Print edition for March 11, 2002

CEO leaves company; replacement named: Chairman James Adamson, a turnaround expert and longtime Kmart board member, will replace Conaway as Kmart's CEO effective immediately. Kmart's chief financial officer, John T. McDonald Jr., is also leaving.

Bush invited to dam for bureau centennial: Bob Walsh, bureau spokesman, said the invitation is for a June 17 event to commemorate the anniversary. The White House hasn't responded yet but probably won't until close to that date, he added.

Reunited mother, daughter survive murder plot by dad: Kim Smith; Brenda Kline rarely has to wonder where her 17-year-old daughter is. Jamie is afraid to leave her side.

Problem gamblers finding work in Missouri casinos: Clayton Bellamy; Patty Farr is again repairing slot machines in a St. Louis-area casino, working the graveyard shift at a job she lost two years ago when she barred herself from riverboat gambling.

Power company may absorb this year's costs: A Nevada Power Co. spokesman said it remains possible the utility could ask ratepayers for up to $260 million more for energy used this year, but expressed optimism that such costs will be absorbed by the company.

James fails to get GOP endorsement: Erin Neff; This weekend's county Republican convention lived up to the expected controversy over pre-primary endorsements.

Harrah's shareholders to advise on Andersen: David Strow; Harrah's Entertainment Inc. of Las Vegas is seeking guidance from its shareholders on whether it should keep or drop beleaguered accounting firm Arthur Andersen as its auditor.

UNLV: 1 in, 1 out: Steve Guiremand; Next up -- Women NCAA first round

LV operators sue former employees: Angelique Mendoza, who was hired on June 14, 1997, to oversee audits of general ledger accounts and terminated on Jan. 7 after the problem was discovered, was also accused of falsifying cash summary sheets and general ledger entries to hide fraudulent cash disbursements that allegedly occurred between May 1999 and December.

Former Macau partner denies it's unhappy: The China Development Industrial Bank was identified as a partner in an Asian American press release issued earlier this month. In the release, Asian American accused the Venetian's parent company of pulling out of its partnership without notice, and threatened a lawsuit in Nevada over the matter. Asian American also claimed the Macau licensing committee was biased against its bid because of the involvement of the Taiwanese bank.

Las Vegas getting direct flight from Mexico City: David Strow; America West Airlines, the second-largest carrier at McCarran International Airport, today announced it would initiate the first non-stop service between Las Vegas and Mexico City on May 31.

Suit claims LV car buyers were misled: Nikki Carter and her lender First Entertainment Credit Union sued Certified Auto owners Steven and Marisa Ptak and a former employee Eloise Diana Wright to appoint a receiver to collect rents and manage the company because they feared records of names of other alleged defrauded customers may be destroyed.

State makes LV wait for Coyote Springs water: CARSON CITY -- The state engineer has issued a decision on Coyote Springs Valley that could slow the proposed development of a powerful lobbyist and thwart Las Vegas' plans to ship the valley's water south.

Cox cable selling new home security system: Schoolkids, beware.

Guinn says he has plan to back doctors: Erin Neff; Gov. Kenny Guinn plans to offer his own short-term solution to the medical malpractice crisis pushing a number of doctors to leave the state because of the cost of insurance.

Homeowners claim builder trying to avoid responsibility: Los Prados Community Association, a 1,358-home project located at Lone Mountain Road and Jones Boulevard near North Las Vegas, accused U.S. Home and Vista Hills of trying to delay hearings scheduled to start May 1 in Las Vegas by reopening its bankruptcy on Feb. 26 and asserting that Los Prados' claims were discharged by their bankruptcy filings in 1991.

Hunt begins for ethics chief: The state Ethics Commission has rejected a proposal to combine the jobs of its executive director and its legal counsel.

LV firm dragged into Minnesota mall dispute: The Simon Property Group affiliate, in court papers filed March 5 in Las Vegas, said it needs the information to disprove a lawsuit filed in 1999 in federal court in Minnesota by the Ghermezian family's development company Triple Five of Minnesota Inc. against Simon, its partners and several affiliates.

News briefs for March 11, 2002: Metro Police are looking for a runaway 12-year-old girl who has been missing for about two weeks.

Study: Las Vegas tough on single parents: The high cost of child care and the low amount of available subsidies make it difficult for poor single-parent families in Las Vegas to support themselves, a new study says.

Time-share operator moving headquarters to Vegas: Sunterra said the move relates to the significant business it conducts in Las Vegas, home to the company's 125-employee financial services center, which handles mortgages and billing. Sunterra has no time-share properties in Las Vegas but owns or manages 75 properties in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Virginia, Orlando, Hawaii the Caribbean and Europe.

Memorials held for Commons: Matthew Allen Commons, 21, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia after a memorial service in a Washington, D.C. suburb.

Larson named president: Larson served as a longtime executive with Circus Circus while that property was owned by Bill Bennett, now the owner of the Sahara. Larson was vice president and board member of Circus Circus when he left the company in 1992.

Men's NIT: Tuesday, March 12

Las Vegas Collegiate: 844

Goodman adds lottery to his list of revenue ideas: Diana Sahagun; Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is betting some of the city's time on a state lottery, an idea that failed in the last Legislature.

Women's NIT: Wednesday, March 13

Trends for March 11, 2002: Lisa Ferguson; It's been said before: On St. Patrick's Day, everyone is Irish.

Agassi captures 50th career championship: The Las Vegan won his fourth Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic title Sunday in Scottsdale, Ariz., defeating Juan Balcells of Spain 6-2, 7-6 (2) in a tuneup for the more lucrative Tennis Masters Series events at Indian Wells, Calif., and Miami.

Immunization schedule for March 11, 2002: NORTH LAS VEGAS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Local CART drivers run into bad luck: Luck wasn't with any of the four CART drivers who call Las Vegas home when the FedEx Championship Series opened the 2002 season Sunday in Monterrey, Mexico.

Obituaries for March 11, 2002: Sharlene Frances Bisone, 66, of Las Vegas died Thursday in Las Vegas. Born Feb. 5, 1936, in Chicago, she was a resident for 37 years.

Letter: Security overkill at Winter Games: More than 15,000 soldiers patrolled the Olympics, and F-16 fighter planes were deployed in Utah's skies. "Black Hawk helicopters could be heard circling above the city," reported The Times of London on Feb. 7. "The F-16s will chase away or shoot down any noncommercial aircraft that stray within a 45-mile radius of the city. ... Snipers on snowmobiles will patrol the slopes above some events."

Rebels to entertain Pac-10's Arizona State in NIT opener: Steve Addy; Next up -- Men NIT first round

Birth announcements for March 11, 2002: Feb. 20:

SDSU got on a roll at the right time: Steve Addy; Highlights and lowlights of the Mountain West men's basketball tournament:

Editorial: Neonopolis will be worth all the risk: This project that combines retail stores, restaurants and entertainment, such as bowling alleys and movie theaters, now has what appears, at long last, to be a firm timetable for opening. If it opens in May, as is now scheduled, the city's risk -- a $40 million investment -- will be on a strong course for an ultimate payoff in increased downtown tourism and property tax collections.

Columnist Dean Juipe: NCAA errs in shunning UNLV men: Dean Juipe; There doesn't appear to be an uproar of protest about it, yet there's reason to take offense at the omission of UNLV from the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

Rebel golfers take 2nd: Victoria Sun; The UNLV men's golf team tried to overtake Georgia Tech in the final round of the Callaway Golf Las Vegas Intercollegiate Tournament at Southern Highlands Sunday afternoon.

Letter: College won't solve teacher, nurse shortage: As long as teaching and nursing professionals can receive better starting pay, working conditions, and other benefits, i.e., career opportunities, new graduates will leave Nevada for better positions in other states. This has been true as well for teachers and nurses hired who leave Nevada and/or leave the profession because of the existing working conditions.

Public input sought for jury changes: The hearing is the last of three held in Las Vegas to discuss what improvements can be made to the jury system. Former jurors, attorneys and judges offered their input at prior hearings.

Casino factors contribute to death toll on N.J. roads: John Curran; MULLICA TOWNSHIP, N.J. -- Between inattentive drivers, fatigued casino gamblers and outdated highways, the deadliest New Jersey county to drive in last year was one of its least-populated.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: McPeek finds success in the 'Big Easy': Ralph Siraco; NEW ORLEANS -- Trainer Kenny McPeek held his own version of Mardi Gras over the weekend. The young trainer blew into the Big Easy and took the pair of sophomore championship races at the famed and historic Fair Grounds race track with odds-on favorites.

Kerrigan helps Rebels defeat Notre Dame: Kerrigan (4-6) allowed just two hits and one run in her sixth complete game of the year. She retired 11 straight batters before hitting Notre Dame shortstop Andria Bledsoe with her first pitch of the fifth inning.

Dettloff: I wasn't trying to get away: Kim Smith; Attorneys for a Las Vegas man accused of causing an accident that killed three people and then fleeing the scene were expected to wrap up his defense today.

War is Mell: Former Navy SEAL Spicer toils on 'Combat Missions': Kimberley McGee; All in a day's work for the former Navy SEAL.

Letter: Leaders must remain united: I hope that Nevada's business and political leaders will also rally behind Sen. Harry Reid, who represents our best chance to defeat the dump. Over the years he has been instrumental in stopping the nuclear waste dump, crafting important bipartisan coalitions based on sound science. I am hopeful that everyone in the congressional delegation can stay united in the face of enormous political tension, and recognize that we can still defeat this terrible project.

Editorial: Unfair to penalize students: Because accreditation is so critical, the Northwest Association should move away from arbitrary numbers in judging whether a district's classes have too many students. A subcommittee within the organization is already studying the 160 students per teacher (for all classes) ratio that is now the standard. This is a number that has been used for many years and needs some adjusting in light of population growth and modern teaching methods. The number, which translates to 32 students per class, is especially inappropriate for the Clark County School District, which has been growing between 12 and 14 percent every year. Enrollment ...