Print edition for October 13, 2004

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Animal Foundation assisted in a million ways: Elizabeth Foyt; Marilyn, who first joined the Animal Foundation board at the behest of benefactor and late gaming great William Bennett, confessed to having five dogs and two cats -- all shelter animals that have thrived in the Larsons' care.

Compiled by PAUL MONTELLA: AP; 1929 - The Philadelphia A's rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 and take the World Series in five games. Mule Haas' two-run homer tied the game and Bing Miller's RBI-double won the game.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: No masking Ethel M's holiday fare: It's great fun biting into a chocolate spider.

Citizens speak out on ballot questions: Jace Radke; Retired Green Valley High School special education teacher Beverly Serota marched in front of the Clark County Courthouse Tuesday with about 50 other supporters of ballot Questions 4 and 5.

Letter: Students are failing schools by not studying: Rauch wrote, "... Americans like to view their children as passive recipients of education -- as products of the schools. If the product is defective, fix the factory. You will know that Americans are finally serious about education reform when they begin to talk not just about how the schools are failing our children but also about how our children are failing the schools."

Editorial: Judicial candidates endorsed: Judges in Nevada, from justice of the peace all the way up to the Supreme Court, are directly elected by the people. Three seats on the seven-member Supreme Court are at stake in this year's general election, all of whose members run statewide. Justice Michael Douglas, who was appointed to the court by Gov. Kenny Guinn to fill a vacancy created by the death of Justice Myron Leavitt, has drawn an opponent. Justices Deborah Agosti and Miriam Shearing, meanwhile, aren't seeking re-election, leaving two open seats that are being contested.

Porter addresses Bishop Gorman students on wide variety of topics: Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., addressed about 100 students at Bishop Gorman High School Tuesday on a range of issues from the nuclear dump at Yucca Mountain to the Patriot Act, and told them his dream as a teenager was to be a rock star.

State approves money for lawyer to defend controller Augustine: CARSON CITY -- The state Board of Examiners on Tuesday approved a contract for up to $40,500 to hire a Reno lawyer to defend Controller Kathy Augustine against a sexual harassment lawsuit.

Washington initiative promises painless tax cuts; critics dubious: Rebecca Cook; SEATTLE -- The sponsors of Initiative 892 have a surefire bet for voters this fall -- cut property taxes without cutting the state budget.

Letter: Too much greed, too little vaccine: I am outraged that American citizens are not allowed to buy medicines from Canada, yet 50 percent of the flu vaccine that is critical to the health of the nation was outsourced. Substandard manufacturing has now made those shots unavailable for use.

Examiners OK added funds to fight Yucca: CARSON CITY -- The Yucca Mountain nuclear dump is "more than likely dead" because of problems at the Department of Energy, but more money is needed to try to drive a stake through the project's heart, a state official said Tuesday.

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

Ralph Siraco's Santa Anita selections: 1st Race -- CHANEL ISLANDS -- Training at Hollypark, Espinoza aboard Mitchell trainee, draws outside post in small five-filly mile opener. HIDDEN BEAUTY -- Starts alongside top pick, bug boy Bisono atop Marlow trainee, Beauty at this level is Hidden win? Value Play -- TALEGA DE ORO

Jury deadlocked in murder case: By Matt Pordum; A Clark County jury on Tuesday convicted a 27-year-old alleged gang member on three counts of attempted murder for using an assault rifle to shoot at police officers, but jurors were deadlocked on whether he committed murder with the same gun a day earlier.

Reid, Gibbons set out to change mining laws: WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., and Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., are preparing to tackle the mammoth job of reforming the nation's Civil War-era mining laws next year.

Preps: Today's Schedule: Boys' Tennis SUNRISE REGION TEAM FINAL Basic vs. Coronado at Del Sol, 12:30 p.m. SUNSET REGION TEAM FINAL Bonanza vs. Palo Verde at Durango, 12:30 p.m.

Community briefs for October 13, 2004: The Las Vegas Clark County Library District is asking teens to read for the fun of it to celebrate Teen Read Week Sunday through Oct. 23.

Drive-by shooting injures man in doorway: Heather Rawlyk; A man is in critical condition after he was shot in the head during a drive-by shooting at an apartment complex Tuesday night, authorities said.

Heat's on UNLV student in Almost Famous Chef battle: Eric Leake; Stephen Gillanders is around food all day. He cooks in school and in classes he teaches and sometimes in competitions.

Columnist Jeff German: GOP lacks courage to fight Yucca: For weeks now, with Nevada considered a battleground state in the race for president, top Republican leaders here, from the governor on down, have had a rare opportunity to put political pressure on President Bush to halt the Yucca Mountain Project.

Columnist Adam Candee: Dimpled ball is in Michelin's court: Adam Candee; Charlie Baron spends his life organizing and promoting sporting events, but there is one game that the tournament director of Las Vegas' PGA tour stop will never like: the waiting game.

Sports briefs for October 13, 2004: Houston Astros players say they want to pay tribute to former teammate Ken Caminiti, who died in New York over the weekend.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Robinson is officially in a lather over calls: The great thing about being a "short-timer," as John Robinson is fast discovering, is that it gives you free rein to speak your mind.

Democrats accuse voter registration group of fraud: Kirsten Searer; Questions are surfacing about a group -- funded in part by the Republican National Committee -- that is accused of trying to stop Democrats from registering to vote.

Critical habitat proposed for endangered willow flycatcher: WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed creating critical habitat in Southern Nevada to help save the endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher.

New Mexico game a painful reminder: Steve Guiremand; UNLV quarterback Kurt Nantkes has one simple personal goal heading into Saturday's homecoming game against New Mexico.

Hilton posts lines on NBA season wins: The Las Vegas Hilton sports book has taken plenty of action on over/unders for season wins by NBA teams after posting those numbers this week, assistant manager Jeff Sherman reported. According to the opening lines at the Hilton (which are subject to change as gamblers place their bets):

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Manning to miss Sunday's IRL finale: Darren Manning, who was injured in an accident during qualifying earlier this month at California Speedway, will not compete in Sunday's Indy Racing League season finale at Texas Motor Speedway on the advice of the series' medical staff.

Columnist Jeff Haney: It's a good time to play against Eagles and Patriots: Football fans and bettors alike just can't get enough of the Philadelphia Eagles' flashy new offensive tandem of quarterback Donovan McNabb and wide receiver Terrell Owens.

Skyhawks claim Sunrise throne: Nick Christensen; 6. Should weather, darkness, etc., not allow for the completion of the round, final team and individual scores will be based on the results of the 9-hole totals, provided every player in the field has completed 9 holes.

Car club rivalries may have led to deaths: Eric Leake; The Sunday drive-by shooting that ended three lives in a lot along Rancho Drive may be the result of a car club rivalry gone too far, Metro Police Homicide Lt. Tom Monahan said.

Growth task force considers dwindling space, higher prices: The question of how much room is needed for growth and how fast the growing population of Southern Nevada should use that land dominated the meeting of the Clark County Growth Management Task Force Tuesday.

Jury seated for retrial of Binion murder case: By Matt Pordum; The jury is set for the retrial of the most-publicized murder case in Las Vegas history.

States make water deal: Water agencies from Southern Nevada and Southern California have brokered a deal to store the rights for up to 30,000 acre-feet of water annually in the Golden State as a reserve against future Las Vegas needs.

Registration deadline sees crush of prospective voters: Heather Rawlyk; Southern Nevada University of Cosmetology student Angie Ramirez was on a mission Tuesday afternoon: Recruit as many friends as possible to register to vote.

North Las Vegas officer shoots, kills man in front of home: Heather Rawlyk; A relative of Antonio Corona-Mendoza, 28, of North Las Vegsa called police about 8:30 p.m. and said Corona-Mendoza was shooting a gun inside the house and wouldn't stop, according to Officer Tim Bedwell, North Las Vegas Police spokesman.

Merck chief executive touts corporate responsibility in Las Vegas appearance: Michelle Swafford; A big key to corporate success is looking out for your community and the world around you, an embattled pharmaceutical executive told Las Vegas Valley business leaders Tuesday.

Four candidates vie for Williams' old seat: As an All-America basketball star at Montana State University-Billings, 6-foot-8 center Harvey Munford says he never took any opponent lightly.

Cannery completes payment of loan: The loan on the property, which has 750 employees, 200 rooms and a 50,000-square-foot casino, was repaid in about 18 months, Vestin said in a statement. The Cannery opened on Jan. 3, 2003.

County is stressing flu prevention: Dan Kulin; Flu clinics for high-risk patients will be held today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Smith's, 10616 S. Eastern Ave., Henderson; 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Smith's at 4840 W. Desert Inn Road; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Smith's, 3850E. Flamingo Road; 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Costco, 222 Martin Luther King Blvd. ; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Smith's, 6150 W. Flamingo Road; 4 p.m. to 7p.m. Friday at Smith's, 1000 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson; 10 a.m. to 1.m. Saturday at the Smith's, 450 N. Nellis Blvd and ...

Regulators spar over VoIP technology: Kevin Rademacher; Many questions -- and no answers -- about the future of the telephone communications came out of Tuesday's sessions at an industry convention in Las Vegas.

Columnist Peter Benton: Game's appeal comes to all shapes and sizes: Peter Benton; For years, I have frequently wondered exactly why we golfers love this chosen sport of ours, and have tried to figure out just what is the actual charm of the game.

NLV fire chief Stubler ending 32-year career: Stubler, who began working for the city as a firefighter in January 1973, said he decided to retire because he thinks whoever is chief during the next few years should be someone who will be chief for many years to come.

Aviation insider predicts rapid growth at McCarran: DENVER -- McCarran International Airport will be the fourth-fastest growing hub airport in the nation for the decade ending in 2010, an aviation expert said.

Kerry isn't pressing Bush enough, Nader says: Kirsten Searer; If Ralph Nader had a spot in tonight's final presidential debate, things would be much more contentious, the third-party presidential candidate said in an interview Tuesday.

Court revives woman's suit: CARSON CITY -- A woman who lost her lawsuit against the MGM Grand regarding her fall into a pit at a construction site on the property will get to take the MGM to court again on the matter, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled this morning.

Trial begins for third man present at killing: Molly Ball; Steven "Little Mizz" Perry and two friends set out to rob a man because "that day, everybody pockets was just hurting," prosecutor Giancarlo Pesci told a jury on Tuesday, the first day of Perry's trial in the death of Benito Zambrano-Lopez.

Las Vegas union planning to demonstrate against Harrah's: By Liz Benston; The Culinary Union in Las Vegas plans to dispatch several hundred workers to the corporate headquarters of Harrah's Entertainment Inc. Thursday morning as part of a demonstration aimed at pressuring the company to negotiate with striking workers with a sister union in Atlantic City.

Man killed by police was ailing: Jen Lawson; The man who was killed Tuesday morning by Metro Police was in failing health, which might have sparked the violence at his southwest Las Vegas home, neighbors said.

Gaming briefs for October 13, 2004: TAMA, Iowa -- Meskwaki tribal members overwhelmingly approved expansion of their casino.

Remaining 20-acre downtown parcel bought: The first phase of the World Market center, a 1.3 million-square-foot building, is currently under construction on the first 20-acre piece of land purchased a couple of years ago. Last year the group exercised its options to buy 16 acres of land from the Union Pacific Railroad.

Evans: Economy among key issues in debate: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Debate watchers tonight are likely to hear about the economy, health care and energy policies as the presidential candidates cover domestic issues in their third and final face-off, members of both parties said.

Two hotly contested races boil over during local debate: Dan Kulin; Two of Southern Nevada's more caustic races took center stage Tuesday night at a debate at Temple Beth Sholom. Republican Rep. Jon Porter traded barbs with his Democratic challenger, Tom Gallagher, and Republican Clark County Commissioner Lynette Boggs McDonald wrangled with challenger Assemblyman David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas.

Picking up speed: Nick Christensen; With five days of training camp out of the way, the Las Vegas Wranglers needed a break.

Henderson veteran featured in latest Swift Boat ad: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- A Henderson Vietnam veteran is featured in a new Swift Boat Veterans for Truth commercial due for release Thursday.

Obituaries for October 13, 2004: Don "Big Don B." Berkshire, 88, of Las Vegas died Thursday in a local hospital. He was born Nov. 20, 1915, in Los Angeles. A resident for eight years, he was a retired Navy chief petty officer and World War II veteran.