Print edition for December 12, 2003

Refusal to rescind vote on Remington stuns supporters: Jennifer Knight; Any hopes that faculty and staff may have had of restoring ousted CCSN President Ron Remington to his job were dashed Thursday after the university system Board of Regents declined to overturn its previous decision.

Gazlay takes stand in own defense: Erica D. Johnson; The alleged 311 Boyz gang member charged in several violent attacks in northwest Las Vegas quoted the Bible on Thursday as he testified in his assault trial.

Bank of America to provide service to state government: Bank of America to provide service to state government

Columnist Dean Juipe: Be patient -- college presidents will play that ace someday: Dean Juipe; Inundated as we all have been this week with musings on the flawed Bowl Championship Series and the obstinate, almost Neanderthal resistance college presidents have toward crowning a legitimate national champion, it has taken some time to digest.

Gaming firm plans to sell slot assets: By Liz Benston; Just a few years after entering the intensely competitive slot machine business, a growing casino supply company in Las Vegas is exiting slots to focus on its core enterprise of making card shufflers, table games and related equipment.

UNLV women face tests on California trip: Sometimes, according to UNLV women's basketball coach Regina Miller, a simple approach is the best approach.

Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Detroit motoring toward lowly NFL record for road futility: Sal DeFilippo; There are many publicized battles in the NFL. There's the battle for home-field advantage in the playoffs and the battle for a rushing title. Even the battle for top draft pick sparks interest.

Two more defendants in artifacts case to be sentenced: Jace Radke; Two more defendants in a federal case involving the theft of Indian artifacts are scheduled to be sentenced over the next four weeks.

UNLV grad Jessee continues to make his mark at NFR: For the second consecutive year, bareback rider Cody Jessee won one of the rounds in his event Thursday night at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Two clinical trials planned for colorectal cancer: The two final phases will test the cancer-fighting powers of an experimental pill, which is designed to cut off the blood supply that feeds oxygen and nutrients to the tumor.

Clemency denied for LV killer: CARSON CITY -- The state Pardons Board today denied clemency to Heidi Hartkopf, who says she's a changed woman since she was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a man during a robbery in Las Vegas in 1994.

SCORE drivers to be honored at banquet: Consistency was the standard this season for veteran desert racers Ebberts and Castro, who will be honored as the unlimited Class 1 and overall points champions in the 2003 SCORE Desert Series. By winning the class championship, Ebberts and Castro stopped the unprecedented six-year run of Class 1 points titles won by Las Vegas' Troy Herbst.

Letter: Election integrity demands honest, open procedures: Voting machines must be equipped with relatively inexpensive "paper trail" verifiable receipts presented to each voter designating their chosen candidates so that there will be no question as to which candidates actually win this election. This is not only an intelligent use of our taxpayer money (for a change), it is also of vital importance.

RTC hears safety issues from fired bus driver: Sito Negron; The Regional Transportation Commission will continue to look into complaints from a former bus driver who said Citizens Area Transit passengers and drivers are at risk because nobody wants to deal with safety issues related to bus maintenance and criminals.

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

Community briefs for Dec. 12, 2003: The City Lights Artists' Co-op will hold its first holiday bazaar fund-raiser from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the gallery, 26 Water St., Henderson.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Change to points system would be big mistake: Of all the issues that deserve NASCAR's attention, its championship points system should be far down the list.

Ralph Siraco's Hollywood Park selections: 1st Race -- THIS N THAT -- Solis scales Shirreffs trainee for owner Thoroughbred Corporation, draws good box for 7-panel opener, This N That's enough? CONNIE'S GOLD -- Part of Everest Stables-owned coupled entry with FEATURE STORY, P. Val/Knight here, Puglisi/Polanco there, double diploma threat. Value Play -- CHATMAN

Editorial: Prosecution of relic thieves is warranted: Steve Daron, park archaeologist at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, told Sun reporter Jace Radke that the archaeological value of the stolen artifacts was estimated at $416,000. But the actual loss, Daron acknowledged, can't be calculated because such pilfering deprives future generations of seeing and studying this history.

Underdog Rebels hope to catch Stanford off guard: Steve Guiremand; The UNLV men's basketball team finds itself in a familar position heading into Saturday afternoon's game at 13th-ranked Stanford:

Once automatica, Tampa Bay's kicker has become erratica: It might be hard to imagine, but Martin Gramatica and David Duval have a lot in common these days.

Lobos fans could be out in force at this year's game: Steve Guiremand; Perhaps moving the Las Vegas Bowl from Christmas Day to Christmas Eve wasn't such a bad idea afterall.

'Snow throw' puts Patriots in holiday spirit: All-time series -- Miami leads, 7-3.

Sports briefs for December 12, 2003: The internal committee investigating Baylor University's basketball team has found additional violations committed under former coach Dave Bliss, including improper payments for air travel and meals, officials said Thursday.

Residents say proposed codes could be too costly: Dan Kulin; North Las Vegas residents told city officials Thursday that they are worried about how much it might cost them to comply with proposed laws that would require junked cars be kept out of sight and generally keep their properties in good condition.

City inspector was at construction site just before garage collapse: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- The deadly Oct. 30 collapse of a parking garage under construction at the Tropicana Casino and Resort occurred less than an hour after a city building inspector examined the site of a concrete pour and found nothing awry, according to city records obtained under Freedom of Information laws.

Editorial: Children deserving of better: One of the reasons why collection rates aren't doing well can be attributed to the lean staffing levels in the Family Support Division. In 2002 the division had an average caseload of 385 clients for each employee -- the national average was 304. The audit, which says that adding employees can increase collection rates, recommends that the 216-employee division add 26 full-time employees and 35 part-time employees. The relatively low number of employees, which results in lower collection rates, also creates a vicious circle when it comes to federal funding. That's because federal dollars for these programs are incentive-based -- ...

Fowler gets right back in mix: Tyler Fowler remembers walking from a Thomas & Mack Center locker room and down a tunnel to some chutes holding bulls Wednesday night at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Competing retail shows catering to rodeo fans: Rival rodeo retail shows will hit the trail this weekend after 10 days of peddling everything Western during the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

Coach takes team to old stomping grounds: Nick Christensen; It isn't home, but Las Vegas Wranglers coach and general manager Glen Gulutzan will get quite a homecoming Sunday when the Wranglers take on the Fresno Falcons.

Illegal gamblers OK'd to sell: A Nashville police sergeant in the vice division said Roger and Raleigh Dean Hunt pleaded guilty to gambling at both of their markets. Sgt. Rob Forrest said one of the stores, H&H Market on Centennial Boulevard, was among the first independent shops granted the right to sell lottery games.

Healthy food options at biggest airports on the rise: WASHINGTON -- Mouths may not water at the thought of airport dining. But as airlines serve fewer in-flight meals and require passengers to show up earlier, hungry travelers are increasingly foraging in the terminals -- a trend that has physicians concerned about the healthfulness of what they eat.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Leach still at home in lap of luxury: That's what Sharon Osbourne says she spent on plastic surgery and a variety of other grooming procedures to drop from 275 pounds to the 125-pound beauty she is today.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Jackson considers NFL option: A couple of weeks from now, when Steven Jackson sits down with his parents, Steve and Brenda, and his coach, Mike Riley, to discuss his football future, he'll listen intently to what they have to say and then, most likely, do what his heart is telling him, just as he did four years ago.

Hells Angels to appear in court: Twenty-three Hells Angels motorcycle club members were scheduled to appear in U.S. District court this morning for arraignment and plea hearings in connection with last year's gunbattle at a Laughlin casino that left three dead.

Letter: Spending must be kept in check: The GAO recently found that the Defense Department "has been unable to match with corresponding obligations" an estimated $22 billion in disbursements. Economist Stephen Moore summarized, "In other words, the Pentagon somehow lost track of what happened to the money."

Land sought for transit hub: The land is to be used for an "intermodal hub," a transit terminal that combines the Robert N. Broadbent Monorail with bus service and eventually a light rail system from Henderson.

Rain greets conference on river, drought: Hundreds of government officials from dozens of federal, state and local agencies throughout the West weathered the Las Vegas rain Thursday to look at the present and future of the Colorado River.

Shares rise in first trading day: Shares of the Richfield, Ohio-based company rose $5.50 to $33.50 at 10:08 a.m. International Steel, North America's second- largest steelmaker, raised $462 million yesterday after boosting the number of shares offered and their price to $28 each.

County procures more flu shots for at-risk population: Heather Rawlyk; After running out earlier this week, the Clark County Health District has secured a limited supply of flu vaccines for people at the highest risk of severe complications from the flu, the district announced Thursday.

Pilot is honored for flights over Baghdad: Jace Radke; Exploding missiles and the flash of anti-aircraft fire illuminated the wings of Capt. Scott Ulmer's F-16 as he flew over Baghdad on a mission that would become the most dangerous he's ever flown.

MGM MIRAGE working on employee housing in Primm: Jennifer Shubinski; MGM MIRAGE, through its Primadonna Co. LLC subsidiary, will provide housing in Primm for its employees working at its Primm Valley Resorts in Primm, about 40 miles south of Las Vegas on the Nevada-California state line.

DOE speeds schedule on Yucca questions: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The Energy Department will answer remaining technical questions about Yucca Mountain by August, much sooner than it originally planned, according a recent letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Fishing report: Striped bass biting in Las Vegas Wash: The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) creel census clerks reported continued good fishing following the NDOW trout plants in the Boulder Basin at Lake Mead.

Valley gets a soaking, mountains a coating: Mary Manning and Ed Koch; Two weeks before Christmas, and all over the Las Vegas Valley snow and rain pelted residents and visitors Thursday.

Service to begin March 1: Representatives of Transit Systems Management, the monorail's operations company, also said the project is expected to be completed $23 million under the original budget of $650 million.

Six suspects in drug sweep released: A federal magistrate released half of the people who were arrested in a multiagency federal drug and gang sweep in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The alleged drug dealers were released on their own recognizance Thursday afternoon in U.S. District Court.

High school grad rate low in county: By Timothy Pratt; About eight of 10 adults in the Las Vegas Valley had finished high school in 2002, placing the area near the bottom of the nation in that category, a Census Bureau report issued Thursday said.

Soaring convention attendance boosts LV visitor volume: The LVCVA said 3.1 million people visited the city in October, up from 3 million for the same month a year ago. There were 2,846 conventions and meetings in Las Vegas, up 11.1 percent from the 2,562 held in October 2002. Attendance at those events was 547,700, a 46.2 percent increase over the 374,727 people who attended shows that month the previous year.

News briefs for Dec. 12, 2003: After arresting two man in a series of residential burglaries in Summerlin, Metro Police's property crimes detectives discovered a large amount of stolen property that they would like to return to their rightful owners.

Business briefs for Dec. 12, 2003: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A federal judge rejected HealthSouth's bid for $25 million from fired chief executive Richard Scrushy, who was ordered by a judge in Delaware to pay that amount to the rehabilitation clinic operator.

Columnist Barb Henderson: Birdwatching can provide special treat: Barb Henderson; December is a special time of year for birdwatching, a time when an important event takes place throughout the country -- the annual Christmas Bird Count. This month will mark the 104th year that birdwatchers have observed birds through this national program.

Communications school to be split at UNLV: Jean Reid Norman; The new Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Mass Communication will remain within the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs focusing on training media professionals, including journalists, public affairs specialists and advertising sales people, according to school officials.

More water limits seen if drought continues: If the more than 4-year-old drought continues, Las Vegas should expect significant reductions in the amount of water it can take from Lake Mead, Assistant Interior Secretary Bennett Raley said today.

Indicted Hells Angels members appear in court: Jace Radke; Six Hells Angels Motorcycle Club Members appeared in U.S. District Court this morning and entered not-guilty pleas in connection with charges stemming from last year's gunbattle at a Laughlin casino that left three dead.

Firm sues website operator: The suit was filed in California against www.yellovvpages.com (with two v's in place of a w), its alleged owner Bob Grover of the United Kingdom, Monaco-based www.only.com, which allegedly provides content for the website, and its two alleged Internet service providers, New York-based INYC Corp. and Denver-based Net Infrastructure Corp.

Columnist Jeff German: Islanders' lips sealed on silver's whereabouts: They take their time getting things done on this tourist-friendly island, not far from Seattle.

Study says industry vital: John Restrepo, principal of Restrepo Consulting Group, used government census statistics, state-level golf impact studies and information from golf-related firms and local industry experts to reach his conclusions.

Columnist Jeff German: Scandalous Vegas has a language all its own: WEEKEND EDITION December 13 - 14, 2003

'Alternative' compilation holds up well after 10 years: Spencer Patterson; We all have them in our collections. Compilations, usually purchased for that one elusive, non-album track by a favorite artist.

Columnist Jerry Fink: Karafantis hasn't stopped working in the Kitchen: The lounge in the Greek and Italian restaurant, which closed after owners Teddy and Stephanie Daginis divorced, was formerly a popular hangout for local musicians who jammed and sang on open-mike nights.

Another media circus expected for Binion trial: Dan Kulin; The local media are expected to turn out in force Monday for a court appearance of Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish.

VegasBeat -- Columnist Timothy McDarrah: Baer eyeing Carson City locality: WEEKEND EDITION December 13 - 14, 2003

Pro and Con: Should land sale money be spent differently?: By Jim Gibbons

Letter: FDR should remain on dime: Did Ronald Reagan lead us out of the Great Depression of the 1930s? No, Franklin D. Roosevelt did. He set up myriad social programs, including Social Security, which continue to improve our lives.

Datebook for Dec. 12, 2003: The Community College of Southern Nevada's Choral Music Ensembles presents its annual Madrigal Dinner fund-raiser at 7 p.m. today and Saturday at Nicholas J. Horn Theatre, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. Admission is $25 and includes a three-course dinner and a concert. 651-5483.

Redstreaks still sweethearts of the rodeo: Cowboy hats, western shirts, Levis and big belt buckles are everywhere, strong reminders (for those who aren't into the sport) that the annual National Finals Rodeo has returned to Las Vegas.

Comic Idle: Kirk Baird; WEEKEND EDITION December 13 - 14, 2003

School Board makes deal for Rancho to use church lot: By Emily Richmond; Associate Pastor James Kruger is looking forward to giving up his second job -- that of unofficial traffic monitor in the parking lot of the College Park Baptist Church.

Jailed Juveniles: By Timothy Pratt; WEEKEND EDITION December 13 - 14, 2003

Time, price is right for Jeff Trachta: Saturday the 43-year-old former star of "The Bold and the Beautiful" puts on a Santa hat when he stars in the second annual "A Las Vegas Christmas Celebration" at The Rio.

Bond sale planned for housing project: CARSON CITY -- The state Housing Division intends to sell $4.12 million in fixed-rate mortgage revenue bonds next week to help finance a redevelopment project in downtown Las Vegas. The state Board of Finance approved the issuance of the bonds at its meeting Wednesday.

Editorial: Reformers win one: On Wednesday the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, did the right thing when it upheld Congress' power to regulate political contributions. The majority didn't agree with the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law's opponents who had asserted that limitations placed on unregulated donations to political parties by individuals, corporations and unions violated free speech guarantees in the U.S. Constitution.

Editorial: Strange way of defining friendship: Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval is threatening to file more lawsuits against the Energy Department if federal funding isn't restored for state and local government oversight of the Yucca Mountain project. Last week Sandoval sent a letter to the Energy Department and the Office of Management and Budget, noting that the Nuclear Waste Policy Act requires that the federal government give Nevada money for scientific oversight of the project, which, if given a license, would result in the burial of 77,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste in Southern Nevada.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: No shortage of music for top 10 list: Spencer Patterson; After all, it really takes about five years to determine whether something you thought you liked initially still holds up, and gets regular action in your CD changer.

Letter: Bush's flight was no simple trip: I read Kelly Krieg's Dec. 10 letter proclaiming that President Bush flying into Baghdad International Airport was as dangerous as "a trip to Wal-Mart." Interestingly enough, I read this letter not one hour after hearing on the news that a C-17 Air Force transport was hit by a surface-to-air missile while taking off.

Jane's Addiction drowned out at Orleans Arena: Spencer Patterson; That honor went to Static X, an industrial-metal outfit based in Burbank, Calif. Thousands of X-treme Radio (KXTE 107.5-FM) listeners flocked to Orleans Arena in time to see the third of the night's four performers.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Coyotes won't break the habitat: The neighborhood near Henderson's Sunridge Park proved particularly lethal to one of the dog-like animals last week, when the coyote's ongoing aggressive behavior forced a federal wildlife biologist to shoot it.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Niceties not necessary for award-winning Irrera: Lisa Ferguson; "Imagine if I was just nice," the comic ponders. "The audience would be walking out going, 'That Dom Irrera -- really nice guy, never made me laugh, I'd never come to see him again, but what a nice person.' That's kind of boring, you know."

Columnist Jon Ralston: Regents incapable of recovery: WEEKEND EDITION December 13 - 14, 2003

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: The new Iraqi tribunal: The Iraqi tribunal will find no shortage of evidence that the deposed leader and his henchman are guilty of all of these crimes. If ever there is a case to prove genocide, it's what the Iraqi army and police did to the Kurdish people in the north of the country. I have witnessed the results of their attempt to wipe out the culture and lives of the Kurds. In 1992, when in northern Iraq, I interviewed dozens of Kurds who told of the butchery and torture. At the same time at least three or four Blackhawk helicopters carried large amounts ...

Groups combine resources, labor to aid needy in holiday season: Heather Rawlyk; WEEKEND EDITION December 13 - 14, 2003

Fed official urges battle against child prostitution: Jen Lawson; Calling child prostitution "a tragedy of national proportions," a federal official called upon child advocates, law enforcement officers and social service workers to do their part in helping combat the problem.

Performing arts for Dec. 12, 2003: 'Holiday Lights'

Columnist Susan Snyder: Fielding questions is a job: WEEKEND EDITION December 13 - 14, 2003

Where I Stand -- Columnist Brian Greenspun: Poisoned thinking: WEEKEND EDITION December 13 - 14, 2003

Obituaries for Dec. 12, 2003: Leonor S. Gonzales, 73, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospital. She was born Dec. 1, 1930, in San Antonio, N.M. A resident for 35 years, she was a homemaker.

On display for Dec. 12, 2003: Actor Paul Sorvino will display his sculpture art beginning Thursday at Art de Vignettes at the Fashion Show mall on the Strip. A reception will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday at the gallery. The show runs until Jan. 30. 221-0323.

Making a home of a house: Heather Rawlyk; WEEKEND EDITION December 13 - 14, 2003

Music Boxes: Holiday CD packages more plentiful than ever: Spencer Patterson; Over the past 20 years boxed CD sets have become as much of a holiday tradition as menorahs and mistletoe. Virtually every major musical artist has released one, if not several, such collections chronicling their career.