Print edition for April 14, 2004

Letter: Finger-pointing merely helps our enemies: When the president attacks the terrorists with a no-holds military operation, the liberals and Bush-haters bellyache and whine about another "quagmire Vietnam War."

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Lavish fund-raiser buoys Opportunity Village: Elizabeth Foyt; Every cast member and musician, and all members of the support staff who produce "A New Day ...," donated their talents and services, as did Dion for this special performance.

Editorial: State should run prison: We believe the state should strongly respond to this petition. The inmates should be interviewed and their charges thoroughly investigated. Dr. Ted D'Amico, director of health care for the state prison system, has previously criticized the Corrections Corp. of America, which has been running the prison since it opened in 1997. He has said CCA "doesn't know how to run a medical program" and he has also faulted the prison's mental health and dental programs.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: District enlivens Henderson: Billed as a "Metropolitan Lifestyle Center," the District includes more than 40 retail shops and restaurants, luxury lofts and apartments, offices above the shops and a class A office building (not yet completed). More than three years in the making, the District was developed by American Nevada Company (which is owned by the Greenspun family, which also owns the Las Vegas Sun).

Smokin': Paymon Raouf brings Middle East culture, food to Las Vegas: Ken Miller; Raouf, a former citizen of Iran, took the worst life has to offer and created one of Las Vegas' most distinctive and respected restaurants, Paymon's Mediterranean Cafe & Lounge.

Editorial: New hires are logical for district: Nonetheless, Walt Rulffes understands the job ahead of him as the Clark County School District explains its proposed $1.67 billion budget for 2004-2005 that calls for the hiring of 49 new administrators, including three new assistant superintendents. Rulffes, the district's deputy superintendent of operations, told Sun education reporter Emily Richmond that he will be working against the perception that the district is top heavy with administrators. "We know this (the budget) is going to be a tough sell ..." Rulffes said, referring to the proposed administrative hires.

Letter: War in Iraq was unnecesary: There are many people who are starting to question why we had to go over to Iraq and start a war. I feel that there was no basis or reason why we had to go to war. It seems like it was a mistake to go over to Iraq, like in the case of the Vietnam War, which was not even a necessary war.

Letter: Costs spiral on Medicare's dime: Regretfully, I missed them during my stay. I would have liked the opportunity of asking, Dr. Who? From where? What subsequent care? Curiosity gets the better of me. Is Medicare an easy touch for every claim that arrives in their offices nationwide? If so, Medicare is in trouble!

Delta Blues Casino to break ground in one month: Lynda Edwards; JACKSON, Miss. -- Delta Blues Casino President Charles Preiser, who once toiled for Donald Trump in the Atlantic City Taj Mahal, received Mississippi Gaming Commission final approval this week for his Greenville casino and blues museum.

Obituaries for April 14, 2004: Myra Jean Argostino, 45, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospital. She was born Aug. 20, 1958, in Los Angeles. A resident for one year, she was a phlebotomist.

Community urged to help get illegal guns off streets: Jen Lawson; In an effort to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, local law enforcement agencies are urging citizens to call a hotline if they know of anyone who is in illegal possession of firearms.

Anti-gambling group pressures legislators: Scott Bauer; LINCOLN, Neb. -- An anti-gambling group wants state senators to sign a pledge to oppose legalization of casino and slot machine gambling.

Community briefs for April 14, 2004: The 11th annual Clark County Children's Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Winchester Cultural Center and Park, 3130 S. McLeod Drive.

Columnist Peter Benton: LPGA tour stop in Las Vegas benefits two charities: Peter Benton; Two charities -- the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Nevada -- will again be the beneficiaries when the $1.1 million LPGA Takefuji Classic is played over the Las Vegas Country Club this week.

OSHA finds no violations leading to Strip rescues: Investigations into the accidents that prompted two daring rescues hundreds of feet above the Strip in the last couple of months found no violations of safety codes, said the head of Nevada's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Inflation concerns arise as March consumer prices jump: Jeannine Aversa; WASHINGTON -- Consumer prices -- lifted by more expensive gasoline, airfares and clothing -- rose by 0.5 percent in March, raising questions about whether the seeds of unwanted inflation are being sown.

Kaplan to run against Weber: CARSON CITY -- Kirk Kaplan, an attorney and certified public accountant, says he will run for the Democratic nomination for Assembly District 5 in Las Vegas, a seat now held by Republican Valerie Weber, who is completing her first term.

Fremont Street stabbing death called rare event: Stephen Curran; The chief executive of the Fremont Street Experience and Metro Police called the fatal stabbing Tuesday morning on the Experience a rare event.

Partisan comments reflect reactions to Bush talk: Dan Kulin; Local reaction to President Bush's speech and news conference Tuesday night split along party lines, with Republicans saying the president delivered a strong reminder of the importance of the country "staying the course" in Iraq, while a leading Democrat described Bush's performance as weak and floundering.

Pitching prospect Jackson roughed up by Tacoma: Nick Christensen; After the players started filing into Dodgertown last month, and the early spring training numbers were posted, Dodgers manager Jim Tracy all but anointed young prospect Edwin Jackson as the team's fifth starter.

More information requested on proposed biological tests: A federal and a state agency have requested more information from the National Nuclear Security Administration on plans for small releases of simulated biological agents and chemicals that could jump Nevada Test Site borders.

Choctaws' Golden Moon and revenue rise in a risky field: Lynda Edwards; PHILADELPHIA, Miss. -- When Mississippi Choctaws fretted that building a $750 million casino resort in a dirt-poor section of Mississippi was a gamble, Chief Phillip Martin reminded them of how a strip of neon-splashed gambling palaces in the middle of the Mojave Desert evolved into Las Vegas.

Plea deal calls for life in day-care center sex case: A former child care worker arrested on sexual assault and child pornography charges signed a guilty plea agreement Tuesday that will require a minimum prison sentence of life with the possibility of parole after 30 years.

Menu changes boost profit: The company was expected to earn 37 cents a share, the average estimate of 19 analysts polled by Thomson Financial. McDonald's had net income of $327.4 million, or 26 cents a share, in the first quarter of 2003. Sales in the United States, McDonald's biggest market, rose 14 percent in the quarter, the company said in its preliminary earnings statement.

Tech giant's revenue, profit improve: For the three months ended March 27, Intel reported a profit of $1.73 billion, or 26 cents per share, compared with a profit of $915 million, or 14 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

Release by Tennessee wouldn't come as a shock to George: Eddie George, the leading rusher in Tennessee Titans' history, said he won't be surprised if the team releases him after June 1 in a cost-cutting move.

Governor assured child-care centers being paid by EOB: CARSON CITY -- The hundreds of centers that provide child care in Clark County under a contract with the financially troubled Economic Opportunity Board are being paid, state Welfare Administrator Nancy Ford said Tuesday.

Gazlay trial is moved to July: The 19-year-old is scheduled to begin trial May 25, along with eight other co-defendants, on 12 felony charges including attempted murder. The charges stem from the attack last summer that left 17-year-old Stephen Tanner Hansen with a crushed face.

B of A profit improves on loans: CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Bank of America Corp., the second- biggest U.S. bank and the largest in Nevada, today said first-quarter profit rose 11 percent as consumer lending increased and fees from money management and investment banking rose.

Two Nevada banks report improved earnings: Sun West Bank, which has four branches in the Las Vegas area and two in Reno, this week reported first-quarter earnings of $1.3 million, up from $627,266 for the same 2003 quarter.

Meeting the tax deadline: If postage is needed, visit the James C. Brown Jr, Main Office at 1001 E. Sunset Road.

It's all about wind: Adam Candee; WHAT: $1.1 million LPGA Takefuji Classic.

Report says pollution threatens Colorado River: The Colorado River, which supplies roughly 90 percent of Southern Nevada's drinking water, was called the most endangered river in the nation by an environmental group today.

Sports briefs for April 14, 2004: World champion swimmer Michael Phelps rode the wave from his six medals at the world championships, where he became the first swimmer to set five world records in one meet, to claim the 74th annual Sullivan Award at a ceremony Tuesday night in New York.

Land sale may spur valley boom in parks: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Southern Nevada could see 29 new parks and recreation projects if an upcoming public land sale brings in the $223 million needed to develop them.

Yucca licensing process could be delayed: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- A nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain could be delayed if the Energy Department does not provide better documentation of its technical analysis, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Tuesday.

Gaming briefs for April 14, 2004: Boyd Gaming Corp. of Las Vegas, the owner of the Stardust and other casinos, had its senior secured debt rating cut one level by Standard & Poor's Tuesday as the company tries to increase the amount it can borrow from bankers.

LV firm accused of tax scam in Justice Department lawsuit: Jace Radke; The Las Vegas-based National Audit Defense Network is allegedly engaged in running a tax scam and filing false federal income tax returns for customers, costing the government an estimated $324 million, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday by the Justice Department.

The taxman cometh -- in fact, tomorrow: With Tax Day just hours away, don't fret if you haven't filed this year's return, officials say, noting that many procrastinators still have plenty of time and a number of options.

Las Vegas centennial plates most popular ever: By Cy Ryan; CARSON CITY -- The license plate that celebrates next year's Las Vegas centennial is the most popular specialty plate in Nevada history, officials said Tuesday. Its sales have raised $431,000 to help pay for the yearlong centennial festivities in Las Vegas, officials said.

Volunteers conduct homeless census: Heather Rawlyk; Though results of the count were not immediately available, Fred Preston, sociology professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and leader of the effort, said he was surprised to find many homeless people in areas where it was thought there were few, and vice versa.

Head Start's top official under fire: By Timothy Pratt; A group representing most of the nation's nearly 2,600 Head Start programs is calling for the resignation of the top Head Start official in Washington, who was in Las Vegas last week investigating the Economic Opportunity Board.

State health panel discards plan to impose nurse ratios: Michelle Swafford; A Nevada legislative subcommittee rejected unanimously Tuesday a proposal to require nurse-to-patient ratios, which was welcome news to many in the health care field who testified against the proposal.

Details on new Las Vegas Strip development unveiled: The executive who is leaving the Venetian hotel-casino to develop a new Las Vegas Strip resort said today that he and his partners would build a mixed-use project with a large casino component.

News briefs for April 14, 2004: Two girls were seriously injured when a pickup truck hit their scooter Tuesday evening near Boulder Highway and Russell Road, Metro Police said.

Columnist Jeff German: Is Ridge a good listener?: Sen. Harry Reid is holding an election year "Nevada Hometown Security Forum" at Sam Boyd Stadium Thursday morning with all of the usual first-responders, such as Nevada Homeland Security Adviser Jerry Bussell and Sheriff Bill Young.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Q tip has Mayor Goodman all ears: Now a section of downtown Las Vegas might get the "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" makeover and become a gay neighborhood.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Junqueira ready to make run at Champ Car title: After finishing second in the CART championship each of the past two seasons, Bruno Junqueira said he finally has all the pieces in place to make a run at the 2004 Champ Car World Series championship.

Columnist Dean Juipe: LPGA tour has its ups and downs: Dean Juipe; With gaps in the schedule and fewer events, women on the LPGA tour are susceptible to feeling an economic pinch.

Bellagio is back: By Liz Benston; Power was restored in phases early today at the Bellagio as the resort prepared to reopen this afternoon and welcome guests for the first time since a Sunday power outage shut the property on the Las Vegas Strip.

Nellis plans to build 800 new homes for families: Jace Radke; Over the last 18 months Debbie Kent has made about a half-dozen requests for maintenance at her 30-year-old home at Nellis Air Force Base.

Overtime loss puts Wranglers in Game 5 tonight: Chadd Cripe; BOISE, Idaho -- The Las Vegas Wranglers are bringing some unwanted baggage home with them today: the Idaho Steelheads.