Print edition for August 19, 2003

Letter: Nuke transport should be secret: Sure, let's put every self-important Tom, Dick and Harry into the loop so they and their volunteer staff will know where, when and how high-level nuclear waste is passing through any given area. Why don't we just contact Al-Jazeera and let them broadcast live updates? The people who needed to know, knew. The rest of these low-level bureaucrats wouldn't know what to do with the information if they had it.

Letter: AMA's policy on arbitration pacts clarified: Under Nevada law, physicians and patients have every right to decide for themselves whether to sign an arbitration agreement. Entering into an arbitration agreement certainly is not a violation of American Medical Association policy. If the AMA had been contacted by the Sun, we would have explained that fact. It is not surprising, however, that opponents of medical liability reform, including the so-called Center for Justice and Democracy, make yet another attempt to distort the truth and misrepresent the facts.

Where I Stand -- Don Soderberg: Avoiding energy crises: DO YOU REALIZE that the typical residential customer of Nevada Power Co. is only paying 20 cents more per month in general rates in 2003 compared to 1993? Before you ask me if I passed basic mathematics, please let me explain.

Editorial: Nuke report serves only as a pacifier: The true value of the report is the GAO's admission that worst-case scenarios have not been evaluated. Will casks containing the waste stand up to rocket attacks or planes crashed into them? Would they stand up to a tornado or remain sealed if the train or truck carrying them plunged off a bridge? These elemental questions still have no answers. The truth is, there can never be an honest feel-good report on this subject -- as no one will ever know until the day a shipment is caught up in such a scenario.

Jones brings humility to The Joint: Spencer Patterson; Pop princesses don't come onstage early to introduce their opening acts. And divas definitely don't blush.

Moncrief's donations up after primary: Timothy Pratt and Mary Manning; A primary election win paid off for Las Vegas Councilwoman Janet Moncrief. Campaign finance reports filed Friday showed she raised $85,315 in the final weeks of the general election campaign.

Editorial: Silencing of victims flouts law: To ensure against exactly the type of judicial tampering that is taking place in Hardcastle's courtroom, the Legislature and people of Nevada amended the state constitution to read that victims have the right to be "heard at all proceedings for the sentencing or release of a convicted person after trial."

Columnist Susan Snyder: Finding solace in headlines: A guy in Denver has gathered enough signatures to put a measure on the November ballot that would require the Denver City Council to reduce residents' stress.

Ferraro, Nix top campaign spenders in final days: Dan Kulin; The two incumbents on Boulder City's June 3 ballot greatly outspent their opponents during the most recent campaign finance reporting period, which spanned the 10 days leading up to Election Day and the following four weeks.

Test Site museum to get first part of Bechtel grant: The Atomic Testing Museum is slated to open next year on the ground floor of the three-story, 66,000-square-foot Frank H. Rogers Science & Technology Building on the Las Vegas campus of the Desert Research Institute.

Letter: Brooks' death a seatbelt reminder: The grief this caused his family, friends, and many fans is incalculable. While death is inevitable, it should not be a result of mistakes or carelessness.

Recall against Nevada justices on hold: AP; George Harris, chairman of the Nevada Republican Liberty Caucus and part of the coalition Nevadans for Sound Government, said plans to try to force a recall of the justices who issued the July ruling during the legislative tax stalemate are "on hold."

Obituaries for August 19, 2003: Jack Bowsher, 78, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospital. He was born April 7, 1925, in Dayton, Ohio. A resident for 35 years, he was a retired retail salesman, a former owner of Southwest Cleaning Systems, a former board president of First Church of Religious Science and a member of The Groundshaker Motorcycle Club.

Immunization schedule for August 19, 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.

Pitching duels make game fun to watch: MLB snap shot

Former Paul-Son exec launches supply firm: By Liz Benston; A dice and casino supply manager in Las Vegas has formed a company that expects to face off against his former employer.

Gaming briefs for August 19, 2003: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court has turned down the appeal of a woman who claimed she was entitled to a $97,823 slot machine jackpot at the old Frontier Hotel and Gambling Hall on the Las Vegas Strip.

Aristocrat to debut 140 slot machines at LV trade show: The expo will be held Sept. 16-18 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

AmeriCorps loses positions at Boys and Girls Clubs: Will Oremus; It's 4 p.m., halfway through the "power hour" of after-school homework help at the Lied Boys and Girls Club.

Sports news briefs for August 19, 2003: Karl Malone, grief-stricken over the death of his mother, will not rejoin the U.S. Olympic qualifying team. Kenyon Martin of the New Jersey Nets was chosen today as his replacement.

Moncrief blocks land deal involving LV attorney: Las Vegas Councilwoman Janet Moncrief is fighting a city proposal to give a portion of a downtown alley to a high-profile lawyer who she says has received one too many sweetheart deals from City Hall already.

A history of Harley-Davidson: AP; 1903: William S. Harley, 21, and Arthur Davidson, 20, offer the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The pair built the bike in a 10-by-15-foot wooden shed with the words "Harley-Davidson Motor Company" scrawled on the door. The first Harley-Davidson dealer opens in Chicago.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Snafu has Kimmel waiting to exhale: First it was over having a bar in the studio and serving liquor to his audience. Then it was inviting co-hosts such as Ed McMahon, who were not in keeping with the show's intended demographic.

Vegas shopping center sold: The 475,000-square-foot power center is at U.S. 95/Rainbow Boulevard and Lake Mead Boulevard in the northwest part of Las Vegas. Among the property's 30 tenants are Best Buy, Offices Depot, Babies "R" Us, Old Navy, Organized Living, Borders Books and Petsmart.

Joblessness down in Vegas, up statewide: CARSON CITY -- The jobless rate in the Las Vegas area fell in July and there were 16,000 more people working in that area than in the same month a year ago.

Effort put on hold to recall Guinn, justices: CARSON CITY -- A coalition is shelving its plans for a recall of Gov. Kenny Guinn and the justices of the Nevada Supreme Court and instead will focus its efforts on a referendum to repeal the taxes passed by the Legislature.

Fugitive wanted in killing arrested: Police were searching for an unrelated stolen vehicle when they received an alert that a Missouri homicide suspect's 1991 Oldsmobile was in the Laughlin area.

Reid: Transit bill is unlikely to pass: Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Monday he doubts Congress will reauthorize a comprehensive transportation bill this year because of arguments over funding levels and attempts to gut federal clean air and endangered species laws.

Nevada business start-up rate down in 2002: Michelle Swafford; Fewer Nevada businesses started in 2002 than a year earlier, but the total number of businesses large and small in the state continued to rise, a federal agency reported Monday.

Development ready to take off: After nearly a decade and a half of work, 80 acres of land just east of McCarran International Airport is becoming an epicenter of future economic development in one of the older parts of town.

Eliminating newborn test questioned: Malia Spencer; The health division will hear comments on newborn screening at 9 a.m. on Sept. 12. The meeting will be videoconferenced at the Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington Ave., Room 4412.

County to check power boxes: Donations

Culinary workers protest Aladdin: The Culinary was calling attention to its ongoing dispute with the Aladdin while the AFGE was raising awareness of the Bush administration's efforts to privatize some government offices.

Home building in high gear in Las Vegas, nationwide: Martin Crutsinger; WASHINGTON -- Home construction jumped in July to the highest level in more than 17 years as the red-hot housing market showed no signs of slowing down even as mortgage rates began to rise.

Another claim against Moncrief: By Timothy Pratt; Another constituent of Las Vegas Councilwoman Janet Moncrief has filed an affidavit with the Secretary of State's office Monday alleging that Moncrief did not report an in-kind contribution to her campaign.

Phoenix gasoline troubles may cost Las Vegans: A gas crisis in Phoenix could spread to Las Vegas and the possibility is already leading to an increase in prices at the pump, industry officials said.

Program helps treat repeat DUI offenders: Erica D. Johnson; When Ron Allen hears stories about drunken drivers plowing into people on Las Vegas Valley roadways, he's reminded of what he could have become.

Vestin says one-time charges dragged down profit: By Liz Benston; A Las Vegas commercial mortgage lender is blaming its second-quarter loss on two accounting moves -- one to write down the value of real estate collateral held for sale and the other to write off delinquent loan fees.

Attorney general upholds victims' rights in courts: Erica D. Johnson; The Nevada attorney general's office has affirmed the rights of victims to speak in Clark County courtrooms.

Muni Court awaits new quarters: Malia Spencer; The North Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday is expected to award a contract to build the city's biggest public works project, Municipal Judge Warren VanLandschoot said.

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

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

Chain's profit rises: The Atlanta-based home improvement chain's net income of $1.3 billion, or 56 cents a share, was up from $1.18 billion, or 50 cents a share, in the year-ago period.

Lee remains ready to save day for 51s: Nick Christensen; As Las Vegas pitcher David Lee warmed up Monday, he found himself in a good situation.

Pride, Gonzalez make LVI: Pride and Gonzalez both shot scores of 7-under 65 to earn the two available spots in Las Vegas' annual five-round PGA event. Cameron Yancey narrowly missed a spot with a 66.

Henderson Police arrest man in wife's slaying: Jen Lawson; Henderson Police arrested a 57-year-old man early today for allegedly killing his wife in their apartment on East Lake Mead Drive near Warm Springs Road.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Earnhardt 'out to get what I feel like I deserve': Dale Earnhardt Jr. created a firestorm last week at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. when he said he had not yet signed a contract to drive for the team next year and referred to himself as a "free agent."

Strip performers to appear in benefit: The show will benefit Lutheran Social Services of Nevada.

Toy company reports loss: Toy company reports loss

Johnson focused on catching the century mark: Steve Guiremand; Earvin Johnson says he's not big on individual goals.

Moore leads way at U.S. Amateur: Adam Candee; Ryan Moore knows well that the U.S. Amateur, layered with a week's grind of stroke and match play, is much more a marathon than a sprint.

Community briefs for August 19, 2003: The Nevada Arts Council has awarded $739,096 in grants for arts and cultural activities, with $272,623 going to 37 organizations in Clark County, officials said Monday.

Busch may need surgery: Kurt Busch said he might need reconstructive surgery as a result of being punched in the face by fellow driver Jimmy Spencer following Sunday's NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway.

51s' victory ends in melee: Nick Christensen; For the second time this season, players from a visiting ballclub charged the stands in a postgame melee at Cashman Field.

BYU looks to return to glory: Steve Guiremand; Editor's note: First in a series previewing MWC football.

Insurer plans national settlement with dentists: Both sides said they expected the settlement, which was signed on Friday, to improve relations and allow dentists to spend more time with patients and less time on paperwork.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Let's be 'firm but fair' in judging new AD: All right, Rebels fans. Can we agree to a cease-fire on the angry phone calls and e-mails? At least for now?

Area hospitals take part in national drill to fight terrorism: Jace Radke; Clark County Health District officials are working to "identify" a simulated flu bug that has been "discovered" in three Las Vegas hospitals as part of a national terrorism drill that got under way on Monday.

Input sought on tamarisks: Comment

Columnist Dean Juipe: BCS plans on Hamrick's front burner: Dean Juipe; It was not the forum where I expected to hear about the Bowl Championship Series.