Print edition for May 27, 2003

Guest Columnist -- Tony Renna: 7th-place finish made for a satisfying day: Like everybody, your goal is to come here and try to win the race, but now I've gotten a full race under my belt and I came away with a solid seventh-place finish. That's very satisfying.

Mandalay in cashless slot deal: IGT today said Mandalay will also retrofit several thousand existing machines to add ticket printers. The Luxor and Mandalay Bay resorts on the Las Vegas Strip will be the first casinos targeted to expand the number of machines with ticket printers. The new machine purchases and retrofit program will be completed over a two-year period.

Legislative briefs for May 27, 2003: The Assembly agreed Monday to amend a DUI bill lowering the state's legal alcohol limit for drivers based on looming financial penalties for doing nothing.

County pay hike supported: CARSON CITY -- A plan to give all county elective officials except county commissioners a pay raise was approved by the Senate Friday on a voice vote.

Bailout OK'd for NHP radio fiasco: CARSON CITY -- The Senate Finance Committee has agreed to a $16.5 million bailout of the Nevada Highway Patrol after a foul-up in the development of the patrol's communications system.

Guinn signs bill calling for generic drugs: Senate Bill 387 states that unless a doctor specifically prohibits a generic drug, pharmacists will fill the prescription with a lower-cost drug. The current law says the pharmacist may fill a prescription with the generic equivalent in place of a brand name drug.

Man indicted in ATM theft: Erica D. Johnson; A Las Vegas man was indicted on charges that he used a backhoe to knock down an automated teller machine and steal thousands of dollars, before leading police on a high-speed chase.

Court upholds right to family leave: WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court, ruling on a Nevada case, today upheld the right of state workers to get time off to care for children or ailing relatives, rejecting an attempt to scale back a law guaranteeing 12 weeks of family leave.

ATM fees upheld: The court refused to hear arguments by San Francisco and Santa Monica that they had the authority to bar the ATM fees. The banks and an industry trade group won a lower court decision throwing out the prohibitions on grounds they conflict with federal banking rules.

Town voters reject raffles: The Bryn Mawr Stakeholders Group, which oversees downtown revitalization, was planning to raise money through raffles. The law against raffles of that sort is seldom enforced, but since the Stakeholders Group includes government officials, they decided to seek the voters' approval for "small games of chance."

Officials predict holiday weekend numbers will be down from last year: LVCVA research director Kevin Bagger said he expected the occupancy rate for hotels and motels over the long weekend would reach 94.4 percent, down from last year's rate over the same holiday weekend of 96.3 percent. He said 275,000 people were expected to visit Las Vegas over the weekend, compared with 278,000 people last year. "There continues to be some uncertainty in spending and travel," Bagger said today. "So, we decided to take a more conservative approach this year."

Policy issues snag education spending plan: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Two weeks ago, fiscal analysts warned lawmakers that they had to resolve budget differences by May 24 or risk running out of time to print the massive appropriation bills.

Moving of VA clinic nearly done: Dan Kulin; Higher rents, about 50 new employees and a new shuttle bus service are among the additional expenses tied to the Department of Veterans Affairs' Southern Nevada branch's move from one central building near downtown Las Vegas to 10 temporary sites plus a federal hospital.

CCSN gets bats going, wins second game in losers' bracket: Allen Gemaehlich; GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- C.J. Ebarb struggled at the plate this season, but that didn't prevent him from adjusting to aluminum bats in the postseason.

Guest columnist -- Ryan Keeney: Preparing mentally is key to good start: We got in on Friday and that took a much longer process than we were hoping. We were getting used to flying private jets and we flew commercial, so we were all up at 5 a.m. and got here sometime around 5 or 6 p.m. That really showed us how important it is to fly private jet -- we would have been here at 9 a.m.

UNLV set to tangle with tough course: Adam Candee; STILLWATER, Okla. -- Ask anyone in the know and they will tell you about the can't-miss buy in this bucolic college town: Eskimo Joe's famous T-shirts.

Task force chief: Gaming firms to be hit by tax hike: Kevin Rademacher; Nevada's gaming industry will not escape new taxes.

Utility is still eyeing Nevada Power: Kevin Rademacher; The Southern Nevada Water Authority has not abandoned its bid for Nevada Power Co., but its pursuit of the electric company could be slowed by a recent regulatory decision.

$218 million OK'd for state projects: CARSON CITY -- A state construction program of more than $218 million, including a new psychiatric hospital in Las Vegas and UNLV's Science, Engineering and Technology complex, has been approved by leaders of the Senate and Assembly budget committees.

Malone ends silence on FBI probe: Jace Radke; Former Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone came out of hiding Friday afternoon, saying that he is not a witness in the FBI's public corruption investigation and that he has not spoken with federal agents on the advice of his attorney.

Sprint upgrading its network: KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Sprint Corp. announced today that it has begun transforming its telephone network so voice calls are transmitted in "packets" -- the same way data moves over the Internet. The move is designed to lead to a wide range of improved services for consumers, such as online voice-mail management.

Gamblers more frequently misstating results, IRS says: By Richard N. Velotta; With gambling proliferating nationwide, the Internal Revenue Service is seeing more tax returns showing casino losses.

Council to manage funds: The state now allocates about $650,000 to treat compulsive gamblers, and it was not clear when the council would take control of the funds.

Agassi rust-free in first round of French Open: Steven Wine; PARIS -- The only doubles in Andre Agassi's immediate future will involve fatherhood, not tennis.

Obituaries for May 27, 2003: Frank Cinquino, 92, of Henderson died Saturday in a local care center. He was born Dec. 20, 1910, in Bari, Italy. A resident for two years, he was a retired owner of a retail sales business and a member of the Elks in Chicago.

Man sought in slaying of 3 LV teens: Jen Lawson; Metro Police are searching for a 20-year-old man suspected of killing three teenage boys early today in an apartment on East Charleston Boulevard near Fremont Street.

State not likely to tackle 'Net issue this year: Liz Benston and Kevin Rademacher; With the end of the Nevada legislative session fast approaching, it's all but certain that legislators won't tackle the issue of Internet gambling -- leaving the issue in limbo for the time being.

Columnist Dean Juipe: UNLV needs an AD with local ties: Dean Juipe; The record speaks for itself: UNLV is much better served if it can find an athletic director who is already familiar with the Las Vegas community.

MGM MIRAGE entering U.K.'s casino market: By Liz Benston; MGM MIRAGE said today it acquired a stake in a British casino developer and expects to develop casinos in Bristol, England, in anticipation of that country's move to liberalize its gambling industry.

Proposed budget helps some social services: CARSON CITY -- Low-income mothers, senior citizens and people with mental health problems will all benefit under the proposed two-year, $4.8 billion budget that is nearing final approval in the Legislature.

Locals, tourists enjoy safe Memorial Day weekend: Memorial Day, the first hot, summer-like weekend in Las Vegas this spring, drew fun-loving boaters and picnickers to Lake Mead from as far away as New York.

Key witnesses might miss Yucca hearing: Benjamin Grove and Mary Manning; Two of the five witnesses expected to testify at a Yucca Mountain hearing Wednesday might not attend.

DA says bookmark, mailer violated law: The question, which is on the June 3 ballot, asks voters to approve a $50.6 million bond to add four new branches to the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. The tax, to be spread over 30 years, would add an average of $8.82 per year for each $100,000 of property.

Budget, taxes stall as session wanes: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- Although lawmakers spent all but one day of the holiday weekend working, little progress was made toward building a tax package that could pass the Legislature.

Bullets in suspect called key evidence: Erica D. Johnson; An attorney representing the man accused of killing a Las Vegas mother and leaving her body in the house with her four children told a judge this morning that his client needs surgery to remove bullets he sustained during the shooting.

Consumer confidence rising: The Consumer Confidence Index rose to 83.8 in May from 81 in April when the index jumped 19.6 points as consumers cheered the swift end of heavy fighting in Iraq.

Malpractice measure passes Senate: CARSON CITY -- The Senate has passed a bill to give doctors more protection in dealing with insurance companies during the state's medical malpractice crisis.

City golf course fails to produce a profit: Dan Kulin; Boulder City's new municipal golf course cost about $480,000 more to operate than it brought in during its first four months, leading some of the course's top supporters to say that original projections showing the Boulder Creek Golf Club would turn a profit by the end of June were probably too optimistic.

Nevada Senate OKs construction defect compromise: CARSON CITY -- A bill allowing builders the right to repair construction defects on homes and to avoid being drawn into lawsuits has passed the Legislature.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Wedge driven between Woods, cash: Charles Barkley's proclivities with a penny are the exact opposite. In fact, the former NBA star and current TNT commentator has said publicly that Woods is likely the only sports star who is a worse tipper than Michael Jordan.

Gladiators fizzle with loss in playoffs: Adam Candee; PHOENIX -- Pen your own nightmare ending to the Las Vegas Gladiators' 2003 season and you probably could not top the one the Arizona Rattlers wrote at America West Arena Sunday.

LV money handlers have feel for fakes: Jace Radke; New currency specially designed to foil counterfeiters is scheduled for release this fall, but in Las Vegas an additional layer of protection against phony funds already exists.

Leaders scuttle Lincoln County-Vidler water deal: CARSON CITY -- In an unusual display of power politics, Assembly leaders scuttled a vote on a controversial bill to allow Lincoln County to join with a private company to develop its water resources.

Rebels head for Tempe: UNLV's bid to host an NCAA tournament baseball regional was rejected, but that did not disappoint Rebels coach Jim Schlossnagle.

Rebels sign point guard from L.A.: Steve Guiremand; With Marcus Banks headed off to pursue an NBA career, one question that has dogged UNLV coach Charlie Spoonhour is who will be his starting point guard next season.

JUCO World Series Scores: AP; Grayson County, Texas 16, Seminole, Fla. 1

51s bullpen falters in 10-inning loss to Portland: Nick Christensen; Bubba Crosby was 4-for-5 and a home run away from hitting for the cycle, but the struggling 51s bullpen gave up a 6-4 loss in 10 innings to the Portland Beavers Monday in a Pacific Coast League game at Cashman Field.

Editorial: Local law safeguards Red Rock: The county's action affirms the resolve shown by the state to keep Red Rock as a treasure that yearly draws thousands of visitors. As the Sun's Launce Rake reported, the county's law adds specific requirements to development plans, including distance setbacks from ridgelines, mandatory open spaces around new homes, and restrictions to access from adjacent state routes. Additionally, the county law sets rules governing the appearance of any homes built near the canyon area. The state and county laws do not prohibit development, but they make it impossible for a development on the scale proposed by Rhodes, who filed plans ...

News briefs for May 27, 2003: A grand jury on Friday indicted a Las Vegas man on multiple sexual assault charges in connection with the rape of a 14-year-old family member.

Legislature approves Reno stadium: Erin Neff; CARSON CITY -- A plan to lure minor league baseball to Washoe County took one more step Monday with committee approval in the Legistlature.

Columnist Susan Snyder: List has us feeling inferior: Or did it reverberate like a jackhammer in a slot canyon?

Desert Springs Hospital eliminating maternity services: Lori Harris, spokeswoman for Desert Springs, said the maternity center will close on Sept. 1, giving current patients and their doctors three months to find another birthing facility.

Birth announcements for May 27, 2003: May 11:

Kyle Busch shines in Charlotte debut: Tony Renna and Al Unser Jr. posted top-10 finishes in the Indianapolis 500, finishing seventh and ninth, respectively.

Letter: The many things President Bush has said to us: President Bush denies we toppled Saddam Hussein for Big Oil. President Bush says he has a road map for peace in the Middle East. President Bush says we are winning the war on terror. President Bush says diplomacy will solve the danger of Kim Jong II and North Korean nuclear proliferation.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: FCC's freedom slight: Had it not been for the recent conflict in Iraq, I suspect that this year's Memorial Day holiday would have been just that. Just another holiday for most American families. But not the kind contemplated by the day itself, a day in which the people of this country should reflect on the great sacrifices made by men and women of current and past generations to keep our country safe and our democracy intact.

Letter: America is a nation of war: We ride around with our American flags sticking out of the window, flapping in the breeze. Our motto: "Don't mess with the U.S.A."

Dojo Mojo: Martial-arts instructors reminisce as kung fu grips nation: Kirk Baird; "Everybody was kung-fu fighting."

Built to Spill's Martsch's performance low key: Spencer Patterson; Doug Martsch could easily have been mistaken for a road tech as he shuffled onstage and began tweaking his guitar equipment Sunday night at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay.

Letter: Ensign's loyalties are questioned: A couple of days later, while in Miami, he states that he has introduced a bill that would authorize the State Department to spend up to $50 million on projects in Cuba.

Editorial: Drug plan receives OK from high court: The drug makers opposed the plan, saying it violated interstate commerce protections and that it interfered with the federal government's responsibility to set rules for Medicaid, a national program that the states administer. The plan never went into effect because drug makers' lawsuits successfully prevented its implementation. That all changed last week. In a sensible ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that it was OK for Maine to go ahead with its plan, holding that it didn't harm interstate commerce. The court hinted that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services could block Maine's plan if chose to do ...