Print edition for May 30, 2002

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Missing candidates' familiarity: Ruthe Deskin; Years ago I knew almost everyone who had the courage to toss their hats into the political arena. I could make decisions based on personal knowledge of the candidate.

Letter: Hotels, union work together for good of all: Many years and, in some cases, entire careers have been worked in our local hotels (I'm a 16-year Culinary member). Our good fortune will continue as both management and hourly employees work together. Greed has no place today or in five more years when these contracts run out.

Entertainer Lewis says he'll leave if Yucca OK'd: "We don't know all the damage that could come from storing it at Yucca Mountain," the 75-year-old Lewis said.

Tricked out: Magician Joaquin Ayala still captivated by his craft: It's magic in a flamenco sort of way.

No laptops for state lawmakers: CARSON CITY -- Lawmakers in the 2003 Legislature will have to make do with two-year-old computers.

Fight schedule: Friday

LV couple indicted in fraud case: Richard Larry Ridgeley and Deborah Ridgeley are named in the indictment that charges health care theft and money laundering.

Editorial: National Airlines seeks federal help: National Airlines, the Las Vegas-based carrier that ranks fifth in the number of passengers that fly in and out of McCarran International Airport, also has an application pending, though its amount, $60 million, is significantly less than that of rival America West. National, which filed for bankruptcy protection in December 2000, has tied its reorganization plan to approval of this loan. If National's application were rejected, and the airline had to severely curtail operations, Las Vegas itself would feel more than a ripple since the airline is a key link to cities on the East Coast. A source of reasonably ...

Lake Mead rangers looking for help: Some available positions:

Lennox gets ready for misfit Mike: Dean Juipe; Lennox Lewis sees himself in a position where he can do the world a favor.

Appeal in Rudin murder case goes to state Supreme Court: Kim Smith; Attorneys for convicted killer Margaret Rudin have filed a 222-page appeal with the Nevada Supreme Court asking that her conviction be overturned on 27 separate grounds.

Festival's goals are nothing to laugh at: No joke, Las Vegas could become the Comedy Capital of the World.

Letter: Bush's service questionable: Bush was a member of the Texas Air National Guard who, without notice, failed to attend any training meetings for a year and a half. Had this happened anywhere but Texas, and to anyone but a Bush, it would have, and should have, been labeled and prosecuted as desertion.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: More nightmares on way: Either that or all those people around the country and, especially, in the United States Senate who say that accidents will not happen because the government knows what it is doing, better wake up.

Letter: Give terror color codes meaning: At present, green means everything is fine -- go shopping, spend money you don't have, and pretend our country is in safe, competent hands. But then the colors progress to red, the worst color meaning "grab your families and run like hell for the hills."

Have no fear: Many more 100-plus days are near: It's official: Wednesday's high temperature reached 101 degrees, the first recorded high above 100 degrees this year.

Rodman, dealer settle lawsuit: CARSON CITY -- A settlement has been reached in the appeal of Dennis Rodman, who was ordered by a Clark County jury to pay $80,000 to a former craps dealer who said the former NBA star rubbed dice on dealer's head and groin.

Editorial: Accidents: like death and taxes: In Oklahoma, it was tragic enough that the barge accident killed at least 14 people. Imagine if the barge had been hauling nuclear waste, or if a truck carrying the lethal load had been passing over the bridge at the time of impact. How safe would the nation feel if a couple of tons of radioactive waste were submerged in the Arkansas River? In Texas, the Forth Worth Star-Telegram reported that the collision caused the trains to "erupt into a fireball that burned for several hours." The casks that will carry the waste -- could they emerge unscathed from such ...

Community briefs for May 30, 2002: The LandWell Co. Cure Asthma Golf Classic will begin with registration at 11 a.m. Monday at the Rio Secco Golf Club in Seven Hills, Henderson. The tournament will get under way with a shotgun start at 1 p.m.

Chaparral grad deployed with Navy to Philippines: Dick Benoit; Navy Cmdr. Kyle Cozad, Chaparral High School class of 1981, has deployed to the Philippines from Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, Wash. Cozad, son of Jim and Roberta Cozad of Las Vegas, is executive officer of Patrol Squadron 40, which flies the P-3 Orion anti-submarine and aerial reconnaissance aircraft.

County Commission considers formalizing JP appointments: Adrienne Packer; Clark County officials will recommend a formal process Tuesday to replace justices of the peace who leave the bench prematurely, action aimed to ensure the most qualified candidate is appointed.

Idaho utility firm to sell land corridor through Nevada: Idaho Power has hired Macquarie Corporate Finance, a unit of Australian investment bank Macquarie Group, to find buyers for the easement.

Columnist Cristyn Enea: Waffles and win cap trip: Cristyn Enea; ZEIST, The Netherlands -- Belgian waffles, chocolate and a victory. It doesn't get any better than that.

Addicts can recoup losses: However, since the $3 billion video poker business has been outlawed for almost two years, it is unlikely that gamblers could get any money, an industry attorney said.

Charges fly at hearing for Rosemont casino: Nicole Ziegler Dizon; CHICAGO -- Emerald Casino Inc. operated under a "virtual corporate culture of dishonesty" and all but guaranteed that organized crime would infiltrate a proposed casino in Rosemont, an attorney for the Illinois Gaming Board argued Wednesday at a hearing to revoke Emerald's gambling license.

Obituaries for May 30, 2002: Don Dayton Belden, 75, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. He was born April 15, 1927, in Chicago. A resident for 10 years, he was an Army and Air Force veteran for 20 years.

Vegas bank operator expanding in Florida: Colonial Bancgroup owns Colonial Bank, which operates more than 263 branches in six states. It has five branches in the Las Vegas area.

Developer to build retail center: Henderson-based CENTRA, which is in a joint venture on the project with landowner Mahacamu LLC, said the first phase of the $12 million project will consist of about 8,800 square feet. Retail pads will be sold or leased to users that include banks and fast-food restaurants, and space will be available for occupancy in the first quarter of 2003. The speculative project has no tenants lined up yet.

Governor calls for consensus, special session: Erin Neff; Gov. Kenny Guinn unveiled the latest emergency solution to the state's medical malpractice crisis Wednesday even as he admitted long-term measures will be both complex and difficult to achieve.

Insurer dropping Nevada coverage for mold: Chris Jones; Nevada's second-largest provider of homeowners' insurance will no longer cover claims for damages that result from mold or other fungi.

Big show rejects LV sales pitch: The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has failed in its bid to uproot a large computer exposition from Los Angeles.

Deposition to claim chopper engine was in earlier crash: Kim Smith; A helicopter engine company official is expected to give a videotaped deposition next week in which he will say the engine of a helicopter involved in a deadly crash last year was salvaged after an earlier crash.

Yucca advertising war heats up: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The advertising war over Yucca Mountain continues this week with a pro-Yucca Mountain advertising blitz in newspapers in four key states and new television commercials in Wyoming.

Business briefs for May 30, 2002: AUSTIN, Texas -- Cox Communications Inc. of Atlanta, the fifth-largest U.S. cable-television company, is being sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for allegedly creating a hostile work environment for Hispanic employees at a Texas office.

Culinary extends strike deadline 1 month: The Culinary Union on Wednesday extended its strike deadline until July 1 with 17 casinos that have yet to reach contract agreements.

Las Vegas seeking homeless shelter operator: By Timothy Pratt; The city of Las Vegas formally began its search for someone to run Southern Nevada's largest homeless shelter Wednesday, issuing a Request for Qualifications and ads in local media.

Terry Nichols' son, 19, hit with third arrest: Kim Smith; Joshua Isaac Nichols, the son of Terry Nichols, who was convicted in the Oklahoma City bombing, was arrested by Metro Police last month in connection with the alleged kidnapping and robbery of a local resident.

Western drought has upside for some outdoors enthusiasts: Jace Radke; Despite dropping water levels, visitors to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area have found at least one benefit to the drought that is gripping much of the West.

News briefs for May 30, 2002: A 13-year-old Henderson girl was eliminated today during the fourth round of the 75th annual Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

Musicians sound off on Yucca Mountain perils: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Veteran musician David Crosby has been an anti-nuclear activist dating to the nuclear energy industry's early days in the 1960s. So he has watched with interest as the government developed its proposal to bury waste from nuclear plants in the Nevada desert.

Striking drivers given ultimatum: A day after striking drivers rejected by a 492 to 39 margin a proposed contract with the company running the local bus system, the system's management company laid down an ultimatum: Come back to work or lose wage increases and medical benefits.

United Way hires executive director: Goulet, who has more than 28 years of experience working in the United Way system, most recently was CEO of the United Way of Muskegon County, Mich. Before that he was responsible for the fund development of the $25 million campaign in Dade County, Fla.

Senior ABC Masters: Second Round (12-game pinfall total)

Compromise made in labor dispute: Jeffrey Libby; The state labor commissioner on Wednesday issued a compromise settlement on behalf of five construction workers at the Henderson municipal parking garage, ordering a subcontractor to pay $11,530 in additional wages and penalties.

Vegas sports on TV/Radio: Thursday

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Scelzi quits Johnson team, may return to Top Fuel: Two weeks after stepping out of Alan Johnson's Toyota Celica Funny Car in favor of teammate Bruce Sarver, Gary Scelzi has left the team to pursue other opportunities in drag racing.

PCL box: Las Vegas - Tacoma: E--Clark. DP--Las Vegas 0, Tacoma 1. LOB--Las Vegas 5, Tacoma 6. 2B--Thurston, Crosby, Holbert. SB--Pose (5). CS--Bloomquist. SF--Clapinski, Barthol. SH--Thurston.

UNLV's Davis fails to advance at NCAAs: Davis, who could barely practice on Tuesday because of a nagging left hamstring injury, finished second in her heat with a time of 23.22. The winner of the four heats automatically advanced to Saturday's championship race along with the next five fastest times. But Davis' mark was 10th fastest overall.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Grant on slow road back to limelight: Dean Juipe; Craig Hamilton is surprisingly frank when discussing the former heavyweight contender he manages, Michael Grant.

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

Agassi advances with second-round victory: Fourth-seeded Agassi had a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 lead when David Sanchez retired in the second-round match.

It's Miller time for S. African brewer: Bruce Stanley; LONDON -- South African Breweries PLC will buy Miller Brewing Co. in a $3.6 billion stock deal that will make it the world's second-largest brewer, the London-based company announced today.

LV club team wins flight title: The team had hoped to repeat as the A Gold national champion, but was relegated to the A Silver flight by losing its opener in the bracket round Monday.

Ensign malpractice bill angers disabled patients: Dianne Meyer and Renee Williams cringe each time they hear the term "frivolous lawsuits" from doctors and others describing medical malpractice cases.

Council member claims political attack: Diana Sahagun; Las Vegas Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald says attempts by her council colleagues to question whether she violated a city communications policy is a personal, political attack designed to hurt her chances in her congressional race.

Banking on conventions: Allision Schlesinger; JOHNSTOWN, Pa. -- Is a flood museum enough to attract conventioneers? How about a fishing tournament? A minor league baseball team?

Nevada AP News Digest: AP; HEADLINES:

Columnist Ron Kantowski: 51s brass goes a little wilder: Judging from the ages of those scattered in the grandstand, it can be assumed that most Las Vegas 51s fans are either too young or too old to be regular readers of Rolling Stone magazine.

Tighter controls aggravate blood supply shortage: Southern Nevada's blood supply is in critical condition.

LV sports books offer many options for 2002 World Cup: Steve Addy; Bettors will have myriad opportunities to cash in during the monthlong World Cup, but they'll have to keep roosters' hours to sweat their action.

Rebels mired in 23rd: Victoria Sun; COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A heavy fog blanketed the Scarlet Course at Ohio State University early this morning, a day after UNLV's opening round of the NCAA Men's Golf Championships was halted because of a two-hour rain delay.