Print edition for February 20, 2004

Columnist Jerry Fink: The Cat's out of the bag at Indigo Lounge: If you want a seat at the late show, arrive at the Indigo Lounge in Bally's early.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Fund-raiser leaves thoughts of great food: "The Very Thought of You," a tribute dinner honoring Elaine and Steve Wynn and benefiting two of their favorite causes (Research for Retinal Degeneration and Greater Las Vegas Inner-City Games/After School All-Stars), was a joyous evening.

Performing arts for February 20, 2004: Marvin Hamlisch

Audition in serious 'Jeopardy!': By Emily Richmond; My hard-earned reputation as "Ms. Smarty Pants" has been shattered -- perhaps irreparably.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Fans seeking Talent will find it at House of Blues: Spencer Patterson; If you're headed to tonight's punk rock show at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, keep an eye out for Billy Talent near the bar after the opening act finishes its set.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Porter may have a worthy foe: WEEKEND EDITION

Columnist Susan Snyder: Project is a true work of art: Jessica Kinzler's gotta dance.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Renaissance man Restivo in a league of his own: Lisa Ferguson; If given the choice -- and, of course, the opportunity -- Joe Restivo would likely have spent his career playing shortstop for the Chicago Cubs.

Letter: Deskin brought sunshine into many lives: Feb. 21-22, 2004

Where I Stand -- Columnist Brian Greenspun: Stand must be taken: WEEKEND EDITION

Editorial: True science would doom Yucca site: Feb. 21-22, 2004

Letter: Let's adopt Ruthe's Rules: Feb. 21-22, 2004

Luna doesn't let details slide on EP: Spencer Patterson; Depending on your point of view, EPs can either be expensive collector's items or great sources of rare material.

VegasBeat -- Columnist Timothy McDarrah: Engagement tale is automatic: WEEKEND EDITION

A day to make a difference: Heather Rawlyk; WEEKEND EDITION

Columnist Susan Snyder: We're not divorced from serious issues: WEEKEND EDITION

Marvelous Marvin: WEEKEND EDITION

Funding from city gives youths the means to help others: Sito Negron; WEEKEND EDITION

Arrest made in crank 911 calls: Jen Lawson; Metro Police were called to the Palm Village apartments in northeast Las Vegas four times this week and once last month to investigate reports of shootings, but they all were false.

18 Southern Nevadans appointed to state boards: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn Thursday announced the appointment of 18 Clark County residents to various state boards and commissions.

With state at stake, it's Bonanza's turn: Nick Christensen; Last week, the Palo Verde girls' soccer team proved to be the big cats of the Sunset division, trouncing Bonanza 4-1 for the Sunset championship.

Editorial: Dean's contribution: Now, after a month of campaigning punctuated by the Iowa scream, it is clear that Dean wouldn't have been the Democrats' best candidate against President Bush. Nonetheless, if Dean hadn't entered the race, the Democratic hopefuls probably wouldn't be in as strong a position as they are now (some polling shows both Sens. John Kerry and John Edwards would beat Bush if the election were held today). Dean aggressively stood up to Bush, and that in turn energized the party, getting hundreds of thousands of people to either donate money to him or volunteer in his campaign. If the eventual ...

Winnemucca sculpture chosen: The selection committee Wednesday chose Benjamin Victor, a 25-year-old student at Northern State University in South Dakota. Victor lived in Las Vegas for 18 months but then moved to South Dakota to pursue his art studies.

Deck stacked against Rebels from the start: To Marquette assistant coach Trey Schwab, who received a life-saving double-lung transplant Monday. Schwab had been battling idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis since late 2001.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: 'Little E' beginning to take steps in his father's shoes: As the NASCAR community was reeling from the death of Dale Earnhardt on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, many observers wondered how the sport would ever replace its biggest star.

Dignitaries gather to tout monorail: Local and federal officials were to herald the completed construction of four miles of monorail today at the Las Vegas Hilton monorail station, but they still aren't saying exactly when passengers can start using it.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: 'Madhouse' shakes up the neighborhood: Based on the first three performances, the addition of Jeff Beacher's "Comedy Madhouse" as a headline show at the Hard Rock Hotel was a great idea.

Coyotes vs. pets can be a problem for residents: Serious injuries that have been suffered recently by dogs has prompted the NDOW to caution pet owners to not allow their pets to chase rabbits, quail and other wildlife.

Gibson addresses education, growth: Dan Kulin; Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson's State of the City address on Thursday touched on growth, education and the recent double-dipping controversy that has swirled around state legislators who are also government employees.

Tour copter makes hard landing at airport: The Heli USA helicopter was carrying a pilot and five passengers when it skidded to a stop on a runway around 5:30 p.m., company President and CEO Nigel Turner said. No one was injured, he said.

Community news briefs for February 20, 2004: The Henderson Parks and Recreation Department and the Missoula Children's Theatre will partner for the 17th time to bring interactive children's theater to the community.

Potential buyers weigh Castaways' potential: Three weeks after closing, the Castaways is generating interest from prospective buyers, including a trio of small casino owners who've toured the property and are interested in buying and reopening the 49-year-old hotel-casino.

DOE inspector general to review silica charges: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Allegations by a former employee of a Yucca Mountain contractor that she was ordered to change silica dust levels collected during tunneling operations will be reviewed by the Energy Department's inspector general's office.

Mojave Max emerges from burrow to mark early spring: His emergence traditionally marks the unofficial start of spring in Southern Nevada.

Letter: Passing leaves big void to fill: She'll be missed by all.

Write Turns: Veteran singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams keeps fans guessing: Spencer Patterson; When: 7 p.m. Saturday.

Editorial: Pot for fun should not be legalized: Voters in Nevada's general election of November 2002 did not fall for their slick campaign, sponsored by a Washington-based group known as the Marijuana Policy Project. Question 9, which wanted to amend the Nevada Constitution to allow people 21 and older to legally possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana, failed by a margin of 61 percent to 39 percent.

No shortage of targets for rapid-fire Wallace: By Jerry Fink; George Wallace was a salesman before he became a stand-up comic. Today the native of Atlanta works hard selling his jokes to his audiences. Some are easier to sell than others, but if you don't care for one, don't worry. He'll have another for you almost as quickly as he can draw a breath.

Letter: Legacy is large in many ways: Her legacy is large in so many important ways.

Lady Rebels defeat Wyoming on the road: The Lady Rebels improved to 18-4 overall and 7-2 in the conference, keeping them in a tie for second place with New Mexico. The Lobos upset first-place Utah on Thursday night.

More facts asked on complaint against Perkins: CARSON CITY -- The secretary of state's office is asking Las Vegas resident Lee Haynes to supply specific information as to how Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, and Henderson may have violated the campaign reporting law.

Business news briefs for February 20, 2004: Two government leaders have joined the Las Vegas office of Bullivant Houser Bailey PC.

School district plans technology campus: By Emily Richmond; Clark County School District officials want to build a $32 million technology campus that would combine new facilities for KLVX Channel 10, a virtual high school and headquarters for the district's technology department.

Fishing report: Mid-winter weather plays havoc with anglers' plans: Anglers are finding typical mid winter fishing as largemouth and striped bass are in deep water and they are showing little interest in taking any bait that is offered to them.

Nurses ask lawmakers for mandatory ratios: Michelle Swafford; Nevada nurses are calling for better working conditions and say one way to achieve that goal is with mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Sorry, Charlie, you only went 1 for 2: Dean Juipe; When Charlie Spoonhour was hired at UNLV almost three years ago, there wasn't any doubt his secondary role was almost as important as his primary one.

Letter: Bush lacks honor, integrity: On "Meet the Press," the president agreed to release all of his military records. The next day his operatives said that they would release only "relevant" records. They were unsure of how his pilot aptitude score got released; a score of 25 out of a possible 100 and an F in anyone's grade book.

Fewer state tourney berths on the line at region events: Adam Candee; Four local basketball teams will earn trips to Reno for next week's 4A State Tournament by winning region tournaments, yet it may still seem a bit empty up North.

Seven vie to replace Leavitt: CARSON CITY -- Seven people -- six of them from Clark County -- have applied to succeed the late Justice Myron Leavitt on the Nevada Supreme Court.

Letter: Columns showed quality of person: Her writing showed her intelligence, compassion, concern for others and her love for Nevada and its people. I feel as though I knew her, and I will miss her very much.

Obituaries for February 20, 2004: Carlos Aguilar, 82, of Henderson died Tuesday in Henderson. A security officer, he was born July 5, 1921, in California.

Cox, ESPN agree to terms: Kevin Rademacher; Sports fans in the Las Vegas Valley can breathe easier.

Guilty plea entered in fraud case: Jace Radke; A disbarred Las Vegas attorney pleaded guilty Thursday to charges involving the creation and sale of fraudulent shell corporations as part of a multimillion-dollar securities fraud scheme.

Alliance in deal with software company: By Liz Benston; Alliance Gaming Corp. of Las Vegas has agreed to purchase the assets of MindPlay LLC, a company that makes table game management software.

Nelson presents worries in the middle: Steve Guiremand; Interim UNLV coach Jay Spoonhour knows he'll have a big problem on his hands Saturday night when the Rebels (13-9, 4-5) play host to Colorado State (11-12, 3-7) at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Wynn drops bid in Illinois: Las Vegas casino resort developer Steve Wynn is abandoning efforts to develop a casino in the Chicago area, but is simultaneously moving closer to building his long-planned casino in China.

Workshop held on Spring Valley plan: Heather Rawlyk; Local residents, builders and business operators gathered Thursday for an informational workshop to discuss the current stage of the Spring Valley master plan, used to guide the area's growth.

Winless Gladiators make trek to familar ground: Adam Candee; Noon, Van Andel Arena TV: None. Radio: KBAD 920-AM

Campuses must make tough calls on new buildings: Nevada's colleges need more than $320 million from the state in 2005 to pay for priority capital improvement projects.

Project to save land for trails is hailed: Jace Radke; As graders and bulldozers cleared desert land for a housing development nearby Thursday, Sen. Harry Reid and other officials hailed a deal between government and business that ensures 1,200 acres of ridgeline at the western edge of the valley will remain undeveloped.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: SAFE deserves support: PRESIDENT George W. Bush feels strongly about the Patriot Act, which will expire in 2005. Although he has yet to veto any bill passed by the Republican-dominated Congress, he has threatened to veto legislation that will change the law. The strongest bill to make some changes is one called the Security and Freedom Ensured Act, or SAFE, that has more than a little support from senators of both political parties. It was introduced by Sens. Larry Craig, R-Idaho and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., last fall.

Letter: Deskin inspired class, dignity in journalism, life: The beautiful thing about Ruthe was that she never attacked. No matter how outrageous some elected official's behavior might be or how foolish a proposal or a position was, Ruthe never made it personal. She could always make her point, and make it most tellingly, without denigrating or degrading another human being.

Columnist Barb Henderson: Stripers affair salutes a year of great catches: Barb Henderson; There will be something fishy going on tomorrow night in Las Vegas when the Nevada Striper Club rigs up to tackle its annual awards banquet.

Letter; Ruthe's impact strong, lasting: Thank you, Ruthe, for all you did for the people of the state you loved so deeply. And thank you for all you did for me.

Results, schedule: Girls' Soccer

Las Vegas entrepreneur 'settling with the universe': Alana Roberts; Jeff Jonas, founder and chief scientist of successful Las Vegas software company Systems Research & Development, has a worn manila folder that contains the list of creditors to whom he owes a "cosmic" debt from a business venture that failed 20 years ago.

Fitzgeralds continues to evolve under Barden: By Liz Benston; Few people outside the casino business know that the owner of the Fitzgeralds casino downtown is also the first black to run a U.S. casino company that includes a Las Vegas property.

Letter: Kindness evident even at bowling: He was a member of their bowling team after Jim stopped bowling, and I would go watch them bowl on Friday nights -- and the rest is history. Ruthe, my mom and I bowled together in several leagues during the 1980s. Although Ruthe was some 45 years my senior, we always had a terrific time. She and I even won a state doubles event one year, which, of course, was old hat to her, but thrilling for me.

Letter: Ensign deserves praise for fighting energy bill: This bill is bad for America and, with the nuclear power provisions, very bad for Nevada.

Convicted killer makes deal to avoid death penalty: Erica D. Johnson; A local man convicted of killing a UNLV student in a murder-for-hire plot struck a deal with prosecutors that allowed him to avoid the possibility of a death sentence.

Charges against car dealer to be reduced: Joshua Towbin, the 28-year-old general manager of the Towbin Dodge Superstore, appeared before Henderson Justice of the Peace Rodney Burr on Thursday to face a gross misdemeanor charge of false imprisonment and a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.

Business hall of famers call for a better Nevada: Kevin Rademacher; A night that honored three of Las Vegas' most successful business leaders was punctuated with a challenge.

Reid delivers some good news for valley's veterans: Dan Kulin; Sen. Harry Reid on Thursday delivered some well-received news on two fronts important to Las Vegas Valley veterans -- a new veterans hospital and expanding benefits for retired, disabled veterans.

Central American immigrants build a community: By Timothy Pratt; Two banks and an airline from El Salvador will begin doing business locally in the coming months, Eduardo Lopez Rajo, incoming president of the Central American Coalition, said Thursday.

Panel foresees shortage of industrial land: Jennifer Shubinski; At the rate Las Vegas home builders are buying up industrial-zoned land for residential use, there will be little property remaining for future industrial development and not enough to keep existing companies, industry experts said Thursday.

Regents postpone special meeting: Regents will not conduct a special meeting next week to discuss issues connected to the removals of two community college officials, Chancellor Jane Nichols said today.

Sports briefs for February 20, 2004: Moore, who shot 70 in his opening round, was 7-under at the par-72, 6,917-yard Leilehua Golf Course. He climbed into third place individually and was just three strokes behind the leader, New Mexico's Spencer Levin.

Nevada journalism pioneer, humanitarian laid to rest: Las Vegas Sun Assistant to the Publisher Ruthe Deskin was a "giant" who "was never a harsh judge of others" Sun Chairman Mike O'Callaghan, a former two-term Nevada governor, said at Deskin's funeral Thursday.

First lady defends husband on LV trip: Kirsten Searer; First lady Laura Bush defended her husband's education policies Thursday at a visit to Advanced Technologies Academy, a Las Vegas magnet school.

Airport delays blamed on several factors: Jace Radke; Something happened at McCarran International Airport over the last month that has resulted in a return of long lines and wait times not seen at the airport's security checkpoints since the weeks after Sept. 11, 2001.

Audit: State board broke bidding rules: CARSON CITY -- The state Commission on Economic Development broke state laws and regulations in contracting with private companies, according to a legislative audit made public Thursday.

State vets office ripped in audit: CARSON CITY -- The state Office of Veterans Services ignored laws, failed to properly keep track of its finances and mishandled money belonging to veterans under state care, according to a legislative audit discussed by state lawmakers Thursday.

Teen in DUI crash case makes deal: Erica D. Johnson and Emily Richmond; Prosecutors and defense attorneys have reached a deal that would require a 16-year-old Henderson teen charged with the drunken driving crash that killed his three friends to spend two years in the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center, according to sources familiar with the case.

Crime news briefs for February 20, 2004: Metro Police gang crimes detectives arrested three suspects Thursday on numerous felony charges including trafficking a controlled substance and possession of stolen property after serving a search warrant in the 500 block of North Circle.

Motorists will get FAST look at traffic: Heather Rawlyk; Traffic information will be just a phone call away with the introduction of a new telephone number, an addition to the Freeway and Arterial System of Transportation, or FAST.

Earning briefs for February 20, 2004: SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Hewlett-Packard Co.'s quarterly earnings jumped 30 percent and the computer giant met Wall Street expectations Thursday, but analysts remained cautious about the company's outlook in the midst of a prolonged downturn and tepid corporate spending.

Triple Five using imported water for fountains: While the Southern Nevada Water Authority board prepares to debate amendments to drought-inspired water restrictions, one local company has embarked on a potentially problematic course that it says allows fountains to keep running in several local business parks and a shopping center.

State's number of active registered voters declines: CARSON CITY -- The number of active registered voters in Nevada fell to 846,487 at the end of January, a decline of 65,859 from the previous month, Secretary of State Dean Heller said Thursday.

Gaughan wields power in LV valley: 2. Andre Agassi

Gaming news briefs for February 20, 2004: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Some allegedly special treatment for the rapper Nelly could cost a St. Louis casino $50,000.

Panel: Data back Yucca concerns: Scott Sonner; RENO -- New data the past year substantiate decade-old concerns an independent U.S. panel of scientists has raised about potential leaks at a proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, the board's top administrator said Thursday.

County workers' wages unfair to community, officials say: Launce Rake; Clark County workers are making too much money and getting raises that are too large, and that is jeopardizing the services the county provides for a growing population, county managers are saying publicly.

Plan would allow car washing, fountains: Launce Rake and Ed Koch; Amended water rules to come next week from Southern Nevada's water wholesaler should make it easier for residents to wash their cars at home and for companies to keep their water fountains running.

Teen pregnancy drops in U.S.: Jace Radke; A decadelong trend of declining teen pregnancy rates in the United States is continuing according to a new report, but Nevada continues to rank among the states with the most pregnant teens per capita.

Hearing in LV to focus on nuke waste rail route: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The Energy Department's plans to ship nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain will be the topic of a March 5 congressional hearing in Las Vegas.

Coroner's inquest begins in fatal shooting by officer: Jen Lawson; A Clark County coroner's inquest was meeting today to determine if a Metro Police officer was justified in shooting a man who was armed and had allegedly robbed a house last month.

Lofts proposed for downtown: Jennifer Shubinski; For most people, a drive through downtown Henderson and its view of city buildings, a smattering of empty storefronts and aging homes doesn't evoke images of nightlife, or even a cool place to hang out during the day.

Two with Las Vegas ties win Trumpet Awards: Michelle Swafford; The achievements of blacks in America are being showcased and two prominent honorees are important business people and community leaders in Las Vegas.

Columnist Jeff German: A case of too much lawyering: What would we do without lawyers? Anytime they get involved in the political process you can bet things will get screwed up.