Print edition for June 27, 2002

Nevadans say Abraham letter shows hypocritical attitude: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Nevada lawmakers say a 4-year-old letter written by then-Sen. Spencer Abraham unveils a hypocritical attitude about nuclear waste transportation.

High court hears arguments over psychiatric examinations: CARSON CITY -- A Clark County prosecutor told the Nevada Supreme Court Wednesday that the district attorney's office was entitled to have an independent psychiatric examination of Alfred Centofanti, III, who is awaiting trial in the killing his ex-wife.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Klitschko wants to show Mercer no mercy: Dean Juipe; The opportunity to do what no man has done before -- knock out Ray Mercer -- is foremost on the mind of Wladimir Klitschko as he prepares for their Saturday fight in Atlantic City.

Cendant buys luxury condo broker: Sunshine Group, which is based in New York and has offices in Florida and Las Vegas, represents building owners such as Donald Trump in the sales of high-end condominium homes.

Obituaries for June 27, 2002: Wendy Kwai Lan Abear, 37, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. She was born Aug. 26, 1964, in Honolulu. A resident for 12 years, she was a client supervisor assistant at Bank of America.

Indictment returned in killing of woman, 84: Kim Smith; A Clark County grand jury Tuesday handed down a five-count indictment against a felon accused of sexually assaulting and murdering an 84-year-old Las Vegas woman.

Vlade was among first foreign delegates: Victoria Sun; Magic Johnson remembers when the international invasion began. It was 1989 when the Lakers drafted Yugoslavian center Vlade Divac with the 26th pick of the first round.

Board weighs Emerald proposal: Joe Biesk; CHICAGO -- Emerald Casino investors would get their money back and the company would surrender its gambling license under a proposal Illinois officials considered Wednesday.

Nevada Power hit with fraud lawsuit: Grace Leong; Two downtown Las Vegas businesses filed a class-action lawsuit against Nevada Power Co. on Wednesday, alleging the power company has been over-billing and deceiving hundreds of Clark County businesses for as long as 20 years.

Apex developers push for residential community: Adrienne Packer; Thirteen years ago fearful Southern Nevadans convinced lawmakers to designate 45 square miles of barren desert for high-risk factories after a Henderson rocket fuel plant exploded, rattling homes and killing two workers.

PCL box: Las Vegas - Oklahoma: Balk-- Ellis. Time -- 2:48. Attendance -- 2,082.

Varian Medical Systems celebrates grand opening: Varian Medical Systems celebrates grand opening

Survey: Children have easy access to online gambling: David Ho; WASHINGTON -- Many gambling Internet websites lack adequate safeguards and warnings to prevent children and teenagers from placing illegal bets, federal regulators said Tuesday.

Alleged heroin dealer in Binion case indicted: Kim Smith; The man police allege sold Ted Binion 12 balloons of black tar heroin the night before he was murdered by his live-in girlfriend and her boyfriend has been indicted on drug charges.

State, Indians continue battle over Humboldt River water: CARSON CITY -- Another battle between the state and Indians over water has been played out before the Nevada Supreme Court.

Cop who killed man was victim in another shooting: Keith Paul; A Metro Police officer who shot and killed a man Monday morning, himself had been wounded in a shooting last year in the same area of the city.

Herrera reports burglar stole computers: Erin Neff; Clark County Commission Chairman and congressional hopeful Dario Herrera said someone burglarized his home Tuesday, stealing computers with his personal and business financial records.

Drivers vote to end strike: The bus strike that has stranded thousands of Las Vegas-area riders over the last six weeks is now officially over.

Task force on homeless wants consultant to solve problems: By Timothy Pratt; After more than a year of work, a regional task force on homelessness reached a turning point Wednesday: It decided to hire a consultant to help it take its next step.

Union to protest school-building policy: By Emily Richmond; Members of a labor union plan to launch a fresh round of complaints at the Clark County School District tonight, claiming officials have unfairly hired out-of-state contractors for lucrative construction jobs at the expense of local workers.

Culinary Union officials predict strike downtown: Jean Reid Norman; A high-ranking Culinary Union official this morning predicted a strike of 2,400 downtown union members after a deadline for a new settlement passes on midnight Sunday.

Cunningham retires after 16-year career: Having realized he wasn't in the Baltimore Ravens' plan for this season, the 39-year-old former UNLV quarterback announced his retirement Tuesday.

RTC to cut eight bus routes: Stephen Curran; The Regional Transportation Commission proposes the cutbacks in bus service on the following routes:

Nuclear waste crash could kill 1,200 in Chicago: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- As many as 1,228 people in Chicago could die of cancer within one year of a nuclear waste shipment accident, according to a new report that analyzed an accident scenario in 20 cities.

Pledge will be recited in county schools: By Emily Richmond; Under a cloudless blue sky, more than 200 students gathered outside Kesterson Elementary School in Henderson this morning and pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.

Revamped AC pier will have Monopoly theme: Linda A. Johnson; TRENTON, N.J. -- In a life-imitates-art twist, Atlantic City's Million Dollar Pier shopping mall will be transformed into an entertainment and retail complex with a "Monopoly" theme, based on the classic board game that features Atlantic City streets and landmarks.

Court upholds decision barring young candidate: Erin Neff; The Nevada Supreme Court has decided not to overturn a decision barring a constable candidate from the ballot -- at least for now.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Is Cup fever over already?: In that I've become somewhat of a soccer buff since being first subjected to a (World) Cup check in 1994, in pains me to say that the U.S.'s infatuation with soccer already is in injury time.

Newspaper show planned: The Newspaper Association of America announced that its Newspaper Operations SuperConference, normally staged in January, would be conducted at the same time as NEXPO, the association's June technology show. The NAA, which concluded its NEXPO convention in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, plans the joint conference in Las Vegas June 16-19, 2003.

Gone before their times: Steve Guiremand; The death of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile at age 33 Saturday caught the baseball world by surprise. For Las Vegas 51s president and general manager Don Logan, it also brought back not-so-fond memories.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Some good advice: If that is true, generations of Americans paid nickels, dimes, quarters and more for almost half a century to get the best advice they ever received. It came from Ann Landers.

Labor Department files suit: The Labor Department sued the contractors in U.S. District Court to recover lost wages on behalf of John Dempsey, a Jemison employee who was allegedly transferred on Jan. 7, 2000, from the Aladdin job site to another job site after he complained to Nevada's Occupational Safety and Health Division about being exposed to potentially dangerous dust at the Aladdin job site.

Nevadans rap 1998 Abraham letter: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Nevada lawmakers say a 4-year-old letter written by then-Sen. Spencer Abraham unveils a hypocritical attitude about nuclear waste transportation.

Friday's horse racing entries: Post Time 7:05 p.m.

Metro claims business was front for drug sales: Diana Sahagun; As part of a push to curb crime in the downtown area, Metro Police used a little-known city code to arrest the owner of a Fremont Street business, saying he contributed to problems in the area.

Detective charged in robbery facing firing from Metro: Keith Paul; A Metro Police detective who is charged in a robbery at a Henderson bar now faces firing from the department, police officials told the Sun Wednesday.

Doubt in cause of death cited in Binion appeal: Erin Neff; Famed law professor Alan Dershowitz asked the Nevada Supreme Court this morning to overturn Sandy Murphy's murder conviction because jurors were split on the cause of Ted Binion's death.

News briefs for June 27, 2002: Traffic came to a standstill early this morning on Interstate 15 southbound just past Blue Diamond Road after a three-car accident involving a pickup, a motorhome and a tractor-trailer spread debris across the freeway.

Flood control officials brace for monsoon season: It's strange to hear about a monsoon season in the desert, but in Southern Nevada, it doesn't rain -- it pours.

NLV Police officers to face inquest in death: Keith Paul; North Las Vegas Police officers face a coroner's inquest after a medical examiner determined a 31-year-old man who struggled in April with them died from asphyxiation, officials told the Sun Wednesday.

Home sales steady: Home builders in the county sold 1,914 new homes in May, up from 1,885 new homes in May 2001.

Vet's struggle bears fruit: There were times Jon Sias thought he'd never see this day.

Teacher's aide gets probation: Kim Smith; A 40-year-old former teacher's aide was placed on three years' probation Wednesday after the boy with whom she had an affair pleaded with the judge to keep her out of jail.

Rescue Mission building unit for dads and children: As the homeless are swept from place to place and local shelters run short on beds, the Las Vegas Rescue Mission Wednesday offered some hope for the future.

Sales tax reform proposed: CARSON CITY -- A legislative study subcommittee has recommended that the law be changed to require state and local governments to collect sales taxes on items sold by public entities.

Court hears arguments in murder case: CARSON CITY -- A Clark County prosecutor told the Nevada Supreme Court Wednesday that the district attorney's office was entitled to have an independent psychiatric examination of Alfred Centofanti, III, who is awaiting trial in the killing his ex-wife.

Vegas sports on TV/Radio: Thursday

Boxer's death continues to stump experts: Dean Juipe; The death of professional boxer Pedro Alcazar on Monday in Las Vegas continues to mystify a neurologist who treated him immediately following his fight last Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Editorial: Pledge of Allegiance is fine the way it is: Now comes a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals with an opinion that the Pledge means more than allegiance to country, that it is also an endorsement of religion and violates the First Amendment's establishment clause. This is indeed a pity and we hope the decision gets overturned. Obliterating every public reference to God may please a handful of atheists and purists, but surely what the Founding Fathers were justly guarding against was the imposition of religion into governance and individual lives. Simple references to God do neither. Banning them would lead to extremes, such as ...

Fight schedule: Thursday

Columnist Paula Del Giudice: After nearly 10 years, I'm sure gonna miss this place: It has been almost 10 years since I wrote my first column for the Las Vegas Sun just after we moved here from Elko. I remember driving into the north side of the valley and catching my first glimpse of the lights of the city I would soon call home. I was filled with hope and excitement as I sat down to write my first column that ran on Sept. 1, 1992 -- the first day of dove season.

Community briefs for June 27, 2002: The city of Las Vegas Saturday will break ground on a $8.8 million multi-phased park project in the northwest.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Recalling dear friend Ann Landers: Ruthe Deskin; She was in Las Vegas to speak to a women's club. Because she was a columnist in the Sun, I was delegated to accompany her. That was a lucky day for me because we struck up a friendship that lasted through the years.

Life mirrors art: Brockovich says don't shy away from challenges: Erin Brockovich -- the woman, not the movie bearing her name -- wants to inspire people to stand up for what is right.

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

Environmental groups try to stop Lincoln County land deal: Jace Radke; Environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday to stop the Bureau of Land Management from auctioning off 6,500 acres in Lincoln County.

Letter: Feds can use Web to invade our privacy: The gathering of such reading lists is, and must be, anathema to every American, because it not only allows the camel's nose into the tent (apt metaphor, perhaps), but opens the floodgates to mammoths and killer whales followed by Big Brother.

Letter: Hamdan acted as concerned citizen: It should be more important to take heed to save lives on the Fourth of July than to worry about our economy.

Legends of the crawl: Valley residents struggling to control cockroach invasions: Lynn Grove; Less-desirable local life was also stirring. A resounding "pak!" a few feet to the left heralded the presence of a large roach that had plummeted from the elevated porch to the rocky landscape below.

Letter: Gun laws are misunderstood: Federal law requires licensed firearms dealers to conduct background checks on a firearms buyer; a dealer does not become exempt from federal law because of a change in sales location.

Cadets present colors at Great U.S.A. awards: Dick Benoit; Four cadets from the Navy League's Bruce A. Van Voorhis Memorial Squadron of Sea Cadets pitched in to demonstrate American flag etiquette during the Great U.S.A. Awards program at Cunningham Elementary School in southeast Las Vegas.

Columnist Joe Delaney: Evolving 'Splash' is emblematic of Riviera's success: Joe Delaney; The cast and management are involved in the community; a year-round commitment ... It is also extending its policy of two-for-one admissions for Nevada residents (who are required to carry valid picture IDs) throughout the summer, in addition to a free Chicken Whopper, with a coupon from designated Burger King outlets ... The Riviera also offers 11 other entertainment options.

Surprise: Ruiz in with new face: Dean Juipe; Preoccupied with Evander Holyfield for the past 2 1/2 years, World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John Ruiz of Las Vegas finally gets a chance to fight another man when he takes on mandatory challenger Kirk Johnson July 27 at Mandalay Bay.

Editorial: Scandals a drag on the market: Despite the relative good news, the stock market is in a slump. Why? It's simple, really. People have lost a great deal of faith in publicly traded corporations due to fraudulent accounting practices that recently have been exposed at huge corporations, including energy trader Enron, pharmacy store chain Rite-Aid and fiber-optics communications conglomerate Global Crossing. The U.S. government even won a conviction against accounting firm Arthur Andersen for destroying documents relating to one of its clients, Enron. And now WorldCom can be added to the list of companies whose future is in jeopardy because of an accounting scandal. WorldCom, which ...

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