Print edition for February 19, 2004

Legislative counsel to review demotions: CARSON CITY -- The chief lawyer for the Legislature has been directed to determine if the university regents followed the law in demoting the president and a top official at the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Man convicted in murder for hire: Jurors found Luis Barroso, 25, guilty of 10 felony charges, including first-degree murder, sexual assault and kidnapping charges.

Customer arrested after fight at car dealership: Jen Lawson; Metro Police arrested a 23-year-old Henderson man Monday afternoon for allegedly attacking three employees of Planet Hyundai with a pipe in a dispute over a car.

Council approves new homes: The development by Centex Homes is planned for the southwest corner of the intersection of Lamb Boulevard and Tropical Parkway, west of Interstate 15.

'Just One Look' singer, stage star Troy dies at 67: Doris Troy was a teenage usher at the famed Apollo Theatre in Harlem when she dreamed of stardom as a professional singer.

Supreme Court rejects appeal in fatal shooting at sports book: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court Wednesday upheld the first-degree murder conviction of Anthony Cuccia Jr., who claimed he gunned down another man in Las Vegas who had been hired by the Mafia to murder Cuccia.

Gibbons meets with Libya's Gadhafi on Middle East trip: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., met with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi last week as well as Nevadans serving in Iraq on a congressional trip to the Middle East.

Speedway owner teams on Binion's Horseshoe purchase: Don't write off the name "Binion's" too soon.

MGM MIRAGE's New York deal faces more delays: By Liz Benston; It's been 10 months since MGM MIRAGE received a contract from a New York racetrack operator that would have created one of the country's largest racetrack casinos, or racinos. But the casino giant is still far from introducing slot machines at the track, financial documents issued this week show.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: LV was right to take a chance on Walsh: Even though she has every reason to do so, Tina Walsh is far too polite to shout, "I told you so."

Ex-Enron CEO indicted: Kristen Hays; HOUSTON -- Former Enron Corp. chief executive Jeffrey Skilling, taken to court in handcuffs today, was charged with 42 counts of fraud and other crimes in the highest-reaching indictment yet stemming from Enron's colossal collapse.

Bail set at $1.7 million for home invasion suspects: Erica D. Johnson; A judge on Wednesday set bail at $1.7 million each for two men charged in a home invasion robbery that culminated in a deadly shootout with police.

Developer unveils plan for $250 million Strip resort: For her birthday, 9-year-old Sophia Doumani got to introduce her developer dad, who is building the Strip's newest luxury resort property, at a news conference on Wednesday.

Family struggles to recover from mercury poisoning: The Las Vegas family whose home underwent an extensive mercury decontamination last month said the environmental crews left the home uninhabitable.

Testing relaxed for those learning English: WASHINGTON -- Schools are getting more flexibility in how they test and measure the progress of students with limited English skills as the Bush administration again tries to address concerns over the government's education overhaul.

National Guard leader visits local unit: Dick Benoit; Nevada National Guard members involved with homeland security activities in Southern Nevada were recently paid a visit by the nation's senior uniformed National Guard officer.

First lady defends president's credibility: Deb Reichmann; SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Out on the campaign trail raising re-election cash and promoting reading, Laura Bush is staunchly defending her husband's credibility and taking a shot at Democrats who claim he skipped out on his National Guard duty.

Sierra Club suit could halt U.S. 95 widening: Jace Radke; Construction crews will know before April whether their work on creating four additional lanes for U.S. 95 will be halted.

Southwest Gas board eyed again: Mario Gabelli, who through personal holdings and businesses under his control is one of the company's largest shareholders, has nominated two board of director candidates. In a letter sent to the utility, Gabelli asked that Michael J. Melarkey and Joseph W. Brown be included on the proxy statements to be tabulated in election proceedings at a May 6 shareholders meeting.

News briefs for February 19, 2004: The Las Vegas City Council with little discussion approved Wednesday dissolving the City Centre Development Corp., which was created in 1997 to enter into downtown redevelopment deals. In 2000 the group's charge was reduced from an agency empowered to make deals to an advisory board.

Medical official blasts bad doc website: CARSON CITY -- The state Board of Medical Examiners' website will soon allow the public to obtain the names of doctors who have been disciplined by the board and the reasons for those actions.

Gaming panel licenses Trump: CARSON CITY -- Donald Trump, licensed by the state Gaming Commission today for 10 percent of the company that owns the Riviera Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, said he probably will not buy additional shares in that company. Instead, he said he will look at other investments in Las Vegas either with or without gaming.

Strip Club owner hit with Gaming Control Board complaint: Nevada gaming regulators have filed a complaint against Las Vegas topless dancing club owner Pete Eliades, charging that he sold a 50 percent stake in his Olympic Garden club without obtaining required approval from the state Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission.

Mom greets one son, while another deployed: After a year of anxiety and time spent scanning the news for any mention of her son's Army division, Virginia Castillo spotted her son coming down the escalator at McCarran International Airport Wednesday night.

City Council makes deal with Galardi: Sito Negron; Lawyer Dominic Gentile handed Las Vegas two checks totaling $1.017 million Wednesday, payable in two weeks, after the City Council agreed not to pursue further charges against the liquor license for Cheetahs, a topless club owned by Jack Galardi.

Alleged molester had previous arrest: Jen Lawson and Erica D. Johnson; A 59-year-old man arrested last week on charges of molesting children was arrested eight years ago on charges of fondling a 10-year-old girl, but the charge was reduced in a plea deal and the man was not required to register as a sex offender.

Community news briefs for February 19, 2004: As part of Fitzgeralds' second Black History Month celebration, the public is invited to attend several events on Fremont Street.

Commission approves business license tax: CARSON CITY -- The Legislative Commission approved a regulation setting forth the rules for imposing the $100-a-year business license tax Wednesday, despite complaints it would hurt the public shows at convention centers.

Relief expected for airport's long lines: Suzanne Struglinski and Jace Radke; Long security lines at McCarran International Airport will get some relief from new procedures the Transportation Security Administration has agreed to put in place.

PUC consultants claim utility purchases imprudent: Kevin Rademacher; A pair of consultants hired by the state Public Utilities Commission came under fire on Wednesday as hearings into Nevada Power Co.'s $173 million general rate increase request moved into its second day.

Man whose car injured trooper pleads guilty: Erica D. Johnson; The Nevada Highway Patrol trooper who was critically injured when a fleeing carjacker hit him at 95 mph on U.S. 95 said he was satisfied Wednesday when the man pleaded guilty to 10 felony charges, including murder and attempted murder.

Profit rises for LV hospital owner: Michelle Swafford; Universal Health Services Inc., owner of four Las Vegas Valley hospitals, Wednesday reported a 6 percent increase in its profit for the fourth quarter.

Nuclear expert: Yucca unsafe: Scott Sonner; RENO -- The nation's nuclear waste dump proposed for Nevada is poorly designed and could leak highly radioactive waste, a scientist who recently resigned from a federal panel of experts on Yucca Mountain told the Associated Press on Wednesday.

Business news briefs for February 19, 2004: BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, today said fourth-quarter profit rose 8.5 percent as frigid weather spurred sales of winter clothing in January.

Reid asks for probe in case of ex-Yucca workers' dust hazards: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., has asked the Labor Department to look into silicosis problems among former Yucca Mountain Project workers, after the Energy Department admitted it did not require certain safety precautions even though it knew dangerous silica levels were present.

Regulation on contractor penalties OK'd: CARSON CITY -- The Legislative Commission Wednesday approved a new state regulation on assessing penalties for contractors who violate paying the prevailing wage on construction of government projects.

Ensign's dad says he supports Reid in bid for re-election: Kirsten Searer; Mandalay Resort Group executive Mike Ensign will support Sen. Harry Reid in his bid for re-election this year, even though Ensign's son, John, ran a close and sometimes contentious race against Reid in 1998.

Gaming news briefs for February 19, 2004: Hotel rooms at Caesars Entertainment Inc.'s five Las Vegas properties will be offered through Orbitz, the nation's No. 3 Internet travel booking company, the companies said today.

Spaghetti Bowl ranks among nation's worst bottlenecks: Sito Negron; A national survey released today claims that Las Vegas has America's 22nd worst bottleneck, U.S. 95 leading into the Interstate 15 interchange, known locally at the Spaghetti Bowl. It costs valley residents 11 million hours in lost time each year.

Soft-money debate plays out in Nevada: Kirsten Searer; The ad has run on a seemingly continuous loop on Las Vegas TV stations for more than a week.

A Choired: Las Vegas has developed an ear for choral music: By Kristen Peterson LAS VEGAS SUN

Moscow Ballet fuses dance forms: Marilyn LaRocque; What: Moscow Festival Ballet performing "Carmen Suite" and "Paquita"

Obituaries for February 19, 2004: Jacqueline B. Bovee, 70, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local care center. She was born April 15, 1933, in Orleans, France. A resident for 21 years, she was a retired travel agency supervisor.

'Chicago just felt right': Greg Maddux admitted that there is room for sentimentality in a game that so often involves men squabbling like boys, if you're whiny actor Ben Affleck or any of his Boston pals, and tens of millions of dollars is mere Monopoly money.

New panel hopes to bring more money for homeless: By Timothy Pratt; A committee of public and private officials who work with the homeless -- or could -- was set up Wednesday to drive annual requests for up to $4 million in federal funds.

Editorial: Watching illegal races shouldn't be illegal: In response, Metro Police is asking the Clark County Commission to make it illegal for people to watch illegal races. The police believe that drivers are encouraged to race by the presence of crowds. So they reason that the fewer the spectators, the fewer the races.

Sports briefs for February 19, 2004: An Indonesian boxer died today after being knocked out during a match four days ago.

County looks to ban billboards: Clark County is preparing to challenge the billboard industry with what could be the strongest ordinance in three years of battling over the outdoor signs.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Ruthe lives in us all: MEMO TO Ruthe Deskin:

Letter: Liberals have improved lives: What have the conservative Republicans contributed to the betterment of our lives? Nothing!

These are Jay's days to get comfortable ...: Steve Guiremand; Just hours after picking up his first Division I coaching victory, interim UNLV head coach Jay Spoonhour was back hard at work at his Thomas & Mack Center office putting together a game plan for Saturday night's game with Colorado State along with assistants Deane Martin, David Rice and Vince Booker.

On most issues, 51s still on hold as season opener draws near: Nick Christensen; February started as a month full of questions for the Las Vegas 51s, and as the month nears an end, it appears as though most will go unanswered.

Grant still has big ideas: Dean Juipe; Ring Magazine publishes an annual pocket-sized book in which world champions and serious contenders are profiled, complete with biographies and records.

Letter: Casinos should have nonsmoking sections -- now: I predict some major lawsuits in the future -- it's just a matter of time. The companies that own and operate these public casinos must realize that secondhand smoke affects everyone, including their own employees and they have an obligation to do something about this major health problem. If nothing else, it's the morally decent thing to do and eventually their business would improve.

Pujols, Cardinals make a deal: $100 million over seven years: While Greg Maddux, Ivan Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr. checked into camp, Albert Pujols made the biggest splash at spring training.

Letter: There's too much skin in Las Vegas: On a trip I made last month, it was my judgment that morals have descended critically. I know times are changing, but do our morals have to also? I do believe I am not alone on this topic.

Foothill rally saves season: Adam Candee; Judging by the worn look on his face, Kevin Soares would prefer that his Foothill team deliver its next victory with a bit less dramatics.

Columnist Dean Juipe: ESPN might be softening its stand on not paying promoters for TV cards: Dean Juipe; Based on the experience of promoter Art Pelullo, ESPN may be backing off from an edict that many believed would cripple the sport on the cable network.

Mojave comeback a basic shocker: Nick Christensen; Not too often can a team come back from a first half where it fell behind by 16 points by going 3-for-13 from the free throw line and being grossly outrebounded.

Open-meeting law expert says BC pushed limit: Dan Kulin; A university professor and expert on the state's open-meeting law said the one-on-one meetings between City Council members and ousted City Manager John Sullard to discuss whether and how Sullard should leave the job were "clearly bending if not breaking" the state's open-meeting law.

Editorial: Teamwork is key for appointees: So many people willing to serve is a big plus as the panel enters its formative stage. The County Commission, too, helped matters this week by tentatively agreeing to limit the panel to 17 members. A final decision on the panel's size will be determined March 2, but we hope it stays at 17. The commission also considered 10 and 30 members. Ten seems too small to be representative of the valley's population but 30 would likely be unwieldy -- particularly when there's deadline pressure.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: This is the AD's time to make his mark: The search for Dave Rice's new boss is officially under way.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Rookie Medlen steps in for Funny Car champ: Eric Medlen is stepping into the most pressure-packed situation in drag racing as he takes over behind the wheel of the John Force Racing Castrol Syntec Funny Car that Tony Pedregon drove to eight victories and an NHRA championship last season.