Print edition for June 27, 2003

Spending rises modestly: Also, U.S. consumer confidence fell less than expected this month as stock prices rose and interest rates fell, a University of Michigan survey found.

Trump casino licenses renewed: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- New Jersey casino regulators renewed the operating licenses of Donald Trump's three debt-laden casinos Wednesday, but vowed to keep a watchful eye on how they fare once the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa opens next month.

Suspect arrested on robbery charges: A patrol officer pulled over Jesus Benitez, 27, in the area of Stephanie Street and Hacienda Avenue, about 1 p.m. for a traffic violation and recognized him as a wanted robbery suspect.

Gaming news briefs for June 27, 2003: TUCSON -- The Pascua Yaqui Tribe will unveil the expanded Casino del Sol next month.

Local briefs for June 27, 2003: A 48-count sexual assault and child pornography case brought against Franklyn Perry was dropped Thursday as part of a plea agreement in a securities fraud case that resulted a sentence of 15 to 75 years in prison.

Las Vegas audit defense company in bankruptcy: Ironically, the Internal Revenue Service is listed as its largest creditor.

'Showgirls' ready to bust out of San Remo theater: What: "Showgirls of Magic."

Scene Selection -- Geoff Carter: Documentary is an anatomy of a great album: "We're either going to get something great or lose our (expletive) minds," says Jay Bennett, the former guitarist of critically acclaimed band Wilco. He's talking about the making of "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," and his optimism seems well founded: Reprise Records is allowing the band to make an album free of interference, and as Bennett gloats, "They haven't heard a word of it."

Columnist Susan Snyder: For a good time, try abstinence: Card-carrying virgins and smut handbill hawkers standing elbow-to-elbow on the Las Vegas Strip.

Columnist Jerry Fink: Kefalas feels fine playing Baccarat: Heather Kefalas was one of many Las Vegas entertainers who lost work after 9-11, when tourism took a brief nosedive.

Adderley/Davis collaboration, 'Somethin' Else,' is just that: Spencer Patterson; Artist: Cannonball Adderley.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: No peace to keep: WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE advocating the use of American or United Nations' peacekeepers to separate the Israelis and Palestinians? More and more the whispers putting forth this insane idea are being repeated by others who don't know fact from fiction.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Comedian Gold mines for hits on TV, theater stage: Lisa Ferguson; Judy Gold insists her family isn't much different than most in the United States. Aside from the fact her young sons have two mothers, everything else is status quo.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Korean nightmare lingers: Mike O'Callaghan is the Las Vegas Sun executive editor.

Lowering the Boom: WEEKEND EDITION June 28-29, 2003

Columnist Jeff German: County pay raise vote is ill timed: Jeff German's column appears Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays in the Sun. Reach him at german@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4067.

Editorial: Regulators won't do their jobs: Last week the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission turned down the requests of the state of California and of utilities in Nevada and Oregon to get out of the long-term electricity contracts they entered into with big power suppliers. About $12 billion in energy contracts were at stake, including about $300 million involving Nevada Power. The utilities and California wanted to void the costly contracts, agreed to in the spring of 2001 at the height of the Western energy crisis, because of market manipulation by the energy companies. These companies took advantage of California's deregulated energy market by withholding power, actions ...

Columnist Susan Snyder: Project is a state of mind: Susan Snyder's column appears Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at snyder@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4082.

Columnist Benjamin Grove: Withholding of Yucca information won't fly: Benjamin Grove; Benjamin Grove covers Washington, D.C., for the Sun. He can be reached at grove@lasvegassun.com or (202) 662-7245.

Performing Arts for June 27, 2003: Free concert

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Give Jessica room to breathe and heal: Mike O'Callaghan is executive editor of the Sun and a columnist for the Henderson Home News, where this column originally appeared.

Two schools of thought: By Emily Richmond; WEEKEND EDITION June 28-29, 2003

Las Vegas teen sets sights on Junior Miss crown: Malia Spencer; Catherine Cole is smart, ambitious and loving. She embodies the qualities of a Junior Miss, according to her longtime friend and former contestant Bonnie Carmalt.

Nevada volunteer aiding in Midwest disaster recovery: Malia Spencer; WEEKEND EDITION June 28-29, 2003

On display for June 27, 2003: Artist Mario Arango will demonstrate the art of woodcutting from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday in July at the Valley of Fire State Park. Woodcut prints will be on display as well. Admission is free. 397-2088.

Datebook for June 27, 2003: The City of North Las Vegas will hold its fourth annual "Independence Day Jubilee" celebration at 6 p.m. Thursday at James Seastrand Park, 6330 Camino Eldorado. The fireworks show is at 9 p.m. Admission is free. 633-1612.

Editorial: From fun and games to wing tips and suits: The city of Las Vegas was sold on a concept before it spent $32 million on land and an underground parking garage for downtown's Neonopolis, at Las Vegas Boulevard and Fremont Street. The vision was that of a splendid retail and entertainment complex that would extend the reach of the Fremont Street Experience, injecting new life into downtown by attracting tourists and locals alike.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Colosseum looks to Latin theme: VegasBeat appears Sunday through Friday in the Las Vegas Sun. Timothy McDarrah can be reached at tim@lasvegassun.com or at (702) 259-4096.

Closing poison center costly, officials say: AP; But the poison center is scheduled to shut its doors at the end of this month, following a national trend of centers crippled or closed by budget cuts. Oregon Health & Sciences University is cutting the program due to reduced state funding and Medicaid receipts.

Nevada Supreme Court denies killers' appeals: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court Thursday turned aside the appeal of Termaine A. Lytle, who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the strangulation of an 84-year-old woman in Clark County.

Obituaries for June 27, 2003: Marion H. Atherton, 63, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospital. A homemaker, she was born March 24, 1940, in New York City.

Proposed tax would force major changes at brothels: CARSON CITY -- The 10 percent live entertainment tax, now being considered by the Legislature, would change the way houses of prostitution do business.

Henderson retiree won't face charges: Jace Radke and Jean Reid Norman; Misdemeanor charges of resisting and obstructing a police officer have been dropped against an 85-year-old man who alleges that he was beaten by Henderson Police.

Sports briefs: The plan to expand the 2006 World Cup by four teams to 36 most likely will be rejected by FIFA's executive committee, which instead could grant South America a chance for a fifth berth.

California debt collector moving to Las Vegas: In Business Las Vegas, a sister newspaper to the Las Vegas Sun, reported American Recovery Service Inc. (ARS), Thousand Oaks, Calif., will open a Las Vegas operation with four or five employees in September, hire 20 Southern Nevada workers after the doors open and have 80 to 100 workers by the end of the year, an executive said.

Nevada Power rebates planned: Kevin Rademacher; Nevada's share of a $1.6 billion settlement with El Paso Corp. is getting smaller, but it will arrive faster, the state consumer advocate said after new details of the deal were announced Thursday.

Lawmaker's 'Net gambling motives questioned: Robert Gehrke; WASHINGTON -- Rep. Chris Cannon calls gambling a "pernicious vice" that should be outlawed. But the Utah Republican repeatedly has fought to derail a bill that seeks to clamp down on illegal Internet gambling.

Borgata kicks off AC's Vegas-style makeover: Christina Binkley; ATLANTIC CITY -- Atlantic City is trying to go from shabby to chic.

Castaways notes lack of competitiveness on Boulder Strip in bankruptcy filing: By Liz Benston; An attorney for the Castaways Hotel, Casino and Bowling Center says it's business as usual at the Las Vegas casino following its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Thursday.

VA to lease, not own, state-of-the-art clinic: Benjamin Grove and Malia Spencer; WASHINGTON -- The Veterans Affairs Department has shifted its strategy to replace the crumbling Addeliar D. Guy Ambulatory Care Clinic, according to newly drafted legislation in Congress.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Rain flooded with celebs for VEGAS party: Believe the hype. VEGAS Magazine delivered.

Churches merge: By Ed Koch; First United Methodist Church's final service begins at 10 a.m. Sunday at the church, 231 S. Third St.

State sets new scores for math exam: Dan Kulin; Some high school students in limbo over whether they passed the math portion of the High School Proficiency Exam can now know whether they need to take the test again, while their peers now know how well they have to do to pass.

Role of specialist teachers will be known by July 15: Dan Kulin; Clark County School District specialist teachers who have been assigned to regular classrooms because of uncertainty over the K-12 budget will be sent back to their previous assignments if the state Legislature passes a schools budget by July 15, Superintendent Carlos Garcia said Thursday.

Columnist Jeff German: Politics dirtier than usual: Like a recurring nightmare, former City Councilman Steve Miller just won't go away.

Assembly takes up tax package: Dan Kulin; Role of specialist teachers will be known by July 15

DA takes phone case: The investigation began in early April. The people involved with the use of the PIN number could face fraud charges.

Community news briefs for June 27, 2003: Registration is being accepted for Henderson Parks and Recreation's summer Start Camps, which provide sport-specific instruction for children 4 and 5 years old.

Governor honors three: The Commission on Substance Abuse Education, Enforcement and Treatment gave awards at the Best Coalition meeting last week to Dr. Miriam Adelson, Trooper Eddie Dutchover, Jerry Cornell and the Henderson Police Department program "Every 15 Minutes."

Panel hears of kids abducted by foreign parents: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- George Uhl sat in the audience at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting on Thursday, quietly nodding during a hearing on children abducted by a parent to a foreign country.

State rules controversial newsletter did not break law: Dan Kulin; A controversial newsletter the Boulder City government sent to all city residents about a month before the June 3 election addressed issues raised in the mayoral election but did not support or oppose a candidate, and so it did not break any laws, the Secretary of State's office ruled this week.

Blood drives scheduled: Monday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunset Station, 1301 Sunset Road, in Henderson; 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Chili's, 9051 W. Charleston Blvd.; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Interior Specialists, 2060 Pama Lane.

Background checks on new teachers won't be completed by fall: By Timothy Pratt; Delayed hiring caused by the budgetary impasse at the Legislature means the Clark County School District will be hiring teachers who haven't completed mandatory background checks with state and federal law enforcement agencies, a district official said this morning.

Former restaurateur Deale dies at 75: If it wasn't the top-notch prime beef, huge baked potatoes or mouth-watering seafood that brought customers into Philips Supper Club, owner Philip Deale had other imaginative ways to fill his elegant eatery.

LVMS points standings: Super Late Models

Las Vegas eyed for plant called 'industrial Bellagio': Avestor, a joint venture by Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp., Oklahoma City, and Hydro-Quebec, Montreal, intends to build a production plant for its revolutionary lithium-metal-polymer batteries.

All-stars don't play like it at Cashman: Nick Christensen; The Pacific Coast League named its 2003 all-star team Thursday, and for the 4,909 in attendance at Cashman Field, the selections may have looked like a fluke.

Man who stabbed pregnant girlfriend gets 7-18 years: Erica D. Johnson; A Las Vegas woman described for a district judge on Monday the despair she has endured since her former boyfriend stabbed her repeatedly in the stomach, killing her unborn child.

Courts to close for week: Afsha Bawany; The North Las Vegas Municipal Court will close the week of July 21 to install new computer software, but officials say those using the court should not be inconvenienced.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Saturday's races at Hollywood Park: 1st Race -- WAY TO THE TOP -- P. Val atop Mullins trainee, one of three up for a tag in allowance/claimer, backers hope the Way To The Top is here. CHINKAPIN -- Draws good rail post for route opener, Nakatani on co-owner Hollendorfer trainee, another available to claim. Value Play -- SPEEDY PICK

Many to have a say in UNLV A.D. hiring process: Nick Christensen; The search committee responsible for finding UNLV's next athletic director comprises UNLV faculty members, community representatives, and staff from the Rebels athletic department.

NLV cop pleads not guilty in Wisconsin: Jen Lawson; A motorcycle officer with the North Las Vegas Police Department is facing felony charges in Wisconsin for allegedly failing to pay child support for 14 years.

School district official pleads guilty in DUI: Jace Radke; A regional director for the Clark County School District, who formerly headed up the district's police force, pleaded guilty Thursday to misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol in connection with a December head-on collision with another car.

Saturday's horse racing entries: Post Time: 10 a.m.

Columnist Barb Henderson: Reno goes fishing for Great Outdoors: Barb Henderson; After three successful years in Lake Placid, N.Y., the organizers of the 2003 ESPN Great Outdoor Games decided to head west, to Reno-Tahoe July 10-13, for target sports, fishing, timber and sporting dogs.

Fishing Report: A key indicator to the striper fishing is the spawn of threadfin shad that occurs from spring through mid-summer. These small fish are the primary food source for stripers. NDOW biologist Jim Heinrich said that 2001 and 2002 resulted in good hatches of shad, hence good fishing for stripers. If history is a good indicator, then 2003 may not be the best of years for the shad spawn. There have rarely been three good years in a row.

Deputy public defender named to housing board: Calling attorney William "Bill" Gonzalez "a young man I have an awful lot of confidence in," Mayor Oscar Goodman appointed the deputy public defender to the beleaguered Las Vegas Housing Authority board on Thursday.

Dodgers' Collins says farm aid is coming: 51s snapshot

Letter: Clinton deserves more credit: The only ingredient missing is Bill Clinton and his unprecedented surpluses that now are turned into deficits under Bush.

Grizzlies draft UNLV's Banks, then trade him to the Celtics: Darrius Banks had a quiet reaction when he drove cousin Marcus home from a summer hoops camp before his senior year at Cimarron-Memorial High and Marcus said that he would play in the NBA.

Ainge works a quick deal for 'Plan A' Marcus: Jimmy Golen; WALTHAM, Mass. -- The Boston Celtics got the point guard they needed, but they had to do some dealing to get him.

Letter: Parents need to use safety checks: Have a board to sign in when you arrive at work. If you haven't signed the board, someone can ask you if you dropped your child at the child care center.

Mayor questions focus of center: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman says he is concerned about the apparent shift in objectives of the downtown Neonopolis development from entertainment to a provider of office space.

Letter: Economic signs point to long fall, not recovery: Among the signs seen by Bonner are those advertising bankruptcy counseling services. "Bankruptcy has become as popular as weight-loss," comments Bonner. "Bankruptcy rates are hitting records despite the best efforts of those who manage the economy. ... In addition to bankruptcies and unemployment, business profits as a percentage of GDP have fallen to their lowest level in about 40 years."

Oldest ranch in Nevada being sold for development: Martin Griffith; GENOA -- Since the California Gold Rush, cows have grazed the pastures of the Adams Ranch just north of this quaint town nestled against the Sierra Nevada.

Draft marked by trades, major foreign influence: Chris Sheridan; NEW YORK -- LeBron James went No. 1, Andres Gliniadakis went No. 58.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Massachusetts shows how barbecue is done: If you're hankering for down-home barbecue, Las Vegas has plenty to offer, from Mike Mills' real pit Memphis Championship Barbecue restaurants to many hole-in-the-wall hideaways offering soul food and barbecued meats.

Editorial: Kids left alone in cars can result in tragedy: Las Vegas has its own very real problem in this area, with three adults now facing charges of child endangerment as the result of incidents over the past month. The latest incident occurred Wednesday, when a father was charged with leaving his 7-year-old son alone in an idling car in the parking lot of the Clark County Government Center. Charges are effective but pre-emptive education is even more so. We suggest every driver take some time to read the true stories on the Kids In Cars website. We can't imagine anyone who reads these stories ever leaving their children alone ...

Former Miss Nevada Kaye dies: Will Oremus; Cheryle Thompson moved to Las Vegas at the age of 18 to pursue a singing career. Instead she found a job as a showgirl at the Sahara Hotel and parlayed her beauty into the Miss Nevada title in 1963.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Spencer: 'To hell with gentlemen's agreement': Jimmy Spencer doesn't fault Robby Gordon for his controversial pass under caution of teammate Kevin Harvick in last week's NASCAR Winston Cup race in Sonoma, Calif.

Editorial: GOP must deal with extremism: Assemblyman Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, one of the leading opponents of a tax increase, told Sun reporter Launce Rake that Raggio was wrong to believe that this opposition was hurting the Republican Party. "I am proud that the Republican Party has such a broad umbrella ... that there is room for both Sen. Raggio and myself," Beers said. But Beers is being disingenuous as he tries to paper over the diametrical views he and Raggio hold. Beers, after all, demonstrated his shrill political philosophy by referring to the tax increases advocated by Guinn as the biggest private-to-public redistribution of money ...

Summer Lovin': Super Summer Theatre a true grass-roots effort: When: 8 p.m. through Saturday.

Andre's road runs through a Moroccan: Stephen Wade; WIMBLEDON, England -- Younes El Aynaoui speaks six languages.

Parts of many new laws take effect on Tuesday: Brendan Riley; CARSON CITY -- Key sections of more than 200 new laws passed by the 2003 Nevada Legislature take effect July 1 -- laws dealing with terrorists, kidnappers, malpractice insurance rates, the state budget, ex-felons' voting rights and dozens of other issues.

New softball coach already likes it here: Nick Christiansen; Lonni Alameda hasn't yet moved to Las Vegas from the San Francisco Bay area, but the new UNLV softball coach already thinks she has found the right place.