Print edition for June 19, 2002

Rebels, Gophers to play in future: Steve Guiremand; UNLV added another Big Ten program to its football schedule on Tuesday. Now the question is will head coach John Robinson be around to coach against the University of Minnesota?

Beauty Padgett: Spencer Patterson; From the moment he stepped on the floor for Reno High School as a freshman in 1999, David Padgett has been labeled the best prep big man the state of Nevada has seen in decades.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Outlaws champ Swindell returns from long layoff: Three-time Pennzoil World of Outlaws champion Sammy Swindell will make his return to the winged sprint car series this weekend after a layoff of more than three months.

Camp Culinary: Delicious, healthy meals can be prepared while camping: Robin Donovan; Supplies

'01 Yangarra Peak Chardonnay: Max Jacobson; This lighter, less oaky version of Chardonnay comes at less than half the price of the typical California Chards, and has a fine pedigree to boot. Yangarra means "spirit of the earth" in an Aboriginal language, and the winery is part of Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates Collection, expressive of Australian terroir, or earth. It's a fruity wine that tastes of pears and citrus, with a nutty, creamy finish. It's well balanced in terms of acidity, and will be a fine companion for picnic foods and summer salads. Serve chilled, but not too cold.

Plays repeat throughout event: Following is a synopsis of the plays and the play schedule at the Utah Shakespearean Festival starting Thursday in Cedar City, Utah, a three-hour drive from Las Vegas northeast on Interstate 15:

Cedar City braces for next wave: After the Utah Shakespearean Festival this summer, Shakespeare stays around Cedar City from Sept. 18 to Oct. 18.

Utah Shakespearean Festival begins Thursday: After all, Adams asked, "How do you top a Tony Award?"

PCL box: Las Vegas - Salt Lake City: WP--Bergman. HBP--Allen (by Miadich).

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

Columnist Victoria Sun: Moore's U.S. Open trip was full of life lessons: Victoria Sun; Ryan Moore hoped his first trip to New York would have ended where it all began, at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y.

Vegas sports on TV/Radio: Wednesday

Columnist Dean Juipe: Appeal of soccer broad and limited: Dean Juipe; There's a reason soccer is the most popular sport in the world and it has nothing to do with the quality of the game.

Letter: Public input sought on land: What the senators have come up with is a huge compromise that took many, many hours of hard work and endless discussions with various stakeholders. For Mr. Freeman to say that there has been no public input to the process, when his own group SNORE is a member of a large coalition that submitted recommendations for the bill and undoubtedly met with either one or both of the senators, is ridiculous.

AG candidate gets backing of union: Erin Neff; Democrat John Hunt got a huge boost in his campaign to be the state's next attorney general on Tuesday, when he won a key labor endorsement.

Transit tax goes to ballot: The Clark County Commission voted Tuesday to put a $2.7 billion tax initiative for road construction and mass transit improvements on the ballot in November over the objections of striking bus drivers.

State employees' health premiums facing increases: CARSON CITY -- The health insurance policy that covers state employees, their dependents and retirees is ailing financially and an increase in premiums will be needed in January.

Medical marijuana petition submitted: CARSON CITY -- Backers of a proposal that would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana in Nevada say they have gathered 107,000 signatures to put the issue on the November election ballot.

Horseshoe wants more flexibility: Binion's Horseshoe owner Becky Behnen appealed to Culinary Union leaders Tuesday to be more reasonable in their contract demands for downtown casinos.

Feds reviewing Nevada land deal: Brendan Riley; CARSON CITY -- The Bureau of Land Management in Washington is reviewing a land swap with a private company because the agency allowed a company employee to arrange the deal.

Wheelchair-bound man hit by pickup dies from injuries: Jose Ferrera of Las Vegas was crossing Maryland Parkway at Fremont Street in a crosswalk about 7 p.m. Monday when he was struck by a pickup making a left turn from Fremont Street, Metro Police said.

Stomach illness hits Colorado River rafters: A wave of stomach illness has been spreading among rafters along the Colorado River, but it has not been felt at Lake Mead, local officials said.

Tax hike prompts Argosy to shelve casino: Don Babwin; CHICAGO -- A gambling company official said Tuesday the company was shelving indefinitely plans to build a $75 million casino in Joliet because of the state's proposed tax increase on casinos.

State credit rating improves: CARSON CITY -- Moody's Investors Service has upgraded the state of Nevada's credit outlook from negative to stable, state Treasurer Brian Krolicki said Monday.

NRC to examine testing of casks used to haul waste: Benjamin Grove; ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Under pressure from Nevada officials and other Yucca Mountain critics, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is examining how new tests will be conducted on the steel containers used to haul high-level nuclear waste.

Yucca ad campaign takes hit: CARSON CITY -- Nevada's fight against Yucca Mountain took an unexpected hit Tuesday when a state legislative committee was told it could release only $434,000 to the campaign against the proposed nuclear repository.

Lawmakers say Guinn not dealing with budget: CARSON CITY -- The state's budget problems are worse than outlined by Gov. Kenny Guinn, and some state legislators are frustrated by lack of action from the governor.

Laughlin sees 3 percent drop in visitors for April: In April 385,797 people visited the Southern Nevada outpost, which was hard hit by the economic and tourism slowdown after Sept. 11.

State weighs two prison moves: CARSON CITY -- The state is looking again at leasing the mothballed state prison at Jean.

Internet gambling ban hopes still slim: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The House Judiciary Committee approved an Internet gambling ban on an 18-12 vote Tuesday after wrestling with the details both behind-the-scenes and in the committee room in recent weeks.

UMC rejects doctors' absence requests: Adrienne Packer; More than a dozen University Medical Center physicians who hoped to escape the crisis of rising medical malpractice costs by filing for leaves of absence were thwarted Tuesday when the hospital board rejected their requests.

City officials discuss MASH future: By Timothy Pratt; Las Vegas city officials met Tuesday with area charities, nonprofits and homeless advocates to answer questions about the city's search for someone to run the MASH Village shelter when the current operator pulls out in October.

Casinos 'strongly support' new tax revenue in Nevada: "Nevada is experiencing funding deficits due to its narrow tax base and growing demand for state services," the NRA said Tuesday. "The gaming industry strongly supports efforts to raise new revenue as long as taxes are equitably distributed, broad-based and measure taxpayers' ability to pay."

Oklahoma tribes fighting to keep electronic game: In a motion filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Tulsa, the Cherokee, Choctaw and Chickasaw nations stated that the commission's decision to categorize MegaNanza games and variations as Class III instead of Class II is contrary to prior appellate decisions on which they have relied to fund tribal governmental functions and projects.

Wynn won't have to provide DNA sample: Kim Smith; Casino mogul Steve Wynn will not have to provide a DNA sample to the man who claims he is his half-brother.

Climber died when knot in rope came undone: Keith Paul; Veteran climber Randal Grandstaff fell to his death earlier this month at Red Rock National Conservation Area when a knot in a rope came undone, a Metro Police investigation concluded.

Attorney: Witnessses have motive to lie: Two key witnesses in the trial of a North Las Vegas man accused of killing a young mother have already confessed their guilt and have a motive to lie, a defense attorney told jurors Tuesday.

$2.9 million OK'd to correct error in CCSN budget: CARSON CITY -- The Legislative Interim Finance Committee Tuesday authorized more than $2.9 million to correct an error in the budget of the Community College of Southern Nevada and to help pay malpractice insurance premiums for the medical school.

Local news briefs for June 19, 2002: One of six men accused of shooting a rival gang member to death last year was given two consecutive no-parole life terms Tuesday.

County votes to require developer disclosure forms: Adrienne Packer; New policies designed to protect Clark County commissioners from potential conflicts of interest were put into place Tuesday when the board agreed to include disclosure forms in developers' applications.

County news briefs for June 19, 2002: The Regional Justice Center and jail expansion -- Clark County's two largest and most troubled construction projects -- are expected to be finished by their new deadlines if no further problems crop up, officials said.

Man to stand trial in 20 sex crimes: A Las Vegas judge found Tuesday there is enough evidence to try a Las Vegas man described by prosecutors as a serial rapist on more than 20 sex-related crimes.

Nevada insurers say some changes needed: Chris Jones; A coalition of Nevada insurance companies, reacting to a lawsuit challenging regulation of out-of-state insurers, says some changes in state regulations may be appropriate.

Killer likely to get life in prison: Kim Smith; A self-proclaimed mob associate likely will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury Tuesday took just 20 minutes to reject his self-defense claim in the fatal shooting of a former New Yorker.

Headquarters to move: Wilsons also today lowered its second quarter and fiscal year financial guidance, citing special charges for employee separation and relocation expenses.

National reports loss of $4.6 million for April: Las Vegas-based National Airlines, still awaiting word on whether its $60 million federal loan guarantee will be approved, has reported to U.S. Bankruptcy Court that it lost $4.6 million in April.

Bingo parlor, ancient Indian bones don't mix: Dave Bryan; MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The oak tree-lined property contains bones of Indians who lived hundreds of years ago, and the pottery and tools they used. There are even soil discolorations suggesting the support poles of a large council house.

Morton's weighing higher offer: Icahn and his affiliated investors sent the company an amended agreement Tuesday that reflected the new price of $15 a share. The amended offer comes one day after Castle Harlan increased its own offer to buy out Morton's to $13.50 a share.

Letter: DMV chief right to stop plate with mushroom cloud: The fund-raising goals of the plate are to be applauded. A museum to honor the history of the Nevada Test Site is a worthy endeavor, assuming that the museum will not practice "revisionist history" by ignoring the sometimes devastating effects of the above-ground tests.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: After 56 years, DiFiore ready for some R&R: Elizabeth Foyt; Showered with best wishes and honored by Mayor Oscar Goodman with a special day in recognition of his many professional and community endeavors, Dr. John A. DiFiore recently celebrated his retirement from 56 years of medical practice.

Community news briefs for June 19, 2002: Friends of Red Rock Canyon is sponsoring a photo contest to showcase the area's unique visual qualities. The contest is divided into three categories: children ages 8-12, professional and amateur. The $5 entry fee will be used as a fund-raiser for the Friends of Red Rock Canyon. Participants are limited to two entries.

Violinist selected to study at Interlochen Arts Camp: Stephen Curran; For Clark High School junior Yang Wang, this summer will be spent not working a part-time job or mowing lawns, but making music in the woods of northern Michigan.

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

Editorial: A smelly land-swap agreement: The two men granted status as virtual BLM staffers are employees of Nevada Land & Resource Co., which owns more than 1.3 million acres of former railroad land stretching from north of Reno to Winnemucca and east to Elko. The company earns income through selling, managing and developing the land. Its relationship with the Carson City BLM office was in respect to Vidler Water, its sister company, which is working with Lincoln County to develop a water-cooled power plant about 75 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The finished deal -- dependent upon land swaps -- would see a North Carolina ...

Editorial: State should boost mental health funds: The agency didn't estimate how much it would cost to make the enhancements to the state mental health system, but the assessment will be used in preparing its proposed budget. Gov. Kenny Guinn and the Nevada Legislature have made improvements after cuts were made to the system during the early 1990s. Still, significant needs remain and the governor and lawmakers should add more funding to eliminate the gaps in mental health care. Putting off more funding for the mental health system would be counterproductive, just as it would be shortsighted to not provide immediate care for physical ailments. The longer ...

Obituaries for June 19, 2002: Myrtle Christensen Anderson, 80, of Pahrump died Tuesday in Las Vegas. She was born Sept. 18, 1921, in Mount Pleasant, Utah. A resident of Las Vegas from 1951-1974 and most recently a Pahrump resident for 28 years, she was a telephone company operator.

Snyder to appear on ESPN2: The segment, filmed in April, features the bicyclists riding the Scenic Loop Drive in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. It is to be part of a special "Destination Outdoors" episode showcasing women in sports.

Hundreds more evacuate from wildfires as investigation into air tanker crash continues: AP; Investigators on Tuesday tried to learn what caused the air tanker's wings to snap off before the fuselage spiraled into the ground in the Sierra Nevada town of Walker, Calif.

Columnist Peter Benton: Sponsors receive thanks: Peter Benton; The Las Vegas Chapter Southwest Section of the PGA organized a Sponsor Appreciation Day at The Revere at Anthem Concord course.

Letter: Lakes are for all, not select few: The NPS proposes to manage these areas as primitive or semi-primitive areas. Boats with motors 65 hp or more would not be permitted to access these areas under the current proposal. In areas managed as primitive, only vessels with no motors will be allowed.