Print edition for September 30, 2003

Obituaries for Sept. 30, 2003: Henry Avila, 68, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. He was born Jan. 7, 1935, in Denver. A resident for 37 years, he was a retired food and beverage management consultant and an Army veteran.

Maine residents nearly equally split on casino: Clarke Canfield; PORTLAND, Maine -- Mainers are almost equally split on whether a casino should be allowed in the state, but strongly favor allowing slot machines at certain horse racing tracks, according to a poll released Monday.

Plan proposed to lower intake: The National Park Service is studying the possibility of lowering the original intake pipe that delivers drinking water from Lake Mead to the Las Vegas Valley because the drought continues to draw the surface down.

Letter: Bush's record has been very bad: He has spent the surplus and accumulated a massive new national debt with the largest deficit ever recorded.

View from Vegas looks a lot like Atlanta: As long as Greg Maddux outwits Derek Jeter, we are confident about our season-long prediction that the Atlanta Braves will win their second World Series championship in nine years.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Assessing progress in Iraq: Any way you slice it, the American people want to know more, not less, about what is happening in Iraq, how long it will continue to happen, when our troops are coming home and how much it ultimately will cost. All this to determine for ourselves whether or not the whole thing was worth it in the first place.

Letter: Theft, vandalism at White House: She should read the GAO report, which states: "Damage, theft, vandalism and pranks occurred in the White House complex during the 2001 presidential transition."

Letter: Negotiate now for benefits from Yucca Mountain: First, what better place than the Nevada Test Site? It has been used for nuclear missions since the 1950s. Second, once you look past the smoke and mirrors that our state is using, one can see that this federal project can diversify our economy and significantly enhance the research being done in our university system.

Pioneer gaming figure Morris dies: Rod Morris got his start in the gaming industry nearly 70 years ago, cleaning spittoons in an illegal Chicago gambling hall. While a Marine in the Solomon Islands during World War II, he operated a makeshift casino.

Conventions moved because of construction delay: Realtors Land Institute, Oct. 6-10, will now be held at the Imperial Palace. Catholic Healthcare West will hold its convention at the MGM Grand.

Nellis major awarded Bronze Star: Jace Radke; Maj. Doug Putney left his classroom with the 6th Combat Training Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base for a seat in a helicopter in order to help lead the air assault on Iraq in March and April.

Mother charged in deaths asks for her kids: Erica Johnson and Jen Lawson; The woman charged with beating her children to death with a baseball bat cried in court Monday, saying she loved her son and daughter and wanted to be with them.

Reid, Ensign concerned over plan to rebuild Iraq: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The administration's plan to spend $20 billion to help rebuild Iraq does not sit well with Nevada Democrat Sen. Harry Reid or Republican Sen. John Ensign, though each has different reasons for his concerns.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Santa Anita: Wednesday's card

Monday's prep results: Green Valley 2, Vo-Tech 0 Goals: Sanchez, Robinson; Shutout-Sharrer

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Stewart files lawsuit over phony memorabilia: Tony Stewart has filed a lawsuit against a Georgia man, accusing him of selling counterfeit racing helmets and other non-licensed memorabilia featuring the NASCAR Winston Cup champion and his sponsor, The Home Depot.

Woman killed in boating accident: Eve Haley of Apple Valley was driving a high-performance speed boat on Lake Mohave Sunday night when the boat struck land at Cottonwood Island. Others aboard called for emergency help about 11:45 p.m., Park Service spokeswoman Roxanne Dey said.

Columnist Dean Juipe: World (Series) is ready for Cubs, Red Sox: Dean Juipe; At best there are two or three of you out there, two or three people living in Las Vegas who are reading this newspaper and who were alive the last time the Chicago Cubs won the World Series.

Labor Relations Board dismisses cleaner's charge: Alana Roberts; The National Labor Relations Board has dismissed an unfair labor practices charge filed by Al Phillips the Cleaner Inc. against the Union of Needletrades, Textile and Industrial Employees, while another unfair labor practice charge filed by the Las Vegas company remains under investigation.

Nevada jobless benefit costs to remain stable: CARSON CITY -- Despite a sluggish economy, Nevada's more than 48,000 employers may enjoy a fourth straight year of stable premiums that pay for jobless benefits.

One dead, one in critical condition after shooting: Residents reported hearing gunshots about 1:30 a.m.., and officers who responded found two men with multiple gunshot wounds, Lt. Tom Monahan of Metro's homicide unit said.

Coroner: Student died of overdose: Dan Kulin; The Boulder City High School football player who died Aug. 31 after a night of partying and hanging out with friends at his apartment died from a cocaine overdose, the Clark County Coroner said this morning.

Nevada Health Care Association holds vendor show: Nevada Health Care Association holds vendor show

McIntire resigns from panel: Appointed in 1999 by Gov. Kenny Guinn, his four-year term as commissioner was scheduled to expire in November. His resignation is effective immediately and he is expected to begin work as a utilities consultant with the Jones Vargas law firm in Reno this week.

Insurer reports rise in income: Second-quarter premiums written in the most-recent quarter reached $45.5 million, up from $32.4 million a year ago.

Columnist Jeff German: Culinary reaching for Arnold's star power: "Maybe a miracle will happen," says Glen Arnodo, the union's political director.

Valley's newest hospital to open: Michelle Swafford; The $70 million Spring Valley Hospital is scheduled to open Wednesday in the southwest Las Vegas Valley, marking another chapter in the region's explosive growth story.

Gaming briefs for Sept. 30, 2003: SYDNEY, Australia -- Jupiters Ltd., Australia's third- largest gaming company, said it agreed to sell its Centrebet sports betting business to SportOdds Group for A$46.6 million ($31.2 million).

State looking at policies after shooting death in LV: CARSON CITY -- The director of the state Division of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities says the agency is looking at its policies after a client shot to death one man and wounded two police officers in Las Vegas.

Art worth $1 million stolen from Caesars: Jen Lawson; Artwork worth more than $1 million was recently stolen from the Galerie Lassen inside the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, Metro Police said.

Convenience store clerk shot to death: Ed Koch and Jen Lawson; A 28-year-old man was shot and killed early today in front of the North Las Vegas convenience store where he worked, police said.

Officials want law that would force cleanup: Dan Kulin; Barbara Plascencia figures she's going to be fined.

Man arrested after threat to kill CCSN students: Jennifer Knight; North Las Vegas Police arrested a 40-year-old man Monday night after he walked into a classroom at the Community College of Southern Nevada and threatened to shoot everyone.

Man rescued from wash: A man was rescued this morning from a remote desert wash in Henderson, leaving authorities wondering not only how he got there but also whether he had been burned by chemicals.

LV may get new Guard team: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Las Vegas could be home to one of 12 new National Guard teams specially trained to handle weapons of mass destruction, if the Defense Department goes along with a request by Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev.

New laws set to take effect: CARSON CITY -- More than 170 new laws covering everything from tax increases to restrictions on e-mail go into effect Wednesday in Nevada.

Letter to editor prompts bid to kill indictments: Erica D. Johnson; An attorney for one of the alleged 311 Boyz has filed a motion challenging the grand jury that indicted his client, saying a letter he says was written by one of the jurors to a local newspaper shows the juror was not impartial when he voted to charge the teen.

Editorial: Officials' motive was revenge: Even worse, in revealing the name of Wilson's wife, the officials very likely broke a federal law that prohibits identifying federal intelligence operatives. They possibly jeopardized her safety and that of her contacts. Over the weekend a senior administration official acknowledged to The Washington Post that the two leakers had tried to interest at least six other journalists in the story and that their effort to "out" Wilson's wife "was meant purely and simply for revenge." This administration, which has tried to turn national security into a partisan issue, has shown in the past that it's not above political cheap ...

Elvis impersonator Baker dies at 67: "Golden" Joe Baker may have been the world's first professional Elvis Presley impersonator, developing a variation of a tribute act in the 1950s on the East Coast.

Future of Lake Mead focus of two-day conference: Officials from an array of local, state and federal agencies met Monday to consider the condition and fate of Lake Mead.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Students need to take write turn: "We forget that writing is thinking and that we have to teach kids how to think," said Saralyn Lasley, a literacy specialist and a co-chair of the Southern Nevada Writing Project.

Editorial: NRC nomination calls for political hardball: Reid wants the president to appoint Greg Jaczko, who holds a doctorate's degree in particle physics and who has been the senator's science adviser for two years. The Bush administration, without the courtesy of an explanation, rejected Jaczko. Reid is retaliating by vowing to hold up Bush's nominations for administrative posts, including Bush's nomination of Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency.

Community briefs for Sept. 30, 2003: Residents interested in learning about county government and improving their local communities are encourage to enroll in the Clark County Community Leadership workshops.

Child safety seat use reported up: The agency said Monday that a statewide survey ending in July found that 63 percent of children who should be in car safety seats in Nevada were in those seats. That's a marked improvement compared with July 2002's rate of 37 percent, but the national average is 95 percent, the Nevada Department of Public Safety noted Monday.

Senior center fire was set: Someone set the massive fire that consumed a vacant senior assisted living center Friday, but investigators don't know yet whether it was accidental or intentional, authorities said Monday.

Traffic control center planned: Gov. Kenny Guinn, Nevada Department of Transportation Director Jeff Fontaine, and Rep. Shelley Berkley were among those who helped break ground on the new building located off Interstate 215 at Decatur Boulevard.

Proposed sewer surcharge prompts spirited debate: Sito Negron; While rate increases are cause enough for many Las Vegans to take notice, a portion of the sewer fee proposal to be presented to the City Council on Wednesday could create even more discussion than usual.

Pac-10 renews Las Vegas Bowl contract: The original three-year contract pitting the Pac-10's No. 5 team against the Mountain West Conference's No. 2 team was due to expire after this year's contest, which will be played on Christmas Eve at 4:30 p.m. at Sam Boyd Stadium and be televised nationally by ESPN.

Kretschmer gets second Chance: Steve Guiremand; Chance Kretschmer said he remembers last year's Battle for the Fremont Cannon battle with UNLV very well. And it isn't a very pleasant memory.

High-roller's suit stayed by judge: Judge Jackie Glass on Monday dismissed Control Board defendants from a suit brought by Los Angeles-area businessman Steve Mattes, who claims Park Place defrauded him of millions of dollars in gambling debts over four days of play at the opening weekend of the Paris Las Vegas in September 1999.

No blame given in airport collision: The National Transportation and Safety Board has issued its preliminary report about the Sept. 23 runway collision of two single-engine planes at North Las Vegas Airport, but it does not say who was to blame for the wreck.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Rebels driven by message and a bottle: Perhaps UNLV should make singer/songwriter Sting its spokesman, because a message in a bottle has played a role in the Rebels' early-season football success.

Number of uninsured rose by 2.4 million in 2002: WASHINGTON -- An additional 2.4 million people fell into the ranks of the uninsured last year, according to Census Bureau estimates that show a second consecutive annual increase spurred by people losing coverage when they are laid off or their job benefits are cut. Nevada was one of 18 states that posted a significant increase in the number of uninsured.

UNLV scientists asked to study Yucca radioactivity: AMARGOSA VALLEY -- The Energy Department has signed an $850,000 contract with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to find out where radioactive chlorine found at the proposed nuclear waste repository site at Yucca Mountain originated.

Office park water features might not receive waivers: Sito Negron; Office parks are unlikely to be exempted from drought rules dealing with fountains, said two top officials involved in different areas of developing and implementing the water conservation ordinance.