Print edition for August 10, 2004

Study on fires: Nursing homes safe: Despite harsh criticisms of fire safety in nursing homes nationwide, a federal study published last month noted that all 44 licensed institutions in Nevada had automatic sprinklers, which proved invaluable in a local fire on Monday.

Rider of 'pocket bike' hit by SUV: An 11-year-old boy riding a motorized "pocket bike" was airlifted to a local hospital Monday night with a broken leg, and the boy's parents as well as the driver of the vehicle were all cited, Metro Police said.

Firm pitches theme park for Boulder City: Dan Kulin; The president of a company that wants to open a zoo in Las Vegas is expected in Boulder City tonight to pitch plans for an Old West theme park with retail or other entertainment-related development on 364 acres on the western edge of the city.

Appeals court upholds ban on anti-tax advocate's book: Cy Ryan and Jace Radke; A federal appeals court Monday upheld a ban on the sale of a book by a Las Vegas businessman that suggests that the income tax is voluntary and does not have to be paid in many cases.

News briefs for August 10, 2004: Metro Police were called out to a southeast Las Vegas apartment complex Monday morning after a passer-by noticed two children sitting alone inside a parked car.

Some LV helicopter, limo operators say they weren't told of warning: Jace Radke and Lynn Doan; Some Las Vegas helicopter tour and limousine operators say they were not informed by law enforcement about an FBI bulletin released Friday warning that terrorists could be planning to turn helicopters and limousines into weapons.

Brief traffic delays expected this week: Kerry will be in town today and Wednesday morning. Bush will be in town Thursday.

Yucca is lead issue as Kerry visits Las Vegas: Cy Ryan and Stephen Curran; Tickets for today's "Believe in America" rally can be picked up at the Las Vegas Democratic Headquarters at 1325 E. Vegas Valley Drive or downloaded at www.nvdems.com. The rally is at 6 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center.

LV officials dispute they were alerted to threat: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and officials for Metro Police are denying an Associated Press report that local authorities knew about videotapes suggesting terrorists were targeting Las Vegas but decided not to release the information.

Porter foes not fans of mailers: Kirsten Searer; Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., recently used taxpayer money to send out several four-color, glossy mail pieces touting his record in Washington.

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Henderson road project hurtful, needed thing: Dan Kulin; Almost a year after work began on the $82.2 million extension of the Las Vegas Beltway in Henderson, most area residents and businesses are trying to work through and around the traffic disruption, albeit with varying degrees of success.

Study: Nevada ranks high in illegal drug use: Lynn Doan and Christina Littlefield; Nevada residents were more likely to use illegal drugs in 2002 than those who live in most other states, a national drug abuse study shows.

Body's face re-created: The victim is believed to have been 17 to 21 years old and was between 5-feet and 5-feet 4-inches tall, Lt. Tom Monahan said. She had shoulder length dark brown hair and metal tongue piercing. A small hoop earring was also recovered at the scene.

Nevada Power parent's loss narrows: Kevin Rademacher; Sierra Pacific Resources, parent company of Las Vegas-based Nevada Power Co., on Monday said regulatory disallowances were the chief culprit in a second-quarter loss.

LV figure in fund scandal loses round against SEC: Kevin Rademacher; A Las Vegas securities broker accused in a government lawsuit of scheming to defraud mutual fund investors nationwide failed Monday to have the complaint dismissed.

Gaming briefs for August 10, 2004: TAMA, Iowa -- Meskwaki tribal officials say plans to expand their casino could be scrapped if a new regulatory agreement isn't reached soon with the state.

Sands has more reason for IPO than stock options: By Liz Benston; Wall Street analysts say the stellar stock appreciation of competitor Wynn Resorts Ltd. -- rather than the ability to issue stock options -- is a primary motivation behind an anticipated public offering of stock by the owner of The Venetian resort in Las Vegas.

Golden Nugget cash flow up, Alliance quarterly results improve: By Liz Benston; The owner of the Golden Nugget casinos in Las Vegas and Laughlin reported increases in revenue and cash flow in the second quarter but profit fell as the company spent more on advertising and added marketing staff, among other things.

Correction: The Sun corrects its errors. If you find a mistake, call 385-3111 to report it.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Goulet seeking new frontiers on Strip: Goulet hopes to open a self-named 1,200-seat theater in Las Vegas, where he would perform 40 weeks per year.

It's Snyder's call: Steve Guiremand; Two years ago Bruce Snyder found himself up in the press box at Sam Boyd Stadium calling UNLV football games as a radio analyst.

51s ready to extend deal with Dodgers: Nick Christensen; The Los Angeles Dodgers are nearing an agreement for a two-year extension of their player development contract with the Las Vegas 51s, general manager Don Logan said Monday.

Ralph Siraco's Del Mar selections: 1st Race - CHILTEPIN - Draws good box for sprint opener, Desormeaux on Sise trainee, well spotted to grab diploma here. LAKE OF GOLD - Baze aboard co-owner Kruljac trainee, draws good box for maiden/claiming dash, adds blinkers for this graduation try. Value Play - AMMALU

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Kyle Busch knows the road to a title can start at Indy: INDIANAPOLIS -- Brian Vickers set a pretty good example last season and Kyle Busch is attempting to follow it.

Sports briefs for August 10, 2004: The Big Sky Conference could expand with one to three schools, or none at all.

Accuser's lawyers in Bryant case rip judge's moves: Lawyers for the woman accusing Kobe Bryant of rape said even Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh was treated more fairly than she was, and have accused the judge of trying to protect himself by imposing an unconstitutional gag order.

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 2 p.m.

Chargers, Rivers halt contract talks: The San Diego Chargers broke off talks Monday with unsigned rookie quarterback Philip Rivers.

Brown proposes changes in ways team is picked: Like most geopolitical issues for the United States, about a decade or so ago winning an Olympic basketball gold medal was a much easier proposition.

Monday's temperature of 111 highest of year: Monday's high temperature of 111 degrees was the hottest temperature recorded so far this year, National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Harrison said.

Regents propose changes in evaluations: Members of the public could soon get an inside look at the jobs their university and community college presidents are doing.

D.C. official wants to tighten law after forgeries found on gambling petitions: Heather Greenfield; WASHINGTON -- After city officials spent days examining petitions for forgeries in an initiative to bring video lottery terminals to the District of Columbia, a city councilman wants to do more than bet it won't happen again.

NYSE moves to dismiss suit: The filing, made late Monday, does not address whether Grasso's countersuit has merit, instead focusing on the fact that Grasso moved the case to federal court in June. The exchange's lawyers instead bolstered New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's claim that the case should be returned to state court.

Small business optimism grows: The National Federation of Independent Business's small- business optimism index rose to 105.9 last month from 103 in June. The index registered 106.9 in December, the highest since the group began keeping monthly figures in 1986. An index of 100 is set to a baseline year of 1986 and seasonally adjusted.

Editorial: A fitting rejuvenation: The elementary school, a Spanish-style structure that opened in 1936, educated many of the city's early residents. After the school was shut down, it has been home to government offices for some 40 years. Its latest incarnation is a fitting one considering its roots: It will be a redevelopment project centered on fostering the arts, literature and intellectual thought. The plan calls for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' School of Architecture to increase its space at the school. Other university programs could be located there, too. Also, an urban market with a bookstore and coffee shop could end up ...

Letter: Drug-enhanced athletics sad: What a sad day it is when athletes can't depend on their own skills and training to excel in their sport. The need for a quick fix seems to be the norm today. Banishment from the sport should be the consequence for using enhancement drugs.

Letter: Kerry can't keep all his promises: I believe if Sen. John Kerry is elected president of the United States in November, the floodgates of demands will open. He could in no way fulfill all of the promises he has made to all of the various institutions and organizations he has appeared before.

Letter: Stem cell research deserves strong support, funding: I think we need to realize that the basis used by every civilized country in the world to define a lawful person is based on the writings of John Locke, the 17th century philosopher of freedom. He defined a human as a "thinking, intelligent being that has reason and reflection and can consider itself as itself, the same thinking thing, in different times and places."

Binion witness tampering charged: Molly Ball; Prosecutors on Monday detailed charges that Sandra Murphy's defense team repeatedly tampered with witnesses, a pattern so "blatant and brazen" that "it shocks the conscience," according to documents filed by the district attorney's office.

Editorial: A first lady for the ages: Like her husband, the late Gov. Mike O'Callaghan, Carolyn O'Callaghan was a down-to-earth person who was as gracious to the prison inmates working at the mansion as she was to visiting dignitaries. There was no social separation when the mailman, or the cleaner, or the milkman or other workers arrived at the mansion. They would join her for coffee and discuss the issues of the day. "She always considered the governor's mansion to be the people's house," her son, Timothy O'Callaghan, said in remembering his mother over the weekend.

Where I Stand -- Guest Columnist Randy Walker: A growing commitment: CLARK COUNTY is one of the fastest, burgeoning communities in the country and has seen unprecedented growth. Nowhere is that more evident than at McCarran International Airport.

Swampy pools treated for virus-bearing mosquitos: Molly Ball; Seeking to stop the spread of West Nile virus, newly formed teams of public works and health officials on Monday visited swampy swimming pools around the area to treat them with pellets that kill mosquito larvae, Clark County Health District spokesman David Tonelli said.

Residents warned about bats with rabies: A family in the upscale Anthem development off Eastern Avenue noticed one of their dogs playing with a bat, Henderson Animal Care and Control Facility veterinarian Gary Weddle said. The other bat was discovered on the ground in the same area.

Meteor shower peaks this week: This month's meteor shower, peaking this week, is considered one of the best celestial displays all year, astronomers said.

Trial ordered in beatings of church worker, senior citizen: By Matt Pordum; A 36-year-old man accused of robbing and beating a senior citizen and a church maintenance worker in June will stand trial, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Nancy Oesterle ruled on Monday.

Idea of boy, 7, killing baby rejected; mother faces trial: By Matt Pordum; Marcella Jackson's lawyer on Monday offered the theory that it was Jackson's then-7-year-old son who killed her 2-month-old boy, but after hearing a doctor's testimony about how that was highly unlikely, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace William Jansen decided that the mother of three should stand trial on a murder charge.

Obituaries for August 10, 2004: Al Aniello, 78, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. He was born March 30, 1926, in Providence, R.I. A resident for 43 years, he owned and operated Aniello Insurance Agency, he was a World War II Air Force veteran, president of the Professional Insurance Agents of Southern Nevada, he was a member of the Nevada Independent Insurance Agents and the Independent Insurance Agents of Southern Nevada, the Italian American Club, the Y-Not Nite, and the Knights of Columbus, and a former member of the Augusta Society and the Optimist Clubs.

Suspect competent to stand trial in roommate's death: By Matt Pordum; A man who allegedly killed his roommate and placed his body in a freezer was found competent Monday to stand trial.

Columnist Susan Snyder: There is a way out of violence: I often wonder whether she ever got out.

Rockin' with Dokken: Singer says hair-metal label doesn't fit veteran band: Spencer Patterson; But the 51-year-old vocalist disputes the notion that his veteran metal outfit should be lumped in with that decade's more poppy, so-called "hair bands" such as Poison, Winger and Motley Crue.

Feet & Greet: World Shoe Association gets mileage out of Vegas convention: They brought Rod Stewart. They brought QVC. They brought cyber cafes and built neighborhoods of Kenneth Cole, Nine West, Edelman, Aerosoles and Bellini.

Community briefs for August 10, 2004: Euphoria Salons and Day Spas, the Southern Nevada Area Health Education Center and Sierra Health Care's breast care program recently formed a partnership to provide free spa treatments to women currently underoing cancer treatment.

Heat's on world games in Las Vegas: Heather Rawlyk; More than 3,900 police officers and firefighters from around the world are vying for the gold in Las Vegas this week in the International Police & Fire Games.

Immunization schedule for August 10, 2004: NORTH LAS VEGAS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.