Print edition for May 10, 2004

Letter: Administration has told big lies consistently: First, we attack anyone who criticizes our war policies as unpatriotic. This will shut them up and if not, it will certainly chill their desire to criticize. We will stonewall all inquiries into our malfeasance. If it's 9-11, we will oppose the establishment of a commission. And, if an inquiry becomes inevitable, we will embrace the idea as our own. And when blame is headed our way we will deny culpability by claiming ignorance.

Letter: Big Business is part of problem: We saw Big Business more or less under control before President Bush took over. Since then all hell has broken loose with our Big Business saviors.

Letter: Keep helicopters away from Sloan: Keep those mechanized tourist birds away from Sloan Canyon and its bighorn population!

Gaming briefs for May 10, 2004: BILOXI, Miss. -- A Mississippi casino regulator is suggesting that gambling barges eventually will move onto land, a proposal that's met with little support around the state.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Dude, divorce is made easy: Bill and Sandra McGee say their book about a Northern Nevada divorce ranch is mostly about people from back East.

Hilton crowd can't match Julio's passion: By Jerry Fink; Julio Iglesias seemed out of sorts Thursday during the first night of his three-day engagement at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Editorial: Time for humble pie: Fortunately, the majority of legislators prevailed and new and increased taxes, projected to boost state revenue by $416.5 million a year, were approved. And where is the economy now, eight months after individuals and businesses began paying the extra taxes? Kanigher researched all of the state's economic indicators, including employment, personal income, business start-ups, taxable sales, gaming revenue and home construction, and learned they are all up -- way up.

Alabama lawmakers to weigh bingo bill: Bob Johnson; MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Alabama House is expected to spend much of the final day of the 2004 session discussing three emotional subjects -- gay marriages, the Ten Commandments and gambling.

Martino shares return to form with jazz enthusiasts: Spencer Patterson; By his 40th birthday, Pat Martino had already forgotten more about jazz than most musicians learn in a lifetime.

Editorial: Halt CCSN search until court rules: In January Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval issued a formal opinion that the regents convened the meeting and secretly deliberated in violation of the state's open-meeting law. Not content to just issue a sternly written opinion, Sandoval filed a lawsuit against the regents that is still pending in Clark County District Court. If the court agrees with Sandoval that the meeting was conducted illegally, the board's actions against Remington would be void. This would mean that Remington would resume his presidency, at least until the board could schedule another meeting and take a legal vote on whether to demote him.

Five injured in gas explosion in transitional housing: Heather Rawlyk; A natural gas explosion in a Las Vegas transitional housing unit injured five people and forced the evacuation of more than 300 others Saturday night.

Southern banks in nearly $7 billion merger: SunTrust, based in Atlanta, will pay $33.46 in cash or stock for each share of National Commerce, a 5 percent premium over Friday's closing price.

Woman charged in killing said she was under orders: By Matt Pordum; A woman defending herself against charges of kidnapping and murdering a 66-year-old man for a $44,000 sports ticket took the witness stand on Friday to tell the jury she was simply following the orders of a mobster.

Rogers backs school deal: Chrsitina Littlefield; New interim chancellor Jim Rogers' first official act on Friday was to lobby university regents to approve a private-public partnership at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine.

Columnist Dean Juipe: Rebels' diamond defense lacking down the stretch: Dean Juipe; The game had been over for 10 minutes and Buddy Gouldsmith's voice continued to rise as he addressed his assembled team in center field.

Bureau of Indian Affairs head says he won't resign: James MacPherson; BISMARCK, N.D. -- The head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs said Friday he will not resign, despite a call from a Connecticut senator to do so.

Amending Howard: Kirk Baird; "If there is a bedrock principle of the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable."

Comedian King, longtime Strip performer, dies: NEW YORK -- For comedian Alan King, nobody was out of bounds when it came to humor. Not even a sitting queen.

Johnson gets his cuts for MWC leader UNLV: He and his teammates had just received a postgame tongue-lashing from coach Buddy Gouldsmith, but UNLV slugger Brent Johnson seemed nonplused by it all.

Saudis promote increased oil production: The group, producer of more than a third of the world's oil, should boost its output target by at least 1.5 million barrels per day, from 23.5 million now, Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi said in a statement.

Low-carb trend contributes to food maker's bankruptcy: New World, one of the world's biggest producers of dry pasta, sought Chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Harrisburg, Pa., the company's hometown.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Sun Lite for May 10, 2004: Lisa Ferguson; Gettin' jiggly with it

County bosses may be manning phones: Some of Clark County government's 200 managers may soon be moved to front-line, customer service jobs because of a looming county budget squeeze, sources said.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Smarty Jones gets red-carpet treatment in Philly: Ralph Siraco; Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones is enjoying the limelight. Since his victory in the slop at Churchill Downs on the first day in May, Smarty Jones has become the new American idol. And he can't even sing.

Inquest finds officers justified in casino shooting: Jen Lawson; Kensen Lee was tending bar at the Eureka Casino the night of April 1 when an irate gambler complained to him that he had lost all of his money on video poker. Rolando Lappin-Mendez said he won a jackpot but had accidentally hit the double down button and lost it all.

Nevada contracting firm sold for $95.8 million: Aggregate Industries, an international building materials group based in London, today announced the purchase of North Las Vegas-based Frehner Construction Company Inc. for $95.8 million in cash, its second acquisition in Nevada.

Rainbow Dreams Academy holds fund-raiser: Rainbow Dreams Academy holds fund-raiser

IAP names Schumann to run against Reid: People who filed for office in Clark County on Friday. Incumbents are marked with an asterisk. Filing runs through May 14:

Health insurance fund may be restructured to help small business: Kirsten Searer; A subcommittee looking at health insurance for small businesses heard a proposal Friday that could insure 10,000 people in five years.

Berkley staff, gay and lesbian group to support school: Stephen Curran; A Las Vegas gay and lesbian advocacy group will team up on Wednesday with representatives from Rep. Shelley Berkley's staff to protest a Kansas religious group staging an appearance at a local high school, a representative for the congresswoman said Friday.

Las Vegas stage worker' labor dispute centers on pension fund: Alana Roberts; In-fighting continues between the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and members of IATSE Local 720 in Las Vegas, two years after a move by the international to strip the local of its charter and place it into trusteeship.

Questions raised in rescue of woman at Red Rock: Jace Radke and Steve Curran; The improbable discovery Friday of 45-year-old Las Vegan Christine Asleson after five days at Red Rock Canyon was a great relief, but it is also being treated with suspicion by at least one police officer.

Suit settled over jail inmate's death: Jace Radke; Just as they were due to present their case, trial attorneys for Prison Health Services and Metro Police settled a civil rights lawsuit filed by the estate of a Las Vegas man who allegedly died from the denial of his AIDS medication while in the Clark County Detention Center.

Wood stymies LV bats: Designated hitter Koyie Hill had the 51s' only hit of the game -- a first-inning single.

Sports briefs for May 10, 2004: The jockey who rode Funny Cide to victory in last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes is suing the Miami Herald for libel, seeking $48 million in damages.

Monorail start-up date still is not certain: Las Vegas Monorail officials still can't say when the much-anticipated $650 million system will open, but they insist that it is coming soon.

State school board wants authority to approve, deny new charter schools: By Emily Richmond; The Nevada Board of Education on Saturday decided to ask the Legislature for more authority over charter schools, including the power to reject proposed charter schools even if applicants meet all the requirements.

News briefs for May 10, 2004: A 6-year-old Las Vegas girl was in critical condition Sunday afternoon after she was ejected from a van that collided with another vehicle Saturday morning at Durango Drive and Tropicana Avenue.

Chief justice enters debate over drug czar's anti-pot visit: CARSON CITY -- State Supreme Court Chief Justice Miriam Shearing has ordered Secretary of State Dean Heller to explain why he has not required the federal drug czar to file campaign expense reports when he has appeared in Nevada to oppose the marijuana initiative.

Schools weigh total ban on tobacco use: By Emily Richmond; Clark County School District officials want to ban the use of tobacco products on campuses, in facilities and even by employees while driving school vehicles.

Stock markets rattled by interest rate concerns: Michael J. Martinez; NEW YORK -- Stocks plunged this morning on persistent interest rate worries, sending the Dow Jones industrials down more than 100 points and going below 10,000 for the first time since December.

Man killed while trying to cross Interstate 15: The victim was identified by the coroner's office as David Hughes Jr. Troopers said Hughes had recently moved to Las Vegas from Rochester, N.Y.

Board revokes license of teacher who showed students test: By Emily Richmond; A former Desert Pines High School teacher had his licensed revoked Saturday by the State Board of Education for providing his students with an advance look at questions on the math portion of the state's high school proficiency test.

LV City Council looks for ways to fund parks: The Las Vegas City Council will face some tough choices at a special meeting Tuesday when it considers funding for 16 top-priority capital parks projects for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

VegasBeat -- Timothy McDarrah: With Sir Elton, money plays at Caesars: Las Vegas is all about the Benjamins.

Birth announcements for May 10, 2004: April 25:

Obituaries for May 10, 2004: Mildred L. Boykin, 67, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local hospice. She was born Sept. 1, 1936, in Tallulah, La. A resident for 50 years, she was a hotel housekeeper.

Tabish will have to stay in prison: By Matt Pordum; District Judge Joseph Bonaventure denied a bid by Rick Tabish to get out of prison while he awaits a second trial in the 1998 murder of casino figure Ted Binion.

State seeks new school test provider: By Emily Richmond; Citing continued errors that have come after a series of expensive mistakes, state education officials said Saturday they will solicit bids to replace Harcourt Education Management as Nevada's school testing contractor.

Anonymous tips net 9,500 arrests: Jen Lawson; In the 25 years since Southern Nevada's phone line for anonymous tipsters debuted, more than 9,500 people have been arrested as a result of information provided by callers.

LVCVA proposes higher budget for advertising: By Liz Benston; The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has budgeted $97.6 million in fiscal year 2005 to market the city, maintaining its position as the nation's largest convention and tourism agency.

Community briefs for May 10, 2004: Community Associations Institute is hosting a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Cambridge Community Center, 3930 S. Cambridge St., featuring parks and recreation and the public's different resource opportunities for communicating with neighborhood services and county government.

Colleges' faculty group challenges officeholder suit: CARSON CITY -- An organization that represents 600 members of the faculty of the University and Community College System of Nevada says Attorney General Brian Sandoval used "unsubstantiated logic" in holding that public employees could not serve in the Legislature.