Las Vegas Sun

November 21, 2009

Currently: 63° | Complete forecast | Log in

Print edition for August 13, 2004

Community briefs for August 13, 2004
Community College of Southern Nevada, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., will be hosting its sixth annual Community Back to School Health and Educational Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Letter: A vote for Bush is a vote for waste
Gov. Guinn and Sen. Ensign are Republicans, but they should show some courage and oppose President Bush for the benefit of Nevada. Any Nevadan voting for Bush is voting for nuclear waste. If they can live with it and all the danger, well, so be it.
Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Dwyer all over the dial with hosting duties
Lisa Ferguson
First stop: VH1 (Cox cable channel 39). The comedian -- who headlines Palace Station's Laugh Trax from Tuesday through Aug. 21 -- can be seen cracking wise during installments of the network's "I Love The '70s," "I Love the '80s" and "I Love the '90s," which air in a seemingly endless loop.
Letter: Long wait for Kerry's visit
This is not a reflection on the Kerry campaign, but on the local Democratic Party. The party of inclusion should be more accommodating toward its rank-and-file members.
Blood drives
Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Gold Coast, 4000 W. Flamingo Road; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., HealthSouth Rehab Hospital, 1250 S. Valley View Blvd.
Performing Arts for August 13, 2004
Coalition
Gibbons not likely to be tabbed House panel chairman
Suzanne Struglinski
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., will most likely not be named chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, aides say, although nothing has been been made official yet, his staff said.
Letter: Cap on rising property taxes deserves analysis
Property taxes were increasing at ridiculous rates until people became outraged and the Legislature finally passed a 5 percent tax cap. I give Clark County Assessor Mark Schofield credit for trying to get a tax cap in place now, but I am very concerned about Gov. Kenny Guinn's decision against calling a special session of the Legislature to enact a cap. The issue is important enough to be analyzed in a special session. Here are some questions I would have:
Guards train for deployment
CARSON CITY -- About 50 members of the Nevada Army National Guard's 1865th Transportation Company will fly to Las Vegas Sunday for training before being deployed to Southwest Asia.
Henderson mayor, mentioned by Bush, was no-show at speech
Dan Kulin
Presidential notice Thursday went unnoticed by Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson.
Lightning sparks wildfire
A National Park Service crew requested help from the National Forest Service and the Clark County Fire Department to put out the flames early this morning, spokesperson Roxanne Dey said. The crew expected to have the fire out by this afternoon, she said.
Democrats say Bush didn't address Yucca problems
Kirsten Searer
"He has spoken loud and clear, and now the people of the state of Nevada need to speak equally clearly," said Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev. "And they'll do that in November."
Enron hearing delayed
The hearing is expected to be rescheduled.
Tax incentive for gaming company raises questions
A company that manufactures and distributes slot machines has won tax incentives to expand its operation in Las Vegas through the state program designed to promote diversity in the economy -- prompting questions as to whether more slot manufacturing is really economic diversification.
Carolyn O'Callaghan laid to rest
More than 500 mourners came to St. Viator Catholic Church on Thursday to remember former Nevada first lady Carolyn O'Callaghan as a devoted family matriarch who always had time for other people and would give anyone a second chance.
State mental health facility opens
CARSON CITY -- The state opens its renovated 28-bed mental health facility in Clark County today to try to relieve some of the overcrowding of hospital emergency rooms where mental patients are filling the beds.
Researchers dispute cry of 'worst drought'
For months water officials from Southern Nevada and other regions dependent on the Colorado River have been saying that the five-year drought is the worst in 500 years.
Visitor count climbs in June
While not a record month, the total represents "one of our busiest Junes ever," Senior Research Analyst John Piet said. The numbers fell from March, April and May, a reflection of somewhat slower summer months, he said.
Nevada puts killer to death
CARSON CITY -- Quietly and without showing any emotion, convicted killer Terry Dennis was put to death by lethal injection Thursday at the Nevada State Prison for the 1999 murder of a woman in Reno.
Three teens are charged in shooting
Stephen Curran
Three Las Vegas teens -- including two 15-year-olds -- were charged Wednesday in last week's alleged gang shooting of a 12-year-old Las Vegas boy, according to Metro Police records.
Food 4 Less, Vons confirm LV store closures
Jennifer Shubinski
On the same day Vons confirmed it would close three Las Vegas grocery stores by the end of this year, Food 4 Less said Thursday it plans to close a local store as well.
Mosquitoes in Henderson park test positive for West Nile virus
Out of 156 mosquitoes captured by county public works workers at the Arroyo Grande Sports Complex, on Arroyo Grande Boulevard south of Warm Springs Road, 22 were found to be carrying the potentially deadly disease, city officials announced this morning. Residents in nearby neighborhoods and coaches and teams that use the complex have been notified, and signs have been posted in the complex's fields, the city said in a statement.
Columnist Jeff German: Kerry has guts to stop nuke waste
The difference between Kerry and President Bush on this issue was as clear this week as the bright Southern Nevada sky after a summer rainstorm.
NBC expects Olympics ad sellout
NEW YORK -- General Electric Co.'s NBC said it expects to sell its remaining television advertising slots for the Olympics by today's opening ceremony in Athens and to make about as much in profit as it did from the Sydney Games.
RTC to study rail line to Ivanpah
The plan, approved at the RTC's monthly meeting Thursday, would be part of a proposed rail line connecting North Las Vegas, downtown Las Vegas and Henderson. It would extend that line from the southern part of the Las Vegas Valley and could possibly end up as far south as the new airport near Jean, roughly 30 miles south of Las Vegas, according to the RTC contract.
Officials review tapes found in N.Y.
Jace Radke
Local and federal authorities are reviewing five videotapes containing what appears to be tourist footage of Las Vegas casinos and other local sites recovered from the New York apartment of a Pakistani man arrested last month on immigration charges.
Truck knocks out beltway overpass
Heather Rawlyk and Lynn Doan
A bridge under construction over the Las Vegas Beltway partially collapsed Thursday afternoon when an oversized flatbed truck, towing a bulldozer, struck support beams along the bottom of the overpass as it drove through.
Bush explains Yucca stance to LV
Kirsten Searer
Reaching back to his campaign promise in 2000, President Bush said Thursday that he did rely on science when he signed off on the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository site.
News briefs for August 13, 2004
CARSON CITY -- The Legislative Interim Finance Committee Thursday agreed to accept $8.7 million in federal funds as reimbursement for the cost of firefighting and rehabilitation of the more than 8,000 acres burned last month in the hills west of Carson City.
Columnist Barb Henderson: Smokey's still the man in Forest Service's message
Barb Henderson
Happy birthday, Smokey Bear, and thanks for 60 years of vigilance.
Bank robbery suspects arrested after standoff
Three suspects in an armed robbery at a Las Vegas bank were arrested at a North Las Vegas home after a police stand-off Thursday afternoon.
Ralph Siraco's Del Mar selections
1st Race -- LOVER MARSHAL -- Argentine-bred draws good post for route opener, Flores aboard Vienna trainee, arrests heart-warming victory here? MAGIC JAKE -- Training at Hollypark, draws good rail box for two-turn claimer, Figueroa aboard Chatlos trainee. Value Play -- FURTIVO
Woods' bad putting might end his No. 1
HAVEN, Wis. -- Frustration at recent major championships has become a familiar feeling for Tiger Woods.
Twenty more double-decker buses OK'd for use on Strip
Stephen Curran
The Regional Transportation Commission is looking to Europe for its next tool in reducing congestion along the Las Vegas Strip.
Monorail officials tout ridership
The company announced Thursday that more than 523,000 riders had boarded the $650 million system, which shuttles passengers from along a 4-mile route from a station at the MGM Grand to one at the Sahara hotel, between July 15 and July 31.
Planners oppose helipads
Dan Kulin
A proposed change to Henderson zoning laws that would allow the City Council to give special permits for helipads in low-density residential areas ran into opposition from the Planning Commission and some residents Thursday night.
Date set for arguments on petitions
CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court has set Aug. 31 for oral arguments on the dispute whether initiative petitions on minimum wage and frivolous lawsuits should be on the election ballot.
Fishing report: Boulder Basin producing results
The best area of the lake to find stripers appears to be Boulder Beach, where anglers are chumming with corn to attract stripers then fishing deep with anchovies to catch fish that weigh 2 to 3 pounds. Boaters are using jigs to catch stripers that weigh about a pound from the 33 Hole to Government Wash. Some success has been had outside the tires at Lake Mead Marina.
Saturday's horse racing entries
Post Time 2 p.m.
Storm knocks out power, drops inch of rain
Monsoons moving back into Southern Nevada overnight sparked thunderstorms that dropped more than an inch of rain in eastern Las Vegas and knocked out power to thousands of residents.
Dorsey ready for chance to lead 49ers
After spending most of his rookie year watching from the sideline, Ken Dorsey is ready for the next step in his development as an NFL quarterback.
Letter: Leaving nuclear waste in place is safest strategy
August 14 - 15, 2004
Columnist Jeff German: LV gets undeserved black eye over tapes
WEEKEND EDITION
Columnist Susan Snyder: Capitalists are on the button
Honestly, trying to squeeze 15,000 people through four metal detectors was akin to squeezing the flesh of an entire watermelon through the eye of a darning needle. People actually fainted while waiting.
Where I Stand -- Guest Columnist Bill Young: Mustering our strength
WEEKEND EDITION
Federal judge throws lifeline to pot initiative
Jace Radke and Cy Ryan
A federal judge today found Nevada's process for putting initiative petitions on the ballot unconstitutional, giving a petition that would allow adults to have an ounce of marijuana a chance to be on the November ballot.
Letter: Scrutinize Bush's Guard record
August 14 - 15, 2004
Joshin' Around
Spencer Patterson
WEEKEND EDITION
Columnist Jon Ralston: Yucca teases and heartaches
WEEKEND EDITION
VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Caesars raises Celine ceiling
WEEKEND EDITION
Camp Fund would help high school girl
August 14 - 15, 2004
Columnist Susan Snyder: Taking a swim in the red sea
WEEKEND EDITION
Boys and Girls Club working for happy birthdays
Lynn Doan
WEEKEND EDITION
Columnist Spencer Patterson: Sparta frontman recalls grand opening
Spencer Patterson
"I've done a lot of festivals, so I'm comfortable in that environment," Ward said in a recent phone interview from Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colo. "I'm comfortable with the daytime. I'm comfortable with not having a soundcheck. I'm comfortable playing in front of that many people.
Las Vegas still has much to do to be prepared in case of attack
By Steve Kanigher
WEEKEND EDITION
Editorial: Don't mess with ... Nevada
August 14 - 15, 2004
On Display for August 13, 2004
"Pastel Portraits," a series of pastel and figure work of children by Michelle Currie, runs from Tuesday until Oct. 10 at the Rainbow Library, 3150 N. Buffalo Drive. Admission is free. 507-3710.
Meat Puppets' second album is well done
Spencer Patterson
Growing up in Phoenix, I could easily have been a Meat Puppets fan from an early age.
Datebook for August 13, 2004
The City of Las Vegas presents the movie "Freaky Friday" at 8:30 p.m. today as part of its "Summer Movie Under the Stars" series. Admission is free. 229-2482.
Las Vegas Academy theater cast to receive Youth Activist award
Heather Rawlyk
WEEKEND EDITION
Temporary funds approved for state to handle Vegas mentally ill
AP
Lawmakers on Thursday approved spending $500,000 to cover some costs of making 28 beds available at the Desert Regional Center, and state Mental Health and Development Services Administrator Carlos Brandenburg got approval to shift other budget funds to cover costs.
Editorial: A troubling decision on disclosure
The court did note that Nevada could change its existing disclosure law, which the court believed was written too broadly, and possibly address the court's constitutional concerns. The law definitely could use some fine-tuning, especially since it exempts some groups that should be required to disclose -- political parties and candidates -- and doesn't require that the law only apply to those groups seeking to directly affect the outcome of an election. The court didn't provide a clear road map to Nevada, however, on how to craft a disclosure requirement that would pass constitutional muster. For that matter, it's unclear ...
Officials move to block Harrah's casino vote
Brooke Donald
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Within hours of the Rhode Island Supreme Court's advisory opinion Thursday that a planned casino referendum is unconstitutional, Attorney General Patrick Lynch and Gov. Don Carcieri filed a motion in Superior Court to prevent the question from being considered by voters.
Pieces of A ...
Kirk Baird
Jana Speaker is a looker.
Obituaries for August 13, 2004
Fred Benson, 66, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in Las Vegas. He was born Feb. 8, 1938, in Jacksonville, Texas. A resident for 52 years, he was a hotel cook.
Witnesses describe knife attack
By Matt Pordum
Two St. Therese Center volunteers testified Thursday that they saw 38-year-old Michael Tracy McLaughlin wielding a knife and attacking workers at a Clark County Social Services center in Henderson on Dec. 10, 2003.
Protesters brave the heat
John Kerry supporters and/or George Bush despisers came out in droves Thursday morning -- despite the scorching heat -- to protest the U.S. president's speech at the local Carpenter's union.
Editorial: Moving against fraud
Moving companies that aren't certified by the state outnumber those that are, wrote Sun reporter Jen Lawson on Thursday. And, as many consumers have discovered, dealing with uncertified movers can turn into a nightmare. Unscrupulous movers who avoid state certification also avoid buying insurance policies and setting up legitimate payroll systems. Their workers are apt to be untrained and working under the table. When they cause thousands of dollars worth of damages to household goods, there is no way for the consumer to recover the loss. The illegal movers are also known for loading customers' furniture, then shaking them down ...
Nellis dorm sets tone for new housing
Jace Radke
The highest ranking enlisted man in the Air Force said that airmen, soldiers, sailors and Marines are focused on the tasks they need to accomplish to win the war on terrorism.
NRC staff not pushing for Yucca, attorney says
Suzanne Struglinski
WASHINGTON -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is not advocating for the Energy Department's Yucca Mountain project, the agency's attorney assured Nevada officials Wednesday.
Judge says lawyers in corruption case can look at probe results
The summary of the investigation by the Justice Department's office of professional responsibility is sealed.
Prices stable, trade deficit soars
The 0.1 percent increase in the measure of prices paid to factories, farmers and other producers followed a 0.3 percent decline in June, the Labor Department said in Washington.
Acting City Manager Mayes expected to get job permanently
City Clerk Vicki Mayes was put in the temporary position after former City Manager John Sullard was pushed from the job by the City Council.
Bush's visit delays explosion probe
Bomb squad officials were on call Thursday for the president's visit, leaving investigators too short on staff to begin the investigation into the fire, which broke out just after midnight in the garage of the 2,500-square-foot home at 444 Crocus Hill St. in Summerlin, Tim Szymanski, a spokesman for the department, said.
New 'mayor' takes over Nellis today
Jace Radke
Col. Walter Givhan called Nellis Air Force Base home five years ago, when he served a two-year stint as a combat training squadron commander. Now he's returning to the Air Force's premier training facility to run its day-to-day operations.
Key witness contradicts shooting theory
By Matt Pordum
Defense attorneys representing a man on trial for a murder he allegedly committed 12 years ago pressed a Metro Police crime scene analyst into explaining the theory of how the crime was committed, a theory that contradicts the accounts of a key witness.
Controversial olive trees given a reprieve until spring
Beth Slovic
Fifty flowering olive trees that were ordered to be cut down were given a reprieve until spring by the Clark County Air Pollution Control Hearing Board.
Pioneer Laughlin casino owner Lopp dies at 90
Odell "Odie" Lopp ranched in Texas, sold aircraft tires in California and pioneered a successful casino in Laughlin without ever learning to read or write.
Official explains trauma center decision
Dan Kulin
In a letter received Thursday by the Clark County Health District, State Health Division Administrator Alex Haartz echoed his earlier explanations for deciding to allow Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center to open a trauma center on a trial basis if the hospital meets certain conditions.
Sports briefs for August 13, 2004
U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch, best known for handling the trials of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing case, was assigned the Kobe Bryant civil case Thursday as a result of the random-assignment system used in Denver federal court.
Critchfield welcomes his chance to lead line
Steve Guiremand
UNLV guard Joe Critchfield knows big things are expected of him during his senior year.
Commissioner moves to sell interest in slots
CARSON CITY -- John Moran Jr., a Las Vegas lawyer appointed by Gov. Kenny Guinn to the Nevada Gaming Commission, moved a step closer Tuesday to shedding his interest in a company that has slot machines.
Hofbrauhaus will air F-1 races
The German beer hall and restaurant, at the corner of Paradise Road and Harmon Avenue, will show the final six races of the 2004 F-1 circuit on its big-screen televisions, and racing patrons will receive a 15 percent discount on their dining bills.
VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Hard Rock guests can take a whipping
Starting today, items from the hotel's naughty lingerie store, Love Jones, are just a phone call away for guests.
Green Valley all-stars finish one step shy of Williamsport
Adam Candee
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- Maybe such kaleidoscopic colors blend into the background after years of living in Las Vegas or, more likely, maybe the abrupt and numbing end of a whirlwind six-week ride left him in a momentary fog.
Gladiators' candidates list down to three
Adam Candee
The list of potential Las Vegas Gladiators head coaches keeps taking all the hard work away from general manager Dan Dolby by paring itself.
Gaming briefs for August 13, 2004
SACRAMENTO -- California ballot measures to expand gambling don't have enough support to pass, three months before voters in the most-populous U.S. state decide on two initiatives that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger opposes, a poll released today shows.

Today's frontpage

< Previous | Next >

  • Most Read
  • Discussed
  • Most E-mailed

Complete Listing

Calendar »

  • 21 Sat
  • 22 Sun
  • 23 Mon
  • 24 Tue
  • 25 Wed

All events on Saturday »