Print edition for December 21, 2004

Kruger mulls lineup changes: Steve Guiremand; THE GAME: UNLV (3-4) vs. Gardner-Webb (5-2).

Bill would clarify when public workers can help on campaigns: Kirsten Searer; Sen. Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, is pushing a bill to prohibit public employees from doing campaign work for their bosses while on the public dime.

Plugged In: Simplicity of retro games make plug-and-play systems popular: Kirk Baird; Featuring such classic video games as Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Asteroids, Warlords, Missile Command, Pong, Pitfall!, Breakout and Adventure, sales of retro-themed plug-and-play games are soaring into the millions.

Games vary widely in playability, quality: Kirk Baird; The plug-and-play games are an easy video-game fix to anyone craving to play the classics.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Midnight start of game adds spice to ice: The visitors from Fresno wore their traveling Gulden's Mustard colored sweaters, while the home side from Las Vegas skated in its red flannel pajamas with the feet in them.

Sports briefs for December 21, 2004: A Pistons fan who was charged with trespassing during the brawl at The Palace of Auburn Hills filed suit Monday against the Indiana Pacers and players Jermaine O'Neal and Anthony Johnson.

Editorial: Mr. October's praise: Now you can add Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, who has assembled an ownership group to bid for a Major League Baseball team, as one of those who believe Las Vegas is ready to be a viable big-league city. "Do I think it's real? Yes," said Jackson, a part-time resident of Las Vegas. Jackson declined to say what team he is pursuing. He also wouldn't say whether, if he were able to buy a team, he would bring it here. If Jackson were to land a team, it would be a milestone: He would become the first black owner of ...

Letter: Don't tamper with safety net of average workers: Politicians have always taken care of themselves with fat pension plans and lifetime medical care at the expense of taxpayers. Many of them have become millionaires while in office.

Editorial: Iraq at root of criticisms: "He's doing a very fine job," Bush said of Rumsfeld at a news conference, where reporters asked about the growing criticism of Rumsfeld for the way he's directed the war in Iraq. On Sunday, on ABC's "This Week," Bush's chief of staff Andrew Card was even more effusive. "Secretary Rumsfeld is doing a spectacular job," Card said.

Profit rises 18 percent: Net income in the three months ending in November rose to $1.2 billion, or $1.09 a share, from $1 billion, or 92 cents, a year earlier, the New York-based company today said. Revenue rose 7 percent to $5.4 billion from a year ago.

Letter: Predictions for Sun columnists: Predictions regarding Las Vegas Sun columnists:

Retired Air Force major graduates in UNLV ceremony: David Kihara; After two wars, six years and numerous delays, former Air Force Maj. Jim Davis finally donned a cap and gown Monday and graduated from UNLV.

Robbery attempt foiled at casino: By Sun Staff; About 2 a.m. two men and a woman tried to steal money from a casino employee pushing a change cart but were unsuccessful. They ran out a side door, police said and were seen driving away in a small silver car.

Immunization schedule for Dec. 21, 2004: HENDERSON PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 129 W. Lake Mead Parkway, Building A, Suite 10, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Jail nurse enters plea in escape plan: Jace Radke; A 28-year-old Las Vegas nurse has pleaded not guilty to a federal charge of attempting to help a convicted gang member escape from jail.

New trial denied in killing of teen couple: By Matt Pordum; A man sentenced to death for the so-called thrill kill slayings of a teenage couple in Las Vegas in September 1994 had his motion for a new trial denied by District Judge Donald Mosley on Monday.

Death penalty reversed in skinhead killing: CARSON CITY -- John Butler, sentenced to death for the shotgun murder of two rival gang members in Clark County, is going to get a new penalty hearing.

Ensign plan one more water-saving step: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., believes his proposal to help reduce water use by replacing grass on schools and other public property, combined with other recent water-related decisions, will keep Southern Nevada in "good shape for awhile" when it comes to the West's precious resource.

Community briefs for December 21, 2004: Planned Parenthood of Southern Nevada is providing free annual exams, which include clinical breast exams and Pap tests to women under 40 who are uninsured and not covered by other programs (Spanish-speaking staff are available).

Sentencing delayed in hitman case: By Matt Pordum; The sentencing of a woman accused of trying to hire a hitman to kill her husband was delayed Monday after her lawyer challenged the Department of Parole and Probation's recommendation she receive two years in prison.

Holiday Donations: Goodwill

Columnist Susan Snyder: Bell tolling for red kettles across valley: Certainly, it hurt when Target stores banned bell-ringers from their stores this holiday season, following a long-standing corporate prohibition of doorway charity solicitations.

Gaming commission approves three casino licenses: Diane Reimer, spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Revenue, said Ameristar, based in Las Vegas, plans to redevelop the Mountain High Casino in Black Hawk.

Fox, owner of popular Las Vegas Boulevard deli Foxy's, dies: Legend has it that half the business deals in Las Vegas were done on Foxy's Deli napkins and a handshake during the late 1950s.

Third-quarter net income little changed: Net income was $45.9 million, or 35 cents a share, in the period ended Nov. 27, the West Greenwich, R.I.-based company said in a statement.

Sanford's offense lands top QB prospect: Steve Guiremand; UNLV landed one of the top junior college quarterbacks in California on Monday when Jarrod Jackson of Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif., said he would sign with the Rebels.

Nevadans question security money: WASHINGTON -- Nevada's congressional delegation wants an explanation from Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge as to why Nevada -- and Las Vegas in particular -- received less money for security efforts than in past years.

Work continues on South Coast hotel: Work continues on South Coast hotel

Southwest stretch of beltway to open Thursday: Stephen Curran; Las Vegas Beltway work crews and transportation planners are delivering an early Christmas present to motorists in the southwest end of the valley.

Petitions on pot, smoking headed to court: CARSON CITY -- Initiative petitions to restrict smoking in public places and to allow adults to possess a small amount of marijuana have failed on a legal technicality according to an opinion issued by the state attorney general's office Monday, and the issue is headed for the courts.

High court upholds penalty on judge: CARSON CITY -- In a split decision, the Nevada Supreme Court today upheld the discipline imposed on District Judge Donald Mosley of Las Vegas, who was publicly censured, fined $5,000 and ordered to attend an ethics course at the National Judicial College.

Cap on state, local spending proposed: Kirsten Searer; Sen. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, is proposing a cap on government spending similar to a Taxpayers Bill of Rights passed 12 years ago in Colorado.

Union holding off on strike plans: Alana Roberts; A lead negotiator, on behalf of 320 maintenance workers at three Mandalay Resort Group properties, said Monday the union will forego a strike until after Thursday's meeting with company negotiators and a federal mediator.

Mr. Mayor meets with Mr. October: Dan Kulin; Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman are men with a common goal -- they are both committed to bringing Major League Baseball to Las Vegas, the mayor said after meeting with Jackson for about 90 minutes Monday.

Late penalties slow Wranglers: Nick Christensen; Last year, the Las Vegas Wranglers came out sluggish in the first midnight game in professional hockey history.

Developers to tee off on fourth golf course: While golf courses that count on daily round play have faced economic struggles in Southern Nevada, resort operators at Lake Las Vegas are counting on the area's residential component to make its new Tom Fazio-designed course a success.

Initial public offering completed: Las Vegas Sands Corp., the holding company for Las Vegas Sands Inc., which operates the Venetian, sold its initial allotment of 23.8 million shares at $29 a share as well as an additional 3.6 million shares in an overallotment option. Shares climbed to $53.25 making it one of the most successful IPOs of the last two years, according to Thomson Financial.

Nevadans to hit the road for the holidays: David Kihara; Nevadans are expected to take to the roads during this holiday season in record numbers, with motorists taking advantage of both low gasoline prices and back-to-back holiday weekends.

Private hangars taking off in LV: By Richard N. Velotta; Private jet hangars will be popping up along the west side of McCarran International Airport as demand builds for shelter for large corporate aircraft and the last land on the airport periphery is leased.

Lawmakers seek revision of new entertainment tax: CARSON CITY -- Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, and Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, want to scale back the 10 percent tax on live entertainment that was adopted during the last legislative session.

New trial denied in killing of couple near Sunrise Mountain: By Matt Pordum; A man sentenced to death for the so-called thrill kill slayings of a teenage couple in Las Vegas in September 1994 had his motion for a new trial denied by District Judge Donald Mosley on Monday.

Obituaries for December 21, 2004: Bonnie Kay Brauner, 64, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospice. She was born Aug. 16, 1940, in Huntington, W.Va. A resident for five years, she was a retired registered nurse.

Shoppers cautioned about fraud during holidays: Kevin Rademacher; Amid the shopping frenzy that defines the holiday season, retailers and banks are on guard for check and debit card fraud, and they are cautioning consumers to be cautious as well.

Federal judge says Yucca complaint needs rewriting: Jace Radke; Attorneys who filed a lawsuit against Yucca Mountain contractors for allegedly failing to warn workers about the dangers of silica dust will have to file an amended complaint in U.S. District Court after a federal judge dismissed the original suit Monday.

Bonuses offered for teachers in special education: By Emily Richmond; Qualified teachers who left special education programs for general classroom assignments are being offered raises and bonuses to return.

Pediatrician accused in porn case found victim through Big Brother program: Jen Lawson; The pediatrician accused of child molestation and child porn possession told Metro Police that one of his victims was a local boy he had met through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada, according to the arrest report.

Court briefs for December 21, 2004: A 16-year-old boy accused of killing a boy of the same age last month will stand trial as an adult, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace James Bixler ruled Monday.

Monday's Sports Transactions: AP; BALTIMORE ORIOLES-Agreed to terms with LHP Steve Kline on a two-year contract and OF Jay Gibbons and LHP Bruce Chen on one-year contracts. Acquired INF Chris Gomez from Philadelphia for cash.

Women's Top 25 Basketball Schedule: AP; No. 2 Stanford at No. 9 Tennessee, 7 p.m.

Washington baseball bid gets new life: WASHINGTON -- Major League Baseball in the nation's capital may not be dead, after all.

College Basketball Schedule: AP; Loyola Marymount at Colgate, 7 p.m.

Homeless evacuated from 'tent city' at Sky-Vue park: By Timothy Pratt; More than 100 homeless people broke down their tents and lean-tos scattered around the downtown lot that was once the site of the troubled Sky-Vue trailer park and found themselves on the move again this morning.

Women's Top 25 Fared: AP; 2. Stanford (8-0) did not play. Next: at No. 9 Tennessee, Tuesday.

Las Vegas interests win seven tourism awards: Organizers of the awards, presented earlier this month in Barbados, said 2.5 million travel agents worldwide cast ballots for the awards, which included global categories as well as a breakout of the best tourism facilities by continent.

Retailers cut prices after sales growth slows: Greg Wiles; U.S. retailers including Macy's and Circuit City Stores Inc. are cutting prices by half on some items during the final push before Christmas after posting disappointing sales gains last week.

Stealth fighter crashes during takeoff at Nellis: An F/A-22 Raptor stealth fighter crashed on a runway at Nellis Air Force Base on Monday afternoon, the first reported loss of one of the aircraft, which cost more than $130 million each.