Print edition for April 14, 2003

Osbourne projects independence at Huntridge: Spencer Patterson; When: Friday.

Zombie film a lifeless 'Corpse': Glenn Whipp; Grade: *

Editorial: Threats not related at all to patriotism: It can be considered patriotic for people to write congressmen or this newspaper or to peaceably demonstrate -- no matter what position they take on an issue. But to oppose France's position by threatening someone is the opposite of being patriotic. People show their patriotism by obeying the law, not breaking it. Assaults and threats show a total lack of respect for this country and everything it stands for.

Letter: Most of informed Americans were against this war: The administration refuses to tell us how many civilian casualties were caused by our weapons of mass destruction. (Fifty percent of Iraqis were under the age of 15 when the war began, according to reliable news sources. We were killing and maiming children). How many allies were killed?

Play Pens: Writing implements becoming more ambitious, fun and imaginative: Kirk Baird; Novelty pens might just be the cure.

Letter: Why wasn't China boycotted?: Gee, when China knocked our RC-135 aircraft out of the sky and then held the air crew hostage while they scored propaganda points, I don't seem to recall these "intellectual giants" advocating the boycott of Chinese products or renaming Chinese fortune cookies freedom fortune cookies. Maybe these "intellectual giants" decided to overlook that ugly incident, because, after all, China does have one of the most efficient totalitarian police states on earth.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Pahrump offers lesson in planning: A three-story crane building was among the first signs that Pahrump's first master-planning effort wasn't going according to plan.

Editorial: Ignoring the will of the people: The harmful and, sometimes, deadly effects from smoking are well-known. There is nothing wrong with state government setting a floor for tobacco regulation, but it should let local governments impose stricter standards if they desire. State lawmakers shouldn't meddle in issues that properly are the domain of local government, which is more responsive and better equipped than a part-time legislature. The lobbyists who represent cigarette companies obviously have the ears of some legislators. It's shameful that not enough senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee listened to the voices of the residents from the state's two most populous counties.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Sun Lite for April 14, 2003: Lisa Ferguson; It's a couple of weeks into April. Still, we're willing to bet we're the first to wish you Happy National Garden Month.

Retail strength aids B of A, Citigroup, profits: Eileen Alt Powell; NEW YORK -- Buoyed by strong retail banking performance, Citigroup today reported first-quarter earnings above analysts' expectations.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Evel Knievel relives big break at Caesars: Before there was Celine , there was Evel.

Legislature briefs for April 14, 2003: A new tax on clubs that feature nude or topless dancers has been deleted from its original bill, but the tax may come up again in other legislation.

Asian attendance at LV show drops; SARS cited: Attendance is expected to be off for the annual NetWorld+Interop computer convention in Las Vegas later this month, with the number of Asian delegates projected to plunge 90 percent as SARS and economic problems limit international travel.

Local news briefs for April 14, 2003: The Henderson Fire Department is investigating two fires that occurred over the weekend less than six hours apart in the same apartment building.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Frankel has two shots to snap Derby skid: Ralph Siraco; "Broadway Bobby" is living large and heading to Louisville with the option of having not one but two Kentucky Derby favorites for the first Saturday in May.

Grand Rapids stymies Gladiators' offense: Terrill Shaw caught eight passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns for Grand Rapids (8-3).

Tribe buys ad to win public support: Erica Werner; LOS ANGELES -- A Southern California Indian tribe launched a second statewide television commercial Sunday seeking to rally public support as talks with the state over slot machine limits and tribal revenue get under way.

Henderson hospital sues feds for Medicare funds: Grace Leong; St. Rose Dominican Hospital-Siena Campus sued the administrator of the federal Medicare program to recover $360,000 in payments for emergency services provided in mid-2000 to Medicare patients when it had not yet been certified as a Medicare-participating hospital.

Valley residents go north to lobby for schools: By Emily Richmond; Braving a chilly wind in the pre-dawn light, a small but determined band of parents, students and teachers set off from the Western High School parking lot this morning, bound for Carson City to demand lawmakers allot more money for education.

Tracy catches lucky break to win Long Beach event: LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Michel Jourdain Jr. had the best car Sunday but Paul Tracy had all the luck.

Robinson heaping praise on Guerra: Steve Guiremand; Marco Guerra did score any touchdowns in UNLV's spring game Saturday afternoon at Rebel Park.

Casino fire kills four: Five other people were in critical condition after the Friday fire, which destroyed the casino in in Kamchatka's capital, Petropavlosk-Kamchatski, officials said.

Fear of disease SARS slows visitors to LV's Chinatown: The mysterious respiratory disease known as SARS that originated in southern China has slowed the stream of visitors to Las Vegas' Chinatown to a trickle, merchants there said Sunday.

Family mourns death of Sparks Marine: TOM GARDNER; Military officials said DNA tests established the identity of Lance Cpl. Donald John Cline, 21, of Sparks.

Henderson firm in deal to produce at least 250,000 environmental masks: The air filtration products maker, which has a four-worker office in Henderson handling billings and orders, and manufacturing plants in Arizona, Massachusetts, Texas and Indiana, said the deal with Taiwan-based Weise Labs Inc. should yield about $1 million in revenue.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Foreigner treads on U.S. parade: Dean Juipe; The smirk that has been on George W. Bush's face for the past few days has nothing to do with golf or the Masters, yet if the president had been at Augusta National on Sunday he wouldn't have changed expressions until the 18th hole.

Official alleges problems at kids' facility: CARSON CITY -- Troubling conditions at the state-run Desert Willow Treatment Center, which cares for severely emotionally disturbed children, were detailed last week by a state hearing officer.

UNLV assistant in mix for top job at WIU: UNLV assistant basketball coach Derek Thomas might receive the biggest opportunity of his career, the top job at Western Illinois, this week.

Union targets restaurant: Culinary Workers Local 226 filed the statement regarding stock option policies and the operation of The Cheesecake Factory, Calabasas Hills, Calif. The Cheesecake Factory has outlets using that name in Summerlin and the Forum Shops at Caesars and operates the Grand Lux Cafe at The Venetian hotel-casino.

Births for April 14, 2003: March 21: A boy to Malena and Carl Nickels. April 2: A boy to Tressa and Craig Sawyer; a boy to Jayme and Robert Phillips. April 4: A girl to Christina and Cesar Quiroz. April 5: A girl to Anna and Eric MacFarland. Groneman; a girl to Cecilia Gonzalez and Joel Alana; a boy to Teresa Cheney and Jeffrey Meador; a boy to Mary and Badar Anwar. April 8: A boy to Elysia Moreno and Daniel Walker. April 9: A boy to Michelle Petrocelli and Roberto Aguilar. April 10: A boy to Shanika VanDuke.

Lawmakers targeting medical examiners: CARSON CITY -- Two state senators want to gut a state Board of Medical Examiners reserve fund to provide subsidies for doctors' malpractice insurance premiums.

Women's pro golf has had storied history in Las Vegas: Adam Candee; IF YOU GO

Europe bets on mobile gambling: Douglas Heingartner; AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- Forget about grand casinos and shady bookmakers. Europeans can now satisfy their gambling urges on the spot -- with their cell phones.

Developer sues commissioner over Red Rock: Developer Jim Rhodes is suing a Clark County commissioner to block the introduction of a county ordinance that could thwart high-density construction outside the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Schiff still under restraining order: Jace Radke; Irwin Schiff left federal court Friday minus his attorney, but he retained his belief that income tax payment is optional and remained under a temporary restraining order.

Obituaries for April 14, 2003: Samuel Tyler Beus, 21, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local hospital. He was born Sept. 16, 1981, in Utah. A lifelong resident, he was a food server.

CORRECTIONS: CORRECTIONS

Family mourns death of Sparks lance corporal: Tom Gardner; RENO -- On a day when seven families were rejoicing the safe release of their loved ones from Iraqi captivity, one Nevada family was mourning its loss.

Fire station renovation to be delayed: Fire Station No. 8, at Mojave and Bonanza roads, is scheduled to be rebuilt at a nearby location, but uncertainty about just where the new station should be built and lack of funding mean the old station will be around a little longer.

Public defender may charge fees: Erica Johnson; The Clark County public defender's office is considering a proposal that would charge some indigent clients for legal representation.

Tonopah Marine laid to rest: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The 2 1/2-year-old daughter of slain Tonopah Marine Lt. Frederick Pokorney clutched the tightly folded flag from her father's casket today, after his interment service at Arlington National Cemetery.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Big money proves Golden Tee more than just a bar game: They played the final round of a huge golf tournament on Sunday.

Officials debate Nevada Power numbers: Kevin Rademacher; The staff of the state Public Utilities Commission last week found itself on the defensive in Nevada Power's rate case.

World Series of Poker starts Tuesday: This year's tournament will feature 37 separate events, the same number as last year. It will conclude May 23 with a championship that is expected to be $2 million or more. The buy-in for that event is $10,000.

Vasser turns in season-best finish in Long Beach event: LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Las Vegas resident Jimmy Vasser overcame a rough weekend and made the biggest move of the race in Sunday's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Reorganization plan falls apart: FAO's plan to exit bankruptcy hinged on an additional $30 million in equity and $77 million in financing to operate the company. FAO's plan, which was approved April 4, required the company to complete the financing by this coming Friday.

Audit turns up financial problems: By Emily Richmond; An audit of the Nevada Public Education Foundation turned up bounced checks, improper reimbursements and other fiscal irregularities, according to a report submitted Saturday to the state Board of Education.

Bills would assist college students: By Timothy Pratt; Activists rallied at the George Federal Building over the weekend in support of a bill that would give students who are illegal immigrants access to federal education grants for college.

Cancer Institute plans facility in Summerlin: Judy Odierna; The Nevada Cancer Institute announced plans Friday to open a flagship medical facility in Summerlin, but the organization's president also said that it has not ruled out a downtown Las Vegas urban campus.

Tiered diploma gets little support: By Emily Richmond; An Assembly bill that would eliminate the statewide proficiency exam as a condition for high school graduation found little support Saturday among members of the Nevada Board of Education.