Print edition for June 17, 2002

Local sports calendar: TUESDAY

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Trends for June 17, 2002: Lisa Ferguson; Summer officially gets under way Friday. Though the toasty temperatures of late have likely been driving folks outdoors for a while now, it's time to kick back and relax in the coolness of the grass.

Lip Service: Lipstick wearers, makers swear by cosmetic staple: A self-described "makeup-a-holic" the 32-year-old Las Vegan never leaves home without something slicked across her lips.

Two Chaparral seniors get chance to play in Europe: Spencer Patterson; World Cup fever has gripped Europe once again, and next month two local high school players will get to experience that continent's enthusiasm for the sport of soccer firsthand.

51s rally in win: Steve Addy; In four starts, the hardest part of Lance Caraccioli's transition to triple-A baseball has been getting past the sixth inning. Otherwise, the 51s are quite satisfied with their new lefthander.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Tiger panned when only plaudits due: Dean Juipe; Perhaps every person who is the very best in the world at what they do faces similar, ridiculous questioning when confronted by mere mortals.

Plenty of changes in store for the Barrera-Morales rematch: Dean Juipe; The rematch may have its similarities to their first fight, but when Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera meet Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden a number of differences should be apparent.

WALKER, Calif.: before 3 p.m.: AP; Fire officials say they have grounded two remaining air tankers and the eight helicopters that were fighting the 6,500-acre fire near the Nevada-California line about 90 miles south of Reno.

Analyst upgrades firm: While concerns linger about nearby Indiana also increasing casino taxes, "we think the 22 percent decline in Boyd's shares (since May 31) more than fully discounts both the events in Illinois and the current 'worst case' proposal in Indiana," Lehman Bros.' gaming analyst Joyce Minor said.

MGM MIRAGE seeks PR agency: Proposals will be accepted through today and an agency should be chosen by late July, MGM MIRAGE spokeswoman Shelley Mansholt said.

Soccer match tests loyalty of many Las Vegas fans: By Timothy Pratt; About 15 minutes before the U.S.-Mexico World Cup match began Sunday night, Jose Alvarez, holding a Mexican flag in one hand and a Corona beer in the other, was clear about whom he wanted to win.

Mall pet shop owner faces several charges: Kim Smith; A local pet shop owner with a history of legal problems will be arraigned Wednesday on charges that she knowingly sold sick and dying animals to unsuspecting customers.

Gambling machine banned: "All tribes operating MegaNanza and its variations should cease the operation of these games immediately," Tim Harper, Tulsa region chief for the National Indian Gaming Commission, said in a letter to the tribes.

Retail giant wary of federal contracting: "Engaging in business practices with the federal government is not a strategic focus of the Home Depot," company spokesman Tom Gray said. "The Home Depot is not and does not plan to become a federal contractor or subcontractor."

Money managers sell stocks: Also an SEC filing showed that Legg Mason Inc. lowered its holdings in Mandalay Resort Group from an 8.5 percent stake to a 4.3 percent stake. Legg Mason owned 2,932,674 shares, compared to6,030,335 shares as of March 31.

Pro-Yucca group blasts campaign tactics: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Nevada officials and environmental groups are needlessly scaring people about the risks of transporting nuclear waste as part of their broader anti-Yucca Mountain campaign, several members of a pro-Yucca coalition said today.

State sues LV man over alleged false scholarship offers: The state on Friday sued Yoel Dan and Yoel Dan School of Music, 720 E. Charleston Blvd., Suite 204, in Clark County District Court, alleging violations of the Nevada Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Nevada Solicitations by Telephone Act.

XO Communications files for Chapter 11: XO Communications, the telecommunications service provider in Las Vegas and other markets, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today and presented two reorganization plans that will probably raise questions among its creditors.

Schools to curtail vending machines: By Emily Richmond; Clark County School District officials plan to limit the number of vending machines on campus not because of the junk food cutting into students' diets, but because of the high cost of electricity cutting into the district's budget.

Wynn details $2.5 billion plan for Le Reve in IPO: Steve Wynn, the builder of the Mirage Resorts empire and owner of the Desert Inn hotel-casino on the Strip, today filed for an initial public stock offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission to partially fund Le Reve, a $2.5 billion luxury resort he hopes to open in March 2005 at the Desert Inn site.

Qwest CEO quits under board pressure: Nacchio is being replaced by Richard C. Notebaert, former chairman of Ameritech Corp. and the president and chief executive of Tellabs, a telecommunications network provider based in Naperville, Ill.

Illinois begins probe of LV execs: The meeting Tuesday raised suspicions among state antitrust lawyers that the casinos are plotting anti-competitive agreements to punish the state with reduced casino revenues until the tax is lifted, the newspaper said.

Mandalay hit by tax increase: Had the tax hike been in effect during the prior year, the Grand Victoria would have lost $40 million in operating income, Mandalay said in a statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Friday.

Vegas sports on TV/Radio: Monday

Red Horse squadron completes mission: They may not have fired weapons in combat, but the more than 250 members of Nellis Air Force Base's 820th Red Horse Civil Engineering Squadron still overcame great physical challenges in their recent five-month mission.

Birth announcements for June 17, 2002: Isabelle to Gilbert and Jayme Gamez; David to David and Cecille David; Christina to Michelle Boot.

Dustin Hoffman holds court: Kirk Baird; They craned their necks and politely pushed their way to the front, all in an effort to see what all the fuss was about in a small roped-off casino area at the Palms.

Letter: Mojave Desert measure comes at a great time: MACAIRE MORAN

Mayors weigh nuke resolution to ban nuke waste transport: Diana Sahagun; A 14-member committee of mayors on Saturday approved an amended version of a resolution that was sponsored by Nevada leaders who oppose Yucca Mountain. The amended resolution was also supported by pro-Yucca mayors.

Immunizations: RAVENHOLT BUILDING: 625 Shadow Lane, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Local news briefs for June 17, 2002: Metro Police are seeking a man who left the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard North and Bonanza Road about 6:40 a.m. Sunday after another man collapsed.

Letter: Juries are cause of doctor crisis: We are in a medical crisis that ought to worry anyone who needs, or might need, a doctor. The problem, of course, is malpractice insurance rates, which are rising 300 percent and more, causing some doctors to leave the state, others to increase their patient load, refuse Medicare or HMO patients and, for some OB/GYNs, to refuse even former patients who become pregnant.

Teen who killed father gets parole on one charge: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas teen who pleaded guilty to killing his father could soon be released from prison into a halfway house after being paroled on one charge Friday.

UNLV-Oregon State game will air on TBS: The game will start at 4 p.m. PDT, which is a half-hour later than previously announced by OSU.

State official sees long Yucca fight: RENO -- A state official on nuclear waste says the legal fight to stop Yucca Mountain could go on for up to eight years and will probably end up in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Lawmakers will consider death penalty reforms: Erin Neff; When the Legislature convenes in February, 63 lawmakers will once again consider whether Nevada should ban the mentally ill from receiving the death penalty.

Obituaries for June 17, 2002: Arin Fernandez Berke, 24, of Henderson died Friday in a local hospital. He was born Nov. 26, 1977, in Los Angeles. A resident for four years, he was a student.

BLM land sale will be rescheduled: BLM spokesman Phil Guerrero said the agency has not determined a specific date for the auction.

Lawyer: Malpractice fees should not be capped: RENO -- A prominent trial attorney has told the state Board of Health that government should not limit the fees of lawyers in medical malpractice cases, because they sometimes have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars before a trial begins.

Businessman sentenced in bond sale scheme: Jace Radke; Las Vegas businessman Anil Gupta was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay $295,000 in restitution Friday for a scheme involving worthless railroad bonds.

Community news briefs for June 17, 2002: Central Christian Church, 1001 New Beginnings Drive in Henderson, is offering Teens of Divorce, a new support group 6:30-8 p.m. every Tuesday at the church. The group is designed for teens ages 13-18, who are experiencing anger, confusion, loneliness, fear and uncertainty while going through a parent's divorce. For more information, call 735-4004, ext. 224 or visit the website: www.centralchristian.com.

Letter: United States not Christian: It doesn't matter how many people or foreign nations think we are a Christian nation. We aren't. America is a nation of many races, creeds and religions.

Las Vegas to weigh sweeping dog law changes: Diana Sahagun; The city of Las Vegas wants to take the bite out of bad dogs.

Editorial: Another reason why this is a no-brainer: It's not as if last week's earthquake was unusual -- temblors are common there. Nevada is the third most seismically active state, and as recently as 1992 a 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit Little Skull Mountain, causing more than $400,000 in damage to Energy Department facilities near Yucca Mountain. Nevada's propensity for earthquakes should have been reason enough for Congress to never have considered our state as a dump. While the House has approved President Bush's plan to send nuclear waste to Nevada, the Senate still can do the right thing and block the plan. If we're lucky, the tremors from ...

Editorial: Disclosure might cut drug costs: Gov. Howard Dean, a medical doctor, signed a bill requiring that drug companies disclose all gifts to doctors valued higher than $25. State governments, and consumers too, have been catching on lately to the fact that many drug companies lavish doctors with expensive gifts. The alleged return for the drug companies is more prescriptions for their brands, even though less expensive remedies might be available.

PWBA tournament: Sunday

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Horse racing's 2nd season under way: Ralph Siraco; Before the disappointing dust could settle from War Emblem's failed attempt at a Triple Crown victory in the June 8 Belmont Stakes, the racing world quickly turned to its second season.

PCL box: Las Vegas - Sacramento: Caraccioli pitched to 4 batters in the sixth.

Bus drivers soundly reject contract proposal: Launce Rake and Christina Littlefield; Union bus drivers soundly rejected a proposed contract Saturday, crushing hopes for an imminent end to a four-week strike that has hobbled the region's public transit service.