Print edition for June 24, 2004

Rehab giant in deal with creditors: The scandal-scarred rehabilitation giant said it had ended talks on some $2.6 billion in bond debt with agreements from more than 99 percent of bondholders to accept the cash premiums.

Gaming briefs for June 24, 2004: KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Argosy Gaming Co., which completed a $105 million expansion of its Kansas City-area casino in December, has announced plans for another major improvement, including the addition of a hotel and parking garage.

Community will feature unusual park: Federal land has been set aside for a new park in the southwest Las Vegas Valley that will feature an Old West village, an American Indian encampment and a simulated archaeological site where kids can dig for ancient treasures.

Missed deadline for documents may not delay Yucca schedule: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The Energy Department's failure to meet a document deadline for the Yucca Mountain project Wednesday may not delay the project's schedule by much.

Comdex postponement will have only slight effect on unions: Alana Roberts; Union leaders say their members will sustain just a minor loss of work because of the cancellation of Comdex 2004.

Decision is delayed on club dancer: Sito Negron; Municipal Judge Cedric A. Kerns on Wednesday expressed doubts about the defense of a Treasures dancer charged with soliciting prostitution, but postponed a decision that could start a chain of events that would close the strip club.

Veterans nursing home in need of seven nurses: Beth Slovic; Sixty beds at the Nevada Veterans Nursing Home in Boulder City will remain empty until administrators at the facility can hire seven additional registered nurses, nearly half of the available slots for registered nurses at the home, which now has 120 full beds.

Inmates helping in prison change: Sheila Green wants the public to attend an open house at her house, which in slang terms is also called the big house.

Sports briefs for June 24, 2004: UNLV's football game at Wisconsin on Sept. 11 has been set for 11 a.m. CDT -- 9 a.m. in Las Vegas -- and will be shown nationally by ESPN.

Cop alleged target of hit by ex: Jen Lawson; The ex-wife of a Henderson Police sergeant faces charges of trying to hire a hitman last week to kill her former husband, giving specific orders that he be shot while in uniform and then mutilated, police said.

Mesquite argues against initiatives: CARSON CITY -- An attorney for Mesquite told the Nevada Supreme Court Tuesday that two voter-approved initiatives on city government were invalid because they conflict with state law.

Obituaries for June 24, 2004: Robert Dean Butte Sr., 47, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. He was born June 3, 1957, in Upland, Calif. A resident for 44 years, he was a landscape superintendent.

Critic: Comdex gone for good: Convention industry observers are split over whether Comdex, the giant computer trade show that has brought hundreds of thousands of conventioneers to Las Vegas in the 23 years it has been conducted, will ever return after canceling its November show.

Fire department, medics get communications upgrade: Jen Lawson; Emergency medical personnel responding to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks didn't have the capability to communicate with other agencies, and before last week, neither did Las Vegas Fire and Rescue paramedics.

Education initiative is first to qualify: CARSON CITY -- Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons estimates she will have to raise $250,000 in the coming months to convince voters to approve the proposed "Educational First" constitutional amendment.

Airport chief not sold on private screeners: Jace Radke; Clark County Aviation Director Randy Walker said he doesn't know what the benefit would be in replacing federal screeners with private security forces at McCarran International Airport.

Petition group satisfied with apology: By Matt Pordum; Community college officials will not face a hearing to determine whether they violated a judge's order to stop harassing and restricting the rights of Nevadans for Sound Government as the group gathers petitions to get two initiatives on the Nov. 2 ballot.

Growth in NLV, Henderson shows no signs of slowing: Dan Kulin; North Las Vegas and Henderson remain among the fastest-growing large cities in the nation, recording the second- and third-highest growth rates in the country from April 2000 to July 2003, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today.

Father receives probation in shaking death of 6-month-old: By Matt Pordum; A man was sentenced Wednesday to five years' probation on charges relating to the July 2001 death of his 6-month-old son.

Letter: Bush may target 9-11 commission: Some in the administration endangered the life of Valerie Plame when her husband spoke out against their war. And they did nothing to stop George Tenet from taking most of the heat over the ill-fated invasion. Now the 9-11 commission has the audacity to state the obvious -- there is no connection between Iraq and the terrorism events of 2001. The members had better prepare themselves for vicious attacks on their character, reputation and loved ones.

Forgotten box of pot petition signatures found: A forgotten box containing 6,000 petition signatures of Clark County residents might cost voters a chance to decide in November whether to legalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana.

Public asked to submit themes for quarter: CARSON CITY -- Residents are being encouraged to offer themes that are symbolic to the state to appear on the Nevada quarter to be produced by the U.S. Mint.

Group managing federal funds wants to avoid conflict: By Timothy Pratt; Several members of the board and staff of the Workforce Investment Board -- a group that controls nearly $14 million in federal funds -- said Wednesday that federal policy should be changed to prohibit people from serving on the board if they also receive those funds.

New ATF task force to target Las Vegas: Jace Radke; Las Vegas is one of 15 cities that will be getting extra help in fighting violent crimes as part of a violent crime initiative involving Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives-led task forces, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced today.

More federal screeners will be needed at McCarran by 2005: Jace Radke; McCarran International Airport has enough federal screeners to man seven new security checkpoints expected to come on line next month, but the airport will need additional screeners by early 2005 at the latest.

LV man to face charges in 'Net scheme: Jace Radke and Mary Manning; A Las Vegas man on Wednesday was ordered to face federal charges in New York in connection with an alleged scheme to sell a list of 92 million America Online screen names to e-mail solicitors, or spammers.

Titus' fund-raiser is a prelude to run for governor: Kirsten Searer; Apparently trying not to be outdone by other potential gubernatorial candidates, Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, held a major fund-raiser Wednesday at The Mansion at the MGM Grand.

Letter: Only the rich received tax relief: ORVILLE GOPLEN

Redistricting next step for LV: The move, if approved by the council, would even out the populations of the six wards, taking into account growth patterns in each area, Las Vegas City Manager Doug Selby said.

MLB could bring boost to community: Outfielder Brad Wilkerson and second baseman Jose Vidro spent generous amounts of their free time teaching kids the finer points of the game, while third baseman Jamey Carroll became a fixture in Quebec schools and hospitals.

Judge denies bail reduction in fatal bus stop accident: By Matt Pordum; District Judge Joseph Bonaventure on Wednesday refused to lower the bail from $500,000 to $50,000 for a man charged with crashing his truck into a Las Vegas bus stop on May 3, killing a 4-year-old boy and hospitalizing the child's mother.

Son of Las Vegas man to fly helicopters for the Army: Dick Benoit; Army 1st Lt. Damion M. Calvert, the son of Michael Calvert of Las Vegas, has graduated from the Army Helicopter Flight School at Fort Rucker, Ala.

Editorial: Stop the stonewalling: The White House contends it has done nothing wrong and on Tuesday touted a February 2002 directive by President Bush that said all people detained in the war on terrorism should be treated humanely, even if the U.S. government didn't believe they were protected by the Geneva Conventions. Administration officials on Tuesday also repudiated an August 2002 memo from the Justice Department that seemed to offer a permissive view of torture. The memo was written by a Nevadan -- then-Assistant Attorney General Jay Bybee, who is now a federal judge. (Once again the White House doesn't hesitate to trash one ...

Measure would legalize up to 3,000 machines: Marc Levy; HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Negotiators said Wednesday they struck an agreement "in principle" on legislation to legalize thousands of slot machines in Pennsylvania as a way to generate $1 billion to reduce property taxes.

Letter: Board takes big steps to protect students' health: Board member Denise Brodsky deserves applause for championing the nation's strictest ban on the sale of junk food and sodas on campus. No longer will our schools send a confusing message to students by teaching healthy choices while encouraging unhealthy access to foods with no nutritional value. With obesity on the rise at an alarming rate, this ban is an important step in getting the obesity epidemic under control.

Community briefs for June 24, 2004: Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and U.S. District Judge Lloyd George will join nearly 1,000 other Opportunity Village supporters in a toast to the organization's half-century of service 7 p.m Friday at Paris Las Vegas.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: 'Little guys' need league of their own: If college sports were a sandlot baseball game, the Mountain West Conference would be the little, runny-nosed kid who jumps up and down and says "Pick me, pick me."

Editorial: Pedestrian protection: In addition to the life-threatening injuries suffered by Taputu, what also got our attention were the comments made by a Metro Police officer. Ramirez has been charged with felony hit-and-run and driving under the influence, but the officer said that if Ramirez had just stopped after hitting Taputu, all he would have been charged with was a misdemeanor DUI. As a recent Sun investigative series pointed out, what is so maddening about Nevada's traffic laws is that pedestrians are considered fair game for drivers if they're not in a crosswalk. That means all too often that drivers who hit pedestrians ...

Economic news mixed: The 1.369 million annual rate during the month compared with a 1.192 million pace in April, the Commerce Department said.

License renewed, Borgata looks to expand: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, which has hit the jackpot with gamblers since its opening nearly a year ago, had its license renewed Wednesday.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Team owner Schumacher expands his options: NHRA multi-team owner Don Schumacher now has all the bases covered.

Marketing begins for new Vegas community: Jennifer Shubinski; Focus Property Group opened its "home search cafe" to the public today for its Mountain's Edge planned community at Blue Diamond Road and Buffalo Drive in southwest Las Vegas.

Parole Board employee's firing upheld: CARSON CITY -- A state hearing officer has upheld the firing of a state Parole Board employee who altered the release records of her brother, who was a state prison inmate.

News briefs for June 24, 2004: A 54-year-old man apparently killed a 41-year-old woman Wednesday before committing suicide in an apartment Carey Avenue near Donna Street, North Las Vegas Police said.

Friday's horse racing entries: Post Time 7:05 p.m.

Harrah's receives OK to develop harness track: Harrah's and CD&M have agreed to develop Chester Downs, a 5/8-mile harness racetrack about six miles south of the Philadelphia International Airport. The partners expect to finalize the transaction in the third quarter.

Ryan's hope is to keep on dancing: What: "Viva Las Divas."

The lady is a champ: Dean Juipe; Christy Martin was in her prime when Jessica Rakoczy first walked into a boxing gym in 1998, yet the young Canadian was oblivious to the Coal Miner's Daughter.

Public urged to stay away to let burned forest rebound: A wildland fire that destroyed 8,404 acres of forests and desert brush was fully contained Wednesday, but officials are keeping people away because it will take time for the Virgin Mountains to start coming back to life.

Immigrants in crash face deportation: Trooper Loy Hixson said shortly before 3 a.m. on June 18, a woman was walking in the road on U.S. 93, about 15 miles north of the Las Vegas, when she was hit by a 1998 Honda Civic.

Plot thickens in maneuvering for Las Vegas Country Club: By Liz Benston; Months before Steve Wynn made an offer to buy the Las Vegas Country Club last week, two separate plans emerged from developers to either buy or develop country club property, country club members and bidders say.

Man hurt in fire at gas pump: The man was transported to University Medical Center with second-degree burns on his legs after his pants caught fire while he was filling a portable gas can in the bed of his pickup truck, Ken Riddle, deputy chief for Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, said.

Fake loans found in mortgage firm probe: Kevin Rademacher; Some of the worst concerns surrounding the collapse of the Global Express investment operations run by Las Vegas financier Connie Farris have been confirmed by the court appointed receiver.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Freitas, Corrales foresee fireworks in ring: Dean Juipe; By every indicator, when Acelino Freitas and Diego Corrales fight Aug. 7 in Connecticut it will be an all-out war. Each man's history and disposition point to a competitive fight in which both will be unrelenting.

Comdex fallout may be muted: Kevin Rademacher; If Las Vegas resorts are worried about the loss of Comdex, they are managing a good poker face.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Paris hopes Queen makes winning hand: "Please don't compare us to 'Mamma Mia!' " Queen guitarist Brian May told VegasBeat backstage Wednesday at the Le Theatre des Arts at Paris Las Vegas. May was on hand for a media event announcing details of the upcoming Las Vegas production of the musical, which has played to sold-out houses in London since 2002.

Displaying Zeal: By Kristen Peterson; Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part series on artists who have recently opened studios in downtown Las Vegas. On Wednesday, artist Dray was profiled.

Local pro golf pioneer Teel dies: Local golfers never thought of Las Vegas professional golfer Charlie "One-Putt" Teel as having a handicap -- at least not anyone who had to deal with his formidable short game.

Lincoln land bill draws criticism: Christina Littlefield and Cy Ryan; A federal land bill designed to open up water rights in Lincoln County to Clark County and designate several areas as wilderness land also includes a provision some critics say unfairly benefits politically connected developer Harvey Whittemore.

Bill advances to change way Yucca funds can be obtained: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed a bill today that would allow Congress to get $750 million for the Yucca Mountain project directly from a pool of money funded by a surcharge on nuclear power for the next five years.