Print edition for October 1, 2002

Monday's prep results: BOYS TENNIS

Columnist Susan Snyder: Keeping abreast of bad ideas: First of all, the nurses wanted to kill me. They'd given me a shot of something to help me "relax," and wheeled me into the operating room. With arms widespread so they could insert various tubes and needles, I looked up and said, "Weeeeell, you got me lying here like Jesus Christ, now what're we gonna do?"

Luck of the draw: Howard's 'Stars of the Strip' struggling to get noticed at Lady Luck: What do three of the more talented entertainers in town have in common?

Tuesday PMs: AP; HEADLINES:

Wednesday's horse racing entries: OAK TREE MEETING

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Finally, you've got to pay for Rebel home games: What do you get when you turn down the sound on the golf matches from England and pop some house-cleaning classic rock into the CD player?

Community briefs for Oct. 1, 2002: The American Cancer Society is looking for 150 volunteers to help with its third annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer pledge walk.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: A homeland security law: S.1291, along with S.121, which establishes an Office of Children's Services within the Department of Justice to coordinate and implement government actions involving an unaccompanied alien, and S.672, for further protection of alien children, shouldn't be placed on a back burner. These proposed laws are every bit as important as discussions about war and security. They certainly should be considered vital to our national security and the internal strength of our country that only education and justice can provide. This is true homeland security.

Letter: Government is trespassing: The 1987 legislation was against Nevada and Nevadans, and the 1863 Ruby Valley Treaty legislation effort was against the Western Shoshone Nation. Both involve Yucca Mountain, which, under the 1863 Ruby Valley Treaty, is included as Western Shoshone land.

Murder suspect's mother missing: Kim Smith; The elderly mother of William Rundle -- a Las Vegas man suspected of murdering his wife -- hasn't been seen in five years, causing concern among the detectives who are still searching for the missing Rundle.

Obituaries for Oct. 1, 2002: Kathe E. Byrne, 82, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local care center. She was born March 19, 1920, in Hanu, Germany. A resident for 53 years, she was a homemaker.

Letter: Thank the Republicans for dismal economy: So we can thank them for an economy that is down the tubes, a stock market that keeps going lower and lower, an increase in poverty and home foreclosures, a decline in the average annual income and the possibility of a war in Iraq that could end up involving the entire Middle East.

Gambling addict's misery detailed: Ron Cordes knew he needed help with his gambling addiction the day he pulled out a loaded pistol and considered using it to take his own life.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Robinson shoulders the blame: Dean Juipe; Greeted by a standing ovation upon his introduction at Monday's UNLV football luncheon, head coach John Robinson used the opportunity to personally accept responsibility for his team's shoddy play.

Acid spill ties up U.S. 95 traffic: Jace Radke and Jennifer Lawson; Two offramps of U.S. 95 at Charleston Boulevard were closed during rush hour this morning after 200 gallons of hydrochloric acid spilled from a tractor-trailer.

Unemployment tax may not increase: CARSON CITY -- The state's unemployment trust fund has a $477 million balance and on Monday it met its solvency test.

Double-decker buses to operate on Strip route: Launce Rake; The Regional Transportation Commission will bring two new bus projects to Southern Nevada today, part of a month-long customer appreciation event.

Red Rock developers scrap project for now: Developers have scrapped -- at least for now -- a controversial project to put as many as 8,400 homes on top of a mountain adjacent to the Red Rock National Conservation Area.

Fatal crash puzzles accident expert: Kim Smith; An accident reconstruction expert who investigated the crash that killed Las Vegas Sun Vice President and Associate Editor Sandy Thompson said he is puzzled by certain aspects of the crash.

News briefs for Oct. 1, 2002: Metro Police have arrested a suspect in the shooting death of Danny Johnson, 39, of Las Vegas.

South Carolina becoming latest Powerball state: Amy Geier Edgar; IRMO, S.C. -- Renard Walker will be standing in line when the first Powerball tickets go on sale in South Carolina next weekend.

Old park will get new life: About 30 residents living in the historic Huntridge neighborhood said Monday night they are concerned about traffic, security and homeless people sleeping in Circle Park and that they support a $1.6 million upgrade to the park.

Terror insurance at issue: Lawmakers have to reconcile a House proposal to offer insurers loans for claims related to a future terrorism act over $10 billion with a Senate proposal that wouldn't require insurers to pay back the money. They're also trying to work out differences in legal liability and proposed limits on punitive damage claims in the bills passed by each chamber.

State's biggest health insurer severs ties with obstetricians: The state's largest managed-care insurer has parted ways with an unspecified number of local obstetricians in a dispute over the amount of money the physicians are reimbursed for services.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Smaller fuel cells to be used at Talladega: In an attempt to break up the big packs of cars that are commonplace in restrictor-plate races, NASCAR is reducing the size of the cars' fuel cells for Sunday's Winston Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway.

Weather delaying move by marina: The Las Vegas Bay Marina is moving about 14 miles south of its current Lake Mead location to get away from sediments flowing from Las Vegas Wash that are engulfing its docks.

Editorial: 'Smart' technology may have dumb side: As USA Today reported Monday, three suppliers of the smart bags have pulled their products off the market due to safety concerns. One air-bag maker, Siemens, says a foolproof system can't be devised because passengers shift around in their seats -- making an adult appear to be a child -- and children placed in heavy child seats can appear to be adults to the "smart" air bags. So you could have either not enough force or too much force -- both potentially deadly -- if the "smart" air bags don't comprehend what the actual size of the passenger is.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Santa Anita: Wednesday's card

Rebels' Magliulo wins weekly honor: Magliulo recorded her first career hat trick in a 4-2 victory over Cal State Northridge Sunday. She became only the second player in school history to record a hat trick and holds the school record for most points in a game (7).

Las Vegas firefighters expected to get new pact: By Ed Koch; The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday will consider the four-year pact that, if approved, will cost the city $3.8 million extra for 2002-03.

Defense: Teen's statements coerced: Kim Smith; A Las Vegas teen suspected in a killing and a series of rapes was coerced into implicating himself by Chicago detectives who threatened to beat him with a phone book, his defense attorneys say.

Better high school access sought: Adrienne Packer; Clark County officials hope providing better access to Centennial High School will discourage students from using dangerous construction truck routes where a 16-year-old student was killed a month ago.

Vegas closure report denied: Kimiko Haight, communications manager of the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum and the Guggenheim Las Vegas, said there are no plans to shut down either gallery, which opened in 2001.

Events in the Sacramento area: AP; 10 a.m., SACRAMENTO - Davis administration officials release the 2002 HMO Quality Report Card rating 10 of the largest HMOs in California, at the governor's press office weekly briefing, Capitol, room 1190. Contact: Steve Maviglio.

Burleson key to air attack: Steve Guiremand; NEXT UP

Reid knew nothing about Torricelli dropping campaign: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., never offered Senate Majority Whip Harry Reid any signal that he would abandon his re-election campaign, the Nevada Democrat said today.

Court briefs for Oct. 1, 2002: A 22-year-old Las Vegas man was given a no-parole life term Monday in the February 2000 shooting death of a 58-year-old man.

Letter: More people support Gore: The al-Qaida killed Americans and that's who we should be going after, not a third-rate desert kook!

Aladdin sales plan to be distributed to creditors: Attorneys representing the Aladdin hotel-casino said Monday they will begin distributing a draft plan for the sale of the $1.2 billion Strip resort within a week.

PCS chief replaced: Lauer, 45, who has led Sprint's global markets group for two years, will replace Charles E. Levine, 49. Levine is retiring after leading the wireless division for two years, the company said.

Firm to sell sign subsidiary: C.E.I. is headed by Mikohn employee Mark Johnson. Current Mikohn employees will also join Johnson as co-owners of the business.

Voter registration deadline near: The Clark County Registrar of Voters says people who have not registered by then cannot vote in the general election.

Medicare benefits change proposed in Senate bill: By Timothy Pratt; Thousands of Nevada's senior citizens may get a breather if a Senate budget plan presented today passes in the coming weeks, a staffer for Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said.

Pardee builds '50-hour house' in North Las Vegas: A 400-person construction team started the project Monday and by Friday more than 600 people will have worked on the house.

Editorial: Bill would weaken state court: The bill would override the authority of states to set their own standards for their juries and courts when deciding medical malpractice cases. For example, the bill would limit juries to awards of no more than $250,000 for noneconomic damages. A physician's total financial culpability would be limited to the percentage of error for which he was responsible. Jurors would be told of other insurance payments the victim has received. A timetable for lawsuits would be set. In all ways relating to a medical malpractice lawsuit, federal standards and procedures would dictate a state's legal procedure. The role of state ...

Roger, Davidson trade sharp words in DA debate: Erin Neff; A third-party candidate joined David Roger and Mike Davidson on stage Monday night at a district attorney's debate, but neither of them paid much mind to him, or to some of the questions -- for that matter.

Animal group wants deadline for new shelter selection extended: An animal welfare coalition wants Clark County to take additional time to consider potential regional animal shelters other than the Lied Animal Shelter, which it opposes.

School workers union challenges order: By Emily Richmond; The union for the Clark County School District's support employees will be in court today, challenging a labor board's order for an election that would give workers the opportunity to choose new representation through Teamsters Local 14.

Sheriff's debate focuses on change: Erin Neff; Metro Police Capt. Randy Oaks used two department policies Monday to highlight his bid to be an agent of change and cast his opponent for sheriff as part of the current administration.

Vandals strike signs again: Erin Neff; The signs still show the happy bride and groom urging you to protect marriage.

House to vote on Internet gambling: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The House today was poised to vote on a plan aimed at banning Internet gambling by outlawing the use of credit cards, checks, and wire transfers to place online wagers.

Federal mediator to join talks: Both sides returned to the bargaining table Monday, with the promise of a federal mediator to join today. The labor crisis comes as importers scramble to bring in merchandise for the holiday shopping season.

Suit against former casino owner settled: The defendants in the case are the Gary E. Primm Family Trust and Gary Primm, chairman and chief executive of Primadonna Resorts Inc. until it was sold in 1999 to MGM Grand Inc. -- now known as MGM MIRAGE. Primadonna Resorts owned the three casino hotels in Primm, on the California border.