Print edition for April 23, 2004

Ex-officials: EOB rife with infighting: By Timothy Pratt; Two top officials who no longer work for the Las Vegas Valley's largest nonprofit agency say fundamental flaws in the organization caused the financial and administrative troubles that have recently surfaced.

Letter: Associations should be more tolerant: I recently moved to Summerlin. One of the reasons I moved here is because it is a well-maintained community. I too live within the confines of an association. It can be petty and bureaucratic.

Yucca rail line raises legal question: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Nevada officials say the Energy Department has violated federal law by not including the Surface Transportation Board in its plans to build a new rail line in the state.

Letter: Bush's leadership has failed country: John Kerry went to Vietnam and served admirably. What John Kerry did took courage, spine, guts -- whatever you want to call it. He answered the call. Where was George W.?

Ten Commandments battle judge to speak at convention: Kirsten Searer; The Independent American Party of Nevada, the state's third-largest political party, will hold its convention this weekend in Las Vegas to nominate candidates for the fall elections.

Legal experts to discuss effects of tax ruling: Kirsten Searer; Last year's controversial Nevada Supreme Court decision that paved the way for a tax increase could have much broader implications, a law professor was to argue today at a panel discussion.

More bureaucrats won't aid schools: Yet this is the situation that our empire-building school superintendent has sold to the majority of the School Board, who should have known better. Don't imagine that these highly-paid positions will stand by themselves. These new administrators will need assistants, secretaries, consultants, clerks, researchers, gofers -- and anyone else they can think of to enhance their own importance, all paid for with money that should be going to classrooms.

Sports briefs for April 23, 2003: St. Louis Blues forward Mike Danton has serious questions to address after he and a woman were indicted in Illinois on charges that they sought to have an acquaintance of Danton killed. The indictment accuses Danton and Katie Wolfmeyer of conspiring to arrange a murder for hire.

UHS quarterly earnings slide: Michelle Swafford; Universal Health Services, which owns four Las Vegas Valley hospitals, Thursday reported a first-quarter profit of $46.2 million, or 74 cents a share, down from $52.8 million, or 84 cents, in the year-ago quarter.

Cirque expresses regrets over gymnast's treatment: Cirque du Soleil expressed regret Thursday that its ignorance of HIV-transmission risks led it to fire a gymnast -- and regret that the gymnast later rejected offers to be reinstated.

All about choices: Steve Guiremand; It worked 21 years ago for a quarterback named John Elway. Now the question is will it work for a quarterback named Eli Manning?

Rapid Robert remains a most engaging Feller: Bob Feller would pitch to Barry Bonds the same way he once threw to Ted Williams. First, Feller, a Hall of Fame right-handed pitcher who threw as hard as anyone, would toss up one of his change-of-pace specials.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: New chance to court pro tennis: I'm what you would call a casual tennis fan. Wimbledon, the U.S. Open. Maybe a little French and Australian Open, if I can find a featured match that doesn't start at 3 a.m. And I'll admit that in the rare occurrence Anna Kournikova would survive until the weekend, I'd tune in to see what she was wearing -- I mean, who she was playing.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: LVMS might discover two can be a crowd: A settlement in Francis Ferko's lawsuit against NASCAR not only could lead to Texas Motor Speedway getting its long-awaited second Nextel Cup date, but also could result in Phoenix International Raceway landing a second annual Cup race, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported this week.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Vegas filmmaker gets just deserts: This weekend at Brenden Theatres (Palms), David Starr will screen "Tequila Express," an action thriller set in Mexico -- but filmed almost entirely in Las Vegas.

Henderson celebrates heritage with parade: The parade, themed "My Favorite Thing About Henderson," begins at 10 a.m. and will feature floats representing area elementary, middle and high schools as well as marching bands, drill teams, special interest vehicles, marching groups, horses and additional floats from area businesses and organizations.

Community briefs for April 23, 2004: The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, in cooperation with the West Las Vegas Arts Center, will hold a Family Health Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the West Las Vegas Library, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd.

Editorial: Trashing free speech: Clark County Sheriff Bill Young says that while the sidewalk is public, police officers have the right to make sure that street preachers or anyone else can't block the flow of pedestrian traffic. But as pointed out Wednesday by Sun columnist Jeff German, who viewed a videotape of the incident that was made by Griner and Webber, pedestrians weren't obstructed at all. Furthermore, the videotape captured the police officers inexplicably saying that because the sidewalk was "part of their (The Venetian's) house," the resort could have the preachers removed.

Editorial: City needs more code inspectors: This week, however, the Las Vegas City Council was informed by the city's Neighborhood Services Department that the owners and operators of the park, including David and Sandi DiMarco, are not making progress on repairs. Mayor Oscar Goodman reacted angrily and demanded immediate action. "I don't want to hear we can't do something about it ... let's step it up!" Goodman shouted. We agree with Goodman that this mess should be cleaned up, pronto. When people are getting their water from garden hoses, and the hoses are submerged in raw sewage, action is required without delay.

'Liquid Swords' features GZA's best cuts: Spencer Patterson; Love the Wu-Tang Clan's music or despise it, you've got to admire the hardcore rap crew's plan of attack.

Brenner riding the current at Westin: Current events is the catalyst for much of the comedy generated by the former documentary film maker.

LVAM opts for variety with new exhibit: And that's even before you get to the art.

Wind affects power, prompts allergies: The outage -- which began about 9:15 a.m. -- affected those between Oakey Boulevard and Sahara Avenue, Nevada Power spokeswoman Sonya Headen said. At its height, 850 Nevada Power customers were without power.

On Display for April 23, 2004: "Artes Sin Fronteras" (Art Without Borders), an exhibit of paintings by contemporary Guatemalan artists, will be displayed until Wednesday at the Nevada State Museum, 700 Twin Lakes Drive. Admission is $4 adults, $3 seniors, free to children 17 and under. 486-5205.

Unhappy remembrance: WEEKEND EDITION

Letter: Bear in mind soldiers' sacrifice: April 24 - 25, 2004

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Rob gives lowdown on career: WEEKEND EDITION

Columnist Jon Ralston: Some ethics lapses so obvious: WEEKEND EDITION

Columnist Jeff German: There's no time like sometime: WEEKEND EDITION

Editorial: Billboard ban a relief: April 24 - 25, 2004

Recycling program will help fund activities for mentally disabled: Heather Rawlyk; WEEKEND EDITION

Where I Stand -- Columnist Brian Greenspun: A questioning mind: WEEKEND EDITION

Letter: Patriotism of opposition must not be doubted: April 24 - 25, 2004

Editorial: Don't turn middle class into pawns: April 24 - 25, 2004

Poker takes center stage at revamped Binion's: By Liz Benston; Poker player Barry Shulman is riding a tidal wave of proportions he never expected.

Alleged counterfeit goods seized by state: CARSON CITY -- The state attorney general's office said Thursday it seized records and goods from four Hot Cats clothing stores -- three of them in Las Vegas -- suspected of selling counterfeit merchandise with name brands.

Laughlin casino owner warned on accounting: CARSON CITY -- The state Gaming Commission gave final approval Thursday to a Southern California man to reopen the Regency Casino in Laughlin but warned him to adhere to Nevada's strict accounting regulations.

Judge rejects claim for 'cirque' name: By Liz Benston; Worldwide circus troupe Cirque du Soleil has lost a more than four-year court battle in Las Vegas over the rights to the name "cirque," it was reported by In Business Las Vegas, a sister publication of the Las Vegas Sun.

Gladiators hope a little edge will stop their slide: Adam Candee; Sunday, noon, Thomas & Mack Center

Obituaries for April 23, 2004: Sylvia R. Aguilar, 74, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. She was born Nov. 3, 1929, in Manila, Philippines. A resident for 18 years, she was a retired owner of a meat market.

Ex-DA investigator pleads guilty: Pete Baldonado, 59, told District Judge Donald Mosley that he entered the plea agreement in order to avoid more punitive charges of bribery and sexual assault.

Mitsubishi aid dropped, shares surge: The stock rose as much as 9.1 percent after Chief Financial Officer Manfred Gentz said on a conference call the bailout plan was "not sufficient" to return the Japanese automaker to profit. Andreas Renschler, tapped April 5 to head Mitsubishi, won't move to Japan, the Stuttgart, Germany-based company said.

News briefs for April 23, 2004: An alleged gang member accused of killing two men in a 2002 drive-by shooting entered a "last-minute deal" with prosecutors Thursday, defense attorney Pete Christiansen said.

NFL Notebook: Linebacker Barrow signs with Washington: The Washington Redskins agreed to terms with veteran linebacker Mike Barrow, who was released by the National Football Conference East-rival New York Giants last month after he refused to restructure his contract.

Suspect had books on killers: One of the teen murder defendants charged with the slaying of Silverado High School senior Jared Whaley had a collection of "serial killer" books in his private storage, Boulder City Detective Jerry Stone said during a preliminary hearing Thursday.

Union adds fuel to heated battle over Justice Court: A three-way battle over who controls the workers of Clark County Justice Court has taken several unusual twists since the justices last week, in effect, declared the court a separate entity from the county.

Columnist Barb Henderson: Learning the skills can be difficult, but fly-fishing's rewards are worth it: Barb Henderson; Imagine an early morning river scene, as the waters flow by, a silhouette of a fly fisher standing knee-high in waders lifts the fly rod up toward the sky in a graceful movement as the fly line goes into motion.

Driver hospitalized after hitting light pole: The condition on the man was not immediately available from the hospital.

Fishing report: Lake action heats up in the Overton Arm: Good fishing for striped bass and channel catfish was found over the weekend in the Overton Arm while action has been below par in the Boulder Basin.

516740274.html: WASHINGTON -- Orders to factories for costly manufactured goods, such as cars and machinery, rose by a strong 3.4 percent in March, fresh evidence that America's economic recovery is bounding ahead.

Goodman conducting 'informal' candidate interviews: Stephen Curran; Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said he has interviewed more than a dozen candidates and was keeping an "open mind" in the process to fill the City Council seat vacated by Lynette Boggs McDonald, now a Clark County commissioner.

Happy Together: Steve & Eydie bring decades of love, showmanship back to the Strip: By Jerry Fink; Today, nearly 50 years later, two of the entertainment world's most respected performers are still together, onstage and off, a class act that will never go out of style.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Rea enjoying her role as one of the 'Divas': Lisa Ferguson; That isn't so remarkable considering her upbringing in Reno: She is the daughter of Don Rea, one-third of the trio the Gaylords, which packed casino lounges in Northern Nevada and Las Vegas during the '50s and '60s.

Home, sweet home: WEEKEND EDITION

Columnist Jerry Fink: Zarka keeps mood light during blackout: Because the blackout occurred about 2 a.m. April 11, he was in bed. Zarka was due to report to work in the casino's Baccarat Bar at around 4 p.m. that day.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Aisle not condone scanning: I want someone else to do it and for the same reasons I want someone else to milk the cows, pluck the chickens and grow the bell peppers, which someone else places in the sack.

Performing Arts for April 23, 2004: Jug Band

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Gov't Mule longs for a live performance: Spencer Patterson; Turns out that wasn't even the longest performance of keyboardist Danny Louis' career.

Datebook for April 23, 2004: A family health fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the West Las Vegas Arts Center Ampitheatre, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd. Services provided include immunizations for children, mammogram scheduling and blood pressure and HIV testing. Admission is free. 229-4800.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Caesars Palace throws quite a garden party: This annual feast, sponsored by the Nevada Restaurant and Nevada Hotel and Lodging associations, was the final event for the two-day international hospitality trade show that preceded it. Visiting the exhibit hall is akin to visiting Tomorrowland.

Rawls Well: WEEKEND EDITION

Columnist Susan Snyder: Country suffering a brownout: WEEKEND EDITION

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

Deadly brawl described to grand jury: Jace Radke and Christina Littlefield; Kerry Richard was looking forward to meeting his friends as he sat in a bar at Harrah's Laughlin on April 27, 2002, but instead he found himself in the middle of a deadly brawl between two rival outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Pampling gets a head start to lead windy Houston Open: Rod Pampling watched the afternoon winds howl from the sanctuary of the players' dining room Thursday, and loved every minute of it.

Wranglers enter off-season confident of future: Nick Christensen; Heading into their inaugural season, the Las Vegas Wranglers had plenty of questions.

UNLV women lead Mountain West: SUNRIVER, Ore. -- The 20th-ranked UNLV women's golf team matched the school record for low round with a 289 team total and held a two-stroke lead over four-time defending champ New Mexico after the first round of play at the Mountain West Conference Championship on Thursday.

Back-taxes charge hurts Boyd first-quarter earnings: A back-taxes charge in Indiana offset a healthy performance at Atlantic City's Borgata resort as Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming Corp. posted a drop in first-quarter earnings on Thursday.

Coast breaks ground on new casino: Coast breaks ground on new casino

Board OKs revocation of school names: By Emily Richmond; What's in a name? A lot, the Clark County School Board said Thursday.

Columnist Jeff German: Between a Rock and a Hard place: It's costing the casino a $300,000 fine to settle a state Gaming Control Board complaint.

Sprint recombines stocks: Sprint recombines stocks

Business briefs for April 23, 2004: SEATTLE -- Internet retailer Amazon.com Inc. handily beat analysts' expectations for its first-quarter earnings Thursday, crediting the success to low prices and expanded selection.

Police: Teenager shot friend while playing FBI: Jen Lawson; Eighth grader Dustin Osborn had a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and his goal was to become an FBI agent, his mother said.

Gaming briefs for April 23, 2004: WASHINGTON -- A Senate plan to change the tribal recognition process got mixed reviews Wednesday, making passage an "iffy" proposition this year, the bill's sponsor said.

Cycle begins anew: Bikers descend on Laughlin for annual River Run: Dan Kulin; When Laura Moshier told friends in the San Fernando Valley that she was coming to the Laughlin River Run, they all brought up the deadly brawl between rival motorcycle gang members at the 2002 rally.

Schools crack down on student medicine: By Emily Richmond; Students who bring cold pills, Tylenol or or other over-the-counter drugs to school could face tougher punishments under a new discipline policy that won first-round approval Thursday from the Clark County School Board.

Report criticizes state's handling of abused, neglected kids: CARSON CITY -- A federal report says Nevada is not providing adequate care and services to neglected and abused children, and if the state Division of Child Care and Family Services does not correct the problems, the state could lose up to $600,000 in federal funds.

Deal on Medicaid purchases to save Nevada $5 million: CARSON CITY -- An agreement with four states will enable Nevada to save an estimated $5 million annually on its drug purchases for Medicaid recipients, officials said Thursday.