Print edition for October 28, 2003

Pet Project: Halloween costumes carry a certain animal magnetism: Not only did the lop-eared rabbit don a witch hat for an all-breed costume contest, she lost to a poodle in a princess outfit.

Immunization schedule for Oct. 28, 2003: RAVENHOLT PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 625 Shadow Lane, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Plans made for black college tour: The tour, which also will visit Georgia Tech University in Atlanta, will take place April 4-9, during the Clark County School District 2004 spring break.

Dentists will trade for Halloween candy: The dentists, partners in Pediatric Dental Care Associates of Las Vegas, 8981 W. Sahara Ave., plan to donate the collected candy to troops in Iraq as a gift from area children. They will encourage children to write notes and send pictures to accompany the sweets.

Stand Down set Wednesday: The event, held every year at Cashman Center, draws dentists, physicians, employers, judges and even barbers who want to help the homeless.

Passionate performance given by orchestra, trio: Marilyn LaRocque; When three gorgeous young women stride onstage in dramatic black-and-white, show-stopping gowns, it's immediately obvious this is no ordinary formal classical concert.

Community briefs for Oct. 28, 2003: In recognition of National Diabetes Awareness Month, St. Rose Dominican Hospital will host an event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday to provide information on the disease, its complications and ways to prevent or effectively manage it.

Columnist Susan Snyder: In Vegas, this acronym no big deal: " 'F-C-U-K,' " she mumbled to herself.

Park Service studying Hacienda casino purchase: By Liz Benston; The National Park Service has sought for decades to purchase the Hacienda casino, located within what is now the Lake Mead National Recreation Area along U.S. Highway 93 west of Boulder City and long considered an aberration at the entrance to one of the most-visited parks in the nation.

Conflict could further delay Yucca work: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- An appeals court ruling today could delay the Energy Department's plan to open a high-level nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain because of conflict of interest charges leveled at the law firm that worked on the department's permit application.

Wildfires may halt CART race: The wildfires that are ravaging much of Southern California could threaten Sunday's CART Champ Car World Series race at California Speedway in Fontana, according to a track spokesman.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Senate gets involved with BCS: Dean Juipe; Members of the U.S. Congress must have more time on their hands than their constituents generally believe even in this period of war and economic crisis.

Funeral for slain police dog to be held Thursday: c/o LVMPD K-9 4860 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Letter: Gays should be given equal rights: Gay and lesbian Americans should be able to visit each other in hospitals when only family members are allowed, and they should be extended proper legal protection under the property laws of the country. As Americans, but more importantly, as human beings, gays and lesbians should have the right to form unions recognized by the state and they should be afforded all the tax, health, immigration and social privileges reserved for all married couples.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Busch calls eighth-place Atlanta finish 'great': You know things have not been going well lately for Kurt Busch when he called his eighth-place finish Monday at Atlanta Motor Speedway a "great finish."

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

LV shopping center owner's profit declines: Jennifer Shubinski; A big Las Vegas shopping center owner Monday reported a slightly lower third-quarter profit from the year-ago period despite an increase in revenue and rental revenue.

Obituaries for Oct. 28, 2003: Joseph M. Cannon, 73, of Las Vegas died Thursday in a local hospital. He was born Jan. 11, 1930, in Braux Bridge, La. A resident for 25 years, he was a retired bartender and a Korean War Air Force veteran.

Advent company to develop LV project: Mark Advent's ACV International LLC has joined with time share developer ILX Resorts Inc., Phoenix, and investor Axon Partners, Phoenix, to form Streets Las Vegas LLC to develop the property.

Stars' jewelry stolen at Aladdin: Jen Lawson; Some of hip hop artist Nelly's bling bling is gone gone.

Council will meet on future of city manager: Dan Kulin; The Boulder City Council will meet behind closed doors next week to discuss City Manager John Sullard's job performance and possibly wrap up the meetings prompted by the mayor's call for Sullard's resignation in May.

Lawyer to serve suspension for misleading statements: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court has approved a settlement in which Las Vegas attorney Wayne Hagendorf will serve 60 days' suspension for misleading statements made in a court case.

News briefs for Oct. 28, 2003: A jury last week convicted a Las Vegas man of multiple felony charges stemming from the May shooting of a cabdriver.

New charge filed against Gazlay in gate-ramming: Erica D. Johnson; Prosecutors have filed another case against the alleged 311 Boyz gang member who already faces felony charges in three separate attacks in northwest Las Vegas.

Small local group keeps hope alive for battery-powered personal vehicles: Las Vegas loves its electric lights, but when it comes to vehicles, the city prefers transportation powered by petroleum.

IRS insists: Check was in the mail: Wondering what happened to that IRS check you were supposed to get?

Retired teachers land a delay for health care switch: By Emily Richmond; Retired teachers who feared losing their medical insurance will remain on the Clark County Education Association's health trust plan through the summer, thanks to a compromise brokered Monday.

Letter: Yucca report on '60 Minutes' may wake up nation: Although it was reported that the Energy Department claims rail as the preferred mode of transportation, it is well known, at least in Nevada, that rail transportation is unlikely. It may take up to five years just for the permits and approvals needed; plus, about a third of the nation's existing reactor sites cannot ship directly by rail.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Don't punish good deed: During this same time period other doctors appeared on different television programs giving their views of the surgery performed on the entertainer. One was sitting in New York giving his expert opinion about the surgery. As one of Roy's millions of concerned fans, I was relieved to hear Hammargren's remarks.

LV delays plan for sewer hike: Sito Negron; The proposed sewer rate and connection fee increases in Las Vegas likely won't kick in until the beginning of the year, and the public will have its chance to speak on the idea twice in the middle of November.

Nevada sends firefighters to aid Southern California: The Palms on Flamingo Road is collecting cases of bottled water to send to fir' fighters in Southern California.

Minding his own net: Trying to stop blazing hockey pucks from crossing the net pales in comparison to taking a head-first dive into Niagara Falls.

Old items to be taken up at City Council meeting: Among those items are:

Caesars Palace launches another construction job: By Liz Benston; For a resort that redefined opulence on the Las Vegas Strip, Caesars Palace is lacking much of its curb appeal these days.

Nevada Power fires another round at Enron: Kevin Rademacher; The latest shot in the ongoing battle between Nevada Power Co. and Enron Corp. was fired on Monday in a filing the Las Vegas utility made with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Ralph Siraco's Santa Anita selections: 1st Race -- AVIAN -- Hot-riding Baze aboard here, draws good post for sprint opener, fits this level and spot well. PEARL HUNT -- Needs prompt start and clean trip from rail post, Berrio gets the assignment, backers hope the Pearl stays in the Hunt. Value Play -- REATTA PASS

Gaming briefs for Oct. 28, 2003: A 55-year-old Las Vegas man pleaded guilty in Federal Court on Monday to operating an illegal sports betting business in Las Vegas.

Public-private transportation endorsed at Vegas convention: Alana Roberts; It's been called sexy, it's been called sleek. And now a local transportation expert is calling the Robert N. Broadbent-Las Vegas Monorail a smart form of transportation.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Planet Hollywood plans are in orbit: Planet Hollywood honcho Robert Earl had a private midday meal Monday in his Aladdin suite with one of the company's minority partners, Bruce Willis. The 48-year-old actor's new gal pal, Brooke Burns, 25, was also there. Burns was a co-host of Monday night's "Radio Music Awards," which were broadcast live from the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts.

LV lawyer Brown selected to commission: Dean Juipe; The newest member of the Nevada State Athletic Commission says he will ease into the position and welcome the assistance of his fellow board members, each of whom he considers a friend.

Maryland voters favor state control of slots: Tom Stuckey; ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- If Maryland decides to legalize slot machine gambling, an overwhelming majority of voters believe the state should maintain control over the machines rather than having them operated by racetrack owners, according to a poll released today.

Letter: Bill won't solve energy needs: The energy bill comes to the Senate floor this week but the final form will not be known to the Democrats until Sunday because the Republicans are adding the final touches in a closed-door session. One thing is clear: The bill will be a giveaway to big energy corporations at the expense of the consumer.

MGM MIRAGE in deal for U.K. casino: By Liz Benston; MGM MIRAGE has entered into a joint venture with a special events company in the United Kingdom to potentially build a casino and entertainment complex in the heart of London.

Editorial: Recoil from recall that breaks law: Apparently, that's just how Tony Dane would have it. He is the leader of the ill-advised effort to recall Gov. Kenny Guinn. So far the campaign is proving nothing except that most people in Nevada are satisfied with the job Guinn is doing and are not outraged that he led the drive for new and increased taxes. The recall effort, which needs 128,000 valid signatures by Nov. 25, had a total of 12,000 signatures last month.

Sports briefs for October 28, 2003: Arne Ljungqvist, the IAAF's medical commission chief, said the evidence suggests a link between the substances.

Bighorn sheep being trapped to create Lincoln County herd: In an effort to establish a permanent herd of desert bighorn sheep in Lincoln County, the Nevada Division of Wildlife is trapping animals in the Muddy Mountains today.

Search for new UMC chief narrowed to two: The announcement of a new chief executive officer for the biggest hospital in Nevada could come as soon as Wednesday.

Editorial: Stonewalling by Bush: Kean, former Republican governor of New Jersey, has been more than patient with the White House. If anything, Kean should have moved sooner in trying to pry loose these records. The administration knows that the more it stalls, the more difficult it is for the commission to issue an exhaustive report by the May 2003 deadline set by Congress. The top sponsors of the legislation to create the commission, Sens. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., and John McCain, R-Ariz., have indicated that if the White House roadblocks continue, they will consider extending the deadline by several months. The White House, worried that ...

Robinson: Nantkes still 'the man': Steve Guiremand; By just about any definition, Kurt Nantkes has struggled in his first year as UNLV's starting quarterback.

Authorities grapple with rise in LV crime: Jen Lawson; Crime in the Las Vegas area increased 12 percent last year, according to an annual report released Monday by the FBI, and the number has jumped even higher through August.

Club inspected after Rodman crash: Sito Negron; When Metro Police and a Las Vegas business license inspector paid a visit Friday to the topless club Treasures to encourage it to be more cooperative with authorities, they were surprised to run into Las Vegas City Councilman Michael Mack.

Slain girl's mom tells of sorrow, suicide attempt: Erica D. Johnson; The North Las Vegas woman whose 9-year-old daughter was gunned down while she played outside her apartment complex told jurors Monday that severe depression afterward caused her to attempt suicide.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Rebels one quarterback short of success: In another year, given the way quarterback Kurt Nantkes has struggled the past three weeks, this might be the time UNLV would switch to Plan B.

Columnist Jeff German: Herrera looking at a deal: The voters have never tolerated elected officials who put their offices up for sale.

Business briefs for Oct. 28, 2003: NEW YORK -- Signs of improvement in the job market triggered a rebound in a measure of consumers' confidence in the economy in October, a private research group reported today.

Fifth graders claim sexual contact: Ed Koch and Emily Richmond; Six students at David M. Cox Elementary School in Henderson have reported being inappropriately touched by a photographer during a portrait sitting on campus Friday, triggering an investigation by Clark County School District police.