Print edition for July 20, 2004

Goodman warns Centennial panel: Before making a virtual partner out of a major media company that was in default for not providing sponsors for Las Vegas' 100th birthday next year, the Las Vegas Centennial Celebration Committee got a warning from Mayor Oscar Goodman: There is no Plan B if this move fails.

Grasso files countersuit: In the countersuit, a copy of which was obtained by the Associated Press, Grasso claims the NYSE breached its contract with him by witholding "tens of millions of dollars" in additional salary, and by "maliciously disparaging him" through statements by current NYSE chairman John Reed

Qualifiers battle desert heat to earn spots in U.S. Amateur: Adam Candee; Forget the dozens of opponents fighting for one of three spots in August's U.S. Amateur. The most difficult foe that local amateurs playing in Monday's qualifying tournament at Southern Highlands faced was 106-degree heat beating down on them for 36 holes.

City to launch fire restoration program: CARSON CITY -- Mayor Ray Masayko on Monday pledged $500,000 to start restoration on the charred mountains west of Carson City and fire officials defended the timing of their first response to the blaze that blackened 7,600 acres.

Same firm to lead search for new college president: The same headhunter firm that found Nevada State College President Kerry Romesburg will lead the search for his successor only 22 months after Romesburg took the job.

51s turn it around; Ross hoping he's next: Nick Christensen; Thanks in part to an unusual reversal of a call, another losing streak is over for the Las Vegas 51s.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: One green-white-checkered restart from now on: The merits of the myriad changes NASCAR officials have implemented during the past year can be debated ad nauseam, but the Daytona Beach brass got at least one right with their decision last week to implement only one green-white-checkered restart if a caution flag falls in the closing laps of a race.

Tribe unbowed in long casino pursuit: Michael Mello; CHARLESTOWN, R.I. -- Myra Brown-Perry remembers listening as a young woman to tribal elders who went to their graves without seeing the revival of the Narragansett Indian Tribe.

Immunization schedule for July 20, 2004: NORTH LAS VEGAS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite F, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Editorial: Search warrant delays: As Lt. Tom Monahan of Metro Police told the Sun, every second counts in a murder investigation. Forensic evidence, if it's not collected right away, can deteriorate, allowing a murderer to remain free, Monahan said. Monahan added that such delays are frustrating and that the kind of delay involving the opening of the freezer "was not the exception." A spokesman for District Court said, however, that the delay was unusual, noting that police have access to the judges' office phone numbers, cell phone numbers and even e-mail addresses. It is encouraging, though, that Chief Judge Kathy Hardcastle said she plans ...

Fledgling filmmakers find forum at festival: But independent filmmaker Deborah Lowe's impressive "Portraits of a Naked Lady Dancer," showing Friday at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, bares it all in a different way.

Indiana regulators weigh casino proposals: Kimberly Hefling; FRENCH LICK, Ind. -- Indiana roots and star power were emphasized Monday by casino executives competing for the contract to bring gambling -- and hope -- back to this struggling community.

Tax, racino issues remain as Mich. legislators recess: Amy F. Bailey; LANSING, Mich. -- The state House and Senate won't meet this week after the leaders of both chambers failed Monday to agree on bills to increase the tax on the three Detroit casinos and expand gambling at horse racetracks across Michigan.

Columnist Susan Snyder: We dig a look at our history: "They got along," said Sue Fawn Chung, a University of Nevada, Las Vegas history professor who developed the concept for "Island Mountain Days: Discovering Nevada's Chinese Miners."

Founder replaces CEO Pottruck: The San Francisco-based company made its surprise announcement as it released its second-quarter results. Schwab reported a 10 percent drop in its profit for the three months ended June, ending a recent streak of improved earnings.

517201414.html: The attorney for the woman accusing NBA star Kobe Bryant of rape on Monday urged the judge to stop posting court documents on the Web, saying the woman and her family are concerned about her safety.

Letter: Roadless Rule is crucial to keep: Unfortunately, the Bush administration has chosen to overturn the Roadless Rule, which will result in the reduction of fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and camping amidst the expansive beauty provided by this national treasure ("Administration proposes new logging rules," July 12).

State of Organ: Enthusiasts keyed up about UNLV's new instrument: Four years ago a committee from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas headed to Southern California.

DMV wants fee hike to facilitate use of kiosks: CARSON CITY -- The state Department of Motor Vehicles wants to raise the price of a new or renewed driver's license by 50 cents as a way to permit motorists to renew their licenses on the newly introduced kiosks at DMV offices.

Amber Alert to be expanded to Internet: Beth Slovic; Almost one year after Gov. Kenny Guinn signed Nevada's Amber Alert system into law, the emergency notification network will soon expand to the Internet, where residents will for the first time be able to sign up for instant messages informing them of child abductions in their area.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Schwikert kept to the high road while NBC sunk to new low: Just like that Winona Ryder movie of a few years ago, sometimes reality bites.

Letter: Teachers, others unable to find affordable homes: Each homeowner in Nevada should be allowed to cap the property taxes on a home here if they live within the state or their absence is due to military service. It's a mistake to reward the investors, who have driven home prices beyond the reach of the average citizen.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Bolla's back with a new prominence: Dean Juipe; It would be one thing if Jim Bolla, out of coaching since 1996, had been hired as the women's head basketball coach at some out-of-the-way school that competes in a lesser conference. After all, his credentials will always make him attractive to a struggling or fledgling program, no matter how dated his accolades.

Editorial: Let freedom ring on stage: Ronstadt is that rare entertainer who has achieved stardom in many musical genres, including folk, rock, country, Latin, Broadway and jazz over the past four decades. As a result, her fans are diverse in terms of age and musical tastes, and, as demonstrated Saturday night, in terms of politics as well. Hundreds of them cheered her remarks about Moore, whose current film "Fahrenheit 9/11" skewers President Bush. And hundreds of others streamed out of the theater in protest, which was their right, although many went too far by throwing drinks and defacing Ronstadt's promotional posters.

Moore's Web site criticizes Aladdin after Ronstadt removal: Timmins ordered security guards to escort Ronstadt off Aladdin Hotel property after the pop diva dedicated her encore song, "Desperado," to Moore. The hotel president also sent word that Ronstadt was no longer welcome at the hotel for future performances.

Public defender seeks trials, not resolution of cases: By Matt Pordum; The Clark County Public Defender's office has put an end to a program that had lawyers for indigent defendants entering plea bargains without even looking at the evidence or talking to the defendants.

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 2 p.m.

Ralph Siraco's selections for Wednesday's races at Del Mar: 1st Race -- DIXIE THRILL -- Draws good inner post for first two-turn race of meeting, Martinez atop Carava trainee, Dixie set to Thrill opening day crowd. TRICKY TRAVIS -- Draws good box as well for route claimer, bug boy Bisono aboard owner DeLima trainee, good spot for action. Value Play -- QUE BORGES

Authorities worry about Tasers being sold in malls: Tasers, the weapons police use to immobilize suspects with a 50,000-volt shock, may be available at the mall as soon as this fall.

Basic charge at issue in Southwest Gas case: Kevin Rademacher; On the final day of hearings into Southwest Gas Corp.'s $18.9 million general rate case, the focus centered on a controversial proposal by the utility to raise the basic charge customers pay regardless of usage levels.

UMC among top U.S. hospitals for neurosurgery: Dan Kulin; Clark County's University Medical Center has been named one of the 50 best hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery by the magazine U.S. News & World Report.

Obituaries for July 20, 2004: Marie Cittadino, 77, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. She was born Dec. 3, 1926, in Queens, N.Y. A resident for 12 years, she was a homemaker.

Home builders remain optimistic as rates remain low: An index of U.S. home builder optimism for July held near this year's average as a decline in borrowing costs underpinned demand, a private survey showed Monday.

Flood of registration forms prompts voter fraud probe: State and county officials are investigating possible voter fraud in Nevada, Secretary of State Dean Heller said Monday.

Police: Man slain over $100 loan refusal: Jen Lawson and Mary Manning; Carl Henry, arrested last month on charges of domestic violence, wanted to track down his estranged wife in Washington state, Metro Police said.

West Nile virus found in Nevada: A dead crow found in a Carson City back yard is the first hard evidence of the West Nile virus in Nevada, state officials said Monday.

Augustine accused of sex harassment: CARSON CITY -- State Controller Kathy Augustine has been accused in a federal lawsuit of "sexually stalking" her former chief deputy, who says he suffered after he rejected her romantic advances.

Guinn names LV woman to judgeship: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn today picked Las Vegas lawyer Elizabeth Goff Gonzalez to succeed Michael J. Douglas as district judge in Clark County.

Gaming briefs for July 20, 2004: RENO -- Delta Air Lines plans to begin nonstop service between Reno and Atlanta, a link area tourism and economic development officials said will bolster Northern Nevada's economy.

Guest columnist Linda Frohlich: Hurry up and wait: Zip to New York, then sit: NEW YORK -- Hello, Las Vegas.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Stardust still claims its Havana show: "We have made no alternate plans," hotel spokesman Jim Seagrave told us. "The producers have assured us that their performers will be here, and we are continuing to prepare the stage and showroom and installing the lights and props."

Redevelopment area could be expanded: The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday will consider a resolution to expand the Downtown Redevelopment District to include three large parcels near downtown.

White House wants changes to water right-of-way bill: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration wants several technical corrections made to a bill that would jump-start a potential water pipeline project between Clark and Lincoln counties.

News briefs for July 20, 2004: The Metro Police officer who shot a 27-year-old carjacking suspect Saturday has been identified as William Miller, 31.

Airline check-in system to start in fall at some Las Vegas hotels: McCarran International Airport hopes to have its SpeedCheck computerized check-in kiosks on line in local hotel-casinos by fall.

District welcomes thousands of new teachers: By Emily Richmond; Rockford's loss is the Clark County School District's gain.

Reid demands resignations of FERC commissioners: Kevin Rademacher; Sen. Harry Reid on Monday called for the resignation of two members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, charging that they have failed to protect Nevada consumers from the misdeeds of Enron Corp.

Metro's commitment to homeless questioned: By Timothy Pratt; The Metro Police Web site link to its community policing program aimed at helping the homeless features information that is four years out of date, prompting private advocates and public officials alike to question the department's commitment to the issue.

Professors' workload policy recommended: Regent Jill Derby, committee chairwoman, said the policy gave the individual institutions flexibility to design their own policies while setting systemwide requirements to make sure professors are accountable for their contracted duties.

Smoke from California fires streams into Vegas: Smoke from Southern California's wildland fires on Monday drifted into the skies of Southern Nevada as temperatures in the Las Vegas Valley soared.

Cummings to make $78,500 as tenured English professor: Demoted CCSN lobbyist and political adviser John Cummings will make $78,500 a year as a tenured English professor as part of the settlement of his lawsuit against the Board of Regents.

Memorial is set for Laxalt: CARSON CITY -- A memorial service has been set for Thursday in Reno for Jackalyn Laxalt, Nevada's first lady from 1967 to 1971.

Time magazine story draws mixed reactions from LV officials: Heather Rawlyk and Christina Littlefield; While Mayor Oscar Goodman marveled Monday at the free publicity the newly released Time magazine provided for Las Vegas, a local pastor voiced concerns over the repercussions the article may have on the city.

Metro to revisit Taser policy after man's death: Jen Lawson; Metro Police officers are allowed to use Taser stun guns on handcuffed suspects, but Sheriff Bill Young said Monday that he's rethinking that policy in light of the Taser-associated death of a cuffed suspect in February.

Monorail seems to fit tax status: Stephen Curran; The Las Vegas Monorail Co., which in 2003 took advantage of state and federal tax laws to gain nonprofit status, can expect to improve its bottom line as a result of the new tax status, a top local accountant said Monday.

Home prices in Vegas area rise again: Jennifer Shubinski; Though the Las Vegas-area residential real estate market is cooling off -- homes are not selling in hours and waiting lists for new homes have all but disappeared -- builders continue to plan for new homes.

Kyle Canyon development proposal meets opposition: Most of the residents who live on the long, sometimes lonely road to Mount Charleston moved out there years ago.

Judge: Woman now fit for trial: By Matt Pordum; A woman accused of beating her children to death with a baseball bat last year is now competent to stand trial and moving her from a mental hospital to the Clark County Detention Center shouldn't affect her mental status, jail officials assured her lawyer and prosecutors Monday.

Girlfriend testifies in case of beaten ex-Air Force major: By Matt Pordum; The girlfriend of a 37-year-old ex-con accused of beating a retired Air Force major to death couldn't seem to remember the same information she shared with authorities just a few weeks ago as she testified at his preliminary hearing on Monday.

Consumer loans drive profit at Wells Fargo: Wells Fargo & Co., the fifth-largest U.S. bank, today said second-quarter profit increased 12 percent as it boosted consumer lending and earned more fees from services including insurance and managing investments for individuals.

Banks' quarterly results strong: Several banks with a significant local presence continue to post strong earnings.

Reno judge postpones execution: CARSON CITY -- Terry Dennis' Thursday date with the executioner has been postponed.

Debate intensifies over whether sentencing push targets homeless: By Timothy Pratt; Las Vegas prosecutors and downtown business owners alike have repeatedly denied in recent days that the city's push to give chronic offenders longer sentences targets the homeless, but a morning spent observing trials in two municipal courtrooms showed: