Print edition for November 23, 2004

DOE's schedule change could benefit Nevada: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Nevada feels a little less pressure now that it is clear the Yucca Mountain project's license application is still a few months off.

Moncrief recall list ready to be filed: Dan Kulin; A group working to kick Las Vegas Councilwoman Janet Moncrief out of office was expected today to turn in more than enough signatures to force a recall election as soon as Jan. 1.

Salvation Army bell ringers silenced: By Timothy Pratt; Donations to the Salvation Army "Christmas Kettle Fund" can be sent by mail to: The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 28369, Las Vegas, NV 89126. Checks should be marked, "Christmas Kettle Fund." Donations can also be deposited at any Wells Fargo store location to account number 3668284031.

Population growth puts pressure on skilled nursing homes in valley: Michelle Swafford; A new skilled nursing home in the Summerlin master-planned community will provide seniors with additional options, which industry experts say are needed to keep pace with the increase in population in the Las Vegas Valley.

Insurer loses appeal of arbitration: Michelle Swafford; Health Plan of Nevada, a subsidiary of Sierra Health Services Inc., has been ordered by the Nevada Supreme Court to pay an arbitration award in excess of $5 million.

Nevada Power lawsuit against water authority may be revived: Kevin Rademacher; Despite a federal judge's ruling on Monday, a case brought against the Southern Nevada Water Authority by Nevada Power Co. is far from over.

Guinn looks at changes in tax hike: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn said Monday he wants the 2005 Legislature to take a look at changing the $833.6 million tax increase that hit some small banks, other financial businesses and restaurants.

Columnist Jeff German: Binion jury feels strain of case: They sat with stern faces -- either looking down or straight ahead, but never at the defendants, Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish -- as the court reporter read them the testimony of Metro Police fingerprint expert Ed Guenther.

Tabish, Murphy not guilty of killing Binion: By Matt Pordum; Jurors today found Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish not guilty of killing millionaire casino figure Ted Binion but guilty of conspiring to commit burglary and/or larceny as well as guilty of burglary and grand larceny.

PUC staff agrees to rate-change revisions: The stipulated agreement, which must still be approved by the PUC commissioners, will extend current rates through March, instead of allowing them to expire on Jan. 1. At that time, a smaller rate increase will go into effect, producing a slight projected rate decrease.

Jurors study print testimony before reaching verdict: By Matt Pordum; After two days and about five hours of deliberation, jurors were to announce their verdict in the retrial of millionaire casino figure Ted Binion's alleged killers this afternoon.

USC and Oklahoma are one and two, and in control: AP; USC and Oklahoma held the top two spots in the Bowl Championship Series standings on Monday, leaving little doubt that they are in control of the national title race.

Funding starts rolling for VA hospital: The legislation included a provision that transferred 147 acres near the Las Vegas beltway and Pecos Road from the Bureau of Land Management to the Veterans Affairs Department.

Monday's Women's College Basketball Scores: AP; Gallaudet 83, Wilson 59

Tapping rural water proves tricky: Southern Nevada's water wholesaler may be moving forward with plans to drill wells and build pipelines to bring the resource to Las Vegas, but officials said Monday evening that the decision to tap rural water in central and northern parts of the state is not a done deal.

Hawaiians moving to LV in droves: Ken Ritter; LAS VEGAS -- Joel and Melodi Kekauoha began hearing the term "ninth island" when their flight from Honolulu descended over the Nevada desert toward the lights of the Las Vegas Strip.

Sports briefs for November 23, 2004: Navy accepted an invitation to the Emerald Bowl at SBC Park in San Francisco, putting the Midshipmen in the postseason in consecutive years for the second time in school history.

Related plans beyond 61 acres: Jennifer Shubinski; The Related Cos. won't be stopping at its investment in the World Market Center or the 61 acres in downtown Las Vegas -- it's looking to invest in condominium towers and a mixed-use project near the Strip.

Ralph Siraco's Hollywood Park selections: 1st Race -- AWARD WINNING -- Draws good post for sprint opener, Espinoza on Lobo trainee, Award Winning performance for diploma here? LANITA G -- Martinez atop O'Neill trainee, draws inner box for Cal-bred maiden/claiming dash, G for graduation? Value Play -- YOURWAY HIGHWAY

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 12:30 p.m.

Hamrick meets Utah coordinator: Steve Guiremand; UNLV athletic director Mike Hamrick and senior associate athletic director Jerry Koloskie met with University of Utah offensive coordinator Mike Sanford for a couple of hours on Monday morning in Salt Lake City to discuss the Rebels' vacant head football coaching position.

LV officials develop good feelings for builder: Dan Kulin; The Related Cos. appears to have reinforced its position as the developer Las Vegas officials will work with to build on the vacant 61 acres downtown.

Companies announce project: Since LandWell purchased the land in 1992 from Basic Management Inc. (BMI), it has invested more than $50 million in restoring the property, including comprehensive testing and research of the soil and water conditions. LandWell is an affiliate of BMI, a privately owned holding company.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Rattlers play double-secret proposition: Question: If a former UNLV Rebel slam dunks and there's nobody there to see it, does it still count two points?

Busch matured quickly in NASCAR's fast lane: Final Nextel Cup championship standings Driver...Deficit 1. Kurt Busch...-- 2. Jimmie Johnson...-8 3. Jeff Gordon...-16 4. Mark Martin...-107 5. Dale Earnhardt Jr....-138 6. Tony Stewart...-180 7. Ryan Newman...-326 8. Matt Kenseth...-437 9. Elliott Sadler...-482 10. Jeremy Mayfield...-506

13 days, 8 games, 13,606 miles: Nick Christensen; The Las Vegas Wranglers arrived in Lafayette, La., this morning, 14 hours after beginning their final practice in Las Vegas this month.

Valley housing permits drop: There were 1,379 permits purchased in October compared with 2,517 in September, the research group reported. That's compared with a 24 percent decline during the same time period a year ago.

The rebuilder: By Rob Miech; THE GAME: UNLV vs. Saint Mary's. WHEN: Tonight, 7:30. WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center. TV: None. RADIO: 920-AM. STORY LINE: Season opener for UNLV against a team already having played five games, including two in New York in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.

Airport, highway patrol brace for heavy traffic: Jace Radke; Las Vegas officials are expecting full freeways, packed parking structures and an abundance of air travelers as the busiest travel period of the year begins Wednesday.

Neighbors plan hotel battle: Eric Leake; Neighbors of the proposed Durango Station neighborhood casino met Monday night to begin strategizing how to fight and beat -- or at least downsize -- the project.

Monday's Major College Basketball Scores: AP; Howard 87, Canisius 76

Community briefs for November 23, 2004: Petco Foundation's Tree of Hope campaign will run now through Dec. 24, with Petco stores selecting an animal welfare organization to be the recipient of money raised at their locations.

Tribe in discussions for casino: Eric Shepherd, acting tribal attorney general, said CRIT and Blythe officials have been discussing the project. The tribe has approved a memorandum of understanding to work with the city.

Berosini ordered to pay legal fees in PETA lawuit: Jace Radke; Former Las Vegas performer Bobby Berosini has been ordered to pay more than $250,000 in legal fees incurred by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Editorial: All fighting in pro sports is a disgrace: But what's going to happen now, with fights between players and fans becoming more and more common? Will this, too, become generally tolerated because it adds interest? The pinnacle of this trend, to date, was Friday night's bloody spectacle in Auburn Hills, Mich., in the final seconds of the basketball game between the home team Detroit Pistons and visiting Indiana Pacers.

Good deed in Spain leads to suspect's arrest: By Matt Pordum; A 33-year-old man accused of killing an aspiring Las Vegas rap singer in 2000 was found in Spain because he was a good Samaritan, his lawyer said Monday.

Obituaries for November 23, 2004: Frank D. "Andy" Anderson, 87, of Las Vegas died Friday in a local care center. He was born Oct. 26, 1917, in Lancaster, Ky. A resident for 17 years, he was a retired general contractor and a World War II Army veteran.

Moncrief recall organization ready to turn in signatures: Dan Kulin; A group working to kick Las Vegas Councilwoman Janet Moncrief out of office was expected today to turn in more than enough signatures to force a recall election as soon as Jan. 1.

Republican losses in House may change Minn. gambling debate: Ashley H. Grant; ST. PAUL -- Colin Berg was minding his own political business, running against a first-term Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) representative in west-central Minnesota when the ads started.

Scope of casino compact created obstacle to action: John Hanna; TOPEKA, Kan. -- Gov. Kathleen Sebelius tried to use a casino compact with two Indian tribes to resolve thorny gambling issues this fall, but the agreement's wide scope created too big an obstacle.

Supreme Court gives Legislature more time to answer tax-hike suit: CARSON CITY -- The U.S. Supreme Court has granted the Nevada Legislature an additional 30 days to answer the lawsuit involving approval of the tax increase last year.

Immunization schedule for Nov. 23, 2004: HENDERSON PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 129 W. Lake Mead Parkway, Building A, Suite 10, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Doctor faces license hearing on flu shots: The Nevada Board of Osteopathic Medicine is to conduct a license hearing on Dec. 11 to determine whether a Las Vegas doctor violated his agreement not to practice medicine when he allegedly gave nonfederally approved flu shots this month.

Psychiatric tests continue on Ford: By Matt Pordum; The former NFL player accused of shooting at the home of entertainers Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn is still undergoing psychiatric evaluation, a judge was told Monday.

Parole Board develops new set of risk factors for ex-cons: CARSON CITY -- Men released from state prison are more likely than women to violate their parole by breaking the rules or committing another crime.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Tie one on with Bowdabra: No quilted wall-hangings or hand-painted log-cabin art adorn the walls. No checkered cloth covers the dining room chairs, and no hand-sewn rag rug covers the entryway.

Print expert's report studied: By Matt Pordum; The jurors deliberating the fate of Ted Binion's alleged killers had the testimony of a Metro Police latent print examiner read back to them Monday morning.

Anchorage residents charged with running illegal lottery: Federal prosecutors say market and video store customers could bet on two- or three-digit numbers based on the California Daily Three evening drawing and the Thai Lottery.

Love Seat: Couple's devotion leads to avant-garde Test Market productions in Arts District: His partner had "bailed," jumped out a first-story window and ran back to Cleveland to the city the two had left together on a Greyhound bus hoping to build avant-garde theater in Las Vegas.

Two police cars involved in separate crashes: Jen Lawson; Metro Police cruisers were involved in two wrecks this morning -- one involving a speeding driver who allegedly ran a red light and another involving a brief chase.

Monday's College Basketball Scores: AP; Howard 87, Canisius 76

Sales of previously owned homes dip in October: The National Association of Realtors reported today that sales, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, totaled 6.75 million units in October, representing a tiny 0.1 percent decline from the previous month.

Supreme Court vindicates attorneys in lawsuit: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court on Monday overturned a $3.25 million judgment against two Las Vegas attorneys who handled a medical malpractice case.

Navajo chapters object to idea tribe would own their casinos: Delegates from Shiprock, Hogback and To'Hajiilee criticized statements by tribal Controller Mark Grant, Chief Legislative Counsel Ray Etcitty and the justice division's Danielle Her Many Horses that the tribe would own and operate the businesses.

Letter: More moderately priced housing urgently needed: Give incentives to developers who build moderately priced houses and apartments. Limit how much out of state investors can purchase. Make it more difficult for apartments to be converted into overly priced condominiums. If something isn't done soon, there will be no one living in this city except rich people. When that happens, who will teach their children, police their neighborhoods, serve them their morning lattes? Worse, who will take care of the tourists?

Editorial: Busch has a mandate: The rise of the 26-year-old Busch, who was born in Las Vegas and grew up here, is nothing short of meteoric. He only started racing in NASCAR's Winston Cup series (now named the Nextel Cup) in 2001, but he already has captured the top prize in his sport, something that other successful drivers can go their entire careers without achieving. Busch's brashness on and off the track hasn't endeared him to fellow drivers and fans -- a large number of spectators booed him this year. But Busch demonstrated more maturity as the season drew to a close, a maturity that ...

Letter: G.W. Bush values greed, arrogance: The right wingers, however, see no problem in squandering our hard-earned taxpayer dollars on President Bush's unnecessary, pre-emptive and "all about oil and personal revenge" invasion of Iraq, a country that had nothing to do with Sept. 11.

Store owners, employees admit taking $100,000 lottery ticket: None of them got any jail time for the crime of altering a lottery ticket.

News briefs for Nov. 23, 2004: During Sunday's rainstorm the tow truck company contracted by the Nevada Highway Patrol for November doubled its business as hundreds of accidents occurred on slick Las Vegas Valley streets, a dispatcher said.

Insurer reaches agreement with SEC, Justice Department: The agreements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice stem from products American International designed to help PNC remove bad loans from its books and an insurance policy it sold to Brightpoint Inc., the New York-based company said in a statement. American International didn't disclose terms of the settlements.