Print edition for March 11, 2003

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Tide has changed at squeaky-clean UNLV: Perception and reality are different things, except to the college basketball media.

Bus company opens LV terminal: Arrow Stage Lines, a division of Busco Inc., Omaha, has opened an office and terminal at 155 W. Imperial Ave. and has hired Jim Sides, formerly of Vision Holidays and Ryan's Express, as its sales manager.

Technology show moving to LV: The U.S. Telecom Association said Telecom '03 would be conducted Oct. 11-15 at The Venetian hotel-casino.

Vote to be called on credit reports bill: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Assembly Democrats said public outrage compelled them to suddenly pass a bill out of committee Monday that would prohibit auto insurers from using credit reports to determine insurance rates.

Firm names president: Isaacs, currently head of the company's European unit, succeeds Mark Newburg, who left the company last week, Aristocrat said in a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange.

Slot maker reduces debt: The company also recently entered into an agreement with GET USA Inc. to license an operating system from IGCA in exchange for a settlement of $475,000 in development expenses and hard costs owed to GET as part of a proposed merger agreement with GET that was terminated in August 2002.

Nevada panel considers drug-testing inmates before parole: AP; AB209 would mandate drug tests for inmates within 30 days of their parole hearings. The Nevada Parole Board conducts about 7,300 hearings every year, and grants nearly a third of the requests.

This Land is our Land: With Ritter at helm, 'TVLand Awards' celebrates TV's past: Kirk Baird; It had nothing to do with his TV legacy as Jack Tripper on "Three's Company" and its spinoff "Three's a Crowd," Detective Harry Hooperman from "Hooperman," or the less-remembered John Hartman on "Hearts Afire."

Highlights of January 2003 revenue report on Nevada casinos: AP; -STATEWIDE: $844.6 million win, up 10.3 percent.

Editorial: Let's get tough with campaign scofflaws: Heller, a Republican, and Del Papa, a Democrat, have had run-ins before over the enforcement of election and campaign laws. But Heller has run his office relatively free of partisan politics, and his accusations against Del Papa are troubling. It appears that the Republican Sandoval, who said he will send the matter to the state Bar Association for review, is taking this issue seriously. If enforced, candidates face a fine of $25 for every day their reports are late, with a cap of $5,000.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: A step down road map: It was two weeks ago that Bush's nationally televised speech to the American Enterprise Institute made reference to his suggested road map. The publication of this international road map for Israeli-Palestinian peace will probably not be made until matters are settled with Saddam. It would be wise if Arafat and his advisers would again read the president's remarks to the nation and the world:

Letter: We should all back president in time of war: Obviously, Hanshew didn't read the article on the previous page, "Six of 10 people back president's Iraq policy." Nearly six of every 10 people support President Bush's plan to disarm Iraq, by force if needed, according to an ABC News-Washington Post poll. Hanshew, where is your patriotism? This is not the time to not support our elected president while thousands of troops are being sent off to the Middle East! Especially since our country is on the verge of war, every U.S. citizen, whether Democrat or Republican, should stand behind our president.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Tracking uplifting trends: But if you are a woman who has been pinched, bunched, bound, squished or suffocated, keep reading.

Editorial: Standards and money go together: LoBene does not share the perspective of the Clark County Housing Authority. Citing irreconcilable problems with Sierra Pointe, the authority is planning to end its contract to administer the federal subsidies for the complex's 160 apartments. LoBene certainly does not share the perspective of surrounding property owners, property managers and businessmen who together make up the Cambridge Area Management Council. The council has written a letter protesting crime emanating from the complex, located west of Maryland Parkway at Cambridge Street and Sierra Vista Drive. Neither does LoBene share the perspective of 150 area residents who signed a petition denouncing conditions ...

Nevada problem gambling program launches today: By Liz Benston; Educational materials and awareness training about gambling addiction in Nevada have primarily been concentrated at casinos and video poker parlors, seen mainly by employees and gamblers.

Motivated Jinks looks to make 'her' statement for Lady Rebels: Steve Guiremand; If UNLV senior guard Constance Jinks needed extra motivation for this week's Mountain West Conference Tournament, she got it Monday morning courtesy of the league's coaches.

Del Papa criticized for failure to sue candidates: CARSON CITY -- Former Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa says criticism that her office failed to follow through on suing errant candidates is politically motivated.

Judge won't cut $5 million bail in Duarte case: Erica D. Johnson; The lawyer representing one of three men charged in a string of casino robberies failed to convince a district judge Monday to reduce his client's $5 million bail.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Gaughan thinks his truck has a shot this week: Brendan Gaughan finished 20th last season in his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Darlington Raceway but that result, Gaughan said, is misleading.

CarMax aims to shake up LV-area used-car industry: Jennifer Shubinski; A nationwide superstore used-car chain opens its first store in Henderson on Wednesday and plans to open a second Las Vegas-area store later this year.

A Look Back -- Postseason Basketball at Thomas & Mack: Some highlights of six years' of postseason basketball at the Thomas & Mack Center, listed chronologically:

News briefs for March 11, 2003: Metro Police closed El Sinaloense Nightclub at Sahara Avenue and Maryland Parkway on an emergency basis Saturday morning after a site check.

Mental-health firm bankrupt: Spokeswoman Kristin Brunnworth said the company has about 88,000 Nevada members that are being serviced by about 150 contracted healthcare providers in the state.

Legislative briefs for March 11, 2003: Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, wants to give parents a choice of what school their children can attend.

Bills take different approach to halting unwanted callers: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Lawmakers know people don't like telemarketing calls, but two legislators are offering competing versions of how to address the problem.

January casino win up: CARSON CITY -- Nevada casinos won $844.5 million from gamblers in January, an increase of 10.2 percent from January 2002, the state reported today.

Park Place wins suit over Colosseum name: Grace Leong; A federal judge has ordered a New Jersey man to stop using the trademark-protected name "Colosseum," which is part of the Caesars Palace resort on the Las Vegas Strip.

Raises for council, mayor up for vote during campaign: Dan Kulin; City Council salaries are about to become even more of an issue in the Boulder City election.

It was fun while it lasted: Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson told his staff last week that he invites controversy about the league's decision to move its basketball tournament to Denver.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: South Beach platter chock full o' stars: And since Las Vegas is one of the nation's hottest culinary locales, it is no surprise that the big story at this year's event, the second one, which took place last week, was, of course, Las Vegas.

State per-pupil spending suffers: By Emily Richmond; The Clark County School District is holding the following forums on possible budget cuts:

Columnist Dean Juipe: NCAA weighs two drastic alterations: Dean Juipe; Two of the most basic elements of college athletics are under review, and any changes that might be made will severely alter the nature of amateur competition at the higher-education level.

Builder expands to Atlanta: Last year, Colony produced revenues of $244 million. The company sold 1,872 homes -- 1,052 in the Atlanta area, 544 in Raleigh, N.C., and 276 in Charlotte, N.C.

Democrats' first plan would ease property tax hikes: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins today proposed a bill that would shift the burden of future property tax increases from homeowners to large property owners.

No-Child law has schools' budgets being left behind: CARSON CITY -- The Clark County School District estimates it will cost $144.8 million over the next two years to finance programs related to the federal No Child Left Behind Act, according to testimony before the Senate Finance Committee on Monday.

Air travelers face Monday blues: Eric Leake; Waiting to enter the McCarran International Airport D gates at midday Monday, a business traveler from Chicago who would give his name only as David was among many caught in a different kind of rush hour.

Titus proposes taxing adult clubs to aid OBGYNs: CARSON CITY -- Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas today proposed a new tax on nude and topless dancing clubs to help pay medical malpractice insurance premiums for obstetricians and gynecologists.

Airport plans additional security points: Jace Radke; Since the 2001 terrorist attacks McCarran, International Airport has increased the number of its security checkpoints from 13 to 22.

Study: Gaming can't carry tax burden: Cy Ryan and Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Nevada's gaming industry can't continue to carry the state's economy and tax system, a new study says.

Slayings suspect clears way for extradition: Blake, 33, was wanted for shooting three women March 5, killing two, in a desert area in southwest Las Vegas. He fled after the shootings but was caught three days later in Barstow, Calif.

Snubbing of Utah site may boost Yucca fight: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Nevada officials say the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's denial of a license to a temporary nuclear waste dump in Utah bodes well for the state's battle against a permanent repository at Yucca Mountain.

Rural runs: NHP transports important materials across vast stretches of state: Jace Radke; Nevada Highway Patrol Capt. Chris Perry didn't know for sure what he was hauling in his trunk March 1 as he guided his cruiser through the desert toward Tonopah as hail and rain pounded down.

Sharing river topic of summit: High-level representatives from the seven states sharing water from the Colorado River will meet Thursday in Las Vegas to try to settle some of their differences.

Quotes related to the disappearance of teenager Lindsey Ryan: AP; ---

Ex-Goodman aide charged in arson: A criminal complaint issued by the Clark County District Attorney's office charges William Laurence Cassidy, 53, with first-degree arson and burglary in a Feb. 22 blaze at Silk Road Accu Pressure, 2100 S. Decatur Blvd.

Judge blocks state action: U.S. District Judge Garland Burrell Jr. in Sacramento found Wells Fargo is likely to prevail on its position against the California Department of Corporations, Wells said today. Last month, the state agency threatened to pull the license after Wells Fargo refused to refund certain charges the agency considered excessive.

Rebels' Vose wins MWC weekly honor: Vose, a graduate of Cimarron Memorial High, struck out nine and walked one in six innings as the Rebels downed Memphis, 13-4. Voss allowed two hits in the game, and improved his record to 3-3.

Columnist Jeff German: Del Papa leaves mess for Heller, Sandoval: Though Del Papa no longer is in office, she still gets under Heller's skin.

Rebel Classic slated for this weekend: First through eighth place will be determined by playing four matches a day running concurrently at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 9 a.m. and noon on Sunday. Admission to all matches is free.

Cities lobby Washington for homeland security funding: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Las Vegas Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald joined 3,000 city officials from across the nation this week asking Congress for homeland security money.

Immunization schedule for March 11, 2003: NORTH LAS VEGAS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Chief faces ouster from gambling-rich Seminoles: Catherine Wilson; FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- James Billie, the suspended Seminole chief with an iron will and wily business sense, wants his old job back running the empire he built on gambling and tourism.

Obituaries for March 11, 2003: Rodolfo Montanez Arellano, 29, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospital. He was born Jan. 14, 1974, in Mexico. A resident for five years, he was a cook.

Letter: Heading down path of ruination: Another important issue is the Bush tax cut, which definitely favors the extremely wealthy. When the states and local governments have to raise taxes to offset the loss of federal funds as a result of the tax cut, where is the tax savings for the average taxpayer? This should be explained in such a way that all the people could understand.

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1 p.m.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Santa Anita: Wednesday's card

Letter: Honor separation of church, state: The Founding Fathers did not want religion in government or government in religion. Just because there are cases such as the use of "In God We Trust" on our money or "... so help me God" in the swearing-in of public officials and witnesses in public trials does not make it legal. If the use of such language is challenged, in many cases it is eliminated.

Lecture to focus on West water problems: Convincing the public that water in the West is not a limitless resource is a major hurdle in the battle to restore and protect freshwater resources, environmental professor Charles Goldman said.

Letter: War carries out U.N. mandate: "The U.N. will either be able to function as a peacekeeping body as we head into the 21st century, or it will be irrelevant. And that's what we're about to find out. ... This is the chance for the United Nations to show some backbone and resolve as we confront the true challenges of the 21st century."

Community briefs for March 11, 2003: Local teens with something to say on patriotism can win awards for themselves and their schools in a national essay contest.

Letter: Let's treat our guests better: It's also time that the LVCVA has more respect for women than what its new televised commercial implies. In that ad, several men are sitting in a booth and one of the men looking at a waitress makes a demeaning comment about her. Convention authority officials say the ad was picked to get people to talk about coming to Las Vegas. But as a husband and father of three girls, I think it is in very bad taste.

Monday's prep results: Baseball

Letter: 2004 too late to replace Bush: Does anyone want their kids, or others' kids, returning home in body bags? I think not, especially when the problem can be peacefully resolved.

Experts to speak on bird disease: Clark County will host a call-in program at 7 p.m. on exotic Newcastle disease on cable Channel 4. The call-in number is 895-1195.

Letter: Insurers are the common enemy: I am concerned about the initiative currently before the Legislature that would further limit the rights of those most severely impaired. I oppose any plan to "manage" the malpractice costs by severely capping non-economic damages, thereby depriving victims of the compensation they deserve.