Print edition for May 21, 2003

Rebels' Valenzuela, Schlossnagle honored: UNLV first baseman Fernando Valenzuela earned player of the year honors, the first conference MVP award for the Rebels since Matt Williams was honored in 1986. Valenzuela's skipper, Jim Schlossnagle, was selected as coach of the year, the first such honor UNLV baseball history.

Columnist Peter Benton: Tournament to benefit animal group's cause: Peter Benton; Nicole Dutt-Roberts, an integral part of the Dutt family golfing dynasty in Las Vegas, and a teaching professional held in high regard by her peers, has another great passion in her life: the Heaven Can Wait Sanctuary.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Kite relieved to be in Indy 500 after '02 rainout: Jimmy Kite might have been the most relieved driver when the gun was fired Sunday to mark the end of qualifying for the 87th Indianapolis 500.

News briefs for May 21, 2003: Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval said Tuesday he has joined with the Federal Trade Commission in a campaign aimed at halting people who falsely claim they are raising money for charity or other philanthropic causes.

Fare cuts announced: Chief Executive Gerard Arpey announced the moves at the company's annual shareholders meeting.

Sprint's local service push reflects industry changes: Brian Bergstein; NEW YORK -- Sprint Corp. is moving to sell local phone service to its cellular and long-distance customers, a belated embrace of the industry's attempts to overcome its tumult by wooing consumers with all-inclusive calling plans.

Guinn signs bill on rights of voters: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn signed the so-called Voter Bill of Rights Tuesday to ensure people know their rights when casting their election ballots.

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

Investors look at Vivendi: Vivendi Universal, weighed down by a heavy debt load, has said it wants to sell its American entertainment assets, valued at more than $20 billion including debt.

Arena League playoffs: Wild Card Round

Thursday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1:20 p.m.

Tarkanians lose airport concession: Jerry and Lois Tarkanian failed to score with the Clark County Commission on Tuesday.

Community briefs for May 21, 2003: The North Las Vegas Human Resources Department offers the ability of job applicants to complete and submit an employment application via the city's website.

Swede band Sounds making noise in America: Spencer Patterson; At the moment, the five musicians are marveling at the security they encountered during their brief promotional tour of the United States in March.

Letter: Looking for explanations: I don't understand how tax windfalls for the wealthiest among us will restore our economy, decrease unemployment and provide prescription relief, especially for the elderly and disabled. I don't understand how Reagan's trickle-down theories are going to work now when they didn't work then.

Gambling advocates vow to push expansion: Ryan Keith; SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Advocates for gambling expansion said Tuesday they haven't given up on the idea, despite Gov. Rod Blagojevich announcing he opposes gambling as a way to balance the state budget.

UNLV 10, Air Force 1: AP; The UNLV Rebels (42 (15)- scored the only runs they would need in the third inning off starter Josh Zumbrun 2 (4)-. Dobson drove in what turned out to be the winning run with a sacrifice fly, capping a two-run drive.

Crisis center's future in doubt: By Timothy Pratt; After months of controversy surrounding the future of a one-stop shop for homeless services downtown, the United Way has stepped in to help seek a solution -- less than six weeks before the center's funding runs out.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Guests make the most of Make-A-Wish benefit lunch: Elizabeth Foyt; Early arrivals included Diane Bigelow, Char Hejmanowski with Norma Land, Josie Snow with Barbara Stout and Carolyn Sparks along with Becky Boman, Pattie Walker, Debra Jones and Kathy Grimes.

Threat of state tax shift casts shadow over cities' budgets: Dan Kulin; City Councils in Henderson and North Las Vegas approved multimillion-dollar spending plans for their respective cities on Tuesday, clearing the way for hiring additional police and firefighters in both cities without raising property tax rates.

Las Vegas budget includes sewer-fee increase: Judy Odierna; The Las Vegas City Council gave final approval to the proposed budget for fiscal year 2004, and though it includes no property tax increase, it does include a sewer fee increase.

Hotline featured in new teen-suicide prevention program: By Timothy Pratt; A program to help teens who are thinking about killing themselves was set to begin today, stepping into a picture that includes high suicide rates and a shortage of services for troubled people.

Editorial: Speed, work zones are not a good mix: A 20-mile section of the highway between Baker, Calif., and Holloran Summit Road to its north has seen a 144 percent increase in accidents. Overall on that whole stretch of highway, there has been a 46 percent increase in accidents. Police say the cause is almost entirely related to drivers failing to heed new speed limits in the construction zones, whose narrower passing lanes leave just inches of clearance between cars and concrete lane dividers.

Financial gaming forum set: MGM MIRAGE Chief Executive Officer Terry Lanni, Wells Fargo Chief Economist Sung Won Sohn and Lionel Sawyer & Collins partner and former U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan will present keynote addresses.

Letter: Re-election is not possible: Unless he is planning on being re-selected by the court, his campaign should be titled an "election" campaign, since he is giving voters the possibility of voting him into office for the first time.

Casino remains open as judge mulls closure order: Todd Dvorak; TAMA, Iowa -- Hundreds of gamblers played slots, craps and blackjack at the Meskwaki casino Tuesday as a federal judge spent a second day deliberating whether to back federal gaming regulators and close the casino.

Department wins award: The Employee Services Management Association will present the LVCVA with its Floyd Eastwood Award this week at the organization's 62nd conference and exhibit in Orlando, Fla.

Diva-lution: 'VH1 Divas' brings imaginative lineup to MGM Grand Garden Arena: An appearance by the legendary Stevie Wonder, who will be honored in the concert's finale?

Savvy wine buys: Stump Jump '01: This lovely red wine is 75 percent Grenache, 20 percent Shiraz and 5 percent Mouvedre, a nice Rhone-style blend that works well with game, cheese and a variety of other foods.

Editorial: Law will help save Red Rock: Guinn's signature on the Red Rock Canyon Area and Adjacent Lands Act means local government will be powerless to approve any plans that exceed current zoning limits. For Rhodes, this means that he can continue to operate, but not expand, the mine. Most importantly, it means that he cannot build a housing development exceeding about 1,200 homes. That's because the law prevents him from ever developing the mine property at a greater density than allowed by current zoning, which permits one home for every two acres.

UNLV-Air Force Linescore: AP; Air Force 000 010 000-1 5 3

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Celebrating diversion of shopping: Shopping has become another form of entertainment for visitors. And we have a terrific variety of malls to keep them happy. Who ever thought that dining and shopping would be at the top of the list along with gaming and entertainment as prime diversions for tourists?

System installed at The Rio: TouchPoll Las Vegas LLC has installed its touch-screen survey system at The Rio Pavillion Convention Center. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Letter: A simpler, fairer taxation method should be used: Corporations fall into one of three categories. They are in this state only, in the United States only, or are multinational. For illustrative purposes, the basic tax would be 10 percent of the federal (national) tax.

Nevada's senators offer Cuba plans: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sens. John Ensign, R-Nev., and Harry Reid, D-Nev., Tuesday unveiled separate efforts aimed at establishing democracy in Cuba.

Fugitive in Hoover Dam incident is arrested: Jace Radke; A fugitive who failed to appear in court after running a security checkpoint at Hoover Dam earlier this month has been arrested in Phoenix.

Goodman touts Vegas to mayors: By Timothy Pratt; Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman took advantage of having the leaders of at least 30 other cities in town Monday to bask in the glow of being the self-described world's happiest mayor.

Life term given in infant's death: Erica D. Johnson; After deliberating for four days, a jury on Tuesday decided that the former Nellis Air Force Base airman convicted of killing an infant nearly six years ago should get a life sentence.

Police admit trick to get information from Rundle: Erica D. Johnson; When they were trying to get him to tell them where his mother's body was, police lied to William Rundle about whether he would face the death penalty.

Obituaries for May 21, 2003: Mildred R. Aloisio, 86, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local care center. She was born Jan. 24, 1917, in Buffalo, N.Y. A resident for 21 years, she was a retired secretary for a wholesale firm and a World War II Army veteran.

Poll: Malpractice reform supported: A new poll commissioned by a group of doctors seeking tougher state medical malpractice laws found that Nevadans overwhelmingly support lawsuit reforms that would limit awards for pain and suffering.

First 100-degree day of 2003 expected: In a wacky year for weather in which January limped in like a lamb and April roared out like a lion, it is little surprise to forecasters that the first 100-degree day has not yet occurred in Las Vegas in 2003.

Officials reduce quarantine zone virulent bird disease: Instead of covering all of Clark County and southern Nye County, the quarantine area, which affects pet birds and poultry, now covers a zone near Nellis Air Force base -- in the immediate vicinity of an outbreak of exotic Newcastle Disease earlier this year.

Golf course could cost $11 million on landfill: Dan Kulin; Building Henderson's first municipal golf course over an old city landfill could cost up to $11.3 million, according to a consultant's report made public Tuesday, which also tentatively named the proposed course "Lava Mountain."

Some seniors may have gotten unauthorized study materials: By Emily Richmond; Nevada Education Department officials said this morning they are investigating whether a handful of seniors at Desert Pines High School were given unauthorized study materials for the mathematics section of the statewide proficiency exam.

Las Vegas heightens security measures: As the Bush administration raised the nation's terror alert to orange, the second-highest level, Las Vegas law enforcement officials said Tuesday they have heightened security measures, but would not discuss specifics.

Construction company plans to grow in LV market: R&O President Orluff Opheikens said the Ogden, Utah-based company plans to grow in the Las Vegas market. The company focuses on building commercial projects such as hotels, office and warehouse space, grocery stores and retail space.

LV's library district receives national honor: The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District received the 2003 Library of the Year award from the Library Journal today, a national honor given to the best library district in North America in recognizing the need to serve a growing community.

Legal storm may hit ethics panel: As speculation swirls around the Clark County Commission as a result of an FBI probe into political corruption, more pedestrian ethical considerations have been moved to the back burner.

Budget compromise is needed: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Lawmakers have long been told there's no such thing as a perfect tax, but the legislative money committees are learning there's also no such thing as a perfect budget.

Golf course on landfill could cost $11 million: Dan Kulin; Building Henderson's first municipal golf course over an old city landfill could cost up to $11.3 million, according to a consultant's report made public Tuesday, which also tentatively named the proposed course "Lava Mountain."

Ex-casino official arrested: Christopher Morishita, who was the casino's anti-money laundering compliance officer, was charged with failure to maintain proper financial records.

Robinson at a glance: BORN: July 25, 1935

Vegas left off list of terror targets: Jen Lawson; The Homeland Security Department left Las Vegas off a list of 30 urban areas most likely to be terrorist targets, even though the federal government is prosecuting a terrorism case in which Las Vegas plays a role.

LV limo owners move to restrict numbers: CARSON CITY -- The limousine industry is out of control in Southern Nevada with an excessive number of limos, payoffs and unsafe vehicles, a parade of witnesses told a Senate committee Tuesday.

Police admit trick in Rundle probe: Erica D. Johnson; When they were trying to get him to tell them where his mother's body was, police lied to William Rundle about whether he would face the death penalty.

Plan calls for county to take full control of child protective system: CARSON CITY -- The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday approved moving forward with a plan for Clark County to take full control of the child protective system in the county, from intervening in cases where children are neglected or abused to foster care and adoptions.

Teenager held in sex assault on boy: By Emily Richmond; A 14-year-old boy sexually assaulted a 7-year-old boy at the Gibson Elementary School playground shortly after classes ended May 13, Henderson Police said.

Robinson gives up title as AD: Steve Guiremand; Take away the slash from John Robinson's title.

Tax alternative may ease gross receipts fears: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Lawmakers appeared receptive Tuesday to a tax proposal that tweaks the controversial gross receipts tax to address the concerns of low-margin companies.

Columnist Jeff German: System engenders distrust: Back in 1982 reporters also roamed the hallways of the federal courthouse as a similar grand jury moved to indict a handful of elected leaders on charges of taking bribes from an undercover FBI agent. Some of those politicians went to federal prison.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: 'Rocky' becoming a saga for the ages: Sylvester Stallone has finished the script for "Rocky VI."

Albrecht again fills interim role for athletic department: Steve Guiremand; UNLV President Dr. Carol C. Harter doesn't plan on wasting any time in hiring a new athletic director to replace John Robinson.

Panel votes to kill tax rolls in newspapers: CARSON CITY -- The Assembly's fiscal panel this morning passed a bill that would get rid of the bulky newspapers that county assessors produce to publish the tax rolls.

Locals, celebrities predict just how Annika will fare: Compiled by Timothy McDarrah and Adam Candee; Thoughts from local personalities about Annika Sorenstam's entry in the Colonial this weekend:

Herrera won't comment on probe: Former County Commissioner Dario Herrera declined Tuesday to say whether he has been notified that he is a target of the FBI investigation into possible payments to politicians by a local strip club owner.

UNLV's Oh shoots 78 in NCAA championship: Oh, playing as an individual and as just the first Rebel to ever play in the national tournament, carded five bogeys, a double and a birdie on the par-72, 6225-yard course.