Print edition for August 24, 2004

Carpenter hopes to build relationship with faculty: Richard Carpenter's start as the new president of the Community College of Southern Nevada has not been a smooth one.

Liberty back for more after rough first year: Nick Christensen; SUN RANKINGS 1. Foothill -- Not much has changed since a strong '03. 2. Silverado -- A weakened Southeast plays to Skyhawks' strengths. 3. Green Valley -- Much higher expectations from last year's 1-8 season. 4. Coronado -- Depends on how much the loss of Hatch hurts. 5. Basic -- Rebuilding year with another Montano at QB. 6. Liberty -- Scored just 12 points last year -- against 3A schools.

Rivers agrees to terms with Chargers: AP; The contract will pay Rivers $40.5 million, including a $14.25 million signing bonus. He can earn $10 million more in incentives.

Candidates duke it out with Yucca ads: Kirsten Searer; Nevada voters are facing dueling television ads that argue about which presidential candidate the state can trust on the Yucca Mountain issue.

PUC hearing set: The request was made by the natural gas distribution company in order to cover higher fuel costs.

Sports briefs for August 24, 2004: Regina Miller, who has coached the UNLV women's basketball team to the postseason for four consecutive years, received a three-year contract extension through the 2007-08 season, the athletic department announced Monday.

Woman, 19, arrested in fatal collision: Metro Police said Rachel Braund had mixed prescription painkillers with alcohol before she got behind the wheel of her Chrysler PT Cruiser about 2 a.m. today, reportedly to follow her boyfriend, with whom she'd been having an argument, Sgt. Frank Weigand said.

Plea deal made in fatal shooting: By Matt Pordum; A 19-year-old Las Vegas man originally scheduled to go to trial Monday on a charge of murder in the death of 22-year-old Lennell Bell of Las Vegas pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter with use of a deadly weapon.

CD Underworld: Once thought indestructible, compact discs require special care, experts contend: Spencer Patterson; Two decades later, however, concerns are spreading over whether CDs are beginning to show signs of wearing out.

Letter: Kerry doesn't have core values: How else to explain his calling for overseas troop reductions on Aug. 1 and condemning President Bush's call for overseas troop reductions on Aug. 18? Or calling for people to examine his record in Vietnam and then condemning those who did examine that record? Or his voting to cut intelligence funding and then decrying the lack of intelligence gathering capabilities? Or voting for and then against the $87 billion for the troops in Iraq? Or his vote for the use of force in Iraq, then his condemnation of President Bush for using force in Iraq? The list goes on, but ...

Analysts skeptical of plan to buy Rouse Co.: Jennifer Shubinski; Analysts are not thrilled about General Growth Properties' plan to buy the Rouse Co., developer of Summerlin and the Fashion Show mall, and they said the $12.6 billion in cash and debt acquisition is too much for the company to take on.

One L.A. flight to be cut: The Dallas-based airline, the busiest commercial passenger carrier at McCarran International Airport, confirmed Monday that it plans to eliminate 88 flights systemwide in October and reallocate aircraft to more lucrative markets. The airline operates about 2,800 every day.

Ralph Siraco's Del Mar selections: 1st Race -- TITA EMERALD -- Draws good post for two-turn turf opener, Espinoza on Gonzalez trainee, Tita ready for a gem of a victory? TERPSICHORE -- Bug boy Ruis atop Canani trainee, needs crafty trip from outer post at grass route starter allowance outing, hails from heady barn. Value Play -- PALACE ROSE

Not-guilty plea entered in baby's death: Her trial date was set for the end of next year.

Preps: Southeast division: Nick Christensen; Basic WOLVES

Riding a wave of poker popularity, casinos opening new card rooms: Bill Draper; KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A few years ago, casinos across the United States were closing their poker rooms to make space for more popular and lucrative slot machines.

Victim's car plays key role in trial: By Matt Pordum; A self-described friend of a man accused of murder and robbery said that after the killing he saw his friend driving a car that matched the one that had been stolen from the dead man.

Las Vegas gaming pioneer Silver dies at 93: In 1953 entrepreneur Benjamin Silver listened intently as "Admiral" Tony Cornero shared his vision for what would then be Las Vegas' largest hotel, a plush resort with 1,000 rooms in the heart of the Strip.

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

Gladiators find their new man at home: Adam Candee; Banking on his disciplinary style and established rapport with the team, the Gladiators will look for change within the organization by hiring assistant Ron James as their new head coach.

Killer will get hearing on appeal: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court has ordered a hearing in District Court for convicted killer James J. Turner Jr., who says actions by state prison officials caused him to miss the deadline for filing an appeal.

Red-light violation suspected as woman, 19, arrested in fatal collision: Metro Police said Rachel Braund had mixed prescription painkillers with alcohol before she got behind the wheel of her Chrysler PT Cruiser about 2 a.m. today, reportedly to follow her boyfriend, with whom she'd been having an argument, Sgt. Frank Weigand said.

Longtime Elvis announcer Dvorin dies: Al Dvorin, the man who coined the phrase, "Elvis has left the building," was killed Sunday in a single-car accident near the California-Nevada border as he was returning to Las Vegas from a Presley tribute in California. He was 81.

More victims of suspected serial rapist sought: Matt Pordum and Jen Lawson; Monday's preliminary hearing for a 28-year-old man suspected of abducting, raping and robbing as many as six women in Las Vegas was rescheduled to allow investigators to conduct DNA tests on other potential victims.

Immunization schedule for August 24, 2004: HENDERSON PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 129 W. Lake Mead Drive, Building A, Suite 10, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Harmon family matriarch Cleo dies: Harmon, who with her husband, Harley E. Harmon, owned an insurance agency in Las Vegas from 1948 until 1997, was also active in the Junior League, Eastern Star, Assistance League and Mesquite Club. She also was appointed head of the Nevada Safety Council by Gov. Mike O'Callaghan.

Kerry, Bush duke it out with Yucca Mountain ads: Kirsten Searer; Nevada voters are facing dueling television ads that argue about which presidential candidate the state can trust on the Yucca Mountain issue.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Is the ice for hockey or a Margarita?: As former Las Vegas Thunder coach Butch Goring used to say, give the Wranglers, our city's reincarnation of professional hockey, "full marks" for trying.

British Airways cancels flights: British Airways cancels flights

Obituaries for August 24, 2004: Raymond Badillo, 44, of Henderson died Saturday in Henderson. He was born March 19, 1960, in Chicago. A resident for four years, he was disabled.

Moore growing into his leadership role on line: Steve Guiremand; Simply put, the UNLV football team is expecting a lot more from junior defensive end Leon Moore this season.

Editorial: Rules are set in stone: South Korean gymnast Yang Tae-young was decidedly wronged Wednesday in Athens. Judges erred in deducting 0.1 point from the start value (the number of points a gymnast would earn if he performed perfectly) of his parallel bars routine in the competition for best all-around gymnast. Tae-young's start value should have been 10.0 but the judges placed it at 9.90. After his performance, judges awarded him 9.712, which theoretically would have been 9.812 without the error in start value.

Editorial: Put cameras in taxicabs: Despite this horrific crime, and a growing number of armed robberies and other murders committed against cabdrivers during the past year, the Nevada Taxicab Authority doesn't plan on expediting its current study to improve the safety of cabs. Over the weekend Taxicab Authority President Richard Land said the University of Nevada, Las Vegas study isn't expected to be done until September. Land said it will take until November before the Taxicab Authority acts on the study's findings.

Letter: Cleaner channels would help lake: Efficiency can be increased by dredging and removing debris, among other efforts. Note that the Mesquite area receives considerable rainfall at times, meaning it can supply the Virgin River with significant runoff.

Panel to seek changes to open-meeting law: Dan Kulin; A committee of state legislators agreed Monday to recommend changes to the state's open-meeting law in response to university system Board of Regents' problems following the statute in the past year.

Gaming briefs for August 24, 2004: NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- The Eastern Pequot tribe has asked a Superior Court judge to throw out Donald Trump's $10 million breach of contract lawsuit, saying the matter should be argued after the tribe's federal recognition status is decided.

Murder charge pending after cabbie burned: Jen Lawson; The cabdriver who was set on fire during a robbery attempt Friday died early this morning, and the man accused in the assault is expected to be charged with murder, authorities said.

Community briefs for August 24, 2004: Imam Mujahid Ramadan, a member of the North Las Vegas Visioning Committee, will be speaking at the Visioning 2025 Community meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Holy Trinity AME Church, 700 Lola Ave.

Letter: News media must help voters identify smears: Smears have been a hallmark of every campaign Karl Rove has been connected with -- they are his signature tactic. Smears will continue from now until Election Day unless they are exposed by the media. Freedom of the press was granted specifically in the Constitution because of its importance as a check to balance those who wish to gain power by deceit and deception.

Dropout rate up by 25 percent: Stephen Curran; Reversing a trend that had been improving, Nevada's high-school dropout rate increased by more than 25 percent in the 2001-02 school year, according to the annual Nevada Kids Count survey, released today.

County posts early voters' data on Net: Kirsten Searer; It looks like a record number of people could cast early ballots this primary election, but some voters might be surprised to learn that personal information will be posted on the Internet soon after they exit early voting booths.

Kincaid-Chauncey attacks critics: Kirsten Searer; County Commissioner Mary Kincaid-Chauncey defended herself Monday against attacks that she could not serve effectively while she faces political corruption charges.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Kingsland quits DCCS team because truck not ready: Local racer Casey Kingsland has left the DCCS Motorsports team in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and will not attempt to qualify for Wednesday's race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Kingsland said Monday.

Vestin CEO interested in buying back shares: Kevin Rademacher; Despite dropping an earlier plan to take Vestin Group Inc. private, the company's founder and chief executive is still interested in buying up shares of the company.

Elections board approves gambling measure: David Eggert; LANSING, Mich -- The Board of State Canvassers voted 4-0 on Monday to certify more than 443,000 petition signatures for a ballot measure that would require voters to approve new gambling in Michigan -- except at American Indian casinos and three Detroit casinos. The amendment would be retroactive to Jan. 1.

Motorists reminded to watch for kids: At a press conference Monday, students from Hal Smith Elementary School demonstrated -- with the help of a crossing guard -- the right way to cross the busy intersection of Desert Inn Road and Nellis Boulevard.

Mosley steps aside to let new judge try Whaley killing: By Matt Pordum; District Judge Donald Mosley will no longer preside over the case of three 18-year-olds accused in the Oct. 14 killing of their 17-year-old friend because the lawyer newly hired by one of the accused previously served as Mosley's lawyer in two different cases.

LV plans to hire guards to secure Sky-Vue: Sito Negron; Las Vegas officials said Monday they plan to hire security guards and put up a fence to secure the Sky-Vue mobile home park after three fires in three weeks exposed it as an ongoing public-safety hazard.

Feds won't appeal Yucca ruling: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Federal officials say the government will not ask a federal appeals court to revisit last month's ruling on the Yucca Mountain project's radiation standards.

Two losing seasons put the heat on BYU: Steve Guiremand; Head coach: Gary Crowton, 4th season, 21-17. 2003 record: 4-8 (3-4, tied for fourth in Mountain West) Returning starters: 12. Top player: Defensive back Aaron Francisco. Key game: Sept. 4 vs. Notre Dame. 2004 MWC media projection: Tie for 5th.