Print edition for July 14, 2003

Edison founder to buy back stock: The founder of Edison Schools, the nation's largest for-profit manager of public schools, said today he will buy back the company from shareholders and take it private.

Sports briefs for July 14, 2003: Ryan Newman stretched his last tank of fuel and won. Kevin Harvick, trying for a third consecutive win at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., tried to stretch his last tank and lost.

Suspect in beltway incident gives up: Richard Allen Rink, 32, was charged with felony reckless driving and other offenses in connection with the incident that left 31-year-old Michelle Rogers with life-threatening injuries.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Curtain drops for rancher: She seemed oblivious to their firearms and bulletproof vests.

Armstrong avoids crash to maintain a shaky lead: John Leicester; GAP, France -- Lance Armstrong kept his overall lead in the Tour de France today after narrowly avoiding a crash in the Alps involving one of his main rivals.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Sun Lite for July 14, 2003: Lisa Ferguson; For some, it's a sanctuary. For others, it's the dark, dirty, clutter-collecting space behind the house. Call it what you will, but the oft-neglected garage is finally garnering some attention from homeowners looking to stretch their living space.

Gaming briefs for July 14, 2003: PORTLAND, Maine -- Credit card giant MBNA has joined several of the state's other large employers in a campaign against a Maine casino.

Tax legislation facing Senate test: CARSON CITY -- A bill that would raise taxes by $788.6 million over the next two years, hitting businesses, banks and entertainment events, cleared the Assembly on Sunday but was expected to face a tougher fight today in the Senate.

Breakdown of tax bill: Here is a breakdown of the Assembly version the tax bill passed Sunday:

Police crack down on parents who leave kids in cars: Jen Lawson and Erica Johnson; Within two to five minutes, a child left alone in a hot car begins experiencing symptoms that could lead to organ failure, then death, a trauma and critical care surgeon at University Medical Center said.

Union plans lawsuit against LV cleaner: By Liz Benston; The Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE) said it expected to file a lawsuit in federal court today against Al Phillips the Cleaner Inc., a large retail and wholesale dry cleaning service in Las Vegas.

High pay ranking doesn't impress school officials: By Emily Richmond; A new survey may have ranked Nevada 15th in the nation for average teacher salaries, but starting pay in Clark County still isn't enough to recruit -- or keep -- quality educators, officials with the Clark County School District said this morning.

Hearing scheduled on DOE requests for Yucca water: CARSON CITY -- The state engineer's office has set August hearings on the Energy Department's application to draw water to build and run the proposed high-level nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain.

UNLV computer system analyzes prosthetics: Jennifer Knight; A specialized video-capture system that was once used to make video games is now being put to use at UNLV in an effort to find a way to make prosthetics more comfortable to wear.

Experts say gambling on the rise among U.S. teens: Whether with their friends at parties, at school or in solitude on the Internet, millions of American teens are taking up an ever-more-accessible national pastime -- gambling.

LV to consider low-income housing plan: The weeds that grow around the old MASH Village Transitional Living Center are a reminder of the shelter's failure to make a dent in local homelessness at a cost of millions of tax dollars.

Missing girl returns home: Henderson Police had been searching for the 15-year-old, who was listed as endangered because she suffered from seizures and had made past suicide attempts. The police department also had the help of Metro Police and used that department's helicopter to aid the search.

Two area parks are slated for upgrades: Malia Spencer; Half of the sprinklers at Lone Mountain Park are on at 8:30 on a warm Friday morning. A lone man is hitting a tennis ball to two eagerly awaiting dogs that, despite the heat, chase it around the grass.

Banking giants' profits strong: Eileen Alt Powell; NEW YORK -- Citigroup and Bank of America today reported stronger-than expected performance in retail and investment banking in the second quarter, with profits beating analysts' estimates.

Community briefs for July 14, 2003: Sprint has donated 800 prepaid international calling cards and 3,000 prepaid 30-minutes domestic calling cards to the Nellis Air Force Base Family Support Center to better help military families stay in touch.

Pushing the limit on temperatures: When Leslie Huihui arrived in Las Vegas about a year ago from Hilo, Hawaii, he thought he knew what hot temperatures felt like.

Sports letter: Locals nixed by UNLV: Cavagnaro rejected the opinion of the search committee and hired Schlossnagle, even though he was not recommended. Cavagnaro then left UNLV.

Man shot outside Sahara apartment: The shooting happened outside an apartment, and witnesses reported hearing four shots. One of the shots was believed to be to the victim's head.

Gibbons proposes land sale to help offset schools' deficit: CARSON CITY -- Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., was a strong proponent of repealing the federal estate tax that has resulted in a $90 million hole in the budget for public schools and the University and Community College System of Nevada.

NHP troopers driven away: Jen Lawson; Dan Larason enjoyed being a trooper with the Nevada Highway Patrol. But last month, he turned in his badge.

Editorial: Solar plant offers area big benefit: There is a strong possibility that Boulder City and Solargenix, a worldwide solar power company, may agree to do business with each other. The company wants to lease 350 acres of city property in the Eldorado Valley to build a 50-megawatt power plant. That's enough energy to power 50,000 homes. If Boulder City and the company can reach agreement on the cost of the lease, the plant could be operating in less than two years.

Home sweet home for Tracy in Toronto: Jenna Fryer; TORONTO -- There was only one race on the calendar that Paul Tracy had his eye on this season: the Molson Indy in his hometown of Toronto.

Investment giant faces disciplinary proceedings: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and Rep. Barney Frank, D.-Mass., were to announce details this afternoon in Boston.

New trial in Binion case: In a split decision the Nevada Supreme Court today overturned the murder, robbery and burglary convictions of Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish in the 1998 death of Ted Binion and ordered a new trial for both defendants.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Roster moves part of life for the 51s: Dean Juipe; There's a common perception that the injury-riddled and underachieving Los Angeles Dodgers are raiding the Las Vegas 51s and unfairly confiscating players at the Triple-A team's expense.

News briefs for July 14, 2003: One man died and another was left in critical condition after the Suzuki motorcycle they were riding collided with a car in North Las Vegas Saturday morning.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Moore-Ashton pairing ends in TI: And it sure didn't take long for the suddenly hot TI, the former kiddie-friendly casino known as Treasure Island that is making an accelerated push to join Celebrity Nation.

House again raising specter of temporary Yucca dump: The proposal was included in an energy and water spending bill approved last week by the House Appropriations subcommittee on energy and water projects. The bill set a $765 million Yucca Mountain project budget for the next fiscal year, although Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., a key Senate appropriator, plans to reduce that figure during budget negotiations.

Letter: Use funds in U.S. rather than Africa: Our scientists have to beg on bended knees for money to discover cures for numerous diseases in the United States. I didn't work for more than 30 years to give my tax money to Africa (especially $15 billion), when my own countrymen need that money for their present incurable diseases, including AIDS.

Word Up: Merriam-Webster deserves props for latest additions: Kirk Baird; And Shakespeare is difficult?

State makes pesticide disposal available: The agriculture department's program provides an easy way for farmers, pest control companies, nurseries and homeowners to properly dispose of unwanted pesticides, Tom Smigel, regional administrator for the department, said.

Opponents file federal court suit on taxes: CARSON CITY -- U.S. District Judge Philip Pro Monday issued a temporary restraining order stopping the Nevada Legislature from taking action on a $788 million tax package until the court decides if a two-thirds vote is required for final approval.

Too hot to handle: It has all the ingredients to become the premier off-road race in the world: A challenging course that covers virtually every conceivable type of terrain, a $500,000 purse and its close proximity to the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Letter: Despite deficits, county officials still get raises: In case no one has heard, we are supposed to have big budget deficit problems. Now they want to raise taxes. Don't ask me if I support it.

Letter: Court's decision is an outrage: What is even more unfortunate, however, is that the Supreme Court has ruled that Nevada's citizens and voters don't matter, either. Twice, more than 70 percent of Nevadans voted for the Gibbons Tax Restraint Initiative and overwhelmingly approved the two-thirds requirement for any tax increase as an amendment to our state constitution. These voters were disenfranchised by Thursday's Supreme Court ruling.

Nuke experiment called success: The National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office and scientists from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California fired a gas gun at 5 miles per second targeted at a plutonium disc.

County to consider water conservation: On the table Tuesday are conservation-related rate increases for homeowners and businesses and penalties for excessive irrigation by golf courses.

Editorial: Whistleblowers need additional protection: Granted, the law is not perfect but nevertheless functions in the interests of both employees and the public. Without protection in the law, very few workers would report fraud, abuse, waste and violations of rules and regulations. And without whistleblowers, the public would more frequently be victimized by such wrongdoing.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Hurrahs at Hollywood Park pay tribute to Pincay: Ralph Siraco; When Hall of Fame rider Laffit Pincay Jr. was honored here in Las Vegas shortly after he broke Bill Shoemaker's all-time record for most wins in horse racing, he confided to me and a few close friends that he wanted to reach the lofty goal of 10,000 lifetime victories before he finally retired from the saddle.

Delivery of Boeing planes deferred: Continental said it expects to begin accepting delivery of the planes in 2008.

Obituaries for July 14, 2003: Jacquelin D. Babich, 59, of Las Vegas died Friday in a local hospital. She was born May 3, 1944, in Chicago. A resident for six years, she was a homemaker.

All-Star break is time to chill: Nick Christensen; As the heat sizzles on in Southern Nevada, baseball players nationwide are getting their first -- and in many cases, only -- vacation of the long season.

Highlights of Assembly tax plan: AP; -FRANCHISE FEE: $192 million would be collected over two years from a gross receipts tax on business. Companies grossing less than $500,000 would be exempted.