Print edition for December 15, 2003

Casino is one idea for land use near scenic canyon: Sito Negron; A casino was among the ideas generated during a weekend workshop meant to publicly plan 1,600 acres that front scenic Kyle Canyon Road and are to be sold next November.

New batch of flu shots goes fast: Health District officials originally announced Thursday that they had received and would give out 300 flu shots to high-risk persons today. Those appointments were filled by early morning Friday.

Editorial: Schools as clinics: If a child is chronically sick, and can't see a doctor because his parents' employer doesn't provide health insurance, then that naturally will affect his performance at school. While we're glad to see that another school-based health center will open, at the same time it's also disheartening because that means children aren't receiving the kind of health care they should be getting in the first place. That's a situation that will substantially change only when enough employers do the right thing and make sure their employees, and in turn their families, have decent health insurance.

Education panel plans superintendent search: By Emily Richmond; The state Board of Education will hold a special meeting Jan. 10 to discuss launching a search for a replacement for state Superintendent Jack McLaughlin.

Airline adds direct Vegas flights from six cities: Beginning March 1, America West, the No. 2 commercial passenger carrier serving McCarran International Airport, will add round trips to San Antonio, El Paso and Austin, Texas, as well as Cleveland and the Canadian cities of Edmonton, Alberta and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Obituaries for Dec. 15, 2003: Grace E. Bartlett, 74, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in Las Vegas. She was born April 22, 1929, in Camden, N.J. A resident for more than 40 years, she was a homemaker, a member of the Eastern Star and Zelzah Shrine Auxiliary.

Columnist Dean Juipe: 'Earth to Rasheed, Earth to Rasheed -- come in, Rasheed': Dean Juipe; He's a big, strong guy with a nice shooting touch who plays hard and is, if anything, a little overzealous. With those types of skills, fans should love Rasheed Wallace even if he tends to be an emotional wreck at times.

Local police officers receive training for New Year's Eve: Jen Lawson; Metro Police Sgt. Clint Nichols remembers the first time he worked New Year's Eve in Las Vegas, 11 years ago.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Sun Lite for Dec. 15, 2003: Lisa Ferguson; There are check marks beside the names of nearly all of the ingrates, er, beloved family members and friends on your holiday gift-giving list - save for the few for whom, year after agonizing year, selecting presents is tantamount to playing a round of mental Twister.

Rebels hurt by inside prowess: Steve Guiremand; STANFORD, Calif. -- When it comes to places of higher learning, it doesn't get much better than Stanford University.

Columnist Susan Snyder: The bald truth about bird-spotting: The ones with feathers, rather than RVs.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: The die is cast at 'CSI' party at Light: "I have to say, if I had come to a place like this when I was (driving a tram) at The Mirage, they'd never have let a guy like me in," Zuiker told us.

Sierra loses appeal over insuring military personnel: The insurer's subsidiary, Sierra Military Health Services in Baltimore, lost a bid in August to provide managed care support services to about 2.8 million active and retired military personnel and their families through the U.S. Department of Defense's TRICARE program.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: NYRA tax fraud conspiracy charged: Ralph Siraco; The lengthy and damaging investigation of the New York Racing Association by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York came to some resolution on Thursday, although the investigation stemming from the original indictments continues.

Huge fine likely in trading scandal: Alliance, which has said it favored some clients by allowing them to trade mutual-fund shares more often than other customers, also may agree to cut the fees it charges as part of a settlement with New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, said the people, who declined to be identified.

Dispute erupts over track profit: Vicki Smith; MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Brooke County plans to sue the West Virginia Racing Commission for letting Wheeling Island Racetrack and Gaming Center move 18 greyhound kennels into the county without also allowing it to share in the track's profit.

State board hears case for second LV trauma center: By Timothy Pratt; Arguments for and against opening a new trauma center at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center were presented in public for the first time Friday.

Gaming briefs for Dec. 15, 2003: BOSTON -- Harrah's Entertainment Inc. Chief Executive Gary Loveman said the company is refocusing efforts on establishing Las Vegas-style gambling in Rhode Island and giving up plans for Massachusetts through at least 2004, the Boston Herald said.

Letter: Rationale for war in Iraq was all lies: The neglected final verse of our National Anthem refers to the duty of "free men (to) stand between their loved homes and the war's desolation ..." We are now a nation that allows male cheerleaders in high political office to send women -- mothers such as Lori Piestewa and fragile little girls such as Jessica Lynch -- to fight the foreign battles of an entrenched Power Elite.

Letter: Unbridled greed in government: MARK STRUSSENBERG

Sports briefs for December 15, 2003: Eric Schneider had a three-point night and Ryan Christie put in two third-period goals to lead the Las Vegas Wranglers to a 6-3 victory Sunday against the Fresno Falcons, ending the Wranglers' six-game road losing streak.

Water authority may rethink tough new rules: The head of Southern Nevada's two largest water agencies is suggesting that some of the new water-conservation rules slated to take effect Jan. 1 could be relaxed, but she is also warning that even tougher rules will come if a long-running drought continues.

Wind gusts top 60 mph as cold front hits from north: Black clouds darkened the Las Vegas sky Sunday, but wind was the main feature of the vigorous cold front that buffeted the valley by evening.

Margaritaville opens at Flamingo: The tropical-themed venue features Buffett's signature laid back mood and cuisine influenced by Buffett's island travels. The attraction includes two outdoor patios overlooking the Strip, a Caribbean-themed restaurant, five bars, live entertainment and a 3,000-square-foot retail store.

Alleged 311 Boyz member awaits jury's verdict: Erica D. Johnson; Prosecutors on Friday told jurors that alleged 311 Boyz gang member Steven Gazlay had both the motive and opportunity to savagely beat a young man at a party last summer.

Editorial: Capture is important step in Iraq: It's unclear whether Saddam had been orchestrating the insurgents' military attacks and suicide bombings against U.S. forces, Iraqis, foreign embassies and relief organizations. But the fact that he was on the loose undoubtedly emboldened his supporters and those foreign terrorists who have slipped into Iraq. Saddam's capture is an important step forward in the war in Iraq, but even as President Bush acknowledged on Sunday, this doesn't automatically mean there will be an end to violence in Iraq. In the immediate term, there very likely will be a spate of attacks in revenge for Saddam's capture, as already was seen ...

News briefs for Dec. 15, 2003: A man fell while crossing Sahara Avenue at Sixth Street about 5 p.m. Sunday and was killed by a vehicle that could not stop in time on the rain-slicked road, police said.

Ten for $10: Trends bucked as expert embarks on holiday shopping spree: Kirk Baird; That axiom certainly applies to gifts from 99-Cent Only Stores.

Nevada delegates cite importance of capture: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The capture of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein marked a huge victory not only for the United States, but also for the Iraqis and the rest of the world, Nevada's congressional delegation said Sunday.

Casinos advertised on cable: Casinos advertised on cable

Gibbons: Alleged Halliburton overcharging 'absolute outrage': Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Nevada Republican Rep. Jim Gibbons is demanding answers about the $61 million in alleged overcharges by the Halliburton energy company for fuel delivery to troops in Iraq.

Birth announcements for Dec. 15, 2003: Nov. 24:

Ohl in a day's work: Over the 10 days of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, three competitors earned six-figure checks.

CAP searches for downed small plane: By Timothy Pratt; The Southern Nevada Civil Air Patrol sent two planes in search of a missing Cessna Centurion this morning.

Correction: The Sun corrects its errors. If you find a mistake, call 385-3111 to report it.

Killer serenades board: CARSON CITY -- A Las Vegas killer may have sung his way to freedom.

Basic High hopes to break new ground on health center: By Emily Richmond; Basic High School hopes to become the first Henderson campus in the Clark County School District to have an onsite health center, providing students with everything from immunizations to hearing and vision screenings.

UNLV grad Jessee turns in another strong performance: On a horse named Elvis, bareback rider Cody Jessee finished third Sunday in last round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center

State-funded addiction programs evaluated: Two out of three compulsive gamblers who completed a Louisiana program to treat gambling addictions are less likely to ever wager again, the director of the program says.

Jurors deliberate Allen's fate: Erica D. Johnson; Jurors this morning were expected to continue trying to determine whether the slaying of a local mother of four was cold-blooded murder or the result of a gun battle turned deadly.

Fewer Nevada teens attempting suicide: By Emily Richmond; The percentage of Nevada high school and middle school students who say they have attempted suicide has declined over the past two years, as has the amount of alcohol and tobacco they reported using, a new survey says.

Parole possible for man convicted in 1974 killing: CARSON CITY -- A man convicted of plotting the murder of the wife of a wealthy Las Vegas casino executive will be allowed to apply for release from prison next month, the state Pardons Board has ruled.

Letter: Constitution protects rights of homeless, too: This is not only my opinion. If you check, you will find numerous newspaper articles over the last two years to document this abuse. Elected officials' public statements will show that they have given tacit approval to this policy.

Regents snub faculty, pick new CCSN chief: Jennifer Knight; Ignoring pleas from faculty and students to hold off on an interim president for Community College of Southern Nevada, the state Board of Regents voted Friday to appoint a man who helped bring $100,000 to the college.

Vegas frequenter Rimes hits on 21: Leah Robinson; Leann Rimes has made tour stops in Las Vegas for years, but it's only now that she can both sing and gamble here.

Yucca case returning to U.S. District Court: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department does not plan on asking the U.S. Court of Appeals to rehear a conflict-of-interest case brought against the Energy Department over a Yucca Mountain project contract.

Council to meet privately with LV city manager: Sito Negron; The Las Vegas City Council will speak with City Manager Doug Selby behind closed doors Wednesday as part of the ongoing handling of a situation that began with the disciplining of a former employee who is a lawmaker and thus far has embroiled the top levels of municipal management.

Tenn. legislator requests meeting over 'enormous' lottery salaries: Amber McDowell; NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- State Rep. Bill Dunn wants to discuss the "enormous pay package" Tennessee Education Lottery Corp. board members approved for CEO Rebecca Paul before the Legislature votes to confirm their appointments.

Court takes key business cases: The court said it will hear an appeal from the Bush administration, which wants to open the border to Mexican trucks without a court-ordered environmental study. That's opposed by unions representing U.S. truck drivers.

House of Blues purrs in Idle: Kirk Baird; When: Sunday.

Visitor volume up: Visitor volume up

Murphy, Tabish back in court: Erica D. Johnson; District Judge Joseph Bonaventure today put off a decision on whether Sandy Murphy should be allowed out on bail while she awaits a second trial in the death of casino executive Ted Binion.

Man who posed as fire victim arrested again in LV: Jen Lawson; A Henderson man accused of posing as a victim of California's October wildfires and passing counterfeit checks at San Diego hotels is charged in Las Vegas with cashing nearly $2,000 in counterfeit checks last week, Metro Police said.