Print edition for June 2, 2003

North Las Vegas Police arrest man wanted in slaying: A North Las Vegas Police SWAT team early today arrested a 21-year-old man wanted in the May 18 slaying of a woman who was hit by one of 10 bullets fired through her closed apartment door.

Poaching penalties among wildlife changes: CARSON CITY -- Fishing and hunting fees in the state will go up, along with penalties for poaching, under action taken by the Legislature on Sunday.

State workers get raise but no bargaining rights: CARSON CITY -- State workers failed again in their efforts to get collective bargaining rights, but they did get an unexpected pay raise from the 2003 Legislature.

Judge dismisses lawsuit: Bally, a unit of Alliance Gaming Corp. of Las Vegas, said it filed the lawsuit as a pre-emptive strike against the defendants' alleged threat to sue. Bally said it had been wrongfully accused by the defendants of infringing several IGT gaming patents in its Thrillions multi-area progressive slot system and Monte Carlo progressive jackpot slot machine.

Legislative briefs for June 2, 2003: Some state senators are irked at Gov. Kenny Guinn for suggesting that they have wasted time during this session and must now rush to pass a budget and tax plan.

W.Va. man wins Strongman title: Pfister won the Coors Keg Load, the Findlay Toyota SUV Pull and the Harrison Door Weight Carry en route to a final score of 14.5 points (lowest score wins) and $4,000 in first place prize money.

Condemned man gets new chance: CARSON CITY -- In a 4-3 decision, the Nevada Supreme Court has granted a new penalty hearing for a man who has been on death row for 15 years for the rape and murder of a woman in Las Vegas.

Herbst, Roeseler win SCORE race: Herbst and Roeseler completed the 452.93-mile course in 9 hours, 54 minutes and 46 seconds and averaged 45.69 mph in their Smithbuilt-Ford. Another Las Vegan, Danny Anderson, was second in Class 1 and second overall with a time of 9:55:28 in a Jimco-Toyota.

Rebels' coach stunned with final day's effort: Adam Candee; STILLWATER, Okla. -- Only the two-railed wood post fence guarding the scoring tent off the No. 9 green prevented Dwaine Knight from falling right over in the smothering heat Friday afternoon.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Funny Cide one race away from joining elite: Ralph Siraco; Funny Cide will have his date with destiny Saturday. Whether he passes into racing immortality as the 12th Triple Crown winner or becomes the 46th horse to accomplish two-thirds of the hardest trophy to win in sports will play out to a worldwide audience for all to see.

Sports briefs for June 2, 2003: Joe Dumars and the Detroit Pistons got their man -- at Rick Carlisle's expense.

Passenger dies when thrown from Jeep: Jace Radke; A passenger of a Jeep apparently was killed this morning when he was ejected from the vehicle after allegedly grabbing the wheel during an argument with the driver on U.S. 95 South, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

Oklahoma racing bill dies: Ron Jenkins; OKLAHOMA CITY -- The 2003 Oklahoma Legislature adjourned Friday as a budget fight fizzled and time ran out on a bill to expand Indian casino-type gambling to horse racetracks.

Two trade shows to debut in LV: The 2003 Off-Road Aftermarket Expo is scheduled Oct. 10-12 and will run in conjunction with the Maxxis U.S. Open Motocross competition at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. About 2,000 people are expected to attend.

News briefs for June 2, 2003: A man wanted in Allegheny County, Pa., on incest with a minor and child molestation charges was arrested on Friday at a Las Vegas school.

Obituaries for June 2, 2003: Swan H. Beckman, 81, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was born Dec. 6, 1921, in Dalboe, Minn. A resident for 44 years, he was a contractor and a World War II Marine Corps veteran.

Card clubs face slump as tribal gaming grows: Erica Werner; BELL GARDENS, Calif. -- With its marble floors and faux-Chinese decor, the Bicycle Club is more Las Vegas than Wild West, but it offers the same thing California's card rooms have provided since Gold Rush days -- a place to bet on games of luck and skill.

Golf course builder wants rest of money: Dan Kulin; The company that built the Boulder Creek golf course is suing Boulder City for $842,933 plus attorney fees and court costs, claiming the city has owed the money since the work was completed in October.

Air Force flights to increase during training exercise: Most daylight flying will occur in the afternoon. Most night flights will begin at 8 p.m. and continue until 1 a.m.

'Speech police' remain in campaign laws: CARSON CITY -- A law that allows the state Ethics Commission to decide if a political candidate has lied about his opponent will remain intact.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Complaints fly about NCAA format: TEMPE, Ariz. -- A few minutes after Arizona State had finished twisting the spunky but outmanned UNLV baseball team into the shape of a Joshua tree in an NCAA West regional final Sunday, the interview room at Diablo Stadium turned into a complaint department.

Harter's AD hire critical to future: Steve Guiremand; Carol C. Harter is about to finish her eighth year as president at UNLV.

Fry selected to head search committee: Steve Guiremand; UNLV President Dr. Carol Harter said she has selected Dr. Joseph "Andy" Fry to chair a screening committee that will help with the search for the school's new athletic director.

Desert to championship: By Rob Miech; GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- Just because the Community College of Southern Nevada won its first Junior College World Series on Saturday night, the Coyotes' athletic director will not boost the baseball coach's salary.

Rudner to perform for Golden Rainbow: Golden Rainbow, a nonprofit organization, provides housing and direct financial assistance to people affected by HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada.

MWC presidents, ADs ready to discuss expansion: Steve Guiremand; The Mountain West Conference's Board of Directors began three days of meetings on Sunday at The Aviara Four Seasons Hotel in Carlsbad, Calif., during which the topic of possible expansion is expected to be seriously explored for the first time since the conference was formed in 1999.

Rebels whipped at NCAA regional: TEMPE, Ariz. -- While the record will show the UNLV baseball team was eliminated from the NCAA baseball tournament on Sunday in a 16-1 loss to Arizona State, the Rebels' hopes of qualifying for their first College World Series evaporated long before Sunday's first pitch at arid Diablo Stadium.

Editorial: An honest answer is contempt?: The woman, who is black, had appeared as a prospective juror in the courtroom of Judge Donald Mosley. Jury selection was under way for the trial of a black man accused of murder. Mosley asked the woman if she had any racial prejudices. The court transcript, obtained by Sun reporter Erica Johnson, reveals that the woman was frank in telling Mosley that she didn't trust white people or the police. Frank, but not disorderly, disruptive, boisterous, disrespectful, disobedient or any of the other terms that legally define contempt of court.

Birth announcements for June 2, 2003: May 19:

Editorial: Use common sense in treating mentally ill: Another positive development is the Legislature's likely approval of the governor's proposal to build a $32 million, 150-bed psychiatric hospital in Southern Nevada. The actions taken by the Legislature and Metro Police are the kinds of progressive steps we need and that too frequently in the past have been found wanting in this state's dealings with the mentally ill.

The Man Show: At age 30, Playgirl remains the answer to Playboy: Kirk Baird; Men rejoiced. However, many women came to vilify the male-targeted magazine as yet another example of men objectifying women.

Letter: Administration continues search: This was a presidential initiative that has already cost 150 American lives and many more wounded. A war that has alienated some of our strongest allies in Europe. A war that will cost this nation more lives and billions of dollars before it is all over.

Letter: Handwriting ideas face challenges: 1. Handwriting should maintain its traditional place in the school curricula because it serves an esthetic function;

Columnist Dean Juipe: Coach/AD endured heat on the way to top: Dean Juipe; As school lets out for the summer, many a student, teacher or administrator can look back on a year of varying peaks and valleys.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Artists are ready for prime chime: Beating the heat in Las Vegas sometimes means getting out of Las Vegas. And it seems a fair number of us did that over the Memorial Day weekend by visiting the tiny mile-high town of Prescott, in Arizona's Juniper Mountains. Just about everyone with whom we spoke was escaping either Las Vegas or Phoenix.

No grand opening at ragged Pete Yorn show: Spencer Patterson; It's not often a concert loses a ratings star before it even begins.

3 die in separate weekend accidents in northern Nevada: AP; A 26-year-old Reno woman was killed Sunday when her all-terrain vehicle slid 25 feet down an embankment on the Jumbo Grade above Washoe Valley south of Reno.

Most of budget's 30 percent hike to go toward Medicaid, education: CARSON CITY -- The state's budget for the coming two years will grow by nearly 30 percent, with most of the money being spent on education and Medicaid, the program for medical care of the poor.

For So. Nevada bicyclists, speed by motorists can kill: Jen Lawson; George Wheatin, a 61-year-old bicyclist who was killed May 25 along State Route 160 near Mountain Springs, was known as "Speedin' Wheatin" from his racing days.

Report: Marriott joining bid for bankrupt Aladdin: Marriott International Inc. is entering the bidding for the Aladdin hotel and casino in Las Vegas, the Wall Street Journal reported on its website Friday afternoon.

Nebraska casino measure fails: LINCOLN, Neb. -- The push to ask voters to approve casino gambling in Nebraska failed Friday when the Legislature adjourned -- but may be resurrected in January.

Deals reached on tax, budget plans: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Legislative leaders agreed to a $862 million tax plan Sunday night and will spend the hours leading up to today's midnight adjournment of the session working to win the two-thirds support required for passage.

IRS demands $269 mil. in taxes: The IRS wants $157 million in back taxes and $112 million in interest to settle company returns for 1995, 1996 and 1997. No payment is due now, pending an appeal, the Santa Barbara, Calif-based company said in a regulatory filing.

Nevada firms win key ruling on liability: CARSON CITY -- A sharply divided Nevada Supreme Court has given Nevada corporations further protections from civil lawsuits brought because of the wrongdoing of their employees.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Stars bask in Meat and greet at Palms: Meat Loaf was doing a 5 p.m. sound check for his Saturday night poolside gig. After members of the crew got their cues down for "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" (which features a famous Rizzuto narration of a "player" about to "score"), Mr. Loaf tossed out some songs he figured his all-star band could play.

Nontax bills get go-ahead in Senate, Assembly: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- As the Legislature began winding down on non-tax issues over the weekend, several bills that had been held back for leverage were released. Assembly Bill 148, sponsored by Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, calls for an audit of the University and Community College System of Nevada. But AB148 had languished for weeks in the Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno.

Construction spending down: The Commerce Department reported today that the value of construction projects dipped by 0.3 percent in April from March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $862.6 billion.

Vidler approved to form water district: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- The floodgates opened wide Sunday night on the Assembly floor during a lengthy battle over Vidler Water Co.'s agreement with Lincoln County to develop water rights for sale.

Action taken on No Child Left Behind: CARSON CITY -- The Assembly Ways and Means Committee this morning approved a modified version of the No Child Left Behind measure and voted to add back provisions governing the state's math proficiency test.

Officials fired in scandal suing Mirage: By Liz Benston; Two officials who say they were terminated by The Mirage because of the property's failure to file thousands of cash transaction reports are suing the resort, claiming the company breached employment contracts by firing them "without cause."

Illinois casinos hit with higher taxes: Illinois lawmakers, voting mostly along party lines, approved Gov. Rod Blagojevich's plan to balance the budget through increased fees and taxes targeting casinos and other businesses Saturday.

CCSN to set policy on classes taught in Spanish: By Timothy Pratt; Warren Hioki, an associate dean at the Community College of Southern Nevada, wanted to offer a class in the engineering technology department in Spanish.

FCC relaxes rules on media ownership: The Federal Communications Commission today voted 3-2 along party lines to relax its media-ownership rules, opening the door for companies such as Tribune Co. and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. to buy more local television stations and newspapers.

Moulin Rouge residents may be allowed back: Donations Those wishing to donate to the Red Cross to help feed the Moulin Rouge residents can call the Red Cross Southern Nevada Chapter office at 791-3311 or bring donations to the office at 3672 N. Rancho Drive near Gowan Road. The Red Cross will accept donations by credit card, cash or checks.

Measure limiting limo industry advances: CARSON CITY -- A bill to slow down the growth of limousines and hopefully to bring some order to the transportation turmoil in Clark County has been approved by a Senate-Assembly Conference Committee.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Sun Lite for June 2, 2003: Lisa Ferguson; Gifts to grab

Bill limiting limo industry advances: CARSON CITY -- A bill to slow down the growth of limousines and hopefully to bring some order to the transportation turmoil in Clark County has been approved by a Senate-Assembly Conference Committee.

Early voting for heated Ward 1 race low: Despite what many perceive to be an intense race between an embattled incumbent and a political newcomer in Las Vegas City Council Ward 1, early voting in the ward was poor, officials said.

Attorney rethinks defense after death penalty notice: Erica D. Johnson; The defense attorney representing the local R&B singer charged in a triple shooting said this morning he may have to rethink his strategy in light of the state's decision last week to seek the death penalty against his client.

Funds sought from car rentals: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- The rental car tax should be increased in Clark County to generate millions of dollars for renovations at Cashman Field, the relocation of the culinary institute and construction of a performing arts center in downtown Las Vegas, Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, is arguing.

Group removes bias from reading exams: By Timothy Pratt; When a group of volunteers led by the state Education Department met recently to ferret out signs of prejudice in Nevada's statewide reading tests, they tossed a few paragraphs they feared could offend students in this increasingly diverse state.