Print edition for January 15, 2004

Jobs filling while Fassel waits: Two of the final pieces of the NFL coaching puzzle fell into place Wednesday, with the Chicago Bears hiring Lovie Smith, the St. Louis Rams' defensive coordinator, and the Buffalo Bills settling on Mike Mularkey, the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive coordinator.

Emerging force: Steve Guiremand; Patience has definitely been a virtue for San Diego State center Aerick Sanders.

No knockout on Yucca: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Nevada officials said this morning they believe a federal appeals court will allow the Energy Department to pursue a license to build the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.

Guinn says Nevada town threatened at New Year's: Jennifer Shubinski; Gov. Kenny Guinn said today that a small town in Nevada received the most credible terrorist threat during recent weeks of heightened security.

State to bill feds for more New Year's 3costs: Jace Radke; State Homeland Security Adviser Jerry Bussell said he plans to submit a bill to the Homeland Security Department this week for costs of additional security associated with the Las Vegas' New Year's celebration.

Teen unaware of mercury risk: Kirsten Searer; As he continued to recover at Sunrise Hospital on Wednesday, Michael Coleman explained that he played with as much as a quart of mercury because it reminded him of the metallic goo that oozed from the villain in "Terminator 2."

FBI used store as front in Top Rank probe: By Jeff German; FBI agents Wednesday moved items out of a phony wholesale clothing business they used as a front for stolen property in a far-reaching undercover investigation into organized crime, including allegations of fight-fixing within the boxing world.

Box cutter found on flight to Vegas prompts inquiry: Jace Radke; The FBI and the Transportation Security Administration are investigating the discovery of a box cutter on an America West Airlines flight from Detroit to Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Parents: Keep kids in their present schools: Dan Kulin; More than 200 parents descended upon Green Valley High School Wednesday night to weigh in on proposals that could change where their children go to school next year, and most who spoke said they want their children to stay where they are.

Porter will miss LV fund-raiser: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., will not be at a Las Vegas fund-raiser for his campaign today with Vice President Dick Cheney.

Federal suit against judge to be tossed: Jace Radke; U.S. District Judge Robert Jones will dismiss a federal class-action lawsuit that alleged Clark County District Judge Donald Mosley violated hundreds of defendants' civil rights, according to court documents.

Teens not getting all state funds after leaving foster care: By Timothy Pratt; More than 90 percent of funds available for teens to get on their feet after they turn 18 and can no longer be under the state's care are not being spent, causing concern among legislators and nonprofit groups who work with the youths.

Woman with celestial deals arrested on fraud charge: As President Bush announced plans to send astronauts to the moon, Mars and beyond Wednesday, a Canadian woman sat in a Las Vegas jail on a warrant for fraud and theft in connection with her sales of outer space real estate.

Family man, civic leader, coach Leavitt laid to rest: Amid myriad floral displays Wednesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 4040 E. Wyoming Ave., five red and white arrangements spelled out "C-O-A-C-H" in a tribute to native Las Vegan Myron E. Leavitt.

Red Rock development on track: In its first year of operation, the project is expected to generate about $60 million to $65 million of cash flow and add about 6 to 11 cents in incremental earnings per share. By its third year of operation, Red Rock Station is expected to generate $80 million to $85 million in cash flow and add 25 cents to 31 cents in incremental earnings per share.

Gaming briefs for Jan. 15, 2004: Visitor volume inched up 1.3 percent to 2.85 million people in November despite convention attendance being off for the month.

Regulators: Nevada Power, Sierra can't collect judgment: Kevin Rademacher; State regulators ruled on Wednesday that Nevada Power Co. and its Reno-based sister utility, Sierra Pacific Power Co., cannot collect from ratepayers a $338 million judgment in favor of Enron Corp. -- at least not yet.

Agencies concerned about scope of Nevada Power investigation: Kevin Rademacher; Officials with the Colorado River Commission and the Southern Nevada Water Authority are confounded by Nevada Power Co.'s wide-ranging probe into their business activities.

Man allegedly used woman's identity to buy new Cadillac: Jen Lawson; A case Metro Police investigated this week was reminiscent of the frequent credit card television ads about identity theft.

Gibbons launches education initiative: CARSON CITY -- Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev. kicked off his campaign today for a constitutional amendment to require the Legislature to fund education before making other budget decisions.

Education officials pass on Ensign's offer: By Emily Richmond; State education officials said Wednesday they appreciated an offer from Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., to assist them with keeping better tabs on federal funding but that his help isn't needed.

Bank of America's earnings rise 4 percent in fourth quarter: CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Bank of America Corp. posted fourth-quarter earnings today that rose 4 percent to $2.73 billion, surpassing Wall Street's estimates, on across-the-board gains in everything from mortgages to investment banking.

Subsidiary closing down: Allegheny Airlines, based in Middletown, Pa., near Harrisburg, employs 1,421 workers and flies 41 Dash-8 turboprop planes that each carry 37 passengers. It serves 38 cities, mostly in the mid-Atlantic region.

Bank One closing Las Vegas credit card center: The operation has about 150 employees, and it is scheduled to close by the end of March, said Bank One spokesman Thomas Kelly.

Strong profit projected for Red Rock Station casino: By Liz Benston; Station Casinos Inc. today said its newest and most expensive locals' casino will cost $450 million to $475 million -- up to $50 million more than the company's Green Valley Ranch Station casino in Henderson after that property's recently announced $110 million expansion.

California tribes offer friendship, but not cash: Chris T. Nguyen; PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- Indian tribes with casino gambling are willing to be good neighbors and citizens, their leaders say, but that doesn't necessarily mean handing over more money to the state just because California is in an economic slump.

News briefs for Jan. 15, 2004: CARSON CITY -- Lawrence Yanez was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison Tuesday for bilking senior citizens out of more than $300,000.

Las Vegas wholesaler says he unwittingly sold fake AIDS drug: Michelle Swafford; A Las Vegas pharmaceutical wholesaler acknowledged Wednesday he bought and sold an AIDS drug that was later determined to be counterfeit.

LV-based slot maker's earnings up 58 percent: By Liz Benston; Alliance Gaming Corp. today reported a 58 percent increase in earnings on continued demand for slot machines and software systems.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Leno brings 'Tonight Show' back to Strip: The top-rated, late-night talker starring Jay Leno will be broadcast from the Paris Las Vegas hotel the week of May 10, NBC confirmed Wednesday.

Guinn expense report: No funds raised in 2003: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn didn't raise a penny in campaign contributions in 2003 but spent $395,816 from his leftover political war chest of 2002.

Robbery suspect in custody after brief car chase: Officer Jose Montoya said a citizen flagged down a patrol officer about 3 a.m. outside a Circle K convenience store at Decatur Boulevard and Edna Avenue and said a man tried to rob him at gunpoint. The would-be victim said the man drove off in a white pickup truck.

Las Vegan charged in cable fraud case: Paul Winquist, 59, of Las Vegas, the owner and operator of Commercial Satellite Systems, is charged with nine felony counts of mail fraud. If convicted, Winquist faces up to 20 years in prison as well as a $250,000 fine on each count.

Businessman offers to help students in tuition dispute: Heather Rawlyk; Las Vegas businessman Stephen Cloobeck is offering to fund any lawsuits against the university system by students who want to recover the difference between out-of-state tuition and in-state tuition if they were wrongly charged the higher rate.

Man found dead in vehicle: Heather Rawlyk; Metro Police said they are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead in his vehicle Wednesday at J Street and Owens Avenue.

Fourth defendant sentenced in relics case: David Peeler, who now lives in Hawaii, was sentenced to five years' probation and ordered to pay $56,635.80 in restitution.

Teachers union poll: U.S. spending on education low: By Emily Richmond; The nation's largest teachers union released a poll Wednesday that claimed two-thirds of voters surveyed believed the federal government wasn't spending enough on education and that reforms to the nation's education laws were unfair to schools.

Patient free agent Maddux still sitting on hold: Greg Maddux said Wednesday that he might have some news, regarding the Major League Baseball team he will play for this season, to report by Friday.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: These Rebels need to get centered: There's a coaching axiom that says you can't coach height, although I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few former Indiana Hoosiers and Texas Tech Red Raiders walking around with stretch marks after visiting the weight room rack and stockade.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Mosley, Wright ready to settle the score, crown one champion: Dean Juipe; Since defeating Oscar De La Hoya Sept. 13 at the MGM in Las Vegas, Shane Mosley has been an innocent bystander in a postfight whirlwind of controversy whipped up by promoter Bob Arum; been subpoenaed to testify in a federal investigation of a Bay Area drug lab; seen a $7 million payday fly out the window when a tentatively scheduled fight with Ricardo Mayorga was derailed by the latter's unexpected loss to Cory Spinks; and been subjected to questions about the De La Hoya fight when a since-refuted story claimed that fight may have been fixed, an allegation that surfaced ...

Trial set to begin for boxers in alleged fixing: Jace Radke; As speculation continues to surround the FBI raid of boxing promoter Bob Arum's Las Vegas offices, a case in which another boxing promoter is charged with fixing fights is set for a Feb. 3 trial in the George Federal Building.

Computer giant's profit soars: Computer giant's profit soars

Sports briefs for January 15, 2004: Steffi Graf, Stefan Edberg and Dodo Cheney will join the International Tennis Hall of Fame at Newport, R.I., in July.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: MacCachren to run in 3 classes at Laughlin race: Longtime local off-road racer Rob MacCachren will attempt to compete in three separate classes during this weekend's 10th annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge.

Letter: What's next? A wall for U.S.?: Living in a land that was divided by a wall for almost 30 years, the suggestion that all people who travel to the U.S. should be photographed and fingerprinted leads to a new idea.

Letter: Jobs must be fiercely protected: Our government is subsidizing, via the Export-Import Bank, the relocation of U.S. corporations to China and other countries. A study by Forrester Research Inc. predicts that at least 3.3 million white-collar jobs and $136 billion in wages will shift from the U.S. to low-cost countries by 2015.

Letter: Police should change priorities to prevent crime: Until the current police change their priorities, adding more of them can only have a further negative effect on our communities.

LV sailor completes tour as Navy Seabee: Dick Benoit; Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Brad Miller, the son of William Miller of Las Vegas, was recently commended following completion of a tour of duty as a Navy Seabee with Construction Battalion Unit 417 home based at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, Wash. Miller's tour included a deployment with the unit to Naval Station Rota, Spain, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pinnacle in, Harrah's out of St. Louis competition: Jim Suhr; ST. LOUIS -- A St. Louis County selection committee on Wednesday rejected a proposal by Harrah's Entertainment Inc. of Las Vegas to build a casino in the county, calling the plan's absence of a companion site in St. Louis city "a significant concern."

Community briefs for Jan. 15, 2004: In honor of Martin Luther King Day, students at Manny Cortez Elementary on Monday will display their artwork at McCormick and Schmick's Seafood Restaurant, 335 Hughes Center Drive.

Editorial: Forced to turn to the courts: On one of the issues raised by Nevada, that Congress used a flawed process to designate Yucca Mountain, the state appeared to have suffered a setback when the judges didn't express a willingness to intervene. Meanwhile, the judges indicated it would be up to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which will either grant or deny a license for the Yucca Mountain project, to determine whether the casks containing nuclear waste will be strong enough to prevent corrosion by water flowing through Yucca Mountain. Nevadans should be particularly heartened that the judges were receptive to an important point raised by Nevada involving ...

Tribes weary of giving more casino profit to California: Chris T. Nguyen; PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- Tribal leaders at an Indian gaming conference said Wednesday they are skeptical about sharing more gaming profit with the state and criticized a ballot initiative that would permit slot machines at racetracks and card clubs.

Obituaries for Jan. 15, 2003: Eva Rita Alvarado, 44, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. She was born Sept. 10, 1959, in El Paso, Texas. A resident for six months, she was a line technician for a computer company.

Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Holes in worker scheme: Very fortunately, I was born in the United States because my grandfather came across the Canadian border and his father came from Ireland. Both left their native lands for greater opportunity in another country. My father did return to Canada to serve in the army during World War I and later returned to join the U.S. Army when our country entered that war. Because of this good luck I haven't had the problems faced by so many Hispanics who have come to our country to work and provide for their families.

Play Action: 'Madden 2004' tournament culminates in Las Vegas: Kirk Baird; His Washington Redskins had just pulled within one point of the Miami Dolphins, 28-27, on a desperate pass to the end zone as the game expired.

Columnist Ruthe Deskin: ID theft can happen to anyone: Ruthe Deskin; There's a rather silly Citi credit card ad running on television that represents people who have been victims of identity theft -- what Shakespeare would have called "filching my good name."

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