Print edition for January 30, 2003

Hard Rock Cafe CEO resigns: Rank Chief Executive Mike Smith will assume direct management of the Hard Rock chain until a successor is found. The company also reiterated that 2002 earnings are in line with forecasts, said Suzanne Bartch, a public relations consultant for Rank.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Bobby Labonte happy to be with Gibbs Racing: Bobby Labonte is joining Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Tony Stewart in the switch from Pontiac to Chevrolet this season and the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup champion said he is pleased with the transition.

Bailey-less Wyoming still atop conference standings: Steve Guiremand; NEXT UP

Kerzner drops Internet gambling operation: By Liz Benston; Citing the uncertain profit potential of legalized Internet gambling, resort owner Kerzner International Ltd. said Wednesday it will exit the business by discontinuing Kerzner Interactive, its online gambling division.

FBI sees recent crime as terrorism: Jen Lawson; The FBI has classified recent vandalism associated with swastika and racist graffiti in Las Vegas as terrorism, and agents are worried that it may be a harbinger of violence if local white supremacist groups are left unchecked.

Nevada stingy on air quality spending: In the last decade Nevada was one of the worst states in the nation in spending federal dollars for air quality and pedestrian safety, according to a study released today by a national transportation and transit group.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: J. Lo has a grand time Bucc-ing odds: VegasBeat has learned that J. Lo placed a six-figure wager on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the MGM Grand on Sunday -- and won.

Schlossnagle's hopes riding high for 2003: UNLV baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle did not flinch when Baseball America tabbed the Rebels as a Mountain West Conference team bound for the NCAA Tournament.

Extradition of Mesquite stabbing suspects is in the works: Jen Lawson; Investigators expected to send extradition paperwork to Gov. Kenny Guinn this morning that would force two teenagers charged with the stabbing of two girls in Mesquite last week to return to Nevada.

Interest rates steady: The Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee, which last cut interest rates in November, voted unanimously to maintain the federal funds rate of 1.25 percent. While the inaction was predicted by most economists, the Fed's optimism was more surprising amid growing evidence the economy weakened at the end of last year as war clouds gathered and nationwide employment levels plunged.

Maddux pay hearing set Feb. 20: David O'Brien; ATLANTA -- Las Vegas native Greg Maddux and the Braves still have three weeks to work out a contract before a scheduled Feb. 20 arbitration hearing. But there's been no thaw in the negotiations.

AOL Time Warner reports big loss on goodwill charge: Brian Bergstein; NEW YORK -- Fourth-quarter losses skyrocketed at AOL Time Warner Inc. as the struggling media conglomerate took a staggering $45.5 billion charge to account for the company's plunging value. But without that goodwill write-down, AOL said its results actually beat Wall Street estimates.

Governor tries to slow gaming 'gold rush': George Strawley; HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Gov. Ed Rendell met behind closed doors Wednesday with state regulators who oversee harness and horse racing to discuss a crowded field of applicants for new racetracks in Pennsylvania being fed by prospects of slot machines.

Rebels' Chong nabs MWC weekly honor: The sophomore from Honolulu went 4-1 and won the consolation bracket at last week's Collegiate Tennis Kickoff Classic. Chong improved to 10-4 in tournament play this season.

Nevada ranked second-worst in prenatal care: It came as no surprise to some local physicians when a new study released this week ranked Nevada second-worst in the nation when it came to mothers who received late or no prenatal care in 2000.

Car crashes into restaurant: The incident occurred about 2:40 a.m. at 1145 Las Vegas Boulevard South and closed northbound traffic for 45 minutes, police said.

51s skipper Shoemaker passed on hoops career: Hounded by a trio of scrappers from Miami of Ohio after securing a rebound, Marquette center Jerome Whitehead lifted his free foot and shifted his body weight to shed his foes.

Group offers plan to stop Blue Diamond development: A national conservation group is working to permanently block development on top of Blue Diamond Hill, a mining property surrounded on three sides by the Red Rock National Conservation Area.

Vegas insurer's profit improves: For the quarter ended Dec. 31, the company reported earnings of $12.2 million, or 39 cents a share, before losses from discontinued operations, on revenue of $326.9 million, compared with earnings of $5.8 million, or 19 cents, before special losses, on revenue of $290.6 million the same quarter a year ago. Analysts had projected earnings per share of 37 cents and the company said it expects to earn between $1.60 to $1.65 a share in 2003 compared with earlier projections of between $1.50 and $1.55.

Moody's upgrades debt ratings for Venetian owner: Moody's Investors Service raised ratings on the company's $850 million 11 percent second mortgage notes due 2010 to B3 from Caa1; $75 million senior secured revolving credit facility due 2007 to B1 from B2; $50 million senior secured term loan due 2007 to B1 from B2; $250 million senior secured term loan due 2008 to B1 from B2; senior implied rating to B2 from B3; and long-term senior unsecured issuer rating to Caa1 from Caa2. Moody's also gave the company a "stable" ratings outlook.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Indy 500 in rearview Mears: Anybody who changes their own oil rather than let the Pep Boys do it may do a double take when they peruse this year's NASCAR driver lineup.

Casino operator reports loss: Trump Hotels had a loss of $17.3 million, or 78 cents a share, compared with a loss of $10.2 million, or 46 cents, a year earlier. Revenue at the Atlantic City-based company rose 1 percent to $283.1 million, Treasurer John Burke said.

Obituaries for Jan. 30, 2003: Claire R. Aikens, 81, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. She was born Oct. 17, 1921, in Quebec. A resident for 24 years, she retired as a seamstress after 45 years.

Highway Patrol shorthanded in LV area: CARSON CITY -- Southern Nevada, with the state's largest population and the most traffic, is 36 percent short of its allotted Nevada Highway Patrol staffing, and it will be several months before those 41 trooper vacancies are filled.

News briefs for Jan. 30, 2003: A woman was killed this morning when a 1997 Honda Accord crashed into a light pole and palm tree on Silverado Ranch Boulevard between Bermuda Road and La Cienga Street, Metro Police said.

Advisory vote set on video gambling in S.C.: Page Ivey; NEWBERRY, S.C. -- South Carolinians never got the chance to vote on video gambling. Now a special election will give voters an opportunity to voice their opinion.

Firm interested in South Boston: If lawmakers expand gambling, MGM MIRAGE sees South Boston's fast-developing Seaport District as a prime site for a casino, hotel and entertainment complex, Alan Feldman, a top MGM executive, told the Boston Herald.

The tape tells it all: Newberg convicted in assault on his 14-year-old relative: Erica D. Johnson; Steven Newberg sealed his own fate when he videotaped himself raping his 14-year-old relative, prosecutors said Wednesday after Newberg was found guilty of 13 charges leveled against him.

Crazy Horse may sue over rejected ad at airport: Jace Radke; The owners of the Crazy Horse Too strip club are considering filing a federal civil rights lawsuit over an advertising company's refusal to show the club's commercial on video screens at McCarran International Airport.

Commission rejects proposal: Joseph White; WASHINGTON -- A Bush administration advisory commission on today rejected several proposals for overhauling a landmark gender-equity law that substantially increased the number of female athletes.

VA sets sights on new clinic: Dan Kulin; Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi wants to build a new veterans clinic on the former Union Pacific Railroad yards in downtown Las Vegas, but he will wait for the results of a new environmental study of the city-owned 61 acres before proceeding, a department spokesman said Wednesday.

Stewart pleased with NASCAR's changes: Life has not changed dramatically for Tony Stewart in the two months since he won the NASCAR Winston Cup championship.

Small steps: Henderson college enrollment makes modest gain: Jennifer Knight; The Nevada State College at Henderson, which kicked off its spring semester this week, saw a small increase in its enrollment over last fall.

Sides wrangle over Title IX: Joseph White; WASHINGTON -- A Bush administration commission prepared to recommend the most significant changes to Title IX in more than two decades, with several votes today aimed at changing a fundamental plank in the law that has exponentially increased participation in women's sports.

Wednesday's prep results: BOYS BASKETBALL

Sun Prep Athletes of the Week: Kenny Howard and Kayla Lambert: School: Las Vegas

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Questions for Bush: President George W. Bush's State of the Union speech Tuesday night made it very clear to all within earshot that he was ready, very willing, and without a doubt able to attack Saddam Hussein on his home turf.

Letter: Slam of teachers union off base: He moved from a high-tax state to Nevada for the low taxes after that high-tax state educated his children. What about the retirees in his previous state who paid taxes to educate his kids? Should children be banned from Nevada so he can have low taxes?

Editorial: End abuse at center for youths: The federal agency found that the pattern of excessive force occurred when boys were thought to be disrespectful of staff or in cases where they disobeyed orders. The report said the boys were known to have been punched and kicked, thrown to the floor, shoved against lockers and walls, and to have had their heads smashed into doors. Additionally, the report said boys were subjected to verbal abuse "in which their race, family, physical appearance and stature, intelligence or perceived sexual orientation were aggressively attacked."

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

Columnist Dean Juipe: Birds of a feather on pay TV: Dean Juipe; It's a relatively attractive card, but Bob Arum couldn't sell it to one of the major cable networks.

Catching up with ... LIZ CANSDALE: Where she is now: Mississippi

Columnist Adam Candee: Platt's play should lift Gators past Palo Verde: Adam Candee; Last week's trial run of prep basketball prognostications proved to be an exercise in mediocrity.

Gorman has a road rally: Adam Candee; Energy pulsed through the Durango gym as the Blazers sprinted ahead of Bishop Gorman by 12 points in the first half Wednesday night.

Community briefs for Jan. 30, 2003: Creative Communication is presenting its semi-annual free Poetry Contest for students and adults, and is used by teachers and parents to motivate young writers. Five separate divisions are offered with 10 top winners in each division. The divisions are: Grades K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 and adult.

Project to help ex-cons in transition: CARSON CITY -- The state Corrections Department is embarking on a new program designed to help ex-convicts with their transition back into society.

Letter: Bush fails to 'walk softly' in a changed world: Until President Bush accepts the fact that times have changed and big-power diplomacy will have to yield to world consensus, peace will never come to this globe. Jacques Cousteau said in essence that we live on spaceship earth as we travel through the universe. You cannot see borders from space. That is a truism and if we expect to travel through space in peace, we will have to look to a solution beyond superpower diplomacy.

Investigation agency facing cutbacks: CARSON CITY -- A major reduction is planned in the budget of the state Division of Investigations, officials said.

Henderson resident heads toward rank of general: Dick Benoit; Henderson resident Col. David Eidsaune, has been nominated by President Bush to become vice commander of the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and for promotion to brigadier general, Air Force officials announced recently.

Editorial: Override proposed increases at DMV: The Department of Motor Vehicles wants to retain a greater percentage of the money it collects in license fees and registrations. For the past several decades it has kept 22 percent for its own expenses, with the rest going to the Nevada Department of Transportation for road building and maintenance. The DMV is now proposing that it keep 29 percent, with the additional money going toward more staff. The DMV says the extra money could reduce wait times for its customers. Beers counters that, with the state in a financial crisis, wait times are less of a concern than road ...

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Spectacle was far from super: Ruthe Deskin; The only thing I enjoyed less than the game itself was the halftime show.

NHP: Report shows minorities not targeted: CARSON CITY -- A yearlong survey indicates the Nevada Highway Patrol does not single out minority motorists in making traffic stops, Patrol Chief Col. David Hosmer said Wednesday.

Fight schedule: Thursday

Goodwill's contest winners announced: The competition was open to all elementary students in Southern Nevada.

Nuclear expert's position criticized: More than a year after a nuclear waste advisory board chairman spoke in favor of a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, his university received a $1.97 million Energy Department grant.

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

Geologist joins DRI Board of Trustees: Farouk El-Baz began his appointment this month. He is a geologist and a veteran of the Apollo space program. He has spent much of his career studying the origin and evolution of arid landforms in desert regions worldwide.

Transportation chief to retire: Stephens could not be immediately reached for comment.

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

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