Print edition for February 13, 2003

Fitzgeralds' plans for expansion put on hold: Grace Leong; Fitzgeralds owner and Detroit businessman Don Barden said he'll invest several million dollars over the next few years to refurbish the long-struggling downtown Las Vegas casino but is holding off plans to expand until the economy improves and because of uncertainty over a potential war with Iraq.

Experts say evidence links Weber to crime: Erica D. Johnson; DNA evidence and child pornography on his computer connect Timmy "T.J." Weber to the rape of the 14-year-old girl who was found duct-taped to a bunk bed on the day that her mother and brother were killed in the same house, expert witnesses testified Wednesday.

Pilot's father recalls horrific day: Jennifer Knight; In the early dawn hours of Feb. 1, moments before space shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas, the father of pilot William McCool was snapping pictures of the shuttle streaking across the skies above Las Vegas.

LVMS sells out reserved seats for Cup race: The Triple Play includes infield access for the Winston Cup race, a reserved seat for the March 1 Sam's Town 300 NASCAR Busch Series race and a general admission seat for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event Sept. 27.

Study: Problem gambling costs vary widely: By Liz Benston; In the first study claiming to pinpoint the social costs of problem gambling in Southern Nevada, a group of researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas estimate that problem gamblers cost the community at least $300 million a year and may even cost as much as $900 million.

Stabbings suspects returned to Nevada: The two suspects in the Mesquite child stabbings are on their way back to Nevada today, Utah officials said this morning.

Bybee vote delayed: Several Democratic senators on the panel submitted written questions to Bybee after his nomination hearing last week. Bybee has not had time to respond, so a committee vote on his nomination is not likely until the week of March 3 or later. Congress is in recess next week.

EPA official praises county's air pollution fight: Clark County has installed a new dust complaint hotline -- 385-DUST (3878).

Nevada annual casino win again declines: CARSON CITY -- For the second straight year, winnings by Nevada casinos fell -- but the industry showed a mini recovery in the last six months of 2002.

Attack threat clears store shelves: As federal officials warned of a heightened terrorist threat this week, Las Vegas residents cleared local store shelves of plastic sheeting, duct tape and other items that could be used to seal homes in an emergency.

Union stages protest: The union members claim that Cintas, a uniform laundry company, has uniforms made in Mexican sweatshops. Union members also say workers that launder uniforms in a North Las Vegas Cintas plant need better pay and better working conditions.

Crude oil prices soar, Nevada gas prices jump: Crude oil futures rose to a 29-month high today after U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair said the possible discovery of Iraqi missiles that violate United Nations arms restrictions may accelerate U.S. and U.K. plans for military action against the oil producer.

Seeking another Ward winner: DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Ward Burton is a man on a mission.

Two women victims of home invasion robberies on same day: Jen Lawson; Two women who live in the area of Sahara Avenue and Nellis Boulevard were followed home Wednesday by young men who forced their way into their homes and stole televisions, jewelry and a car, police said.

Cable operator posts profit: The nation's fifth-largest cable operator -- and the main cable provider in Las Vegas -- reported net income of $179.6 million, or 28 cents a share, for the fourth quarter, compared with a loss of $105.2 million, or 18 cents a share, a year earlier.

Suit against Venetian over drug death settled: The settlement was signed this week in the chambers of District Judge Valerie Adair and sealed from public release. Attorneys for neither side returned calls for comment.

Library district facing old sexual harassment case: Eric Leake; A protest today before a library board meeting aims to bring renewed attention to a 5-year-old sexual harassment lawsuit.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Jimmy Vasser's Busch car faster than he thought: DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Jimmy Vasser knew he had a fast racecar going into qualifying for Saturday's Koolerz 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

News briefs for Feb. 13, 2003: Metro Police arrested a Las Vegas man Wednesday in connection with a fatal crash that occurred Jan. 20 at East Russell and Broadbent roads.

Tougher standards eyed for Millennium Scholarships: CARSON CITY -- In an effort to stretch the money available for state Millennium Scholarships, state leaders are proposing tougher standards for students who attend Nevada colleges under the program.

Harmon guilty of mail fraud: Jace Radke; Former state Assemblyman Harley L. Harmon was found guilty this morning in federal court of 34 counts of mail fraud in connection with a multimillion-dollar mortgage scandal.

Berkley questions contract award: Berkley suspects that the former employee, Jim Mattimoe, was fired from a quality assurance job with the Energy Department's Yucca Mountain program because the department didn't like his criticism of the program. Mattimoe was fired by his firm, the Energy Department contractor Navarro Research and Engineering, after he questioned methods used to address concerns raised internally about Yucca.

Record rainfall led to hundreds of crashes: Wednesday's rainfall amount, a record for Feb. 12, contributed to hundreds of traffic accidents, including one that killed a woman and another that caused a three-hour closure of I-15, authorities said.

Interstate tour sets out to study regional drought: PARKER DAM, Calif. -- Thirty board members and staff of Southern Nevada's water agencies set out Wednesday on a three-day trip to find answers to questions posed by the region's worst drought in recorded history.

Plan in place to reduce odors from pigs: Dan Kulin; The pig farm in the middle of North Las Vegas will always smell bad, but by May it shouldn't smell as bad as often.

Nevada educators fear further funding cuts: By Emily Richmond; Nevada educators are decrying President Bush's plans to cut reimbursements to schools that educate children of military personnel, arguing that the Silver State is already being shortchanged when it comes to its fair share of federal education money.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Rebels play mind games with fans: Will the real UNLV basketball team please stand up? Or just sit down?

Letter: Educating kids benefits society: If Selk honestly feels this way, then he has my sympathy. Life has got to be rough when you are so judgmental and openly selfish. In case he is also religious, he might want to research the 7 Deadly Sins, especially Avarice.

Particle remains off the record: Spencer Patterson; Nor will you hear them on your radio. Particle has never recorded a single.

LV firm wins 90-day license: The judge said the 90-day license will give the parties time for a full hearing and due process.

County executive sees no rush for another casino: "Why not wait," Giambra said during his State-of-the-County address. "Let's see if we can't do something family friendly, distinctive and special."

Columnist Adam Candee: Reno's Padgett bitten again by injury bug: Adam Candee; Whom, I wonder, in the basketball heavens did David Padgett tick off?

Mall owner's loss narrows: Trizec's loss was $16.5 million, or 11 cents a share, compared with a loss of $202.6 million, or $1.36, a year earlier. Revenue fell to $240.9 million from $244.3 million, said spokesman Rick Matthews.

Neal lashes out at panel for killing racial profiling bill: CARSON CITY -- Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, had harsh words for the Senate Government Affairs Committee after it unanimously voted down his racial profiling bill Wednesday.

Nevada insurer seeks commercial business: During a conference call with reporters following the release of the company's fourth-quarter financial results, Chief Executive Howard Phanstiel said enrollment in commercial health plans will grow by 4 percent in 2003, net of the loss of one of the nation's largest pension plans as a client. CalPERS' decision last year to drop PacifiCare as a health-plan provider caused the loss of about 180,000 members.

Bill aims at firms moving offshore as tax ploy: The bill takes aim at about two dozen companies that recently moved, and others considering moves, that are using shell headquarters to take advantage of tax loopholes. The bill outlines criteria for identifying such firms and subjects them to U.S. taxes as if their headquarters were still in the United States.

Vegas gains third weekly London flight: The London-based airline said it would begin the new flights between London's Gatwick International Airport and McCarran International on Sept. 2.

Tribal members question casino backer's motives: Erica Werner; SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. -- Juaneno Indians once lived and hunted where the residents of this town now work and shop. Most of their ancestral land is covered over now but an untouched portion remains -- 29 grassy acres by the railroad tracks that were part of a native village called Putiidhem.

Death penalty reform debated: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- The Legislature dabbled with death penalty reform throughout the 2001 session and then appointed a special committee to pore over testimony for another year.

Sun Girls Hoops Top 10: Teams ranked jointly by the Las Vegas Sun and the Sparks Tribune. Records through Wednesday's games.

More child safety planned for cars: Cy Ryan and Jace Radke; CARSON CITY -- When children are left unattended in cars by forgetful parents in Las Vegas, the kids could die from the extreme heat or be abducted.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Riders trample nature: The latest attack on the environment has been a number of riders attached to the Omnibus 2003 budget bill. They were slipped in without open debate by Alaska's Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young. This has shocked Democrats and moderate Republicans to the point that eight of the House Republicans sent the following letter to Young:

Committee shoots down gun proposal: CARSON CITY -- After hearing opposition from gun owners Wednesday, the Senate Government Affairs Committee shot down a bill that would have allowed local governments to regulate carrying of unconcealed firearms on public property at special events.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Austin contemplating heftier weight, paydays: Dean Juipe; Participating in his 11th International Boxing Federation bantamweight title fight, world champion Tim Austin suggests that it may be his last. Win or lose against Rafael Marquez in the main event of Saturday's card at Caesars Palace, Austin may move up from 118 pounds to 122 or 126 in an effort to find a bigger star and a greater payday.

Call her a 'Gen Y' athlete: Adam Candee; Wrap your mind around the following:

Sun Boys Hoops Top 10: Teams ranked jointly by the Las Vegas Sun and the Sparks Tribune. Records through Wednesday's games.

Sun Prep Athletes of the Week: Demario Butler and Katie Williams: DEMARIO BUTLER

Feelin' strong, keepin' busy: Dean Juipe; Ricardo Williams has the look of a future world champion, even if there's one other fighter in his division who had his number as an amateur.

Editorial: More dismal news for Nevada Power: Ideally, Nevada Power would climb out of the hole that it dug for itself when it made some bad energy-purchasing decisions a couple of years ago, but that hope increasingly seems unlikely. An out-of-state company might seek to purchase Nevada Power, but analysts believe it's unlikely in the near term because of the company's uncertain future. Still, an acquisition is possible at some point. The management of a well-run, out-of-state company might perform better than Nevada Power has, but that prospect still is worrisome since we would be placed at the mercy of a utility that has no ties to ...

Highlights of 2002 revenue report on Nevada casinos: AP; -STATEWIDE: $9.45 billion win in 2002, down 0.3 percent. In December, clubs won $775.3 million, up 6 percent.

Horvath tabbed Nevada Army Guard NCO of Year: Dick Benoit; Army Sgt. Tamas Horvath of Las Vegas has been named the top non-commissioned officer in the Nevada Army National Guard for 2002.

Letter: Let inspections work in Iraq: We are still dealing with "assumptions"; there is no proof. The pictures in no way showed that the weapons were there, and the people speaking on the tape recordings could have been anyone. Powell and President Bush are both using our fear of another 9-11 to launch this war with Iraq.

Obituaries for Feb. 13, 2003: Lolita Gloria Bedame, 90, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in Las Vegas. She was born Sept. 29, 1912, in Pennsylvania. A resident for 30 years, she was a businesswoman.

Letter: Iraqi leader's behavior makes war inevitable: Relieved of the weight of the world from their shoulders, hopefully they will regain the strength of body and mind to appreciate and accept the fact that those Americans who believe in the Bush administration's approach to resolving the threat posed by Iraq also want peace. The issue is how to secure peace in as meaningful and permanent a way as possible.

Community briefs for Feb. 13, 2003: Christ Episcopal Church is hosting an interfaith prayer service for peace tonight at 7. The Las Vegas Interfaith Peace Service comes the day before the next U.N. inspectors' report is due on Iraq, church officials noted.

Fans get their wish with return of Phish: Spencer Patterson; First they were joined by Elvis impersonators descending on the stage to jam with guest musicians Les Claypool and Larry LaLonde of Primus.

Editorial: Let book suppliers compete: Depositories are middlemen between publishers and school districts. Because direct shipping from the publishers would be prohibitively expensive, depositories receive and store vast quantities of books and then deliver them to individual districts. In a letter to the Clark County School District, DDS has stated that Nevada's method of dictating to the publishers what depository to use has no basis in law. It has threatened to file a lawsuit unless publishers are allowed to choose the depository.

This weekend is for the birds in Southern Nevada: To join the Great Backyard Bird Count, which takes place Friday through Monday, go to birdsource.org

Return from hiatus makes indie band a different breed: Spencer Patterson; The Breeders gave an answer in the affirmative last year in the form of "Title TK," the indie rockers' first disc since 1993, followed by the first full-on Breeders tour since 1995.

Caught in a Jam: Carrying 'jam band' moniker, moe. follows Phish shows this weekend: Spencer Patterson; Most critics believe that for all their touring success, the Grateful Dead never quite got it right on record. Likewise, the members of Phish generally acknowledge their difficulties in releasing albums fans of their stage show will embrace.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Time to swap 'til you drop: Ruthe Deskin; If you don't believe it, I recommend a visit to the delightful Antique Sampler Shoppes at the corner of Tropicana Avenue and Jones Boulevard.