Print edition for April 23, 2003

Letter: No matter what, protect Red Rock: It is amazing that there are pristine natural areas so close to a large urban area. Red Rock Canyon needs to be protected so that future generations can enjoy the region. However, if the plans to develop and build houses on Blue Diamond Hill and the district surrounding Red Rock Canyon become a reality, the area is in danger of being overrun with people and pollution.

Union labor may support casino: The executive board of the Maine AFL-CIO voted recently to back the casino campaign by the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes if there is a so-called pre-project agreement with the unions.

Vegas home sales jump to record for March: Resales also were strong, with 3,521 in March, Smith said.

Prep Schedule: TODAY

Columnist Dean Juipe: Saddam wasn't a good sport: Dean Juipe; For all the attention directed toward Saddam Hussein, Iraq and its people in the past decade, it appears as if more than one international organization turned a blind eye toward the country's athletic hierarchy and a number of its revolting practices.

Boys-Girls Clubs given Legacy honor: The award recognizes a club and community for implementation of an effective re-entry strategy used with incarcerated youth.

Guest Columnist Rosalynn Carter: Nevada should ban execution of juveniles: Guest Columnist Rosalynn Carter: Nevada should ban execution of juveniles

UMC doctors to recommend care unit: Dan Kulin; A group of University Medical Center doctors is expected to recommend next month that the hospital create its own facilities for patients who may need extended medical care but who do not have to be in a hospital.

Community volunteer Southard dies: Jace Radke; During his half century in Las Vegas, William Southard held many jobs, but his passion was in the service he provided to local charities and organizations.

Tony award: to be picked on Sunday: Steve Guiremand; As a youngster growing up in Hawthorne, Calif., Tony Terrell says he never dreamed of hearing his name called at the NFL Draft.

Guilty verdict returned in slaying: Jurors found Lee Carter guilty of the 1998 killing of Brenda James, 29, at her Mount Royal Court residence.

Welfare rolls may near record by 2005: CARSON CITY -- Although the number of welfare recipients in Nevada has decreased in the last month, it will likely start to rise again and could approach the all-time high by June 2005, State Welfare Administrator Nancy Ford told legislators Tuesday.

UC Riverside rolls past 20th-ranked Rebels: Brent Johnson had three hits for UNLV. Giovanni Pupo (3-1) was the losing pitcher, allowing two runs and three hits in 1 2/3 innings. UCR's Brian Wahlbrink went 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored.

Doctors get boost in Senate: CARSON CITY -- The Senate Tuesday approved bills and amendments that would give doctors added protection in medical malpractice suits and in proposed insurance rate increases. The Senate also approved a measure that would make it harder to discipline errant physicians.

Community briefs for April 23, 2003: Las Vegas chiropractors are joining their colleagues around the world for special community events to support American troops stationed overseas.

Record set on a cool April 22: Spring temperatures took a break on Tuesday with the thermometer plunging to a record daytime high as a cold front swept through Southern Nevada.

Teen girl takes plea deal in motel killing: Erica D. Johnson; The 16-year-old girl prosecutors say assisted in killing a Las Vegas man in a downtown motel pleaded guilty Tuesday to a murder charge as the result of a plea agreement.

Las Vegas Wash gets environment honor: Clark County Parks and Community Services was honored for its efforts to protect a 2,900-acre wetlands.

Jim's dandy: From the moment Sam Popowcer met Jim Schlossnagle, at a Little League coaches' meeting in which Schlossnagle touted his first Christmas camp in the fall of 2001, the Rebels' baseball coach hasn't had a more ardent fan.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: LV shows horse sense during World Cup competition: Elizabeth Foyt; In contrast to the flashy opening, respectful silence prevailed when richly attired competitors and their priceless horses appeared in the show ring. With precision and grace, the 41 international competitors -- drawn from a field of 700 applicants -- executed the sport's most difficult maneuvers and jumps at this world-class event.

Las Vegas fires blanks: Nick Christensen; The Las Vegas 51s have played 20 games and 20 days, and after their 14-inning affair Monday it seemed as though they had little left in their bats in a 1-0 victory Tuesday night against the Tacoma Rainiers before an announced crowd of 1,499 at Cashman Field.

News briefs for April 23, 2003: A man was shot outside an apartment building near Flamingo Road and Nellis Boulevard about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday and died several hours later at University Medical Center, Metro Police Homicide Sgt. Rocky Alby said.

Perez brings a hint of nostalgia to House of Blues: Spencer Patterson; "We were loading in, and I was in the back of the trailer waiting to unload my gear, but there were guys here to do it for us," Perez marveled in a phone interview from the venue. "I was so confused by it.

Nevada regulator rejects Farmers auto rate increase: CARSON CITY -- State Insurance Commissioner Alice Molasky-Arman on Tuesday denied the request of Farmers Insurance Company for an average rate increase of 2.8 percent on 182,000 vehicles it insures in Nevada to collect an extra $4 million a year.

Columnist Jeff German: System fails murdered woman: She obtained a restraining order to keep him away from her. She bought a new home under a different name and installed a high-tech security system. She even purchased a handgun.

Probe continues into fatal fight at last year's event: Erica Johnson; Clark County District Attorney David Roger said last year's Laughlin River Run melee is still being investigated by prosecutors and Metro Police detectives.

Sierra Health releases first quarter earnings: Sierra Health releases first quarter earnings

Nuke waste transportation problems cited: Benjamin Grove; ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Fourteen months after the Energy Department deemed Yucca Mountain a safe place to bury the nation's nuclear waste, the department still has no plan to safely haul the highly radioactive material there, paid consultants for the state of Nevada said Tuesday.

Obituaries for April 23, 2003: Leo A. Alvarez, 77, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. He was born Aug. 11, 1925, in Cuba. A resident for 30 years, he was a dealer.

Tuesday's prep results: Baseball

St. Jude's benefit show on tap: The second annual "Night of Nostalgia" fund-raiser is set for St. Jude's Ranch for Children.

Assembly passes insurance reform: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- The Assembly entered the medical malpractice fray Tuesday by unanimously sending the Senate a message: Insurance reform, not tort reform, is the answer to the crisis.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Caesars preps for Strongwater: A grand-opening party on June 12 will include an appearance by Strongwater.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Andretti early favorite to win Indianapolis 500: Indianapolis 500 odds

Ralph Siraco's selections for Thursday's races at Hollywood Park: Thursday's card

Utility warns of profit shortfall: The company said it "expects its first-quarter 2003 operating results to fall short of the consensus street estimates by approximately one-third."

Newberg gets life in video sex case: Erica D. Johnson; The Las Vegas man convicted of sexually assaulting his 14-year-old relative and videotaping it was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday.

Christian Iraqis in LV seek democracy: By Timothy Pratt; It's been said you can't go home again, and for Christian Iraqis in the Las Vegas area, it's literally true.

Editorial: Laws, not land swap, are better for canyon: Last month developer Jim Rhodes paid $54 million for the gypsum mine. Within days it was deja vu all over again, as Rhodes talked development and campaigned against a proposed county ordinance that would preserve the mine's low-density zoning.

Letter: If you can't stand the smoke, stay at home: Smoking is already banned in all public places, such as all federal offices and facilities, all state offices and facilities, all county and city offices and facilities. These are truly public places, where the public must be.

Nevada seventh deadliest for those on foot: Jace Radke; While Nevada is no longer the deadliest state in the nation for pedestrians, the number of fatal pedestrian accidents continues to climb, especially in Clark County.

House panel looking at finances of HealthSouth: Marcy Gordon; WASHINGTON -- A House panel has started an investigation and requested financial records from HealthSouth Corp., the rehabilitation giant embroiled in a $2.5 billion accounting scandal that has brought plea deals with the government from 10 company executives.

Lewis' proposed hospital killed in state Senate: Senate Bill 156 to allow one of Lewis' doctors, Benjamin Venger, and Venger's partner, Jeff Simmons, to build a 15-bed specialty hospital for spine and pain management was scheduled for a vote.

Bills miss deadline, die in Assembly: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- The first two Assembly bills of the session were among the measures that failed to meet Tuesday night's deadline for bills to pass in their legislative houses of origin.

Trial begins in killings of mother, girlfriend: Erica D. Johnson; Opening arguments began Tuesday in the case of a Las Vegas man charged with the bludgeoning and stabbing death of his mother and the slaying of his girlfriend, who has been missing for two years.

Anti-tax activist to get copies of seized material: Instead, Magistrate Lawrence Leavitt ordered that copies of materials seized from Schiff's East Sahara Avenue business, Freedom Books, be made available to Schiff by the IRS. But Schiff said he plans to file a motion asking Leavitt to reconsider his decision and order the original items returned.

Group cuts ties with lobbyists: Carl Golden, an association spokesman, said Tuesday that it had ended its ties with Princeton Public Affairs Group and Capital Public Affairs, firms it hired in February. Former Assembly Speaker Jack Collins now works for Princeton Public Affairs, while Charles "Chip" Dutcher, former assistant commissioner in the Banking and Insurance Department, is employed by Capital Public Affairs.

New River Run rules in place as bikers roll into Laughlin: Jen Lawson; As motorcyclists roar into Laughlin today for the 21st annual River Run, more than 500 Metro Police officers will be monitoring the event via a carefully planned system designed to catch any rumblings of potential violence.

Columnist Peter Benton: LPGA event makes a nice comeback: Peter Benton; Iguess it would be fair to say that over the past couple of months there have been a few furrowed brows among those responsible for bringing the LPGA Takefuji Classic to Las Vegas.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: NY-NY parties for sake of 'Zumanity': It is officially dead.

Court tosses out decision on notices about union membership: Leigh Strope; WASHINGTON -- Employees of government contractors must be told in posted notices that they cannot be forced to join a union or pay dues unrelated to collective bargaining, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

Homicide linked to carjackings: Metro Police are investigating the homicide of a man whose body was discovered in a Las Vegas apartment Tuesday night after a carjacking suspect being held in Long Beach, Calif., gave officers information about the death.

Wayne's (other) World: World-renowned Arabian horses remain a passion for Mr. Las Vegas: Elizabeth McCall; The two are reunited in time to join five other foals and mares in a grass pasture flanked by white fences and shady trees. Newton is just warming up. He next grabs the lead rope to the glistening stallion, WN Ibn Ali, who is prancing and snorting, clearly intent on impressing two mares in an adjacent paddock.

Sewer fee hike could help LV trim its deficit: Judy Odierna; A projected $8 million deficit could be pared to $1 million if the Las Vegas City Council chooses to accept several recommendations that were to be made at a budget workshop today.

Savvy wine buys: Austin Vale Chardonnay '01: This wine is a prime example of Australian chardonnay, beautifully fruity, not overly oaked, and nicely structured. The wine is aged in small oak barrels, but not, apparently, for too long. There are hints of pineapple and other tropical fruits in the nose, and the finish is long and smooth.

Editorial: Scales of justice tip wrong way: Before the session began, a legislative subcommittee held hearings. Not everyone who testified wanted to concede to the doctors' demands. The doctors, whose clamor had led to the special session, wanted the focus of any new law squarely on the lawyers. The insurance companies, whose sudden and monumental increases of malpractice premiums had led to the crisis, were pinning the blame on a few large jury awards. The doctors took it from there, insisting upon a medical-malpractice law that would cap jury awards for pain and suffering at $250,000. Several victims of medical malpractice testified against such a law at ...

TV commercials highlight rights of patients: CARSON CITY -- Three 30-second TV commercials were to begin airing in Nevada today aimed at protecting the rights of patients in medical malpractice cases, according to consumer advocates.

HCA quarterly revenue rises: Karin Miller; NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- HCA Inc.'s profit rose nearly 22 percent in the first quarter, boosted by one-time gains on asset sales. Excluding those gains, earnings at the nation's largest hospital operator would have been up a more modest 8.6 percent.

Station in surprise Indian gaming agreement: By Liz Benston; Las Vegas neighborhood casino operator Station Casinos Inc. surprised local officials in California today by announcing an agreement to develop and manage an Indian casino 50 miles northeast of San Francisco.

Business relocations to Nevada may hold steady: Grace Leong; The Nevada Development Authority is hopeful the number of new companies relocating to Southern Nevada will remain steady for the fiscal year ending in June, despite the state's fiscal problems and uncertainty over its tax situation.

Tropicana limits conventions, weighs redevelopment: Aztar Corp., Tropicana's parent company, has for years expressed interest in the possibility of redeveloping the property into a new megaresort that could better compete with newer and more lavish properties on the Las Vegas Strip.

Senate briefs for April 23, 2003: CARSON CITY -- Legislation passed Tuesday in the state Senate:

Judge rejects defamation complaint against Aladdin: A Clark County District Court judge has ruled that former Aladdin Chief Executive Richard Goeglein can't sue the hotel's owners for defamation, but left the door open for a Nevada Supreme Court appeal on the matter.

Hard Rock profit jumps 72 percent in first quarter: Hard Rock Hotel Inc. generated net revenue of $33.9 million, an 8.2 percent increase. Improved food and beverage revenue, casino revenue and hotel revenue contributed to the higher performance, Hard Rock Chief Executive Officer Peter Morton said.

Venetian supports Mormon Church in dispute: SALT LAKE CITY -- A Las Vegas casino resort, several religious groups and associations of cities and counties have filed briefs supporting the Mormon Church's argument that it should be able to control speech on property it bought from the city.

Commission denies tax refund for show: By Liz Benston; The Nevada Gaming Commission has rejected a request for a tax refund by the producers of the "Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding" show at The Rio resort, surprising organizers who believed the show was exempt from casino entertainment taxes.