Print edition for January 10, 2003

Columnist Jerry Fink: At Barbary Coast, The King is still big: By Jerry Fink; If Elvis hadn't left the planet more than 25 years ago on Aug. 16, 1977, he would have turned 68 this week. He was born Jan. 8, 1935.

Woman survives apartment fire, but cat dies in flames: The Clark County Fire Department received the call at about 11:45 a.m. When firefighters arrived at the Clock Towers apartment building at 725 Sierra Vista Drive, they found heavy smoke coming from a one-bedroom apartment, county fire department spokesman Bob Leinbach said.

County's dust plan approved by EPA: The federal Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday gave its official stamp of approval to Clark County's plan to control fine dust pollution.

Performing Arts for January 10, 2003: School bands

On Display for January 10, 2003: Legally blind artist Jerry Mitchler's work is on display through Jan. 31 at the Lost City Museum in Overton. Admission is $2; under 18 free. (702) 397-2193.

New intensive care unit offers latest technology: Dan Kulin; The new $17.5 million adult cardiovascular intensive care unit at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center will add much-needed bed space for critically injured patients and will offer the latest technology, hospital officials said Thursday.

Editorial: New plan gives hope to 61 acres: Two and a half years later Goodman still believes a beautiful development of the 61 acres will be his greatest legacy -- and we hope it will be. But experience has now tempered the wildly optimistic manner of development. The upshot of all the advertising hype was proposals from four developers. They sought scads of city money or up-front tax credits or an outright gift of the 61 acres in exchange for proposals that were more ho-hum than gasping. None passed muster.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Vegas Super Bowl galas are a sure bet: "Super Bowl Sunday is easily the biggest day of the year in this town -- and it is right around the corner," Johnny Avello, director of race and sports operations at Paris and Bally's, told VegasBeat this week.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: At 60, Huntridge still knows how to rock: Spencer Patterson; When the Huntridge Theatre reopened its doors in November after going dark for nearly a year, more than a few snickers could be heard around town.

Vets examining dogs found at grooming shop: A senior animal control officer for Clark County said the discovery of 51 mistreated dogs at a pet grooming shop Wednesday night was one of the worst cases of neglect in a business that he has seen in his more than 13 years on the job.

Letter: Supply-siders ignore the need for demand: After a quadrupling of the national debt in the "Laffer curve" '80s and the situation today when -- despite $2 trillion in tax cuts to corporations and the investment class, ostensibly to spur them into expanding production and hiring -- the economy is still floundering long after it should have recovered from a relatively minor recession. I am convinced it doesn't work.

Community briefs for Jan. 10, 2003: The Las Vegas Chapter of Service Corps of Retired Executives will present "How to Really Start Your Own Business," a workshop at 9 a.m. Thursday at 400 S. Fourth St., Suite 240A.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Las Vegas staple Glusman sticks to what works: Having dinner with Freddie Glusman is always a kick. Glusman is the owner of Piero's on Convention Center Drive, a favorite hangout for nabobs and celebrity types. Glusman is as well known for his quirky and often dour personality as he is for the humongous fresh Florida stone crabs available in-season.

LV Parade highlights MLK events: The parade route follows Fourth Street between Charleston Boulevard and Fremont Street.

Schtick doesn't stick in 'Dean, Jerry and Friends': What: "An Afternoon with Dean, Jerry and Friends."

Scene Selection -- Geoff Carter: Telltale signs abound on Shyamalan's handiwork: Many years from now, when M. Night Shyamalan creates a retrospective of his own work (he strikes me as too much the control freak to allow someone else to do it), film students will ask the director to dissect the best scene from his 2002 hit "Signs": a family sitting in their car listening to what may be a conversation between extraterrestrials.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Resistance effort rocks on: Although proposed guidelines for development on Blue Diamond Hill wallow in a committee's clutches and rumors of a sale run rampant, its protectors are not straying from the cause.

Racism claimed as Barber loses vote on School Board: By Emily Richmond; There were hard feelings and allegations of racism Thursday after the Clark County School Board voted to keep its current president, denying member Shirley Barber the chance to be the first black member to hold the post.

Letter: Keep country's economy fueled: The continuation and enhancement of this activity will stimulate the economy of our country.

Editorial: Weakening of ethics rules a wrong move: The House Republican leadership pulled a fast one. House members from both parties who sit on the Ethics Committee weren't notified in advance that the weakening of the gifts' provision would be part of the operating rules that the new Congress passed on Tuesday, the first day of the session. House Speaker Dennis Hastert believes the changes aren't harmful, but it's just this kind of influence-peddling, no matter how minor to Hastert, that helps erode the public's trust in elected officials. The House should revisit Tuesday's vote and reinstate its previous restrictions on gifts and trips.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Gerber no longer Sky light: He wants to reopen one on the Strip.

Columnist Benjamin Grove: Nuclear agency's attempt to assure public is a flop: Benjamin Grove; Since Sept. 11 the agency that licenses nuclear power plants and waste sites has been battered by criticism. As people demand to know if nuclear facilities are secure against terrorism, the agency has failed to answer.

Editorial: 'Do not call' registry needs quick approval: A national "do not call" registry that would provide relief for people receiving unwanted telemarketing calls is being considered in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Debate over whether to first have a one- or two-year pilot program is threatening a delay that could eliminate any possibility of the program getting started this year. If Congress approves the registry by the end of this month, there would be time this fiscal year to collect operating fees from the telemarketing industry and have the registry established by summer.

Thursday's prep results: GIRLS SOCCER

Sun executive remembered with football contest winnings: WEEKEND EDITION: Jan. 11, 2003

Style of Sacca: WEEKEND EDITION: Jan. 12, 2003

Columnist Jon Ralston: An ode to overdue tax reform: "Will the people get behind a probable move to assault the business community's bottom lines during the (Legislature)?

Highlights of November win report on Nevada casinos: AP; -STATEWIDE: $732.5 million, up 1.5 percent.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Mandalay comparisons far afield: Actually, at 100,000 square feet, the ballroom would hold two football fields.

Columnist Erin Neff: 2003 Legislature will decide our future: Erin Neff; Thus the 2003 Legislature will not only be a referendum on taxes, but on what kind of state and government Nevada will have.

Editorial: Leaders in GOP must be strong: The necessity of new and increased taxes for Nevada state government becomes certain when comparing the growth-induced need against the current revenue stream. Estimates from the governor's office, for example, show that an additional $311 million is needed just to keep even with school district enrollments. What is not so certain are the votes in the Legislature that will be necessary to close the state deficit, now minimally listed at $704 million. Because tax increases must be passed by a two-thirds majority in both houses, if just 15 of the 42 Assembly members, or eight of the 21 Senate members, ...

Columnist Barb Henderson: Punching the clock in a magnificent environment: Barb Henderson; While I once worked 9 to 5 in a business office, I have discovered that memories of a daily routine have almost dwindled away.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Back Guinn on taxes: For four years it had become increasingly easy to criticize Nevada's chief executive because, as much as most of the state admired and respected Kenny Guinn, it had become obvious that, when dealing with the economic woes of the Silver State, forcefulness and purpose were not his strongest suit.

Vegas bands vie for 'Bike Rack Battles' title: Spencer Patterson; Who: Absent Minded, Goody-2-Shoes, Local 15, Jr. Anti-Sex League, Halfway, A Silence Fell, Januarys Last Call, September Star.

Datebook for January 10, 2003: Celestial Arts is sponsoring a poetry contest for the Henderson area. Poem should be 21 lines or less. Deadline is Jan. 31. Submit entries to Celestial Arts, P.O. Box 1140, Talent, OR 97540.

Letter: Does it matter who is in office?: Yet, perhaps distracted by going to work, taking the kids to Sunday school, and paying the bills, they have failed to notice what should be obvious to them: Whether the Republicans or the Democrats are running the country, big government and the national debt keep growing, and personal freedom and public morality keep declining.

Citizens are helping troubled youngsters find Safe Place: Dan Kulin; WEEKEND EDITION: Jan. 11, 2003

Kurt Busch accepts IROC invitation: Busch will be making his debut in the four-race series, which features 12 drivers from five major racing series.

Letter: City loses sight of goals to help the homeless: Instead there have been three police sweeps using, in the last sweep, selective enforcement of jaywalking laws to bypass probable cause, mainly against the homeless. This approach criminalizes homelessness and is far costlier than having effective programs to address mental illness and addictions.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Saturday's races at Santa Anita: Saturday's card

Columnist Jeff German: Mayor Goodman versus Candidate Goodman: Candidate Goodman is the opposite of the charismatic, fiery, no-nonsense Mayor Goodman, who's not afraid to take on anyone for a just cause, even the casino industry.

Las Vegas Area Fishing Report: For Jan. 10, 2003

Disney is nice on ice in 'Toy Story 2': When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18, and 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Jan. 19.

Valentine to speak at UNLV banquet: The banquet will be the culmination of an eventful day for UNLV baseball as the Rebels host a team of alumni at Earl E. Wilson Stadium at noon.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Otherworldly forces impact NFL playoffs: Dean Juipe; History, as we know it, is losing importance if not becoming irrelevant.

County going after 'obscene' billboards: In a town noted for its risque entertainment -- and for boasting ads for that entertainment that some consider equally naughty -- picking out a specific billboard that violates community standards might be a tough job.

Super Show moving to Orlando: Organizers of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association Super Show said in 2000 that it would be in Las Vegas three years, then switch to Orlando for three with the plan at the time to alternate over three-year periods. A spokesman for the association said today that no space has been signed for the 2007 show and no timetable has been established on when a decision would be made on location.

Gibbons doesn't get seat on Appropriations: He'll keep his assignments from last year on the Intelligence; Armed Services; Resources; and Veterans Affairs Committees.

Lawsuit accuses church of hiding sexual abuse: By Timothy Pratt; The Jehovah's Witnesses are not reporting allegations of sexual abuse to authorities in a timely fashion, according to a lawsuit filed in Las Vegas.

Wiggans wins Sandy Thompson Award: That example, combined with other instances of standout dedication, has earned Wiggans this year's Sandy Thompson Award of Excellence from the Children's Advisory Council.

Porter begins his freshman year as U.S. congressman: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- A rumble from the depths of the Earth echoed in the new office of Republican Jon Porter just as he sat down for an interview Monday.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Odd time for tax cuts: That is about as close as I can come to admitting defeat on this whole tax cut thing because the writing is on the wall, in the cards and soon to be on the billions of dollars of checks that the U.S. Treasury will be writing to taxpayers in the next few months.

Strip megaresort posting good quarterly numbers: Las Vegas Sands Inc. said Thursday it expects to report cash flow -- adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and rental expenses -- of $55 million to $59 million for the fourth quarter. The company reported fourth quarter 2001 cash flow of $42.2 million. Business was weak in the 2001 fourth quarter because of the terrorism Sept. 11.

RTC sets criteria for future projects: In a city whose population grows by 70,000 people a year, transportation is one of the problems growing just as fast.

DePaul offers big road test for Rebels: Steve Guiremand; NEXT UP

Strip project planned: Westgate Resorts, which operates the Westgate Flamingo Bay in Las Vegas and 14 other timeshare resorts in five states, is proposing a 54-story tower with more than 700 luxury villas. The $180 million project would include timeshares with between one and four bedrooms and amenities that include a swimming pool, a health spa, restaurants and 63,000 square feet of retail space.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Spencer may not forget but he does forgive: NASCAR Winston Cup veteran Jimmy Spencer has sold a lot of t-shirts as a result of his oft-repeated warning to competitors who cross him on the track: "Jimmy Spencer never forgets."

Columnist Jeff German: Chamber fights only for big guys: On its website, the chamber boasts that 85 percent of its 7,000 members are entrepreneurs with fewer than 25 employees.

Attorney confident Nevada can win latest Yucca suit: The old saying "you can't fight City Hall" applies to everything from a town board to the White House, with each ascending level harder to beat.

TV providers advised to simplify, yet offer more: Jennifer Shubinski; The future of TV service, whether it's cable or satellite, will be about convergence and convenience.

Bacarrat props up firms' November gaming win: CARSON CITY -- Nevada casinos won $732.4 million in November, up 1.5 percent from the same month a year earlier, due mostly to a strong performance by the high-end baccarat pits on the Las Vegas Strip.

Rebel soccer players on academic team: Senior defender Tuomas Talvio topped the list for the Rebels with an impressive 3.87 grade-point average in finance, his third consecutive selection to the academic elite. Last year, he was named UNLV's top male student-athlete as a junior.

School Board vote draws racism claim: By Emily Richmond; There were hard feelings and allegations of racism Thursday after the Clark County School Board voted to keep its current president, denying member Shirley Barber the chance to be the first black member to hold the post.

CES debate: Computers vs. televisions: Two International Consumer Electronics Show speakers Thursday made their cases for what electronic device should be the entertainment center of the U.S. household -- the home computer or the television set.

Title is up for grabs in MWC: Steve Guiremand; Fasten your seatbelt.

Political notebook: Goodman says quid pro what?: Erin Neff; An angry Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman lashed out at what he termed "yellow journalism" during his weekly news conference Thursday after a reporter asked whether the mayor had received any criticism regarding Wednesday's Citizen of the Month designation.

De La Hoya takes tune-up match before Mosley: Dean Juipe; Oscar De La Hoya confirmed Thursday that he would fight May 3 in Las Vegas against an opponent unlikely to disrupt his long-term plan of fighting Shane Mosley here in September.

Henderson worker tied to theft probe: Jen Lawson and Mary Manning; One of the four people arrested Wednesday in the investigation of an auto theft ring allegedly tied to a pet grooming shop was a Henderson employee, a city government spokeswoman said.

Ex-felons push for clarity in work regulations: Grace Leong; Jeffrey Henderson, a former cocaine dealer turned chef at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, wants the Nevada Gaming Control Board and local government to clearly define what criteria governs the issuing of work cards and gaming work cards to ex-felons.

Drivers: Bus management firm neglects safety: Despite objections from some drivers, the Regional Transportation Commission approved a five-year contract extension for the management company operating the Las Vegas Valley's bus system.

LV gamers optimistic on convention possibilities: By Liz Benston; With the opening this week of the 1.8 million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas will have more than 9 million square feet of convention space -- further burnishing its image as one of the nation's top destinations for business meetings.

Tribe criticized over plan for new casino: A deal between former Gov. John Engler and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, an Upper Peninsula tribe owning 90 percent of Greektown, would allow the tribe to open two casinos in exchange for settling a land dispute.

Casino giants listed as top Nevada taxpayers: CARSON CITY -- MGM MIRAGE in Las Vegas is the biggest property taxpayer in Nevada.

Wiggins wins Sandy Thompson Award: That example, combined with other instances of standout dedication, has earned Wiggins this year's Sandy Thompson Award of Excellence from the Children's Advisory Council.

Obituaries for Jan. 10, 2003: Grace O. Bourne, 90, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local health care center. She was born Jan. 24, 1912, in Trinidad. A resident for 21 years, she was a retired insurance clerk, a member of Culver City and Las Vegas Emblem Club and the Moose Lodge in Las Vegas.

Report: Nevada not kind to kids: By Emily Richmond; Despite the relative wealth of its residents, Nevada ranks among the nation's worst states for the quality of health care, education and social services provided to its children, according to a new report.

Memorial held for Bennett: Memorial held for Bennett

Machinists' pay cuts imposed: The action, which United requested, will help it meet strict financing requirements in bankruptcy by saving an estimated $70 million a month when combined with lower interim wages for other union workers.

Indiana Legislature considers ban on Internet gambling: INDIANAPOLIS -- Web-based casinos, online gamblers and their Internet providers could all face felony charges and jail time in Indiana under a bill slated to be considered next week by a state Senate committee.

Euro nears three-year high: The euro hit $1.0509 in morning trading in Europe. It has hit a series of multiyear highs over the past weeks, driven by war worries and questions about the U.S. economy and stock markets rather than investors' optimism about the European economy.

Mayor's re-election campaign takes off: Judy Odierna; Mayor Oscar Goodman's re-election campaign is in full swing, even though filing doesn't begin for more than two weeks.

News briefs for Jan. 10, 2003: A brief police chase ended Thursday night when a driver turned down a dead end street, then rammed two Metro Police cruisers, police said.

Former stripper wants to lead Democratic Party: Erin Neff; Former stripper Barbara Scott failed in two bids to win the Democratic Party's nomination for governor. The third time was not a charm.

Federal funding called for to implement election reform: CARSON CITY -- Secretary of State Dean Heller is asking Nevada's congressional delegation to back a potential $25 million federal appropriation to finance election reforms.

Lawmaker questions new programs in light of deficit: Erin Neff; Assemblyman Bob Beers wanted more discussion in the tax debate about whether Nevada can continue to afford new programs created after 1997.

Strip club workers' actions criticized: Erica D. Johnson; Employees of Crazy Horse Too were negligent in their handling of a combative customer who was later found dead near the topless club, a witness considered a nightclub security expert told jurors Thursday.

Sniper suspect held without bail: Justice of the Peace Doug Smith set no bail for Ricky Horne, who is charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder. Additional lesser charges are expected to be added later in connection with the Jan. 7 early morning shooting spree at Fremont and 15th streets.