Stories published April 25, 2003Las Vegas Sun

Political notebook: Carson City's Knecht joins Assembly naysayers: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- During the legislative 2001 session, you didn't have to look at the Assembly tote board on 40-2 votes to see who was dissenting.

Pacific Coast League standings: AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Whose line is it? More than 200 seniors': What: Senior kick line.

Thursday's prep results: Baseball

Letter: Smoking habit smelly, deadly: So smokers have been inconvenienced. Well, since it is a very serious health problem, maybe inconvenience is the least of a smoker's worries. I will not stay home because 30 percent of the people in Nevada feel it is OK to pollute the air that others breathe with a known carcinogen.

Columnist Benjamin Grove: Reid, Inhofe symbols of environmental fight: Benjamin Grove; Still, battles among Washington politicians over environmental policy are more heated today than they were in 1970, when former Wisconsin governor and U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson helped found the first Earth Day. His goals: to raise public awareness and pressure elected leaders to focus on the environment.

Proposals accepted for public art display: Located at 250 North Eastern Ave., the recently constructed center was architectually designed to reflect the area's Hispanic heritage.

Beastie Boys still proven sellouts: Spencer Patterson; First the good news: The Beastie Boys stop in Las Vegas tonight for their first West Coast concert in more than four years.

Rhythm and blues: Blue Man Group enters rock arena with CD, tour: Spencer Patterson; "We have a meet and greet after every show, and people always come up and say, When are you going to come to Idaho? You need to come to our town,' " Banks said. "And we never know what to tell them."

Columnist Jerry Fink: Mazer isn't belly-aching about her career: Belly dancing isn't common entertainment fare in Las Vegas lounges, not like in the Middle East and parts of Europe where it's part of the culture.

Community briefs for April 25, 2003: Trial by Peers, a summer juvenile diversion program, is accepting applications for enrollment until May 13. The eight-week training course begins June 10.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Little Buddha becoming a big treat: After a slow start, dining at Little Buddha at the Palms has become a terrific experience. Credit for the positive changes go to General Manager Shelly Galloway and Executive Chef Christophe Bonnegrace and to Palms owner George Maloof, who always recognizes fine talent and empowers them to do what they do best.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: A new threat to Iraqis: Mordechai Nisan in "The Forgotten Millions" puts the overall persecution of Christians in perspective when writing: "Religious minorities throughout the Mideast terrain are the simplest to define because the religious identity is one of the most salient in mankind. Christian minorities in the Islamic realm (Dar aI-Islam) suffered interminably over the centuries: Maronites in Lebanon, Assyrians in Iraq, Copts in Egypt, with a special though particular mention of Armenians in the lands conquered by Turks and transformed into Turkey. The Christian percentage of populations, historically majorities in such countries as Egypt and Syria, dropped markedly and numbered about 12 per ...

Obituaries for April 25, 2003: Julia J. Anderson, 65, of North Las Vegas died Friday in a local hospital. She was born Dec. 30, 1937, in Hillham, Tenn. A resident for eight years, she was a retired caregiver in private homes.

Pianist Watts presents the classics at Ham Hall: Marilyn LaRocque; Who: Pianist Andre Watts.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Mormons, Venetian unite!: In the city of drive-through nuptials and a 24-hour wedding license office, odd couplings are just another part of our weird landscape.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Can't kill the taxation beast: The state Senate: "Take your gross receipts tax, you mean governor, and shove it. We are relevant; really, we are."

Scrushy claim contradicted: Scrushy was "closely involved in all facets of the company," said Joel C. Gordon, a director since 1996. His testimony Thursday contradicted defense arguments that Scrushy was a mere figurehead who knew little about HealthSouth's finances.

Help for power, prescriptions OK'd: CARSON CITY -- Programs to help senior citizens pay their prescription drug bills and plans to aid needy families cover the rising costs of electricity were approved by a Senate-Assembly budget subcommittee Thursday.

Letter: Now is not time for more tax cuts: After his initial massive tax cut, which didn't help the economy, and all the added costs, is now the time to seek even larger tax cuts? How will the government have the money to pay for the needed programs? As Bill Clinton said here recently: "When you find yourself in a hole, quit digging." I hope Congress will examine President Bush's proposal and reject it. This government now, more than ever, needs tax money to meet its obligations.

Letter: Subsidies for nuke companies are disgraceful: Nuclear power is touted as being safe, clean and economical. These are three lies. Safe? What about Three Mile Island and the other near misses since nuclear power was first used to produce electricity in 1957? Clean? Don't only think of smokestack emissions. What about the toxic waste? Economical? Why the corporate welfare? Why the Price Anderson legislation? Why were the American people made responsible for nuclear waste in 1954?

On Display for April 25, 2003: Las Vegas sculptor Evgeni Vodenitcharov is displaying his abstract art, "Suite #21," from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until May 30 at the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. Vodenitcharov, a Bulgaria-born artist, also has his work available for viewing in almost every Las Vegas casino. 455-8239.

Assembly committee shelves taxes on services: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- At the end of a 4 1/2 hour hearing on a proposed sales tax on services Thursday, Assembly Taxation Committee members decided they had heard enough.

Officials learn to handle terrorist attacks: Judy Odierna; Several officials representing a handful of Nevada cities spent Thursday preparing for the worst. They worked on what to do if their communities were targets of a terrorist attack.

'Zumanity' show remains shrouded in mystery: By Jerry Fink; The news conference announcing the impending debut of the adult-themed "Zumanity" at New York-New York was lusty, provocative, and sensual, qualities producers say will be the driving forces behind the production that will debut July 31.

Scene Selection -- Geoff Carter: Check out Disney's little-seen 'Treasure': Late last year Walt Disney Pictures found itself in an anomalous position: it had an inventive animated film that it didn't know how to market. It wasn't created in what they considered their established formula, and some of its content was too intense for young kids. Ultimately, they flubbed the marketing, and when the movie was nominated for an Academy Award, no one figured it had a chance.

Arena League standings: AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Canada is a true friend: I just returned from a short sojourn to the Dominican Republic, where I learned -- among many other things -- the closeness the people of the DR feel toward Americans. They love us. And they should, because we have been very good to our Caribbean neighbors over the years.

Editorial: Wrong to use people as pawns: When Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman took office four years ago, homeless people were adequately served through MASH Village. There was a shelter for families, a tent offering winter shelter, a medical clinic and a Crisis Intervention Center where homeless people could seek help from a multitude of agencies. After MASH Village's management team left town last fall, only the crisis center survived, albeit in severely stripped-down form.

Student honored for floating idea to save dolphins: WEEKEND EDITION: April 26, 2003

Columnist Susan Snyder: Desperately seeking a center: But when I was 8 years old, my mother took me to the first of many performances I would see there. It was the Broadway touring company version of "Camelot," featuring John Raitt (Bonnie's dad) as King Arthur and Robert Goulet as Sir Lancelot.

Growth picks up: The Commerce Department reported today that the first-quarter increase in output of the gross domestic product -- the broadest measure of economic health -- was slightly better than the 1.4 percent rate of growth turned in during the October-December period last year.

Planners OK chicken slaughtering: Judy Odierna; Live poultry could soon be slaughtered and processed at a grocery store near you.

One juror holds out against death penalty in Dotson trial: Erica D. Johnson; Jurors on Thursday grudgingly spared the life of the man they convicted of killing an elderly Las Vegas woman, after a single juror would not agree to a sentence of death.

Senate panel approves hike in slot tax for small firms: CARSON CITY -- A Senate committee voted Thursday to raise the taxes on small slot machine operators, notary licenses and sales of stocks, but the committee deadlocked over a new tax on entertainment.

Howard provides big-budget fun at cheap price: What: "Stars of the Strip."

JetBlue posts profit for first quarter: NEW YORK -- While major U.S. airlines suffer, discount carrier JetBlue Airways Corp. posted a profitable first quarter Thursday and talked about plans to add flights and capacity throughout the year.

Animal Magnetism: Kirk Baird; WEEKEND EDITION: April 27, 2003

Editorial: Smoking, grocery stores don't mix: When he goes to a supermarket, state Sen. Randolph Townsend said last week, it is "disgusting" that he has to breathe secondhand smoke from people playing video poker machines. "I don't know how to stop it, so tax it," the exasperated Reno Republican said during a Taxation Committee hearing. But Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, wasn't keen on the idea. He said customers are free to patronize grocery stores that prohibit smoking.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Political landscape is a gold mine for Gilmartin: Lisa Ferguson; Pardon Paul Gilmartin while he takes to his soapbox:

Editorial: Peace in Mideast will be difficult: While the formation of a Cabinet more to the liking of Abbas is positive, it shouldn't be overstated. To begin with, Arafat demonstrated his ability to muck up the peace process by interfering with the Cabinet's selection, something he had no business doing. Unfortunately, Arafat won't quietly go away. He probably will continue to meddle and try to exert control behind the scenes. In addition, although Israel and the United States view Abbas as an improvement over Arafat, it is a double-edged sword because extremists and hard-liners may be suspicious of Abbas, fearing that he will bend to outside influence. ...

Columnist Erin Neff: Lawmakers stuck in Oz; return to Kansas not in sight: Erin Neff; But they never did click the ruby slippers together and magically arrive at midnight's sine die that day.

Police more prepared to save citizens' lives: WEEKEND EDITION: April 26, 2003

Columnist Jeff German: Police get big break in string of burglaries: It should bring relief to the shaken community and strengthen the growing bond between officers who patrol the area and Chinese-Americans who traditionally have shied away from police.

Editorial: Our future depends on conserving water: Among the facts cited in the report: Severe water shortages will affect half the world's population by 2050. More than 2.5 billion people already lack access to adequate sanitation services. Each day 2 million tons of waste are being dumped into the primary sources of fresh water -- rivers, lakes and streams. The American Southwest will face severe fresh-water shortages by 2025. Worldwide social instability is in store if the projections are not tempered with adequate responses, including, most importantly, conservation.

Proposal to cut travel is tabled: CARSON CITY -- A legislative panel on Thursday tabled a plan that would cut lawmakers' travel and membership dues to national organizations.

Datebook for April 25, 2003: Penn & Teller will be grand marshals of the AFAN AIDS Walk at 8 a.m. Saturday in the Bellagio parking lot. Admission is free. A commemorative T-shirt will be sold for $35. 382-2326.

Letter: Gloating over Iraq war while avoiding truth: The ties to al-Qaida, the large cache of weapons of mass destruction, the atomic program, and Iraq's threat to the United States were all lies that were consciously perpetrated by the White House to cover their real motives.

Blood drives: Wednesday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Foothill High School.

Performing Arts for April 25, 2003: Concerts

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: No matter where you go, Vegas is there: Both the New York Daily News and the New York Post on Friday had stories on Howard Stern ranting against CBS Television president Les Moonves during his Thursday radio broadcast from the Hard Rock Hotel.

Candlelighters support Nellis: A representative with the Candlelighters, a children's cancer charity, joined Berkley on a tour of the center, that provides for families of deployed airmen.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: City of Lights Jazz Festival illuminates LV: Spencer Patterson; So you think Las Vegas isn't a jazz town? Don't try telling that to Michael Schivo.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Some of the people who guided Henderson in its first 50 years: There's no doubt in my mind that the late state Sen. James I. Gibson was the dominant political figure for and from Henderson during the first four decades of the city's history. In Carson City Jim was Mr. Henderson, but he never forgot his role as the man who saw the state's problems of equal importance. This attitude gained him strength as both an assemblyman and as a senator. He was trusted by fellow legislators and every governor he served with from 1959 through 1987.

Existing-home sales decline nationwide, but not in Vegas: U.S. existing-home sales fell in March, hurt by consumers' concern that the war with Iraq would slow the U.S. economy and by snowy weather a month earlier that prevented some buyers from shopping for houses.

Flaws found in Yucca procedures: Benjamin Grove and Mary Manning; The Energy Department's embattled Quality Assurance program for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository project has run into more trouble.

51s snapshot: It also included the first time he was nabbed trying to steal a base -- Tuesday -- in 17 attempts over two seasons in Las Vegas. In 2000 for Cape Fear, he swiped 64 bags in 74 attempts.

Molestation suspect sought: Jen Lawson; A man wanted on charges of molesting children in Las Vegas was released from custody in California as a result of an apparent miscommunication, authorities said.

Rebels take MWC lead: Other UNLV scores were Hwanhee Lee (76), Christine Hentzner and Erin Borcherts (both 78) and Elena Kurokawa (79).

Columnist Dean Juipe: L.A. can have this boxing card: Dean Juipe; Some fights just don't deserve to happen, and Lennox Lewis vs. Kirk Johnson is definitely one of them.

Acres Gaming settles suit with IGT, Anchor: Acres had sued Anchor Gaming and Spin for Cash Wide Area Progressive Joint Venture, an Anchor partnership with IGT, in Benton County, Ore. IGT later acquired Anchor.

Cuts to lawmakers' travel tabled: CARSON CITY -- A legislative panel on Thursday postponed voting on proposals to cut lawmakers' travel and membership dues to national organizations.

51s pitcher rejoins to team: Nick Christensen; There was nothing unusual for 51s starting pitcher Scott Winchester to hear from his sister on Sunday. Not only was it Easter, but it was also Winchester's 30th birthday.

Board member appointed: Prior to joining Manhattan Associates, Haddrill was president and chief executive of Powerhouse Technologies, a technology supplier to the casino industry.

Gladiators desperate to regain form: Adam Candee; NEXT UP

51s top River Cats, phenom Harden: Nick Christensen; LV pitcher rejoins team

Ralph Siraco's selections for Saturday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- JETINTO HOUSTON -- Draws good box for first California Gold Rush Day of stakes, Smiths on Sahadi trainee for owner Team Valor, Houston we have a winner. CEE'S ELEGANCE -- Espinoza on O'Neill trainee, draws alongside top pick for 7-panel Cal-bred stakes, should get a good trip here. Value Play -- BRITE SUNNY DAY

While LV is rated safe, Nevada is among most dangerous states: Mary Manning and Ed Koch; Las Vegas may be one of the safest larger cities in America, but Nevada is one of the most dangerous states, a national research and publishing company says.

Veteran pitcher Lorraine keeps his focus sharp: 51s snapshot

One PDS merger suit dismissed: PDS shareholder Ken Adelson had sued PDS and Johan Finley, its chairman and chief executive, Peter Cleary, its president and chief operating officer and Lona Finley, its executive vice president, in Clark County District Court. The defendants were accused of violating their fiduciary duties to maximize shareholder values by trying to acquire the company at an "unfair price, under unfair terms, through improper means, and with inadequate disclosure."

Special safety design OK'd for school: By Emily Richmond; When the gunshots ring out in the West Las Vegas neighborhood surrounding Booker Elementary School, fifth grader Bruce Tate knows that means he won't be going outside for recess.

It all starts with No. 1: Steve Guiremand; Draft at a glance

News briefs for April 25, 2003: Interstate 15 was closed for about seven hours Thursday after a southbound tractor-trailer driver lost control and slammed head-on into two northbound cement mixer trucks, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Stewart finds patience off the racetrack: FONTANA, Calif. -- There were times last season when Joe Gibbs must have felt more like a babysitter than a NASCAR Winston Cup team owner.

Welfare rolls rise in March: CARSON CITY -- The number of people receiving welfare increased slightly in March, but the enrollment in Medicaid continues to climb, the state Welfare Division reported Thursday.

LVMS drag racing: POINT STANDINGS

UNLV tops BYU: UNLV second baseman Garett Shitanishi hit two home runs in the game and finished 4-for-4 with five RBI and five runs scored. Patrick Dobson drove in four runs and scored twice for the Rebels (33-12, 16-3 MWC). Ben Scheinbaum improved to 5-0 on the mound in relief of starter Matt Luca.

Las Vegas Area Fishing Report: Anglers facing inconsistencies by Lake Mead's Boulder Beach: For April 25, 2003

New home sales surge: Sales of new homes nationwide and in Las Vegas surged in March as cheap financing and better weather lured buyers.

Boyd profit improves despite higher taxes, poor weather: By Liz Benston; Record performance at Boyd Gaming Corp.'s Sam's Town casino on Boulder Highway helped boost the company's first quarter results past analysts' expectations, though higher casino taxes and bad winter weather hurt properties in the East and Midwest.

Men lose to BYU in MWC tournament: UNLV will close its season by facing Utah in today's consolation match for fifth place after the Utes fell to Air Force 4-3 in the first round. BYU will take on second-seeded New Mexico, which enjoyed a first-round bye.

Columnist Barb Henderson: Local shooting range in works: Barb Henderson; If you're among the many people who enjoy shooting sports such as archery, cowboy action shooting, rifles and pistols, trap, skeet and sporting clays, your input is being sought regarding the approximately 2,880 acres of land that has been designated for a public shooting range.

Facing the music: School band, other arts programs in peril as School Board prepares budget: By Emily Richmond; Before joining the Woodbury Middle School jazz band two years ago, eighth grader and alto saxophonist Josh Kephart was failing two classes and barely hanging on to a D average.

Lorraine still has big dream: Whenever his breaking ball isn't breaking or the strike zone begins looking like the eye of a needle, 51s pitcher Andrew Lorraine pops a priceless, 4-year-old videotape into his VCR.

Neighbors quiet about new ride on Stratosphere: Earlier this month, the Las Vegas Planning Commission voted 5-0 to approve a new thrill ride for the Stratosphere. The proposed ride will use a teeter-totter device to flip passengers over the edge of the 1,149-foot building's observation deck -- and then hurl them back to the safety of the deck. The ride is tentatively named "Project X Sky" by Stratosphere executives.

Detroit case highlights need for LV to uncover terror threats: Jace Radke; While a puzzle of possible terrorist activities continues to be put together in federal courtrooms in Detroit, law enforcement agencies in Las Vegas continue to sift through tips and leads looking for any hint of a terrorist threat to Southern Nevada.

Illinois governor considers takeover of state's casinos: Maura Kelly; CHICAGO -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Thursday he is considering an unprecedented state takeover of Illinois' casinos and hiring a company to operate them for the state's profit -- an idea immediately called absurd by experts in and out of the gaming industry.

Help for power, drugs OK'd: CARSON CITY -- Programs to help senior citizens pay their prescription drug bills and to aid needy families cover the costs of electricity were approved by a Senate-Assembly budget subcommittee Thursday.

Big game quotas on agenda for May 6 meeting: The recommended 2003 big game tag quotas will be discussed by the Clark County Wildlife Advisory Board on May 6.

Firm offering health program: The program will provide about 19,000 Park Place employees in four states free access to wellness classes, individual health assessments, disease prevention information and other efforts.

State hearings likely for Vestin companies: Kevin Rademacher; Vestin Mortgage Co. and its subsidiaries will apparently have to defend themselves in front a state hearings officer on charges of misconduct leveled by the Nevada Financial Institutions Division.

Columnist Jeff German: Adelson, Mormons join hands: The Venetian owner's Washington lawyers last week filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court backing the Mormon Church's fight to keep private a pedestrian walkway in the heart of the church's international headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City.

Riviera executives compete for N.M. license: Pete Herrera; ALBUQUERQUE -- Riviera hotel-casino executive Ron Johnson has spent years watching West Texans feed slot machines on the Las Vegas Strip.

Police homeless program being cut in half: By Timothy Pratt; An award-winning Metro Police program to help the homeless is being cut in half to save money and to help compensate for a recent loss of cops on the beat, Capt. Ted Moody, of the downtown substation, said Thursday.