Print edition for April 7, 2004

County hoping to trim UMC's subsidy: Clark County hopes to reduce its subsidy to the University Medical Center system by $5 million in the next fiscal year, a move that the hospital chief executive said reflects the system's improving financial condition.

Court says transfusion for child was correct: CARSON CITY -- The state Supreme Court unanimously ruled Tuesday that a Las Vegas hospital was correct in giving a newborn a blood transfusion despite the parents' objections on religious grounds.

Shopping center opening set: The District, adjacent to the Green Valley Ranch Station Casino, is a 400,000-square-foot, $80 million project developed by American Nevada Company. In addition to retail space, The District also includes office and residential components.

'The ghetto of all ghettos': Sito Negron; The crumbling Sky-Vue Mobile Park, called by some of its residents the last step down before homelessness, has open sewers, faulty wiring and multiple other violations of health and safety codes spread throughout its 100-plus spaces on 4.8 acres at the north-central edge of Las Vegas.

Hospital action delayed by miscommunication: Jace Radke; A communication breakdown slowed a helicopter crew from getting a 6-year-old girl into Sunrise Hospital's emergency room Tuesday, although hospital officials and the helicopter flight nurse say the delay didn't contribute to the girl's death.

Police arrest man after 24 hours: Jen Lawson and Heather Rawlyk; A man at the center of a daylong standoff in Henderson was upset he was being evicted over the damage his 13 pit bulls caused and promised a "dramatic standoff," the woman who ordered the eviction said.

Community briefs for April 7, 2004: Neighborhood security will be the topic at the Community Association Institute of Nevada luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Palace Station.

Federal grant to help seat belt campaign: CARSON CITY -- Last year an estimated 78.7 percent of Nevada motorists wore seat belts, so state safety officials don't think it is too much to ask to increase it to 80 percent.

Obituaries for April 7, 2004: Juan A. Aflleje, 72, of North Las Vegas, died Wednesday. A retired Army first sergeant and Korean War and Vietnam War veteran, he was born Sept. 19, 1931, in Guam.

GE, Rolls Royce win orders: Pratt & Whitney, the No. 3 commercial engine maker, was the loser in the three-way competition, which ended Tuesday with Boeing's announcement.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: LV elite meets at Park Towers: Elizabeth Foyt; Park Towers residents Dr. Parvin Modaber Jacobs (Elahe's cousin) and her husband, Dr. Ted Jacobs, co-hosted the event. Guests included Susan and Alan Feurstman, Bill Kanter, Judy Robinson, Susan and Irwin Molasky and Bob and Lovee Arum.

State appealing gambling tax decision: The appeal was filed Tuesday with the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled last summer that the different tax rates paid by riverboat casinos and racetrack casinos was not a violation of the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Walters honored for school efforts: District Judge Gerald Hardcastle and Clark County Schools Superintendent Carlos Garcia told the commission that Walters had been a big help to the Truancy Court Diversion Program, which started a year ago. The program aims to keep young people in school and out of trouble. Walters helped the program by providing a reward.

Residents urged to get insurance against floods: With flash flooding possible this spring and summer, the Regional Flood Control District wants to make sure that valley residents are prepared, a district official said.

Architects take state back to nature: CARSON CITY -- A new state office building in Las Vegas is being designed to "take advantage of things God gave us," the architects say.

CEO: Eckerd deal advances J.C. Penney expansion plan: Rachel Katz; DALLAS -- J.C. Penney Co. Chief Executive Allen Questrom's sale of the Eckerd drugstore chain to CVS Corp. and Jean Coutu Group Inc. for $4.53 billion gives him more cash to expand his department stores, where sales rose last year for the first time in six years.

Editorial: Stop the flooding now: The hotel, however, is not doing anything other than monitoring the situation every time it rains. It has no plans to make any structural improvements, despite requests to do so from the Clark County Public Works Department. In our view, the hotel, on its own, with no prodding, should do whatever it takes to make its property safe. Failing that, the county, which regulates the hotels on the Strip, should insist that the Imperial Palace make the necessary improvements. The insistence will come soon enough if someone is killed, but why wait until tragedy strikes?

Editorial: Why invite inevitable disaster?: For years the Energy Department was coy on the transportation issue, not wanting to fully commit itself to trains, which are somewhat safer but a lot more expensive than trucks. On Monday, however, the department formally announced that if Yucca Mountain is approved, trains will play the greater role in moving the waste from 127 storage sites around the country. This may have been meant to assuage safety concerns. But the sheer numbers that the Energy Department cited should be enough to awaken this country to the danger -- there will be 3,300 rail shipments over a 24-year-period.

N.J. governor pledges incentives for AC casinos: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- One year after dealing them a round of tax hikes, Gov. James E. McGreevey offered a kinder hand to casinos Tuesday, promising $92 million for capital construction projects at the gambling halls.

Southwest's Philadelphia arrival means showdown for US Airways: Bill Bergstrom; PHILADELPHIA -- In the ferocious world of airline competition, Philadelphia represents different prospects to different carriers: a land of opportunity for low-fare king Southwest Airlines, but a hard-fought last stand for struggling mainstream carrier US Airways.

City to keep parade tradition: Dan Kulin; With Henderson at risk of losing a tradition older than the city itself, City Hall has stepped in to back the annual Heritage Days Parade, which will continue under a new name: the Springsational Heritage Parade.

Incumbents easily win recall election: Dan Kulin; Boulder City's divisive recall election ended Tuesday with overwhelming victories by the two incumbents.

Rebels blow through field, defend title at Dixie Classic: Adam Candee; After struggling through the final round of the Betsy Rawls Longhorn Ivite in Texas two weeks ago, UNLV women's golf coach Missy Ringler took stock of her team's overall situation and smiled.

News briefs for April 7, 2004: Clinton-aides suit

Wranglers stymie Steelheads: Nick Christensen; It had been Las Vegas Wranglers goaltender Marc Magliarditi coming in late to tough playoff situations. For one night, he was on the other side looking in.

Six-year-old girl drowns at apartment swimming pool: Heather Rawlyk; Water safety tips

BLM land auction set for June 2: To be included in the auction is 1,940 acres in Henderson that went unsold at a November auction. The appraised value, and opening bid, for that parcel remains the same: $250 million. Dozens of smaller parcels, ranging in size from 1.25 acres to 10 acres, will be offered along with larger parcels, including 354 acres near Southern Highlands.

Woman allegedly kills son, self: Henderson Police said the woman allegedly killed her son, then dialed 911 before shooting herself. A dispatcher did not hear any shots when answering the call.

Olympic wrestling hopes take trail through Las Vegas: In that this is an Olympic year, Greece is the word for the country's best amateur wrestlers.

Federal Homeland Security tourism advocate proposed: Adam Mayberry, a spokesman for Porter, confirmed the effort this morning and said the need for the position is growing as tourism, already the dominant industry in Southern Nevada, increases in importance nationwide.

Sports briefs for April 7, 2004: He said he will spend the upcoming season helping owner Randy Lerner's transitioin into greater involvement with the team organization. Lerner assumed ownership of the franchise after the death of his father, Al Lerner, in 2002.

Suit against police dismissed: "Despite being given a chance to file an amended complaint, the complaint failed to satisfactorily file a claim under the Civil Rights Act," the judge found, according to his law clerk, Bryce Jones.

Clarification: Mayor Oscar Goodman appeared in an ad in the magazine as part of the deal.

Columnist Peter Benton: Many routes to take on trip to Augusta: Peter Benton; Have you ever wondered exactly what the criteria are to receive an invitation to Augusta's famous event -- The Masters? Well, the following will give you the answer:

Financing package rated: Both ratings indicate the company's holdings "make it extremely vulnerable to losses from credit defaults," S&P said.

Columnist Jeff German: Another mysterious illness hits: As officials continue to battle the Norwalk virus outbreak at the California hotel downtown, they have turned their attention to a new front just off the famed Strip.

Columnist Dean Juipe: ECHL playoffs are tough to predict: Dean Juipe; At a robust 31 teams, the ECHL is not only unwieldy but confounding.

U.S. slot stocks off on U.K. report: By Liz Benston; Shares of two major U.S. slot and video poker machine makers fell this morning as British legislators issued an interim report today recommending a more cautious approach to gambling deregulation than anticipated, a move that analysts said will dampen plans by U.S. casino companies to profit from an aggressive expansion of slot machines and casinos in the United Kingdom.

Pedestrian bridge at McCarran may help ease airlines' growing pains: By Richard N. Velotta; A pedestrian bridge linking two concourses at McCarran International Airport would enable the airport's two busiest airlines to expand operations without inconveniencing passengers, the airport's top executive said Tuesday.

Coroner: 'Assassination' shots fired into victim: The shots Alfred "Chip" Centofanti allegedly fired into the head of his ex-wife, Virginia "Gina" Eisenman, were "assassination" shots, a Clark County coroner testified Tuesday in the third week of Centofanti's murder trial.

Sexual harassment probe of university regent completed: Cy Ryan and Ed Koch; The University and Community College System of Nevada said today it has completed an investigation into sexual harassment allegations made by a female employee against Regent Jack Schofield.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: 'Outlaw' Lasoski savors his IROC race victory: Danny Lasoski stands to earn $1 million if he can win the Crown Royal International Race of Champions title, but money isn't his motivating factor.

Las Vegan sought in wife's death: Metro Police were searching for a 5-year-old boy after finding the body of his 23-year-old Las Vegas mother in her northwest valley apartment Tuesday.

Police kill man called suicidal: Jen Lawson; Metro Police this morning shot and killed an allegedly suicidal man in a parking lot on Decatur Boulevard near Oakey Boulevard.

Even without two stars, local event eyes success: Adam Candee; Jim Webb hopes that staying power is more important than star power for next week's LPGA Takefuji Classic.

Letter: Administration cooks the books: In addition to having such an experienced teaching staff, some of specialties of the house include: Cheney's and Scalia's duck, AARP sellout stew, fillet of EPA mercury, Greenspan Social Security hash, and Yucca Mountain Flambe.

Gambling expansion seen favoring U.K. incumbents: Rank, based in London, welcomed recommendations by the Joint Committee on the Draft Gambling Bill to overhaul 35-year-old legislation by, for instance, allowing all casinos to offer bingo and betting and permitting operators to install larger numbers of gaming machines.

Enron figure withdraws plea: Fastow, 42, had pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false income tax return. Her husband, Andrew, 42, Enron's former chief financial officer, pleaded guilty to orchestrating an accounting fraud that permitted him to earn $60 million from off- the-books partnerships used to hide company debt.

Letter: 'Trickle down' doesn't work: I was raised during President Herbert Hoover's Great Depression and watched my parents struggle to keep us clothed and fed. My father was a disabled World War I veteran, suffering the remainder of his life from mustard gas burns of his lungs. During the Depression, he first lost his business and then our home, but he stayed the course, finally finding work through the Works Progress Administration.

Kerr-McGee agrees to buy Westport: Kerr-McGee agrees to buy Westport

Caesars sees demand matching growth: Caesars Entertainment Inc., which is spending $376 million to add rooms and convention space at its Caesars Palace property in Las Vegas, expects demand for accommodations to match an increasing supply of hotel rooms in the city, Chief Financial Officer Harry Hagerty said.

Letter: Mayor interested only in himself, not the city: Goodman has done absolutely nothing for our city and everything to benefit himself, his interests and his family's interests. He is only interested in promoting himself and getting his face on TV and in movies. I am horrified to see all the topless bars go forward in this city and now all the obscene billboards around town. I would think all parents are horrified to drive by with their children.

Leader: Gaming giving Indians more sway in elections: Leslie Hoffman; ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Indian gaming's success is not only crucial to Indian country economic development but is helping American Indians gain a stronger political voice, says the chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association.

The toll of alcohol: The toll of alcohol

Screening day planned to fight drinking problems: National Alcohol Screening Day facilities in Southern Nevada:

Wal-Mart measure rejected by voters in L.A. suburb: Alex Veiga; INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Voters rejected a ballot measure that would have cleared the way for a colossal Wal Mart in this Los Angeles suburb, one of several communities across the nation to resist the retailer's advances.