Print edition for October 8, 2004

Columnist Jeff German: First Binion trial is a tough act to follow: "This case is ready to go," District Judge Joseph Bonaventure declared from the bench after determining that prosecutors and defense lawyers were prepared to do battle in court this week.

Recreation area turns 40: WEEKEND EDITION: October 9, 2004

Guided hikes a safe way to explore: The National Park Service is offering a series of hikes from October through December. All hikes require participants to make reservations by calling the Alan Bible Visitor Center at (702) 293-8990 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Coroner rules man's Taser death a homicide: Stephen Curran; The Clark County coroner's office has ruled that the death of a man Aug. 2 whom Metro Police officers shocked with a 50,000-volt Taser was a homicide.

Columnist Sal DeFilippo: The fish are in the barrel as Patriots shoot for record: Sal DeFilippo; It would be easy to understand if the New England Patriots were a little overconfident heading into Sunday's contest with the Miami Dolphins.

Mayor running a solid campaign: Sal DeFilippo; As we pass the one-quarter point in this season's Sal Celebrity Selectors competition, Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman leads the field with an 8-4 mark against the spread.

News briefs for October 8, 2004: This may be the last week of 90-degree daytime temperatures, the National Weather Service said.

Man killed in shooting in Boulder Station parking lot: Eric Leake; A car chase ended in gunshots and death in the Boulder Station parking lot, where three people tried to escape pursuers Thursday afternoon, Metro Police said.

Moving deadly cargo: WEEKEND EDITION: October 10, 2004

Editorial: The sleaze continues: House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, known as the "Hammer" for his bruising way of getting fellow Republicans to vote the party line, has been on a roll lately -- a backward roll. In less than a week's time the House Ethics Committee has admonished DeLay on three separate occasions.

Fight schedule: Oct. 14 At ARCO Arena, Sacramento, Calif., Armando Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, vs. Lamar Murphy, Miami, 10, lightweights.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Program gives voice to memories: The 89-year-old woman was 18 in 1933 when her family moved to Boulder City so her father could help build Boulder Dam (which would one day be called Hoover Dam).

Columnist Barb Henderson: Bird hunters greet the start of quail season: Barb Henderson; There's something remarkable about the dawn of a new day, watching the sun as it begins to peek over the mountain and lighting the desert floor.

Editorial: Firing was warranted: Naturally, the employee was fired. State Hearing Officer Patrick Dolan, however, this week reinstated the employee. Dolan said the employee's actions were "juvenile and incredibly stupid" but not so wrong as to warrant his dismissal. At the hearing, the employee said he brought the gun to the meeting only as a joke.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: No shortage of spice at Neon Chef competition: I was there to participate as one of the judges for the first Neon Chef competition, a Las Vegas takeoff on the stellar "Iron Chef" competitions shown on the Food Network. No disclaimer is needed here: Neon Chef is a free-form parody with serious cooking and chefs from top-notch restaurants.

Halloween Calendar: Freakling Bros. Inc. presents the following haunted houses around Las Vegas this month. Each runs from 7 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. All are available Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission to each is $10, or $24 for all three. 362-3327:

Witnesses to testify about Murphy-Tabish romance: By Matt Pordum; Witnesses will testify about the romantic relationship between Rick Tabish and Sandy Murphy during the pair's retrial on murder charges in the death of Ted Binion, District Judge Joseph Bonaventure ruled Thursday.

Fishing report: Striped bass still the catch in Boulder Basin: The Las Vegas Wash area continues to attract boaters who are attracting stripers by chumming with corn then drifting with anchovies. Most of the fish have been around a pound, but some up to 5 pounds.

Heller rejects conflict claim: Kirsten Searer; A Democratic-leaning group called on Secretary of State Dean Heller to refrain from campaigning for President Bush through the November election.

Letter: All expressions of political opinion must be tolerated: I recently put a sign in my front yard voicing my choice for president. The first four days, someone came into my yard and took it down, leaving it on the walkway. On the fifth day, the sign was taken.

Dire Straits gets real in 'Making Movies': Spencer Patterson; As a prolific film scorer, Mark Knopfler has become highly respected for his visual approach to music.

Witness in murder case flees court: By Matt Pordum; A key witness in a high-profile murder case is missing.

Performing Arts for October 8, 2004: The Dummkopfs

Ralph Siraco's Santa Anita selections: 1st Race -- EVANGELIZER -- Valdivia atop Ellis trainee for owner Hughes, needs prompt start and clean trip from inner post for maiden special weight sprint, well bred gal. PATRIOTIC DIVA -- Draws good post for filly dash opener, bug boy Bisono atop Cenicola trainee, Diva diploma in Patriotic fashion? Value Play -- TIZAWOOD

Editorial: Drug bill invites dissent: It's not surprising to see the trend now among states and cities to buck the federal government's prescription drug plan and go out on their own -- to Canada.

Price slips from record $53: The fifth-largest supplier of crude to the U.S., Nigeria pumps mostly low-sulfur oil U.S. refiners need to replenish inventories of heating oil, which were 11 percent less than normal last week. Hurricane Ivan curbed U.S. oil production and refining in the Gulf of Mexico last month.

Par gets weather beating: Adam Candee; For more information, call 242-3000 or visit the Web site at lvfcgolf.com

Letter: Botched effort to get bin Laden: The Northern Alliance, with great help from the Air Force, advanced and took Kabul. The local warlords, the real rulers of Afghanistan, saw the Air Force contrails as the handwriting on the wall. They switched sides, and the Taliban was finished. Osama bin Laden and his surviving followers (many were killed defending the Taliban) took refuge in the caves at Bora Bora.

Columnist Nick Christensen: Northeast inside track up for grabs: Nick Christensen; 1. McQueen (5-0) Roll over Elko 25-7, face woeful Wooster this week 2. Palo Verde (5-0) Panthers get easy games out of the way early 3. Foothill (6-0) Reminded everyone who's boss in the Southeast 4. Bishop Manogue (6-0) Toughest test yet this week in Spanish Springs 5. Spanish Springs (5-1) Edged No. 4 Reed 36-35 last week 6. Eldorado (4-2) Shutout against Rancho enough for a hold 7. Reed (5-1) Churchill County coming to make everything right 8. Las Vegas (5-1) Back to top five if they beat Eldorado 9. Sierra Vista (5-1) Clark so bad they cost teams ...

Editorial: Yet another blow to war's justification: President Bush's assertions on this point began to unravel even before the invasion, when U.N. teams of weapons inspectors led by Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei announced that Saddam had no WMD. Further unraveling occurred shortly after the fall of Baghdad. Weeks went by and American forces came up empty-handed in their search for chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.

Public can comment on land-use plans: Paradise and Winchester include much of the Strip, McCarran International Airport and older neighborhoods in southern Las Vegas.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Carmichael returns to Supercross circuit with a new Suzuki ride: By Brian Hilderbrand; Ricky Carmichael will begin a new chapter in his storied motorcycle racing career tonight when he straddles a Suzuki for the first time in the opening night of the seventh annual Maxxis U.S. Open at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Tonight's matchup: UNLV (1-4, 0-1) at BYU (2-3, 1-0): Steve Guiremand; WHEN UNLV HAS THE BALL UNLV run offense vs. BYU run defense This is a battle of strength vs. strength. UNLV's Dominique Dorsey is off to an excellent start, leading the Mountain West Conference and ranking No. 15 in the nation in rushing with an average of 112.4 yards per game and an outstanding 6.6 yards per carry. Backups Dyante Perkins and Erick Jackson have also played well and the rebuilt Rebels offensive line seems to be improving with each game. However, they'll have their work cut out for them against Bronco Mendenhall's blitzing 3-3-5 defense led by senior linebacker ...

On Display for October 8, 2004: Five artists whose work addresses food consumption will be featured in the exhibit "Our Daily Bread" until Nov. 6 at the Contemporary Arts Collective, 101 E. Charleston Blvd., Suite 101. Admission is free. 382-3886.

LV planners deny one high rise: Sito Negron; The Las Vegas Planning Commission, wrestling with an unprecedented surge of proposals for high-rise buildings, approved two plans but denied a third Thursday night.

Ravens get a taste of playing without Lewis in backfield: The Baltimore Ravens learned Thursday what it's like to run their offense without Jamal Lewis.

Mother Hen: Nicole Durr is bright, creative and persistent.

'Las Vegas Comedy Festival' brings comedic nuggets to LV: By Jerry Fink; Sid Caesar, Don Rickles, Phyllis Diller, Ed McMahon and the late Buddy Hackett are among the legends of the comedy world who will be honored during the third annual "Las Vegas Comedy Festival" from Wednesday through Oct. 17 at the Golden Nugget.

Lefty treats 'em right: Phil Mickelson began the homestretch of his career year Thursday afternoon with what looked like a stroll over a familiar golf course with three longtime pals.

Stewart reports to prison: April Vitello; ALDERSON, W.Va. -- Martha Stewart reported to prison before sunrise today to begin serving a five-month sentence for lying about a stock sale, slipping all but unnoticed past waiting supporters and reporters.

Preps: Schedule: Boys' Soccer All times 4:30 p.m. unless noted: Silverado at Basic, Liberty at Coronado, Green Valley at Foothill, Vo-Tech at Del Sol, Eldorado at Las Vegas, Valley at Rancho, Canyon Springs at Desert Pines 5 p.m., Durango at Sierra Vista, Bishop Gorman at Western, Bonanza at Spring Valley, Palo Verde at Cimarron-Memorial, Centennial at Cheyenne, Shadow Ridge at Mojave, Chaparral at Clark.

Renovations at Cashman bringing old park up to date: Nick Christensen; Extensive renovations have begun at Cashman Field as the Las Vegas 51s, and the stadium's owner, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, try to make improvements in the baseball facilities for the Triple-A ballclub.

Datebook for October 8, 2004: The Clark County Parks and Community Services and the Excalibur Hotel & Casino present the 11th annual "Age of Chivalry" Renaissance Festival from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 per day general, $5 children 5-12, under 5 free. Weekend passes are $25 adults and teens, $15 children and seniors. 474-4000.

Odds on Favorito to be a winner in Benny's Bullpen: By Jerry Fink; It took 53 years but Binion's Horseshoe finally has a headliner.

Columnist Steve Guiremand: Las Vegas Bowl won't be feeling blue if BYU comes to town: Steve Guiremand; PROVO, Utah -- Depending on the outcome of tonight's game here at LaVell Edwards Stadium, Las Vegas Bowl executive director Tina Kunzer-Murphy could very well be enjoying a blue-and-white Christmas this year.

Insurance system shows turnaround: CARSON CITY -- The health insurance system that covers state workers and their dependents, which was near insolvency twice in the last six years, showed a $46 million turnaround in fiscal year 2004.

Obituaries for October 8, 2004: Louis A. Andrade, 88, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. He was born March 4, 1916, in Leon Mexico. A resident for eight years, he was a retired steel worker and an Army veteran.

RFK Jr. says nuke waste should stay at power plants: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his six children live in New York, 10 miles downwind from Indian Point, the oldest nuclear power plant in the United States, but he said Thursday its nuclear wastes should not be shipped across country to Nevada for burial.

Sensual Relations: John Stagliano has come a long way since he was a member of the first cast of dancers to perform for Chippendales, the famous male-stripper nightclub that opened in Los Angeles in 1979.

Officer describes shooting that led to suspect's arrest: By Matt Pordum; When police rushed to at an apartment complex in a gang-infested neighborhood, they didn't know that the man who was allegedly firing an assault weapon outside the complex would become a suspect in a killing the day before.

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

Court to hear taxpayer challenge to gambling law: The court agreed without explanation to hear the case filed by taxpayer Philip Crusius and backed by the Better Government Association.

Community briefs for October 8, 2004: The Down Syndrome Organization of Southern Nevada will hold the 2004 National Buddy Walk beginning with registration at 4 p.m. Saturday, followed by the walk at 5:30 p.m. at Discovery Park, 2011 Paseo Verde, Henderson, in celebration of Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: It's a good bet this sponsorship puzzle could be solved: And so it has come to this: Las Vegas' future as a long-term PGA tour site may come down to whether or not a guy wearing a tire suit leaves the TPC at Summerlin on Sunday with a big smile on his face.

Letter: Drugs must be more affordable: The government can't negotiate lowering drug prices with drug companies, because the pharmaceutical industry won't stand for it. The industry has a huge influence in Washington and contributes heavily to political campaigns. As a result, Congress wrote into the new Medicare law a provision that explicitly forbids Medicare from regulating drug prices in any way. So drug companies can charge whatever they want.

Qualifier battles nerves, shoots 67: Adam Candee; Mike Ruiz never felt settled in during his first PGA tour start Thursday at TPC at Summerlin.

Letter: Bush's deficit spending has left nation worse off: President Bill Clinton left office in 2000 with a $5.8 trillion surplus in our treasury and the prospect of eliminating the national debt in a decade. The Republican wailing and moaning about an ever increasing national debt plaguing future generations has grown very silent since our second war effort in Iraq. No longer do we hear about deficit spending and its future effect upon our children. The squandered trillions in surplus are never mentioned. Bill Clinton is still the devilish villain of the Republicans and is never given credit for the surplus he left.

Third-quarter net income rises: Net income was $4.05 billion, or 38 cents a share, compared with $3.65 billion, or 36 cents a share a year earlier, matching analysts' estimates. Revenue rose 15 percent to $38.27 billion, General Electric said in a statement, the biggest gain since Jeffrey Immelt, 48, took over as chief executive from Jack Welch.

Colulmnist Jon Ralston: No clean exit for Augustine: And now, having dodged criminal charges by admitting she willfully violated state ethics laws in allowing employees to do campaign work on state time, Augustine is scheduled to be stuck in a couple of rooms in the Legislative Building next month. She may think exit strategies exist; but for her, there is no exit.

Indian tribe unveils plans for casino near Oakland Airport: Terence Chea; OAKLAND, Calif. -- A landless American Indian tribe envisions turning a sprawling parking lot outside Oakland International Airport into a casino resort in the heart of the San Francisco Bay area.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Interbike convention wheels, deals: Evidently, it takes some pretty odd stuff to sell bicycles these days.

Go take a hike: WEEKEND EDITION: October 9, 2004

Commission candidate wants federal tax returns revealed: Clark County Commission candidate David Goldwater on Thursday presented his federal income tax returns for the last two years and called for restricting campaign contributions to commissioners.

Man convicted in 7-Eleven shooting: Molly Ball; A member of the Rolling 60s Crips gang was found guilty Thursday afternoon of federal racketeering crimes related to a shooting at a convenience store in January.

Columnist Jerry Fink: Routines more than routine in 'Sweet Lillie's': Several times a month, late at night, the Sahara's Casbar Lounge, made famous by Louis Prima and Keely Smith, becomes "Sweet Lillie's Cabaret."

Top 25 Schedule: AP; No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 5 Texas, Noon

Murder case witness caught after fleeing: By Matt Pordum; A key witness in a high-profile murder case was in custody this morning after failing to testify on Thursday.

Columnist Jeff German: Race is on for chief judge post: The 33 district judges usually persuade one of their own to assume the duties and then officially elect the sacrificial lamb by unanimous ballot.

BYU knows what Brimmer can do: Steve Guiremand; PROVO, Utah -- It was during UNLV's last visit to LaVell Edwards Stadium here two years ago that Jamaal Brimmer had his coming out party.

St. Rose urgent care center sold: The urgent care center, at 100 N. Green Valley Parkway, Ste. 110, in Henderson, will change owners on Nov. 7, but patient care will not be affected, said Mandy Abrams, spokeswoman for St. Rose.

Women's group holding clothing drive: The gently used clothes, which must be dry cleaned and in a dry cleaning bag, along with shoes and accessories will be donated to women in the Las Vegas Housing Authority self-sufficiency program, which provides women the tools needed to become self sufficient and enter or re-enter the workforce.

Communication still lags in casino security, panel says: The digital revolution is giving casinos a new technological edge for protecting their customers from harm and their bottom line from cheaters.

Nevadans one step closer to tax break: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Start saving receipts.

Rapid growth marks telecom trade show: Kevin Rademacher; The emergence of new telecommunications technology -- and the related business opportunities -- are lifting the stature of the U.S. Telecom Association's annual convention.

RTC getting serious about light rail system: Stephen Curran; If public transit in Las Vegas is an idea in its infancy, planners with the Regional Transportation Commission expect the next decade to resemble a sudden growth spurt.

Regents search for balance of power: As the Board of Regents gears up for its nationwide search for a new chancellor, regents are re-evaluating how much authority they want that position to have.

Parents vent their feelings on dress codes: By Emily Richmond; Parents gave Clark County School District officials an earful of suggestions, criticism and even the occasional compliment Thursday about a controversial dress code policy that is up for review.

Trade show offers serious fun: Chianelli, whose company manufactures radio-controlled toys such as the helicopter, also hosts the DIY network show "Radio Control Hobbies."

Buck, Collins go head to head: On paper, Tom Collins appears to have a lopsided advantage over his Republican opponent in his race to take the Clark County Commission District B seat.

Industry fears effect of anti-smoking efforts: By Liz Benston; A host of gaming experts warned casino bosses this week that their industry is coming under attack by a well-organized and well-funded group of anti-smoking activists that aim to ban smoking in casinos.

College Football Schedule: AP; ---

Emergency funds sought for state's fight against Yucca: CARSON CITY -- The state Nuclear Projects Office is seeking an emergency appropriation of $1.1 million to carry on the fight against Yucca Mountain.

Longtime Vegas newspaper photographer Germanier dies: Las Vegas newspaper photographer Rene Germanier was always ready to take shots of cars wrapped around utility polls, but he enjoyed capturing the Las Vegas Strip glimmering at sunset and the rustic landscapes of rural Nevada.

Officer sues Taser maker: Jen Lawson; A Metro Police officer is suing the company that makes Taser guns, alleging he suffered permanent shoulder and arm injuries after being shocked with one of the devices during a training session earlier this year.

Tribal leaders hail setback for California proposition: By Liz Benston; Tribal leaders attending a conference in Las Vegas on Thursday applauded the likely defeat of a voter initiative in California that threatened to remove their monopoly on slot machines but said they already are bracing for future political battles nationwide.

Sports briefs for October 8, 2004: After hosting the Summer Olympics in 1932 and 1984, the City of Angels may submit another bid for the games.

Media group's court filings seek rights to Web site: The company that operates the VEGAS.com Web site has asked a Clark County District Court judge to permit it to purchase the rights to use the rival lasvegas.com domain name.

Plan to import Canadian drugs proposed: Kirsten Searer and Cy Ryan; State Democrats announced a plan Thursday to open Nevada's borders to Canadian prescription drugs, an idea they said would save the state and its residents millions of dollars.

State Senate debate gets ugly: Dan Kulin; Insults and hateful attacks flew during a 20-minute televised debate between Sen. Ray Shaffer, R-North Las Vegas, and Democratic challenger John Lee on Thursday night.

Former justice of peace fined for unfinished work: The commission said Freitag left his office with more than 12 criminal cases hanging and more than 36 small claims and other civil matters totaling $83,000 that were not decided.

African wildcat captured in Las Vegas: Molly Ball; As animal control officers approached the African wildcat lying on the lawn of a southeastern Las Vegas home, it bounded from the ground directly to the top of a 6-foot-high fence, then leapt atop the flat-roofed carport of the single-story house.

Union sit-in may draw 5,000: The union members plan to meet at 4 p.m. at the Hall and then walk to the undisclosed site for the demonstration, where they will sit in a circle -- chanting and singing -- until police take them away.

Report: Wildlife refuge among most endangered: Benjamin Grove; The Southern Nevada Water Authority's proposal to install groundwater monitoring wells on the sprawling refuge north and northwest of Las Vegas threatens spring-fed desert oases, according to the "Refuges at Risk" report by the conservation group Defenders of Wildlife

Vegas named best-selling U.S. destination: The publication, which has a circulation of 60,000 travel agents in the United States and Canada, focuses on destinations and travel products.