Print edition for April 8, 2003

CEO to resign as chairman: The Journal reported that Barbakow will continue as CEO and his departure from the board after the next annual meeting will leave the 10-member board without any management representatives.

Panel favors exempting casinos from smoking ban: By a 10-1 vote, the Business and Labor Committee sent the measure to the Senate floor for debate Thursday.

News briefs for April 8, 2003: Henderson Police are searching for a 38-year-old man wanted for allegedly tying up a woman he once dated and sexually assaulting her for two days.

Powerball winners enjoy money in different ways: Andrew Nelson; WATERTOWN, S.D. -- When Bev and Jack Kasdorf of Estelline became instant millionaires two months ago, worries about high medical costs kept them from quitting their jobs.

Barnes hits stride as 51s overcome Edmonton: By the third time 51s first baseman Larry Barnes stepped to the plate against Edmonton starting pitcher Sun Woo Kim Monday night, he had an inkling about seeing a changeup or two.

Skyhawks win battle against strong Bulldogs: Adam Candee; Silverado's No. 2 pitcher showed Monday why the Skyhawks are the No. 1 team in town.

Monday's prep results: Boys' Volleyball

CBS anchor Schieffer calls war coverage 'extraordinary': Bob Schieffer, anchor and moderator of CBS News' "Face the Nation," said Monday that technology is bringing the war in Iraq onto living room TV screens in a way that was impossible when he covered Vietnam as a reporter.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: DiCaprio's event snub tees off Baldwins: And as a result, Daniel Baldwin wants to confront Leonardo DiCaprio and "kick his ass."

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Kansas, postgame interview were off the mark: With all those missed free throws, turnovers, blown opportunities and general sloppy play, it would be hard to identify One Shining Moment from Monday's NCAA championship game.

NDOT gets permanent director: CARSON CITY -- The state Transportation Board this morning appointed Jeff Fontaine as permanent director of the Transportation Department, which is in charge of hundreds of millions of dollars of road construction.

Broadcasters weigh regulation, war issues: The nation's broadcasters kicked off their annual convention in Las Vegas Monday with an agenda filled with regulatory issues involving digital television and media ownership.

CBS' Schieffer: Bush has not linked terrorism to Saddam: One of the main reasons President Bush has given for the invasion of Iraq is also his weakest reason to date, the moderator of CBS News' "Face the Nation" said Monday in Las Vegas.

Prior-injuries list OK in abuse trial: Erica D. Johnson; When 20-month-old Samantha Storm was beaten to death nearly six years ago, it wasn't the first time she'd suffered traumatic injuries at the hands of her alleged abuser, jurors will be told.

Work crew finds burning body: The work crew was driving down Lake Mead Boulevard about 2:10 p.m. when they saw smoke coming from behind a foothill and thought it might be a brush fire, Metro Homicide Lt. Tom Monahan said.

Columnist Jeff German: Blowing smoke in our faces: State lawmakers, while kowtowing to the rich tobacco and casino industry lobbies, are not only showing insensitivity to our health, but they are ignoring the wishes of the voters, who last year approved two ballot questions calling upon the lawmakers to toughen anti-smoking regulations.

Senate urges UNLV and UNR to join same league: Senate Concurrent Resolution 19 also said the schools, if they get in the same conference, should try to schedule their annual football game as close to Nevada Day, Oct. 31, as possible.

Barrera doesn't feel pressure vs. Kelley: Dean Juipe; As the best fighter in the world at 126 pounds, Marco Antonio Barrera is in a position where he has to protect himself. He has been in some big fights and others of equal importance await.

Casino operator selling notes: Park Place will use the funds raised through the sale to pay bank debt, sources said. Bank of America Corp. and Deutsche Bank AG are managing the sale, which may conclude today or tomorrow, the people familiar with the transaction said.

Casino builder's shares jump: The shares rose $1.61 to $5.60, the highest closing price in 11 months, at 4:17 p.m. New York Time in American Stock Exchange trading. They have gained 26 percent this year.

War, rates factor into home-buying decisions: Jennifer Shubinski; Real estate experts say homes are still selling in Southern Nevada despite the war with Iraq and a slight increase in mortgage rates -- but they're warning those factors could lead to a local slowdown.

Casino to grow despite lawsuit: JR Ross; MADISON, Wis. -- The Forest County Potawatomi plans to offer more slot machines at its Milwaukee casino within weeks as it moves ahead with plans to double its size after federal officials approved its amended compact, a tribe official said Monday.

PCL box: Las Vegas vs. Edmonton: Attendance--1,528. Time--2:38. Umpires: HP--Dowdy; 1B--Bullock; 3B--Kelley.

Fund-raiser turns bad for coach: Adam Candee; Dave Castro thought that selling hot dogs and sodas at the recent NASCAR race in Las Vegas might be a good way to raise money for his Eldorado football team.

ACLU says anti-tax activist protected by First Amendment: Jace Radke; The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada has challenged a federal judge's temporary restraining order that makes it illegal for an anti-tax activist to sell a book promoting the idea that federal income tax is voluntary.

CEO defends latest request to hike rates at Nevada Power: Kevin Rademacher; Nevada Power's $195 million rate case got under way Monday with the company's top executive fielding questions about long-term contracts signed during the height of the Western power crisis.

Tax plan to get first hearing: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Senate Bill 382, a proposed alternative to the gross receipts tax, will get its first public hearing late this afternoon, and major opposition was lined up to provide testimony against the bill.

Magazine closing: Magazine closing

CEO gives up chairman post: Barbakow will remain chief executive officer, said Tenet, owner of Lake Mead Hospital in North Las Vegas.

Obituaries for April 8, 2003: John Bellomo, 86, of Las Vegas died Thursday in Las Vegas. A resident for 20 years, he was born Feb. 19, 1917, in War, W.Va.

More bad news for scholarships: CARSON CITY -- State Treasurer Brian Krolicki delivered more grim news Monday for the Millennium Scholarship, saying the program could come to an end even sooner than expected.

Cities' voters go to polls: By Timothy Pratt; Election results will be covered live tonight after polls close at 7 at the following:

High schoolers testing today: By Emily Richmond; Veronica Alvarez, a junior at Desert Pines High School, has what she needs to succeed when she takes the mathematics section of the statewide proficiency exam this morning -- chocolate chip granola bars.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Fan Man nabs headlines one final time: Dean Juipe; This is just exactly the kind of attention that James Miller always wanted. It's his name in print and a column written about him.

Airlines cut fares: United spokesman Chris Brathwaite said the nation's No. 2 airline was matching Delta's prices in competing markets. Northwest also matched the Delta fare sale in markets where the airlines compete, spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch said.

Feds move to close LV firm: Grace Leong; The Federal Communications Commission, which had levied a $1 million fine in 2001 against NOS Communications Inc. of Las Vegas over its alleged fraudulent billing practices, is now seeking to revoke the operating license of NOS and two affiliates and to impose additional fines of up to $1.2 million.

Snowpack, reservoir numbers show West in for long, dry summer: AP; "The Bible says if God's people would humble themselves and pray, he would heal their land," said Knisley, a farmer.

Critchfield adds imposing size to UNLV's 'O' line: Steve Guiremand; After watching his team get manhandled up front by physical teams like Utah and New Mexico in recent years, UNLV coach John Robinson has made a recruiting effort to beef up his offensive and defensive lines.

Slot maker acquires patents: The company is already paying Eagle Co. to license the patent on some of its machines, including "The Price is Right," "Harley-Davidson" and a new progressive game version of its "Quartermania" series.

Stock clerks approve contract: The contract, tentatively reached last month, was approved by 88 percent of the voting employees. Terms were not disclosed. The contract affects about 55 employees. They manage parts and supplies for aircraft.

American Indian casinos launching PR campaign: Erica Werner; PHOENIX -- Indian leaders discussed tribal gambling's benefits and how to promote them Monday, acknowledging Indian gambling has encountered some opposition even as it has grown to a $12.7 billion industry.

DOE withholding Yucca funds: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Energy Department is withholding money that Congress set aside in the last two years for Nevada and nine counties to use in oversight of Yucca Mountain, officials said.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: First IROC victory brightens Busch's weekend: Kurt Busch may have slipped a spot to third in the NASCAR Winston Cup standings with his 19th-place finish Sunday at Talladega, but it still turned out to be a memorable weekend for him.

NDOT to get permanent director: CARSON CITY -- The state Transportation Board was expected to select Jeff Fontaine today as permanent director of the Transportation Department, which is in charge of hundreds of millions of dollars of road construction.

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

Legislative briefs for April 8, 2003: A bill allowing the state to turn over Floyd Lamb State Park to Las Vegas was approved by the Senate Government Affairs Committee on Monday.

Letter: AB464 should not be passed: Well, they just keep trying, don't they? Sadly, this one looks like a winner.

Editorial: Big answer needed for little planes: Coinciding with the airport's growth is nonstop urban growth. The airport's surrounding roads -- Cheyenne and Simmons avenues, Rancho Drive and Decatur Boulevard -- are laden with residential and commercial development, as are the rest of North Las Vegas and northwest Las Vegas. Also growing are airplane accident statistics that are making many neighbors of the airport nervous. Paul Von Rueden, president of the Northwest Area Residents Association, told Las Vegas Sun reporter Timothy Pratt last week that growing neighborhoods and growing numbers of flights overhead are a bad mix.

Letter: Israel has tried to make peace with neighbors: Mr. Hutchinson is correct that Israel has controlled the West Bank for a number of years. What he fails to mention is that Israel gained control of the West Bank and Gaza Strip not out of desire but as the end result of a war where its neighbors tried to destroy it. Since that period of time Israel has tried to negotiate with its neighbors to secure peace. In fact, Israel has a history of reaching peace accords with neighbors who have a genuine interest in making peace.

Community briefs for April 8, 2003: National Youth Service Day will be held Friday through Sunday with the intent to mobilize youth to identify and address the needs of their communities through service; recruit the next generation of volunteers; and educate the public about the year-round contributions of young people as community leaders.

Time honored: NAB lauds '60 Minutes' creator Hewitt, Disney chief Eisner: Kirk Baird; These who's-who of broadcast journalists were either eulogizing a colleague or paying homage.

Committee OKs generic drug bill: CARSON CITY -- A bill that would make it easier for pharmacists to sell generic drugs has been approved by the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee.

New Eagle Scouts are announced: Kyle Mitchell Amos, 18; Kent Ryan Deaver, 17; Bryan H. Gifford, 16; Gary Nicolas Hardy, 15; Kyle Duane Henrie, 15; Bradley Jay Isle, 17; Micah Donald Knipple, 13; Stephen James McArthur, 18; Matthew Gerald Mahlstede, 16; John Daniel Malan, 18; Aaron Ray Remer, 14; Harrison James Reynolds, 18; Jeffrey Dale Oswald, 18; Jesse Salmon-Tippetts, 17; Matthew David Schvaneveldt, 16, all of Las Vegas; and Tyler Sorenson, 17, and Steven Raynold Davis, 18, both of Henderson.

Return of screening panel in malpractice cases urged: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Trial lawyers Monday attacked a proposal to resurrect screening panels in medical malpractice cases, saying the bill -- sponsored by an assemblyman who is a doctor -- would jeopardize the law the Legislature passed last year.

Spinal-pain hospital approved by panel: CARSON CITY -- Over the objections of the Nevada Hospital Association, a Senate committee voted 6-1 Monday to allow a spinal injury treatment and pain management hospital to open in Las Vegas.

Silver State honors go to crimefighters: Award winners are Harrah's Senior Coalition; Adrienne Angelini, victim advocate for Reno Police; and Christy Sanchez, a clerk at Lunt Elementary School in Las Vegas.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Key role for military: Over the years, the State Department has sold itself as the good guys who help heal the wounds of war and the rehabilitation of battered nations. Little is said about the wars and minor military actions that have resulted from diplomatic failures. Let's not forget the false impressions that our ambassador gave Saddam Hussein about the U.S. not being overly concerned if he would invade Kuwait in 1990. Maybe she had good reasons to believe this to be true because our country was doing big business with Iraq in previous months and years.

Columnist Susan Snyder: DeCastros are voices for all time: The DeCastro Sisters -- Peggy and Cherie -- still call themselves the "Cuban bombshells," and still tear it up on valley stages.

Editorial: Insurers are rightly a focus of scrutiny: Buckley's bill would require the insurance commissioner to refuse rate hikes if insurers have committed fraud, insured physicians who had multiple malpractice claims against them, or if the companies are found to have been mismanaged. The issue of a company's management is important: Should doctors suffer because an insurance company was poorly run? Insurers, which had significant investments in the stock market, suffered losses following the recession that began in 2001. Insurers raised premiums to help recover some of their losses -- just as they have done in previous recessions.