Print edition for September 18, 2002

List of winners at the 3rd annual Latin Grammy awards: AP; Latin Children's Album: "Xuxa So Para Baixinhos Vol. 2," Xuxa.

'CNN effect' would hurt Vegas casinos in war: A U.S. military strike against Iraq would surely rattle the Las Vegas economy, just as effects of the Gulf War damaged visitor volume in 1991, gaming experts say.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: MTV gives Vegas a (commercial) break: The product will be Las Vegas.

Woman, teens tell similar stories of sexual assaults: Kim Smith; Similar stories of sexual assaults told by six women and teenagers to grand jurors led to the indictment of a 22-year-old man, transcripts released Tuesday reveal.

City wants shopping carts corraled: Dan Kulin; North Las Vegas may join Clark County and Las Vegas in the fight against abandoned shopping carts.

Shots fired as man holds off police: Metro officers responded to a domestic dispute about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 2500 block of Pacific Avenue, Metro Officer Tirso Dominguez said.

Drug czar plans Nevada visit to fight pot question: By Emily Richmond; As Nevadans consider whether or not to support legalizing small amounts of marijuana through Question 9, the nation's drug czar is planning a two-day visit to the state as part of an aggressive campaign to defeat the measure.

Death penalty eyed in child's killing: Kim Smith; A committee of prosecutors will be asked to decide within the next three weeks if a 22-year-old suspected gang member should face the death penalty in the death of a 9-year-old North Las Vegas girl.

News briefs for Sept. 18, 2002: One of the four teenagers injured in an accident last month that killed a Centennial High School student remains hospitalized.

DMV office loses its cool, shuts down: By 3 p.m. on Tuesday the Henderson Department of Motor Vehicle building on American Pacific Drive was empty.

Community briefs for Sept. 18, 2002: United Studios of Self Defense, 8170 S. Eastern Ave., will offer a free anti-abduction child safety seminar from noon until 2 p.m. Saturday.

MAC schools out to prove they're not patsies: Steve Guiremand; NEXT UP

'Springfield Sam' faces high bail: Chief Deputy District Attorney Frank Coumou said he had asked Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman to hold Sam Manarite without bail, given his colorful background, but she agreed to bail.

Mileage tax deduction reduced: The tax agency lowered the standard mileage deduction to 36 cents per mile from 36.5 cents per mile this year for cars operated as part of a business. Costs for cars used for medical reasons or calculating deductible moving expenses dropped to 12 cents per mile from 13 cents. Mileage accumulated while volunteering at a charity remains at 14 cents.

New deadline for baggage screening gains momentum: The Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday is expected to approve the legislation and attach it to a broader aviation security bill. Panel member Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., is a leading proponent of delaying the deadline.

Jones says he 'flipped,' but hadn't meant to kill landlady: Kim Smith; In between his sobs and sniffles, Brett Jones insisted Tuesday he wasn't angry when his 67-year-old landlady ordered him out of her house last fall.

Tribe gets OK for casino near Sacramento: Don Thompson; SACRAMENTO -- The U.S. Department of Interior accepted a Northern California Indian tribe's site for a $215 million Nevada-style casino near Sacramento Tuesday, despite a pending legal appeal by two neighboring communities.

Andretti leaving CART to join IRL: Michael Andretti ended weeks of speculation when he announced Tuesday he would leave CART and join the rival Indy Racing League with Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan as his teammates for the 2003 season.

Consumer prices increase: The advance in the Consumer Price Index, the government's most closely watched inflation gauge, followed a tiny, 0.1 percent rise in July, the Labor Department reported today.

More than 300 stage disaster drill: More than 300 "victims" who volunteered are expected to participate in one of Southern Nevada's largest disaster drills on Thursday at Cashman Convention Center.

Analysts unveil top casino stock picks: John Mulkey, Bear Stearns & Co. (bonds): Station Casinos Inc.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Bizarro sports in Las Vegas: Let's see if I have this straight: On the parcel of downtown land where we were going to build a stadium/arena for major league sports, we're going to have something called chuckwagon races. And in the football stadium we already have, two black college powers located roughly 500 miles apart will instead square off about 1,500 miles from home.

Court overturns killer's death sentence: SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal appeals court has overturned a Las Vegas murderer's death sentence, ruling the man who stabbed a prostitute 45 times in 1986 did not get a fair trial.

Various charges to be filed in Thompson death: Kim Smith; An indictment was expected to be unsealed this morning against the 21-year-old Las Vegas man accused of causing the crash that killed Las Vegas Sun Vice President and Associate Editor Sandy Thompson.

Casino company bankrolls education: By Emily Richmond; Station Casinos executives handed out $250,000 in checks to 53 high-need elementary schools in Clark County on Tuesday, marking the second year in a row the gaming company has donated a quarter of a million dollars to boost educational programs at struggling campuses.

Letter: Office seekers need recourse: Unfortunately, that is what the public believes. The voters will accept any lie if it is not challenged by a lawsuit.

Greek Preview: Annual Greek Food Festival a delicious celebration: Their first major fund-raiser was a block party to celebrate the opening of the movie, "Zorba the Greek." The street in front of the downtown theater where the film was playing was shut off from traffic. Members of St. John's Greek Orthodox Church transformed the space into a Greek village, complete with spirited dancing and delicious food.

Nevada candidates in November general election: AP; "None of these candidates" also is on the ballot in all statewide elective races:

Finalists performing tonight at MGM: Kirk Baird; TV's must-see summer event, "American Idol," opens a nationwide two-month tour tonight in Las Vegas.

Obituaries for Sept. 18, 2002: Dorothy L. Aguirre, 78, of Boulder City died Thursday in Las Vegas. She was born Feb. 17, 1924, in Orange Field, Texas. A resident for 19 years, she was a homemaker.

Hotel students get trash talk: By Timothy Pratt; On Tuesday morning, about 30 University of Nevada, Las Vegas students, some of whom will one day become managers at the hotels within view of the campus, took a half-hour from their busy schedule to hear about garbage.

Editorial: Work with police to end killing: Gang-related violence has been going on for generations, so long that many people may be resigned to them. We urge people to resist the notion that gang killings are a way of life that is destined to continue. Just as the 9-year-old girl took action to save lives -- she also pushed her sister to safety -- residents can also take action. Nowhere is it written that the culture of gangs, the mentality that lights a killing fire inside rivals when they spot each other, must be passed on to the coming generations. Somewhere along the line that culture can ...

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Pick spots for sales shopping: It depends on what you're buying. I've already bought some terrific high-end gift items for moderate prices. Just remember to save all sales slips. With so many sales and so many fluctuating prices only a sales receipt will confirm the cost.

Prep Schedule: WEDNESDAY

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Education Hero Awards salute public schools: Elizabeth Foyt; A gala affair, the Education Hero Award dinner at Four Seasons celebrated what's best about our schools and paid tribute to Sen. Harry Reid, whose life was transformed by the power of education. Reid, a native of Searchlight, attended a two-room school in the mining community and later attended Basic High School in Henderson. His life in public service at both the state and federal levels has been filled with many actions on behalf of children and education.

Rebel women post shutout: With 23:20 on the clock, senior co-captain Cosette (Joffs) Packer scored her second game-winning goal of the season on a header at the center of the box off a deflection from senior Kelly Janke to put the Rebels on the scoreboard.

Letter: Bad drivers must be stopped from killing more: Seldom does a week pass that there is not al least one front page photo of an accident fatal to one or more persons. I do not have the answer or solution to this, but drivers pay absolutely no attention to stop signs or lights. At every intersection you take your life in your hands when you venture to cross.

Savvy wine buys: '00 Louis Jadot Beaujolais: Much better are real Beaujolais, which come from the same region in eastern France, and which also are vinified from the Gamay grape variety. The difference is, though, that these wines go through the entire vinification process, which give the wines more body, oomph and fruit.

Penalties upheld for UK, 'Bama: Alabama and Kentucky, a combined 5-1 this season, continued their losing streaks against the NCAA.

Columnist Victoria Sun: Exemptions offered to four for Invensys: Victoria Sun; The Las Vegas Founders has given Las Vegan John Riegger, Henderson resident Jeff Gallagher, former Florida star Bubba Dickerson and ex-Georgia Tech standout Bryce Molder sponsor exemptions to play in the PGA Invensys Classic here Oct. 9-13.

Editorial: Beltway needs more than just Band-Aids: But even the warning signals are just a baby step and don't address the underlying problem: the beltway's design, which is a frontage road pretending to be a freeway. Reckless drivers, traffic lights and ever-changing speed limits on the beltway all are factors that add to a deadly mix. Supporters of an advisory ballot question say that if the $2.7 billion tax initiative passes in November, $843.5 million would be devoted to completing the freeway within a decade instead of the 23 years it would take without the extra funding. Finishing the project in half the time is better than ...

Columnist Peter Benton: U.S., Europeans prep for Ryder Cup: Peter Benton; The 34th Ryder Cup matches will be played Sept. 27-29 at the DeVere Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, England. The matches had originally been scheduled for Sept. 28-30, 2001, but because of the heinous events of last Sept. 11, they were cancelled.

Get thee to this fall's Utah Shakespearean Festival: Marry Manning; In addition to the bard, there are a host of new activities for audiences ready to enjoy the extended autumn theater season.

Vegas firm refinancing debt: The redemption, and a canceled interest rate swap, are expected to reduce Station's annual interest costs by about $2 million or 2 cents per share.

Slots at racetracks hurting riverboats, report says: According to a state police report released Tuesday, the Lake Charles casino market took in $40.3 million last month, 15.5 percent more than $34.9 million won from gamblers in August 2001.

Boy, 1, killed by car in restaurant parking lot: The accident happened about 2 p.m. at the restaurant at 65 S. Valle Verde Drive, Sgt. David McKenna said.

UNLV project may face funds delay: CARSON CITY -- Despite pleas from UNLV officials, the state Public Works Board has recommended a two-year delay of funding for the university's $60 million science and engineering building.

Flexibility will be sought for DUI, domestic violence: CARSON CITY -- Bills that would lighten the sentences of people convicted of domestic violence or drunken driving are being prepared for introduction into the 2003 Legislature.

Donations raise issue of conflict in AG race: Erin Neff; Las Vegas attorney John Hunt said Tuesday that if he wins the attorney general's race, he will not be influenced by the $160,000 his campaign has received through connections with a mortgage company whose practices have been questioned in a complaint to the state.

CCSN cuts ties with black religious group: Jennifer Knight; A Community College of Southern Nevada task force has decided to sever its relationship with a black religious organization after questions arose about a $15,000 loan the group received from CCSN, sources said Tuesday.

Experts: Legal Internet gaming doesn't look likely in near term: While high-tech gaming advocates say a U.S. Justice Department advisory opinion against Internet gambling represents a significant setback for the industry, they're not ready to give up efforts to someday make cybercasinos legal in the United States.

America West asks for some National slots in Washington: America West Airlines has asked U.S. regulators to let the carrier take over two National Airlines slots at Reagan Washington National Airport, enabling America West to add flights to Las Vegas.

Gaming analysts bullish on Vegas: By Liz Benston; Wall Street analysts remain bullish on Las Vegas in spite of terrorist attacks that devastated tourism in the short run and a longer-term recession that has threatened many sectors of the economy.

IGT hopes to cash in on potential foreign markets: By Liz Benston; Southeast Asia has a population of 3 billion, mostly under age 30. It's also home to Macau, a small island off the Chinese coast that's making headlines as a potential boomtown for luxury casino resorts on par with Las Vegas' best.

Power struggle could stall animal shelter: Adrienne Packer; A proposal to build a regional animal shelter that proponents say will increase adoption rates and help reunite pets with owners might be stumped by arguments over which organization should operate the facility.

Circle the Wagons: Victoria Sun; STAMPEDE AT A GLANCE

North Carolina House kills lottery legislation: Gary D. Robertson; RALEIGH, N.C. -- The state House on Tuesday rejected legislation that would have let North Carolina voters have their say on whether they want a state-run lottery.

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