Print edition for August 5, 2003

Letter: Gov. Davis is a victim, and target of right-wingers: Their feeble excuse is that California has a huge budget deficit. Don't look now, but so are our other 49 states. Our country is suffering the highest budget deficit in U.S. history. It was not Davis, but thieving Enron executives who created the phony electrical crisis in California. The governor was forced to raise taxes to provide education, necessary unemployment insurance and medical care for non-millionaire, working, disabled and retired Californians. And Davis is concerned with the escalating numbers of unemployed homeless citizens.

Letter: Lake Mead's area should be smaller: Why is Lake Mead so large? To accommodate a few thousand boaters? There seems to be no rational reason. There must be enough waterpower to run the turbines in Hoover Dam, certainly, but must the lake stretch for so many miles? The larger the water surface area, the more water evaporates.

Letter: NSC president's salary 'ridiculous': He was quoted as saying: "To be really honest, I wouldn't have come for less. I certainly have no apologies for my salary. It's certainly in line with most of the other institutions."

Mother whose child died won't be charged: Erica D. Johnson; Prosecutors will not press charges against the mother of a toddler who died after being left alone in a hot car, making her the second local parent to avoid criminal charges despite being responsible for the death of a child who was unattended in a vehicle.

Another legislative session may jeopardize Nevada's bond rating: Erin Neff; Just weeks after the end of a lengthy second special session of the Legislature, some state officials refused to rule out the possibility of a third one to clarify some of Nevada's new tax laws.

News briefs for August 5, 2003: A local computer programmer prosecutors say was driving nearly 85 mph when he struck and killed a Las Vegas woman five years ago was given a suspended sentence and placed under house arrest on Monday.

Business briefs for August 5, 2003: NEW YORK -- Service-sector activity surged in July, growing at the most rapid pace in nearly six years, according to data released today.

Vegas rated nation's 'meanest city': By Timothy Pratt; Sin City. Lost Wages. Entertainment Capital of the World.

Many firms in dark about tax changes: Erin Neff; The Nevada Taxation Department has details on all of the state's taxes at its website: http://tax.state.nv.us

Full-service VA hospital in the works for Southern Nevada: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Las Vegas may get a new, full-service veterans hospital and nursing home based on a proposal the Veterans Affairs Department made Monday.

Aircraft take part in Red Flag: Mary Manning and Jace Radke; More than 100 military aircraft took to the skies this morning from Nellis Air Force Base as part of the mock exercises known as Red Flag.

Alliance Gaming revenue increases on Bally slot unit: By Liz Benston; Alliance Gaming Corp. reported an increase in operating income and revenue as business in its core slot manufacturing unit rose during the fiscal fourth quarter ended June 30. But profit fell as the company wrote off a loss from the sale of its German gambling machine unit.

Weather blamed for decrease in income: Speedway Motorsports, owner of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, reported net income of $26.5 million, 62 cents per share, for the second quarter. That's down from $34.4 million, 80 cents a share, in the same 2002 quarter.

Sprint could lose goverment business: David Ho; WASHINGTON -- The government is considering suspending business with Sprint because the telecommunications company overcharged the Justice Department more than $2 million.

Park Place eyes Illinois casino license: By Liz Benston; Park Place Entertainment Corp. has submitted a bid to build a Caesars brand casino in a Chicago suburb -- the first formal news of a bid since the Illinois attorney general announced its intention to revoke the license from its current holder, the bankrupt Emerald Casino.

Plan for Caesars tower moves ahead: By Liz Benston; Park Place Entertainment Corp. has submitted plans with Clark County to build a 1,000-room hotel tower and a 175,000-square-foot building for retail, restaurants and convention space at its Caesars Palace resort in Las Vegas.

PUC finds flaws in Nevada Power exit plans: Kevin Rademacher; The state Public Utilities Commission on Monday outlined a series of shortcomings in the filings of four large power users seeking permission to buy their own electricity.

More trouble is par for the course: Dan Kulin; The Boulder City-owned Boulder Creek Golf Club continues to be in the rough.

Columnist Susan Snyder: St. Thomas awash with memories: The 84-year-old Logandale resident recalled the family odyssey that began in 1932 with news that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation intended to flood St. Thomas to create what is now Lake Mead.

Beat it: STOMP' brings rhythm method to the Aladdin: "Sometimes performers can't handle it," the 29-year-old native of New York City said in an interview on his cell phone, breathing heavily from a recent gym workout in Albuquerque, N.M. "They might do a couple of years and then their knees say, it's time to move on.' You've got to take care of yourself. We are athletes." Sawicki has been with the show five years. He was a cast member the last time "STOMP" was performed in Las Vegas, in 2000.

Immunization schedule for Aug. 5, 2003: HENDERSON PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 129 W. Lake Mead Drive, Building A, Suite 10, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Editorial: Consular ID cards should be accepted: Now the U.S. Treasury Department, in the interest of national security, is questioning the primary use of the cards, which is for banking. For an account to be opened, most banks require only the card and cash. The accounts allow Mexican citizens to inexpensively and conveniently send money -- totaling about $10 billion a year -- home to their families. Critics say the cards are the "first step toward amnesty" for undocumented immigrants. They also fear the cards represent a security threat because they are widely accepted by police agencies. Anyone here illegally need only show the card to avoid ...

Officials hail proposal for VA hospital in Las Vegas: AP; "This is a very exciting time for veterans," said John Hempel, director of the VA's health care system in southern Nevada. "The need for more veterans care in southern Nevada is long overdue."

Where I Stand -- Jacob L. Snow: Transportation evolving: EVEN IF YOU'RE a relative newcomer to our desert community, you probably quickly noticed the unprecedented growth we continue to experience -- busy streets (and sidewalks), seemingly endless road construction and traffic congestion -- and the demands this growth has placed on our transportation system. But those demands, and the resolve of residents throughout the valley, are primary ingredients for a very exciting transportation recipe in Southern Nevada.

Editorial: So much for the will of the people: One of the concerns about the initiative process today is that it actually gives more power to special interests and the wealthy. A case in point is a multimillionaire congressman's effort to recall California Gov. Gray Davis, even though he was easily re-elected in November. Some conservative groups in Nevada want to overturn parts of a tax increase passed by the Legislature and want to recall the Nevada Supreme Court justices whose decision (by a vote of 6 to 1) was instrumental in passage of the tax increase. The recall drive will further politicize the judiciary, which is supposed to ...

Cashman to host model train show: The show featuring thousands of square feet of operating model railroads, is not only for collectors and enthusiasts, but also for those who are curious.

City may lease crisis center to Salvation Army: Las Vegas could soon begin negotiating to lease the closed Crisis Intervention Center to the Salvation Army so that it can be the short-term home for the agency's family services department and other operations.

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 2 p.m.

DA battles Murphy's bail: Erica D. Johnson; In a motion filed Monday, prosecutors listed dozens of reasons why Sandy Murphy should not be allowed out on bail while she awaits a second trial in the slaying of Ted Binion.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: LV's Kingsland just misses in truck qualifying: INDIANAPOLIS -- Casey Kingsland's first taste of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series proved to be quite a learning experience.

Gaming briefs for August 5, 2003: HACKENSACK, N.J. -- A judge Wednesday refused to dismiss a lawsuit by a group of Englewood hospital workers who claim they were cheated out of a $25 million lottery prize.

Obituaries for August 5, 2003: Joan M. Anderson, 68, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospice. She was born Aug. 29, 1934, in Boulder, Colo. A resident for four years, she was an assisted living director.

NLRB officer recommends union certification: Hearing officer Sandra Lyons said in a 31-page ruling issued July 18 that she is recommending certification of a vote for representation of U-Haul employees by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local Lodge 845.

Social services has new air of safety: By Timothy Pratt; The most heated moment Monday morning at the new Clark County Social Service office in Henderson was when a security guard asked a member of the public not to lean on the metal detector.

Salvation Army warehouse heavily damaged by fire: Ed Koch, Mary Manning and Will Oremus; Salvation Army officials this morning looked at the wet, charred remains of the interior of their fire-blackened aluminum warehouse this morning and estimated that the loss of merchandise, equipment and revenue will be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: At Riv, Seinfeld is master of his domain: Patrons at the Riviera Comedy Club got the entertainment shock of their lives the other night when Jerry Seinfeld showed up and performed.

Pan Pacific reports revenue jump: Revenue grew 41 percent to $66.3 million.

Ark labor appeal fails: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Federal appeals judges have denied Ark Las Vegas Restaurant Corp.'s request to review a decision made earlier by the National Labor Relations Board that employees were suspended or fired because of union-related activities.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's Del Mar races: Wednesday's card

Plan to issue debt canceled: AMR stock fell more than 10 percent Monday after the company announced the debt offering, which would have allowed institutional investors to convert the notes to stock. The company canceled the offering late Monday, and the shares rebounded this morning, gaining 56 cents, or 7 percent, to $8.60 each on the New York Stock Exchange.

Cranky Gibson tends to his business: MLB snapshot

Casinos hope to avoid paying new payroll tax: Workshops on regulations to implement the new taxes passed by the Legislature are set for 9 a.m. Aug. 7, 14, 21 and 27 in Las Vegas at the Sawyer State Office Building and in Carson City.

Sports briefs for August 5, 2003: The Green Valley all-star team scored a 5-2 victory against Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Monday to even its record at 1-1 in pool play at the Little League West Region tournament in San Bernardino, Calif.

MGM hosts Diversity Employment Expo: MGM hosts Diversity Employment Expo

Moncrief says she welcomes probe: The attorney for embattled Las Vegas City Councilwoman Janet Moncrief said the secretary of state's decision Monday to launch a full-blown investigation into Moncrief's campaign practices means she no longer will be forced "to swing at ghosts."

Man arrested after wife found dead in truck: Mary Manning and Jen Lawson; Henderson Police arrested a 29-year-old man on a murder charge Monday after officers found the body of his wife inside a cardboard box in the back of his Ford Explorer.

Spike in mortgage rates threatens star of the economy: Edmund L. Andrews; WASHINGTON -- If cheap mortgages have kept the economy afloat, the economy may have just sprung a leak.

Firms set to collect tax on Internet sales: CARSON CITY -- Efforts are moving forward slowly for Nevada to collect sales and use taxes on transactions made over the Internet.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Dodgers no longer seem so elite: Dean Juipe; For a team with money and resources and habitually high expectations, the Los Angeles Dodgers are now immersed in several consecutive seasons of mediocrity.

Insurance fraud cases reach record high: CARSON CITY -- Efforts to cheat insurance companies in Nevada jumped by 26 percent last fiscal year, the state attorney general's office announced Monday.

Street racing proposal in DA's office: Jen Lawson; More than eight months ago Metro Police provided the district attorney's office with a draft of an ordinance to make it illegal to be a spectator at street races such as the one that killed one driver and seriously injured a bystander early Monday in south Las Vegas.

VA hospital in the works for LV area: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Las Vegas may get a new, full service veteran's hospital and nursing home based on a proposal the Veterans Affairs Department made Monday. The proposal still needs review by a VA commission and final approval by Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi.

Confident Nantkes set to guide Rebels: Steve Guiremand; For Kurt Nantkes, the waiting was the hardest part.

Columnist Jeff German: Maloof is confident of beating union: Maloof couldn't stop talking about his disdain for the 50,000-member union the other night during a brief chat at the Ice House, the city's newest hot spot.