Print edition for December 9, 2003

AeroTech's lawsuit against fire department dismissed: Jace Radke; A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit that alleged the Clark County Fire Department violated the Fourth Amendment during an investigation of a model rocket plant after it was destroyed by a chemical fire in October 2001.

Immunization schedule for Dec. 9, 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.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Justice in Salt Lake: It was 17 years ago that Tom Welch became volunteer chairman for the Salt Lake Olympic Bid Committee and 14 years since Dave Johnson became the committee's vice president. They were tireless in their efforts to bring the Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City. In 1991 Nagano, Japan beat them out of the opportunity to host the games in 1998.

Road projects listed on website: The Transportation 2004 publication provides residents with an overview of several road and flood control improvement projects that are currently underway.

Letter: Keep separate church and state: That being said, I would urge those currently serving as elected officials to consider removing the Bible from our courtrooms and changing the swearing-in oath to: "I swear, subject to a prison term, a monetary fine, or both, to tell the truth, etc."

Sunrise names new medical director: As Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center officials apply to the state to operate a trauma center, Dr. Michael H. Metzler, a veteran midwestern trauma services director, has been named medical director at the Las Vegas hospital.

Reid POW amendment stripped from spending bill: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid's amendment to help former prisoners of war receive payment from the former Iraqi government was stripped from the final version of the omnibus spending bill, an aide said Monday.

With Gaines, 'Scrooge' gains credibility: Broadway actor Davis Gaines will play the curmudgeonly Scrooge in the musical of the same name opening tonight at Starbright Theatre at 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd. in Summerlin.

Letter: Police, subduing people on drugs, deserve credit: It's not a racial problem as usually suggested, but rather self-protection for the officers. There are always others who believe it could have been handled differently. They should be asked, "How would you have handled the situation?" They would not be able to come up with a proper answer because of a lack of training in this area.

Hospitals reject audit's claims: By Emily Richmond; An audit of the state Board of Medical Examiners says hospitals aren't doing enough to report doctors involved in malpractice cases, a claim the Nevada Hospital Association rejected Monday.

School principal, architect win arts awards: Sylvia Tegano, principal of the Knudson Middle School Academy of Creative Arts, Language and Technology, and John R. Klai II will be honored at the annual arts awards dinner March 25 in Las Vegas.

Community briefs for Dec. 9, 2003: The U.S. Postal Service, expecting a flood of holiday mail, has extended hours at several stations throughout the Las Vegas Valley this weekend.

Editorial: Don't toy with public lands law: Very importantly, this law also requires that money from the auction of federal lands in Southern Nevada be spent primarily for the protection of the environment in Nevada, providing a win-win for the taxpayer. Currently, 85 percent of the money from these sales goes for parks, trails, natural areas and environmental and conservation projects, while 10 percent goes to the Southern Nevada Water Authority and 5 percent is devoted to public education.

Metro officers training Jordanians: Jen Lawson; Under a shroud of secrecy, Metro Police SWAT officials trained a group of officers from the Jordanian National Police in specialized tactics last month, said Deputy Chief Bill Conger, the man in charge of Metro's special operations bureau.

9-year-old girl describes her mother's killing: Erica D. Johnson; A 9-year-old girl told jurors on Monday that she saw Taiwan Allen choke her mother shortly before gunshots rang out from the couple's bedroom.

Count Us In: Billboard keeps up with trends for Wednesday's awards show: Spencer Patterson; "We've seen a watershed in the music industry where, for the first time ever, legal computer downloads exceeded sales of singles," said Paul Flattery, a producer of Fox's television broadcast at Bob Bain Productions.

Letter: Animal acts should be banned: One kangaroo even died while on tour with UniverSoul in Nashville, Tenn. The animal had a bacterial infection known as "lumpy jaw," but even though circus officials were aware of the kangaroo's medical condition, they made him perform boxing routines instead of taking him to a qualified veterinarian. The poor animal suffered for at least two months before he finally died.

Bill includes $20 million for LV monorail project: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON --- The Las Vegas monorail project will get $20 million out of the massive $373 billion spending bill approved by the House Monday. All three of Nevada's House members voted in favor of the bill.

Obituaries for Dec. 9, 2003: Vernon Abernathy, 57, of North Las Vegas died Friday in a local hospital. He was born Oct. 26, 1946, in Detroit. A resident for 13 years, he was a retired case manager for Catholic Charities and a Vietnam War Army veteran.

Voting machine vendor to be named: CARSON CITY -- Secretary of State Dean Heller plans to announce Wednesday which touch-screen voting machines Nevada will buy to replace its punch-card units for the 2004 election.

Columnist Susan Snyder: In a way, all toys are dangerous: A few days after you've blown January's mortgage payment on the toys that'll make little ones gleeful until the batteries go dead, the Safety People (SAPs) come out with 450 reasons the toys crammed in the guest bedroom closet are dangerous.

Segerblom will accept offer of new position: Sito Negron; Sharon Segerblom, former director of Las Vegas Neighborhood Services, will accept the city's offer to work in its Department of Detention and Enforcement as an administrative officer, she and her lawyer said Monday.

Two insiders leave Station Casinos board: The company confirmed that Christenson would continue to serve as chief financial officer. Sartini, wife of board member Blake Sartini and sister of executives Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta III, is one of the company's largest shareholders, but holds no other position with the company.

Officers ease parents' minds: By Emily Richmond; Metro Police went to the Alexander Dawson School in Summerlin on Monday to reassure parents that there is no evidence their children's physical education teacher, arrested on charges that he sexually abused students while working in Texas, had committed any crimes in this jurisdiction.

Columnist Jeff German: Holocaust denier slips into town: But behind this facade is the world's most recognizable Holocaust denier -- a 65-year-old London author who does not believe that 6 million Jews perished in Nazi death camps during World War II.

Holiday Prep Classic scaled back to 8 teams: Adam Candee; The Holiday Prep Classic, one of the country's premier winter prep boys' basketball events as recently as last year, is being reduced to a quaint get-together this year.

Dollar falls to multiyear lows against major rivals: Anusha Shrivastava; NEW YORK -- The dollar fell to multiyear lows against its major foreign rivals Monday amid persistent worries over the U.S. economy, setting an all-time low against the euro for the seventh consecutive day.

CCSN probe didn't include key insight: Jennifer Knight; Two people who could have shed more light on allegations of influence-peddling by CCSN officials during the 2003 legislative session were never questioned by the investigator.

House approves bill on big cats: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Restrictions on the interstate shipments of exotic animals such as lions and tigers are expected to soon be signed into law by President Bush.

Study contradicts NCAA: The extent of gambling that occurs on college campuses has been greatly exaggerated, a Harvard University researcher said Monday.

County lagging in collection of child support, review finds: By Timothy Pratt; The Clark County district attorney's office is doing a poor job of collecting child support, ranking worse than the national average in three of five categories the federal government uses to measure such programs, according to a review of the office.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Hard Rock goes to extremes for laughs: The host is a former Wall Street guy. Well, he sold furniture on Wall Street.

News briefs for Dec. 9, 2003: Two days after a probation officer found a methamphetamine lab during a surprise visit to a Las Vegas man's home, another probation officer discovered a meth lab in a Searchlight woman's home, authorities with the Nevada Division of Parole and Probation said.

NLV man gets 42 months in pot case: Garry Lynn King was the final defendant in the case that stretches back to 1997, when he rented a Las Vegas home and set up a hydroponic marijuana operation.

County gets more flu doses as fed agency monitors problem: The Clark County Health District opened today with about 500 flu shot doses despite a run on flu shots Monday, where about 1,000 people stood in lines that wrapped around the lobby of the Shadow Lane facility to get the vaccine.

League pushing for more minority hirings: The NFL has issued 10 guidelines it hopes will strengthen its year-old policy that at least one minority candidate be interviewed for each head coaching vacancy, the New York Times reported today.

Unity, conservation focus of Colorado River states: The Colorado River provides water and power to 25 million people in seven states, but more than four years of drought are endangering the resource.

Lottery to drop TV promotions: Michael J. Edmonds, acting lottery director, said the broadcasts will stop as of Jan. 1.

Ex-troopers file civil rights suit: CARSON CITY -- Three former Nevada Highway Patrol troopers filed a civil rights lawsuit Monday, alleging they were forced to resign because they blew the whistle on alleged misconduct by Dick Kirkland, the former director of the state Department of Public Safety.

Gee making move in steer wrestling: Of hog hunting, welding and golfing, Mickey Gee knows which one he does best.

State analysts say Nevada Power being inconsistent: Kevin Rademacher; Frequent claims of possible bankruptcy on the part of Nevada Power Co. could come back to haunt the utility in its $142 million rate increase request currently before the state Public Utilities Commission.

Sports briefs for December 9, 2003: The MVP award was among about 300 items put up for sale by Mantle family members.

Tribe plans scaled-back casino: And before Monday, officials from the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians had repeatedly stated that the casino would cost $26 million and employ 300 to 400 people. But now, the tribes are saying they will start with a $12 million project of 16,000 square feet and with 120 employees.

Air Force expands probe: The 14-year, $27 billion program to start replacing the Air Force's aging fleet of aerial refueling tankers is on hold while the IG investigates whether Darleen Druyun, then the service's No. 2 acquisition official, improperly gave Boeing proprietary data related to the lease proposal from another bidder, the European Aeronautic Space & Defense Co.

Ward has eye on big prize: Before the fourth round of the 45th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on Monday, barrel racer Janae Ward got way ahead of herself. Six days ahead, in fact.

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Chinese premier warns against further trade barriers from U.S.: Priscilla Cheung; NEW YORK -- China's Premier Wen Jiabao warned the Bush administration Monday against erecting further trade barriers against Chinese products and urged Washington to instead find ways to increase exports to China as a way to lower its ballooning trade deficit with China.

Two insiders leave board: The locals' gambling giant said that due to the changes, the majority of the company's board now consists of independent directors.

Baer sues over restrictions: In a Carson City District Court petition filed Monday, lawyers for Baer said he has a legal right to develop his property.

Dow crosses 10,000: Stocks moved higher as upbeat investors picked up shares on bets the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates low for some time, but gave back some of the gains to profit-taking.

It all starts and likely ends at Centennial: Adam Candee; Here are 10 questions to preview the 2003-04 girls' basketball season ...

Coalition against gay marriage reorganizes: The Nevada coalition that helped pass a state constitutional amendment that defined marriage as only between a man and a woman announced plans Monday to reactivate the group in response to the issue's continued presence in national politics.

Group works to become a player in gaming decisions: By Liz Benston; Since its founding in 1996, the National Center for Responsible Gaming has raised more than $10 million for research on gambling addiction, worked with clinicians to develop a standard for treatment and replaced gambling myths with more than a dozen peer-reviewed research projects.

Park Place casinos start lists to ban addicts: Park Place Entertainment Corp. of Las Vegas, the world's largest casino company, said today it will create a self-exclusion list that would bar problem gamblers from all of its properties for life.

Ralph Siraco's Hollywood Park selections: 1st Race -- PRINCESS MALICE -- Draws outside box in small sprint field of first-year fillies, Puglisi on Aguirre trainee for owner JPF Investments, cagey team. OLD CHINESE COPY -- Krone sits Lynch trainee for owner Golden Eagle Farm, draws well for maiden/claiming opener, new Copy of diploma here? Value Play -- YOGI'S

Shooting was second for Metro cop: Jen Lawson; A Metro Police officer who shot and wounded a suspected prowler Friday in Summerlin was involved in a fatal shooting two years ago.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Grown-ups put youth boxing on the ropes: Dean Juipe; The general principle butts heads with our sensibilities, as if something about the basic premise just isn't right.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Deceit in seats good idea at LVMS: You've heard the expression that "X" number of spectators attended a game or sporting event disguised as empty seats?

Woman says her beliefs prompted sex with children: Erica D. Johnson; Clark County jurors heard opening arguments on Monday in the trial of a woman who claims her religious beliefs drove her to engage in sex acts with two minors.

Boy, 10, struck, killed by truck: A 10-year-old North Las Vegas boy in-line skating home from school Monday was struck and killed by a truck, police said.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: 24 Nextel, Busch drivers to test at LVMS: Eleven more NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers, including reigning series champion Matt Kenseth and Las Vegas native Kurt Busch, have indicated they will take part in the open test next month at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Waitress' suit against Caesars reinstated: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court has reinstated a lawsuit by a cocktail waitress at Caesars Palace alleging the resort was negligent in not providing security in the employee parking garage, where she was abducted twice by her estranged husband.

Virus affects Porter's hearing: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Doctors have told Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., to avoid flying for a few days due to a virus in his right ear that caused him some hearing loss. The congressman was treated in a Maryland hospital for five days last week for treatment of acute ear pain.

Maddux wants to stay in NL: Greg Maddux didn't expect Atlanta to offer him salary arbitration for a second consecutive year, but he said he did expect the Braves to make some sort of attempt, however paltry, to retain him.