Print edition for June 18, 2002

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

Riviera company sues union: KR, which said IATSE and Local 720 represents KR's stagehands, assistant stage employees, spotlight operators and projectionists, wardrobe attendants, and stagehand and wardrobe heads of departments, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Friday.

Isle of Capri reports net loss, cash flow increase: Isle of Capri Casinos Inc., owner of the Lady Luck casino in downtown Las Vegas, saw its revenue climb in the fourth quarter but its bottom line declined as the company recorded one-time expenses related to plans to sell casinos in Las Vegas and Tunica, Miss.

Bureau has birthday bash at Hoover Dam: Jace Radke; The workers who built Hoover Dam in the 1930s were used to the explosions that thundered through Boulder Canyon to make way for the dam.

Suspect in casino heists could enter plea bargain: Kim Smith; Jose Vigoa, the alleged mastermind behind a string of daring casino heists and a double homicide, is weighing a plea agreement that would save his life.

Union chief warns of organized labor decline: Grace Leong; Communications Workers of America President Morton Bahr challenged union delegates meeting in Las Vegas Monday to bolster membership in the face of corporate downsizing and alleged efforts by the government and corporate America to thwart labor organizing efforts.

Union leader rips offer from downtown casinos: A top Culinary Union leader Monday blasted a counteroffer from downtown casinos, saying it's designed to destroy the union and provoke a strike on July 1.

Hospital giant paying to settle billing probe: Tenet took reserves for the settlement before Feb. 28, the company said in a release.

Reid wants BLM to end deals with land firm: The ranking member of Nevada's congressional delegation said Monday that he will ask the Bureau of Land Management to end its relationship with a private land company with ties to controversial water projects.

LV ad agency discloses exec shakeup: Mick Hall, president and chief executive of Hall Communications, said the agency has parted ways with Tim Quillin, its former vice president of marketing. Hall attributed the split to "differences in advertising philosophies," but said the parting was amicable.

Las Vegans warming up to coinless slot systems: By Liz Benston; Las Vegas residents who have tried new "cashless" slot machines generally like them, indicating that acceptance of such devices may be happening sooner than expected, a survey by a Wall Street investment firm revealed Monday.

Wynn's $2.5 billion Le Reve price tag raises eyebrows: Steve Wynn's occasionally turbulent on-again, off-again relationship with Wall Street apparently is on again.

Industry outlook strong: The Illinois Legislature recently passed a steep tax hike on gambling revenues, a situation that also threatens operators in Indiana and Iowa.

Regulators tour riverboat: The Biloxi Queen arrived on the Back Bay two weeks ago. Bayview Partners -- led by Hattiesburg businessman Ray Sims and Dennis Skrmetta of Carriere -- plan to make it the centerpiece of a 10-acre development on Clay Point, next door to Imperial Palace.

Lawyers, doctors agree on focus of meetings: Lawyers, doctors and insurance company representatives have agreed on four broad topics that will frame their discussions on how to solve Nevada's medical malpractice liability dilemma.

Subpoenas listed in Illinois gaming probe: By Liz Benston; Casino industry representatives said they are frustrated and surprised by an announcement that Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan's office has subpoenaed top casino executives who met in Chicago recently to discuss the state's steep tax hike on gaming revenues.

Fire outside L.A. shuts down I-15: Firefighters in Southern California continued to battle a wildfire in Cajon Pass east of Los Angeles today after beating it back from Interstate 15, the major highway to Las Vegas.

Five to be nominated for review board: Five scientists with track records in the study of safe handling of hazardous materials or in the study of how materials corrode are in line to be appointed to the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board.

Epicurean Affair served up at Caesars Palace: More than 70 of Las Vegas' finest restaurants will present samplings of their signature dishes along with fine wines during the 12th annual Epicurean Affair.

Letter: Bush economy is a disaster: Republicans are in denial about the fact that the Bush people are raiding Social Security to cover some of their tax cut for the wealthy. As a grim reminder, this is what candidate Bush said, "In my economic plan, more than $2 trillion of the federal surplus is locked away for Social Security."

Editorial: Yucca seen as unsafe by mayors: But in the nation's cities, where Yucca Mountain is viewed more objectively, there is serious concern. On Monday the U.S. Conference of Mayors approved a resolution whose grave wording should get the attention of those who until now have been swallowing the lie that Yucca Mountain will be safe and that transportation poses little threat.

Letter: Right a wrong by releasing Jessica Williams: The prosecution and the media demonized her, and the families of the victims called for blood during the year it took for the case to come to trial. It was, however, most evident -- Jessica Williams was not a violent person and certainly no danger to society as a whole. The only conclusion I can draw is that the court yielded to the demand for vengeance.

Council to weigh new licensing procedure for massage therapists: Diana Sahagun; Las Vegas massage therapists would be subject to strict background checks and be under the watchful eye of the city's business licensing division, according to a new bill being introduced this week.

North Las Vegas officials to consider federal land deal: North Las Vegas could boast one of the largest municipal parks in Southern Nevada if city and federal officials agree to swap Craig Ranch Golf Course for a much larger piece of federal land in the northwest part of the city.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Nadeau gets ride in Petty car for Sears Point race: Former road-racing specialist Jerry Nadeau will replace Steve Grissom in the Petty Enterprises No. 44 Dodge for this weekend's NASCAR Winston Cup race at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

Former Rebel holds himself to higher standard: So when the latest addition to Tampa Bay's offense lined up in the wrong spot a couple of times during his second practice for the Buccaneers, the veteran of 10 NFL seasons was not forgiving.

Group seeks aid for outlet mall: Diana Sahagun; A high-end outlet mall might be built in downtown Las Vegas -- but it could come at a price.

MASH clinic closes its doors: Sheila Ward learned early in her job as a licensed practical nurse at the MASH Village Medical Clinic that some patients have special needs, and not all of them are medical.

Beauty school opens: The institute, which offers day and evening programs in manicure, aesthetics, hair design and cosmetology, held its first day of classes Monday.

Senator sees easy Yucca approval: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- A leading Senate advocate for a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain today predicted the project would pass relatively easily with 58 to 62 senators voting for it.

Mayors OK resolution on Yucca shipments: Diana Sahagun; By hammering on the dangers of transportation, Nevada leaders were able to sway more than 200 U.S. mayors to approve a resolution that asks Congress to prohibit shipments of high-level nuclear waste unless funding, training and equipment are given to cities along the route.

Columnist Susan Synder: Dam these difficult questions: Susan Synder; This morning I drew water from the tap and poured it into the coffee maker.

Community news briefs for June 18, 2002: The Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Department will hold an open house 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Fire Station 5, 1020 Hinson St., for local residents to meet the firefighters and learn about fire safety. Firefighters will have equipment on display, a mobile classroom that teaches children how to safely escape a burning building, and safety material available for citizens to take home or to work and learn about fire prevention. For more information about upcoming open houses, call Tim Szymanski at 229-0145.

U.S. success may impact local programs: Spencer Patterson; For the first time in more than 70 years, the United States has reached the World Cup's elite eight.

Sports handicapper McCune dies: Robert E. "Bob" McCune, one of Las Vegas' top sports handicappers of the 1980s, who hosted seminars where his glib tongue and vast knowledge convinced gamblers they could beat the odds, has died. He was 80.

Obituaries for June 18, 2002: Phillip Peter Attuso, 86, of Henderson died Sunday in Henderson. He was born Dec. 12, 1915, in Baton Rouge, La. A resident for three years, he was a retired plumber and pipefitter.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: USA-Mexico rematch should be here: Based on the disparity of importance the two countries place on soccer, it can be assumed that for every fan who delighted in the United States' 2-0 World Cup victory over Mexico there were thousands who were saddened beyond belief.

Miller reaps benefits as 'Mr. Irrelevant': Steve Guiremand; Ahmad Miller admits he really didn't know what to expect when he earned the tag of "Mr. Irrelevant" as the 261st and final pick of the NFL Draft last April.

Realtor Matthews dies: Stephen Curran; Services will be held Wednesday for a prominent Las Vegas Realtor who saw Clark County grow from a desert crossroads to a thriving metropolitan area of more than 1 million people.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: A lesson from Watergate: "PROFILES IN COURAGE FOR OUR TIME" should be introduced by a Kennedy. We remember it was Jack Kennedy who wrote "Profiles In Courage" almost 50 years ago. It's most appropriate that his daughter, Caroline, has edited and introduced people who are heroic in modern times.

Editorial: Charts cannot take place of judgments: A case in Justice Court earlier this month has local judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys talking about this issue. A man was arrested in September after allegedly raping a woman at knifepoint. In January, his bail was set at $65,000 -- precisely what the "standardized bail chart" indicated. He made bail, pleaded guilty in April, and remained free until his sentencing June 4. On June 5, after he had been sentenced to four to 30 years in prison, police questioned him after learning that he may have raped a second woman while out on bail. According to the police report, ...

Letter: Windtalkers finally recognized: I'm glad the Windtalkers are finally receiving some of the accolades and recognition they so rightfully deserve for their remarkable contributions.

Thousands with mental problems not being served: CARSON CITY -- Thousands of Clark County residents with mental problems are not being served because of gaps in the state's system, a report says.

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

Columnist Dean Juipe: Interleague games liven dull season: Dean Juipe; Once upon a time, baseball was so laden with tradition that to even propose a change was sacrilegious.

Tax panel reaches halfway point: Erin Neff; A task force studying the state's tax woes has already reached the halfway point of its deliberation, and is now ready to make recommendations about which taxes should be implemented or raised.

Police investigating another home invasion: Keith Paul; Four people pushed their way into an 83-year-old woman's Henderson home Monday demanding money, marking the second home invasion robbery in the town in less than a week.

NRC to hear update on transportation studies: Nevada officials have made the issue of waste shipping a central point in their broader argument against Yucca Mountain, a federal proposal to haul the nation's high-level nuclear waste to the Nevada site for permanent burial. They have called for more studies of waste shipping routes -- before Congress finalizes approval of Yucca Mountain. The Senate is likely to vote within days.

Local news briefs for June 18, 2002: A 22-year-old Las Vegas man was arrested Monday, charged with killing a teenager last week in a suspected drug deal, Metro Police said.

Defendant claims victim was hitman: Kim Smith; If mob boss John Gotti had been at the Stardust on Feb. 7, 2000, Anthony Cuccia Jr. said he would have "whacked" him and Phillip Greenspan.

Ex-state exec charged with theft: CARSON CITY -- The former executive director of the state Board of Dental Examiners has agreed to surrender to authorities in Las Vegas to face 13 counts that she embezzled $602,000.

Lawyer wants off fraud case; cites conflict of interest: Fraud suspect Franklyn Perry may lose another lawyer next week because he has reportedly become an informant against one of his attorney's other clients.