Print edition for June 23, 2003

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Sun Lite for June 23, 2003: Lisa Ferguson; Taking the safe route

Columnist Susan Snyder: Charleston visit is the bomb: (Yes, there is a difference. Be nice.)

Timberlake is solid, but Aguilera pretentious in twinbill: Ken Miller; You know those two-for-one DVD deals you see occasionally in Costco? Where a really good movie is paired with, well, a not-so-good movie the company is having trouble moving off the shelves?

Birth announcements for June 23, 2003: June 9:

Gluck joins the team: Gluck, 75, arranged the sale of Caesars World including the Caesars Palace resort on the Las Vegas Strip to the former ITT Corp. in 1995. He was instrumental in creation of the Forum Shops at Caesars, one of the nation's most successful shopping malls.

Editorial: Tax system out of sync with times: As the Sun's Steve Kanigher reported Sunday, the other states with a two-thirds legislative requirement for all taxes are Arizona, California, Louisiana, South Dakota and Washington. None are facing Nevada's rapid population growth. And none have a tax system so urgently in need of revamping, so hopelessly dependent on just two sources -- retail sales and gaming. In Nevada, the vast majority of state services are operating with a shortage of manpower and equipment when compared to the growing need. Education has been particularly lagging.

Magnet school will focus on leadership, law: By Emily Richmond; When a new high school opens on Alexander Avenue in the northeast region of the Clark County School District in 2004, administrators hope to have in place a magnet program focusing on leadership and law studies.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Hunter S. ruffles Robin's feathers: Players: Hunter S. Thompson, Anita Bejmuk (Thompson's longtime assistant and, since April 24, his wife), Benicio Del Toro, Josh Hartnett, Robin Leach and two feathered showgirls.

Ross getting his chance in a Dodgers uniform: Nick Christensen; LOS ANGELES -- When David Ross hit his first major-league home run off Arizona "reliever" Mark Grace last year, he joked that at least he'd be able to tell his grandkids he hit his first homer off a Hall of Famer.

Another rally for school funds set for today: By Emily Richmond; Following the lead of their comrades in Summerlin, parents at Lamping Elementary School in Henderson were scheduled to hold a rally today to urge lawmakers to approve a budget that funds education by July 1.

Tenet stock plummets 22%: Tenet has been scrutinized for questions surrounding its pricing strategies. Its Medicare billing is being investigated by federal authorities.

Biogen, IDEC announce merger: The new company, to be headquartered in Cambridge, would be called Biogen IDEC Inc. and have more than 1,000 researchers, the companies said. Together, they had $1.55 billion in pro forma 2002 revenue, they said.

Bail set for man accused in Moulin Rouge blaze: Erica D. Johnson; One of two men facing arson charges in connection with the fire that destroyed the historic Moulin Rouge casino made an appearance in Las Vegas Justice Court this morning.

$200 payment doesn't settle ROTC-festival feud: Dan Kulin; Basic High School's Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps received $200 for working a recent Christian music festival -- much less than the ROTC instructor says they should have received.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Format makes it an idyllic CWS: Dean Juipe; College sports don't get any better than this: Rice playing Stanford in the College World Series and a best-of-three format to decide the championship.

Obituaries for June 23, 2003: Virginia M. Austrheim, 76, of Las Vegas died Friday in a local hospice. She was born Jan. 5, 1927, in Illinois. A resident for 13 years, she was retired secretary of the Catholic archdiocese.

Reid: L.A.Times' story on sons' lobbying 'misleading': Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., today called a Los Angeles Times' story that outlines how Reid's lawmaking benefits his four lobbyist and lawyer sons "absolutely misleading."

Gradual change planned as Aladdin goes Hollywood: Richard N. Velotta and Liz Benston; Late Friday afternoon, cheers normally reserved for jackpot winners erupted at the Aladdin.

Colleges get extra funding from state: Jennifer Knight; The Legislature handed the University and Community College System of Nevada more than $8 million in projects that it didn't ask for at the same time other projects it requested were passed over, officials said.

Former Globetrotter calls charges God's test: By Timothy Pratt; In his first sermon since his arrest this month on federal charges of cheating churchgoers out of millions of dollars, Clyde "the Glide" Austin, a former Harlem Globetrotters player, spoke Sunday of the five days he spent in a North Las Vegas jail.

Out-of-shape Lewis escapes with win, heavyweight title: Mike Freeman; LOS ANGELES -- The fight was supposed to be a breeze for Lennox Lewis, the heavyweight champion. Didn't he have the superior skills to the challenger, Vitali Klitschko? Didn't he have the polished resume? Didn't he have the extra helping of guts?

Movies Star: CineVegas International Film Festival closes after impressive run: This year an estimated 30,000 saw 60 films and short subjects at the Palms' Brenden Theaters during the weeklong event, which ended Sunday.

Gaming briefs for June 23, 2003: DETROIT -- Fewer Michiganians say they are taking part in gambling, in part because of the lackluster economy, a recent survey found.

Editorial: Homeless plan could benefit all involved: In order to get the regional idea moving, we suggest a different plan. Each local government should contribute to a fund that would be used throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Perhaps the bulk of the money could be used to support a large facility in Las Vegas, where most of the homeless congregate. But a good percentage could be used to set up satellite services in Henderson and North Las Vegas, with support staff rotating in and out on a regular basis. Under this plan, homeless people throughout the Las Vegas Valley could receive services and local governments could receive ...

Bail set for man accused in fire at Moulin Rouge: Erica D. Johnson; One of two men facing arson charges in connection with the fire that destroyed the historic Moulin Rouge casino made an appearance in Las Vegas Justice Court this morning.

Letter: Illegals should be deported: She is 100 percent right. The illegals should be deported and any employer that hires them should be prosecuted for contributing to an unlawful act.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Azeri at home in the winner's circle: Ralph Siraco; If not for one misstep in her otherwise unblemished career, reigning Horse of the Year Azeri would be breathing the thin air in the purple haze of racing records.

NRC asked to probe nuke waste casks: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Two activist groups have asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to probe allegations that some of the nuclear waste storage containers used in five states are flawed.

Letter: Industry's power grab in energy bill is destructive: From this bill, as is, we would see no decrease in our dependence upon foreign oil. It is laden with loan guarantees to the nuclear industry, which means taxpayer dollars subsidizing this dangerous and expensive business -- and more taxpayer money wasted, and Nevadans' health possibly compromised, by the transportation of nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain, bringing the danger full circle. Not to mention the proposals to open up Western wildlands for drilling, mining and exploratory energy ventures; areas that have, in the past, been open and untouchable by industry.

Monorail car arrives in Las Vegas: The monorail is expected to begin operations in early 2004. The Las Vegas Monorail Co. will show off the monorail car at a news conference Tuesday. Officials will discuss marketing, sponsorship deals and the timetable for launching service on the first leg of the project.

Young women learn the ropes about world of politics: Jennifer Knight; In a small corner of UNLV's campus, Nevada's female politicians spent the weekend teaching a younger generation of women how to lead.

State improves grade on school testing: FROM SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS; RENO -- Nevada is doing a better job of testing students and holding schools accountable for results, a new report shows.

Assembly GOP seeks budget cuts in colleges, welfare: CARSON CITY -- To break a legislative deadlock over tax increases, Assembly Republicans want to scale back the state budget by trimming the university system and health and welfare programs.

Libraries watch Potter enchant local readers: Malia Spencer; Karla Josephson's birthday was extra special on Saturday. Not only was there the excitement of turning 9 years old, but she also got her copy of the much anticipated "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."

Fed poised to lower rates again: Martin Crutsinger; WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve is prepared this week to drop a key interest rate to its lowest level since President Eisenhower's second term.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Sunday's races: First Race MOONSTONE BAY -- Espinoza aboard Shirreffs trainee for owners Moss, draws good box for 7-panel opener, respect connections. BOLD AMERICAN -- Draws alongside top pick for maiden outing, Solis sits Frankel trainee for owners Juddmonte Farms, another with great connections. Value Play -- STOLLIN SLEW

Tribes create competition for California's card clubs: 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.

Tasha returns to form: Charles F. Gardner; MILWAUKEE -- Olympic gymnast Tasha Schwikert had the experience and the know-how.

Sale of Stallion Mountain courses on track: Kevin Rademacher; Plans are moving ahead to sell off two of the three golf courses at the Stallion Mountain subdivision in east Las Vegas.

News briefs for June 23, 2003: A Metro Police officer was in critical condition Sunday after a pickup truck hit his patrol car Saturday in southwest Las Vegas.

Letter: Intolerant agenda is offensive: If the Baptists wanted to help the "darkness of our culture" they should try remembering that there are many different people and religious faiths on this planet that "God" made, and to disenfranchise different people and other faiths to promote their intolerant agenda is highly offensive to the rest of God's children and to other believers looking for a loving spirit and their absolute truth.

Immunization schedule for June 23, 2003: NORTH LAS VEGAS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Pilot error cited in mid-air crash: Jace Radke; The March 17 mid-air collision of two Air Force fighter jets 65 miles northeast of Las Vegas was caused by pilot error, military officials announced Friday.

Trooper not upset by ruling: Erica D. Johnson; Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Robert "Bobby" Kintzel said he's not disappointed that the alleged killer who faces charges of hitting him with a sport utility vehicle won't face the death penalty.

Community briefs for June 23, 2003: The U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association will hold its June Dance from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at Dance Elegance, 1201 Arville St.