Print edition for March 31, 2004

Sports briefs for March 31, 2004: Paul Hornung, one of Notre Dame's all-time stars, told a Detroit radio station that his alma mater needed to lower its academic standards "to get the black athlete."

Lady Rebels routed: OMAHA, Neb. -- Just a few blocks south of the Civic Auditorium, where UNLV played Creighton for the Women's National Invitation Tournament championship Tuesday night, the boyhood home of former President Gerald Ford has been turned into a tourist attraction.

FBI training course tests explosive experts' abilities: Jace Radke; A huge fireball blasted more than 100 feet into the air in the desert northeast of Nellis Air Force Base on Tuesday, demonstrating the destructive force used in the 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building that killed 168 people.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Pro soccer's fortunes on rise with Adu: Dean Juipe; You and I are typical, hardcore American sports fans.

Malls will become Amber Alert sites: The program is expected to be in place at the malls within three months.

Supreme Court calls plea 'judicial coercion': CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that former District Judge Jeffrey Sobel used "judicial coercion" in pressuring a Las Vegas man to enter a plea to involuntary manslaughter in the beating death of another man.

8-year-old recovering from pit bull attack: Before her release Tuesday from the University Medical Center's pediatric trauma unit, 8-year-old Dajahane Neely watched a video of her favorite animated movie, "All Dogs Go to Heaven."

Correction for March 31, 2004: Correction for March 31, 2004

Christensen faces intense scrutiny: Kirsten Searer; Legislators typically can buy themselves lunch with campaign funds and turn in receipts with few problems.

Report raises questions about campaign donations to justices: Kirsten Searer; A report released Tuesday indicates that Nevada's Supreme Court justices rely on hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from lawyers, lobbyists and gaming companies -- groups that often have cases before the justices in the courtroom.

Columnist Jeff German: Strip thunders when casino titans lock horns: You have to do a lot of ducking when you come between two battling giants, which is what I did on Tuesday when I spoke to Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson.

Health officials say norovirus on decline: Although the number of people -- mainly Hawaii residents -- who reported a gastrointestinal illness in Las Vegas has reached 1,591, local health officials said Tuesday the trend is declining.

Guinn appoints Boggs McDonald to vacated post on commission: Cy Ryan, Launce Rake and Ed Koch; Gov. Kenny Guinn appointed Las Vegas City Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald today to the Clark County Commission to replace Mark James, who resigned earlier this month.

Business briefs for March 31, 2004: Vestin Group Inc., a Las Vegas commercial lender, said Tuesday that its stock could be delisted from the Nasdaq National Market.

Reid questions payment to law firm: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., questioned the Yucca Mountain Project's top official today about the Energy Department's intention to pay a law firm up to $45 million to defend the department's license application.

Nuclear waste could move by truck: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The Energy Department has evaluated if it can move nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain via truck through Nevada if a new rail line cannot be finished in time, documents show.

News briefs for March 31, 2004: A candle in a bedroom started a two-alarm fire that caused $30,000 in damage at an apartment complex on Durango Drive near Sahara Avenue Tuesday night, firefighters said.

Gaming news briefs for March 31, 2004: Caesars Entertainment Inc., the largest U.S. casino company, increased Chief Executive Wallace Barr's salary and bonus by 36 percent last year after the company posted a profit in 2003.

Slaying leaves labor dispute unresolved: Alana Roberts; Workers at North Las Vegas-based Best Water Truck Services ended a two-day strike by returning to work this week, as the company's interim president works to sort through a labor dispute left unaddressed by the company's deceased owner Donald Ursem.

Medicaid payments for doctors increase: CARSON CITY -- A hefty increase in state payments to doctors who treat children in the Medicaid program was to go into effect today.

Nevada lists nuke rail line woes: CARSON CITY -- A proposed railroad line that would stretch from the Caliente area to Yucca Mountain for the transportation of nuclear waste would disrupt mining, ranching and recreational activities in Nevada, the state says.

Apparel show joins others at Las Vegas Convention Center: The rest of the shows offered under the MAGIC Marketplace banner already are at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The company's next event will be Aug. 30-Sept. 2.

Blake given death penalty: Erica Johnson and Molly Ball; A Clark County jury ruled this morning that Alfonso "Slinkey" Blake should be executed for killing two women.

Teen will live with memory of pal's death: Jen Lawson; Fifteen-year-old Karina Cervantes is not sure how she will ever get over seeing her friend die.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: AJ pulls a re-appearing act at Riviera: Next stop for Amazing Johnathan is the Riviera.

Driver cited in collision with boy on bicycle: Erin Young, 24, faces a penalty of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000 in connection with the accident March 22 on that injured Manuel Cezares.

Problems may force EOB to sell property: By Timothy Pratt; In a meeting called by federal officials last week to "convey the seriousness" of the many problems facing the Las Vegas Valley's largest nonprofit agency, one of the moves the agency said it was making to pay back the balance of $2.1 million in missing funds was to sell off some of the property it owns.

Obituaries for March 31, 2004: Sharon Kay Amato, 46, of Henderson died Dec. 24 in a local hospital. She was born Nov. 23, 1957, in Denver. A resident for 20 years, she was a retired motor home saleswoman.

Parents of child killed at speedway file lawsuit: Bernadine and Jocelyn Santos' son, Tyler, was killed June 24 when he crashed while racing in the "pee wee" section of the speedway.

With pair taking deal, shift expected in Whaley case: The dynamics in the murder case of slain Silverado High School student Jared Whaley shifted drastically Tuesday as two of the six young men charged in the case agreed to testify against their co-defendants.

Delayed work stops I-15 traffic: Local firm Granite Construction was supposed to be finished working on southbound I-15 between Russell Road and the airport connector at 5 a.m. but didn't get done until 7:15, causing early commuters to slow to a halt, said Bob McKenzie, public information officer for the Southern Nevada office of the state Department of Transportation.

Growth: Task force's big job begins: Clark County launched its formal discussion on the region's rapid growth and ways to better manage the growth with a meeting of a new task force Tuesday.

Trump Casinos' viability questioned: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- While Donald Trump basks in the popularity of his runaway hit reality TV show, "The Apprentice," the auditors for his Atlantic City casino property are raising alarms over the financier's real-life debt load.

N. Dakota lottery begins: Dave Kolpack; FARGO, N.D. -- North Dakota joined the Powerball lottery last week, when dozens packed a grocery store here to be among the first to buy a ticket.

Airlines on track to lose $2 billion in 2004: Brad Foss; WASHINGTON -- A steady rise in travel demand notwithstanding, the airline industry's financial outlook is looking wobbly again, with losses in 2004 now expected to surpass $2 billion -- about four times steeper than analysts' earlier estimates.

Starbucks lays out growth plans: Allison Linn; SEATTLE -- Think there's already a Starbucks on every corner? Think again.

Las Vegas firms report results: PDS also noted in its annual report that its three top executives extended a deal they have to take the company private until April 15.

Council considers a replacement for Boggs McDonald: Sito Negron; Las Vegas Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald's appointment to the Clark County Commission leaves an opening on Las Vegas City Council that her fellow representatives said would be difficult to fill.

Editorial: A needed public service: Working with GlobalEnglish, a private company that offers online lessons in English, the community college is providing Internet access within computer labs at its campuses. Students can pay $125 for a three-month lesson or $425 for a full year. In addition to computer access and training, the college provides lab aides who can help students if they encounter any difficulties. The online program is convenient, as it allows access seven days a week, 24 hours a day and enables students to advance at their own pace.

Proposed budget sees large increase without new taxes: Dan Kulin; North Las Vegas would add almost 71 staff positions, including about 50 in the police and fire departments, without raising taxes under a tentative $406.6 million spending plan for the 2004-2005 fiscal year that was presented to the City Council Tuesday.

Letter: Spending could be even worse: President Bush signed the "No Child Left Behind Act" that many Democrats, including Sen. Ted Kennedy, supported. It is now being taken to task by the Democrats because $300 billion is not enough. Bush also promoted the passage of a $400-$500 billion prescription drug bill, but the Democrats preferred a drug bill that would have cost more than $1 trillion!

Ralph Siraco's selections for Thursday's races at Santa Anita: 1st Race -- SILVER PAST -- Draws good post for sprint opener, Baze aboard Baffert trainee, Past Silver to present gold? IT'S A PERFECT DAY -- Nakatani on Mitchell trainee, draws inner box for sophomore maiden/claiming dash, could make a Perfect beginning to Day for backers with graduation. Value Play -- INCARCERATED

Gazlay sentencing hearing delayed: Erica D. Johnson; The alleged 311 Boyz gang member convicted of beating two young men with a crowbar remains free on a $50,000 bond after his sentencing hearing was postponed Tuesday for a second time.

Creighton draws big WNIT crowds: OMAHA, Neb. -- Say what you will about the Corn Belt, but at least basketball fans in this part of the country appreciate the women's game.

Letter: A lot riding on Nov. 2 election: We have a right-leaning U.S. Supreme Court that defied the will of a majority of voters by short-circuiting the ballot process and appointing George W. Bush president in spite of his losing the popular vote by 550,000 votes to Al Gore.

Letter: Paramedic's service lauded: Our daughter was much calmer when we spoke to her at the hospital. Unfortunately, neither she nor her friends know the name of the paramedic who helped them. They just know he was "Captain Dan."

Boulder City attorney to be jailed for DUI: Erica D. Johnson; Boulder City Attorney David Olsen entered a plea deal with prosecutors on Tuesday that will require him to spend six days in the Clark County Detention Center on a drunken driving charge.

Letter: Driver should get jail time: One has only to operate a car on the streets of Las Vegas to know that the drivers babbling into their cell phones are definitely impaired and are a danger to us all.

Community news briefs for March 31, 2004: The Boys and Girls Clubs of Las Vegas are currently signing up valley residents to participate in the annual spring basketball leagues for youths in grades 6-12.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Kinser pleased with way he won No. 500: Steve Kinser was more relieved than elated after the undisputed king of sprint-car racing notched his 500th career World of Outlaws "A" feature victory last weekend in Baytown, Texas.

Editorial: Open our borders to legal drugs: Members of both the House and Senate are fielding more and more questions from their constituents on the order of, "What are you going to do about high drug prices?" Resultingly, momentum is building now toward a bill that would allow Americans to import drugs. An example is this month's Senate approval of Dr. Mark McClellan to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Sen. Bryon Dorgan, D-N.D., led a movement to block the nomination unless Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., agreed to consider a drug "reimportation" bill -- so called because many of the drugs now disallowed ...

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Helpful guide gets face-lift: The special 50th anniversary edition of the 2004 Relais & Chateaux International Guide includes 450 independently owned hotels and fine restaurants in 50 countries. The directory has been newly formatted and is easier to read. What I've always liked about this guide are the color photos that accurately portray the properties.

Home-ice edge still on hold after a chippy loss to Idaho: Nick Christensen; Needing a win to secure home-ice advantage through the first round of the playoffs, the Las Vegas Wranglers had every reason to step it up Tuesday night at the Orleans Arena. But it was the Idaho Steelheads who put on the pressure, defeating the sluggish Wranglers 4-2 before an announced crowd of 3,708.

Color Scheme: Kirk Baird; Oz wouldn't have been quite so special for Dorothy.

Columnist Peter Benton: Buss makes clean sweep at chapter's pro-am: Peter Benton; The Las Vegas Chapter, Southwest Section of the PGA Pro-Am, which was at Sun City Summerlin's Palm Valley course last week, was, to all intents and purposes, a benefit for Mike Buss, a professional at the Las Vegas National Golf Club.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Irish eyes were smiling on lavish reception: Elizabeth Foyt; Fine music, art and Irish spirits proved a perfect match for a reception honoring Sir James Galway and his wife, Lady Jeanne, following their concert at UNLV's Ham Hall Friday.

Thursday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1 p.m.

UNLV's Moore goes straight to the top: Adam Candee; Straighter shots finally solved a troubling course for UNLV's Ryan Moore.

Dixon off to slow start in Top Fuel duel: RACE WEEK SCHEDULE

Letter: Gov. O'Callaghan benefited many neglected kids: When the Children's Home was still open, I often received calls from the governor, both when he was in and out of office, checking on the kids and to see if they needed anything. As busy as he was, every year the Legislature met, he made sure that the kids received raises in their allowances.

Cinkovich making transition from prep to college coach: Steve Guiremand; UNLV head coach John Robinson didn't have to look very far for a replacement when wide receivers coach Garrick McGee left in December for a coaching job at Northwestern.