Print edition for February 24, 2003

NBT's dexterity celebrated in 'Vivaldi to Pink Floyd': Marilyn LaRocque; The world premiere of artistic director Bruce Steivel's classical-themed "Ballet Concertante," to the music of Robert Schumann's Horn Concerto, opened the evening.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Sisters own culture -- and resolve: For most of their lives, the aging Western Shoshone sisters have battled the U.S. government for claim to their tribal lands, which they say is spelled out in the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley.

High court to consider raid by NLV SWAT team: Gina Holland; WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court said today it would consider a government appeal that asks if a North Las Vegas SWAT team went too far by breaking down the door of a suspected drug dealer while he took a shower.

LVCVA says locals spending more on gambling: By Liz Benston; Research by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority shows that local gamblers spent more over the past two years than in the previous biennium.

Debris might be from shuttle: CALIENTE -- The search for possible debris from the shuttle Columbia in a rugged area about 170 miles northeast of Las Vegas stalled today after a winter storm moved into southeastern Nevada.

Schools face loss without tax hike: Cy Ryan and Emily Richmond; The Clark County School District will have to shave its budget by $75.8 million next year if the Legislature does not approve Gov. Kenny Guinn's budget or an alternative tax plan.

Gambling, suicides linked in Canadian reports: Two Canadian provinces have uncovered startling statistics linking gambling to suicides, raising new questions about the social costs of legalized betting in Canada.

Louisiana casinos lose Supreme Court challenge on political contribution ban: WASHINGTON -- Casino operators in Louisiana today lost a free-speech challenge at the U.S. Supreme Court to a state law that bars them from making political campaign contributions.

Lottery sales increase despite less interest among players: About 69 percent remained constant in the amount they played while 5 percent increased, resulting in a net decrease of 21 percent, according to the third annual tracking report by E.B. Lane Marketing Communications of Phoenix. The decrease was similar to prior years' results.

Unmanned plane new workhorse of military: Eric Leake; The Predator is an unassuming war machine. Its pale shell stands just seven feet tall and its engine has more in common with a snowmobile than a jet.

Tax-proposing Guinn backs Bush tax cuts: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Gov. Kenny Guinn emerged from a White House meeting today and said he still supports President Bush's tax cuts, even though Guinn is championing tax hikes in Nevada.

LV execs to buy out PDS Gaming: Kevin Rademacher; The top management of PDS Gaming today announced a nearly $98 million plan to buy out the Las Vegas company.

Academy of Sciences to study risks of nuclear waste transportation: The academy's Board of Radioactive Waste Management is preparing to examine transportation cask tests, how routes are selected to the proposed repository, potential health impacts and the public's perception of risk, board director Kevin Crowley said.

Birth announcements for Feb. 24, 2003: Feb. 10:

Investigative agency's cuts attacked: CARSON CITY -- Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, is attacking Gov. Kenny Guinn's proposal to slash the budget of a state law enforcement agency that targets drug trafficking.

College aid given in teen's memory: The Jessica Elizabeth Luttrell Foundation was created by her family following her death in 1999. Applicants for the scholarships are being recruited from high schools in southern Utah, Nevada and Arizona. The funds may be applied toward the cost of tuition, books, room and board while studying full-time at a college, university or vocational training center.

Letter: Airport worker made impression: When the time came and I found myself in that line, I was surprised with the quick pace that it moved. As the line moved the reason for the pace became clear. A gentleman with gray hair, a gray mustache, an outgoing personality and a shirt with a patch that read TSA stood at the junction of our line and the six X-ray machines.

Letter: A new Veterans Affairs facility is not necessary: As a veteran and a retired construction worker for many years, my wife (also a veteran) and I gratefully use the facility now located at 1700 Vegas Drive.

Immunization schedule for Feb. 24, 2003: NORTH LAS VEGAS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Bill proposes biennial smog checks: CARSON CITY -- Owners of late model vehicles in Clark County would no longer have to get annual smog checks if a bill introduced by Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, becomes law.

Editorial: Toughen program's standards: It's unclear why so many students need remedial work, but a couple of theories offer explanations. For starters, there could be grade inflation at work in the high schools, a situation that might mask the true performance of students. Some students also could be taking easier courses instead of demanding ones in order to boost their GPA so that they can qualify for the $10,000 scholarship.

Community briefs for Feb. 24, 2003: Starbright Theatre will present the Ms. Senior Nevada Cameo Showcase at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Sahara hotel.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Trio will attempt to play survival game: Ralph Siraco; As we wrap up the second month of 2003, the road to the Kentucky Derby takes a breather before several pivotal stepping stones next month that are certain to produce racing's version of March Madness.

Editorial: New planning rules will serve residents: The new rules serve the residents by limiting changes to the master plan but serve developers by requiring more frequent updates to it. During the public hearings on updates, developers and their attorneys will strongly press for plans that suit their needs -- knowing that opportunities for changes will be severely limited. They will likely justify their requests on changing demographics, but what they propose might be objectionable to existing property owners on the basis of quality of life. This means that concerned residents must stay aware of the updating process and attend the hearings as well if they want ...

Prep All-Stars: Sunrise All-Region Team

Review: Hynde eschews middle of the road approach: Spencer Patterson; The Pretenders were halfway through their 1986 hit "Don't Get Me Wrong" Saturday night when frontwoman Chrissie Hynde brought the song to an abrupt halt.

Women's tennis team blanks San Jose: The Lady Rebels improved to 4-1, while the Spartans, who were without their top player because of injury, fell to 1-7.

Sun Lite for Feb. 24, 2003: Here we are, nose-deep in the middle of cold and flu season. Still, many sufferers choose to tough it out at the office rather than battle the bugs at home.

State's criminal database suffers from shortfall: CARSON CITY -- A statewide database that tracks criminal arrests and court dispositions is falling behind, and budget cuts could exacerbate the situation.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Is Dion's show locked in a sell block?: Ticket sales for Celine Dion's upcoming Caesars Palace show "A New Day" might not be as spectacular as the publicity machines behind Dion and Caesars would like the ticket-buying public to think.

UNLV sweeps Villanova: UNLV coach Jim Schlossnagle summed up his team's resounding weekend sweep of Villanova well after the Rebels' 14-0 victory Sunday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

Question of forfeiture debated in Harmon case: Jace Radke; Prosecutors were able to prove that former Assemblyman Harley L. Harmon's mail fraud cost investors $557,451.63, but Harmon's lawyers are arguing that he shouldn't have to pay his victims a dime.

Children start gambling as young as 11, study says: CARSON CITY -- Children as young as 11 1/2 years old in Nevada become problem gamblers and up to 4,000 adolescents have experienced severe difficulties related to gambling, legislators were told this morning.

Searchers pursue a piece of history: Eric Leake; CALIENTE -- When he trudged through the sagebrush and juniper of Nevada's high southeastern desert this weekend, aviation archaeologist Richard Russel had his faith in the research that attempted to pinpoint the location of space shuttle debris.

$20 million added to Guinn budget: CARSON CITY -- Although Nevada already was facing a $700 million budget shortfall, Gov. Kenny Guinn has called for $20 million in additional spending for the coming biennium.

Program allows juvenile offenders to go free: A new program at the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center has made it possible for more than 100 youth offenders to remain free under what officials call "intensive supervision," but the facility remains at or above capacity.

County official fired, focus of probe: A Clark County assistant supervisor has been fired and is under criminal investigation on allegations of taking kickbacks for contracts under his supervision.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Fight card backed into a corner: Dean Juipe; It's a beautiful arena and the largest facility of its type in Las Vegas. And when the Thomas & Mack Center hosts a boxing card, it can accommodate up to 19,522 spectators.

Edwards eyes redemption: Steve Guiremand; NEXT UP

Employment forecast bleak: The job market will show improvement but is likely to remain sluggish in the second quarter of 2003, according to Manpower Inc.'s survey of 16,000 businesses, released today.

Columnist Rusty Wallace: Las Vegas always brings good times: Rusty Wallace; I can hardly believe that this weekend will be the sixth time we've raced at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the sixth year I've been doing these guest columns for the Las Vegas Sun. It just seems like yesterday that we pulled into that brand-spanking-new facility for the first time.

LVMS weekend race schedule: 9-11:15 a.m. -- Busch Series practice

Chain's profit soars: The nation's second-largest home improvement chain behind The Home Depot Inc. also offered an upbeat profit outlook today, projecting that earnings for the year will beat analysts' current forecasts.

Driver Appearances: Driver Appearances

Man in Seminole probe tied to LV mobster: A federal grand jury in Muskogee, Okla., is investigating a financier with a criminal record and a Las Vegas connection who helped build and operate the Seminole Nation's casinos, a published report says.

Upsets, heartbreak set scene for intriguing state tournament: Adam Candee; Bishop Gorman and Green Valley are stunned, Rancho and Valley are ecstatic, Cheyenne still looks invincible and Centennial's girls finally looked vulnerable.

News briefs for Feb. 24, 2003: A 37-year-old Las Vegas man was killed shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday in a hit-and-run collision at 13th Street and Ogden Avenue in downtown Las Vegas, Metro Police said.

Busch leads the pack out West: The good ol' boys in their 700-horsepower toys return to Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend for the sixth running of the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 NASCAR Winston Cup race.

'Messed up' Tyson ponders future with Lewis: Tim Dahlberg; MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Mike Tyson still suffers from doubts inside the ring, and demons on the outside.

Group probing HCA's treatment of uninsured: Karin Miller; NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Shirley Kuybus says she walked into HCA's Central Florida Regional Medical Center last November bent over in pain, unable to eat, sleep or work.

Obituaries for Feb. 24, 2003: Dominic Amarosa, 86, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. He was born Nov. 1, 1916, in Brooklyn, N.Y. A resident for 24 years, he was a retired brewmaster and a World War II Navy veteran.

Local sports calendar: Men's basketball: Air Force at UNLV, 7:30 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center

Slot maker signs deal with Bally to develop progressive games: Mikohn will provide branded game content to run on a Bally software platform, Las Vegas-based Mikohn said. The games will be incorporated into Bally's "Thrillions" linked progressive system. Mikohn will provide all signage and electronics as part of a long-term purchasing agreement.