Print edition for May 5, 2003

Rhodes begins PR campaign on gypsum mine site: White vans ferried a dozen people at a time up Blue Diamond Hill southwest of Las Vegas on Sunday to see a gypsum mine that developer Jim Rhodes hopes to turn into a residential community.

Review: Donnas play it straight at House of Blues: Spencer Patterson; Avril Lavigne is often characterized as the anti-Britney, but that title seems a far better fit for the Donnas.

Columnist Susan Snyder: In Pahrump, dreams go up in smoke: A chain-link fence encircled the charred corpse of Pahrump's Mountain View Casino, which burned to rubble in a fire early Tuesday.

Agassi defeated in Rome, loses his No. 1 ranking: The match was Agassi's first since he became the oldest man to lead the rankings. Lleyton Hewitt will regain the top spot next week.

Immunization schedule for May 5, 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.

News briefs for May 5, 2003: A 24-year-old Las Vegas woman died in a traffic accident about 8:30 a.m. Saturday in southwest Las Vegas, Metro Police said.

McDonald-Moncrief accusations grow: Judy Odierna; The accusations that have engulfed the Ward 1 Las Vegas City Council race between incumbent Michael McDonald and challenger Janet Moncrief, who garnered more votes in the primary, continued over the weekend.

Editorial: Private efforts offer hope in spam wars: The writer's lack of faith in a government solution is probably well placed. The Internet is a global medium, exceeding the reach of state and even federal laws. It's sobering to realize the limitations of government in trying to stop a practice that costs time and money and which someday soon might bring e-mail to a virtual standstill. This leaves a private, technical solution as the most realistic hope for relief. The article also mentioned that Microsoft, America Online and Yahoo -- normally fierce competitors -- are collaborating in a special project to rescue their customers from spam. These giants ...

Rhodes took 'fast track' to pro career: Had that train to Miami been moving any slower, allowing aspiring hobo James Lamar Rhodes to hop into that freight compartment in Montgomery, Ala., a place in baseball lore would have passed him by.

Feds will take another look at McCarran security cuts: Jace Radke; A review of a proposed cut of 149 security screeners at McCarran International Airport is a top priority of the Transportation Security Administration.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Coaches are held to high standards: Dean Juipe; Morally reprehensible conduct won't always get you fired.

Rebels break career bests in Irvine meet: Sophomore Miesha McClendon finished second in her heat with a career and season best time of 14.40 seconds in the 100 meter hurdles.

LV in jeopardy of losing home playoff game: Adam Candee; The big bag of motivational tricks looks rather empty for the Las Vegas Gladiators coaching staff today.

Rulon: USOC must support athletes: Governance and administration costs have dramatically soared over the budget distributed to athletes.

El Salvador plans LV consulate: By Timothy Pratt; El Salvador will open a consulate in Las Vegas by the end of the year, an official from that country said Friday.

Bumper Crop: Arnold flips for vintage pinball machines: Kirk Baird; And that's the problem.

Planet Hollywood seen as weak link in bid for Aladdin: Sun Staff; Gaming industry observers say the partnership bidding to turn the Aladdin into the Planet Hollywood hotel-casino is strong financially, though Planet Hollywood's checkered past is raising concerns about the group's management strength.

Ensign puts Reid's son on judge list: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- In an intriguing political move, Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., included Leif Reid, the son of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., on a short list of recommendations for President Bush to consider for a federal judge post.

Klitschko to fight on Lewis-Johnson card: Klitschko will fight a 10-round bout on the June 21 card. His opponent has not been determined.

Online company bids for LendingTree: Shareholders of LendingTree, an Internet-based loan service provider, will receive 0.6199 share of USA common stock for each share of LendingTree common stock they own, the companies said in a statement. LendingTree shares rose as much as 45 percent.

Regent criticizes open-meeting ruling: CARSON CITY -- Attorney General Brian Sandoval said a decision by the Nevada Supreme Court strengthens the state's open-meeting law by prohibiting officials from straying from the posted agenda of a meeting.

Editorial: Don't cut McCarran screeners: The number of screeners at McCarran International Airport scheduled to be reduced is 149, dropping from 983 to 834. McCarran would be hurt significantly because 92 percent of its 36 million annual passengers must go through security checkpoints that require screening. McCarran is second in the nation, behind only Los Angeles International Airport, in the number of passengers originating or finishing a trip, a situation that necessitates screening. It's also dismaying, as McCarran officials point out, that an airport at another comparable tourist-based destination, Orlando, is gaining screeners even though Las Vegas' airport has more passengers that require screening.

Medicaid program could be short by $24 mil.: CARSON CITY -- Surprises keep cropping up in Gov. Kenny Guinn's $4.8 billion budget -- and not all of them are pleasant.

Angelil: Stress led to $2 million payment: Rene Angelil, Celine Dion's husband, in an exclusive interview with the Las Vegas Sun, has ended his silence regarding allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman at the Imperial Palace March 18, 2000.

Birth announcements for May 5, 2003: April 20:

Porter shows off school to colleague: By Emily Richmond; Calling it a "model charter school for the rest of the nation," Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., praised the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy on Friday as an example of innovation in public education.

Reid, Lieberman object to perchlorate policy: In a letter written by Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., and co-signed by Reid, to EPA Administrator Christie Whitman, the senators said the public should know more about the toxic chemical's health risks.

Freeze frame: AT A GLANCE

Season ends, but Las Vegas Philharmonic marches forth: Marilyn LaRocque; The program of Mahler and Stravinsky at Artemus Ham Hall at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, not only marked the finale of the Philharmonic's fourth season but also announced the fifth. It also demonstrated the matured musical skills of musicians and maestro as a synergistic team.

Non-union workers win round in court: In what labor advocates say is a victory for non-union workers seeking protection from discriminatory practices by union hiring halls, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals threw out a September 2000 ruling by the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, D.C., that had dismissed discrimination claims brought by the Las Vegas worker against a union.

Mother describes 'fearless' daughter: Jen Lawson; For her 39th birthday, Simone Hirst had planned to get a manicure, pedicure and massage with her mother, Gailey Vollmer.

Bidder for Aladdin in London Clubs deal: Robert Earl, a partner in OpBiz LLC, which is bidding for the Aladdin hotel-casino and would turn it into a Planet Hollywood-branded hotel, has formed a joint venture with London Clubs for 50 St James, one of 12 casinos London Clubs operates worldwide.

Cable operator posts loss as revenue grows: The net loss was 5 cents a share, compared with net income of $135.6 million, or 22 cents, a year earlier, when the company had investment gains. Revenue rose to $1.37 billion from $1.18 billion, said the company, the main cable system operator in Las Vegas.

Obituaries for May 5, 2003: Deborah S. Benson, 40, of North Las Vegas died Saturday in North Las Vegas. She was born April 15, 1963, in Misawa, Japan. A resident for 28 years, she was a saleswoman.

Rhodes faces major-projects rules: Clark County Development Services Department has ruled that developer Jim Rhodes must go through a potentially lengthy "major project" review process for his proposed community near Red Rock Canyon.

Capital spending may increase for Detroit project: The majority of these expenditures will relate to the completion of the new all-suites tower at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, according to the company's annual report released by the Securities and Exchange Commission last week. Current-year spending includes maintenance of slot machines, carpeting, computers and similar equipment at Mandalay properties.

Requirements for candidates draws criticism at Legislature: CARSON CITY -- Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas, wonders if the Legislature is going too far in trying to impose requirements on candidates for elected office.

San Diego State fires blanks at UNLV: The loss drops the Rebels to 37-13, 20-4 in Mountain West Conference play. They now hold a four-game lead in the conference standings with six to play. The Aztecs improve to 22-26, 14-10 in league play.

Old mining building to become gaming complex: Joe Kafka; DEADWOOD, S.D. -- Greenbacks soon will be flowing in a $38 million entertainment, gambling and lodging complex to be built in an old building once used to glean every last bit of gold from ore, developers say.

Boulder City man named small business person of the year: Other winners were Nita Lopez, small business coordinator for Clark County, who was named minority small business advocate of the year; Gina Robison, founder of Moms in Business Network of Las Vegas, home-based business advocate of the year; Paige Fleming, publisher of Nevada Woman in Las Vegas, women in business advocate of the year; and small business persons of the year for their cities Jaki Baskow of Baskow & Associates in Las Vegas, Dan Stewart of the LandWell Company in Henderson and Kenneth Scherado Jr. of Lone Mountain Aviation Inc. of North Las Vegas.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Star power to boost Alzheimer's benefit: But c'mon, seeing Muhammad Ali and winning a lunch with Colin Powell are enough for even the most cynical gossip columnist to sit up and take notice.

Child delivers tearful goodbye to slain mother: Nine-year-old Sacresha Bennett stood a few feet from her mother's white casket and, through a veil of tears, asked her mom to forgive her.

Action to shift into high gear: Adam Candee; The Nevada prep sports year comes to a momentous close over the next two weeks as regional and state tournaments in six sports hit the Valley.

Reid son on Ensign judge list: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- In an intriguing political move, Sen. John Ensign included Leif Reid, the son of Sen. Harry Reid, on a short list of nominees for President Bush to consider for a federal judge post.

Letter: President praises troops as he cuts their benefits: Mr. Bush praises our military for their resolve and dedication to duty, suggesting they will never be forgotten. But they're just sanctimonious words! They are already forgotten, or will soon be when they become veterans.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Joke's on rest of field as Funny Cide wins Derby: Ralph Siraco; Something Funny happened on the way to Saturday's Kentucky Derby. The favorites, and everybody else who showed up for the 129th renewal of America's most famous horse race, got blind-Cided in Louisville.

Prep Schedule: TODAY

LV Hall of Famer dies: LV Hall of Famer dies

Casino's ejection of winning gamblers upheld: But Greektown Casino still has the right to bar anyone it wants from playing, the Michigan Gaming Control Board found in its recently completed investigation.

Letter: One-way trip to Iraq is subsidized: If she can get her other friends like Susan Sarandon, Barbra Streisand, Michael Moore, Tim Robbins, et al., I will pony up even more. It would be a win-win outcome for everyone in America. Baghdad International should be open any day now thanks to our president. See ya.

Center in crisis? Funding for facility that helps homeless runs out June 30: By Timothy Pratt; Seated on a wooden bench at the Crisis Intervention Center on a recent afternoon, Dan Young was applying for food stamps and facing the end of his unemployment benefits. He lost his job as a security guard in October and has been staying at Catholic Charities on and off since November.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Sun Lite for May 5, 2003: Lisa Ferguson; Mom: She brought you into this world, and if you don't pony up a proper Mother's Day gift Sunday, she may well take you out.