Print edition for December 26, 2003

Editorial: A toast to staying safe: This time of year, many of the auto accidents they respond to are alcohol-related. It's an important fact to bear in mind, whether we're traveling to work or coming home from a social gathering. If we're partying, we should bear in mind the image of being whisked from some terrible accident by a helicopter -- and lay off the alcohol. If we're not partying, we should bear in mind that some other driver on the road may have been, and we should be extra careful. We're raising our glass of nonalcoholic beverage in a toast -- to a safe holiday ...

Editorial: Show us the whole nuke plan: Actually, the Energy Department is still not really talking about a transportation plan. It's just talking about one tiny sliver of it, the portion that would carry the waste over the final 300 miles. Margaret Chu, who directs the department's Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, tried to put a positive spin on the plan in a letter to Gov. Kenny Guinn. She pointed out that the plan for the final leg of the journey to Yucca Mountain does not utilize any rail lines going through the Las Vegas Valley.

Letter: Conserve water, stop growth in Southern Nevada: Dec. 27 - 28, 2003

Performing arts for December 26, 2003: 'Scrooge'

Editorial: Homeless are viewed with apathy: Dec. 27 - 28, 2003

Columnist Jon Ralston: Gazing at the crystal ball: WEEKEND EDITION

A little wine, a little music: WEEKEND EDITION

Metallica rings in 2004 with sold-out Joint show: Spencer Patterson; Why sing "Auld Lang Syne" when you can shout out the words to "Enter Sandman?"

New Year's CAT bus rides in the valley are free for the taking: Dec. 27 - 28, 2003

Columnist Spencer Patterson: The music scene in Las Vegas will never be dull: Spencer Patterson; The past couple of weeks, Feedback has looked back at the year that was, first its top new albums and then its best local shows.

Clash's self-titled debut established Strummer's legend: Spencer Patterson; Living legend. It's a term thrown around far too often in rock 'n' roll circles.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Owls at the mercy of the system: Mary Siero has been looking, but the burrowing owl from Reno obviously is shy.

Peter Principle: Kirk Baird; WEEKEND EDITION

Party On: Despite downsizing tour scope, Strokes handpick Vegas for Dec. 31 show: Spencer Patterson; The Strokes are relative neophytes in the music industry, having just released album No. 2.

On Display for December 26, 2003: Centaur Art Galleries presents "Picasso's Legacy," the largest exhibition of the artist's work ever shown on sale, from Wednesday, Dec. 31, to Feb. 29 on the lower level of the Fashion Show mall. Admission is free. 737-1234.

Columnist Jerry Fink: Nora's offers wine, music -- and a place to lounge: It isn't the Metropolitan, but Giovanni Mauro couldn't be more proud of the new venue where he can indulge his passion for singing opera.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Cars, kids are never a good mix: WEEKEND EDITION

'Girls, Guy' gives maximum bang for buck: What: "Two Girls & a Guy."

Letter: Less intensive use better on Buffalo: Dec. 27 - 28, 2003

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Comedy is a family affair for Capri: Lisa Ferguson; For Jeff Capri it was never a question of if, but when he would join the family business.

Editorial: No apathy on this issue: Dec. 27 - 28, 2003

Letter: Middle East's oil is not worth sending soldiers: President Ronald Reagan, Vice President George H.W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, who is now secretary of defense, Dick Cheney, who is now vice president, and other Republicans then became friendly with yet another dictator, Saddam Hussein.

Obituaries for December 26, 2003: Robert E. Autry, 72, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospital. He was born April 27, 1931, in Mississippi. A resident for seven years, he was a retired production manager for a furniture manufacturer and a Korean War Marine Corps veteran.

Deadly NLV airplane crash investigated: Some aircraft accidents that have occurred involving the North Las Vegas Airport:

Letter: GOP seeking to kill Medicare: Don't scoff, because all the needed ingredients are there -- Republican control of the White House and Congress and an ill-informed or misinformed electorate. The undying goal of the GOP has always been the unraveling of the New Deal and Great Society, and they are not going to miss their best chance to reach their goal. I say, vote them out.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Local bowl works as advertising device: Dean Juipe; When it comes to the Las Vegas Bowl, measuring or quantifying its success is a tricky, subjective endeavor.

Christmas joy: Heather Rawlyk; On the holiest day of the Christian calendar, residents in other cities spend the day visiting family and friends, going to church or trying out new gifts. Those traditional activities occur in Las Vegas as well, but the choices are so much more varied.

Edney's basket constant reminder for Gottfried: The real question ... will embattled coach Quin Snyder be the Missouri coach when UNLV plays at Columbia on Feb. 15.

Group proposes sports complex at old airport: Dan Kulin; The barren patch of desert that is the old and abandoned Boulder City Airport would be transformed into a $25 million sports complex with ball fields for tournaments and sports camps by summer 2005 under a proposal expected to go before the City Council next month.

A year later, lottery winner wishes he'd been quieter: Gavin McCormick; ST. ALBANS, W.Va. -- The letters never stop.

Tribe plans hotel: The Seneca Nation will break ground in April on the 26-story hotel that tribal officials say will be the Niagara Falls' first four-star hotel. The hotel will have 600 rooms and a full-service spa, Seneca casino head Mickey Brown told The Buffalo News. Its top floor lounge will provide views of the waterfalls' brink and the Niagara Gorge, he said.

Crowdless in Las Vegas: Steve Guiremand; The 2003 Las Vegas Bowl had just about everything executive director Tina Kunzer-Murphy could ask for.

Business news briefs: More than $500,000 of the expenditures listed in finance reports filed Wednesday were by two groups opposed to a racino: Maine Opportunities and Casinos No!

Valley agencies feel shortchanged on federal funds for homeless: By Timothy Pratt; Local governments were awarded only half the federal funding they said they needed to help the valley's homeless this fiscal year, so they are appealing the allocation.

Scooters raising concerns: Jennifer Knight; They are shiny and fast and likely to hit the streets after Christmas with children as their illegal drivers.

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

Officials say no pollutants released in fire at Timet plant: An industrial fire at Titanium Metals Corp. in Henderson Wednesday created enough smoke for a second alarm, but caused no injuries and emitted no chemicals, fire and company officials said.

City news briefs for December 26, 2003: A man waiting at a bus stop on Flamingo Road at Valley View Boulevard was killed, and a 38-year-old Las Vegas man was arrested on a charge of drunken driving in the incident Thursday.

Firm may be interested in LV, New York toy stores: The creditors committee of FAO Inc. on Wednesday approved Macklowe's $23 million proposal to buy the two stores as well as the rights to the FAO name, the Journal reported.

Florida allegations might affect Galardi license bids: Sito Negron; Tampa, Fla., police have filed racketeering charges against four managers of strip clubs in that city owned by the man who owns the Las Vegas Valley clubs that were at the center of a federal public corruption probe.

Historic church in need of some very special help: Brendan Riley; VIRGINIA CITY -- This famed old mining town's shops, saloons and other attractions aren't the only places that suffer when the summer tourist season ends and icy roads make it tough to get here. So does the donation box at historic St. Mary's in the Mountains Roman Catholic Church.

Community news briefs for December 26, 2003: The second annual New Year's Eve Blood Drive will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Neonopolis.

Prowler shot by police may have been after dog: Erica Johnson and Christina Littlefield; A suspected prowler who was shot by police in an Summerlin neighborhood in early December was a hired hit man seeking revenge on a Rottweiler who had killed another dog the day before, police reports say.

Where I Stand: Crime and punishment: OUR GROUP'S moderator, Robert Siller, a board member of the Gaming Control Board, was particularly well versed in our topic. With years of experience in the FBI, he made an excellent match of experience and knowledge in the field to bring the Sun Youth Forum alive for us.

Police bust up credit card 'bust out' scam: Jen Lawson; An Eastern European organized crime ring is believed to be behind a sophisticated credit card skimming scheme that netted the crooks about $100,000 since October, Metro Police said.

Martz, Lewis at top of the heap in NFL: All-time series -- Denver leads, 6-3-1.

Youth prison to reopen Jan. 26: CARSON CITY -- After being closed for nearly two years, the state-owned Summit View male juvenile detention center in North Las Vegas will be reopened Jan. 26 and will take in 24 boys the first week.

Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Don't blame the kicker -- Saints could have gone for two: Sal DeFilippo; One of my favorite parts about sports betting is preparing for the unlikely, and what to do when it happens.

Fishing report: Winter temperatures having usual effects: Typical winter fishing has descended on the lake as a result of cooler water temperatures that is sending striped bass and other warm water game fish to deeper water, according to the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW).

Passengers in cars rescued from Imperial Palace garage: Seven people trapped in two cars were rescued from rushing water at the Imperial Palace parking garage after a Christmas day storm brought almost an inch of rain to some parts of the Las Vegas Valley.

Van hits icy patch on I-15: Timothy Pratt and Christina Littlefield; A van full of people apparently headed home to Mexico hit an icy patch and rolled down a 70-foot embankment this morning along Interstate 15 just south of the Nevada border, resulting in two deaths.

Sports briefs for December 26, 2003: "You're just ... living in a nightmare and just can't really wake up out of it," Bryant said in the interview broadcast on ABC at halftime of the Lakers' 99-87 loss to Houston.

Columnist Barb Henderson: McBeath brothers have some success during elk hunt: Barb Henderson; Christmas may have arrived early, back in November for the three McBeath brothers of Las Vegas.

Nebraska lawmakers face issues on casinos: Kevin O'Hanlon; LINCOLN, Neb. -- The rancor and indecision over the push for a casino gambling measure is far from resolved as lawmakers ready for a new session starting Jan. 7.

Potential Enron billings drawing fire from critics: Kevin Rademacher; Opposition is mounting to a potential request by Nevada Power Co. that it bill ratepayers for millions of dollars it may have to pay Enron Corp.

GHB may be OK'd to treat narcolepsy: A version of the date-rape drug GHB may soon be approved in Nevada for treatment of the sleep disorder narcolepsy.

Cremation: Southern Nevadans' final choice: On rankings of education and health, Nevada often finds itself on the bottom of the list. In growth and economic factors it's often on top.

Officials insist LV not target of terrorist plot: Jace Radke; Local officials continued to report that there are no specific terrorist threats against Las Vegas as speculation grew across the nation about possible targets of terrorist strikes during a high, Code Orange alert.

Ex-execs reach agreement: Under the agreement, one former executive agreed not to sell or mortgage his house, and restrictions weren't placed on three other defendants' homes, said defense lawyer Lee L. Hamel.