Print edition for May 15, 2002

Vegas sports on TV/Radio: Wednesday

Scientists probe mystery illness at UNLV: Federal and university scientists are trying to discover why 15 employees of an Environmental Protection Agency laboratory at UNLV have been ill for the past two years.

Guinn must make cuts of $40 million to budget: CARSON CITY -- In the next six weeks Gov. Kenny Guinn must decide where to cut $40 million from the $1.7 billion budget to keep the state financially healthy.

Berkley takes leadership post: House Democratic Whip Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., asked Berkley to be one of her at-large whips, and Berkley accepted, starting the new job effective immediately.

Health fund key to Culinary talks: In a bid to avoid the first strike on the Strip in 18 years, the Culinary Union and the hotel industry are essentially fighting over how best to keep the union's $300 million health and welfare fund afloat.

Attorney: Water available to build power plant: CARSON CITY -- Studies spanning 30 months show there is enough underground water available to supply a proposed $650 million power plant in Lincoln County without harming neighboring towns in Clark County, an attorney said Tuesday.

Long-lost ring's return yields lessons for life: Jeffrey Libby; During a Sunday gathering at the sprawling Canyon Ridge Christian Church, Pastor Jim Evans holds up his high school graduation ring for a classroom of single Christians.

Community briefs for May 15, 2002: The second annual Charity Motorcycle Run to benefit the Foundation for Positively Kids will begin with registration at 9:30 a.m., followed by the race at 11 a.m. Sunday at Vegas Thunder Cycle, 2245 N. Decatur Blvd., Suite J.

Drivers union, CAT schedule new session: Bus drivers and the management company for the Citizens Area Transit system will meet Thursday to resume negotiations on a new contract.

Columnist Victoria Sun: Keever having a ball as LPGA Tour rookie: Victoria Sun; The fate of Stephanie Keever's LPGA rookie season hinges on how she performs at the Asahi Ryokuken International Championship this weekend in North Augusta, S.C.

Sexual assault in jail detailed: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by a corrections officer while in jail last year said she was too afraid to report the incidents at first.

Maxed out: 'Cosmic' artist Peter Max shows his true, patriotic colors: Kirk Baird; After seeing live on tele-vision the plane crash into the second World Trade Center tower, Peter Max, who lives in New York, did what he almost always does: He painted.

Court briefs for May 15, 2002: The Nevada Supreme Court Tuesday reinstated the death penalty for John E. Butler, who was found guilty in the killing of two members of an anti-racist skinhead group in Las Vegas.

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

Poster brings national attention to Clark County Museum: Las Vegas artist Christina Wilkinson did not enter her digitally produced poster "Spirit of Place" with hopes of earning honorable mention in the prestigious National Preservation Week Poster Contest.

PCL box: Las Vegas - Iowa: WP-- Sinclair.

Editorial: Pact between U.S., Russia offers hope: Still, the treaty is a step forward -- however cautiously -- and a far cry from the arms race during the Cold War. If President Bush and President Vladimir Putin build on the trust that they appear to have for each other, stricter accords than the one they expect to sign next week could be in the offing. Russia, which has supported the United States in the aftermath of Sept. 11, seems determined to improve relations with the West. In the interest of greater stability around the world, Russia's integration with other industrialized nations is essential.

Events spread out this year: George Frein will portray John Adams (in retirement) from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Moyer Student Union (second floor), and at noon Friday at the Lloyd George Federal Courthouse, 333 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Carlsbad built on family fun: Carlsbad is a wonderful escape from the summer heat of the Las Vegas Valley. In addition to luxurious resorts there are sun-splashed beaches, three beautiful lagoons and a quaint downtown village. The lagoons are tranquil and pristine, providing a haven for a wide variety of wildlife.

Columnist Peter Benton: Montgomery wins Pro-Am: Peter Benton; Perfect weather course conditions greeted 185 players from across the country last week who competed in the 17th annual Jerry Holley's All World Sports Spring Pro-Am.

American history comes alive during annual chautauqua: Small turnouts and financial considerations have brought the Nevada Humanities Committee's annual chautauqua program indoors this year.

Savvy wine buys: Seghesio '00 Sonoma Zinfandel: Available at Lee's Discount Liquors, $14.99.

Editorial: Educators answering to investors: Clark County School District officials say that if Edison was forced to leave it wouldn't cause too much disruption. All the teachers are employees of the school district, and the district would revert back to its prior management before the takeover. In addition, the district claims that the $1.4 million in improvements that Edison has made at the seven schools, such as new computers, would stay even if the company pulled out.

Artists to feature trashy creations at home show: Home show

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Executives brainstorm during hospitality summit: Elizabeth Foyt; Recently The Venetian, with The Rio, hosted the Millennium Hospitality Summit, a four-day conference led in great style by Cornell University's Hotel School. With alumni in key positions at luxury properties around the world, a virtual brain trust of talented hotel executives, gaming leaders, restaurant developers and other professionals made their way to Las Vegas.

$5.5 mil. released for fight against Yucca: CARSON CITY -- The state Board of Examiners Tuesday released up to $5.5 million to continue the television and media fight against a nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain.

Italian polenta is a mush must: Max Jacobson; Polenta means mush in Italian, and this once-lowly food is evolving into a popular and filling American side dish. It has always been a delicious option to rice or potatoes, and the popularity of northern Italian cooking has made it more visible on the American food scene.

Work to start on renewable-energy exhibit hall: Jeffrey Libby; A long-planned renewable energy exhibition hall in Eldorado Valley, southwest of downtown Boulder City, could break ground within 18 months.

Local star carries Pirates: Alan Robinson; PITTSBURGH -- In only three days, Green Valley's Chad Hermansen has reminded the Pittsburgh Pirates of exactly why he was their most prized prospect for nearly six years.

Gwynn and bear it: Steve Guiremand; After winning eight batting titles, five Gold Gloves and amassing more than 3,000 hits during his 20-year major league career, it would be easy to understand if Tony Gwynn spent the next few years traveling, playing golf and waiting for his Hall of Fame induction call.

Columnist Steve Addy: Sanctions have hardly hurt Rebels: Steve Addy; There has been no press release and no victory parade along Maryland Parkway, but it's looking more like UNLV actually beat the NCAA in last year's men's basketball probation case.

Death penalty will be asked in 2 cases: Kim Smith; The Clark County district attorney's office said it intends to seek the death penalty for two people accused of killing family members.

Public-private teamwork tried on senior care: Diana Sahagun; Despite a setback earlier this year, Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley and Sen. Harry Reid are pursuing plans to develop an affordable housing complex for seniors in the Las Vegas Valley.

New domestic strife stops Bobbitt boxing: Keith Paul; John Wayne Bobbitt, who gained notoriety when his then-wife cut off his penis while he slept, remained in jail this morning after being charged with beating his new wife.

Obituaries for May 15, 2002: Betty L. Alexander, 85, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. She was born May 10, 1917, in Taylorville, Ill. A resident for 25 years, she was a retired office manager for a pharmaceutical company and a homemaker.

DNA links inmate to woman's death: Kim Smith; A 29-year-old man facing murder charges in connection with the slaying of an 84-year-old Las Vegas woman was tied to the crime by DNA evidence and his own statements to police.

Bulldogs swinging big bats in 2002: Spencer Patterson; As a sophomore at brand new Centennial High School in the spring of 2000, Chris Bonnell wondered how long it would take before the Bulldogs became a state tournament-caliber program.

Term of proposed Sprint rate increase under review: The compromise stipulation on Sprint Corp.'s proposed rate increase has hit a snag as the presiding officer for the case has asked the company and intervenors to reconsider the length of the agreement.

Colonized: Africanized bees have set up permanent residence here: Jace Radke and Mary Manning; State officials and experts are warning people that Africanized bees, often called "killer" bees because of their ferocious attacks, are now a permanent part of Southern Nevada.

Strip resort appealing ADA order to correct violations: Disabled Rights Action Committee member Tamara Thompson, who is a wheelchair user, sued the hotel-casino in U.S. District Court, alleging guests with disabilities don't have a choice of sleeping accommodations and bathroom facilities that are accessible to the disabled.

Letter: Ex-president's speech excellent: Clinton's speech was excellent. The crowd of 6,000 was full of enthusiasm, warmth and support for the former president.

Chap, Basic meet for volleyball title: Chaparral rallied for a thrilling 9-15, 15-11, 15-12, 9-15, 15-13 victory over Centennial Tuesday night, setting up a rematch with Basic in the 2002 NIAA/ U.S. Bank 4A State Championship.

Union official says strike would cause big gaming tax loss: Nevada's struggling state budget could lose $800,000 in gaming industry taxes for each week Las Vegas hotel workers remain on strike, a Culinary Union official said Tuesday.

2 years trimmed from sentence: Jace Radke; A reputed Chicago mob associate will spend 13 years in prison instead of 15 after being resentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Philip Pro Tuesday.

Reid's spokesman to leave: Naylor, a former deputy press secretary for Democratic Presidential contender Al Gore, likely will pursue a job working for a Democratic campaign, acting press secretary Tessa Hafen said.

Letter: No wonder we can't capture Osama bin Laden: Myers' response clashes with George W. Bush's well-known "Wanted: Dead or Alive" statement of last September, but it is in harmony with the president's more recent assertion that "I am not that concerned about him -- bin Laden."

Grand jury indicts Weber: Kim Smith; A Clark County grand jury has returned an 18-count indictment against a Las Vegas man who spent more than three weeks on the run from police after his girlfriend and her teenage son were found slain in their home.

Internet gambling revisions supported by casinos: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The gambling industry's top lobbyist agreed to support an Internet gambling bill Tuesday after the House lawmaker who is pushing the legislation apparently agreed to key changes allowing such gambling in Nevada.

Shakeup hits 'Net music firm: Chief Executive Konrad Hilbers and co-founder Shawn Fanning both stepped down Tuesday after the company's board rejected an agreement to be acquired by German media company Bertelsmann AG -- raising the possibility that the Internet pioneer might go under.

Casino developer wins right to domain names: Wynn and his company Wynn Resorts LLC, which said they own the Wynn and Wynn Resorts trademarks, sued four Californian registrants of the domain names "wynnresorts.com, "stevewynnresorts.com," "wynngaming.com," "wynncasino.com." Wynn also sued the Canadian registrant of "wynnproperties.com" and the Carnegie, Pa.-based registrant of "stevenwynn.net."

Finances improve for Stratosphere: Operating income at the north Las Vegas Strip property, owned by financier Carl Icahn, rose to $2.77 million. Revenues increased 13 percent to $37.2 million, but net income declined 40 percent to $831,000.

Letter: Admiration of Clinton puzzling: He did the same thing under oath -- this was not just a sleazy lawyer from Arkansas lying, this was the president of our United States. Mr. Clinton makes hundreds of thousands of dollars as a public speaker, and he obviously tells each audience what it wants to hear.

Bankruptcy warning highlighted as Sierra Pacific loses $303.9 million: David Strow; The parent company of Nevada Power Co. reported a massive loss Tuesday and blamed the shortfall on Nevada regulators' partial denial of its rate hike request in March.

Neighborhood cafe opens in Summerlin: Neighborhood cafe opens in Summerlin

Body of victim of boat accident found in lake: The body of Fred Caracciolo was found by using sonar equipment in 141 feet of water, officials said.

Relative supports Lobato defense: Kim Smith; The stepmother of a 19-year-old Panaca woman accused of beating and stabbing a homeless Las Vegas man to death last July said the teenager was home in Panaca the night the man died.

Judge OKs extension for Aladdin bankruptcy plan: U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert Jones granted the extension when none of the $1.2 billion resort's creditors opposed the request. Jones is giving the company until Aug. 1 to develop the plan.

UNLV players chosen for academic team: UNLV players chosen for academic team

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Man on Indy pole got superspeedway start in LV: Indianapolis 500 polesitter Bruno Junqueira has come a long way since that January morning last year when he tested his Target/Chip Ganassi Racing Champ car on the 1.5-mile oval at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

RTC to consider hike in sales tax for projects: The proposal would bring Clark County's sales tax to 7.5 percent, up from 7.25 percent. The proposal would scrap a previously contemplated raise in the gasoline fuel tax and changes in the cost and frequency of mandatory smog tests on cars.

FTC claim denied: United Fitness of America LLC, its manager George Sylva and another Fast Abs distributor, Tristar Products Inc. of Parsippany, N.J., were accused of making false claims about the effectiveness of the belt.

City plans technology corridor on Cheyenne: Cheyenne Avenue for years has had the reputation of being good for just two uses -- big warehouses and desert brush.

Body found under floor identified: Wilson was reported missing in February from his apartment in the 500 block of South Maryland Parkway. Metro Police are searching for Gregory Michael Stiegler, 36, who had been living with Wilson. They are not calling him a suspect.

State to settle for $2.4 million in fatal car crash in Arizona: CARSON CITY -- What started out as a misdemeanor traffic stop in May 2000 ended up in a fatal crash that is costing the state $2.4 million.

Henderson police await extradition of slaying suspect: Keith Paul; Shao Lei Liu suspected what her fate may be when she left work early one morning in February, so she made sure that someone knew who she was going to see.

Democrat Meyer files for governor: Meyer, 42, said Tuesday government must reduce its size and get rid of a lot of policies and procedures.

City, county share homeless financial load: Adrienne Packer; Elected officials in Clark County and Las Vegas spent the past year blaming each other for financially abandoning the homeless, but figures show nearly equal contributions from both sides.

Panel polishes pitch for college president: Jennifer Knight; Nevada State College at Henderson wants to make a good first impression on candidates to serve as the school's president.

First CCSN library director, history buff Gafford dies: Frank Hall Gafford, a man who lived and loved history, died Friday while holding a piece of it in his hands.

Giuliani helps Porter bring in campaign dollars: Erin Neff; Republican congressional candidate Jon Porter cashed in on post-Sept. 11 hero worship this morning with the help of the leader in the eye of the storm on that day of terror.

Clapinski has 4 RBIs as 51s defeat the Cubs: Todd Greene and Bubba Crosby hit run-scoring singles in the first inning and Clapinski hit a two-run home run in the second as Las Vegas took a 4-0 lead against Mike Wuertz.

Seneca tribe approves plan for casinos in N.Y.: Carolyn Thompson; CATTARAUGUS INDIAN RESERVATION, N.Y. -- The Seneca Indian Nation on Tuesday approved a deal with the state to build casinos in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, moving forward a key element in a historic gambling expansion undertaken by the state to raise new revenues in the wake of Sept. 11.

Candidate filings: Congress

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

Alta Drive project to begin: Starting Monday Alta Drive will be closed to traffic between Rancho and Campbell drives. The closure will remain in effect for about two months, although access will be maintained for area residents.