Print edition for March 12, 2004

Columnist Jon Ralston: Selling never ceases on 'Oscar TV': WEEKEND EDITION

Spade in Full: Kirk Baird; WEEKEND EDITION

Columnist Jerry Fink: Prima's spirit lives on at resurgent Sahara: Today his 41-year-old daughter, Lena, is rocking in her father's footsteps.

Editorial: Let's move quickly on EOB probe: March 13 - 14, 2004

Letter: His life was an influential dash: March 13 - 14, 2004

'Port of Call: At age 50, 'Newport Jazz Festival' celebrates its storied past: Spencer Patterson; "I suggested calling it the first annual, and they said, 'How do you know it's an annual when you may not do a second one?'," Wein said. "I said, 'Well, if we don't do a second one, what's the difference?'"

Community briefs for March 12, 2004: In recognition of Women's History Month, the Daughters of Destiny, a nonprofit women's organization of Imani Cathedral United Methodist Church's Life Enrichment Institute, will hold their first Women's Conference Thursday through March 20 at Griffith United Methodist Church, 1701 E. Oakey Blvd.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: St. Pat's options make it easy to be green: There will be more blarney than any Irishman or wannabe could dream of when JW Marriott begins its marathon six-day St. Patrick's Day celebration today at J.C. Wooloughan's Irish Pub. Festivities gather steam through St. Patrick's Day.

'Midnight Fantasy' moves it -- swiftly -- at Luxor: In one cowboy number the troupe of topless dancers cover their bosoms with 10-gallon hats, which for a couple of the performers appear to be a quart low.

Re-release reminds us of the originality of OTC: Spencer Patterson; For months I've wanted to feature the Olivia Tremor Control's first album in this space.

Editorial: Fix charter-school law: March 13 - 14, 2004

Performing Arts for March 12, 2004: Jazz festival

Letter: Mike's advice always helpful: March 13 - 14, 2004

Centenarian could be Clark County's oldest native: WEEKEND EDITION

Datebook for March 12, 2004: UNLV's Short Film Archive will host a screening of festival award-winning short films at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Architecture Building on the UNLV campus. Admission is free. 895-4735.

Editorial: Let's not stop now: The prosecutions are a good beginning, but let's not stop now. The Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission must continue to be aggressive in pursuing executives who defraud their companies and investors. All white-collar crime, for that matter, should be taken more seriously. Corporate fraud involves much greater amounts of money than someone gets from holding up a convenience store, but in the latter case those criminals serve longer sentences and go to "real" prison, not minimum-security facilities. Once corporate executives start getting treated like regular folk who commit crimes, a real deterrent will be established.

Troubled youths flip for Cirque class: By Timothy Pratt; Starting at age 11 Darrin had a singular hobby -- breaking into houses. "I normally would go into vacant houses, see what's in there ... and find some good stuff," he said recently in an interview from Spring Mountain Youth Camp -- a facility for juveniles with felony rap sheets where he's been since November, after getting caught committing a burglary.

Driver's Edge success cited: Dan Kulin; A driving program that teaches teens how to get through skidding on wet roads and other road skills is gearing up for another season with a sense of accomplishment.

Columnist Jeff German: Nevada ignoring gambling addictions: WEEKEND EDITION

Columnist Susan Snyder: Waterfowl feeding has ripple effect: Well-meaning people come on foot or arrive by car to feed the ducks, coots, cormorants, swans and other birds that live along shorelines of the northwest community's four man-made lakes.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: Fitzgeralds contacts next of 'kin: WEEKEND EDITION

O'Callaghan's legacy as governor stands test of time: WEEKEND EDITION

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Russell, Great White take to road for fire victims: Spencer Patterson; "It's the only reason we went on the road. I couldn't have done it for myself," Russell said in a phone interview from his Palm Desert, Calif., home. "It was a hard horse to get back on, but we're doing something more altruistic by touring. Without that boost I don't think we would have done it."

Columnist Susan Snyder: Tributes are chilling reminders: WEEKEND EDITION

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Dunbar's comedy gamble pays off: Lisa Ferguson; Meet Kathleen Dunbar. It's been nearly two years since the Milwaukee native packed up and headed West.

Where I Stand -- Columnist Brian Greenspun: Leaving U.N. a bad idea: WEEKEND EDITION

Guest Columnist Bill R. Phillips: Demanding, yes, but a friend always: WEEKEND EDITION

Letter: Recess is as basic as three other R's: Are we now blaming recess for our problems in education? Kids have always had recess -- it's one of the high points in the day. In my school in Indiana, we had recess and square dancing, and I still managed to learn how to read. What I didn't have was Spanish in the second grade taught by a VCR.

Columnist Barb Henderson: Bird-watchers welcome new members: Barb Henderson; Wouldn't it be wonderful if the outside temperatures that we're enjoying at this time, would stay this gorgeous year-round?

News briefs for March 12, 2004: A man wanted on a first-degree murder charge in Illinois was arrested Thursday in Las Vegas.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: New hospital chef blessed with patients: Which one doesn't belong?

Police: Suspect was alone with bartender before slaying: Jen Lawson; Kevin Martinette waited until everyone else left the Odyssey Lounge early Monday morning, then allegedly beat the 70-year-old bartender to death in order to steal his car and $500 for an intended drive to California, according to a Metro Police report about his arrest.

Life of former governor praised: In a lifetime that spanned 74 years, Mike O'Callaghan gave and kept giving.

Harrah's is poised to win Illinois license: CHICAGO -- An analyst says Harrah's Entertainment Inc. is likely to win a Chicago-area casino license after making the highest cash offer of $520 million at an auction Thursday.

Pay raises to get close look: By Emily Richmond; The Clark County School Board voted unanimously Thursday to take another look at how Superintendent Carlos Garcia is authorized to hand out administrative pay raises and re-classify employees to higher salary brackets.

Traffic control system in gridlock: Two years ago local elected policymakers promised Clark County residents a centralized, state-of-the-art traffic control system if they supported a $2.7 billion tax package for transportation improvements.

Letter: Bush could have prevented 9-11: I am appalled at the ignorance of people who believe that intelligent Americans should stand behind President Bush. I will join millions of Americans next fall when they are behind him kicking his butt all the way to Crawford, Texas.

Coroner's inquest probes shooting: Officer Noe Larios fired at least one shot at 33-year-old Michael Carlucci in the parking lot of the Sugartree Apartments just south of Desert Inn Road and Swenson Street.

Ethics Commission dismisses complaint against Ferraro: Dan Kulin; The state Ethics Commission on Thursday dismissed a complaint against Boulder City Mayor Bob Ferraro that alleged the mayor influenced the content of a controversial city newsletter sent to residents about a month before the June 3 election.

Centennial, Green Valley filled with some of valley's top players: Adam Candee; Memories of Green Valley star pitcher Jordan Parraz grabbing the ball and sprinting to first base for the clinching out of the 4A state title game are barely in the history books as the 2004 season began Thursday.

Robot race more than ordinary challenge: By Timothy Pratt; As might be said in Vegas sports betting parlors, may the best unmanned autonomous vehicle win.

Hunters who didn't turn in harvest cards must pay up: Nevada hunters who failed to turn in their big game questionnaires following last season's hunts have until Friday, March 19, to pay a $50 administrative fee or they will be ineligible to apply for big game tags this year.

LV awaits word from Cleveland Clinic: Sito Negron; Las Vegas ought to know within 15 to 20 days whether the Cleveland Clinic will continue its process of deciding whether to start a location at the 61-acre site downtown that is proposed for a medical complex, performing arts center, and urban village, Mayor Oscar Goodman said Thursday.

Letter: Gays not part of Bush compassion: Ironically, gay and lesbian couples are anxious to get into marriages while straight couples are anxious to get out. The high divorce rate (50 percent) demonstrates that without any help, influence or fault of the gay community we break and abandon the vows we make to stay together for life. Despite this statistic, Bush still insists it's gay people who threaten the sanctity of marriage.

Veteran LV newspaper editor Digles dies at 73: Longtime newspaperman Joseph Digles died of cancer Thursday in his Incline Village home. He was 73.

Columnist Jeff German: Taxi board gives drivers a bad ride: Since Nov. 11, he has held up eight taxicab drivers, between 7:15 p.m. and 1:15 a.m., usually in the middle of the week.

No. 8 seed CSU grounds Air Force: DENVER -- If this is the first week of March and Colorado State is in the house, can an upset be far behind?

New Binion's owner plans to target 'hard-core' gamblers: Sun Staff; Hard-core gamblers will be MTR Gaming Group's target market when it takes over operation of downtown Las Vegas' Binion's Horseshoe from Harrah's Entertainment Inc. a year or more from now, company executives told investors and analysts on a call today.

Airmen put to the test in Army pre-Ranger course: Jace Radke; In the desert 45 miles northwest of Las Vegas, a handful of Air Force security personnel annually get a taste of what it takes to be among the most highly trained combat units in the world -- the Army Rangers.

Ex-worker sues over Yucca silica: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Former Yucca Mountain employee Gene Griego filed a class-action lawsuit against several Energy Department contractors in District Court in Clark County on Thursday alleging the companies exposed him and countless others to dangerous levels of silica and other known toxins at the Yucca Mountain project.

Letter: Common man is footing the bill: How about repealing some of the massive tax rebates given to corporations and rich Americans in the name of reviving our economy? I haven't seen any new jobs, have you?

Carno insists she's innocent at sentencing: Erica D. Johnson; Moments before she was to be sentenced Thursday to life in prison for plotting her husband's death, a weeping Susanne Carno maintained her innocence, calling her conviction "unfair, unjust and most unmerciful."

State won't give up fight against Yucca 'fantasyland': Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Nevada will not back down from its fight against Yucca Mountain through the upcoming Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing process, one of the state's lawyers told a room full of nuclear industry officials Thursday.

Business briefs for March 12, 2004: Daniel Calugar, who is accused of reaping $175 million in gains from improper mutual fund trading, has asked that a fraud suit against him by the Securities and Exchange Commission be thrown out, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing a filing released by the U.S. District Court in Las Vegas.

Letter: O'Callaghan loaned a sympathetic ear: I am not an important person by any stretch of the imagination, just an ordinary citizen and mother. Several years ago my child was abused by a trusted friend and babysitter. Our case languished in the court system for almost two years. We faced delay after delay, and I didn't know where to turn.

Fishing report: Most anglers down on luck at Lake Mead: Anglers who have been fishing from shore in the Boulder Basin of Lake Mead have had very little luck in recent days.

B of A facing $250 million hit in probe: CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Bank of America Corp., the third-largest U.S. bank and the largest in Nevada, may pay more than $250 million to settle allegations that executives allowed mutual fund trading by favored clients that hurt the returns of other investors, people familiar with the matter said.

Editorial: Tearing down Kerry backfires: Sometimes it doesn't even have to be a top official who, in trying to tear down Kerry, does Bush more harm than good. That happened recently with Rep. Butch Otter, R-Idaho, whose views on the environment in the West and on the Yucca Mountain project should get the attention of Nevadans. Otter, in an opinion piece that appeared on the website of the House Republican Conference, which coordinates strategy for the GOP caucus, praised Bush's environmental policies while attacking Kerry's.

Bill aims to force tribes to renegotiate compacts: Ashley H. Grant; ST. PAUL -- Indians flooded the Capitol steps this week to protest a bill that would ban slot machines in Minnesota by 2006 if tribes refuse to renegotiate their gambling compacts with the state.

School Board rescinds OK for charter high school: By Emily Richmond; The Clark County School Board voted Thursday to rescind its approval of a proposed charter high school, a move that stunned its founder, Nevada Board of Education member John Hawk.

Bertuzzi incident draws mixed response in LV: Nick Christensen; When Vancouver Canucks forward Todd Bertuzzi knocked down Colorado Avalanche center Steve Moore this week, the shock waves rippled through all of hockey.

Rebels rally past Lobos: Steve Guiremand; DENVER -- Survive and advance.

School facility user fees proposed: By Emily Richmond; The Clark County School District wants to charge nonprofit groups -- including scouting troops -- to use its facilities, and will seek public input on the proposed fees at two forums Monday.

Interstate showing off new Henderson bakery: Alana Roberts; Interstate Bakeries Corp. is revamping its operations to stop erosion in its profit, with the company's 14-month-old Henderson plant now broken in and playing a role in streamlining operations.

Sexual assault response at Nellis under review: Jace Radke; Nellis Air Force Base's sexual assault response programs were to be inspected today by an Air Combat Command review team as part of an Air Force-wide assessment.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: A mile high and light years away from Vegas: DENVER -- It was midway through the second half of Thursday's first Mountain West Conference men's basketball quarterfinal when the Brigham Young players sauntered into the Pepsi Center in preparation for their game against Wyoming.

Letter: Retain recess for health reasons: I understand the need to meet the ambitious goals of the No Child Left Behind Act, but I don't think compromising our children's health is the answer. If anything, physical activity among elementary schools needs to be increased to promote healthy, active lifestyles.

Rebels' L.A. juco tandem produces a winner: Steve Guiremand; DENVER -- When it comes to telepathic powers, the Amazing Kreskin or John Edwards don't have anything on UNLV guards Romel Beck and Jerel Blassingame.

Federal drug czar rips pot petition: Kirsten Searer; The nation's drug czar was in town Thursday to compliment Nevada's prescription drug database, which tracks about 3 million prescriptions to determine when people could be abusing controlled drugs.

Consumers pessimistic about job market: The university's preliminary index of consumer sentiment for March fell to 94.1 from 94.4. The index had fallen in February by the most since the Sept. 11 attacks after rising the most in a decade in January.

Columnist Dean Juipe: No big surprise here ... Boxing is doing just great now: Dean Juipe; No matter how old you are and how many years you have followed sports, there has always been one constant. And it has nothing to do with the Chicago Cubs' inability to win a World Series.

Lady Rebels set to throw new look at Utes in semis: DENVER -- It was just eight days ago that the Lady Rebels showed the rest of the Mountain West how to beat Utah on its home floor -- play tenacious man-to-man defense for 40 minutes (or however long it takes) and hit clutch shots and free throws when necessary.

Gladiators need win against old playoff foe: Adam Candee; Sunday, 3 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center TV: None. Radio: ESPN 920-AM

Race for track title expected to be wide open: Nick Christensen; Last season, northern teams came to the NIAA 4A Track and Field championships in Henderson and left the South wondering just what happened.

Obituaries for March 12, 2004: Jimmie S. Anaya, 77, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. He was born March 17, 1926, in Chandler, Ariz. A resident for 25 years, he was a laborer in the construction industry and a World War II Marine Corps veteran.

Grab a No. 2 pencil, but this quiz is no Georgia cakewalk: Not for anything his Zags have done, although those accomplishment merit much applause. But he displayed mucho class in attending Eastern Washington's game Wednesday night against Northern Arizona.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Kenseth: Changes helped LVMS race: In the wake of last weekend's UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, reaction was mixed on whether NASCAR's new tire and rear spoiler combination improved the caliber of racing at intermediate tracks.

Hughes Corp. pleased with sealed-bid sales in Summerlin: Jennifer Shubinski; The Howard Hughes Corp. is selling lots in an exclusive Summerlin community by sealed bids, rather than first-come, first-serve or the traditional lottery used by many builders and developers.

Neonopolis owners 'pursuing' audit: Sito Negron; The owners of embattled downtown mall Neonopolis replied to Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman's demand for an accounting Thursday, in a letter stating that they're "diligently pursuing" an audit and disputing the mayor's assertions of discrimination and other breaches of contract.

WorldCom settles with Oklahoma, restates results: OKLAHOMA CITY -- The state of Oklahoma has agreed to settle its criminal fraud case against the telecommunications giant MCI, state Attorney General Drew Edmondson announced today.

Gov. Mike touched people from all walks of life: Kirsten Searer; Some wore suits fit for the halls of the Legislature or Congress.

Sports briefs for March 12, 2004: A 32-year-old forward, Baker had the remaining two years and $35 million of his contract voided by his former team, the Boston Celtics, on Feb. 18 after he was suspended twice for violating his alcohol-treatment program. He has filed a grievance against the Celtics because he wants to get the contract reinstated. An arbitrator will hear the case next month.

Remington upset over denial of transfer to UNLV: University Chancellor Jane Nichols has denied former community college president Ron Remington's request to transfer to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas instead of returning to the college he once presided over.

Supreme Court considers Indian gambling case: The case could affect the future of at least two casinos already operating and three more that are pending. It also could have implications for all 17 Indian casinos in the state.

Union complains about handling of threats: By Emily Richmond; The union representing Clark County's teachers chided the school district Thursday for "bungling" its response to telephone threats made against a Las Vegas middle school.

PurchasePro estate fighting in court to recover assets: Kevin Rademacher; Legal actions swirling around the estate of the bankrupt Las Vegas e-commerce company PurchasePro.com are again heating up.

Boxer hit with charges: Lightweight boxing champion Floyd Mayweather will face a felony charge for hitting the mother of his three children, a Clark County prosecutor said this morning.

Three charged with setting fires: The arson caused an estimated $25,000 in damage.

Hearing on CRC documents delayed: Originally scheduled for Thursday morning, the hearing is now set for March 18.

Attorney OK'd for Tabish: Erica D. Johnson; A local defense attorney who represented Rick Tabish's accomplice on charges of attempting to steal casino executive Ted Binion's silver fortune will now represent Tabish in his murder retrial.

Nellis official: Base leads way with sexual assault program: Jace Radke; Nellis Air Force Base's sexual assault response programs could be used as an example for all of Air Combat Command, according to the head of an Air Force review team visiting the base today.

Help for problem gamblers increasing: The gaming department, which monitors Arizona's $1 billion Indian gambling industry, took over administration of problem-gambling treatment and education efforts from the state Lottery last fall.