Print edition for August 30, 2004

Campuses unveiled as classes begin: By Emily Richmond; By 7:50 this morning, Clark County Schools Superintendent Carlos Garcia had already been at two new campuses and was en route to a third.

Two suspected car thieves sought after gunfight with police: No one was injured in the shooting, police said.

Casino owner Cavanaugh selling mansion at bargain: Longtime Nevada casino owner John Cavanaugh is ailing, and his doctors have suggested he put his house in order.

Prominent orthopedic surgeon Litton dies: He was born on Nov. 27, 1932, in St. Anthony, Idaho, to Ralph and Evelyn Litton.

High-tech residence hall opens at UNLV: When Minnesota native Cindy Jensen, 18, decided to come to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for her college education, she was just looking for somewhere where it didn't snow.

Animated approach: Adult content a hot topic as 'Father of the Pride' premieres: Kirk Baird; And with a backdrop of Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden, along with a menagerie of ironic-but-lovable animal characters, the show, which premieres at 9 p.m. Tuesday on KVBC Channel 3, seems a natural to be a curiosity for kids.

'Dragapella' more than a mere dress rehearsal: But if you can put aside your sexual preferences for an evening, this drag queen show is a riot.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Smarty party crasher Birdstone shows he's no fluke: Ralph Siraco; When Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone returned to the winner's circle at Belmont Park on June 6 after shocking the racing world by having the audacity to run down Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Smarty Jones, you could have heard a pin drop. The deafening silence of a record crowd in disbelief that some mortal equine had taken away their Triple Crown moment from the no-longer-invincible Smarty Jones was more than even the sportiest race goer could bear.

Editorial: Good to see planning for rail system: Imagine today without a beltway, or without the CAT bus system that came on line in 1993 after years of planning. U.S. 95 and Interstate 15 would be practically impassable and surface streets would be even more clogged than they are now. With projections showing steady growth for at least another 20 years in the Las Vegas Valley, we can look ahead 10 years and envision the gridlock if a light rail system is not up and running by then.

Caesars Palace cuts craps supervisor jobs: Caesars Palace is the last major Strip resort owned by Caesars Entertainment to cut the jobs and follows similar moves at other Strip properties that have said the positions are outdated.

Hearing master suspended in teenager's case: A Clark County juvenile court hearing master has been suspended without pay for 30 days for inappropriately ordering a teenage defendant to remove his clothing, Chief District Judge Kathy Hardcastle said Friday.

Public forums planned on schools: The meetings are part of an ongoing outreach effort, said School Board President Susan Brager-Wellman.

Porter spends week in Nevada: Suzanne Struglinski; NEW YORK -- Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., will not make a short speech from the podium at the 2004 Republican National Convention as planned but will spend the week in Nevada working on his campaign.

Cases of West Nile virus contracted through blood transfusions called rare: A total of 79 blood donors who had no symptoms of West Nile Virus showed positive preliminary blood results for the disease so far this year, according to the CDC's surveillance program. Local and state health officials report such cases to the federal agency.

State's delegates avoid protesters: Suzanne Struglinski; NEW YORK -- As Nevada's delegates arrived in New York for the Republican National Convention Sunday, thousands of protesters gathered 20 blocks from their hotel criticizing the war in Iraq, the Bush administration and government in general.

Car with baby left inside is stolen; mom arrested: About 6 p.m. Christina Sarpy, 26, asked a man outside a gas station at Decatur Boulevard and Washington Avenue to watch her car while she played slot machines, Sgt. Chris Jones said. She left the car running.

Animation doesn't always draw viewers: Kirk Baird; Since the early 1960s there have been 35 or so animated shows to air during prime time on network television.

Monday's EDT Time Schedule: AP; National League

Obituaries for August 30, 2004: Milford L. Barrett, 82, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in Las Vegas. He was born Oct. 28, 1921, in New York. A resident for 17 years, he was a supervisor at the New York City Transit Authority, an Army veteran and a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Police car catches fire after being rear-ended: Officer Jeff Swan, 42, was stopped at a red light on Nellis Boulevard at Sahara Avenue when a Chevrolet Caprice driven by 22-year-old Nathaniel Dunnean collided with the back of the officer's car, police said.

Tax petition may be short on signatures as fight continues: CARSON CITY -- The petition to repeal the $833.5 million tax increase may be short of the required referendum signatures, even if it wins in a case before the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Shopping mall giant sued over stake in Forum Shops: Jennifer Shubinski and Liz Benston; Simon Property Group, owner of the Forum Shops at Caesars mall on the Strip, has been sued by mall developer and former partner Sheldon Gordon, who alleges Simon violated federal and Nevada racketeering statutes and securities laws and that it withheld information to persuade Gordon to sell his share in the mall below market value.

Coaches lament opener missteps: Nick Christensen; Las Vegas 34...Pine View (UT) 28 This week: Las Vegas (1-0) at Snow Canyon (St. George, Utah)

Robinson makes it official: It's Nantkes: Steve Guiremand; Kurt Nantkes had a pretty good idea that he would be UNLV's starting quarterback this Sunday night at Tennessee.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Sun Lite for August 30, 2004: Lisa Ferguson; And so another summer season bites the dust, its unofficial end marked by the upcoming Labor Day weekend.

FBI eyes developers in expanded probe: Jace Radke; The FBI's investigation into political corruption by local elected officials goes much deeper than a renegade strip club owner allegedly bribing a small group of Clark County officials.

Union considers concessions: The concessions are part of $800 million in labor savings sought by Arlington, Va.-based US Airways. The airline is trying to pare $1.5 billion in annual costs to prevent going back into Chapter 11 protection and to compete with low-cost carriers.

Airport security lines still busy: When seven new security lanes opened at the C- and D-gate concourses on Friday, they were welcomed as an answer to long lines at the airport at peak times.

Changes afoot as MAGIC show begins: When the apparel industry rings in the new year in 2005, a new era of competition begins.

Las Vegas may give land to nonprofit groups: Sito Negron; For only $20, Las Vegas may effectively give land next to the infamous Sky-Vue mobile home park to the Salvation Army and Shade Tree nonprofit organizations.

News briefs for August 30, 2004: North Las Vegas Police have asked for the public's help in finding the driver of a dark-colored SUV that fled the scene of a collision just after midnight on Saturday, leaving a 20-year-old man in the street in critical condition.

Nader denounces gaming, Yucca during stop: Molly Ball; Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader denounced the gaming industry and the planned Yucca Mountain repository in a brief stop in Las Vegas on Sunday, his first visit to Nevada since 2000.

State considers own ER for mental health patients: By Cy Ryan; CARSON CITY -- The state is looking at a new alternative as a possible solution to the crisis caused by mental health patients filling the beds of emergency rooms in the Las Vegas Valley.

Bobbitt faces divorce after latest violence: Heather Rawlyk; Two days after her husband, John Wayne Bobbitt, was arrested and charged with two counts of domestic violence in the beating of her teenage son, Joanna Bobbitt filed for divorce.

Saturday's College Football Scores: AP; Charleston, W.Va. 49, WVU Tech 21

Letter: Beauty is only skin deep: As these women prove (and some of TV's latest hit shows condone), however, looks are almost everything in this society. The fact that these women have the audacity to complain about it makes me ill. Few people want to hear how the "pretty" in society, who get away with just about everything, have it so tough.

Weekend Sports Transactions: AP; KANSAS CITY ROYALS-Recalled LHP Jimmy Gobble from Omaha of the PCL. Placed RHP Scott Sullivan on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Aug. 26.

Algiers closes its doors: Algiers closes its doors

Early voters' data taken off Internet: Dan Kulin; The Clark County Election Department stopped putting voters' addresses and phone numbers on the Internet on Friday, saying they hope the change will alleviate concerns about privacy and identity theft.

Rogers calls for end to fighting among campuses: Squabbling among campus presidents in the University and Community College System of Nevada prompted Interim Chancellor Jim Rogers to issue a memo ordering a stop to the in-fighting.

Driver flees crash scene: The collision occurred around 7:30 a.m. between North 5th and Commerce streets when the driver of the speeding car lost control, hitting two vehicles, according to Sgt. Dan Ewing of the North Las Vegas Police Department.

From leading off in Athens to 51s, Theodorou has world of experience: Nick Christensen; A lifelong Dodgers fan, Nick Theodorou has come as close to living a dream as possible this year, having a decent year with Los Angeles' top farm club and possibly in position for a call-up from the Las Vegas 51s when major league rosters expand on Wednesday.

Birth announcements for August 30, 2004: Aug. 15:

U.S. spending increases: Purchases of automobiles and other durable goods led the growth in spending after a 0.2 percent decline in June, the Commerce Department said today in Washington. Incomes rose 0.1 percent, restrained by a drop in government benefit payments and farm income. A measure of inflation tied to spending was unchanged.

Hello, he must be going: Collins bids LV farewell: Spencer Patterson; "It isn't a joke, actually," Collins told Las Vegas fans Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. "This is the last time."

More lenders opening LV offices: Kevin Rademacher; Lenders are still bullish on the booming Las Vegas economy.

Teen's beating death fuels trauma center debate: Molly Ball, Cy Ryan and Dan Kulin; When 17-year-old Lee Masangkay was beaten in the Boulevard mall, suffering injuries that later turned out to be fatal, the ambulance didn't take him to Sunrise Hospital, even though it is located next door to the shopping plaza on Maryland Parkway.

Hopeful voter disappointed over late registration: Molly Ball; When Jon Baumunk moved to Las Vegas last month, he immediately went to the Department of Motor Vehicles to register his car and get a new driver's license.

Union, Republic Services negotiating disputes: Alana Roberts; A leader of Teamsters Local 631, which represents about 950 workers at waste hauler Republic Services of Southern Nevada, said the union is working to settle several legal disputes with the company.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: The Gymcats are jumping, but something is missing: Having just returned from Athens, Cassie Rice, the matriarch of Henderson Gymcats, spent the latter part of last week reattaching the telephone to her office wall.

Keith appeases faithful at Mandalay Bay: Leah Robinson; Oh yeah, and he's opening his own bar in Las Vegas next summer.

Letter: Bush is providing more funding for education: Federal education spending for Nevada has gone up 49.5 percent since President Bush took office and Title I funding for low-income students in Nevada has already increased 88.5 percent. These are substantial increases that will help all students get the education they deserve. In addition, more than $4 million in funding has been given to Nevada to ensure that all children learn to read by the third grade.

Editorial: Don't whine, compete: We have previously suggested an incentive here in Nevada for people who drive hybrids, such as a break on their registration fees. Hybrids are coming of age, with power and style to match regular cars. With low emissions and superior mileage, they could be a major solution to air pollution and foreign oil dependency if they catch on. Incentives, at least for a few years, could help kick-start the trend.

Gaming briefs for August 30, 2004: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois Gaming Board Chairman Elzie Higginbottom, who has been crticized over the board's decision to grant an unused casino license to Rosemont, resigned his post Friday, saying it was time to turn his attention back to his family and business.

Utah shoots for BCS berth: Steve Guiremand; (Sixth in a series previewing the Mountain West Conference)

Teen's death fuels trauma care debate: Molly Ball, Cy Ryan and Dan Kulin; When 17-year-old Lee Masangkay was beaten in the Boulevard mall, suffering injuries that later turned out to be fatal, the ambulance didn't take him to Sunrise Hospital, even though it is located next door to the shopping plaza on Maryland Parkway.

FTC requests more information on merger: MGM MIRAGE and Mandalay Resort Group similarly disclosed last month that they received, as expected, a second request from the FTC for information about their proposed merger.

Sports briefs for August 30, 2004: Lleyton Hewitt and Lindsay Davenport could earn up to $500,000 extra at the U.S. Open because they finished atop the inaugural U.S. Open Series standings.