Print edition for September 17, 2003

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Cool tennis talk dominating the social scene: Elizabeth Foyt; Hennessy's committee, including Ryan Wolfington of VegasTennis.com, Dan Jackson, Lily Chu, Jean Kempner, Matt Hennessy and Dallisa Hocking, were present for the players' draw party, where teams and individuals learned their play times for the three-day event.

Women to attend Hadassah academy: The two-year program is designed to develop female leaders in the Jewish community. It incorporates Jewish and Zionist education, skill development, social activism and hands on involvement within the Jewish Community.

Community briefs for Sept. 17, 2003: Culture Shock Las Vegas, a nonprofit, hip hop dance company and youth outreach program, will hold its annual Back to School Jam, from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Brinley Community School, 6150 Smoke Ranch Road.

Temples reunited for prayer service: Afsha Bawany; Although the two temples split nine years ago, Temple Beth Sholom in Summerlin and Midbar Kodesh Temple in Henderson are uniting briefly Saturday for the second annual outdoor prayer service called S'lichot.

Orleans Racing plans to field second truck for Las Vegas event: In what might be construed as the first step in a plan to replace driver Brendan Gaughan should he elect to move to the NASCAR Busch or Nextel Cup series next year, Las Vegas-based Orleans Racing will field a second truck for driver Scott Lynch in next weekend's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Friends, family share in ebullient Greek Food Festival: It is a tale of grit and determination where the men, women and children worked together to raise funds to build a new church that would accommodate the fast-growing Greek community.

Spending OK'd to staff ombudsman: CARSON CITY -- The Legislative Interim Finance Committee on Tuesday approved spending plans for a stepped-up program to resolve hundreds of complaints between residents and homeowners associations in Southern Nevada.

Organic Experience: Shoppers lured by Whole Foods' ambience, quality: Ken Miller; But for nationwide chain Whole Foods Market, which opened at 8855 W. Charleston Blvd. on Aug. 27, such a request had to be turned down.

Strip club manager agrees to cooperate with prosecution: An indicted San Diego strip club manager has agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors in their quest to prove that three San Diego city councilmen illegally accepted money from Las Vegas businessman Michael Galardi and his associates.

UMC task force schedules meeting: Clark County's committee of citizens examining the public hospital system largely wrapped up its work Tuesday.

Malone given lower bond: Jace Radke; An attorney for former Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone said the reduction of his client's bond is a sign that Malone is meeting the expectations of a federal magistrate.

Tuesday's prep results: Palo Verde def. Western, 25-16, 25-12, 25-7: Trina Kauliakamoa totaled 12 kills, seven digs, eight assists, and 14 service points.

Letter: Special fund may be the answer to malpractice woes: So, who should bear the burden for malpractice? Should it be the innocent victim, or the medical provider who committed malpractice? If the voters determine that special treatment should be given, the costs should be borne by all members of society and not just the malpractice victims.

State can't help fund triage center in Las Vegas: CARSON CITY -- An effort has failed, at least temporarily, to gain more state money to help operate a triage center in Las Vegas to take care of the chronically inebriated, drug addicts and mentally ill people who are filling up hospital emergency rooms and jails.

County amends computer contract for recorder's office: The Clark County Commission voted 5-0 to amend the contract with Virginia-based AmCad to computerize the records of documents in the recorder's office.

NHP gets $15 million for radios: CARSON CITY -- After some name-calling and some finger-pointing, the Legislative Interim Finance Committee allocated $15.2 million Tuesday to fix the problems with the radio system being used by the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Mental health court to begin in December: Afsha Bawany; Mentally ill people who find themselves in District Court will soon find a place where they are better understood.

Columnist Peter Benton: Don't get frustrated by aerification closures: Peter Benton; As most area golfers are acutely aware, many local courses are in the process of aerating, thatching, overseeding and what-all, with the consequence being that some layouts have only nine holes open, and others are completely closed.

Las Vegas still hoping for date with Tiger: Adam Candee; The Las Vegas Invitational is not quite out of the Woods yet. It's not in them either.

Quotes on the Nevada Supreme Court's refusal to scrap its tax decision: AP; "Ultimately, the tax package passed with the required two-thirds' majority. I respect the Supreme Court and the sitting justices. I believe today's action should be bring closure to this matter." - Gov. Guinn.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Marketplace: Something for everyone: Today, shelves filled with thousands of food items stand side-by-side with Asian objects of art, furniture, decorative pieces and other merchandise one would not expect to find in a supermarket.

Dividend boosted by slot maker: The dividend is payable on Oct. 13 to shareholders of record on Sept. 30, the company said.

County OKs new positions: Seven "family support specialists" will ease a growing workload within the family support unit at the District Attorney's office, County Manager Thom Reilly told the board. Two-thirds of the $422,000 annual cost will be covered by federal grants, he said.

Letter: Bush has been bad for Nevada: I enjoyed and very much concur with your Sept. 14 editorial, which criticizes Gov. Kenny Guinn for taking an active role in President Bush's re-election campaign even though Bush supports the opening of Yucca Mountain.

Cooking demo scheduled: The chefs have created a line of prepared foods under their "Border Grill" brand, sold exclusively at Whole Foods Market.

Rebels 'D' must slow potent QB, Warriors: Editor's note: The key matchup of each UNLV football game will be previewed in the Las Vegas Sun this season and followed up after the game with an examination of how it turned out.

Editorial: Junk food on campus: The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a private organization whose funding comes from various foundations and subscriptions to its 800,000-circulation newsletter on health issues, asked Congress to give the Agriculture Department authority over the contents of school vending machines. The group suggested replacement items such as unsweetened apple sauce, orange juice, bottled water, granola bars, Chex mix and raisins.

Suspect is arrested after evidence of chop shop found: Jen Lawson; Metro Police arrested one man and are looking for several others after finding evidence of 17 stolen cars in a northeast Las Vegas chop shop.

Dangerous cargo spills on I-15, closing freeway north of LV: Dan Kulin; A truck carrying fertilizer and diesel fuel spilled its potentially explosive cargo along Interstate 15 Tuesday afternoon, forcing officials to close the highway about 18 miles south of Mesquite for six hours while emergency crews cleaned the roadway.

Editorial: Support the Fremont St. marchers: Until recently, Lower Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas matched this profile. For years it had been notable for its drug dealers and prostitutes and its overall aura of crime and blight. A few years ago, however, another type of news began filtering out of the area, the type associated with people who are tired of being beaten down, who are proud of their neighborhoods. There were clean-up drives and reports of people once again speaking out against the criminal elements and speaking in support of projects to beautify their homes and streets.

Parking jam: By Emily Richmond; If Associate Pastor James Kruger had a choice, he would have spent Tuesday morning inside the College Park Baptist Church, helping set up the weekly clothing closet and food cupboard for homeless and poor families.

Weekend success may right the ship for Rebels: Nick Christensen; Preseason poll

Support building for casino: Five in 10 registered voters who responded to the statewide survey released Wednesday would approve a casino in West Warwick for the tribe. Fewer than four in 10 would oppose such a project, with less than two in 10 unsure how they would vote.

Lawyers want case back in Juvenile Court: Erica D. Johnson; Several attorneys representing nine teenagers charged with seriously injuring a 17-year-old say they plan to file motions asking that the case be sent to Juvenile Court.

Bond rating agency revises outlook: The agency also affirmed its ratings on the company, including its BB corporate credit rating.

Spanish version of Vegas travel website launched: Hoping to capitalize on a growing Hispanic market, VEGAS.com has launched a Spanish version of its travel website.

Columnist Jeff German: Problem gambling needs a fix: That proactive approach has long been lacking in Nevada, where the last two Legislatures have rejected bills to set aside money for problem gambling treatment.

Will is optimist economy recovering: Conservative columnist George Will says there's reason for optimism in America because the economy is rebounding and the battle against terrorism has gone better than expected.

Builder's profit improves: Net income rose to $97.8 million, or $2.33 a share, from $83.9 million, or $1.95, a year earlier, the company said in a statement. Revenue advanced 12 percent to $1.44 billion.

Business briefs for Sept. 17, 2003: M.D.C. Holdings Inc. of Denver, whose subsidiaries build homes under the Richmond American Homes brand, today announced that its Las Vegas operation has been split into two divisions: Las Vegas North and Las Vegas South. "The move was prompted by solid home order increases and the company's significant growth in the region," M.D.C. said.

Pulte tops LV satisfaction list: Following Pulte in the Las Vegas rankings were Del Webb, a division of Pulte Homes, and KB Home.

Nellis says goodbye to Creech, man who saved Thunderbirds: Jace Radke; Decked out in blue flight suits with the well-known Thunderbird patch on their chests, members of the Air Force's aerial demonstration squadron joined with others at Nellis Air Force Base on Tuesday to remember Gen. Wilbur "Bill" Creech.

Gasoline up 13 percent: Jennifer Knight; Nevada motorists have been hit with a 13 percent increase in the price of gas over the last month, but experts say the upward trend is expected to break soon.

Taxi board approves increase in fares: The increase will take effect as soon as Taxicab Authority officials can change the meters on the 2,500 vehicles in the fleets of Southern Nevada's 16 cab companies, a process expected to take about five days. It was the second fuel surcharge ever approved by the Taxicab Authority, with the last one allowed in 1991.

Obituaries for Sept. 17, 2003: Lavern Clark, 83, of Las Vegas died Friday in a local care center. She was born Oct. 15, 1919, in Napoleon, Ohio. A resident for 18 years, she was a homemaker.

2 teens accused of home invasions: Jen Lawson; Their getaway vehicles were bicycles, and they kept a loaded gun in a backpack, police say.

Athletic director under investigation: Emily Richmond and Adam Candee; Larry McKay, the Clark County School District's athletic director who retired in June, is being investigated for allegedly mishandling funds intended for the Holiday Prep Classic basketball tournament.

Girl, run over by family car, in critical condition: Afsha Bawany; A 2-year-old girl run over by her parents' sport utility vehicle in their North Las Vegas driveway Tuesday remained in critical condition this morning, police said.

Nevada gets poor grade on rate of graduates: By Emily Richmond; Nevada's high school graduation rate is among the worst in the country, according to a study released today.

Strategies for encouraging responsible gambling outlined: Michelle Swafford; Gambling regulators in Nova Scotia, Canada, are using pop-up screens in all of the province's 3,200 slot machines that tell gamblers how long they've been playing and how much money they have spent per session to raise awareness of responsible gambling.

Nevada court won't overturn tax ruling: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court today declined to reconsider its decision that set aside a constitutional amendment requiring the Legislature to pass new taxes with a two-thirds vote.

Website raises identity theft concern: Documents filed with the Clark County Recorder's office are to be available online soon. But what would be a convenience for many has some worried about the danger of identity theft.

Body discovered in storage bin: An examination will be conducted by the Clark County coroner's office to determine the victim's gender, race and cause of death.

Senate rejects bid to slow time frame for nuke tests: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON-- The Senate rejected an amendment Tuesday that would have stopped funding for nuclear weapons tests and trigger construction at the Nevada Test Site.

Fremont Street executive leaving for Henderson job: At BMI/Landwell, Paris replaces Dan Stewart. BMI/Landwell said Tuesday that Stewart resigned to pursue other opportunities. He could not be reached for comment today.

Regents, profs dispute tenure waiver: Jennifer Knight; UNLV faculty members voted unanimously Tuesday to refuse a Board of Regents request that professors waive their right to be notified when their tenure is discussed in public, calling the request "grossly unfair."

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Castroneves set for hot finish in points race: When Indy Racing League points leader Helio Castroneves took part in an open test last week at California Speedway, it was a typically mild Southern California fall afternoon with temperatures hovering around 80 degrees.

Court to decide on whether law firm should get Yucca pact: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- A federal court will decide if a previously rejected law firm should be awarded an Energy Department contract to review legal aspects of the Yucca Mountain project.

UNLV aims to propel program to next level: Nick Christensen; Preseason poll

Vegas firm's license extended: Sigma Game Inc., a Las Vegas-based slot maker, won a 90-day state license earlier this year from a Cole County judge, who ordered the commission to grant the license to give the company and the state time to resolve the dispute. The commission's latest decision extends the temporary license to Oct. 31.

Senate approves lower spending on Yucca: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The Senate approved a drastically lower Yucca Mountain budget than what the House passed and the Energy Department requested, setting up a contentious -- though not unusual -- debate between negotiators from each chamber that will now meet to iron out differences between the bills.

News briefs for Sept. 17, 2003: A woman shot and killed a man who was trying to burglarize her apartment in eastern Las Vegas at about 4 p.m. Tuesday, Metro Police said.

Manufacturer cutting jobs: Kerr-McGee currently has about 45 employees at its Henderson plant. The company placed 85 local employees on furlough in August.

Sports news briefs for September 17, 2003: A felon with ties to a street gang was charged with murder in the death of the sister of tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Oddity: 'CSI' not favored for Emmy win: According to Bally's/Paris Las Vegas oddsmaker Johnny Avello, the smash hit show penned by one-time Mirage tram operator Anthony Zuiker is an 8-1 longshot in the Best Drama category, behind favorites "Six Feet Under" (at 9-5), "The Sopranos" (2-1) and "The West Wing" (4-1).

Mandalay mall aims for tourist, local mix: Jennifer Shubinski; The newest mall on the Strip is going after locals with convenient parking and an eclectic mix of stores, many of which are not found anywhere else in the Las Vegas Valley.