Print edition for March 13, 2003

Nurse indicted in child sex case: Erica D. Johnson; A fired nurse accused of sexually assaulting a 5-year-old patient at University Medical Center has been indicted by a grand jury.

Lady Rebels fall in OT heartbreaker to BYU: Tournament schedule, scores

Bill to outlaw Internet gambling approved: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- A House panel today approved a bill that would effectively outlaw Internet gambling by making it illegal for website operators to accept wagers with bank instruments including credit cards, checks or wire transfers.

News briefs for March 13, 2003: Five Las Vegas residents have been indicted for tax fraud by a federal grand jury.

New York-New York to open Irish pub and restaurant: The event was set for the south end of the resort's Brooklyn Bridge replica and will kick off an Irish festival featuring bands, storytellers, Irish food and drink, performers and a historical gallery.

CS Northridge downs Rebels in final at-bat: The Rebels (13-14) had already mounted a comeback of their own. Trailing 1-0 for most of the game, Kacey Ellis and Sam Sardinha delivered back-to-back RBI singles in the top of the sixth to give the Rebels their only lead of the game.

Census: Nevada near top in unwed category: By Timothy Pratt; Nevada may be the wedding capital of the world, but its residents don't necessarily feel a pull to the altar, Census Bureau numbers released today show.

Bill would disclose private salon numbers: Senate Bill 266 would require casinos to compile monthly the number of customers and the amount of the gaming win from the salons. The state Gaming Control Board would create a summary of the information to be made public. But the compiled information must not identify the casino, a specific customer or how much a casino earned.

Technology boosting traditional, 'Net bingo: By Liz Benston; They may look and sound like slot machines. But a host of new electronic devices on the market are actually bingo games that are helping to boost profits for a stagnant industry facing tough competition from a nationwide proliferation of slot machines.

Reserve center names Sailor of the Year: Dick Benoit; Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Root was recently named the Las Vegas Naval and Marine Center active-duty Sailor of the Year for 2002. Root, who calls San Diego home and resides at Nellis Air Force Base with his wife, Theresa, and three daughters, is in charge of the training department at the center.

Hopkins named coach at Mojave High: Pat Welby, the Rattlers coach this season, will take the head coaching job at new Liberty High in the southeast part of the Valley beginning next year.

Feds seek action against tax rebel: Jace Radke; The Justice Department is asking a federal judge in Las Vegas to issue a restraining order to stop a local tax activist from promoting an alleged tax fraud scheme.

Deal could be water bonanza for Nevada: California and federal officials have struck a deal that could restore a supply of water to Southern Nevada large enough to take care of the needs of about 150,000 people for the next 15 years.

Citigroup looking at expansion possibilities: NEW YORK -- Citigroup Inc., the world's largest financial-services company, plans to buy banks in Texas and Florida to add Hispanic customers as it competes for deposits and fees from the fastest-growing U.S. population group, Chief Financial Officer Todd Thomson told an investor.

Bill draft would cut tax on motor vehicles: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Assemblyman David Goldwater wants to give car owners a huge break on the motor vehicle privilege tax and make up the lost revenue by increasing taxes on tourists and removing some tax exemptions.

Lawmaker pushes takeover of Nevada Power: CARSON CITY -- Sen. Joe Neal wants to allow talks to begin immediately for the Southern Nevada Water Authority to buy Nevada Power Co. in Las Vegas.

Government disputes developer's claim: Lake Las Vegas sued Wednesday to force the government to consummate an agreement to sell 985 acres for development of high-end homes, businesses and two golf courses.

Nevada gasoline prices jump again: Gasoline prices in Nevada soared 17 percent in the past month, boosting the statewide average to $1.97 a gallon and making the state the third highest in the nation for gas costs, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Automobile Association of America.

Mikohn Gaming's profit increases: Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes for the fourth quarter were $200,000, or 2 cents per share, compared to a loss of $7.7 million, or 60 cents per share, a year earlier. The figures don't include one-time charges and other non-recurring items.

Commissioner says event still on rise: Rob Miech and Ron Kantowski; Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson has been very pleased that the popularity of the league's basketball tournament has grown with each year.

Mother of former suspect overjoyed: Jen Lawson and Jace Radke; Her son was named as the top suspect in the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, but Kathryn Ricci of Mesquite never gave up hope that the girl would be found and that her son, Richard, would be vindicated.

Some council members can receive full benefits: Dan Kulin; A lawsuit seeking to strip Boulder City elected officials of $950-a-month allowances for health insurance and car costs ended Wednesday with mixed results for the city and residents who filed the suit.

Three challenge incumbent for seat: Dan Kulin; Jesse Dominic Harris

MGM MIRAGE constructs new parking garage: A new addition will house some advertising and information technology employees as well as the company's newer online division.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Below the rim, above reproach: I spent most of Wednesday watching women's basketball.

Final school forum draws another large gathering: Robyn Hultengren, a fifth grade teacher at Mountain View Elementary School, teaches class all day and, for two hours after school three days a week, tutors 34 students in reading, writing and arithmetic.

Bybee vote becomes example of bipartisan cooperation: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Former University of Nevada, Las Vegas law professor Jay Bybee's nomination to the federal bench was the subject of partisan disagreements in the Senate just two weeks ago. But today he emerged as an example of how Democrats and Republicans can work together on judicial nominations.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Defending Pro Stock Bike champ on new team: Angelle Savoie has won three NHRA Pro Stock Bike championships and 28 national-event titles in 6 1/2 seasons in the sport but she admitted she will be nervous when the category opens its season this weekend at the Mac Tools Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla.

Changes to prep playoff formats OK'd: Adam Candee; Getting down to the Final Four in early March? Yes, at least for the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association.

No. 6 Duke upends UNLV's women: The Lady Rebels, who had their six-match winning streak snapped and lost for the first time in nine 2003 home matches, fell to 8-2 overall. The Blue Devils, who were ranked No. 1 last month and boast ranked players at five singles positions and all three doubles spots, improved to 14-1.

Fire destroys apartments: The fire appears to have started about 1:30 a.m. inside the wall of a first floor apartment at the Park Forest Apartments, near Fremont Street and East Charleston Boulevard.

Carrier allowed to work on deal: Bankruptcy Judge Linda Riegle made her decision after the trustee for the case recommended that the company continue in Chapter 11 for at least four more weeks.

Lawmakers told Nevada ranks last in programs for retarded: CARSON CITY -- With Nevada ranked last in the nation in per capita spending for programs for the mentally retarded, lawmakers said today more money needs to be budgeted for efforts to change that ranking.

Airport website offers travel tips: Jace Radke; McCarran International Airport is scheduled to unveil a new website tonight that is designed with post-Sept. 11 travel in mind.

Rebels set to make run at NCAAs: Steve Guiremand; UNLV's top moments

Metro Police rewrites rules on car chases: Jen Lawson; Pursuit tactics A revised Metro Police policy on pursuits adds three new definitions of pursuit tactics:

Icahn stands pat with Atlantic City casino: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- When it comes to investing, Carl Icahn believes, patience pays off.

Senators to offer new tax plan: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- The first alternative from lawmakers to Gov. Kenny Guinn's tax plan will be offered by two state senators Friday.

Bring the punch, hold the pasta: Dean Juipe; Only 350 people will see the fight live and it won't be televised in America, yet the stakes are considerable as Cory Spinks gets a second shot at Michele Piccirillo and the International Boxing Federation welterweight championship.

Editorial: Time for legislators to tune in: So that parents understand what's at stake, school district officials recently held four town hall meetings, the last of which was Wednesday night at Chaparral High School. All of the meetings have been packed with concerned parents -- 1,200 people attended Tuesday's gathering in Green Valley High School's gymnasium. Parents have made it clear that cuts to educational programs aren't acceptable.

Letter: How to regulate small claims: The doctors blame the insurance companies and the insurance companies blame the lawyers.

UNLV engineering program sets the stage: Jennifer Knight; While acrobats or magicians dazzle show-goers onstage, computer-operated winches and hydraulics do their magic behind the scenes, driving the shows' visual effects.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Adams takes training sessions overseas: Dean Juipe; Kenny Adams is accruing some serious frequent-flyer miles.

Judge's campaign flier sent on court fax raises concerns: Dan Kulin; A Henderson business owner received an invitation to a February campaign event for Henderson Municipal Judge John Provost that appears to have been sent from a court fax machine with a court cover page on the fax.

Letter: Credit-based insurance scores are objective: An insurance score is just one of the factors companies look at to form a clear picture of the risk and to price their products more accurately and fairly. Research shows that people who manage their personal finances responsibly also manage other important aspects of their life responsibly.

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

Letter: Let those who want war pay: A recent poll of eligible voters says that 58 percent favor his plans for attacking Iraq. If I recall correctly, there are 202 million adults eligible to vote, which means that 117 million Americans approve of his war and 85 million do not. That being the case, here is my solution: Let us ask those 117 million to put their money where their mouths are and each write Bush a check for $811.

Out of South Africa: Helen Martins' compelling life brought to stage in 'Road to Mecca': She ground beer bottles and smeared the broken glass on her walls so they would shimmer. She hung mirrors, made art from household objects and burned candles to illuminate the rooms.

Ed McMahon in bingo game deal: Multimedia Games makes a game called "MegaBingo," introduced in tribal casinos in 1989 as the only daily game where players could win a $1 million jackpot. The company focuses on bingo gambling machines as well as video lottery terminals for tribal casinos nationwide.

Neal's death-penalty ban fails to move committee: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Sen. Joe Neal tried again Wednesday morning to abolish the death penalty in Nevada, urging lawmakers to enact a system of "justice without vengeance."

Obituaries for March 13, 2003: Lois Autuori, 53, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. She was born Jan. 12, 1950, in Brooklyn, N.Y. A resident for 24 years, she was a slot hostess.

Military in Kuwait can reach out and touch someone at home: AT&T is constructing calling centers in seven forward-deployed camps and bases in Kuwait that will triple the number of payphones available for soldiers.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Is Iraq plan a time bomb?: Ruthe Deskin; President Bush is pursuing one or the other and it's almost impossible to know which course he is taking.

Garcia prepares for 'dirty work': By Emily Richmond; As Clark County School District officials begin tallying which programs and services won the most support at a series of public meetings on proposed budget cuts, Superintendent Carlos Garcia said he's bracing himself for the "dirty work."

Editorial: Zoning transgression should be forgiven: With the economy down and homelessness up, the ministry is now serving the needs of between 60 and 70 men, whereas in the past the number had been closer to 20. With such an increase, neighbors predictably complained to City Hall. Forced into action by the complaints, city officials discovered the ministry had never been granted a zoning variance to operate within a residential area. We're pleased that the city stepped back from its initial reaction, which was to order the ministry to shut down.

Musical Arts Society spotlights Frost poems: The concert, directed by Douglas Peterson, is the fourth program in the group's 40th season.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: The Oscar (party) goes to ... Caesars: Once again, Caesars Palace and the Arthritis Foundation of Southern Nevada have snagged Las Vegas' only Oscar party that will be sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

Prep Schedule: TODAY

Wednesday's prep results: Baseball

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Not much just about war: Palestinian gunmen and suicide bombers have dressed as Israeli soldiers and religious Jews to carry out their deadly missions. It was but a few days ago that two terrorists, dressed like religious Jews, entered Kiryat Arba and killed Rabbi Eli Horowitz and his wife, Dina.

Nuke cask debate: Test limits or limit tests: Eric Leake; Everybody at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission workshop agreed Wednesday that nuclear waste casks must be tested, but they disagreed on whether to limit the tests or test to the limit.

Committee backs helmet-repeal bill: CARSON CITY -- The Senate Transportation Committee Wednesday agreed to sponsor a bill to repeal the law that requires motorcyclists to wear helmets.