Print edition for November 24, 2003

Letter: TV news wasted viewers' time on Jackson drivel: Talk about overkill! There were in-studio talent, on-scene stand-ups, helicopter crews both here and in Santa Barbara, Calif., and even a mind-numbingly boring pursuit of an SUV, with Mr. Jackson allegedly inside, as it wended its way to wherever it ended up. We finally gave up all hope of seeing any real news and switched to the History Channel.

Golf course operator discusses smaller fee: Dan Kulin; The private company running Boulder City's financially troubled Boulder Creek Golf Club offered to cut $125,000 from its $650,000 annual management fee in return for several city concessions, City Councilman Roger Tobler said Friday.

News briefs for Nov. 24, 2003: Metro Police said they have no motive for the apparent murder-suicide of a man and a woman found in a home in the 2700 block of Brookstone Court, near Fort Apache Road and Sahara Avenue.

Birth announcements for Nov. 24, 2003: Nov. 12:

Community briefs for Nov. 24, 2003: The Henderson post offices are having their annual Toys for Tots Christmas gift drive.

Jury to decide if defendant killed woman, shot man: Erica D. Johnson; Mary Amina was still mourning the death of her child when she was killed in a slaying prosecutors have labeled a random act of violence.

Thomas & Mack Center improves wheelchair seating: A Las Vegas resident who has fought for better handicapped accessibility at the Thomas & Mack Center because of difficulties encountered by her disabled son applauded a new seating arrangement at the arena but said more should be done.

City officials back new heliport site: Dan Kulin; A North Las Vegas helicopter company wants to move some of its operations to a heliport in an industrial area near the city's golf course.

Letter: A second Bush term to be feared: Since the Democrats can't seem to get it together, we may end up having Bush again. Can you imagine what our country will become with him as a lame-duck president? If you think things are bad now (Patriot Act, limits on the right to choose, pre-emptive war, rewarding his corporate buddies with tax cuts and his vice president with billion-dollar contracts, environmental downturns, little action on health or education, high deficit, messy aftermath of war), just wait.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Sun Lite for Nov. 24, 2003: Lisa Ferguson; As Americans gobble, er, gather around the turkey on Thursday, they might (or might not) choose to give thanks this year for the people and possessions in their lives. We here at Sun Lite are thankful for another P word polls.

Editorial: Time out for taverns: We look at it differently. The council members, principally Shari Buck, noticed a proliferation of taverns. Buck said she was concerned about the number of taverns opening in residential neighborhoods and near schools and parks. We share her concern that tavern development could get out of hand and represent a danger to the public by way of drunken drivers.

Study: Income disparity greatest in resort areas: Gillian Flaccus; PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- Graciela Ramirez must choose this year between Christmas presents for her three grandchildren and surgery to repair a painful hernia.

Editorial: Suit takes aim at fair initiatives: For a statewide initiative petition to be successful, signers must number at least 10 percent of all those who voted in the previous general election. This number currently stands at 51,243. But the constitution recognizes population disparities and prohibits petitions that simply gather the raw 10 percent. The reasoning is sound. If raw numbers were allowed, those circulating petitions wouldn't go anywhere near the rural counties. So the constitution contains a provision requiring that for initiative petitions to be valid, they must contain signatures from at least 10 percent of the active voters in 13 of the state's 17 counties.

Chowning considers commission: Chowning said she had thought about running for the office four years ago before deciding against it.

Supreme Court upholds murderer's conviction: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court has upheld the second-degree murder conviction of Edward Lee Smith, sentenced to life in prison in the stabbing death of Martinique Tillman in Las Vegas in May 2001.

Letter: Bidding for Iraq rebuilding is fair: So many lies -- so many lame excuses. Nobody thought Saddam would qualify as Mr. Nice Guy, but there was not enough proof to believe he was behind Sept. 11.

VA hospital funding approved: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Legislation that will provide $25 million in funding to get started on a new veterans hospital, outpatient clinic and long-term care facility for Las Vegas was passed Friday by the House.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Celebrating 19th century in style: First, I have to find one.

Jewel turns Aladdin into chat room: Spencer Patterson; That's basically how I felt about Jewel's informal solo performance Saturday night at the Aladdin's Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Where They Stood: Former Sun Youth Forum participants recall opinions from high school years: Nearly 40 years later Bill Duca still remembers what was on his mind: a guy named George Montgomery, a four-year, four-letter, stellar student who graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1965.

Reid to vote against prescription drug plan: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., will vote against the pending Medicare prescription drug plan saying it does more harm than good for Nevada residents and the whole Medicare program.

Defense bill aids disabled vets: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- President Bush signed the 2004 defense authorization bill at the Pentagon today, solidifying a $22 billion phased-in concurrent receipt program for some disabled and retired veterans benefit and almost $393 million from the Defense Department for the Yucca Mountain Project.

CFO, ex-Air Force official fired: The former Air Force official, Darleen Druyun, also was fired. Both executives tried to cover up their misconduct, which is being investigated by the government, Boeing said.

Obituaries for Nov. 24, 2003: Lea Marie Bradley, 30, of Las Vegas died Thursday in Las Vegas. She was born Sept. 24, 1973, in Las Vegas. A lifelong resident, she was a pharmacist.

Las Vegas Council to discuss audit on workers: Sito Negron; The specific issues in the city of Las Vegas pay investigation revolve around such personnel matters as whether Assemblyman Wendell Williams took money he didn't earn, but the broader implications involve the nature of local and state government in Nevada.

Wildcats, Panthers perfect going into semifinal: Adam Candee; The football part is over. Now an equally interesting battle begins.

State schools chief quitting: By Emily Richmond; McLaughlin, who was hired in January of 2001 and is undergoing treatment for high blood pressure, said he would be in close contact by telephone with Nevada Education Department staff for the remainder of his tenure. He and his family will also continue to be full-time residents of Nevada.

Sprint to cut 2,000 jobs: KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Sprint Corp., the third-biggest U.S. long-distance telephone company, today said it will cut 2,000 jobs this quarter, or nearly 3 percent of its work force, including 78 in Southern Nevada.

Home stretch: Final leg of beltway will open Wednesday: After 11 years and almost $900 million, the Las Vegas Beltway will provide motorists with a roadway embracing three sides of the metropolitan area Wednesday.

Post-bankruptcy initiatives help company's profitability: The company reported third-quarter net income of $4.3 million, or 21 cents a share, on revenue of $86.1 million. Because of new financing that occurred as a result of the company's emergence from bankruptcy protection, results from a year earlier are not comparable.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Kazor leaves job with some regret: Dean Juipe; Mixing fact and opinion in a burst of notes and quotes today, leading off with an update on a Las Vegas native who is once again looking for work.

Protest at Bush visit prompts ominous call: A federal law enforcement official may have tried to gather information on who is planning to attend a protest during President Bush's visit to Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Gaming briefs for Nov. 24, 2003: Kampgrounds of America Inc. has signed a 10-year lease to operate the Circusland RV park adjacent to the Circus Circus Las Vegas hotel-casino.

Perkins calls for president to address 'broken promises': Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- In preparation for President Bush's arrival in Las Vegas Tuesday, the Democratic National Committee tapped State Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, a Democrat from Henderson, to make the party's weekly radio address.

Las Vegas in running for D.C. flight: The Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization conference report, approved by the Senate on Friday, says that the Transportation Department has to consider adding slots at Ronald Reagan National Airport in the nation's capital to accommodate 12 more city flight destinations. The cities are not specifically noted and are left to the department's discretion.

CCSN faculty angered over chief's ouster: Jennifer Knight; President Ron Remington's removal by the Board of Regents angered many CCSN faculty members, who are discussing how to protest the action.

Law enforcement up for Bush's visit Tuesday: Jace Radke; Even though President Bush will be in Las Vegas for only a few hours Tuesday, federal, state and local law enforcement have been working for weeks to guarantee his safety and make sure that the shutting down of roadways doesn't paralyze the valley

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Fast-afoot Jackson keeps 'em guessing: But no one else seems to, especially the other gossip columnist in town.

Good, bad news for Herbsts in Mexico: The 36th annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 proved to be a case of good news/bad news for Las Vegas' racing Herbst family.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Thanksgiving holiday provides finale for big stakes racing: Ralph Siraco; The four-day Thanksgiving weekend will be more than a feast for turkey and stuffing connoisseurs, football fanatics and overall sports and food junkies. It will be the final feast of big stakes races for racing fans, which will have to suffice until after Christmas.

Effort to recall Guinn comes up short: CARSON CITY -- The drive to recall Gov. Kenny Guinn has failed to gain the 128,109 signatures required to put the issue to the voters.

Lawsuits likely over entertainment tax: By Liz Benston; Even after getting the nod from the state's top tax attorney, the final draft of regulations governing a new tax on live entertainment is likely to contain loopholes that will result in disputes and even lawsuits over whether certain venues are taxable, regulators say.

Rebels kicked aside: Steve Guiremand; UNLV senior placekicker Dillon Pieffer has certainly had a college career to remember.

Mister Holland's opus doomed Rebels: He's probably the most versatlie player since that triple threat specialist in your old electric fotball game. So when Bradlee Van Pelt left Saturday's game against UNLV in the third quarter with a broken hand, the Rebels felt they had pulled the plug on Colorado State's comeback.

New Mexico gets invitation to make return trip to LV: Steve Guiremand; Shortly after UNLV's bowl hopes sailed wide to the left with Dillon Pieffer's missed 23-yard field goal, Tina Kunzer-Murphy and the Las Vegas Bowl committee didn't waste any time turning to Plan B.

Volunteer will meet president: Jace Radke; Maria Konold-Soto doesn't usually have a lot of extra time, what with three children, a husband, a full-time job, and volunteer work. But on Tuesday she will make time to meet President Bush and be recognized for her work in the Las Vegas community.

Battle-tested Wolf Pack should give Rebels test: Be it Vermont at home, at top-ranked Connecticut or against UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center, Nevada-Reno coach Trent Johnson said Sunday that a game is a game is a game.

UNLV women lose at UCLA: LOS ANGELES -- The UCLA Bruins defeated UNLV 61-51, winning their season opener on the strong performance of sophomore guard Nikki Blue.

Sports briefs for November 24, 2003: The Wendy's Three-Tour Challenge returns to Las Vegas on Tuesday, with competition among pros from the PGA, LPGA, and Champions Tour for a purse of $850,000.

Correction: The Sun corrects its errors. If you find a mistake, call 385-3111 to report it.

Another small home builder giving up on Las Vegas: Jennifer Shubinski; The big Las Vegas home builders keep getting bigger and many of the small ones are, well, leaving.

Upon further review, BCS not all that bad: Here's an idea, college football fans. Let's not register any complaints about the Bowl Championship Series until after the season, because maybe then they won't seem so frivolous.

Player's death stuns school, community: Ed Koch and Adam Candee; Shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday, Las Vegas High football players were allowed to say their goodbyes to critically injured teammate Edward Gomez at University Medical Center.

Two die in weekend traffic accidents: It was another deadly weekend on the Las Vegas Valley roadways as traffic accidents killed an 18-year-old driver and a man who hit a highway guardrail and was ejected from his truck and then run over by two other vehicles, police said.

PF Chang's set for Henderson: PF Chang's currently has local restaurants at 1095 S. Rampart Blvd at Charleston Boulevard, 4165 S. Paradise Road near Flamingo Road, and in the Aladdin hotel-casino on the Strip.

Owners of bar, overrun by crime, fight back: Jen Lawson; Joe and Stella Sobchik opened their Fremont Street bar 50 years ago when the stark Southern Nevada desert shook from atomic bomb detonations at the Nevada Test Site.