Print edition for December 31, 2003

Three-year bear market ends with stocks up after '03 recovery: NEW YORK -- Wall Street pulled back modestly today as investors opted to cash in some gains after a remarkable stock recovery in 2003 that ended a grueling three-year bear market.

Nevada regulators seek allies in battle with FERC: Kevin Rademacher; The state Public Utilities Commission will seek the support of other Western states in its effort to help Nevada Power Co. overturn disputed contracts signed during the Western energy crisis.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Las Vegas was life of party in 2003: It's been a banner year for personality news, Las Vegas-style.

Maine residents reject plans for racinos: Clarke Canfield; PORTLAND, Maine -- Westbrook and Saco residents soundly rejected referendums Tuesday that would have allowed Scarborough Downs to build a harness racing track with slot machines in their Maine cities.

Nuclear waste official quits: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Michael Corradini, chairman of the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, sent a letter of resignation to the White House on Tuesday, telling President Bush that constant inquiries into his possible conflict of interest have taken away from the board's role in overseeing the Yucca Mountain Project.

Teenager linked to second slaying: Dan Kulin; One of three teens charged with killing a man as he walked home from a grocery store in June also shot and killed jewelry kiosk owner Anthony Limongello on May 5, attorneys say.

FBI looking at airline, hotel lists: Jace Radke; Since the nation's terror alert was raised to orange on Dec. 21, the FBI has been searching for terrorists by going over lists of names of those who have used truck and car rental agencies, airlines, hotels, and storage units in the Las Vegas Valley as well as Laughlin and St. George, Utah.

Gaming news briefs for December 31, 2003: INDIANAPOLIS -- A tug of war is forming in the General Assembly over a small piece of state tax revenue affecting riverboat casinos.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Junior League helps hundreds for holidays: Elizabeth Foyt; More than 300 children got a bountiful Christmas, thanks to Junior League of Las Vegas members and supporters.

Illinois court overturns Emerald Casino decision: Maura Kelly; CHICAGO -- The Illinois Appellate Court ruled Tuesday that state law required gambling regulators to renew a license held by Emerald Casino, which had hoped to open in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont.

DA wants word with former Tabish attorney: Dan Kulin; The Clark County district attorney's office is asking a judge to waive Rick Tabish's attorney-client privilege with his former attorney, whom Tabish has accused of improperly handling the appeal of his extortion conviction.

Atlantic City casinos prep for biggest night: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- It's always party time in casinos.

St. Jude's: Keep those cards coming: Heather Rawlyk; Donations welcomed

Business briefs for December 31, 2003: SAN DIEGO -- Cisco Systems Inc., the world's largest maker of computer-networking gear, and No. 3 U.S. long-distance carrier Sprint Corp. on Tuesday won part of contract from the U.S. Defense Department to build a fast data network.

Court eases rules on young sex offenders: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down a law that required juvenile sex offenders to go through a court hearing when they became adults to determine if they must register with police and if the community must be notified about where they live.

Weather-resistant fireworks set to go: Come wind, rain or snow, Las Vegas' annual New Year's Eve fireworks show is "locked and ready to go," Jim Souza, president of Pyro Spectaculars, said.

Sports briefs for December 31, 2003: Amdro Vasilyev scored the only goal in the shootout after the teams played through regulation and an overtime period at 2-2.

LV prepares for celebration: Jace Radke; Las Vegas is gearing up for tonight's New Year's celebration with temporary flight restrictions, armed military helicopters and the activation of National Guard soldiers even though officials say there are no specific terrorist threats against the city.

Phone testimony in civil cases rejected: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court today ruled that testimony by telephone should not be allowed in civil trials unless there are special circumstances.

Killer's attack on prosecutor will go before grand jury: Taiwan Allen was supposed to have his preliminary court hearing on a battery charge today, but the hearing was rescheduled for Jan. 14 after his defense was turned over to the Clark County public defender's office.

Letter: Military draft may be needed: RICHARD J. MUNDY

Ralph Siraco's Santa Anita Park selections: 1st Race -- EXTREME MACHINE -- Solis scales Baffert trainee for owner Garber, draws good post for two-turn maiden opener, Machine-like effort for Extreme diploma. CAPITAL SPENDING -- Smith sits Lukas trainee for owner Overbrook Farm, draws good rail post for maiden special route, backers Spending graduation? Value Play -- BRITISH BLUE

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

Cadets form Lake Mead training fleet: Dick Benoit; No recreational boaters were to be seen at Lake Mead's Echo Bay Marina Tuesday morning. With temperatures in the 30s and Las Vegas' first significant snowfall since 1998 dusting some of the nearby mountains, not even avid fishermen were apparent.

Holiday closings: SAFETY: Police and fire emergency services as usual. Administrative offices closed.

Letter: Democrats must answer neocons in 2004 election: There are two things that must happen if we are to elect a government that represents the interests of all the people. First, the parts of the media that are not just an arm of the Republican Party must get out of bed with the military and stop being intimidated by the shrill rhetoric of the conservatives. Second, the Democrats have to stop being the left wing of the Republican Party and start representing the interests of the people.

Columnist Peter Benton: Time is worth treasuring every day: Peter Benton; Golfers in general -- in fact just about everybody who participates in sports of any kind -- value their time, but the question being asked here is do you really appreciate your time and make the most of it? How about this as a scenario:

Up for Review: Injury to Roy, Dion's ascent highlight LV showbiz news in 2003: With Vegas being the proverbial Entertainment Capital of the World, rarely does a day pass that something of worldwide interest doesn't happen.

Center offering alternative therapies for stressful holidays: January 1, 2004

Area shelters encourage commitment for a lifetime: Heather Rawlyk and Emily Richmond; January 1, 2004

Snowy, cold, windy New Year forecast for northern Nevada: AP; A winter storm warning is in effect for the Lake Tahoe Basin starting Wednesday night and lasting through New Year's Day with about 5 inches falling at lake level and up to a foot at the higher elevations.

School district must go to arbitration with contractor: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a $1 million dispute between the Clark County School District and a contractor over an addition to Basic High School must go to binding arbitration.

Arenas back with Wizards: Guard Gilbert Arenas returned to the Washington Wizards' starting lineup Tuesday night against the Atlanta Hawks, after missing 14 games with an abdominal injury.

Court rejects appeal: The four -- Joseph Clem, Kenneth and Gerald Bridgewater and James Player -- used a red-hot table fork and a heated electric iron to inflict second-degree burns on Katherine Sexton in her home after she threw out a bag of cocaine worth $1,500.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Rebels school 'Griz Kids': Just exactly what did UNLV gain by beating Montana 86-67 at the Thomas & Mack Center Tuesday night?

Radioactive medical material not linked to terrorism, FBI says: Jace Radke; Radioactive medical material that registered found in a Las Vegas storage unit after it registered on Environmental Protection Agency monitor is not linked to any kind of terrorism plot, FBI officials said.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Rattlers, ABA hampered by their own indifference: Dean Juipe; Teams need publicists and leagues need publicity machines, and the Las Vegas Rattlers and the American Basketball Association have, in effect, neither.

Editorial: Balancing freedom, security: Unprecedented security measures are being put in place today in Las Vegas and several other places in the nation as U.S. officials prepare for what they pray doesn't happen -- a terrorist attack. Tonight there will be armed military helicopters flying over the Strip, which Sheriff Bill Young says "are going to be very visible to the crowd." Sharpshooters also will be on hotel-casino rooftops. Add to that 2,000 police officers and 600 jail officers who also will be on duty. Similar security precautions are being taken in Los Angeles and in New York, too, where tens of thousands will ...

Editorial: No more 'buyer beware': Federal law, however, prevented immediate action. It allows manufacturers to market dietary supplements without first having proven their safety. And it stipulates that the FDA can ban the products only after proving they endanger public health. So the FDA began accumulating evidence. By this year it had documented 155 ephedra-related deaths, including that of Steve Bechler, a Baltimore Orioles pitcher. It had also gathered 16,000 reports of adverse side affects.

Lady Rebels stay unbeaten at home: As has been the case every game this year, UNLV's Sherry McCracklin came out ready to play against Cal Poly late Tuesday afternoon.

Clarification sought over marshals' contract: Sito Negron; The union representing about 80 Las Vegas marshals is close to asking for a third party to mediate a dispute over the meaning of a recently signed contract.

Force to be Beck-oned with: Steve Guiremand; Romel Beck arrived at UNLV from Los Angeles City College known primarily for his shooting talents.

Las Vegas news briefs for December 31, 2003: A 20-year-old Reno man died after he lost control of a Mazda RX8 about 10 a.m. Tuesday while driving on Charleston Boulevard east of Buffalo Drive, Metro Police said.

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

January meteor shower could put on a fiery show: Southern Nevada sky watchers are gearing up for a spectacle from space in early January that could light up predawn skies.

Several injured, two die in crashes: One of the crashes, in which the injured were taken to Reno, killed two men. The other four occurred a short distance south and resulted in two critically injured people being taken to University Medical Center.

Obituaries for December 31, 2003: Rosalinda Marie Cox, 17, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in Las Vegas. She was born June 2, 1986, in New Mexico. A resident for many years, she was a student.