Print edition for March 31, 2003

Early voting off to rapid start: So far more than 15,000 voters have turned out to cast ballots in elections for Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City and Mesquite. In 2001 slightly more than 10,000 votes had been cast after the second weekend of early voting.

VA will seek new site for LV Valley clinic: Dan Kulin; The Department of Veterans Affairs will seek offers for land for a new Las Vegas veterans clinic now that talks between the VA and city officials about city-owned property downtown have fallen through, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said this morning.

Desert Springs has plan to keep ER surgeons: Judy Odierna; Desert Springs Hospital officials say they will have general surgeons to treat emergency room patients by Tuesday.

New drug, alcohol facilities may be put on hold: Judy Odierna; New licenses for drug and alcohol treatment or counseling facilities may be put on hold in Las Vegas.

Citizens panel seeks ways to save water through rates: By Launce Rake; Las Vegas residents could soon see changes in their water bills in the name of conservation.

Private bids too high; state keeps motor pool: CARSON CITY -- Some legislators say private business can often operate more cheaply than the state.

Security bars slow escape from fire: Jen Lawson and Jace Radke; Security bars may have hindered the escape of five people from an early morning house fire.

Family saved from fire: Jen Lawson and Jace Radke; Security bars hindered the escape of five people from an early-morning house fire near Vegas and Rancho drives, firefighters and neighbors said.

Birth announcements for March 31, 2003: March 13:

Developers try lifestyle concept in Green Valley: Jennifer Shubinski; For East Coast native John Kilduff, developing an urban environment of retail, residential and office space is the next frontier for suburban Green Valley and Green Valley Ranch in Henderson.

$6.2 million in mortage bonds OK'd: CARSON CITY -- The state Board of Finance today voted to issue up to $6.2 million in mortgage revenue bonds to allow a private company to purchase and renovate the 154-unit Cedar Village Apartment in Las Vegas.

Libraries celebrate with amnesty program: Fines and charges for overdue, lost or damaged materials will be waived for all Las Vegas-Clark County Library District materials. Up to $25 per cardholder will be waived when patrons return items to any of the Library District's 24 convenient branches. Lost library cards will also be replaced free of charge.

Expert: Problem gambling study flawed: By Liz Benston; Another gambling policy expert is weighing in on the debate about how to quantify the costs to society of addicted gamblers.

Driver killed in collision: The accident occurred about 10 p.m. Saturday on Industrial Road in the Blue Diamond area.

State receives poor rating for disciplining doctors: CARSON CITY -- A national citizens advocacy group says Nevada's Board of Medical Examiners had one of the nation's worst records in disciplining errant doctors in 2002.

Legislators likely to ignore Guinn's call for temporary increase of taxes: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn eyes today in the same way many taxpayers see April 15 -- as a red-letter deadline.

Ruiz helps lift Rebels by SDSU: It was Ruiz' only hit of the day, scoring Patrick Dobson and Eric Nielsen.

Letter: Protesters have an ethical right: The fact that fighting is already under way does not, in any way, make antiwar arguments moot. Any political action that has been started can be stopped if leaders have the intelligence and courage to do so. Millions of people worldwide see this unilateral and unjustified war against a country that has done nothing to the United States as unnecessary and unethical. Their right to say so should be supported.

Conflict reduces Internet LV trip bookings: A company that tracks last-minute travel bookings on the Internet says Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla., are seeing fewer upcoming bookings.

Officials prepare first Internet child-sex case: Erica D. Johnson; A man charged with using the Internet to lure a 14-year-old boy to meet for sex was arraigned Friday, setting in motion the first case prosecuted in Clark County under a new statute aimed at protecting children from Internet predators.

Save Red Rock effort picks up James' support: Under the bright sunshine and dramatic hillsides of Red Rock Canyon, protesters got good news Saturday on their effort to derail development a few miles away.

Immunization schedule for March 31, 2003: NORTH LAS VEGAS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Small plane crashes in NLV wash: About 8:36 p.m., a passerby called 911 on a cell phone to report that a plane had crashed about 10 feet from apartments in the 2900 block of North Rancho Drive, authorities said.

Tobacco case puts programs in danger: CARSON CITY -- State Treasurer Brian Krolicki said today he has "grave concerns" that Philip Morris USA won't be able to make its $15 million payment to Nevada to fund such things as Millennium Scholarships and health programs.

Reid to compromise on vets' pay: Reid has been fighting to change the federal law that requires disabled veterans to waive the amount of their retirement pay equal to the amount they receive in disability.

Montana gambling project endorsed by legislators: Bob Anez; HELENA, Mont. -- A plan to create a nearly $2 billion gambling and entertainment center in Butte inched closer to reality Friday, when a legislative committee approved a bill authorizing creation of a special district in the city.

Casino supplier posts net loss: Including one-time charges, the company reported a net loss of $1.7 million in the fourth quarter compared to earnings of $52,000 for the fourth quarter of 2001. This translates into a loss of 44 cents per share compared to earnings of 1 cent per share a year earlier.

Gwynn adjusts to life as coach: Tony's picks

Families grapple with news of missing soldiers: Dan Kulin; For many veterans and families of military personnel, missing in action may be the most haunting phrase in the lexicon of war.

Story of 5-year-old's daring rescue told: Jean Reid Norman; No one was supposed to be home Friday morning at the Landeros house on Amber Crest Drive. Angel Landeros, a baker on the day shift at the Fiesta, was on vacation. His wife, Lucina, had planned to be at her youngest child's school that day, but canceled at the last minute. Their son, David, a Las Vegas High School freshman, was home sick for the first time the whole year.

Wal-Mart increases its lead atop Fortune 500: Justin Bachman; NEW YORK -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. solidified its position atop the Fortune 500 list as the nation's need for affordable staples boosted the retailer's revenue in 2002.

Analysis: Rumsfeld's Syrian accusation refreshing: Mike O'Callaghan; TEL AVIV -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld might have surprised some State Department diplomats when he accused Syria of shipping military equipment to Iraq. His blunt accusation didn't cause a ripple in this part of the world where Syrian leaders have shown sympathy for Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

Firm discloses expansion plans: The company on Friday disclosed plans to raise $500 million by selling subordinated notes and said the funds would be used to fund additional mortgage operations around the nation.

Clarification: The Sun corrects its errors. If you find a mistake, call 385-3111 to report it.

Former referee Lane recovering slowly: His recovery has been slow, but Lane began hyperbaric oxygen therapy this year, which his wife said was showing great success.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Best teams aren't playing for NCAA title: Dean Juipe; This is not how I remember college and being a collegian.

Nevada companies on the Fortune 500 list: 354. Park Place Entertainment Corp., Las Vegas, $4.652

Vegas firm reports loss: The decrease primarily reflected the addition of Paul-Son's results from Sept. 12 to the close of the year and reduced sales of Etablissements Bourgogne et Grasset's gaming chops, compared with last year's surge in demand for Euro-denominated product driven by the European Union's conversion to a common currency.

Agency seeks to amend bill: In Business Las Vegas, a sister newspaper to the Las Vegas Sun, this week reported board officials believe there are wording problems in the bill. Those problems would actually prevent homeowners from submitting complaints to the board -- a step the proposed bill said is necessary before a homeowner can file suit against the contractor.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: High definition television taking sports fans into the game: Another Major League Baseball season is under way, but this one won't be like any other, at least for the couch potato.

County labor pact set for OK: Clark County is one step away from a new four-year contract with its 10,000 employees, County Manager Thom Reilly said Sunday.

SW Gas CEO supports gross receipts tax: "I guess I'm at the point right now, with respect to the gross receipts tax, that I'm willing to give the governor the benefit of the doubt," Southwest CEO Michael Maffie said in an interview published in the March 28 edition of In Business Las Vegas, a sister newspaper to the Las Vegas Sun.

Metro officer's shooting of man ruled excusable; family may sue: By Timothy Pratt; A coroner's inquest ruled Friday that a Metro police officer's fatal shooting of an unarmed suspect was excusable.

Obituaries for March 31, 2003: Thomas David Ashe, 70, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospice. He was born March 5, 1933, in Buffalo, N.Y. A resident for six years, he was a retired Marine Corps major, a Vietnam War veteran and a member of the Marine Corps League.

No settlement in mining dispute: A two-day strike by union employees at Newmont Mining Corp.'s Carlin operations in Northern Nevada ended Friday with no settlement reached in a dispute over terms of a new collective bargaining agreement.

AG gets just four replies on gas query: CARSON CITY -- Only four oil companies met Attorney General Brian Sandoval's deadline for explanations about Nevada's record high gasoline prices.

Columnist Ron Kantowksi: High definition television taking sports fans into the game: Ron Kantowksi; Another Major League Baseball season is under way, but this one won't be like any other, at least for the couch potato.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: March toward Derby set to kick into gear: Ralph Siraco; The rite of spring is upon us, and in horse racing that is the march to the Kentucky Derby.

Snyder back in saddle again as UNLV coach: Steve Guiremand; Bruce Snyder sat on a couch inside the Lied Athletic Complex following an intense, hot and hard-hitting UNLV football spring practice and smiled.

Prep Schedule: TODAY

Joel, John play it long at MGM Grand: Spencer Patterson; Midway through his set at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night, Billy Joel invited a rather unexpected guest onto the stage: his dentist.

Editorial: Grant should apply to female inmates: In a story last week, however, Sun reporter Jennifer Knight pointed out an inequity. The department has ruled that because the Southern Nevada Women's Correctional Facility is managed by a private company, inmates confined there are ineligible to apply for any of this funding. The prison has a program taught by professors at the Community College of Southern Nevada, but inmates must use their own money to pay for classes. The state is wrong to deny the female inmates the opportunity to apply for this federal funding. They are still state of Nevada inmates, regardless of who manages them, and ...

Letter: Israel's record also warrants U.S. intervention: Israel has caused more death and destruction than any country in the region. It invaded and destroyed Lebanon. After its plans to turn Lebanon into an Israeli' colony failed, it finally retreated after destroying the country and its economy. Beirut, which had been called the Paris of the Mideast, lay in rubble.

Editorial: Lights on, but no one is at home: California, citing the market manipulation, also had asked federal regulators to let the state reopen and renegotiate $20 billion in long-term contracts it entered into with the energy producers at the height of the energy crisis. Nevada Power, too, has asked the federal regulators to reopen its contracts with energy producers that total about $300 million. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission didn't act on the request to undo the contracts, but a majority of the commissioners indicated during a hearing last week that it was unlikely they would reopen them, noting their concern about setting a precedent. As the San ...

Agassi claims 3rd title of year: Steven Wine; KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. -- Holding her 17-month-old son, Steffi Graf watched nervously from the players' box, rooting for the bald fellow on stadium court to break her tournament record.

The Vines wilt with short, sluggish show at House of Blues: Spencer Patterson; To hear the British music press talk, Las Vegas got a visit from Led Zeppelin and Nirvana on Friday night.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Orange alert ruffles some feathers: The McIntyres, of Henderson, and their friends Jim and Marilyn Clayton, of Idaho, went to the Desert National Wildlife Range north of Las Vegas for the first time last week because their usual bird-watching spot was closed.

Sun Lite for March 31, 2003: Webster's Dictionary defines spring fever as "the laziness and listlessness that many people feel during the first warm, sunny days of spring."