Print edition for March 21, 2002

Competitors jockeying for auditing business: David Strow; Taking advantage of a deteriorating situation, competitors of Arthur Andersen are aggressively trying to woo casino companies away from the embattled Chicago accounting firm, Las Vegas gaming industry sources say.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Ashley Force slated to make her debut in Las Vegas: Kenny Bernstein and his son, Brandon, made NHRA history last spring in Las Vegas when they became the first father-son duo to win at an NHRA national event on the same weekend.

Board to decide fate of housing director: Adrienne Packer; The fate of Las Vegas Housing Authority Executive Director Frederick Brown could be determined Monday in a special closed-door meeting requested by one of the five board members.

Station to write down value of Fiesta Rancho: The amount of the write-off has yet to be determined, said Station Chief Financial Officer Glenn Christenson. Station announced that, prior to this charge, it expects to post earnings of 16 cents to 18 cents per share for the quarter ending March 31, well ahead of analyst expectations.

Police evidence clerk held in cocaine theft: Keith Paul; A North Las Vegas Police evidence vault clerk faces criminal charges, accused of stealing cocaine seized during police investigations after her stepson implicated her when he was arrested in Henderson last month on an unrelated matter.

Producers of bootleg Caesars recordings sue union: Grace Leong; Two California music record producers filed a lawsuit disputing claims by a Las Vegas chapter of the Musicians' Union that they failed to compensate its musicians when they marketed secretly recorded audio recordings of performances at Caesars Palace by legends such as Frank Sinatra.

Doctors caught in two-week insurance trap: By Emily Richmond; Obstetrician Dr. Jeffrey Wrightson thought he would be delivering more than 60 babies during the first two weeks of April, but now he wonders if he'll even be in business.

Calif. title firm expands into Nevada: Chris Jones; American National Financial Inc. may be new to the area, but the California-based title company's Southern Nevada expansion will be directed by a management team that's already well-acquainted with the local market.

Executives selling shares: In a filing made with the Securities and Exchange Commission Friday, Mandalay Chairman and Chief Executive Michael Ensign registered just under 1.5 million shares for possible sale, Dow Jones News Service reported Tuesday. Separately, Vice Chairman William Richardson registered 1.4 million shares for sale.

KVBC will stick with liquor ads: General Electric Co.'s NBC television network said Wednesday it ended a plan to run advertisements for hard liquor, responding to criticism of becoming the first U.S. broadcast network to air such commercials in about 54 years.

Stock split announced: Shareholders will be issued one additional share of Alliance stock for every share they own on April 3. The split will take effect on April 8.

Taxi drivers suspended, fined in diversion cases: John Plunkett, administrator of the Taxicab Authority, which regulates 15 taxi companies and their 1,500 cabs in Clark County, said one driver had his license revoked, another had his certificate suspended for five days and four others were fined between $100 and $370.

Guinn mulls special session: Benjamin Grove and Erin Neff; Gov. Kenny Guinn is considering calling the Legislature into a special session to approve more money for the high-stakes battle against the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump.

Power struggle stalls LV land project: Diana Sahagun; The development of 61 acres west of downtown Las Vegas has been stalled due to an apparent sense of confusion over who's in charge of the project.

Homeless, community await action on 'will nots': By Timothy Pratt; Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman's actions this week on homelessness have both encouraged and confused advocates and civil liberties activists.

Insurer moving offices to Henderson: Douglas Dirks, president and chief executive officer of the Reno-based workers' compensation insurer, said his company has signed a lease to occupy 55,000 square feet of office space at 2550 Paseo Verde Parkway. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Rebels' successful season signals upbeat future: Steve Addy; Rebels highlights

Strong earnings posted by Vegas home-building giant: KB's profit increased to $42.7 million, or 95 cents per share, from $25.8 million, or 70 cents per share, in the same quarter of 2001.

Court: Rio can serve summons by e-mail in dispute: CARSON CITY -- A federal appeals court has upheld a pretrial judgment in favor of Las Vegas' Rio hotel-casino, which sued a Costa Rica sports betting company for infringing on its trademark on the Internet but couldn't find the company to serve a summons.

Nevada workers' comp deal risky, expert says: Chris Jones; Employers Insurance Company of Nevada's proposed acquisition of a California workers' compensation provider would expose the longtime Nevada insurer to an unfamiliar, volatile and expensive business environment, a top insurance industry analyst said Wednesday.

Local anglers have some luck with stripers at Lake Mead: Typical late March fishing is now being found in Lake Mead with the action for striped bass being fair to slow while largemouth bass fishing is showing some encouraging signs as the fish are preparing to spawn.

Blue, McGraw head Fantasy conference: McGraw will be the guest speaker at tonight's banquet at ESPN Zone. Blue and Las Vegan Marty Barrett, the former Boston Red Sox second baseman, will speak at Friday's welcome reception.

Liquid art: Glass sculpture's popularity in Las Vegas is crystal clear: Kimberley McGee; There is art in Las Vegas, rising from the city's glitz and glamour.

NASCAR Winston Cup schedule: Feb. 17 -- Daytona 500, Daytona Beach, Fla. (Ward Burton)

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Taking a TiVo timeout: When my 1988 pickup truck did a Bob Knight and blew all its gaskets at once last weekend, I was left with a difficult decision on the side of the road:

County approves new power plant near Moapa: A new power plant received the go-ahead from a split Clark County Commission Wednesday over the objections of some residents, county planning staff and environmentalists.

Letter: Clean up the air outdoors: The thing that's troubling me though, is the lack of response from both the media and public to a study which stated the air outside causes as much cancer as second-hand smoke. Come on folks, don't you want to get rid of the awful, carbon monoxide-spewing vehicles you are filling the valley up with.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Tarkanian enlivened Las Vegas: Ruthe Deskin; When former University of Nevada, Las Vegas basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian threw in the towel at Fresno State, literally and figuratively, I had but one thought:

Columnist Joe Delaney: UNLV students get a look at area shows, venues: Joe Delaney; The first three are afternoon shows, reasonably priced less than $15, available for less than $6 with a coupon and purchase of one beverage ... The hotels are also in quite different locations -- Casino Center, not quite on the Strip, and one credited with creating the concept that became Las Vegas ... The Riviera, which opened in 1955, was Las Vegas' first high-rise hotel.

News briefs for March 21, 2002: The House Resources Committee has passed legislation to create a 3,000-acre shooting range on Bureau of Land Management property in northern Las Vegas Valley.

N.O. casino board ousts chairman: Satre is the chairman and chief executive of Harrah's Entertainment Inc. of Las Vegas, the operator of the JCC-owned Harrah's New Orleans casino. Harrah's owns 49 percent of JCC's stock, and is the company's largest single shareholder. Paul Debban, president of JCC, will replace Satre as chairman, JCC said.

Study: Haze is caused by humans: The pollution in question was haze -- the layers of smoky gunk that often make it difficult to see across the valley.

Company sues over plant fire: Modern Concepts Inc., its owner Harry Woodcock and worker Rick Bingham sued AeroTech, Industrial Solid Propulsion Inc., its landlord, Manuel & Janet Bautista Family Trust, and the Clark County Fire Department in Clark County District Court on Wednesday.

Soldier shines in chaplain-aide training: Dick Benoit; Army Pvt. Amber Bonds, Palo Verde High School class of 2001, recently earned the distinction of honor graduate of her class at the Chaplain Assistant Training Center at Fort Jackson, S.C. Bonds is the daughter of Anita and Alfred Bonds of Las Vegas.

County OKs power plant near Lincoln County line: A new power plant received the go-ahead from a split Clark County Commission Wednesday over the objections of some residents, county planning staff and environmentalists.

Home & Garden Show on tap: Kimberley McGee; Information

AG's opinion not stopping counties' fight over water: CARSON CITY -- The Las Vegas Valley Water District is applauding an opinion by the state attorney general's office, which ruled that a contract between Lincoln County and a private company to sell water to Southern Nevada is illegal.

Court briefs for March 21, 2002: A Peruvian citizen who pleaded guilty to beating his girlfriend's daughter to death was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years.

Community briefs for March 21, 2002: A Color Egg-Stravaganza will be 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lorna J. Kesterson Valley View Recreation Center, 500 Harris St., Henderson.

Editorial: Ray crosses the line in U.S. Senate run: One Justice Department rule states that independent counsels should not speak at party functions, but the New York Times reported this week that Ray did just that last month in a Lincoln Day speech to Monmouth County Republicans. Ray said he looked "forward to the debate in the months ahead, the battleground of ideas and results rather than the paralysis of investigations and scandal," a not-too-subtle reference to the Justice Department's investigation of his likely Democratic opponent, Sen. Robert Torricelli.

Lawmakers considering killing property-tax break: CARSON CITY -- Lawmakers on Wednesday discussed a proposal to eliminate a 20-year-old tax break that saves owners of older homes hundreds and in some cases thousands of dollars each year.

Henderson manufacturer's parent looking for a deal: Berry Plastics Corp., a closely held maker of plastic cups and housewares, said Wednesday it hired J.P. Morgan Chase Co. and Credit Suisse First Boston Corp. to help review potential transactions, including a sale of the company.

Ralph Siraco's Santa Anita selections: 1st Race -- Long Term Wish - Flores atop Dominguez trainee for owner Golden Eagle Farm, draws good box for short 2-fulong straight dash, productive connections. Maui Wish - Co-owner and trainer Dutton tabs Desormeaux for debut, needs to be quick from the blocks here, good team. Value Play -- Swiss Guy

Gates Foundation grant to help high school: By Emily Richmond; The Clark County School District has won a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to open an alternative high school next fall focusing on technology training, school officials said.

Lawmakers hearprogress report on education: By Emily Richmond; The Clark County School District needs to improve science instruction, reduce the number of high school graduates who require remedial courses in college and provide more staff development opportunities, according to a progress report presented to legislators Wednesday.

Letter: Color coding of terror status is childish: Mr. Ridge, a grown man, was earnestly explaining proudly his new "terror colors" on a kindergarten-like cart with a straight face, too. When we could finally stop laughing, we managed to listen to his explanation.

King Arthur hopes to nab USBA crown: Dean Juipe; The throne, or at least the United States Boxing Association's portion of the cruiserweight throne, is open and "King" Arthur Williams would like to occupy it.

Daughter's change in story has mother facing murder trial: Mathis Winkler; A Las Vegas woman who claimed she shot her estranged husband in self-defense will have to stand trial on murder charges after her 14-year-old daughter testified that she helped her mother place a knife in her dead father's hand.

Guinn won't commit to tort reform: Ed Koch and Cy Ryan; A top aide to Gov. Kenny Guinn said today that despite doctors' recent demands for tort reform to resolve the malpractice insurance crisis, Guinn is not ready to commit to any single long-term solution.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Barge scheme all wet: Only one of the above is the punch line to a joke. The other two are immutable facts of life. It is the ships sinking part that I want to talk about today because there is not much we can do about the imperfect people who work for our government on such short notice.

Friday horse racing entries: Post Time 1 p.m.

Columnist Paula Del Giudice: Arizona man wins local BASSMASTER event: Rob Vander Kooi won the Nevada CITGO BASSMASTER Western Open on Lake Mead last Saturday on the strength of his 17-pound, 6-ounce limit. Vander Kooi, a Mesa, Ariz., pro, took his first career B.A.S.S. victory and earned the $35,000 top prize.

Rebel men collect easy win over Drake: The Rebels will continue their non-conference schedule by hosting Southeastern Conference member Auburn on Tuesday.

Conference frames photo trends: Information

Services set for former regent Fong: In November 1984, after losing a tight race for re-election to the Nevada Board of Regents post she had held for 10 years, Lilly Fong vowed that her dedication to higher education was far from over.

Wednesday's prep results: BASEBALL

Ramada Vacation Suites owner to buy Houston resort company: Las Vegas-based Mego Financial Corp., whose Preferred Equities Corp. operates Ramada Vacation Suites properties in Nevada, New Jersey, Colorado, Florida and Hawaii, said today it signed a letter of intent to buy Raintree Resorts International Inc.

NLV OKs housing close to pig farm: Mathis Winkler; The pigs will get next-door neighbors in North Las Vegas.

Las Vegas council briefs for March 21, 2002: Las Vegas Neighborhood Services Department has a new tool to force absentee landlords to take care of abandoned properties.

Editorial: 'Sweeping' solution must end: With the exception of inspiring a homeless task force, which is fixated on long-term solutions that may never materialize, Goodman's record on the homeless has been abysmal. Haranguing these unfortunate individuals during public forums and ordering city staff to sweep them from one street to the next for three years does not register as progressive leadership. The mayor is charming when he jokes that he wants to be king so he can solve all of Southern Nevada's problems without worrying about jurisdictions. But the charm wears thin when no workable plan ever materializes for a major issue over which he ...

Teens held in series of thefts: Keith Paul; Three Las Vegas teens arrested Wednesday after two bank robberies were implicated in a series of robberies of other banks, gas stations and convenience stores over the past two months.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Acevado accepts bout with Phillips: Dean Juipe; The money wasn't quite what Nick Acevedo had in mind, but the chance to fight Vince Phillips made accepting the bout worthwhile.

Letter: Fence at park not a good solution: Have they really thought this out? The heavy traffic and curves on Maryland Parkway make Circle Park a dangerous destination for both seniors and children.

Obituaries for March 21, 2002: Patsy Ann Barrett, 67, died Feb. 27 in a local care center. She was born July 18, 1934, in Shreveport, La. A resident of 38 years, she was a homemaker.