Print edition for June 28, 2004

Rapid Rivers makes waves at Stardust: If they had time to stop and think, some fans might be put off by Joan Rivers' foul-mouthed, abrasive brand of humor, which insults almost everyone.

Letter: Country club can be successful in urban area: One need only to drive through our area and see the multitude of upscale condominiums being developed in this area, such as Turnberry, Madison Towers, Metropolis, Panorama, the La Concha Development and the Las Vegas Grand. The residents of these million-dollar condos will be looking for a private country club. It is a rare luxury to find a private country club in the middle of a metropolitan city. Las Vegas is similar to Los Angeles in that the Los Angeles Country Club and the Hillcrest Country Club are examples of two successful country clubs operating in the city.

Pension fund may overhaul voting policy: The cascade of "no" votes ensnared even billionaire Warren Buffett, a long-time advocate for shareholder rights and former U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin. It was mostly the result of a new policy of voting against any director who gave outside nonaudit contracts to their auditors.

Editorial: For now, a victory in Yucca fight: On Friday, in the first major battle over the 2004-2005 Yucca budget, the House voted to authorize only $131 million. This compares to the current-year budget of $577 million and the $880 million the Bush administration is hoping to receive for next year.

Michigan Senate could reconsider casino tax: David Eggert; LANSING, Mich. -- As smokers and the tobacco industry prepare for a higher cigarette tax, casinos are fighting to make sure they aren't targeted next.

Letter: Registration drive is commendable: The work in Nevada to help the state move from 46th lowest in voter turnout (U.S. census data, 2000) is an effort that should be commended. Our state is the fortunate recipient of money and attention from many sources because of its classification as a political "battleground state."

Columnist Jeff German: Campaign craziness has certain credibility: Typically this time of the year we see candidates accusing each other of wrongdoing. Voters often ignore the news because the allegations rarely turn out to be anything more than election-year hype.

Jurors deliberating in executive fraud trial: Adelphia founder John Rigas, 79, his sons Timothy and Michael, and former assistant treasurer Michael Mulcahey each face 30 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge, bank fraud. They are accused of hiding $2 million in debt from the company's investors.

Sports briefs for June 28, 2004: The Charlotte Bobcats added to their expansion team Sunday, selecting four players from an open-tryout session to advance to their minicamp.

No Doubt hits it big in small confines: Spencer Patterson; Vocalist Gwen Stefani took stock of her unusual surroundings midway through Sunday night's No Doubt show at Rain at the Palms.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Sun Lite for June 28, 2004: Lisa Ferguson; Time to be a good U.S. citizen and venture into the deep, dark recesses of the garage in search of the American flag you bought following the terror attacks of 9-11 - and vowed to proudly fly each day forward - that seems to see daylight only on such holidays as Independence Day.

Editorial: White House secrets: The public, of course, is the loser. We should know by now just how much influence that utility, oil and gas executives had in developing the White House's energy policy. We in Nevada are particularly interested in the meetings that nuclear power executives had with Cheney's group before President Bush submitted his plan to Congress to bury 77,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain. But, fortunately for the White House, it had enough support on the Supreme Court to continue its stonewalling ways.

Hot Topic: 'Fahrenheit' ignites Moore controversy: Kirk Baird; Terrorists have just slammed an airliner into the World Trade Center.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Smarty Jones scores lucrative stud deal: Ralph Siraco; As we move into the second summertime holiday weekend, there will be a full menu of racetracks from coast-to-coast simulcast into the race books of Las Vegas throughout the Fourth of July weekend. So, as we brace for the onslaught, here are some notes scribbled across my Daily Racing Form ...

Columnist Susan Snyder: Canyon is more than a vision: The haunting words of a Duwamish Indian leader are inscribed at Bryce Canyon National Park's Yovimpa Point.

Birth announcements for June 28, 2004: June 14:

Washington initiative would expand gambling: Rebecca Cook; SEATTLE -- Anti-tax activist Tim Eyman will head to the secretary of state's office triumphantly this morning, with about 235,000 signatures for his Initiative 892.

Drive-through lottery store opens: Jacob Jordan; FORT MILL, S.C. -- There's no fuzzy intercom and you can't "super size" it, but a new drive-through dedicated almost entirely to selling lottery tickets has popped up near the North Carolina state line.

Wynn defends club buyout offer: By Liz Benston; In a letter to members of the Las Vegas Country Club last week, Steve Wynn said his offer to buy out club owners was "not hostile" and that the decision to sell the club is ultimately up to equity owners.

Station focuses on valley's west side: By Liz Benston; Station Casinos Inc. recently sold a parcel of land along Boulder Highway and is negotiating to sell off a second parcel nearby, foregoing land for casino development on the east side of Las Vegas and instead focusing on developing locals casinos on the more rapidly growing west side of the valley.

Vigil held for clerk killed outside store: Heather Rawlyk; About 75 friends, family members and customers of a Kwiky Mini Mart clerk who was shot and killed at work late last week gathered in the parking lot of the convenience store Sunday night for a candlelight vigil held in his honor.

News briefs for June 28, 2004: The body of an unidentified woman who appeared to be killed was found Sunday night near the Paiute Indian Reservation north of Las Vegas, Metro Police said.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Hoax springs eternal for 'Bambi' crew: The "Hunting for Bambi' hoaxers are back.

VA chief touts plans for LV vets hospital: Stephen Curran; Saying Las Vegas represented a key example of a shift in the nation's veteran population, the head of the VA on Sunday touted plans for a $350 million hospital in Clark County.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Fullerton's win has David vs. Goliath quality: Dean Juipe; It wasn't exactly David vs. Goliath, but there were hints of it.

Attorney says Jones not target in fed probe: Jace Radke; The attorney for a Community College of Southern Nevada clerical worker who has been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury next month says the clerk is not a target in an FBI investigation.

GOP tax challenge may be at an end: CARSON CITY -- The legal challenge by Republican state legislators to the $833.5 million state tax increase in 2003 may be at an end.

Business fee penalty may be waived: CARSON CITY -- There are 200,000 to 300,000 businesses in Nevada that have not registered and paid the annual $100 business fee imposed by the 2003 Legislature, state officials estimate.

Obituaries for June 28, 2004: John H. Burk, 73, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local hospital. He was born Aug. 19, 1930, in Milwaukee. A resident for 10 years, he was a retired construction electrician, a Korean War Army veteran and a member of IBEW Local 494.

Mom who left twins in car pleads guilty: By Matt Pordum; A mother who left her 8-month-old twins in her car while she went shopping was sentenced to community service and required to finish a parenting class after pleading guilty to lesser charges on Friday.

Schwikert dark horse for berth in Athens: By Ron Kantowski; A breakdown of Tasha Schwikert's performance in the four women's disciplines at the U.S. Olympic Trials:

Inquest jury: Taser played role in death: Jen Lawson; A Clark County coroner's inquest jury ruled Friday that jolts from a Metro Police officer's Taser stun gun played a role in the February death of a 26-year-old man who, after allegedly taking PCP, struggled with officers.

Goodman to back mayors' resolutions: Among the proposals at the Conference of Mayors meeting is the creation of a national registry for siblings separated in foster care.

County plans appeal of decision on legislator's back-pay, reinstatement: Launce Rake and Stephen Curran; Clark County leaders say they plan to appeal a decision made June 25 by a federal arbitrator that allows a county employee fired for claiming sick pay while he worked as a legislator to return to work.

Homeless veterans given some respect at the end: Jace Radke; Refusing to leave a fallen comrade behind first worked its way into Dave Anson's mentality when he became an Army Ranger and served in Vietnam.

Nevada mines release most mercury: Molly Ball; Nevada's mines account for most of the mercury released into the environment in the United States, but the state is no longer No. 1 when it comes to release of toxic substances, according to an annual report released last week by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Firefighters worry as fireworks booths open: Caitlin Hudgins; Fireworks booths open this morning and fire officials worry that the flying sparks that come with the Fourth of July aren't far behind.

Gaming briefs for June 28, 2004: RENO -- The on-again, off-again Reno Skyfire Fourth of July fireworks show is on again.

Residential downtown Las Vegas tower is planned: Sito Negron; An Australian developer is planning a new high-rise residential project along Las Vegas Boulevard that would link a vintage neighborhood with development already in the works.

District judge rejects request to accept late signatures: By Matt Pordum; District Judge Kenneth Cory on Friday rejected the arguments posed by both a group requesting the court order the Clark County Registrar to accept 6,000 late signatures in support of an initiative to legalize possession an ounce of marijuana and a group asking for a deadline extension on filing petitions for an initiative to cap property taxes.

Clinton: Bush is robbing from poor to give to rich: Kirsten Searer; Former President Bill Clinton had harsh words for the Bush administration at a fund-raiser Sunday in Las Vegas, arguing that Bush and his supporters are funneling the nation's wealth to the upper class while letting crucial programs suffer.

Center that alleviates hospitals threatened: By Ed Koch; A center created 18 months ago to relieve the overcrowding of local hospital emergency rooms caused in part by chronically intoxicated people and the mentally ill may close next week because of a nearly $677,000 shortfall in state funding, the center's operator says.

Homeowners no longer welcome at meetings: Stephen Curran; In an effort to keep "zealots" from dominating monthly meetings, one of the largest homeowners associations in the Las Vegas Valley last week voted to restrict attendance at the group's monthly meetings, the association's president said Friday.

County may appeal decision on legislator's back pay, reinstatement: Launce Rake and Stephen Curran; Kelvin Atkinson, D-North Las Vegas, was not penalized for his claims to sick pay, and the arbitrator ruled that Atkinson should receive back pay for the eight months he was out of work, the assemblyman said.

Group says it can prove robber is innocent: Molly Ball; The image on the security-camera video is fuzzy. The man brandishes a gun as he demands the convenience-store clerk open the safe, but his face isn't clear.

GOP candidate accuses judge of political bias: Lynn Doan; A Republican candidate accused a judge of political bias Friday after the judge ruled that she did not meet residency requirements to run for the Assembly.

Unusual weather cools area: A weak area of low pressure off the California coast moved into the area, producing clouds that lowered the temperature and brought some rain, Clay Morgan, a meterologist with the local office of the National Weather Service said.