Print edition for May 15, 2003

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Memo: Education is the key: Ruthe Deskin; What advice can an elderly citizen give these young upstarts?

Objects of their affection: Exhibit celebrates the best of American pop art: The exhibit is arranged somewhat chronologically, beginning with Robert Rauschenburg and Jasper Johns, who were among the first to rebel against pretentious abstract expressionism and lead the way to the pop movement Rauschenburg by creating sculpture/painting assemblages from mixed materials, and Johns by adding objects and text to his art.

15 others will join McCallum in Class of '03: Besides McCallum, four other fighters will be cited from the "modern" era, and six others were selected as "old-timers" or "pioneers" and another five qualified as "nonparticipants" or "observers."

Prep Schedule: TUESDAY

Colorful poker player Wolford dies: When people would ask Texas road gambler "Cowboy" Wolford if he had played poker all his life, he'd say "not yet."

Body Snatcher nabs honor: Dean Juipe; He had one of the greatest nicknames in the history of boxing. And his brutal attacks to the midsection made the moniker apropos.

Troupe brings 'Midsummer' magic to Summerlin: Marilyn LaRocque; Magic potions, fairies, royalty and peasants trying to be actors intermingle in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," this year's production of "Shakespeare Under the Stars."

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

Community briefs for May 15, 2003: The Las Vegas West Rotary Golf Classic to benefit at-risk schools will begin at 12:30 p.m. Monday at the Canyon Gate Country Club, 2001 Canyon Gate Drive.

Detective describes blood stains in Rundle's home: Erica D. Johnson; A Metro Police homicide detective on Wednesday described for jurors the blood evidence she found at the home of William Rundle, shortly after he allegedly killed his wife and dumped her body off a remote California highway.

Wednesday's prep results: Boys' Golf

CAP cadets visit their Nellis heroes: Dick Benoit; The Nellis Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol recently visited the 66th Search and Rescue Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base and learned first-hand of the complexities, difficulties and dangers of combat search and rescue missions and the capabilities of their primary "ride," the HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter.

Defense says Phillips believes he is really Wynn's half-brother: Erica D. Johnson; Whether jurors believe the man charged with trying to extort millions of dollars from casino executive Steve Wynn is legally insane could mean the difference between an acquittal and a conviction.

Reid's bill would protect Colombians: The bill would grant Temporary Protected Status to an estimated 80,000 Colombians nationwide who are put in danger by that country's four-decade-old internal conflict. It is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Promoter supports boxers joining forces with union: Dean Juipe; At least one major promoter is in favor of boxers organizing into a union and having that union associated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Friday's horse racing entries: Post Time 7:05 p.m.

Human spirit: Warsaw Ghetto garden reminder of heroism: Tours of the Warsaw Ghetto Remembrance Garden at Temple Beth Sholom will be available by appointment. Call Temple Beth Sholom at 804-1333.

Fatal A-10 crash blamed on 'loss of situational awareness': Jace Radke; Air Force investigators have determined that a pilot killed when two fighters collided over the Nevada Test and Training Range in December failed to properly rejoin a formation of aircraft, causing the crash.

Changing name could be taxing: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- The Assembly Ways and Means Committee decided Wednesday that what's in a name could be big bucks.

Day care concerns: Staffing standards in Nevada below national averages: Nevada doesn't do as much as most other states to ensure that children are safe at day care centers, studies and experts say.

Legislators seek to outspend Guinn on education: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Both of the Legislature's money committees have agreed to spend about $160 million more than the governor proposed for K-12 education.

State isn't disclosing enough on lobbyists, report says: A government watchdog group says Nevada and 26 other states are failing to tell the public enough about who is paying lobbyists and which lawmakers they are wining and dining to try to shape laws.

Video game company launched in Vegas: Jennifer Shubinski; Former programmers for Westwood Studios said Wednesday they've formed a new video game development company, Petroglyph, and based the startup in Las Vegas.

Study on tunnel fire prompts investigation: Benjamin Grove and Mary Manning; The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Office of Inspector General is investigating allegations that NRC staff inappropriately influenced an NRC-commissioned study of the Baltimore rail tunnel fire.

FBI looks for evidence of strip club payments made to elected officials: Jeff German, Jace Radke and Launce Rake; The FBI agents who raided two Las Vegas strip clubs Wed nesday were looking for documentation of payments to Las Vegas Councilman Michael McDonald, County Commissioner Mary Kincaid-Chauncey and former County Commissioners Erin Kenny and Dario Herrera, the search warrants said.

Investment exec bullish on gaming, leisure firms' stocks: The outlook for the stock market bodes well for Las Vegas' publicly traded casino companies, a panelist in a seminar at an investment trade show said Wednesday.

Disputed slot to be put back in service: KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A Missouri judge today lifted a restraining order on an alleged faulty slot machine and cleared the way for it to be put back on an Ameristar casino floor.

Obituaries for May 15, 2003: Arturo L. Acosta, 55, of North Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. He was born April 25, 1948, in Jalisco, Mexico. A resident for 32 years, he owned and operated a landscaping business.

Nevada Power wants to bill ratepayers for increased interest costs: Kevin Rademacher; Southern Nevada ratepayers could be asked to pick up the tab for higher interest charges Nevada Power Co. is paying since having its credit rating cut following a $437 million rate disallowance the company wrote off last year.

Law firm seeking Yucca job takes case to court: At issue is highly specialized legal assistance the department needs to assemble a license application to construct Yucca, the proposed site of a national nuclear waste repository. The department plans to submit the application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by December 2004.

Utah lawmaker waters down 'Net gaming bill: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- An amendment approved Wednesday may hinder a House bill aimed at stopping Internet gambling.

Bid to reduce size of Board of Regents dies: Jennifer Knight and Cy Ryan; CARSON CITY -- A bill that would have reduced the Board of Regents from 13 to nine members sailed through the Assembly but died quickly Thursday in the Senate Finance Committee.

Suspect: Hirst died after fall from window: Jen Lawson; A 25-year-old man arrested Monday in the slaying of a tourist from Utah told Metro Police that he was there when the former model died, but that she died after she fell from a window of an apartment complex laundry room.

Goodman linked to mob boss in report: Jace Radke; An East Coast mob boss turned government informant told the FBI that he met with Oscar Goodman shortly before Goodman became mayor of Las Vegas, and that he contributed $10,000 to Goodman's campaign in 1999, according to the New York Daily News.

Gas prices down, but Nevada still tops average: While the national average price of gasoline has dropped below $1.50 a gallon, don't expect Nevada, with its dependency on California refineries and some of the nation's highest taxes on gasoline, to approach that price anytime soon.

Local politicians have had prior ethical problems: Three of the four local politicians targeted by the FBI search warrants served Wednesday at businesses owned by the Galardi family have had prior ethics problems.

Strip-club owner Galardi has long history in Vegas: Jack Galardi, the patriarch of the family whose strip clubs were raided by the FBI on Wednesday, has been a Las Vegas businessman since at least the late 1970s and he's no stranger to controversy or law enforcement investigations.

News briefs for May 15, 2003: Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., has a new job as a leading critic of President Bush's proposed tax cut. Democratic leaders on Wednesday named Berkley chairwoman of a 27-member working group called the Democratic Task Force on Tax Policy and Budget, making her a top organizer within the party on tax policy.

San Diego city councilmen targeted in probe: The offices of three San Diego city councilmen and a San Diego strip club owned by Las Vegas businessman Michael Galardi were raided by FBI agents and San Diego police at the same time Galardi businesses were searched in Las Vegas.

Guinn sets Friday budget deadline: Erin Neff; And with Guinn saying least a hand-shake deal is needed by Friday to bring the Legislature to adjournment on June 2, one high-ranking Republican official said privately he thought the chance for a special session was at 80 percent.

More D.C.-Las Vegas flights sought: The provision would increase from 12 to 36 the number of takeoff and landing slots at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport reserved for long-distance flights. The slots are reserved for flights traveling more than 1,250 miles to and from National, essentially flights serving the Western United States. National is the most convenient of three airports that serve the capital.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Johnson on track to win first Pro Stock crown: Since he burst onto the racing scene in 1993, Kurt Johnson has distinguished himself as one of the top drivers in the NHRA Pro Stock category.

Business briefs for May 15, 2003: MILWAUKEE -- Journal Communications Inc., owner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and 42 radio and television stations, including Las Vegas ABC affiliate KTNV Channel 13, wants to sell up to $250 million in stock to the public for the first time, the company said Wednesday in a government filing.

Fire damages bleachers at LVHS football stadium: Adam Candee; Imagine the surprise for Dr. Patrice Johnson when the Las Vegas High School principal received a call two weekends ago that someone burned a gaping hole through the Wildcats' football stands.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Even off the court, Agassi can serve: Among those who have just said "yes" to the Las Vegas native and full-time resident include Robin Williams, Jamie Foxx, Sheryl Crow, Elton John, Billy Joel, Faith Hill and Celine's producer, David Foster.

Wholesale prices plunge: The big drop in the Producer Price Index, which measures the prices of goods before they reach store shelves, marked an about-face from March when higher energy prices, stoked by the war, helped to catapult wholesales prices up by a hefty 1.5 percent, the Labor Department reported.

Bicyclist hit, left with broken legs: Police are looking for the vehicle, which may have a damaged right front bumper or fender. The vehicle also sustained a broken headlight and possible hood damage. No further description was available.

Pinjuv helps Gorman sweep 4A golf crowns: Sophomore Johnny Pinjuv surprised by outdoing his more experienced teammates to win the individual title at 4-over 148, holding off three golfers two strokes back. Matt Kinsinger of Galena (76-74), Jeremy Meeter of Mojave (80-70) and Dustin Borum of Basic (73-77) carded two-day scores of 6-over 150. Matt Edwards of Coronado (72-79) finished fifth at 7-over 151.

Bulldogs wrap up unbeaten season: Adam Candee; Four hours of an Advanced Placement government exam on the day of the state final proved to be more than Daniel Wright could handle.

Carrier to restore 162 flights: The nation's No. 2 carrier, hopeful of a busy summer travel season, said in announcing the revisions today that the additional flights are to domestic, European and Pacific destinations. No markets were eliminated during the two months of scaled-back flights.

Audit: Board effectively collecting taxes: CARSON CITY -- The state Gaming Control Board does a good job of collecting hundreds of millions of dollars in casino taxes but it needs to improve its control of the payments when they reach the office, a legislative audit says.

Rebels' fall practice to begin on Aug. 5: The Rebels' first practice will take place on Aug. 6 on the Ernie Becker Sr. Football Fields at Rebel Park. The first day of practice in full gear will be on Sunday, Aug. 10, with two-a-days beginning the following day.

Fight schedule: Tonight

Washington gambling advocates sweeten pot: Paul Queary; OLYMPIA, Wash. -- With back-room negotiations over the state's budget under way, non-tribal gambling interests have raised the stakes of their slot-machine proposal, offering the state a bigger cut along with sweeteners for local governments.

Harrigan stunned at ouster of McDonald: Nick Christensen; Lori Harrigan didn't believe it at first when she'd heard longtime UNLV softball coach Shan McDonald's contract was not renewed.

Teachers union asks members if they'd be willing to strike: By Emily Richmond; The union representing most of Clark County's teachers has asked its members if they would be willing to go on strike -- a tactic that's illegal in Nevada -- in the hopes of motivating the state's lawmakers to increase education funding.

Legislator wants to bring pari-mutuel racing to S.C.: Jeffrey Collins; COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Allowing people to play the ponies in South Carolina could boost tourism and bring the state millions of dollars in revenue, Rep. John "Bubber" Snow Jr. said Tuesday.

Letter: 'Bunker busters' could do more damage at home: Yes, it's the depth at which the nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain would be buried.

Letter: Area newcomers should foot bill: I, along with thousands of others, have been told to conserve water, but the construction just goes on and our taxes keep going up.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Our lost tax dollars: The financial crunch being suffered by a majority of states has produced some benefits. Sacred cows and past tax exemptions granted during good times must be reviewed. Several millions of dollars have been written off during recent legislative sessions and now is the time to reconsider those actions. Has any legislator asked the Legislative Counsel Bureau to review the tax exemptions granted during the rather plush sessions of 1993, '95, '97 and '99? It may be too late to reclaim the excess funds given away to questionable organizations, but it's not too late to reconsider past tax exemptions.

Regulator promoted: LaBadie succeeds Lou Dorn, who resigned the $75,000-a-year job to go into private law practice in Las Vegas.

Developer closes operations: Shortly before returning to his Las Vegas home Tuesday, Nelson announced what he termed "a cooling-off period."

Vasser looks good for race: INDIANAPOLIS -- Veteran driver Jimmy Vasser of Las Vegas turned in the fastest practice lap Wednesday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway among drivers yet to qualify for the 87th Indianapolis 500.

Editorial: Water bill ignores the public interest: Sen. Warren Hardy, R-Henderson, is opposed to the legislation. The bill "throws out 150 years of water law that says water belongs to the people. ... We are making water an instrument of commerce," Hardy told the Sun in a story on Tuesday. He also said the legislation would make it easier for a company, as long as it has entered into an agreement with a county, to be granted speculative water rights. Historically, as the Sun reported, only government-run water authorities receive state approval for speculative water rights; private companies are denied them.

Operator taking a tax hit: The law amends the calculation of gaming taxes for Indiana riverboats that changed from cruising to dockside operations, Boyd said in its quarterly filing Wednesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Legislative briefs for May 15, 2003: The defeat of a collective bargaining bill for state workers in a Senate committee means there will be continued hostile relations between employees and managers, a union official said.

Imposing Pele aims to become 'King of Cage' at Orleans Arena: At 6-foot-3 and 340 pounds, Eric Pele is an imposing figure.

Southwest Airlines to remain profitable: David Koenig; DALLAS -- Southwest Airlines, the only major U.S. carrier to remain profitable the past two years, expects to continue in the black this year, Chief Executive James F. Parker said Wednesday.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Hurricanes discuss draft in Las Vegas: If, indeed, this is the most important team meeting in the history of the organ-I-zation, as they say in hockey, it makes you wonder why the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes chose the Bellagio in Las Vegas as the site for it, rather than say, the Erie, Pa., Holiday Inn.

One-stop job center closing down: By Timothy Pratt; A one-stop shop that helps people find jobs and was showcased only months ago to members of Congress is closing down and its services will be moved to three other offices around the valley.

Editorial: Reassessing child care standards: The child-to-staff ratios at day care centers are weak compared to other states. For instance, Nevada is just one of six states that permits a ratio as high as 8-to-1 for children between 18 to 27 months old. The more children that a staff member has to oversee, the less time there is for learning, and it also increases the likelihood that a worker can get distracted, potentially endangering children's safety. Child advocates have called on government to set better child-to-staff ratios. But operators of day care centers say if they have to hire more employees, they will have to ...