Print edition for April 21, 2004

MGM MIRAGE profit soars 50%: By Liz Benston; Profit at MGM MIRAGE more than doubled in the first quarter as the improving economy and special events including Chinese New Year and the Super Bowl boosted results at the company's resorts in Las Vegas, the company reported today.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Don't shelve preventative measures: After a check of the door locks (they were secure) and a quick dash through the various rooms and finding everything in place, I decided it was just one of those things that sometimes go bump in the night.

Letter: Arrogant Clarke discredits himself with behavior: It has become well known that Clarke, the former national coordinator of counter-terrorism, is the person who at the time of his resignation one year ago wrote a letter praising the efforts of the Bush administration in the war on terrorism. Yet during recent public appearances and in a new book, Mr. Clarke has expressed considerable disdain for these same efforts.

Letter: Policies help only Big Business: Building a new plant in a foreign country is expensive, so Congress gave a tax break to companies relocating in a country with cheap labor to facilitate their relocation. Companies relocating in China will encounter various agencies and numerous regulations and restrictions. The federal government serves business well. There is a federal agency staffed with experts to help American companies moving to China steer their way through this maze of bureaucracy.

Family planning, women's health bill assembled: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Nine bills focusing on family planning and women's health issues have been rolled into one bill aimed at reducing unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and abortions.

Rates for recycled water go up: The Clark County Commission, acting as the board of the Las Vegas Valley Water District, increased the rates for users of recycled, "nonpotable" water Tuesday.

Department of Motor Vehicles back in business after outage: AP; "It's business as usual at this time. We don't have any problems and the offices don't seem any busier than usual," DMV spokesman Tom Jacobs said.

Letter: Gifted education fuels economy: Policy-makers in Washington tell us that outsourcing is here to stay, and that the way to offset it is with innovation and creativity. In short, we need more students such as Bill Gates. And the Bill Gates types are developed in classes for the gifted (if they develop at all).

Boggs McDonald begins job as county commissioner: Former Las Vegas City Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald was sworn in Tuesday as a Clark County commissioner by Supreme Court Justice Michael Douglas.

Editorial: Golf course audit needs a follow-up: Now, as the result of an audit concluded this month, mismanagement has been documented at the club in addition to the financial failings. Conducted by a private accountant and paid for by the city, the audit revealed management abuses by the private company the city contracted with to run the golf club. The company, Triad Golf Management, had a $645,000-a-year contract, which the city bought out last month for $500,000.

All Ears: Former Playboy Bunnies reunite at Stardust: They were stars from a bygone era, a pre-politically correct time. And no matter how Gloria Steinem spun it, for them it was a launching pad to success.

News briefs for April 21, 2004: A 42-year-old Las Vegas man was arrested Tuesday, accused of following women into public restrooms at downtown casinos and then beating and robbing them, Metro Police said.

Sports briefs for April 21, 2004: A Florida man was indicted Tuesday on a charge that he threatened Notre Dame football coach Tyrone Willingham.

LV weighs parks against new employees: Sito Negron; Las Vegas city officials are projecting a nearly 10 percent boost in revenues that will allow for the hiring of 54 new employees, but if the city does all that hiring, it will mean it won't be able to spend as much money on parks as some council members would like.

Lawsuit against airport advances: A federal judge has dismissed the religious discrimination aspect of a lawsuit regarding the promotion process at McCarran International Airport but says questions remain about whether there had been racial discrimination.

Yucca workers checked for silicosis: CARSON CITY -- About 300 current or former workers at Yucca Mountain have signed up so far for free medical examinations to determine if they suffer from silicosis or other lung diseases possibly contracted while working in the five-mile tunnel at the proposed nuclear dump.

Board of troubled EOB meets in closed session: By Timothy Pratt; About half of the fractured board of the Las Vegas Valley's largest nonprofit agency met Tuesday to plan for an upcoming visit from state officials that may help decide the future of more than $22 million in funding for services to the poor.

Man indicted in alleged threat against Kerry: Jace Radke; A Las Vegas man was indicted Tuesday for allegedly sending an e-mail to a CNN reporter and the White House that threatened the life of presidential contender Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

Armory would handle WMD response: Clark County moved closer to establishing a new, National Guard armory that could help the region respond to a chemical, bacteriological or radioactive terrorist attack.

Columnist Peter Benton: Takefuji Classic put on a great show: Peter Benton; Our second Las Vegas LPGA Takefuji Classic has come and gone, and although there has been some rather negative press regarding this tournament, I personally believe it was a huge success.

Community briefs for April 21, 2004: The 11th annual Las Vegas City of Lights Jazz Festival will be held from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday at Desert Breeze Park, Spring Mountain Road and Durango Drive.

Upcoming ruling may affect 3 Nevadans: WASHINGTON -- Three Nevada death row inmates could receive new penalty hearings if the U.S. Supreme Court decides to make a 2002 ruling on capital punishment retroactive.

School district to address growth panel: By Emily Richmond; Clark County School District officials facing the the region's explosive population growth will get a chance to explain the challenges it faces to a new county task force studying the issue.

Obituaries for April 21, 2004: Mary Queen Arnoldsen, 81, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospice. She was born June 22, 1922, in British Columbia. A resident for 48 years, she was a retired registered nurse.

Editorial: Insecure about security: On Monday, Mark Abkowitz, a member of the review board, attended a meeting held by the Nevada Legislature's Committee on High-Level Radioactive Waste. In answer to questions, he said he was not sure if the Energy Department has "fully explored" ways that terrorists could attack the shipments. Asked whether the Energy Department had planned for a "worst-case scenario," Abkowitz said, "We don't know."

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Annual fund-raiser draws healthy crowd: Elizabeth Foyt; The annual presentation by the Nevada Restaurant and Nevada Hotel and Lodging associations, part of an acclaimed trade show and conference of hospitality experts from across the nation and world, drew an estimated 2,500 patrons to Caesars Palace's Garden of the Gods pool enclosure.

Worker crushed under plywood: The Clark County Fire Department's heavy rescue squad spent more than three hours recovering the man's body, fire department spokesman Bob Leinbach said.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Tracy in dark about Champ Car race in Vegas: As a six-year resident of Las Vegas, Paul Tracy admits he is biased when talking about the possibility of the Champ Car World Series racing coming to town.

Ex-day care worker pleads guilty in child porn case: Kimya Winbush, 27, entered a plea agreement with prosecutors that reduced the 40 initial charges against him to: sexual assault with a minor under 14 years of age, lewdness with a child under 14, use of a minor under 14 in producing pornography and possession of child pornography.

Alliance stock tumbles on weak profit report: Alliance Gaming Corp., the No. 2 U.S. manufacturer of slot machines, today reported improved earnings for its fiscal third quarter, but fell short of analysts' expectations. Its stock slumped on the news.

Vegas hospital operators agree to joint venture: Michelle Swafford; Kindred Healthcare Inc. announced Tuesday it signed an agreement with Desert Springs Hospital in Las Vegas to provide long-term care in the hospital for patients with complex medical conditions who will need extended stays.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Critics find heavyweights easy target: Dean Juipe; Awash in a sea of negativity, many boxing writers, broadcasters and fans are unable to see past the heavyweight division's shortcomings to realize the caliber of the fighters is no worse than it has been for at least 26 years -- or since Muhammad Ali was champion.

NFL Notebook: Supreme Court gets Clarett case: Maurice Clarett's status for the NFL draft is now in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jackson's action: Steve Guiremand; You can take Steven Jackson out of Las Vegas but you can't take the Las Vegas out of Steven Jackson.

2004 NFL Schedule: First Week

CEO Kumar resigns amid accounting scandal: After running the company for four years, Kumar stepped down from his executive positions and the board of directors. He will take a new position of chief software architect.

FCC chief defends agency's crackdown on indecency: Kevin Rademacher; Federal Communication Commission Chairman Michael Powell has drawn criticism from broadcasters for what has been seen as an aggressive crusade against indecency.

Fund agitating at utility: Kevin Rademacher; Upset with falling stock value, the second-largest holder of stock in Nevada Power Co.'s parent -- Sierra Pacific Resources -- announced that it will withhold votes for the reelection of three directors.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Club known as Tangerine has appeal: The hotel has upgraded its moniker (incorporating TI), revamped its pirate show into the sexy "Sirens of TI," added a sleek new lounge (Mist) and is working to attract a hip, adult clientele.

LV couple complain licenses canceled in DMV worker probe: CARSON CITY -- The state Department of Motor Vehicles knows of only two cases in which a driver's license was wrongfully canceled due to the fallout of an employee who illegally sold licenses, a spokesman said today.

2004 NFL draft at a glance: WHERE: The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City.

Executives face shareholder activism: KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Shareholders at the annual meeting of Sprint Corp., the main local phone company in Las Vegas, on Tuesday rejected three corporate-governance measures.

Falling tobacco sales slice into settlement: Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval on Tuesday the state has received its $36.5 million portion of the annual tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.

LV mortgage operator facing probe by SEC: NovaStar Financial Inc. said Tuesday that it had been notified by the Securities and Exchange Commission that it is looking into some of NovaStar's business practices.

Diversity program making strides: Alana Roberts; Community leaders and minority contractors gave mostly positive feedback to MGM MIRAGE's diversity report presented Tuesday by Chief Executive Terry Lanni.

Harrah's optimistic on fourth Vegas property: By Liz Benston; Harrah's Entertainment Inc.'s top executive today said prospects for opening a fourth hotel-casino in Las Vegas using the "Horseshoe" brand look good and that the company is "taking a look at growth prospects for Las Vegas."

Labor Commission looking into Sky-Vue hiring practices: Sito Negron; The Nevada Labor Commission is looking into the hiring practices of the ownership at the beleaguered Sky-Vue Mobile Park, a mostly dilapidated collection of trailers in such bad condition that health and safety officials have ordered immediate repairs and threatened closure.

3-D simulations aid in military training: Molly Ball; You strap on the flickering 3-D goggles and pull the thick electronic-sensor glove up to your wrist. Suddenly a virtual landscape appears around you: the shifting, golden sands of the Iraqi desert, seen from above. It is your job to land the Army helicopter on those treacherous sands.

Infant twins left in car; mother arrested: Jen Lawson; A mother was arrested Tuesday after her 8-month-old twins were left in a car while she shopped at Burlington Coat Factory at Eastern and Tropicana avenues, Metro Police said.

Columnist Jeff German: Cops err on the side of Venetian: Then there are the times when they're just dead wrong.

Children treated after playing with mercury: Heather Rawlyk and Ed Koch; Elementary mercury is a silver liquid.

Worker crushed under plywood ID'd: The Clark County Fire Department's heavy rescue squad spent more than three hours recovering the man's body, fire department spokesman Bob Leinbach said.

Guinn OKs mental hospital: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn said today he has decided to go ahead with construction of a $32 million state mental hospital in Las Vegas, despite opposition from neighbors.

Software glitch shuts down DMV: Cy Ryan and Heather Rawlyk; A glitch in the computer system stopped the state Department of Motor Vehicles from conducting most transactions with the public for more than five hours Tuesday.

Gaming briefs for April 21, 2004: A record 3.6 million passengers used McCarran International Airport in March and first-quarter traffic is 11.9 percent ahead of last year's pace.

Airlines hike fuel surcharge: Houston-based Continental said the increase, from $20 per round trip, took effect immediately on most travel within the United States and Canada.

Chipping in: Council requires putting microchips in pets in some cases: Dan Kulin; Beginning next week pets who wander from their homes and end up in the Henderson animal shelter will get a sure-fire ID that will get them home if ever end up at a shelter again.

Strong profit reported for Las Vegas bank operators: Seven bank operators in Las Vegas reported higher first quarter earnings in recent days.

TV exec expresses interest in full-time position: By Emily Richmond; Television station owner Jim Rogers said Tuesday he would consider a permanent appointment as chancellor of the University and Community College System of Nevada if the Board of Regents offers him the position.