Print edition for September 26, 2003

Some say BLM land valued low for latest auction: Jennifer Shubinski; The Bureau of Land Management has appraised more than 2,700 acres of undeveloped desert land to be sold at its November land auction for $361.2 million -- far less than what some developers had expected.

NLV company settles pollution complaint: Alana Roberts; Capital Cabinet Corp., a North Las Vegas kitchen and bathroom cabinet manufacturer, has agreed to pay a $142,000 fine and use different materials and equipment to settle a Clean Air Act lawsuit filed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Panthers get offense rolling: Adam Candee; It took just 15 seconds of the second half to understand that this would not be a typical Northwest Division game Thursday at Palo Verde.

Plane belly-lands at NLV: The pilot and one passenger on the two-seat Beechcraft Bonanza single-engine plane were not injured in the rough landing, which happened around 11 a.m., Grey said.

HUD commends Goodman on homeless program: Sito Negron and Timothy Pratt; The San Francisco office of the federal Housing and Urban Development department sent Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman a letter of commendation for a program meant to take people off the streets by placing them in permanent housing.

Murray turns in big night to lead way for Gorman: Nick Christensen; Bishop Gorman sophomore DeMarco Murray ran for 77 yards, caught passes for 75 yards, scored three touchdowns, and gave his coach a scare with a third quarter backflip into the end zone.

Try revisiting King for a day: Spencer Patterson; With PBS' seven-part, Martin Scorsese-produced "The Blues" documentary set to kick off on Sunday, there's no better time to take a trip to the Mississippi Delta.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Stand-up David sneaking around the business: Lisa Ferguson; It takes a certain skill level to deliver stand-up comedy. After 17 years in the business, Jim David has learned, for example, it's usually best "to sneak the satire in through the back door.

Payroll tax deduction for health care clarified: CARSON CITY -- Employers who will be hit with a payroll tax starting next week are eligible to deduct payments made for health care, not only for their employees but also for their dependents.

Report: Kerzner plans $350 million London casino: Kerzner International Ltd. signed an agreement in principle with Anschutz Entertainment Group, the company building a sports and entertainment site in the dome, according to the paper.

Correction: Correction

Cirque's 'Zumanity' an odd game of taboo: What: "Zumanity."

He'll make it work: GLEN GULUTZAN FILE

Editorial: Williams, leadership don't mix: It was disclosed Thursday that Williams owes the city of Las Vegas nearly $2,000 for personal phone calls he made on a city cell phone between June 2002 and August of this year. Williams, who makes $85,981 a year as an administrative officer in the city's Neighborhood Services Department, will have $70 deducted from each paycheck until the full amount is repaid. That was a smart move by the city to take the money directly out of his salary. After all, he has a habit of not taking care of his fines, traffic or otherwise. Williams was fined $15,000 for ...

Soldier Field gets thumbs down: NFL SNAPSHOT

Letter: Bush lied from first day on job: It started from the moment George W. Bush took office when White House spokesman Ari Fleischer went on television day after day reporting on the terrible acts of vandalism the Clinton staff had committed. The right-wing media joined in, reporting for weeks, in detail, all the disgusting things that had been done.

Officers stable after shootings; man jailed: Mary Manning and Dan Kulin; Two Metro Police officers were injured and one man was killed in a shooting incident Thursday afternoon at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Bonanza Road, police said.

New president named, Yoseloff still CEO: The Las Vegas-based gaming equipment supply company said in a press release today that Meyer had been president of Concurrent Computer Corp.'s Integrated Solutions Division.

Attorney: Gazlay expected to be hit with more charges: Erica D. Johnson; A defense attorney for one of the alleged gang members who faces felony charges that are part of a summer crime spree says more charges could be filed against his client.

Court refuses to block card room: Ron Harris; SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal appeals court rejected Thursday an attempt to block a landless Indian tribe from taking over an urban card room in the San Francisco Bay area.

Reconstruction of helicopter starts: The investigation into why a Sundance tour helicopter crashed in the Grand Canyon on Saturday, killing seven, could take at least two weeks as wreckage is reconstructed, a National Transportation Safety Board investigator said Thursday.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Voice of courage, peace: If we have learned anything in the last year it is that when our country's leadership is pushing hard to go to war, it is difficult if not dangerous to talk of peace. Labeling citizens as traitors or unpatriotic when they speak about peace is suddenly un-American, a drumbeat heard around the country as we marched our young men and women to war with Iraq.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Fischerspooner syncs in rocky Strip debut: Spencer Patterson; "I hear this one's an underground cult classic," Casey Spooner announced as Fischerspooner launched into "Emerge," the first single off debut album "# 1," last Friday night at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay.

Regents consider name change: Among the possibilities are the Nevada Higher Education System and the University and College System of Nevada, said

Gambling barge could get new name: Harrah's announced plans to sell its Vicksburg holdings to Kentucky-based Columbia Sussex Corporation of Fort Mitchell in July.

Amin returns kickoff for TD to lift Coronado: It was Coronado's first division win in school history.

Casino plan fails: The 214-foot vessel shoved off from its home on the Gore side of the banks of the Arkansas River last week and is now docked at Fort Smith, Ark., authorities said Wednesday.

Death penalty may be sought for mother: Dan Kulin; Metro Police have filed murder charges Thursday against the mother accused of killing her two children with a baseball bat and may face the death penalty if convicted, authorities said.

Police say HIV growing threat among call girls: Jen Lawson; Patricia Edgerly tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS more than 10 years ago, according to Metro Police. Since then, police have arrested her for prostitution at least seven times.

Details emerge about three deaths: Timothy Pratt and Mary Manning; Details about the three people killed in an apparent love triangle gone wrong began to emerge Thursday from police, fellow workers and neighbors.

Sheriff defends police chase that led to death: Jen Lawson; A police chase Thursday morning that resulted in a 16-year-old car break-in suspect driving into another car, killing a woman, was within Metro's recently revised vehicular pursuit policy, Sheriff Bill Young said.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Arizona has gone to the 'dogs: Dean Juipe; Notes today, leading off with the sorry state of football in Arizona.

Tune Raiders: Spencer Patterson; Walking around campus in his anti-Recording Industry Association of America T-shirt, University of Nevada, Las Vegas junior Landin Ryan has received pleny of support from fellow students.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: NASCAR keeps on truckin' with Craftsman Series: The first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race was Feb. 5, 1995, in Phoenix. I can confirm that without the media guide because I was there.

Obituaries for Sept. 26, 2003: Robert A. Akins, 75, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. He was born May 19, 1928, in Alliance, Ohio. A retired vice president of a security gate company, he was a World War II Navy veteran and a lifetime member of Elks Lodge 467 in Alliance.

Columnist Jeff German: Cassidy case giving Roger fits: But District Judge Lee Gates has put off Cassidy's case until Nov. 25.

Columnist Sal DeFilippo: OakLanD a world apart from last season's Super Bowl: Sal DeFilippo; There's a fine line between being considered a crafty, cagy, savvy group of veterans and being considered a team that's too old, too slow and past their prime.

Arson charged dropped in Moulin Rouge fire: Deputy Public Defender Lynn Avants said state prosecutors dropped one count each of first-degree arson and a conspiracy to commit arson against Ball, 45, also known as "Bubba," in the fire that destroyed the long-closed casino at 900 W. Bonanza Road.

Letter: Redirect troops against al-Qaida: The Bush administration's justifications for the Iraqi invasion, with the exception that Saddam Hussein was a bad person, remain unproven. The administration has failed to address the same questions in Iraq that the Johnson administration failed to address in Vietnam. Are our actions in our national interest? Is the U.S. and the rest of the world more secure? Is the cost in American lives, tax dollars and assault on our freedoms worth the alleged benefits?

Thunderbirds cancel two appearances: A Janesville, Wis., show scheduled for this weekend and an Oct. 1 show in Tucumcari, N.M., are the latest appearances to be canceled because of the crash of one of the Thunderbirds' F-16s at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho on Sept. 14.

UNLV ranks 16th in nation in federal money received: Jennifer Knight; The University of Nevada, Las Vegas ranked 16th of 771 colleges in the amount of federal money it received through Congress this year, according to a Chronicle of Higher Education report.

Editorial: Death and property: And on the surface, it's fair to your surviving spouse should you die. The state only collects on the lien after your spouse dies and it has an unwritten policy to release the lien if your spouse sells the property. This ensures that your spouse will never lose the home because of the lien and that your spouse will receive full value if the home is ever sold. The state executes a lien only after the death of a spouse who has chosen to continue living in the home.

Homeless sweep spawns outrage: By Timothy Pratt; As many as 20 homeless people lost their personal property in a downtown sweep carried out by Metro Police and Las Vegas Neighborhood Services Wednesday morning, provoking outrage by the local ACLU chapter and advocates for the homeless.

No conflicts seen in Porter's resigination: \byline{Steve Kanigher; Three Nevada legal experts say there was nothing unethical or unusual about the resignation of Chief District Judge Gene Porter, who has announced he is forming a new law firm even though his term does not end until 2008.

Lester breaks down barriers, aims for Winston Cup ride: AT A GLANCE

Men of Steel return to Vegas: Spencer Patterson; For a band that has never done much touring, Steely Dan has still always made a point of hitting Las Vegas.

Letter: Iraq invasion sows seeds for more terrorism: What Sadaam did do, however, was to keep Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis under control with cruel, despotic, iron rule -- not very differently, actually, than political thugs the U.S. has supported in Latin America over the years.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Carmona sees dose of reality: The man in a dazzling white uniform with military ribbons covering half his chest circulated among pupils eating breakfast in the Petersen Elementary School cafeteria.

Las Vegas doesn't question Williams' time cards: Erin Neff; Assemblyman Wendell Williams got paid for close to 300 hours of city work by Las Vegas while the 2003 Legislature was in session.

Man held in woman's slaying denied bail: Jace Radke; A man charged with killing his ex-girlfriend outside a karaoke bar in August will be held without bail.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Woods figures in Madame Tussaud's plans: On Oct. 8, the Las Vegas Invitational PGA event tees off on three local courses -- Southern Highlands, Tournament Players Club at Summerlin and TPC at The Canyons. Woods has not committed to compete, and the deadline to enter is Oct. 3.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: LVMS dream pushed back for Kingsland: Casey Kingsland, an 18-year-old Las Vegas native, had hoped to be racing in Saturday's Las Vegas 350 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. Instead, he will be watching his hometown race from the pits of fellow driver Chris Horn.

Letter: Bias spewing from some news media is harmful: Americans can handle the truth, as the saying goes. What they can't handle are half-truths and whole lies. The words "fair and balanced," "the spin stops here," "the network America trusts" -- those are the lies. Radio and TV personalities Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity remind me of Bud Abbot and Lou Costello, only they're not as funny and they actually have some people believing them, which is harmful. Both of them put a pen between their finger and thumb and point; this is to make the public think they are articulate. Actually, they are about as sincere and honest ...

Fishing report: Stripers biting in lake's upper basin: NDOW creel census clerk Walter DeMattos reports that anglers continued to be very successful fishing throughout the entire upper basin. Boaters using anchovies landed stripers that measured 12-14 inches in the Overton Beach area.

Columnist Jerry Fink: Brown takes stock of Las Vegas music scene: Stockton, Calif., might have been the catalyst for the 1973 classic film "American Grafitti," but it isn't exactly a hotbed of entertainment.

Columnist Erin Neff: Embattled Williams needs positive turn: Erin Neff; Williams first won election in 1986, and over the course of his service has focused a light on issues many wanted kept in the dark -- racial profiling, independent review of police and the education needs of blacks and Hispanics.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Only time can make an adult: Dean McKee was 15 when he was charged with murder for beating a black man to death behind a Tampa, Fla., museum. Flanked by his brother and friends the previous summer, the self-proclaimed skinhead had told reporters he could kill to defend his white supremacy beliefs if he "had to."

A different breed: 311 Boyz are unlike other gangs: WEEKEND EDITION: Sept. 28, 2003

Editorial: Study is 'plane' sense: A meeting was scheduled last week between managers of the North Las Vegas Airport and residents who live nearby. They were scheduled to discuss the residents' concerns that the airport's steady growth is creating the potential for unsafe conditions. Ironically, the managers had to postpone the meeting because they were busy dealing with an accident involving two planes that had collided on a runway, injuring the two pilots.

Columnist Jeff German: Las Vegas sells sex, but pays price in social ills: Tourists are flocking to Sin City to live out their vices because they know, as the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is fond of telling them in national television ads, "what happens here stays here."

Letter: Coinless slots are not as thrilling: Without these, I have no desire to play. Getting a paper receipt would be the equivalent of receiving a credit card receipt. Who came up with this brainstorm? What next, paper craps and chips? I guess the casinos don't make enough profit from the public.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: 'Bravo' appearance is so groovy: WEEKEND EDITION: Sept. 28, 2003

Columnist Jon Ralston: Timid silence permeates scandals: The elected elite are bound by an informal union that, like a real labor organization, too often would rather protect a bad apple than expose the rot. So it surprises me not that Assemblyman Wendell Williams has been insulated by a conspiracy of silence by a confederacy of wimps and abetted by two government entities that are complicit in the ongoing cover-up.

Star Among Stars: WEEKEND EDITION: Sept. 28, 2003

Survivor crusading against cancer: WEEKEND EDITION: Sept. 27, 2003

Editorial: Free speech not an issue for call list: More than 50 million people have signed the national Do Not Call list to protect themselves and their families from intrusive telemarketers. In June the legislation creating the list was overwhelmingly approved by Congress and President Bush signed it into law. Last week Congress fended off an attack by a federal judge, who ruled that Congress had not explicitly given the Federal Trade Commission authority to oversee the list. Congress immediately, and again overwhelmingly, approved a bill giving the authority to the FTC and President Bush vowed to sign that bill before the list takes effect Oct. 1.

This week in motor sports: Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (tri-oval 1.5 miles, 12 degrees banking in turns).

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Arafat back onstage: What peace lovers over the world have received from Arafat is more bloodshed and the increased use of suicide bombers. Arafat in return has become wealthy from funds provided by the United States and other nations trying to encourage him to practice good government and provide for his people. His siphoning off of funds was exposed several years ago but this practice is an accepted way of life for most leaders of Arab nations.

Community briefs for Sept. 26, 2003: The Family Resource Center at University Medical Center, 1120 Shadow Lane, is offering childhood immunizations from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday.

Columnist Steve Guiremand: 'Las Vegas' Beavers shining in Pac-10: Steve Guiremand; With UNLV taking this week off with a bye, it would be a good time to catch up with Las Vegas' other college team.

Datebook for September 26, 2003: A DJ will spin the latest hits for those ages 11 to 16 at a teen jam dance from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave. Tickets are $3 each or $4 per couple with school IDs. 229-1515.

Performing Arts for September 26, 2003: Pianist

Columnist Barb Henderson: Mountain Days to attract all ages: Barb Henderson; Folks will be heading to Elko County this weekend to enjoy the Good Ole Mountain City Days.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Star Chefs don't disappoint at The Rio: Saturday night's March of Dimes fund-raiser at The Rio, Star Chefs of Las Vegas, was a tour de force for the venerable organization.

Scene Selection -- Geoff Carter: There are no 'Holes' in this splendid film: Even now, on the cusp of prestige movie season, I can say with some certainty that Andrew Davis' "Holes" will make my top 10 list for 2003. This family film, based on a popular book by Louis Sachar (who also wrote the screenplay), is smarter than most so-called "adult" films I've seen this year, and deserves to be remembered long after the race to the Oscars.

Move over, CSI: Students following in your footprints: By Emily Richmond; Evidence of a break-in and vandalism was everywhere in the cafeteria Thursday at Las Vegas High School -- spilled food, what looked like drops of blood and mysterious symbols painted in scarlet on the glass of the trophy display case.

Tax-splintered GOP holding competing fund-raisers: Erin Neff; Used to be that fund-raisers were pretty tidy events.

Condo units at MonteLago welcome first renters: Condo units at MonteLago welcome first renters

Henderson companies exhibit at showcase: Henderson companies exhibit at showcase

Judge slashes interest on judgment: A final ruling on the contract dispute -- which is being heard as part of Enron's bankruptcy proceedings -- is expected today or Monday. The utilities have 10 days following the final ruling to file an appeal and request permission to post a bond for the judgment during the appeal process.

Business briefs for Sept. 26, 2003: Tenet Healthcare Corp., owner of hospitals including Lake Mead in North Las Vegas, today said General Counsel Christi R. Sulzbach plans to step down Nov. 1. Tenet, which is facing a raft of legal problems, said Sulzbach will assist through March 31 as it searches for a replacement from outside the company. "While we have made progress in recovering from our many challenges, I believe that I have become a focal point for some Tenet critics," Sulzbach said in a statement.

Income drops, poverty rises again: SUITLAND, Md. -- Nevadans earned less last year than they did in 2001, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau today.

Principals have no comment on sale reports: Richard Farley, senior vice president of RFR Realty LLC, and Rick Matthews, senior vice president of Trizec Properties Inc., Toronto, said today they could not comment on reports that RFR and East Coast developer David Edelstein had completed a deal to acquire the mall.