Print edition for October 3, 2002

Nevada could be drug haven if Question 9 passes, police say: Jen Lawson; Nevada could become a haven for drug dealers if Question 9 passes, Southern Nevada police officials said Wednesday at a rally against the initiative.

Polls: Many oppose Conn. casino: Susan Haigh; HARTFORD, Conn. -- Hours after two polls were released showing strong opposition to a third casino in Connecticut, the state attorney general Wednesday called for a special legislative session to repeal a statute that paved the way for the Foxwoods Resort and Mohegan Sun casinos.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Bernstein not conceding in final season: Kenny Bernstein, in his final season as driver of the Budweiser King Dragster, wanted to retire with a third NHRA Top Fuel championship.

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

Editorial: There's a solution to road jams: We view this latest report as reflecting the same conclusions that have been repeatedly drawn by other studies, and which would be drawn by anyone inclined to analyze Southern Nevada's traffic. Of particular note in all the studies is the conclusion that improvements cannot be limited to road building and road widening. The future will be no better than the present unless there's an aggressive plan to simultaneously expand our options for mass transit. Bicycle lanes, better technology for managing traffic and more attention to sidewalks are also key to a comprehensive plan.

Prep Standings -- Boys Tennis: CLASS 4A

Candidates and their supporters become fiesty: Erin Neff; A debate between district attorney candidates Mike Davidson and David Roger airs on Las Vegas ONE, Cox cable channels 1 and 39, at these times: Tonight at 8 p.m.; Friday at 2 a.m.; Saturday at 9 a.m.; and Sunday at 3 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sun political columnist Jon Ralston, Sun reporter Erin Neff and George Knapp are the panelists.

Catching up with ... BRIGID TURNER: High School: Clark ('99)

MGM Mirage launches online casino for gamblers outside U.S.: AP; The site is open to all for free play, but only gamblers in six countries outside the United States can bet real money.

UNLV hosts Nevada in battle for Fremont Cannon: AP; While the Wolf Pack is using memories of last year's loss to the Rebels as motivation for Saturday's intrastate matchup, UNLV Coach John Robinson is hoping his team can put the past behind it and concentrate only on the future.

Community briefs for Oct. 3, 2002: Faith Lutheran Junior and Senior High School will hold its second annual scholarship fund-raising dinner Saturday at the JW Marriott.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Omission noted on power list: Ruthe Deskin; That could be the title of a book featuring the men and women who have shaped the destiny of our state, particularly Clark County.

Prep Standings -- Football: CLASS 4A

Editorial: Federal government cracks down on gifts: The gifts that drug makers dole out to win the loyalty of doctors and pharmacists often are much more than key rings and pens. It's been reported that some doctors have received expensive meals and even weekend trips to beautiful locations. While wining and dining of clients has come to be expected in much of the business world, it's just plain wrong -- and now potentially criminal -- for doctors and pharmacists to engage in this conduct.

Fight schedule: Friday

Tapia stripped of IBF title: Dean Juipe; When Johnny Tapia steps into the ring Nov. 2 to face Marco Antonio Barrera at the MGM, he'll do so without his International Boxing Federation featherweight title.

Prep Standings -- Boys Soccer: CLASS 4A

Sun Prep Athetes of the Week: Melvin Matlock and Lauren Bucherie: Melvin Matlock

Wednesday's prep results: GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Past, present and future aircraft will come to life: Jace Radke; Nellis Air Force Base will open its doors this weekend to allow the public to get an up-close look at the country's prized warthogs and Eagles.

Carry that Wait: NPR loosens up with popular quiz show: Kirk Baird; So what's the program doing on the somewhat stodgy National Public Radio?

Sun Boxing Ratings: (With WBC, WBA and IBF champions identified)

Letter: State turns its back on disabled in budget cuts: Despite statements that the cuts are not as "draconian" as they seem because of reported increases in the 2001 budget, nothing could be further from the truth.

Prep Standings -- Girls Tennis: CLASS 4A

Columnist Dean Juipe: Jimenez takes full-time shot at boxing: Dean Juipe; If there were any catcalls directed toward Miguel Jimenez during his Aug. 17 fight with Joe Calzaghe in Cardiff, Wales, one of them may have been the trusted standby "Don't quit your day job."

Letter: Public power is not the answer: Refinancing Nevada Power's debt may, in the short term, provide a benefit to customers in Southern Nevada, though there is no guarantee of that. Over the long term, however, all a public power takeover will ensure is that current customers would be mortgaging the futures of their grandchildren by taking on such a large indebtedness without fixing the fundamental problem that got Nevada Power in hot water to begin with -- a shortfall in generating capacity at peak times and weaknesses in the Western transmission system.

Well-rounded Palo Verde gets nod over C-M: Adam Candee; Teams ranked jointly by the Sun and the Sparks Tribune

Veterans giving free phone cards to those serving overseas: Dick Benoit; The Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation, through the Air Force Aid Society, is providing phone cards and other items to overseas service members and their families at home.

Labor dispute closes auto plant: The sole glimmer of hope came with word that dockworkers' union representatives and shipping lines would resume federally mediated contract talks this morning. The stalemate has stopped all commercial shipping at 29 ports in California, Oregon and Washington.

Friday's horse racing entries: OAK TREE MEETING Post Time 1 p.m.

Figure in fatal car bombing convicted in drug case: Jace Radke; A man who authorities believe might have information about a 1972 car bombing that killed a former FBI agent was found guilty Wednesday of drug conspiracy and distribution charges.

Letter: Let's have high voter turnout: Some of these politicians are counting on a low voter turnout. Let us fool the heck out of them. How you vote is up to you, but please vote.

Prep Standings -- Girls Volleyball: CLASS 4A

Government tightening rules: Pro forma figures, which exclude costs such as merger expenses, grew popular in the 1990s stock boom as technology companies tried to cast their finances in a more favorable light. About 1,500 companies used pro forma results in press releases last year before filing official reports under generally accepted accounting principles, according to industry estimates.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Thinking before acting: There is no debate over Saddam Hussein being an international criminal, and his demise would be good for the world. The only questions that must be answered are the following: Is he a clear and present danger? Will key members of the United Nations support our position during a war? There has been little doubt that Great Britain and Israel see the threat of Saddam, but too many others are dragging their feet. In Germany it became a bitter issue during that country's recent national election.

Let the jockeying begin: Adam Candee; There really is no extra motivation necessary when Durango and Bishop Gorman see each other listed as the opponent.

Prep Standings -- Girls Golf: CLASS 4A

NLV passes own shopping cart rule: Dan Kulin; North Las Vegas joined Clark County and Las Vegas in the fight against abandoned shopping carts Wednesday night.

Heller, AG meet on Hunt complaint: CARSON CITY -- Secretary of State Dean Heller planned to meet with the attorney general's office today to talk about how to handle a complaint that attorney general candidate John Hunt violated Nevada's campaign laws.

Friendly rivals to reunite: Steve Guiremand; NEXT UP

City relunctantly to hand over $900,000 in fines: The Las Vegas City Council reluctantly agreed Wednesday to pay nearly $1 million to the state of Nevada in overpaid city parking fines after the state Supreme Court said it had to.

Builder of justice center files notice with county: Adrienne Packer; The construction company building the Regional Justice Center submitted a legal notice to Clark County commissioners claiming delays caused by defective specifications and poor oversight could cost the company $26 million.

Stash the coats again; dry, warmer weather returns: The brief, cold storm that felled trees, kicked up dust and dropped some rain in the Las Vegas Valley helped the area set a new temperature record Wednesday.

Chat room sting nets suspect: Jace Radke; A California man who allegedly came to Las Vegas last week to have sex with a teenage girl he met in an Internet chat room has been arrested by the FBI.

Help for nuke test workers expedited: Dorothy Clayton, widow of a Nevada Test Site worker, has been waiting two years to receive benefits promised by the Energy and Labor departments.

Obituaries for Oct. 3, 2002: Robert E. Barber, 86, of North Las Vegas died Friday in a local hospice. He was born March 14, 1916, in Indiana. A resident for 58 years, he was a retired heavy equipment operator at Nellis Air Force Base, a World War II Army Air Corps veteran, a member of Acacia Masonic Lodge 49, Daylite Lodge 44, Scottish and York Rites, Shrine Temple, North Star 33, Orders of the Eastern Star and Daylite Order of the Eastern Star 30, the Elks and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Las Vegas City Council briefs for Oct. 3, 2002: Calling it a fair agreement, the City Council unanimously approved a four-year pact for the city's firefighters that will cost taxpayers $3.8 million beyond what had been budgeted.

Heller waiting for Hunt to respond: CARSON CITY -- Secretary of State Dean Heller said today he is going to write a second letter to attorney general candidate John Hunt to ask him to respond to allegations that he violated Nevada's campaign law.

McDonald describes threat: Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald says he has been threatened with political retribution if he does not back off an investigation into contracting practices of the city's Housing Authority, which he chairs.

Police visited home before: Jen Lawson; Henderson Police and a social service agency had been to the home where a 1-year-old child was found dead Tuesday night but investigators said there wasn't enough evidence for them to step in on previous visits.

Fremont Street claim still pending against Binion's: By Liz Benston; A shortfall in funds required to pay off gamblers at Binion's Horseshoe was primarily caused by a temporary shortfall in cash used to cash payroll checks for employees, a Binion's official said Wednesday.

Bank's LV branches sold: Kirk Kern; San Francisco-based First Republic Bank is selling its three retail branches in Las Vegas to 1st National Bank of Nevada so First Republic can focus on full-service private banking, investment management and trust services.

Share sales disclosed: Topfer sold the shares for $15.51 a share. After the transaction, he directly owned 508,432 common shares.

Tax task force reaches decisions on new revenue: CARSON CITY -- Renting a video, playing a round of golf or spending time on the bowling lanes would be taxed under a proposal adopted Wednesday by the governor's tax task force in its efforts to solve the growing financial problems in state government.

Canyon air tour firms in limbo: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- After 15 years of federal government foot-dragging, bureaucrats still have not set rules governing the noisy flights of tour planes over the Grand Canyon, and tour operators remain in limbo, a North Las Vegas tour company executive told a Senate panel today.

General manager leaves post: Hunsucker was replaced this week by Larry Serna, who has worked for Sahara owner Bill Bennett since Bennett bought the property in 1995. Serna also worked for 10 years under Bennett at Circus Circus Enterprises, the company Bennett co-founded in 1974.

North leg of beltway to open: Dan Kulin; The piece of the Las Vegas Beltway connecting U.S. 95 to Interstate 15 in North Las Vegas will open to traffic tonight, and some area elected leaders say the new road will spur development in the surrounding desert and ease traffic on nearby roads.

Doctors group seeking changes in malpractice law: Emily Richmond and Cy Ryan; The group, calling itself "Keep Our Doctors in Nevada," wants exceptions to caps on jury awards for pain and suffering thrown out and new limits put on attorneys' fees, organizer Dr. Rudy Manthei of Las Vegas said. The new legislation offers too much room for interpretation, something that makes insurance companies unwilling to insure doctors, he said.

Analyst upgrades stock: The rating change reflects appreciation in the company's stock, analyst William Schmitt said. "Sector Performer" means the stock is expected to perform in line with peers during the next 12 to 18 months.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Cannon fodder increasing: If UNLV and Nevada-Reno aren't careful, they just might wind up with a rivalry after all.

News briefs for Oct. 3, 2002: Four people were taken to University Medical Center with minor injuries after a six-vehicle crash shortly before 9 a.m. today on U.S. 95 near Rancho Drive, the Las Vegas Fire Department said.

Gaming probe subject gets city license: Jace Radke; Previous state investigations of alleged mob connections didn't keep a former Strip hotel executive from getting a city liquor license.

$6,000 reward offered in deaths of two dogs: Dan Kulin; A $6,000 reward is being offered for information that helps convict whoever duct-taped the legs of two dogs and threw the pets into a pool behind a North Las Vegas home last month.

Agency to review policies: By Timothy Pratt; One of the agencies that had a fleeting chance to notice impending danger and prevent the death of a 1-year-old girl named Sierra earlier this week is questioning its own policies after receiving news of the tragedy Wednesday.

Past, present and future aircraft to be on display: Jace Radke; Nellis Air Force Base will open its doors this weekend to allow the public to get an up-close look at the country's prized warthogs and Eagles.

Second director quits at veterans nursing home: Jeffrey Libby; The state's newly opened Southern Nevada Veterans Nursing Home has lost its second director in less than a month. Interim director Ray Heath resigned over pay issues.

Park Place stock down on earnings shortfall: By Liz Benston; The stock of Park Place Entertainment Corp. fell 10 percent this morning on news that the company's third-quarter earnings would fall short of earlier estimates, primarily due to poor results at its Caesars Palace resort in Las Vegas.