Print edition for February 18, 2003

Commercial brokerages in $260 million merger: Insignia, of New York, is a real-estate company that manages cooperative and condominium apartments. It also originates mortgages and brokers single-family homes.

Volunteers in line for special awards: Awards will be given in five categories: education, group, individual adult, senior and youth.

No one wants credit for anti-abortion plate: CARSON CITY -- Lawmakers said Monday they didn't know exactly who was behind a state Senate bill that calls for the creation of anti-abortion license plates.

Continental, others cancel fare increase: Houston's Continental, the No. 5 U.S. carrier, began the price hike Friday on all routes.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Education: Batteries not included: According to reports from the 100th American International Toy Fair, one company is introducing a touch-screen toy that features programs for tots 6 months to 3 years old.

More liberal payouts proposed: Current law requires slot machines to pay out the equivalent of 80 percent to 96 percent of wagering.

Letter: Veterans' health care disrupted: How will poor and homeless veterans access these services? What will be the cost to them in time and money? If there had been an honest effort to negotiate with Moreland Corp., leaving the clinic would not be necessary. The city of Las Vegas has inspected the clinic and found it safe. It is still possible to vacate these 10 leases and save over $12 million in three years. This money will be wasted to implement a plan that will disrupt veteran health care.

Editorial: Don't get hopes up too high for a deal: That being said, Southern Nevadans shouldn't get too excited that this means we'll escape water restrictions. The Sun's Launce Rake reported last week that, even with a new agreement, any surplus water likely would be limited because of the severe drought that has persisted for three years. So Southern Nevadans should start preparing themselves now for the almost-certain prospect of watering restrictions. We just may have to acknowledge that we live in the desert -- and have to act like it.

Letter: Provide funds for mass transit: As most Las Vegans know, increasing the capacity of roads and highways offers little relief and is short lived. Question 10 was passed by voters in the last election to fund highway construction and to fund mass transit. Question 10 is now in the hands of our Legislature, which must give it its OK.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Unlike Tyson, Rebels willing to mix it up: They're not the baddest men on the planet, or even the Mountain West Conference. But unlike Mike Tyson, there's still plenty of fight remaining in the UNLV basketball team.

Culinary Union executive Tillmon dies: Tillmon, who was to be buried today in Atlanta after services at Ash Street Holiness Church in his hometown of Macon, Ga., died Feb. 8 at a local hospice after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Local services were held Saturday at Second Baptist Church, 500 W. Madison Ave.

Mohegan, Foxwoods report strong business in January: Gamblers wagered a combined $1.47 billion at the state's two casinos last month, a 10 percent increase over the same period last year, the casinos said Friday.

One infant drowns, another almost drowns in two bathtub incidents: Fire department officials said a mother, about 2:30 p.m., left a 9-month old boy in a bathtub at a home in the 6000 block of Glacier Avenue, near Lake Mead Boulevard and Mount Hood Street.

Two resolutions support state lottery: The proposals, which both require an amendment to the state Constitution, never found much support in past legislative sessions.

Wednesday's Aqueduct horse racing entries: 1st race 6 fur 4YO & up Alw: 1 Tamusky (Smith) 118; 2 Vitamin C (Blake) 118; 3 Byback (Gryder) 118; 4 King of the Mount (Bridgmohan) 123; 5 Break the Clock (Castillo) 118; 6 Pure Amazement (Lopez) 118; 7 Steves Sunny Comet (Pimentel) 118; 8 Wild Vessel (Castellano) 118.

Editorial: OK funds for mental health now: Gov. Kenny Guinn, during his first term, restored some of the many cuts that were made to the state's mental health system in the 1990s. Now, in the first year of his second term, Guinn wants to build on that record.

Letter: We must attack Iraq to avoid global disaster: We must begin the remedy for Iraq's behavior while the evil is still small. Holding to a rigid doctrine of "peace" ignores the impermanent character of relations among governments, e.g., Russia, China, Germany.

Cigarette sparks fire at Aladdin: A pre-dawn smoky fire today at the Aladdin, sparked by a lit cigarette in the laundry chute, caused the evacuation of three floors and resulted in six people being treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Community briefs for Feb. 18, 2003: Former schoolteacher Nathaniel Quintana will host "Teen Talk Dealing with Stress," a class from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Barbara Greenspun WomensCare Center of Excellence, 100 N. Green Valley Parkway, Suite No. 330.

UNLV baseball enjoying 'Fernandomania' Part II: Fernando Valenzuela remembers the old man's no-hitter in 1990, and the moves to San Diego and Baltimore left impressions. Flashes of "Fernandomania," though, only come via cable television.

For stranded gamblers, blizzard is bad luck: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- Mike DiBiase surveyed the eerily quiet blackjack tables and slot machines at Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino.

Protecting ancient artwork a blessing of Sloan Canyon event: Hiking the dry wash threading through Sloan Canyon on Monday, Bureau of Land Management spokesman Phil Guerrero noticed part of a petroglyph, the rock art that was carved up to 2,000 years ago, at the side of the trail.

Greg Murphy named coach at Green Valley: Adam Candee; Greg Murphy rebuilt a struggling Valley High School football program in five years, then crafted a new Centennial football tradition from the ground up over the past four years.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Aggressive self-defense: In the Middle East, for over half a century, the necessity of staying alive for Israelis has caused numerous inventions in the way they battle for homeland security. It has taken most of those 50 years for the United States and others to learn those survival methods.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: LV nightclubs will always have Paris: Timothy McDarrah; They could have filmed the first episode this past weekend, when the Palms' ghostbar and Bellagio's Light competed to host a birthday party for Hilton Hotels heiress and socialite Paris Hilton.

Obituaries for Feb. 18, 2003: Doris Bennett, 78, of Las Vegas died Jan. 1 in Las Vegas. She was born March 13, 1924.

Retail giant's earnings beat expectations: Wal-Mart earned $2.53 billion, or 57 cents per share, for the three months ending Jan. 31, compared to $2.19 billion, or 49 cents per share, a year earlier. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call forecast earnings of 56 cents per share. Sales of $71 billion were up 10.7 percent from the year-ago quarter.

Fired executives tied to Kmart consulting firms: The executives, Anthony D'Onofrio and David Montoya, have emerged as key figures in Kmart's internal inquiry into the former management team that steered the company into Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year.

Maddux agrees to record $14.75 mil.: Paul Newberry; ATLANTA -- Greg Maddux is used to setting records. On Monday, the Las Vegan claimed another.

Extended stay doesn't bother some tourists: Visitors prevented from flying home by Monday's snowstorms on the East Coast said that being stranded in overcast but mild Las Vegas was not so bad.

Family wants to bring racing, casino to small town: "Everybody wants something positive around here for a change," Stan Lark said. "We don't think it will be the solution to the town's economic situation, but it could be the start."

Committee looks at bill to change judges' elections: CARSON CITY -- Nevada Supreme Court justices and district judges who didn't draw opposition for re-election raised $1.2 million in campaign funds last year, but a proposed bill could change the need for incumbents to raise that kind of money.

Kerrigan stands out as Rebels beat SU, Hawaii: The Rebels (5-10) produced only one hit offensively and didn't need it to score the winning run. It was a leadoff walk in the fourth that set up the game's only run. Carrie Bayless drew the walk, rounded first and cruised into second against a napping T-Bird defense. Bayless stole third on the next pitch and came into score on a ground ball by Morgan Bostwick.

Summerlin, Fashion Show developer posts a loss: Rouse attributed the loss to expenses for a corporate reorganization and impairment charges on two retail centers that the company did not identify.

UMC workers, patients rally against personnel, service cuts: University Medical Center employees and patients rallied outside a UMC Quick Care Center on Monday to tell Clark County commissioners to reverse cuts in staff and service hours that were announced two weeks ago -- and to block further cuts.

Columnist Jeff German: County slow to aid motel: But how much hardship should two small-business owners take?

No one wants to take credit for 'Choose Life' license plate: CARSON CITY -- State lawmakers said Monday they didn't know exactly who was behind a state Senate bill that calls for the creation of "Choose Life" license plates.

News briefs for Feb. 18, 2003: Walnut Creek, Calif., police blew up a small explosive device early Monday and arrested a Nevada man.

Murder charged dropped against unarmed suspect: Jace Radke; A murder charge against a California man was dropped in Las Vegas Justice Court today.

Medicaid changes would give UMC more money: CARSON CITY -- The Legislative Interim Finance Committee today approved a program that will mean an extra $21 million cash infusion for debt-ridden University Medical Center.

District to scale back ambitious algebra push: By Emily Richmond; The Clark County School District will scale back an ambitious initiative to have every student enrolled in algebra by the eighth grade, as administrators acknowledge they may have sought to accomplish too much too fast.

Lawmakers review need for remedial courses: CARSON CITY -- They graduated from high school with grade-point averages of 3.0 or better, but once they get to college about 30 percent of Nevada's Millennium Scholarship winners end up in remedial courses, the Assembly Education Committee was told Monday.

Bill draft proposes new state name: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- An anonymous request for a bill draft designed as a joke is proving to be no laughing matter in the cash-strapped capital.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Bad alternator, rain ruined Dale Junior's day: DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- From the sidelines, Dale Earnhardt Jr. experienced his father's frustrations in the Daytona 500 before the elder Earnhardt finally broke through and won his first 500 in 1998 -- after 20 tries.

Glad(s) all over: Adam Candee; In Las Vegas, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that you stay on 21. Try telling that to the new kids on the block from New Jersey.

UNLV outscored 24-15 at FT line: the numbers; First Half: Utah 32-31

Legislative briefs for Feb. 18, 2003: Assemblywoman Sharron Angle has canceled a proposed March 1 trip to a Mexican prison amid questions of the program's merits and its ties to Scientology.

Runnin' Rebels Box: Percentages: FG .49.2, FT .78.9.

City's share of police budget to rise: Judy Odierna; Las Vegas will have to pay more for public safety in the next fiscal year because of a shift in the funding formula that determines the Metro Police Department's annual budget.

Teens charged in stabbing face death: Erica D. Johnson; Prosecutors formally announced this morning that they are seeking the death penalty against the Utah siblings charged in the Mesquite child stabbings that left a 3-year-old dead and her 10-year-old sister paralyzed from the waist down.

Credit raters differ on Sierra Pacific: Kevin Rademacher; The nation's two major corporate debt ratings services have issued new, conflicting, outlooks for Sierra Pacific Resources.

Rebels fall the hard way: Steve Guiremand; SALT LAKE CITY -- As expected, UNLV didn't leave the Jon A. Huntsman Center with a victory Monday night.

Gladiators first show is hit with Mack crowd: Adam Candee; David Baker beamed a satisfied grin as he held court with hundreds of Gladiators fans on the turf during Monday night's post-game autograph session at the Thomas and Mack Center, taking great care to learn the name of each person he spoke with and promising a bright future for Arena Football in Las Vegas.

Tyson fight off, Mosley rejects Oscar: Dean Juipe; Mike Tyson is out, and so is Shane Mosley.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Decibels up as Gladiators win one: Dean Juipe; Anyone wanting to converse with me today faces one ironclad requirement: They're going to have to speak very loud. Taking in an Arena Football League game will do that to a guy.

Fees funding drug courts questioned: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Lawmakers expressed concern this morning about whether a proposed assessment on misdemeanor fines could provide a stable source of revenue for specialty drug courts.