H. -- A lawyer for Tyco International Ltd.'s ousted general counsel says his client was fired by board members out for personal gain despite having worked hard to help the company through turbulent times.

Deputy DA wants Phillips named a habitual criminal: Kim Smith; Donald Phillips says he is casino executive Steve Wynn's half-brother.

Letter: Tort reform is only bad for the lawyers: Lawsuits still abound in California, but the awards for noneconomic damages have been sharply reduced. Juries no longer have the right to award outrageously large sums of money for suffering that seems to be more in the minds of the lawyers than it does in the bodies of the victims.

Guinn wants Keller to lead homeland security: Erin Neff; Clark County stands to gain the most from a $10.4 million federal bioterrorism grant announced Monday, but the governor would like it to lose its top cop as a result.

Vegas sports on TV/Radio: Tuesday

Letter: Remarks typical for election year: However, there really is no need for alarm. I am surprised that Mayor Oscar Goodman and letter writer Mel Lipman seemed to have missed the fact that a Christian group was in attendance when she made her statement. The original report stated that the group applauded her remarks.

Regulators use mock casino to learn how to spot cheaters: Paul Sloca; JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- There's a casino in the basement of Missouri Gaming Commission headquarters, but don't get the wrong idea. It's not designed to lure gamblers or make a profit.

Towns weigh gambling issue: Several southern Maine towns will decide whether they want to welcome or erect roadblocks to gambling proposals. They include Eliot, Kennebunk, Kittery, North Berwick, Ogunquit and Wells.

Immunization schedule for June 11, 2002: RAVENHOLT PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 625 Shadow Lane, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

51s see errors of Ellis' way in PCL defeat: Spencer Patterson; It probably goes without saying that Las Vegas 51s pitcher Robert Ellis would have preferred to be with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Yankee Stadium on Monday.

Homeless database may be in jeopardy: By Timothy Pratt; A database that could better direct services to the homeless has been put on a short list of grants for federal funds, but with a greatly reduced price tag.

Editorial: Mining must pay fair share: Everything else is on the table. Current taxes are subject to possible increases and every business transaction is subject to a possible new tax. Representatives of the state's largest industry -- gaming -- expressed agreement as long as they were part of a broad-based tax increase, one that affected all business. Now along comes the state's No. 2 industry -- mining -- with TV ads running in Las Vegas, Reno and Carson City, suggesting that it alone should be exempt.

Local entertainers form their own M.A.F.I.A.: The M.A.F.I.A. is establishing a base in Las Vegas only the hit men of this organization are more likely to use pies and seltzer water spray than machine guns.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: 'Net reveals DOE folly: The story in Sunday's newspaper was buried back in the A section but the import of its message screamed out loud and clear: radioactive poisoning is bad for children and other living things. As if we have to be told that more than once!

Hounded by pain: Treatment options available for arthritic dogs: Normally their dog was active. She went on daily walks and often ran in the park.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Machines a weighty issue: And officials who support the vending of poison to our kids were saying just that about them -- nothing.