Print edition for June 30, 2003

Man who claims he overheard terror call sues mayor: Erica D. Johnson; Michael Hamdan, the local man who went to the FBI with claims that his cell phone intercepted two men plotting a terrorist attack on Las Vegas, has filed a defamation of character lawsuit against Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman.

Gaming briefs for June 30, 2003: IDG Computerworld, an information technology newspaper, has named Harrah's Entertainment Inc. as one of the best places to work for technology professionals. The casino company earned the No. 6 spot on the annual ranking, marking the only gaming company on the list and one of only three companies to make the Top 10 for five consecutive years.

New tower opens at Venetian: New tower opens at Venetian

Discount grocery retailer expanding in Vegas: The Berkeley, Calif.-based company has a store at 1110 E. Charleston Blvd., just west of Maryland Parkway, that opened in 1994.

News briefs for June 30, 2003: North Las Vegas Police are investigating a Sunday night shooting that left two men dead.

Capuano schools 51s at Cashman: Nick Christensen; Approximtely 20 local youths and coaches were at Cashman Field Sunday to learn drills and techniques from Las Vegas 51s coaches and players.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Here's a halfway look at Eclipse Awards: Ralph Siraco; When I worked as track announcer at Garden State Park, N.J. in 1985, a popular local watering spot used to throw a "Half a New Year's Eve" party on June 30. It was a great success. Looking back now, when the real New Year's Eve came what transpired in June seemed like more than just six months removed.

Mausoleum planned: The 3-acre complex, at North Jones Boulevard and the northern leg of Interstate 215, will have a 700,000-gallon lake and covered pavilion. The lake is expected to be completed this summer. The first mausoleum is expected to be completed by late spring 2004. The Heritage Mausoleum will consist of five individual mausoleum structures, to be constructed in phases over several years.

New owners to expand, rename Henderson casino: Jennifer Shubinski; A Northern Nevada gaming company has entered the Las Vegas-area market by completing the previously announced purchase of the Mining Co. casino in Henderson.

Agassi ousted in fourth round: Steven Wine; By Steven Wine ASSOCIATED PRESS

Keller breaks through for Busch victory: Melissa Trujillo; WEST ALLIS, Wis. -- Jason Keller won the GNC Live Well 250 under the yellow flag on Sunday for his first Busch series victory of the season.

VegasBeat --Timothy McDarrah: Star-crossed Venetian in a League of its own: Upstairs, a concierge hung up the phone and announced to the staff that Nicolas Cage would be checking in momentarily.

Six counties to sue feds over tortoise protection: Six counties, including Lincoln County, announced their intention to file a lawsuit against the federal government over protection of the Mojave Desert tortoise.

Confident Angels tell Dodgers to hit the freeway: ANAHEIM -- The tone was established Sunday morning, when a parking-lot attendant proudly displayed a broom at his Orangewood Avenue-entry booth and beamed about a sweep.

McCarran officials gear up for high-traffic summer: Jace Radke; McCarran International Airport's new security checkpoints should help alleviate long lines for air travelers later this summer but they won't be ready in time for the busy Fourth of July weekend.

Court rejects plea for lawyer fees: CARSON CITY -- A person who represents himself in a civil case in justice court and wins is not entitled to collect attorney fees, even if he is a lawyer, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled Friday.

ACLU drops suit over school prayer: Jace Radke and Dan Kulin; The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada has dropped a federal lawsuit challenging the Clark County School District's stance on prayer at graduation ceremonies.

'One Track Jack' is long Gaughan: Brendan Gaughan didn't like the nickname his fellow NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers had given him so he went out and did something about it.

Obituaries for June 30, 2003: Gary Michael Abbott, 61, of Las Vegas died June 4 in Las Vegas. He was born July 31, 1941, in Illinois. A resident for 43 years, he was a taxicab driver and a Navy veteran.

Doctor's loss of license could be test case: By Timothy Pratt; A state board's revocation of a Las Vegas doctor's license to practice medicine may turn into a court case involving how far a doctor can go in assisting a person who wants to die.

Venetian opens new tower: The Venetian has hired 353 employees, not including transfers from elsewhere at the property, to staff the tower. An additional 1,000 parking spaces have been added to the garage as well.

Housing board hears concerns: The new Las Vegas Housing Authority board members hadn't even warmed their seats on the dais when it became apparent that the honeymoon with low-income tenants was over before it could begin.

Starting Tuesday, we will pay a little more: CARSON CITY -- While the Legislature is locked in debate over an $870 million tax increase, Nevadans will start digging deeper into their pockets on Tuesday for such things as filing civil suits, getting an auto smog check or taking a taxicab ride.

Direct marketers flooding 9-year-old with junk mail: Cynthia Flash; BELLEVUE, Wash. -- My 9-year-old son Nathan Hemphill is one popular kid. He's been invited to go to graduate school, has received a signed 8x10 photograph of President Bush and has been offered four different credit cards.

Court may be forced to step in: The impasse over taxes and spending has the three branches of government on a collision course with a constitutional crisis.

Henderson interchange contract awarded: CARSON CITY -- The state Transportation Department said today Washington Group International Inc. of Las Vegas submitted an apparent low bid of $91.6 million for building the Spaghetti Bowl interchange in Henderson.

Constitutional crisis looms: Launce Rake and Cy Ryan; After meeting Sunday night with Republicans to try to break the legislative deadlock over a tax plan, Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins said this morning: "We made some significant progress. It was the best discussion we have had all session.

Sunset of law may not affect Nevada Power: Kevin Rademacher; At midnight tonight a Nevada law blocking the takeover of a public utility by a government agency will expire.

Ham radio increases role in national security: Will Oremus; John Bigley, president of the Nellis Amateur Radio Club, recalls a time long before cell phones or the Internet, when ham radio was all the rage for technically inclined kids like him.

Out of HOPE: Funds run out for homeless grant: By Timothy Pratt; On a recent afternoon Norman Bangs had his hands on a spoon serving macaroni and green beans to drunks and addicts drying out at Westcare, a Las Vegas nonprofit.

IGT buying LV 'bonusing' company for $130 million: By Liz Benston; Slot and video poker machine manufacturer International Game Technology said today it has approved an agreement to acquire Acres Gaming Inc., a Las Vegas maker of slot machine bonusing systems that aim to build loyalty among slot players who patronize certain casinos.

Island residents surprised man is accused of local dismemberment: Residents of Alameda, Calif., a quiet island just across the bay from San Francisco, said they were shocked that a local man remembered as a "good guy" and a high school athlete has been charged with killing a Nevada hotel worker.

Nevada gov prepares court petition to force XGR tax action: AP; CARSON CITY, Nev.- Gov. Kenny Guinn said he'll immediately seek Nevada Supreme Court intervention if state lawmakers fail to deliver by midnight Monday a tax plan that would balance the state's record $5 billion budget.

Editorial: High court was right to dismiss Nike claim: The high court had originally agreed to hear the case but then decided to dismiss it, meaning the trial in California will proceed. The case could come back to the court, however, to make a landmark ruling about whether Nike's statements constituted commercial speech, and whether commercial speech enjoys the same protections as political speech. As pointed out in an analysis by The New York Times, false commercial speech is subject to liability on its face, whereas political speech is protected unless there is proof of "deliberate or reckless falsehood."

Columnist Susan Snyder: Taking a pass at trail issue: Officials hoping to build a heliport outside the urban core are considering a spot smack-dab on the River Mountains Loop Trail at Railroad Pass, west of Boulder City.

Titus accuses two legislators of sneaking local projects into bill: CARSON CITY -- Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, is accusing two legislators of quietly sneaking two local projects into a bill in the closing hours of the 2003 regular session of the Legislature that should not have been approved.

Editorial: An end to incessant ring, ring: Especially welcome was a decision by the Federal Communications Commission to join the fight. While the FTC could only block calls from one state to another state, the FCC has the authority to block calls within a state. The FCC can also block calls from the industries it regulates, which include airlines, banks and telephone companies.

Commission to vote on animal shelter contract: James Spinello, county assistant director of administrative services, said the contract would probably save the county about $100,000 a year.

Birth announcements for June 30, 2003: June 15:

Small Wonder: Mini Cooper growing into a giant in retro culture: Kirk Baird; It also happens to be the hottest vehicle on the road.

Rural GOP perplexes Democrats: CARSON CITY -- Some Democrats in the Legislature are having a hard time understanding why rural Republicans plead for money for their areas and then refuse to increase taxes.

Linkin Park again open for fervent fans: Spencer Patterson; That night the extreme sports moved indoors to The Joint, where wildly enthusiastic fans greeted rap-rockers Linkin Park by jumping up and down continuously through the band's first two numbers.

Letter: Beers, not Guinn, is being fiscally conservative: A conservative is someone who would lessen government, not expand it. A conservative is someone who would tie government funding to public accountability, not dip into another's pocket to lavish dollars on already overbloated bureaucracies.

Letter: Enough! Bush must be defeated: How much longer are the American people going to be able to continue living in the dream world that they are being led by an idyllic president? He heads an administration that is managed by a warmongering cabal, while he is out raising millions from his adoring millionaires in a campaign for re-election.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Sun Lite for June 30, 2003: Lisa Ferguson; Anyone who has traveled abroad during a distinctly American holiday knows traditional celebrations can be tough if not impossible to come by.