Print edition for May 6, 2003

Monday's prep results: Golf

Major League snapshot: The last .400 hitter? Ted Williams, who hit .406 for Boston in 1941. In the NL, Bill Terry of the New York Giants hit .401 in 1930.

Nonprofit group plans LV chapter: By Timothy Pratt; A national group that works on behalf of Hispanic students wants to set up a chapter in Las Vegas, an official from the group said Monday.

Prep Schedule: TODAY

St. Rose widening begins: The parkway will be widened from Interstate 15 to Interstate 215. During construction, drivers may encounter lane shifts, but overall the work is not expected to greatly affect traffic, department spokesman Robert McKenzie said.

Controversial lung cancer drug approved: The drug, AstraZeneca's Iressa, is the first of a new class of so-called targeted therapies that can attack tumors while avoiding some of the usual side effects of chemotherapy such as anemia, increased risk of infections, nausea and hair loss. In studies it has been shown to drastically shrink tumors, but only in a small percentage of patients.

Legislative briefs for May 6, 2003: Outdoors enthusiasts called on an Assembly committee Monday to increase the penalty for poachers of deer and other wildlife so that the poachers could be returned to Nevada if they flee the state.

Tickets hot for big summer series: Anyone traveling to Chicago in early June or Boston when the Red Sox are home this season will be challenged to obtain some of the summer's choicest tickets.

Educators say law leaves Hispanic students behind: By Timothy Pratt; At Rancho High School, where Isaac Barron teaches, more than one in four students are learning English as their second language.

Reid, Ensign to hold Senate hearing in LV on Yucca flaws: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev., are organizing a Senate field hearing in Las Vegas to investigate alleged flaws in the Yucca Mountain project.

Senate panel OKs funds to fight Yucca: Committee staff members said $1.6 million is left from prior contributions and appropriations to finance the lawsuits. The additional $2 million, to be allocated to the state attorney general's office, would be used after the $1.6 million is exhausted.

Firm sued over buyout offer: The company's latest quarterly report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission said the suit seeks to force the company to take steps that are "calculated to result in a buyout or takeover of the company at the highest price."

Microsoft to showcase user-friendly PC: Matthew Fordahl; SAN FRANCISCO -- Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates hopes to wow a technical conference today by showing off a prototype of a new personal computer, but he won't spend much time detailing its processor speed, memory or other hardware and software minutiae.

Software company expanding: The software, called "Player Search," allows casino operators to mine ValetNoir's proprietary database of players for new customers. The search feature selects only the portion of the database of players who have volunteered to be searched.

Bill reduces pension benefits for blue-collar workers: The measure, on page 111 of the 207-page bill sponsored by Reps. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., would let employers use a separate mortality table for blue-collar workers to determine their liability.

Veterans protest clinic location: But a businessman at the Nucleus Plaza on Owens Avenue countered that the fears expressed by the ex-military servicemen are unwarranted and perpetuate the stereotype that predominantly black West Las Vegas is unsafe.

Columnist Jeff German: Group gives more than promises for addicts: Most of the reaction came from Gamblers Anonymous members wanting to know why there was no mention of the work being done by their organization, which helps addicts recover through peer support.

Columnist Dean Juipe: De La Hoya didn't impress his promoter: Dean Juipe; It may have escaped the majority's attention, yet the symptoms were evident to those with a keen eye or a financial interest.

Rebels' Luca earns MWC weekly honor: Luca picked up a victory over San Diego State last week after holding the Aztecs scoreless in five innings pitched. He allowed four hits, while striking out five as he improved to 4-0 on the season.

Rehab or rebuild: 51s' stadium debate continues to rage on: Nick Christensen; In the past 20 years, Cashman Field has played host to gun shows, geography bees, the Beach Boys, high school graduations, major league baseball and the infamous Metallica concert where the fans stole an ATM.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Bill Bennett gambling like it's 1999: It was reported in a gossip column in a newspaper -- this one -- nearly four years ago by my predecessor, Kate Maddox. After Newsweek and Washington Monthly online reports Friday, it was front-page news around the nation that Bennett, the former U.S. Secretary of Education and author of the best-seller, "The Book of Virtues," is a Vegas regular -- a high-roller who has lost more than $8 million over the past decade.

State presents latest case against Yucca: Benjamin Grove; The state of Nevada has fired another shot in its constitutional challenge to Yucca Mountain.

Drivers say school bus inspectors not needed: By Emily Richmond; As the Clark County School Board prepares to meet Wednesday and hash out a budget that could include $110 million in cuts, some of the district's bus drivers say they know what should be the first to go -- the transportation investigators who write them up for everything from speeding to dirty uniforms.

Jacket fails to get Angelil case reopened: Jerry Fink and Erica Johnson; A jacket that a Las Vegas attorney said could implicate Rene Angelil, husband of singer Celine Dion, in a sexual assault three years ago has failed to persuade Metro police to reopen a criminal investigation they closed in January.

Giffords continue to take tradition to mats: AT A GLANCE

Rhodes land debate hits legislators: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- The battle over Red Rock Canyon is raging inside the state Legislative Building, where lawmakers are receiving hundreds of e-mails from those seeking protection for the natural site and others seeking to allow development nearby.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Don't let judgment take a hike: But use your head in addition to your feet.

Amber Alert takes effect with Guinn signature: CARSON CITY -- Just a week after President Bush held a special ceremony in the Rose Garden to sign an Amber Alert law, Gov. Kenny Guinn this morning was expected to approve Nevada's version of the same measure.

Letter: U.S. forced out inspectors in '98, not Saddam: Instead of explaining the non-existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Mr. May asks why Saddam fought the inspections if he had nothing to hide.

Seat belt measure approved: CARSON CITY -- A bill requiring adult passengers in taxicabs to wear seat belts or face a fine of up to $25 was approved by the Senate Monday by a 13-8 vote.

Obituaries for May 6, 2003: Cynthia Bailey, 45, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. She was born Feb. 17, 1958, in Arcola, Miss. A resident for 32 years, she was a casino supervisor.

Wetzel, retired Air Force colonel, mass transit visionary, dies: Scotty Wetzel's plans to build a magnetic-levitated people-mover from downtown Las Vegas to McCarran International Airport were dashed in December 1988 when the Public Service Commission denied the application for the airport leg.

Editorial: Excellence continues at Hyde Park school: But what superlatives are there to describe the accomplishment of sending teams to the finals six consecutive years? This is what Hyde Park Middle School has done. This year's team designed a kid-proof matchbook, something that could save many lives every year. Team members Kristin Jorgensen, MacKenzie Kenner and Kyle Bryant, all seventh graders, are among 10 teams that will present their designs during the finals next month at Disney World in Florida. We may be at a loss for words in describing this phenomenal sixth straight appearance, but we have no trouble expressing our congratulations. The team members have ...

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Las Vegas seems to love its motorcycle racing: I've said it before and I'll say it again. If UNLV really wanted to fill up Sam Boyd Stadium for a football game, it would have the Rebels ride onto the field on motorcycles.

Editorial: A chance now to aid homeless: The plight of the homeless is not a good reflection on Las Vegas. National organizations have excoriated us for generating enormous wealth through our tourism economy but sharing so little with the least of our citizens. The image is further fortified through the eyes of tourists. The homeless spill into our resort areas because day centers for them are virtually nonexistent. The homeless population is growing because local governments cannot reach consensus on a plan to even stabilize it, much less begin reducing it.

Lawmakers get support for salary increase: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Lawmakers were given a bit of political cover this morning to do something they want to -- raise their own salaries.

LV honored for downtown plan: The contest, also sponsored by Waste Management, honors cities in two population categories for developing an outstanding or innovative program the municipality has started that enhances the quality of life in an urban area.

Finance Committee wants insurance mistake fixed: CARSON CITY -- The Senate Finance Committee on Monday voted to correct a $5.3 million error in Gov. Kenny Guinn's budget, much to the relief of the estimated 5,000 retired employees covered by state health insurance.

Committee calls for candidates to swear they are not felons: CARSON CITY -- The Senate Government Affairs Committee considered a number of elections measures Monday, including a bill that would require candidates to swear they aren't felons.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Hollywood Park: Wednesday's card

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: A national resource: When searching for his grave, I read the names of the military veterans buried in the cemetery. It is one of two such memorials in the large cemetery and not the one with Estrada's name. What is evident are the names of so many Hispanics buried beneath military grave markers. It made me wonder how many were farm workers or the sons of farm-working families like the large Estrada family. Just looking at the fields of large fruit and vegetable growing farms in that area, I knew the answer.

Wednesday's horse racing entries: 1st race 4-1/2 fur 2YO Mdn: 1 Pioneerman (Berrio) 119; 2 Don'tsellmeshort (Valenzuela) 119; 3 Royal Ray (Contreras) 119; 4 Shoot Yeah (Leyva) 119; 5 Cleartalker (Espinoza) 119; 6 Score King (Guce) 119; 7 One Smart Cat (Solis) 119; 8 Rubiano's Wish (Pedroza) 119.

Amazing Ducks eliminate Stars: Excuse the Mighty Ducks if they weren't sure this was real.

Community briefs for May 6, 2003: The Bridge Assisted Living and Life Care Center of Paradise Valley will host an open house to celebrate National Nursing Home Week from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at both facilities, 2205 and 2325 E. Harmon Ave.

County braces for smog season: Residents can reduce ozone pollution by:

Letter: Feds must rein in exotic-pets trade: Grim scenarios like this one are likely to continue as long as exotic-pet breeders are permitted to operate without regulation, churning out tiger cubs and selling them online for as little as $300 with little thought for their future care. This tragedy underscores the urgent need for Congress to pass the exotic pets bill, Senate Bill 269 and House Resolution 1006, to ban the interstate shipment of tigers, lions and other large, wild cats for the exotic-pet trade.

Once upon a crime: Mock trials don't always have fairy-tale endings: Indeed it was. But for the next two hours it would be host to a well-rehearsed fete of fairy-tale characters plucked from storybook pages to partake in a speedy trial before their peers.

Economy stymies UNLV fund-raising: Jennifer Knight; Nearly eight months ago the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, seemed willing to swim against a rough economic tide by launching its first capital fund-raising campaign.

LV visitor quarantined for suspected SARS: Mary Manning and Ed Koch; A second suspected case of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, has been identified by Clark County health officials.

Firm selects Alliance software: Cashless machines can accept and dispense paper vouchers instead of coins. Under the agreement, Harrah's will use "eTICKET" and "ePRINTER" technology by Alliance subsidiary Bally Gaming and Systems to deploy "Fast Cash" systems offered by Harrah's. The deal also includes the continued implementation of Bally's "eCOUPON" system to support the Harrah's slot player rewards program called "Reel Rewards Express Play coupons."

Amber Alert takes effect with Guinn's signature: With bill sponser Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, joining him for the signing ceremony, Guinn inked Assembly Bill 322, which creates a statewide system for the safe return of missing childen.

El Centro De Las Vegas breaks ground: El Centro De Las Vegas breaks ground

Four-day school week proposed: By Emily Richmond; Clark County School District officials are proposing a four-day school week to save money in the face of a potential budget crunch, School Board President Sheila Moulton said this morning.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Nadeau's condition improves to serious, stable: NASCAR Winston Cup driver Jerry Nadeau was upgraded from critical to serious condition Monday, three days after suffering head, lung and rib injuries in an accident during practice at Richmond International Raceway.

Supplier reports jump in profit: The 2003 quarter included a $4.2 million tax benefit. Revenue increased 70 percent, to $9.5 million, helped by the installation of bonusing systems at Station Casinos Inc. properties.

LV tourist quarantined for suspected SARS: Mary Manning and Ed Koch; A second suspected case of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, has been identified by Clark County health officials.

Coronado takes title: Adam Candee; Hand clasped behind his head, Brad Thompson anxiously paced around the clubhouse patio overlooking the finishing holes of Boulder Creek Golf Course Monday.

News briefs for May 6, 2003: Windy and unseasonably cool temperatures are the words weather forecasters use to describe conditions in the Las Vegas Valley this week.

Klitschko, Lewis to fight for heavyweight title: The fight had been announced for April by promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl several months ago but never took place.

UNLV extends its postseason streak: The West regional will be played May 15-17 at the Washington National Golf Club (Par 72, 7,183 Yards) in Auburn, Wash.