Print edition for April 21, 2003

Defense may be Rebels' strong point: Steve Guiremand; UNLV football coach John Robinson had several reasons to smile after the team concluded spring football workouts Friday.

51s not troubled by Dodgers' offensive struggles: Nick Christensen; While the Las Vegas 51s improved to 12-6 on the year after splitting the first two games of their homestand against the Tacoma Rainiers this weekend, their parent club, the Los Angeles Dodgers, have struggled through April at 7-11.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Scrimshaw puts Lukas back in the Derby: Ralph Siraco; The Kentucky Derby field is complete. Until Saturday's Lexington Stakes at Keeneland Race Course, it appeared the man who has ruled the Derby scene from his first winner in 1988 with the filly Winning Colors through a Charismatic victory in 1999, was about to get shut out in Louisville on the first Saturday in May.

Letter: Tiger proves intelligence with stance on war: "Obviously, no one likes war. Our Congress and President tried hard to avoid the use of force, but ultimately decided it was the best course of action. I like the assertiveness shown by President Bush and think we owe it to our political and military leaders, along with the brave soldiers, to be as supportive as possible during these difficult and trying times ..."

Correction: The Sun corrects its errors. If you find a mistake, call 385-3111 to report it.

Regulators clear contractor accused of mob ties: The ruling issued last week by the Casino Control Commission means Maztec Environmental Inc. of East Hanover can do business with all Atlantic City casinos. The approval had been delayed while investigators looked into allegations that two company employees, who no longer work for the firm, had ties to the DeCavalcante crime family.

Aladdin's strong quarter sets stage for 'stalking horse' bid: The bankrupt Aladdin hotel-casino reported the strongest first quarter in its history, buoyed by high occupancy rates through the weeks leading up to the war in Iraq.

Official faces allegations: The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission said Friday it found probable cause that Jim Rasmussen, a top Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino official, has been involved in money laundering and placing illegal bets of more than $5,000.

Cancer care company says it has received no subpoenas: The head of a group of cancer-treatment centers in California and Southern Nevada doesn't know why the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is investigating the owner of North Las Vegas' Lake Mead Hospital Medical Center, adding that his company has not received any subpoenas in connection with the probe.

Racism charges leveled in state Senate: CARSON CITY -- Charges of racism erupted in the State Senate on Friday during debate over a terrorism bill.

American workers may vote again on labor cuts: David Koenig; DALLAS -- Enraged by an American Airlines plan to give bonuses to top executives, the flight attendants' union said late Friday it would scrap results of a vote that approved concessions the company says it needs to stay out of bankruptcy.

Lottery tickets mistakenly sold: The corporation did not schedule a drawing Sunday because of the Easter holiday. However, some merchants sold Pick 3 and Pick 4 tickets before the error was caught, said Randy Davis, the lottery corporation's president.

Gaming chairman reappointed: Bernhard, 51, was initially named to the commission in October 2001 to complete the term of Brian Sandoval, who resigned to run for attorney general.

Officers learn use of new Tasers: Jen Lawson; A group of Metro Police officers learned how to use Taser guns Friday as part of Sheriff Bill Young's plan to expand Metro's use of nonlethal weaponry.

Indictment returned in fatal crash: Erica D. Johnson; A grand jury indicted a 20-year-old Las Vegas man on felony charges of drunken driving Friday after a collision that killed two people.

Firm to open concept store in Las Vegas: The Sears "Grand" store will be built at West Flamingo Road, west of Interstate 215 in the Grand Canyon Parkway shopping center being developed by Triple Five Development Corp.

Airline CEO's pay unchanged: W. Douglas Parker, the Tempe, Ariz.-based company's president, chairman and chief executive, however, received options on 600,000 shares, the Securities and Exchange Commission filing said.

Charter flight weakness hurt McCarran traffic in March: A report issued by McCarran officials on Friday said traffic fell to 3.13 million passengers from 3.2 million a year ago. Commercial airline traffic was down 0.7 percent, with the biggest decrease resulting from the closure of National Airlines, which carried 209,338 passengers in March 2002.

Pennsylvania company plans Allentown-LV flights: Flightserv Inc., Lehigh Valley, Pa., which operates Interstate Jet, plans scheduled charter round trips between Lehigh Valley International Airport and McCarran International Airport Thursdays and Sundays beginning May 29.

April rebound predicted: The New York-based Conference Board today said its Index of Leading Economic Indicators fell by 0.2 percent last month to 110.6, pushed down by worries over higher oil prices, the war and potential terrorist attacks. The result was in line with analysts' expectations.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Woods bogeys on weekend fund-raiser: That is the moral of the story of the two big charity events that took place in Las Vegas Saturday night.

UNLV assistant Thomas to take Western Ill. job: Steve Guiremand; UNLV assistant basketball coach Derek Thomas will be named head coach at Western Illinois University at a press conference today at the Macomb, Ill., campus.

News briefs for April 21, 2003: A man was found dead next to his vehicle on Patrick Road, between Whitney Ranch Drive and Stephanie Street, about 4:30 a.m. today, Henderson Police said.

Rebels sweep Air Force, improve record to 32-11: The Rebels improve to 32-11, 15-3 in Mountain West Conference play. The Falcons slipped to 11-26 and 0-17.

Cab firms allowed to grow fleets: The Taxicab Authority of Nevada will allow Clark County's 16 cab companies to add three more vehicles each to their fleets beginning next month.

Timet wins funding to explore extracting process: Denver-based Titanium Metals Corp. (Timet) has been selected by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to receive the funding to commercialize what has become known as the "FFC Cambridge Process." The first three initials are for the three Cambridge scientists who developed the process in laboratory conditions, Derek Fray, Tom Farthing and George Chen.

Homeless dads with kids find help at new shelter: By Timothy Pratt; Matthew Pacheco never imagined he would find himself living in the homeless shelter he saw being built across the street from where he went to work every day for eight months.

Relaxed Kung put on a show: Adam Candee; OK, scoop the ball from the hole, wave to the crowd, crack a little smile and walk off the green.

Letter: Get tougher on drunken drivers: First offense -- two years.

LV Valley has water stored to cover drought: CARSON CITY -- Southern Nevada officials told the Legislature today there is enough stored water to get through the next several years despite the continued drought.

Pipeline interest to be sold: The Tulsa-based energy company plans to sell its 54.6 percent ownership interest in Williams Energy Partners.

Senate to vote again on county pay hikes: CARSON CITY -- Though it was approved by the Nevada Senate on Friday, the bill that would raise the salaries of all county elective officials will come back before the Senate today for another vote.

Defects bill clears Senate -- changes likely in Assembly: CARSON CITY -- A construction defect bill intended to help contractors with their rising insurance premiums may face some major changes in the Assembly after being easily approved in the Senate on Friday.

Gruden lifts Orlando to rout of Gladiators: Gruden, the younger brother of Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden, was 15-for-26 for 169 yards.

Shootings, two bodies keep police busy: Emily Richmond and Jen Lawson; Area homicide detectives this morning were busy investigating several deaths that were discovered since Friday, including one killing early today in Henderson.

Feds give Nevada disaster money: CARSON CITY -- A $1.9 million federal grant will help state and local government agencies in Nevada prepare to deal with terrorism, fires, floods and other emergencies.

Officer in shooting ID'd: Bressler was hired by Metro in August 2001, Officer Jose Montoya said.

Four kids thought dead mom was sleeping: Mary Manning and Emily Richmond; Family members of four children who lived for days in the house where their mother lay slain in a bedroom visited the children at Child Haven this morning and said they hoped to have them home with relatives today or Tuesday.

Golf event will help Big Brothers-Sisters: Tickets are $500. Call Debbie Luck at 731-2227, Ext. 428.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Sun Lite for April 21, 2003: Lisa Ferguson; If haven't already done so (and we hope you have, seeing as how it's Monday and all), take off your Easter bonnet and grab a party hat. There's much to celebrate this week.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Laughlin is king of this town: But that was some 35 years ago, shortly after he opened what was then a one-story, eight-room motel on the dusty banks of the Colorado River.

Clark, widow of prominent LV businessman, dies: If there was a Las Vegas Catholic church that needed a new building, a stray animal that needed a home or a child who required special education, Bernice Clark was never too far away to help.

Editorial: Bill on jury duty would bring reform: The pay increase would be financed by eliminating the $9 check received by people who don't get picked for a jury and are dismissed on their first day. Counties estimate they incur a $5 administrative cost for each of those checks they write. But the bill increases to $40 the daily amount prospective jurors would receive if answering their summonses required more than one day. Those selected for juries would also receive $40 a day, as opposed to $15 a day for the first five days of the trial and $30 a day for any time after that. The increase ...

March's top 10 queries: 1. Al Jazeera

Obituaries for April 21, 2003: Leo Patrick Asel Sr., 51, of Henderson died Wednesday in Shamrock, Texas. He was born Aug. 5, 1951, in Brookville, Pa. A resident for 24 years, he was a freight line truck driver and a Vietnam War Army veteran.

Editorial: Bill was an invitation to conflict: Actually, Goodman's problem was with the Legislature, which wanted to call it a conflict of interest.

Immunization schedule for April 21, 2003: NORTH LAS VEGAS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Gaga for google: Search engine satisfies that seeking feeling: Kirk Baird; Now there's a new phrase that's popping up everywhere from TV shows such as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" to a news report on National Public Radio: