Print edition for February 17, 2003

Protest held at Harrah's: Tom Stoneburner, director of the alliance, said the protest was aimed at bringing attention to the alliance's charges of an unsafe workenvironment at the casino and its alleged wrongful termination of Flores, who had complained of being exposed to a chemical spill. But Harrah's spokesman Gary Thompson disputed the allegations. He said Flores was terminated for "insubordination and inappropriate behavior," and that a federal mediator will issue a decision in March on a complaint she filed against the hotel-casino.

Local water officials disturbed by tour: Planners designed a three-day, 300-mile trip along the southern reaches of the Colorado River to give insights to the leaders and staff members of Nevada's water agencies.

Investment club operator indicted: According to the indictment, Paul K. Ray operated an investment club called "Captain Ray's Villages Inc." in Henderson.

Binion firm moving to Vegas: Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. will relocate its corporate office to Las Vegas from its existing location in a Chicago suburb.

Official: Mental health system lagging: CARSON CITY -- One of every two people who seek state-provided mental health services in Nevada does not receive treatment, a legislative budget committee was told today.

No new Newcastle infections reported: Federal and state officials are getting closer to declaring Nevada free of exotic Newcastle disease.

Ceremonies today to mark protection of Sloan Canyon: A 20-minute drive southeast from the glitter of the Strip brings a visitor to a place where 1,000 steps into a canyon constitutes a walk back in time.

News briefs for Feb. 17, 2003: Clark County's two biggest water agencies will consider an agreement to settle a 5-year-old feud with the county's neighbor to the north.

Town plans to keep its cool during long, hot summer: Dan Kulin; Preparing for a long hot Southern Nevada summer, Boulder City is building an array of water cannons, misters and spray jets that are sure to make the little city one of the coolest places around.

Candidates get mixed signals on campaign signs: Dan Kulin; North Las Vegas City Council candidate Bill Dolan was shocked when he heard the order from city code enforcement officers: Remove your campaign signs from public property.

Law to require grounds upkeep proposed: Judy Odierna; Broken glass, beer cans, weeds and mud are not a good substitute for a flower bed, Las Vegas Councilman Michael McDonald says.

Metro getting high-tech ticket system: Jen Lawson; Metro Police are expected to retire their paper ticket books by this summer and replace them with hand-held electronic devices that will also allow officers to analyze crash data, look up driver and vehicle information and access traffic statistics, all with the touch of a few buttons.

Cancellations in East affect McCarran flights: The winter storm in the Eastern United States was causing flight cancellations that were affecting departures and arrivals at McCarran International Airport this morning.

Gladiators hope home is sweet: Adam Candee; NEXT UP

Rebels look to knock Utes off pedestal: Steve Guiremand; NEXT UP

Waltrip rains supreme: DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Michael Waltrip finally got to celebrate a Daytona 500 victory in proper fashion.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Newman lives to talk about spectacular crash: DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Newman went on an E-ticket ride Sunday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway and lived to tell about it.

Tyson-Etienne bout in jeopardy: Dean Juipe; Mike Tyson failed to board his scheduled flight from Las Vegas to Memphis on Sunday, adding to the speculation that his Saturday fight with Cliff Etienne is in jeopardy.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Liszt, Fischer, Woods: No three stooges: Dean Juipe; It's said that legendary composer Franz Liszt could play back any piano piece, no matter how long or difficult, after a single listen.

Convicted cheater considered for Black Book: The Black Book is another term for Nevada regulators' List of Excluded Persons and is aimed at banning criminals and undesirables from Nevada casinos for life.

Rebels salvage one from Fullerton: In five games over the last two seasons, UNLV coach Jim Schlossnagle watched Cal State Fullerton outscore the Rebels 78-8.

Weber defense to take over double murder trial: Erica D. Johnson; Defense attorneys in the murder trial of Timmy Weber this week will claim that Weber was not at the house when his girlfriend, Kim Gautier, and her 15-year-old son, Anthony, were killed at the family home last April.

Portland State tops Rebels in tournament: The Rebels finished the tournament with four losses in five games, dropping them to 4-10 overall. They play games at home today against Southern Utah and Hawaii.

Agassi wins tourney: Next up for UNLV (1-3) is the HEB Classic March 7-9 in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Legendary jockey Longden dead at 96: Ralph Siraco; The Sport of Kings lost a king of the sport on Friday.

Schools' quests for Reno begins: Adam Candee; Prep playoff schedule

United's discount airline strategy faces skepticism: Dave Carpenter; CHICAGO -- United Airlines CEO Glenn Tilton faces a tough audience as he races to drum up employee support for a proposed in-house discount carrier he says is critical to ensuring the bankrupt company's survival.

Analysts wonder what executive knows: Harry R. Weber; ATLANTA -- BellSouth's emphatic objection to Sprint's courtship of its No. 2 executive has some analysts and large shareholders asking themselves what it is that Vice Chairman Gary Forsee could reveal.

McDonald wants apartments to update old landscaping: Judy Odierna; Broken glass, beer cans, weeds and mud are not a good substitute for a flower bed, Las Vegas Councilman Michael McDonald says.

Downtown casino proposed: The dream would cost $440 million, and raising the sum is the least of the uncertainties, the newspaper said.

Takeover proposal weighed: The board intends to decide on which of the two it will recommend to its shareholders, it said.

Tax talk puts Fed chief's future in question: Martin Crutsinger; WASHINGTON -- His pointed criticism of the Bush tax plan showed that Alan Greenspan, often taken to task for being too murky in his economic pronouncements, can be crystal clear when he wants to be.

Spokesman: Closure won't hurt Henderson operation: Jeff Simek, a spokesman for Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based Medco, said it hasn't been determined whether hours would be expanded at the company's Henderson center, where 2,200 people are employed and 100,000 mail-order prescriptions are processed per day.

Furniture maker commits to LV: The Greensboro News & Record in North Carolina reported the Asheboro, N.C.-based manufacturer is one of the largest companies to confirm it will be showing in Las Vegas.

Local sports calendar: Men's basketball: UNLV at Utah, 6 p.m.

Letter: First shelters, now duct tape: During the '50s "the government," (aka Washington idiots) during pre-duct tape days, advised us to dig bomb shelters in our back yards (fear not Las Vegas, your homeowners association won't let you). This of course was to afford the ultimate protection from the "bomb." That had as much chance as today's "duct tape" scheme has.

Letter: Hawks insult everyone but the pontiff: I find it extremely interesting that some Bush right-wingers like Bob Novak, Andrew Sullivan and Bill Bennett (all Catholic, I believe) have not blasted the pope and the Catholic bishops, while implying that all other citizens who oppose the war are "Saddam allies."

Editorial: New license policy would benefit state: McClain's bill is meritorious on another license plate issue as well. She would institute the equivalent of an "all sales final" policy for people who move out of state before their licenses expire. Currently the state is incurring millions of dollars in administrative costs each year so that people who have moved can pocket a small refund check. Last year, for example, 101,000 refunds were mailed, with 9,100 of them in amounts under $1. Arizona is the only other state in the country that goes to this expense. We say, forty-eight other states can't be wrong.

Editorial: Don't hurt scholarship program: Last week state Treasurer Brian Krolicki, who administers the program, offered ideas to reduce eligibility so the tobacco settlement can fund the Millennium Scholarships until at least 2011. Students would have to complete their degree in five years or they would no longer be able to keep receiving a scholarship, which is $10,000 for Nevada high school graduates who have a B average or better. But many students already have a tough time completing their degrees in four years because there isn't enough space in classes that are required for their diplomas. Older students in the National Guard also could ...

Obituaries for Feb. 17, 2003: Rayshawn J. Brown, 16, of Las Vegas died Thursday in Las Vegas. He was born Aug. 20, 1986, in Las Vegas.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Weddings highlight Vegas heart exhibit: But the wedding chapels on the Strip were busier than ever.

Birth announcements for Feb. 17, 2003: Jan. 30:

Culinary academy looks to the future with expansion: Eric Leake; The Culinary Training Academy breaks ground on a new facility today in an effort to generate more jobs.

Immunization schedule for Feb. 17, 2003: NORTH LAS VEGAS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

Workshop planned on college aid: Attendees will also be eligible to receive a $500 scholarship toward the cost of higher education.

Sun Lite for Feb. 17, 2003: So, ladies, you've been kissing the frog for a while now, praying he'd turn into Prince Charming or at least offer up a Valentine's Day present worthy of your efforts.

Phish scales familiar territory in return to stage: Spencer Patterson; For the past two years, Phish fans have all been asking the same question: Will they be back?

Columnist Susan Snyder: Protecting canyon must be a priority: The centerpiece of the celebration was a spot the 300 invited dignitaries wouldn't actually visit -- a remote, narrow slot canyon in the McCullough mountains southeast of Anthem that is embellished by more than 1,000 petroglyphs up to 1,000 years old.

Money Games: Hollywood discovers video games can be cash machines: Kirk Baird; After years of ignoring the booming video-game industry as a childish novelty, film studios have embraced video games, if for no other reason than financial.