Print edition for May 8, 2002

RENO: to face charges.: AP; Helder told the FBI he made the first eight bombs in his apartment in Menomonie, Wis.

Percentage of native-born Nevadans varies by county: AP; Following is the percentage of native-born Nevadans that make up individual county populations:

House approves Yucca plan: Benjamin Grove and Erin Neff; WASHINGTON -- The House today overwhelmingly approved a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, marking a significant milestone in the long history of the project.

Timeline in mailbox pipe bomb incidents: AP; Friday: Eight pipe bombs found in roadside mailboxes near Iowa towns of Eldridge, Farley, Asbury, Tipton and Anamosa and the Illinois towns of Mount Carroll, Morrison and Elizabeth. Six bombs explode, injuring four mail carriers and two residents.

House expected to ratify Yucca Mountain dump: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The House today was expected to stamp its final approval on Yucca Mountain, marking a significant milestone in the long history of the nuclear waste project.

SilverStone to host regional tournaments: Both 18-hole events were slated to get underway at noon. The top three teams from each region, along with the top-five individuals from the remaining squads, will advancing to next week's two-day 4A State Tournament.

Vegas sports on TV/Radio: Wednesday

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Rookie has top speed so far in Indy 500 practice: Rookie Laurent Redon on Tuesday posted the fastest speed of the first three days of practice for the Indianapolis 500 with a lap of 229.808 mph at the famed 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

National casino revenue up: The trade group said gross annual revenue for the commercial casino industry climbed to $25.7 billion in 2001, up from $24.3 billion in 2000.

3-day Yucca protest planned: The Western Shoshone and Citizen Alert leaders said the Mother's Day weekend protest begins Friday. Kalynda Tilges, nuclear issues coordinator for Citizen Alert, predicted up to 300 people would attend.

New concept in Las Vegas Strip retailing planned: David Strow; More than two years after its closure, the Silver City Casino on the Las Vegas Strip has been sold once again.

Dipuccio paces Palo Verde: Spencer Patterson; At first glance, it might seem safe to assume that Centennial, Durango and Bonanza -- three teams that combined for a 78-13 regular season record -- will claim the Sunset Region's three berths to next week's 4A State Tournament.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Travel website ushered in at Stirling Club party: Elizabeth Foyt; Publisher Tom Hantges, hosting the website's launching party at the Stirling Club, played host to many of our city's leading figures, including Mayor Oscar Goodman, Bob Stupak, Tom Letizia, Jewel Brooks with Ginette Jaramillo, Sen. Mark James and wife Lori, Gretchen Alger Lin, Frank Schreck, Stephanie Wilson, Laura Herlovich, Rob Powers and David Atwell.

RENO: in northern Nevada.: AP; "It is him," said Gayle Jacobs, spokeswoman for the FBI in Las Vegas.

RENO: in Las Vegas: AP; She said the FBI, Nevada Highway Patrol and Pershing County Sheriff's deputies were involved in the arrest.

Editorial: Negotiate without strike talk: But there is enough time yet for both sides to remember the strike years of 1967, 1970, 1976, and 1984. There is time to remember the Frontier strike of 1991-1998. Does anyone want 2002 listed in that grouping? There is time to reflect on the violence and overall tension associated with the strikes of those years and on the bad publicity the city received around the world. Las Vegas is showing signs of recovering from Sept. 11 but a strike could curtail that recovery.

Casino slaying suspect will represent himself: Kim Smith; Just weeks after being declared mentally competent to stand trial, a former New Yorker charged with shooting another New Yorker to death won the right to represent himself at trial.

Woman to take plea deal in son's accidental death: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas woman said Tuesday she intends to plead guilty to attempted child abuse and neglect for giving her 3-year-old keys to the car he ultimately died in.

13 charges filed against Hells Angel: Kim Smith; Clark County prosecutors Tuesday filed 13 felony charges, including murder and attempted murder, against an Arizona man accused of taking part in a deadly brawl at Harrah's Laughlin.

Police record one of deadliest months: Keith Paul; The month of April, which brought dubious attention to Southern Nevada with a massive search for double-murder suspect Timmy Weber and a deadly motorcycle gang brawl, was one of the deadliest months in Metro Police history.

Gravel pit operation grinds on residents: Karen Frehner lives in a small subdivision on the south side of the Las Vegas Valley, virtually indistinguishable from similar communities throughout the region.

PUC criticizes Nevada Power 'yellow alert': A preliminary report prepared by staff of the state Public Utilities Commission released Tuesday criticized aspects of the April 14 "yellow alert" issued by Nevada Power Co. but stopped short of saying that the warning was unnecessary.

Business briefs for May 8, 2002: HOUSTON -- Dynegy Inc., one of the largest U.S. energy traders, said the Securities and Exchange Commission will request a formal investigation into the accounting of a natural-gas transaction.

MGM MIRAGE drops Andersen: Shareholders of Las Vegas-based MGM MIRAGE voted Tuesday to hire a new accounting firm -- parting ways with embattled Arthur Andersen as it deals with fallout from the Enron bankruptcy.

Pipe bomb suspect on suicide watch: Luke J. Helder was on a suicide watch in a Reno jail today after his father and an alert motorist aided in the pipe-bombing suspect's arrest Tuesday.

CCSN's black faculty feels left out: Jennifer Knight; Black faculty at the Community College of Southern Nevada reported being treated less fairly and with less respect than their white counterparts, according to a new study.

Unprofitable divisions cut: PDS Gaming Corp., announcing first-quarter earnings today, announced that it has discontinued its table games and slot machine exchange divisions and will focus instead on equipment sales and leases and the operation of a small downtown Reno restaurant and casino.

County map leaves off-roaders in the dust: Adrienne Packer; Equestrians and all-terrain vehicle owners have a precarious relationship: The horseback riders say four-wheelers are too loud, while the four-wheelers argue the equine community is pampered.

Child-sex case draws life sentence: Kim Smith; A 45-year-old Las Vegas man was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison Tuesday for sexually abusing three young girls in a case police discovered by mistake.

Trial delayed in baby's death: Chief Deputy District Attorney Doug Herndon said District Judge Donald Mosley postponed Derrick Inkton's May 13 trial until March after Inkton said Tuesday he's not ready to go to trial yet.

Swimmer 'Unsinkable' Browne dies: Long-distance swimmer Ivy V. Browne, who five years ago became the first woman to swim across Lake Mead, died last week at a convalescent home in Reno, her longtime residence.

Editorial: Army investigation is highly warranted: Last week when Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced he was killing the $11 billion Crusader Artillery System, some members of the Army provided "talking points" and other information to members of Congress who support Crusader. At first, Secretary of the Army Thomas White was suspected, but on Tuesday Rumsfeld said he was convinced the secretary was not to blame. An Army inspector general's investigation is under way to pinpoint those responsible.

The grape unknown: Society members will study no wine before its time: Did the pinot noir have a smoky aroma, or was there a hint of damp earth or strawberries?

Community briefs for May 8, 2002: The camp provides hands-on, interactive activities that encourage creative and collaborative solutions. Cost is $185, which includes snacks and a T-shirt. To register, call (800) 968-4332 or for more information, visit the website at www.invent.org.

Savvy wine buys: Caymus '00 Conundrum: Available at Las Vegas Wine Company and Marche Bacchus, $22.99.

Columnist Victoria Sun: Rebels hope spot in West pays dividends: Victoria Sun; Beyond pride, hardware and a two-tournament win streak, a lot was at stake for the UNLV men's golf team at the Mountain West Conference championships last week.

Columnist Peter Benton: Laverty defends his LVCC title with ease: Peter Benton; The Las Vegas Country Club's Club Championship, which concluded this past Sunday, saw each and every flight keenly contested.

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

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

Las Vegas-area pasta lovers are hitting the sauce: Max Jacobson; A good homemade pasta sauce can transform an ordinary dinner into a memorable one. But there are so many commercial sauces on the market, at prices that are more than reasonable and probably less than it would cost to make a sauce from scratch.

LV firm's stock falls 24 percent: Revenue fell 83 percent to $2.8 million. However, the company noted, revenue rose 17 percent from the fourth quarter of 2001, while net loss shrank significantly from the loss of $71.3 million posted during that quarter.

Nevada's failure to track medical data adds to crisis: Stacy J. Willis; While pregnant women worry about an apparent shortage of obstetric care in Southern Nevada, the state is not keeping tabs on the number of practicing obstetricians, nor of any other physician specialty.

Six hurt as workers clash with security at Circus Circus: Culinary Union leaders said today that at least six of its members were injured during a melee with security officers last week at a Circus Circus employee cafeteria.

Union alerts investors to labor troubles: As part of an effort to drum up national support for their bargaining position, Culinary Union leaders are spreading word of their heated contract negotiations with the casino industry to Wall Street investors and vendors who deal with casinos.

Ruling on land swap for Algiers delayed: Adrienne Packer; A proposed land swap between the Algiers hotel and Clark County was postponed Tuesday, in part because of a protest lodged by owners of the Circus Circus.

Carrier files for loan guarantee: The airline needs the $70 million loan guarantee for financing approved by Foothill Capital, a subsidiary of Wells Fargo Bank. The company's bankruptcy reorganization plan is dependent upon approval of the loan guarantee.

State says EPA's rules on Yucca fail to protect public: CARSON CITY -- The Environmental Protection Agency has failed to protect the public in setting the standards for containing radiation at the proposed nuclear dump site in Nevada, the state attorney general's office says.

FTC sues abs device sellers: Grace Leong; The Federal Trade Commission sued Tuesday in Las Vegas to block allegedly deceptive sales of "Abtronic" and "Fast Abs" systems -- electronic massage fitness belts purchased by more than 1 million Americans trying to lose weight and harden their abdominal muscles.

Postal food drive raises pipe-bomb concern: In the wake of a series of pipe bombs found across the country, Las Vegas mail carriers are being urged to exercise caution Saturday when they pick up canned goods during what has become the nation's largest one-day food drive.

Exec: Electronic commerce still growing: Chris Jones; A top executive from eBay Technologies said electronic commerce remains a thriving industry despite the recent failures of many once-prominent dot-com operations.

Rukeyser 'town hall meeting' attracts fans: Loyal viewers of financial commentator Louis Rukeyser's television shows say they've watched him Friday nights for the last 32 years because they think he has an unparalleled grip on the relationship between world events and financial markets and because he takes a common-sense approach to investing.

North Las Vegas names new finance director: Stoeckinger replaces Vytas Vaitkus, who retired in February after 19 years as the city's finance director.

Nursing students await decision on accreditation: Jennifer Knight; A snafu in the accreditation of a CCSN nursing program could leave 21 graduating students without a way to practice medicine.

News briefs for May 8, 2002: Henderson City Manager Phil Speight would likely become the highest paid city manager in the Las Vegas Valley if a raise negotiated Tuesday in a closed session is approved in July.

Giuliani to speak at Porter event: "I'm honored and grateful that Mayor Giuliani will be taking time out of his demanding schedule to support my campaign," Porter said in a campaign press release. "It will be inspiring to hear remarks from a man who provided so much strength and leadership during one of our country's most tragic times."

Correction: Correction

Subjects sought for research on smoking: By Emily Richmond; Nevada medical researchers conducting a landmark study on the effects of second-hand smoke on casino dealers say cocktail waitresses, floor workers and bartenders will also be sought to participate.

McDonald House Charities gives $71,000 in scholarships: Eighteen students received various amounts from the Future Achievers Scholarship Program. Fifteen Hispanic students each received $2,000 scholarships from the Hispanic Commitment to Education Resources. Ten students each received $1,000 in the exceptional students category.

Ruling on land swap for Algiers is postponed: For the last six months Algiers owner Larry Kifer has been negotiating a deal in which he would exchange his 3.5 acres for a 2.4-acre county-owned parcel at Harmon Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard.

Summerlin Sam celebrates birthday: The event will feature Hawaiian-themed activities, dance, games, performances, entertainment, storybook and children's television characters, cake and tropical punch, along with other Las Vegas mascots.

Meadows competes in Science Bowl in D.C.: The Meadows competed Sunday in the 64-team round-robin portion of the tournament but failed to win one of the 18 spots in the double-elimination finals of the 12th annual event sponsored by the Department of Energy.

Columnist Steve Addy: Spoonhour safeguards chemistry: Steve Addy; Charlie Spoonhour's first Rebels basketball team proved yet again that chemistry is nearly as important as talent, and that notion is serving as his compass on the recruiting trail.

McCallum honored for collegiate accomplishments: Steve Guiremand; Napoleon McCallum was still busy working past the normal 5 p.m. quitting time at his Digital Pro Graphics sign company in Las Vegas early Tuesday night when he took time to answer another phone call.

Bankruptcy Courts move across street: Jace Radke; The normally quiet halls of the George Federal Building are going to get busier this summer, with two Bankruptcy Courts scheduled to move into the building while the nearby Foley Federal Building is renovated.

League of Women Voters opposes Yucca: The League of Women Voters of the United States is opposing a high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

Candidate filings: Assembly

Ashcroft to check out task force: Jace Radke; The communication and synergy that have developed between Metro Police and the FBI since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks are on display today for Attorney General John Ashcroft.

County briefs for May 8, 2002: Attorney Karen Bennett-Haron, legal counsel for the Las Vegas Housing Authority, was appointed to serve as justice of the peace by the Clark County Commissioners Tuesday.

Attorney General resolves two Las Vegas financial cases: CARSON CITY -- Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa says her office resolved two criminal cases in Las Vegas on Tuesday -- one involving securities fraud and the other a false insurance claim.

PCL box: Las Vegas - Oklahoma: Time -- 2:50. Attendance -- 8,211.

Group works quietly on homeless policies: By Timothy Pratt; A state policy group on homeless families with children decided Monday not to pursue formalizing its status under the governor's office for the time being, affirming instead that its work begun late last year can continue without such a move.

Obituaries for May 8, 2002: Quirino C. Albano, 83, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in Las Vegas. He was born June 4, 1918, in the Philippines. A resident for 11 years, he was a retired school principal and a World War II Army Air Corps veteran.

Letter: Switch to desert landscaping is wise, practical: We went back a few months later and the grass was gone. In its place was beautiful desert landscaping. He told me it wasn't practical to live in a desert and have an East Coast lawn.

O'Neil says Nevada should get compensation for Yucca: Erin Neff; There's no suspense in today's House vote on Yucca Mountain for congressional candidate Pete O'Neil.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Gifts for Mom show great range: So what's the right gift? Depends on the mom and how well her offspring (and spouse) listen to what she says during the year. And I don't mean when she mutters about needing a new vacuum cleaner.

Letter: Great city needs a great pro team: Now, my two cents. Can't Las Vegas get a professional sports franchise for the city? I've lived in cities with minor league teams and it's, well, if you will excuse me, "bush league." Minor league teams don't generate great revenue.

Teen in school-threat case to waive extradition: Kim Smith; A Pahrump teenager has decided not to fight extradition from California and will soon return to Nevada to face charges of an alleged plot to blow up his high school.

Water wasters could be soaked by new fees: The Las Vegas Valley Water District is looking for people wasting water.

Guinn dodges specifics on taxes: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn says the state needs more tax revenue, but he won't say he favors a tax increase and he won't indicate where the revenue should come from.