Print edition for December 29, 2004

Pentagon plans to seek cuts in Raptor program: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Seeking cost savings to help offset the cost of the Iraq war, Pentagon officials and congressional lawmakers are discussing cuts in the F/A-22 Raptor fighter jet program, sources said.

Rain bigger threat to holiday than terrorism: Jace Radke; As Metro Police and FBI agents are preparing for Las Vegas' New Year's Eve celebration, the biggest threat appears to be the chance of rain, authorities said.

Valley storms expected to continue: Mary Manning and Eric Leake; A winter storm pummeled Southern Nevada most of Tuesday and through this morning with a one-two punch of rain in the valley and snow in the surrounding mountains.

Business group wants to deal over Yucca: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- A new coalition of Nevada business, union and local government leaders plans to pushing for Nevadans to capitalize on the government's plan to store highly radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain.

Plan may give lift to Coyote Springs project: The Clark County Commission may approve an unusual arrangement to help development proceed at the 40,000-acre Coyote Springs project about 60 miles north of Las Vegas.

Court may have erred in reversal: Molly Ball; Avery Church may not go free after all, despite having his attempted murder conviction overturned and not sent back for a new trial by the Nevada Supreme Court.

Medicare recipients may lose thousands in benefits: Michelle Swafford; To sign up for the $600 prescription-drug credit by Friday, call (800) 633-4227 or visit www.medicare.gov.

McCarran to have new explosives testing devices installed next year: Jace Radke and Ben Grove; New technologies designed to check air travelers for explosives without subjecting them to a pat-down will be installed at McCarran International Airport on a test basis early next year, officials say.

Expect growing pains, celebrations in 2005: Dan Kulin; The seats up for election and their incumbents in the coming year's municipal balloting:

Prison guard files discrimination suit: CARSON CITY -- A correctional officer at the High Desert State Prison near Indian Springs has filed a federal court suit alleging the prison administration practices age and race discrimination.

Beers wants School District cuts: By Emily Richmond; Clark County School District's management can expect its size and scope to be challenged during the 2005 legislative session by at least two lawmakers.

Mental evaluation planned for suspect in S&R shooting: By Matt Pordum; A former NFL player accused of shooting at the home of entertainers Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn told District Judge Jackie Glass, "I'd rather not go to trial. I'd rather plead."

CAT to adjust to closure of Strip: Temporary bus stops are marked with neon orange signs and will be placed as needed on poles, parking signs or other permanent fixtures.

Cable unit may sell mobile service with Sprint: "We're working on plans for a wireless trial with Sprint," Time Warner Cable spokesman Keith Cocozza said in an interview today. Sprint spokesman Jeff Shafer confirmed the discussions. Both declined to provide further details.

Editorial: Hiking for chainsaws: Under new administrative rules, general forest management plans can be prepared and revised without the need for producing environmental impact statements. Environmental impact statements require managers to carefully weigh the consequences when preparing a forest's master plan, and to give strong consideration to the views of the public. This change wrecks the balance of power between public and private interests. Managers of national forests are empowered by the new rule to largely use their own discretion in approving the mix of recreational and commercial activity that will be allowed within their jurisdictions. And who will they listen to? The muzzled ...

Columnist Adam Candee: Futures are now for tour money title hopefuls: Adam Candee; The sound of silence in the golf world does not deafen in its brief three-week existence from mid-December to early January.

Annan, others to blame for scandal: To date, investigations prove that several countries were involved with the gross infractions that have lately characterized the program. These infractions occurred with the blessing of the U.N., whose secretary general, Kofi Annan, refuses to resign.

Federal court rules in female makeup case: Liz Benston and Cy Ryan; A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that a Nevada casino company could impose makeup requirements on its female bartenders without violating U.S. sex discrimination laws.

Hannan makes patience pay off: The worst basketball injury of Andy Hannan's life turned into a blessing in June.

Former Las Vegan had planned trip for two years: David Kihara; A Sri Lankan woman who formerly lived in Las Vegas was found dead in a beach resort town in Sri Lanka over the weekend, a victim of the tsunamis that have claimed more than 18,700 lives in that island nation and at least 50,000 throughout Asia.

Jackson gives boost to Rams' running game: R.B. Fallstrom; ST. LOUIS -- Belatedly, the future has arrived for the St. Louis Rams' running game.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Right angle?: Top-ranked Southern Cal is still favored to win the Orange Bowl on Tuesday, but the point spread has been falling steadily since it was posted early this month.

Letter: Regional policies to help homeless are disgraceful: So what's happened since?

Community news briefs for December 29, 2004: Performances in the sixth annual Las Vegas Philharmonic Youth Concert Series will be 10:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Jan. 4, 5, 7 and 10 at UNLV's Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall.

Christmas tree sparks fire in LV home: The damage to the home in the 4900 block of Tenaya Way is estimated at $200,000, Szymanski said.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: UNLV football is poorest in rich year of bad stories: This is the time of the year when people in my profession gain even more weight than usual and, because there's nothing else going on besides UNLV vs. Texas-Pan American basketball games, write boring stories recapping the Top 10 sports stories of the year.

Sales of previously owned U.S. homes hit record in November: Jeannine Aversa; WASHINGTON -- Sales of previously owned homes in November posted their best month on record as low mortgage rates enticed buyers to live the American dream.

Petition group formally appeals Heller's ruling: CARSON CITY -- A formal appeal was filed Tuesday with Secretary of State Dean Heller, asking him to allow an anti-smoking petition be presented to the 2005 Legislature.

Ralph Siraco's Santa Anita selections: 1st Race -- MAASTRICHT -- Part of Darley Stable-owned and Harty-trained coupled entry with AGOREIN, Flores & blinkers-off here, Bisono there, double diploma threat. COURTLY JAZZ -- Draws good rail post for route maiden special weight opener, Douglas atop young Mandella trainee, takes shortest trip to graduation? Value Play -- LARRY KING

Court rejects UNLV appeal in professor's firing: CARSON CITY -- A tenured professor at UNLV who has been battling for his job for more than a decade has won a decision from the Nevada Supreme Court.

Where I Stand -- Marisol Montoya: Spirit of debate lives: By Marisol Montoya

Holiday closings: SAFETY: Police and fire emergency services as usual. Administrative offices closed.

Mall dolls up for New Year's Eve: Jennifer Shubinski; A portion of the valley's largest mall will transform itself into a nightclub in time for the throngs of people expected to visit Las Vegas for New Year's Eve.

Sports briefs for December 29, 2004: Vanderbilt running back Kwane Doster was shot to death after his friends and a group of other men exchanged "trash talk" about their cars, Tampa police said Tuesday.

Russian gambling chain raises $45 million: The company received the money as a one-year loan from Dresdner Bank AG, which Moscow-based MDM Bank then bought and later sold as bonds to mainly Western investors, said Andrey Dobrynin, director for international capital markets at MDM.

Obituaries for December 29, 2004: Veda Arnold, 88, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. She was born May 12, 1916, in Turkey Creek, Okla. A resident for two years, she was a homemaker.

ACLU expands lawsuit against school dress code: By Emily Richmond; The Nevada ACLU has filed an amended complaint adding five families to a federal lawsuit challenging the Clark County School District's dress code policy.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Fundraiser's proceeds more than up to par: Elizabeth Foyt; The event included a live auction conducted by Christian Kolberg, director of communications at the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.

Editorial: Petitioners get the shaft: But a short time later, Secretary of State Dean Heller reversed himself, saying that the petitions actually required 10 percent of the votes cast in the 2004 election, because the signatures were turned in after Election Day. Therefore, Heller ruled, the petitions required 83,156 signatures instead. The new figure ballooned because the 2004 election produced such a heavy turnout. The net result was that none of the groups had collected enough signatures. Rubbing salt in the wound was the fact that some of the groups had been ready to turn their signatures in before Election Day but didn't because county ...

Correction: Correction

Third driver may have been involved in crash: About 7 a.m. Tuesday, a 1997 Chrysler Sebring driven by 19-year-old Estrella Guerrero swerved across a median on Fort Apache Road and collided with a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am traveling in the opposite direction. Guerrero's car then hit a curb and flipped over onto its roof. Guerrero was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected, police said.

Taxes, problem gambling likely '05 lobbying focus: By Liz Benston; A month away from the 2005 Legislative session, some Las Vegas casino companies are gearing up for what may become the most challenging political and economic issue to face the state in years.

Columnist Peter Benton: SouthShore pro wins chapter title: Peter Benton; On Dec. 20 at the Las Vegas Country Club, area professionals teed it up in the Las Vegas Chapter Southwest Section of the PGA's Grand Final Golf Tournament.

Three nominated to fill District Court post: CARSON CITY -- Three Las Vegas lawyers -- two men and a woman -- have been nominated by the state Commission on Judicial Selection to succeed District Judge Ron Parraguirre, who was elected to the Nevada Supreme Court.

2004 a momentous year for Atlantic City: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- The Donald went bust. Borgata boomed. Resorts got bigger. Caesars got swallowed up.

Guinn names nine people to state boards: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn Tuesday named nine people to state boards and commissions, including Leo Basch of Las Vegas to the state Board of Pharmacy.

Airline appeals to workers, and promises discipline: Separately, the airline warned employees it would review the attendance records of those who called in sick over the Christmas holiday -- and to discipline workers who abused the sick time system.

Singapore to restrict residents' access to casinos: Linus Chua; Singapore's government said it will restrict its residents' use of a proposed casino, moving to reduce opposition among church and social groups. In return, it may offer a 10-year monopoly to the gaming operator.

Thursday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1 p.m.

Stillings, pioneer financial officer at DI, Boyd Gaming, dies: George L. Stillings Sr. often had brushes with Las Vegas history during a career in the hotel industry in Nevada and California that touched six decades.