Print edition for September 18, 2003

Details scarce on McCarran: Airline officials could not be reached for comment on whether the low-fare carrier would replace some local service or, in the alternative, increase United's operations in Las Vegas.

Guard arrested in prison drug case: CARSON CITY -- A yearlong drug smuggling operation at the Southern Nevada Women's Prison in North Las Vegas has been broken up with the arrest of a guard and another woman, the state Department of Public Safety said Wednesday.

4 teens wounded in gang shooting: Mary Manning and Afsha Bawany; A gang-related shooting in Las Vegas late Wednesday left four teens wounded, including one whose leg may have to be amputated and another paralyzed, authorities said.

Major park project will be boon to horse riders: The first part of what could ultimately be 150 acres of parkland for people and their horses received approval from Clark County on Wednesday.

Woman gives $50,000 to Boys and Girls Club: Sito Negron; A Las Vegas charity won $50,000 in a hand of poker without even being at the game.

State: DMV wrong to make petitioners leave: CARSON CITY -- The state Department of Motor Vehicles was wrong in stopping supporters of a drive to recall Gov. Kenny Guinn from gathering petition signatures at one of its Las Vegas offices, the Secretary of State's office said today.

Audit uncovers funds missing in jail account: Jennifer Knight; North Las Vegas officials are investigating one of their employees in connection with $156,000 in missing funds taken from an account set up for inmates in the jail, a spokeswomen said Thursday.

Seniors, children lead population boom: By Timothy Pratt; Clark County ranked second in the nation in the number of school-age children gained in the first two years of this decade in a Census Bureau report released today, and third in the number of senior citizens added in the same period.

Station engaged in Tropicana land dealing: The Clark County Commission approved a zone change Wednesday that could ultimately lead to more space for a new or remodeled casino at Tropicana Avenue and Industrial Road.

Police say no crime in shooting case: Jen Lawson; A Las Vegas woman didn't commit a crime when she shot and killed her neighbor, who broke through her ceiling to evade police, Metro Police investigators said Wednesday.

Vegas casino operators bullish at trade show: By Liz Benston; After two years of weakness, the gaming industry is poised to regain the growth it achieved prior to the terrorist attacks in 2001, top casino executives said over two days of the Global Gaming Expo trade show in Las Vegas this week.

Consultant gives high, low marks for promotions: Kevin Rademacher; Mike Germano breathed a sigh of relief as Dennis Conrad's presentation wrapped up Wednesday morning at the Global Gaming Expo.

Las Vegas' vision for downtown land takes shape: Sito Negron; If all goes well, Las Vegas can begin design of its 61-acre patch of downtown after signing a contract in two weeks, and construction of streets and other infrastructure needed for development would begin in about a year, the city manager reported Wednesday.

Alleged gang member faces added charges: Erica D. Johnson; One of the alleged 311 Boyz charged with maiming a 17-year-old boy will face additional felony charges stemming from two separate beatings in northwest Las Vegas.

Park Place signs Indian casino deal: The Pauma tribe already operates a casino with slots and table games including craps and roulette. It also features entertainment, a cafe and a buffet. Plans call for the "Caesars Pauma" casino to replace the existing operation, Park Place spokesman Robert Stewart said.

LV passenger count down: The decrease was attributed to a 1 percent decline in business at United Airlines and the absence of flights this year by National Airlines, which shut down last November.

Fatal accident closes water line: A fatal accident that occurred while contractors were installing water-flow measurement devices Wednesday shut down a major water line serving Henderson overnight.

Teacher net: Program uses 'misery index' to lure potential educators to Clark County: By Emily Richmond; When blizzards bury Buffalo, N.Y., or layoffs level Long Beach, Calif., the "misery index" built into the Clark County School District's teacher recruiting software kicks into action.

News briefs for Sept. 18, 2003: Metro Police arrested a 36-year-old Phoenix man as a fugitive wanted in Arizona for multiple counts of sexual contact with a minor.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Former SNL-ers rage against the machines: Dan Aykroyd has a little less hair than he used to, but he has lost none of the ironic wit that made him a mainstay of the early "Saturday Night Live."

LV gaining flights: Southwest said that beginning Jan. 18, it will launch daily nonstop service between Las Vegas and Spokane, Wash. On Jan. 24, Southwest will add Saturday-only service between Orlando and Las Vegas.

Gaming briefs for Sept. 18, 2003: PORTLAND, Maine -- An attorney for casino opponents said today that a referendum allowing a casino in Maine would exempt its operators from a host of state regulations and could give them tens of millions of dollars in credits that could reduce the amount the state receives from the facility.

Beryllium investigation to focus on Test Site: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Previous machine work did not cause the beryllium contamination at an Energy Department complex last year, recent data from an ongoing study shows.

Council approves new water, sewer rates: Dan Kulin; North Las Vegas water and sewer customers will see higher bills and face new water-use restrictions beginning Oct. 1.

Obituaries for Sept. 18, 2003: Anita Berman, 83, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. She was born Sept. 28, 1919, in Boston. A resident for 11 years, she was a retired administrator, a member of Jewish Women's International and City of Hope.

Utility optimistic on avoiding bankruptcy: Kevin Rademacher; Despite a $300 million court ruling against the struggling utility, Sierra Pacific Resources Chairman Walter Higgins said Wednesday he is confident that company can escape bankruptcy.

Columnist Adam Candee: Close friends, coaches stick by McKay: Adam Candee; Some are shocked. Most just can't believe how far it has gone.

Prep Football Statistics: Team / Pts. / Avg. Foothill 10 3.3 Rancho 12 4.0 Coronado 20 6.7 Cim.-Memorial 33 11.0 Chaparral 34 11.3 Eldorado 37 12.3 Shadow Ridge 38 12.7 Palo Verde 41 13.7 Las Vegas 46 15.3 Bishop Gorman 48 16.0 Western 49 16.7 Cheyenne 53 17.7 Basic 57 19.0 Centennial 58 19.3 Mojave 59 19.7 Durango 68 22.7 Valley 68 22.7 Desert Pines 70 23.3 Sierra Vista 77 25.7 Green Valley 80 26.7 Silverado 113 37.7 Clark 116 38.7 Liberty 135 45.0 Bonanza 144 48.0

Driver indicted in injury to news anchor: Erica D. Johnson; The man authorities say drove drunk and rear-ended Channel 8 news anchor Gary Waddell as Waddell was riding his motorcycle between Laughlin and Las Vegas will face DUI charges in District Court.

Bush renews secrecy exemption for Area 51: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The Air Force can still keep its activities at Groom Lake secret, according to an exemption renewed by President Bush on Tuesday. The exemption has been renewed each year since 1995.

Judge might get $33,000 pay raise: Dan Kulin; North Las Vegas's only Municipal Court judge would receive a $33,910 raise under a proposal scheduled to go before the City Council Oct. 1.

Attorney considers sentencing 'harsh' in casino holdup: Erica D. Johnson; One of the men convicted in a casino heist in which two armored truck guards were shot was sentenced to prison Wednesday, but still faces a separate charge stemming from a fight with another inmate at the Clark County Detention Center.

Nevada gets D in study of campaign rules: CARSON CITY -- Nevada received a grade of D in its ability to provide timely information to voters about the contributions and expenditures of political candidates, a study by a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization says.

Reports mixed on growth, jobs: The 0.4 percent gain in the New York-based Conference Board's gauge of how the economy will perform over the next three to six months followed a rise of 0.6 percent in July.

More minorities calling Las Vegas Valley home: By Timothy Pratt; Growing numbers of minorities continue to call the Las Vegas Valley home, placing Clark County high in national rankings for a period totaling a little over two years ending in July 2002, according to a Census Bureau report issued today.

Riders mount opposition to proposed development: About 30 angry residents met with Henderson planning officials and a developer Wednesday night to try to stop a new housing development that they said could impede their ability to roam around the area on horseback.

Avoiding a letdown: Adam Candee; He watched his team let down once after a good performance, and coach Frank DeSantis is not about to let Eldorado repeat the effort -- especially not this week.

Oral arguments set in fight over Yucca: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Oral arguments for the state's legal fight against the Energy Department and its proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump are set for Jan. 14, according to the clerk of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Charity poker kicks off television show on LV: Sito Negron; A Las Vegas charity won $50,000 in a hand of poker without even being at the game.

Veteran issues are resolved, but strike continues: As he watched the Calgary Flames scrimmage Wednesday, Las Vegas Wranglers coach and general manager Glen Gulutzan sounded confident that the current ECHL players' strike will be resolved.

Merrill Lynch settles criminal probe: The resolution in the corporate case came as three former senior Merrill executives were indicted on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and perjury for their roles in one of the transactions, the purported sale by Enron to Merrill of an interest in power barges moored off the coast of Nigeria.

'A long, tough road': Steve Guiremand; Lui Fuga will finally play in a football game in Sam Boyd Stadium on Friday night. But he'll be wearing the Green, Black, White and Silver of Hawaii instead of the Scarlet and Gray of UNLV.

Pact reached with GM, Delphi: A tentative deal also was reached with automotive supplier Delphi Corp.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Bazemore remains focused: With only 57 points separating Whit Bazemore and NHRA Funny Car points leader Tony Pedregon, Bazemore is putting a premium on qualifying heading into the final six events of the season.

Appeal of free speech ruling looms: Sito Negron; The U.S. Supreme Court could be the next step for the debate over free speech at the Fremont Street Experience, as the Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved authorizing its attorney to appeal a decision declaring the pedestrian mall a public space.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: You can count Rebels' big wins on three fingers: While I'm not saying that the UNLV football team hasn't had a lot of significant victories, upon closer inspection, you can probably count them on one hand.

Henderson's Pearson among the favorites: GAME2003 AT A GLANCE

SBA loans flow for flood victims: Sito Negron; In briefing the City Council Wednesday, SBA spokesman Ken Shuman thanked the city for the loan of offices in the Northwest Service Center.

Student of the sport: Dean Juipe; There is no questioning the man's resilience or his ability to rise and meet a challenge.

Dorsey carrying load for UNLV: Steve Guiremand; Standing just 5-foot-6 and weighing 163 pounds soaking wet, which he certainly was last weekend in soggy Madison, Wis., Dominique Dorsey doesn't exactly fit the profile of a workhorse running back.

Nuke plant development not in energy bill draft: Lawmakers working to complete a compromise of the House and Senate bills passed earlier this year released the draft nuclear language Tuesday. Negotiations are still under way.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Lawyer to Arum: Put your cards on the table: Dean Juipe; The Nevada State Athletic Commission will conduct a hearing into promoter Bob Arum's allegation that last Saturday's fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Shane Mosley was "fixed" or at least mishandled by the regulatory board.

Meeting in LV will focus on U.S.-Israeli ties: The head of this country's leading pro-Israel lobby said there will not be peace between Israelis and Palestinians until Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is removed.

Editorial: Doing the right thing: Republican legislators opposed to the final tax package wanted the rehearing because they feared it set a precedent. Yet as the Supreme Court noted in its opinion Wednesday, its ruling in July "did not eliminate the two-thirds' requirement, but it did indicate that the supermajority provision could not be used to avoid other constitutional duties." In the Assembly a band of Republicans had irresponsibly refused to increase taxes enough to fund the state budget, including public education, in an obvious attempt to score points with their partisan base.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Close call challenged: Just about the time I have been convinced it must be a reception problem another commentator, George Foreman, says he saw the same fight that people in our living room observed. Unlike other official observers, Foreman not only has seen hundreds of fights, the former world heavyweight champ has also participated in a large number. He told his fellow commentator, Larry Merchant, that he sees a fight but doesn't know boxing. How true. Merchant does a lot of philosophizing but doesn't really get down to the gut issues.

Letter: Oil companies experiment with gas price excuses: Now oil companies are testing other excuses, such as the East Coast blackout. Yet gas prices in Las Vegas had gone up 20 cents a gallon a week before the blackout. And never mind that we don't get any fuel from the Eastern refineries that had to be shut down for two days.

Nellis Air Force Base officer awarded aerospace trophy: Dick Benoit; A Nellis Air Force Base tactician is the first officer below the rank of general in more than a decade, and the first major in four decades to win an Air Force award recognizing achievement of the year's "most outstanding progress in aerospace."

Letter: Standards needed in capital cases: TRUDY MUSSER

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Offering no ill will in return: Ruthe Deskin; In effect, I was, but not voluntarily.

Fisch Shtick: Electronic dance act Fischerspooner might soon be Vegas headliner: Spencer Patterson; Yet Friday's Fischerspooner show at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay might be the most significant outing in the New York City electro-pop music and dance troupe's storied five-year history.

Editorial: New court will tackle old issue: Just 35 cases will be heard during the program's initial phase. This will give the program time to demonstrate whether more funding is warranted. Defendants appearing in the court will be screened by a team of professionals to ensure against misuse of the program by people who are not mentally ill. Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services, a state agency, will assist with the program. This will enable Judge John McGroarty, who will preside over mental health court, to render sentencings that include psychotherapy and other treatment that could extend from six months to two years.

Community briefs for Sept. 18, 2003: Chiropractic offices worldwide will participate in the ninth annual Kids Day America/International, a health, safety, and environmental awareness event.

Utah Shakespearean Festival offers month of autumn delights: "The festival's highly-acclaimed summer season has just come to an end and we're only days away from opening three new comedies," Fred C. Adams, the Utah Shakespearean Festival founder, said.

Official says Nevada agency erred in blocking recall group: AP; CARSON CITY, Nev.- The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles erred in initially blocking a group's efforts to gather signatures for a recall petition targeting Gov. Kenny Guinn, the secretary of state's office said Thursday.

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