Print edition for August 22, 2003

Teacher spots almost filled: By Emily Richmond; The Clark County School District has nearly bridged its teacher hiring gap, with just 74 classroom positions still to be filled for the start of classes Monday, said George Ann Rice, associate superintendent of human resources.

Second Nevada guardsman hurt in Iraq: Spc. Mark Carabajal, of Las Vegas, was driving the Humvee as part of a security detail for a convoy when the mine exploded. Carabajal suffered minor injuries and was treated and released from a hospital.

UNLV sees no progress in U.S. News study: Jennifer Knight; The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is hovering around the same level of achievement for the third year in a row, according to this year's U.S. News & World Report college rankings.

AG: Yucca use of underground water could damage Nevada: CARSON CITY -- The state Attorney General's Office said Thursday that allowing a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain to use underground water would result in environmental damage to Nevada.

Supreme Court rules for injured electrician: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a Las Vegas electrician was entitled to workers' compensation benefits when he was injured, even though he tested positive for marijuana at the time of the accident.

Over $2 million could come from bank tax: Nevada stands to collect more than $2.7 million annually from a new state excise tax on banks that have more than one branch.

Pink Floyd's gem often 'Obscured': Spencer Patterson; Any classic rock listener will tell you that no CD collection is complete without Pink Floyd's three landmark 1970s albums: 1973's "Dark Side of the Moon," 1975's "Wish You Where Here" and 1979's "The Wall."

Peforming Arts for August 22, 2003: Show tunes/operettas

Columnist Susan Snyder: No class in fleecing the Scouts: Brownie Scout meeting day was huge.

Columnist Geoff Carter: 'Chicago' enjoyable, but lives in shadow of 'Moulin': Geoff Carter; When "Moulin Rouge" was nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award a couple of years ago, I hoped against hope it would win, even though I knew it would be soundly trounced by Peter Jackson's gorgeous epic, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring."

Aladdin to offer 'The Full Monty': A 1997 British movie about full-frontal male nudity was such a hit that producers turned it into a Broadway musical, which also became a hit.

Datebook for August 22, 2003: Sunny 106.5, Aliante and Anderson Dairy are hosting Sunny's first "Ice Cream Sunday" from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the 20-acre Nature Discovery Park at Aliante on Aliante Parkway. The event will include face-painting, jump houses, water play areas, clowns and ice cream. The event is free. 796-4040.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Perez tops expectations in Mandalay Bay show: Spencer Patterson; Midway through his set Wednesday night, Franky Perez raised both fists to the sky in triumph.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Renoir chef gets innovative with dishes: Renoir at The Mirage Executive Chef Alexander Stratta is on a quest to change the perception that French food is "hoity-toity," and that Italian eateries are all about singing waiters.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: 'Funny Money' host Pardo pleased with career path: Lisa Ferguson; It's a good time to be Jimmy Pardo.

Columnist Jerry Fink: T. Fox finds home for his talents at Tropicana: There's a state park in the remote, heavily forested region of southwest Arkansas where visitors occasionally stumble across a diamond lying on the ground.

Obituaries for August 22, 2003: Charles Francis Augustine, 63, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. He was born Feb. 8, 1940, in Dubuque, Iowa. A resident for 16 years, he was an airline pilot and a Vietnam War Air Force veteran.

Metal box blamed for rollover: Afsha Bawany; A metal box weighing more than 250 pounds dropped off the back of a flatbed tractor-trailer on Interstate 15 Thursday morning, causing a cement truck to roll over near the Blue Diamond Road overpass, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

Selby to head LV project: Selby replaces Lesa Coder, who resigned from the position in early August to help manage redevelopment efforts for Clark County.

Findlay, matriarch of Southwest auto empire, dies at 77: Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. Saturday at Palm Mortuary Eastern, followed by a 6 p.m. interment at Palm Valley View Cemetery.

Dixon named head of Mormon temple: Frank Frederick Dixon, 70, was named by church President Gordon B. Hinckley to replace Don Christensen, who died July 24. The appointment, which took effect Aug. 11, was announced today by the Las Vegas Multi-Stake Public Affairs Council.

Rain barely made dent into drought problem: It rained hard in Las Vegas this week, but it was only a drop in the bucket compared to what the Southwest could use, local water officials said Thursday.

Ex-cabbie, wife arrested in robberies: Jen Lawson; A former cabdriver and his wife were arrested Thursday in connection with the robbery of at least two cabdrivers at gunpoint in the past month.

Participants say motocross accident just freak occurrence: Will Oremus; Like other extreme sports, part of the excitement of motocross stems from its inherent danger. But with 27-year-old Edwin Velasquez in a coma after a crash during open practice Tuesday night, Club MX is facing the prospect of a second fatal accident in two months at the motocross track it rents from Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Home invaders tie victims, steal cars: Jen Lawson; Three masked men broke into a house on a quiet cul-de-sac early Thursday morning, tied up the residents and made off with a Mercedes-Benz and a pickup truck, Metro Police said.

Threat of thunderstorms fades: While northwest Las Vegas residents continued to mop up after the devastating thunderstorms on Tuesday afternoon, the weather started to dry out and will start warming up over the weekend, weather service forecaster Larry Jensen said.

Longtime cancer support group activist Dutchover dies: Dutchover worked with Reach to Recovery, an organization that helps families dealing with cancer. She was also involved in the Mastectomy Association Support Group.

Parents advised to check their kids' backpacks: By Emily Richmond; MountainView Hospital offers tips on how children should use backpacks

Flooded firetruck found to have no major damage: The $250,000 truck is undergoing tests and expected to return to service within days, fire department spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

Community news briefs for August 22, 2003: Deborah Monette, assistant manager for national security for the National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office, has been nominated as a federal employee of the year.

Editorial: No third chance for company: Neither McLaughlin nor Waters, however, is talking tough enough. This company's contract should be terminated and another company -- one whose record is free of major errors -- should be retained. Last year Harcourt miscalculated when grading the mathematics portion of the high school proficiency test. This mistake resulted in 736 sophomores and juniors being told they had failed when in fact they had passed. The news placed extreme stress on the students and their families. The company was fined $425,000 and later, after pressure from the state, reimbursed the students' families for any summer school and tutoring costs they ...

Hispanic students have a DREAM: By Timothy Pratt; A group of about 40 Hispanic college students in the Las Vegas Valley will begin a four-week campaign at local supermarkets Saturday in support of a Senate bill to help high school graduates who are undocumented immigrants.

Tough training camp was message to Rebels: Steve Guiremand; If UNLV goes through a third consecutive losing football season in 2003, it won't be because the Rebels took it too easy in training camp.

Letter: Business greed hurting America: These companies have deserted America simply for money. They don't have to pay Americans a decent wage or fulfill other legal obligations that are fair and just for our workers.

Golf clubs play role in Rhodes case: Erica D. Johnson; A set of golf clubs was the focus of testimony Thursday as the case of a former North Las Vegas councilman charged with felony insurance fraud got under way in District Court.

Comments sought on invasive plants at lake: A management plan is under way to help officials evaluate and control known invasive plants and weeds.

Letter: Titus sacrifices to serve as state lawmaker: I have just completed two three-year terms as chair of political science at UNLV, and was thus Professor Titus' supervisor for the past six years. I would point out the following:

Fishing Report: Lake Mead rich with bass, stripers: The fishing for striped bass has been good and is showing signs of getting even better, while the action for largemouth bass has been somewhat slow, according to the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW).

Connolly brings Elvis spirit to Fitzgeralds: What: "Spirit of the King."

Columnist Ron Kantowski: MWC in the BCS? It may take a miracle: At first, I was going to start this piece by saying the Mountain West Conference's chances of crashing the Bowl Championship Series when the current cartel drafts another bazillion dollar TV proposal in 2006 were slim and none.

News briefs for August 22, 2003: Metro Police obtained an arrest warrant Thursday charging a 33-year-old Phoenix man with the dismemberment murder of a man found inside a suitcase April 25 in the 8100 block of West Flamingo Road.

'Big Three' performing arts seasons: Information for all organizations can be found at 895-2787.

Report cites huge savings in Canada-style health plan: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON --Nevadans could save about $1.5 billion in health care administration costs per year if the country adopted a national health insurance program similar to Canada's, according to a Public Citizen report released this week.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Saturday's races at Del Mar: 1st Race -- EXPLOITATION -- Smith scales Baffert trainee for owners Bob & Beverly Lewis, needs prompt start and clean trip from rail box at dash distance, cap & gown? CARDINALLI -- Draws alongside top pick in sprint opener, P. Val sits French trainee, forward trip may produce graduation from maiden. Value Play -- POSSESSION

Columnist Barb Henderson: Duck, goose season just around corner: Barb Henderson; It might be difficult to think about duck and goose hunting seasons -- especially during the hot month of August, when outside temperatures are still reaching a scorching 100 degrees.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Busch, Spencer got what they deserved: NASCAR did not go nearly as far as it should have with the penalties it levied this week against drivers Jimmy Spencer and Kurt Busch for their dust-up following Sunday's Winston Cup race at Michigan International Speedway.

CCSD, trainers strike new deal: Adam Candee; Clark County School District and HealthSouth Rehabilitation Center have agreed on a $250,000 contract that will provide athletic trainers for the district's 24 largest high schools. That's the good news.

Local officials tell lawmakers of security concerns: Jace Radke; Nevada officials took advantage Thursday of their first opportunity to enter their homeland security concerns into the Congressional Record.

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

Editorial: Ads could protect immigrant women: Federal laws, however, protect undocumented women from deportation or other strictures based solely on their reporting of crimes against them. Unfortunately, language barriers and the general lack of disseminated information about these laws keep many women from ever finding out about them.

Where I Stand -- Glenn Schaeffer: Escaping censorship: SHORTLY AFTER terrorist rebels staged a coup in Sierra Leone in 1997, they put a price on the head of poet and novelist Syl Cheney-Coker, one of Africa's most respected authors. Syl barely escaped, and like so many others fleeing persecution, he found a refuge in the United States, specifically in Las Vegas as the first writer to be hosted by City of Asylum Las Vegas, the program I helped establish in 2000 with my friend Wole Soyinka, the Nigerian playwright, Nobel laureate and outspoken advocate for the voices of conscience. Wole himself is hardly a stranger to persecution; in ...

Rivals out of Travers: Richard Rosenblatt; SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Funny Cide won't run in the Travers Stakes, either.

SDSU looking for a little respect in 2003: Steve Guiremand; Editor's note: Fifth in a series previewing MWC football.

Gibbons' Senate decision due soon: Erin Neff; Sen. Harry Reid will know within days if Rep. Jim Gibbons is going to run against him next year.

Hawaiian has ridden wild wave through major-league system: BIG LEAGUE ISLANDERS

Tortoises surface during floods: The phone number for tortoise pickups is 593-9027.

Triple the Fun: Marilyn LaRocque; Southern Nevada's "Big Three" community performance organizations -- the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Performing Arts Center, the Las Vegas Philharmonic and Nevada Ballet Theatre (NBT) -- have created a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds designed to pry even the most determined couch potato from his or her sofa during the 2003-04 performing arts season in Las Vegas.

Trash continues to pose flood-control problem: To report a problem with a flood-control channel, intake or basin, call:

Shuffle Master earnings strong, but stock falls: By Liz Benston; Shuffle Master Inc. expects to introduce a host of proprietary table games, a line of electronic-dealer table games and an electronic table game tracking system as part of a long-term strategy to diversify revenue from its core card shuffler business, the company's top executive said.

Schools facing scrutiny as new year set to begin: By Emily Richmond; When the 2003-04 academic year begins Monday, everything from student test scores to teacher licenses to the quality of campus facilities will face intense scrutiny as the Clark County School District strives to meet tougher standards at both the state and federal level.

State adding up flood damage: Preliminary estimates were that $12 million to $15 million in damage was done to public structures, but that could change as the state team finishes its work.

LV seeks to increase mayor's power to handle emergencies: Sito Negron; City attorneys are developing an ordinance giving the mayor more authority -- including the ability to order evacuations -- to manage such emergencies as Tuesday's sudden deluge and the subsequent flooding.

Schering-Plough cutting jobs: Schering-Plough cutting jobs

Flood hangs up phone maintenance: Malia Spencer; Tuesday's flood caught most northwest Las Vegas residents by surprise, but perhaps no one was more startled than three Sprint workers doing routine maintenance.

Lack of Nevada income tax touted as key in recruitment: Economic development executives recruiting businesses to Nevada should continue to emphasize the state not having the most intrusive of taxes -- a personal income tax -- the leader of a watchdog group says.

California's snub clouds valley water allotment: Officials from four water agencies including the Southern Nevada Water Authority charged Thursday that Southern California's Metropolitan Water District is threatening to scuttle negotiations, which could put Southern Nevada's future water supply in doubt.

Feds seek change in nuclear waste definition: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The Energy Department has asked Congress to change the federal definition of nuclear waste, which would sidestep a recent court decision that overruled the agency.

Planners OK casino proposal: Along with the casino's master plan, the city Planning Commission on Thursday approved a rezoning request and a series of variances.

Lady Luck management deal OK'd: CARSON CITY -- Despite concerns about finances, the state Gaming Commission has given approval for two men to take over the gaming at the Lady Luck casino in downtown Las Vegas.

College of osteopathic medicine plans LV campus: Sito Negron; A medical school appears likely to find its way to downtown Las Vegas, Mayor Oscar Goodman announced during his Thursday news conference.

Union targets two LV sites: Kevin Rademacher; A labor dispute has drawn a pair of Las Vegas-area property owners into a confrontation with the Carpenters Union.

Valley's summer ozone is worst on record: The Las Vegas Valley is having its worst summer yet as far as unhealthful air pollution caused by ozone -- a mixture of auto exhaust, chemical fumes and sunlight that combine to produce a brown haze.

Las Vegas insurer loses military contract: Michelle Swafford; Las Vegas-based Sierra Health Services lost a contract bid Thursday afternoon worth nearly $11 billion over five years with the Department of Defense to provide medical services to 1.7 million military personnel and their families in the East. Its stock fell 21 percent on the news this morning.

Nevada rates ninth in stepchildren: By Timothy Pratt; When Luz Ramirez started to date Herbey Gonzalez three years ago, she wasn't sure how her 6-year-old daughter would take to him.

Battery maker buying electric shaver firm: Rayovac, based in Madison, Wis., said it will pay $165 million in cash and will assume $157 million in Remington debt.

Governor welcomes plan for slots at state fair: Ehrlich has opposed slots at the state fair and instead supports placing them at racetracks. Ehrlich spokeswoman Shareese N. DeLeaver said the first-term Republican governor still "favors the approach he proposed and supported during the last legislative session," but is open to other ideas.