Print edition for October 28, 2002

Editorial: Some cuts just aren't adding up: Parole and Probation, for example, must cut $900,000 from its budget, which means a hiring freeze, office closings and cutbacks in its drug-testing program. This agency, which monitors convicts put on parole or probation, will also have to cut its $50,000 annual contract with HELP of Southern Nevada, which finds community service projects for probationers. This cut could mean an end to sentences of parole and community service, meaning that prison sentences could dramatically increase. The math is there for the figuring -- parole and community service is vastly more cost effective than time in prison.

Review: Pavarotti sings a fond farewell to Las Vegas: Marilyn Larocque; How do you "review" an opera icon whose 40-year-plus career redefined "superstar" in the opera world and even today, at age 67, brings audiences to their feet, cheering, whistling and applauding with all their hearts?

Tips for wearing contact lenses: Here are some tips from Dr. Thomas Knoll, a Las Vegas optometrist:

Letter: Cuts would kill program for sick children: This program is for severely emotionally disturbed children who need mental hospitalization. An example would be a 10-year-old boy who kills the neighbor's dog because he is angry.

Thompson family feels the impact of marijuana: Erica D. Johnson; Kelly Thompson used to think that marijuana should be legalized. Then her mother, Sun Associate Editor and Vice President Sandy Thompson, was killed in August in a car crash caused by a driver under the influence of pot.

NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals: At The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Strong fields made for great Breeders' Cup: Ralph Siraco; How'd he do?

Family reaps benefit of win by Hart: Adam Candee; The record will show that J.W. Hart of Marietta, Okla., won the Professional Bull Riders World Finals on Sunday at the Thomas and Mack Center on Sunday.

Immunization schedule for Oct. 28, 2002: HENDERSON PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 129 W. Lake Mead Drive, Building A, Suite 10, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Birth announcements for Oct. 28, 2002: Oct. 11:

Trends for Oct. 28, 2002: Lisa Ferguson; So, this is the year you've decided to finally think beyond triangles and get fancy with your pumpkin carving.

Community briefs for Oct. 28, 2002: The Women's League of Temple Beth Shalom will host its Hanukkah Boutique from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Sunday at 10700 Haven Wood Lane.

Lyin' eyes: Eye-catching costume contact lenses popular for Halloween: Kirk Baird; WildEyes are colored contact lenses with patterns. Novelty lenses, in other words.

Review: McCartney brings his trip back to the Strip: Spencer Patterson; For 15 minutes, Paul McCartney's Saturday-night Las Vegas appearance looked frighteningly as if it were set to become one of the year's most overblown affairs.

Obituaries for Oct. 28, 2002: Margaret Barja, 74, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. She was born Feb. 17, 1928, in California.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Week has a lot in store for Las Vegas: This will be a week of nonstop parties in anticipation of Friday's grand opening of store upon store in and around Fashion Show mall.

Editorial: Bush doesn't really care about reforms: But now that the political heat from the issue has died down, President Bush has reneged on his commitment to beef up the SEC, urging Congress to provide the agency with 27 percent less funding than what the new accounting reforms had authorized. Bush's failure to keep his word is a disgrace. It also is discouraging that the SEC has rejected the near-universal choice of reformers -- including many of those on Wall Street -- to head a new oversight board of the accounting industry. The SEC passed over John Biggs, the head of a large pension system, after pressure ...

Letter: Bush shuns peace and our ethos: We now have an administration that blatantly proposes war as a means of settling disputes. America has been turned upside down; and I am sure that President Jimmy Carter, the present Nobel laureate, agrees 100 percent with the "kick in the leg to Bush" remark made by Gunnar Berge of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

Nevada leader in wind-power push: Erica D. Johnson; Nevada is leading the West in plans to develop wind energy projects on federal lands, a spokesman for the Bureau of Land Management said.

Rebels fail to show up in crucial second half: the numbers; First Quarter: Tied, 7-7

Three wrap up titles on LVMS drag strip: Larry Dixon, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Angelle Savoie wrote their names in the NHRA record book Sunday -- and each added exclamation points.

Guest Columnist Larry Dixon: Muldowney helps Dixon to first championship: When I was asked to share my thoughts about our race weekend, I never could imagine the kind of weekend we would have.

Correction: The Sun regrets the error.

State report urges healthier senior lifestyles: CARSON CITY -- Nevada's system for caring for its frail and disabled senior citizens is strained, and new efforts must be made to encourage residents to follow healthier lifestyles, according to a state task force.

BLM sale could lead to 15,000 homes: The Bureau of Land Management will offer 45 parcels of land in the Las Vegas Valley for sale Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. in the Clark County Commission chambers, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. Money from the sales supports environmental and recreational purposes, schools and other Nevada needs.

Rebels' defense worn out by SDSU: Steve Guiremand; SAN DIEGO -- UNLV linebacker Adam Seward, like a number of Rebel defensive players, was glad that he'd be getting an extra hour of sleep from Saturday night to Sunday.

Reid backs proposed choice of Mondale: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he would help Minnesota Democrats hold onto the seat of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, and Reid supports the propsoed choice of former Vice President Walter Mondale to take Wellstone's place.

No more rain seen in LV's near future: By Timothy Pratt; The showers, which fell from about midnight to 7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, brought a little over a quarter of an inch of rain, bringing the year's total to 1.25 inches -- or about a third of what's normal for the area. Last year, 3.77 inches fell over the valley.

Local sports calendar: WEDNESDAY

Discount ticket booth opening on the Strip: The company announced an agreement with a subsidiary of the Coca-Cola Co. to sublease space for the booth adjacent to Coca-Cola's landmark five-story glass bottle in the Showcase Mall. Coca-Cola is also a marketing partner in the deal and will promote Cinema Ride's ticket business. Financial terms of both deals weren't disclosed.

UNLV's Chong takes consolation bracket: UNLV's Chong takes consolation bracket

Columnist Dean Juipe: Series lacked excitement, TV viewers: Dean Juipe; Unrepentant to the bitter end, that's me and this gone and soon to be forgotten World Series.

Marnell disappointed in showing at home: After testing at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in preparation for the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals, Pro Stock driver George Marnell said he felt he had a good chance to win his hometown event.

Vegas resort in litigation over 'Colosseum' name: Las Vegas-based Park Place sued Cyrus Milanian and his company, The New Las Vegas Development Co. LLC, from claiming rights to the Colosseum trademark.

Two men killed today outside billiards room: Jen Lawson; Two men were killed in the Commercial Center on Sahara Avenue near Maryland Parkway just before 5 a.m. today.

Rebel men cruise to easy win vs. Air Force: UNLV improved its record to 10-5 overall, 3-0 MPSF and last captured 10 victories in the 2000 season. Two conference road matches are up ahead for the Rebels as they challenge league leader San Jose State on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Sacramento State on Sunday at 1 p.m.

U.S. to hear appeal on Connecticut Indians: Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said the decision, announced Friday, is significant because it allows the state and three southeastern Connecticut towns to bring up alleged flaws in the Bureau of Indian Affairs determination.

McDonald's opens first in-store LV restaurants: In Business Las Vegas, a sister newspaper to the Las Vegas Sun, reported in its Oct. 25 edition that McDonald's opened at Wal-Marts at 2310 E. Serene Ave. and 201 N. Nellis Blvd on Oct. 10. A third McDonald's is scheduled to open at 3041 N. Rainbow Blvd. in about two weeks.

WMS reports earnings drop: The company earned 2 cents per share -- 1 cent short of analysts' average estimates -- compared to 18 cents a year ago.

News briefs for Oct. 28, 2002: A 30-year-old man was in serious condition today at a local hospital after falling Sunday into a shaft in Sandy Valley.

Accidents mark holiday weekend: A 29-year-old woman was killed Friday in a three-car collision near Lamb Boulevard and Heller Drive.

PT Mining sold, may be expanded: The casino, known as PT Mining Co., will adopt another, as-yet undetermined name following the transaction.

Hopefuls express dedication to job: Jen Lawson; Randy Oaks

Alden issues public apology for remarks about Howard: Jennifer Knight; Regent Mark Alden issued a public apology for referring to the university board's only black regent as an "orangutan" on a local radio show.

84-year-old woman is rescued from house fire: Erica D. Johnson and Dan Kulin; An 84-year-old Las Vegas woman said today that even though she was "petrified," she kept her wits and contacted the fire department as smoke filled the Las Vegas home where she had resided for 31 years.

Golf course runoff cause for concern: Jeffrey Libby; For miles the shrubby greasewood of the Eldorado Valley runs brown and parched, but down the hill south of U.S. 93 and the man-made 400-foot waterfall at Park Place Entertainment's Cascata golf course, the ubiquitous desert plant grows thick and green, pungent like after rain.

Victim of fatal shooting is identified: Mitchell managed to drive away from the parking lot of the Town and Country Manor, an apartment complex at 4311 Boulder Highway, after several shots were fired at the car.

Nevada Power, Water Authority tap bond market: The $250 million general and refunding mortgage notes will yield 12.125 percent and have been rated Ba2 by Moody's and BB by Standard & Poor's, both below investment grade.

Prep Schedule: TODAY

Yucca Mountain center of debate by candidates: Erin Neff; Rep. Shelley Berkley said Sunday night in a live televised debate that if Democrats took over the leadership reins in the House of Representatives, Yucca Mountain would be dead.

Were you an hour early to work ?: Erica D. Johnson; Randy Rhodes was more than an hour early Sunday to watch the Oakland Raiders take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

Study: Powerball estimates may be too high: Dale Wetzel; BISMARCK, N.D. -- Estimates that the Powerball lottery would raise at least $13 million for North Dakota's treasury every two years may be too generous, according to an analysis of lottery figures from other Midwestern states.

Groundbreaking set for new Wynn project: Company officials confirmed today what Wynn vowed to do months ago -- that he would begin construction as soon as his financing package was in place.