Stories published September 24, 2004Las Vegas Sun

Lavin livin' the life through music: She's in line at Staples waiting to purchase a few office supplies, asking for batteries and leaving a rushed voice mail message that includes her next day's schedule: a moveon.org/Kerry fund-raiser at a private residence, followed by a political cabaret at Symphony Space.

Newport provides appropriate hook for bluesman: Spencer Patterson; Few major artists in the history of recorded music have catalogs as confusing as that of John Lee Hooker.

Performing Arts for September 24, 2004: Latin Breeze

Airplane-helicopter hybrid Osprey to be tested in desert: Jace Radke; Las Vegas residents may see an odd aircraft flying overhead in the next couple of weeks, and not know if it's a plane or a helicopter.

Editorial: Disabled deserve better: The George federal courthouse has 164 parking spaces -- all reserved for government employees. The Bible Federal Building has 196 parking spaces -- also all reserved for government employees. The public, including disabled persons, must use a city parking lot or scramble for the few spaces along nearby streets.

Columnist Jerry Fink: Whenever she sings, Bellamy is a ringer: "People in the industry know me," said Bellamy, who has lived here much of her life.

Marshals celebrate 215 years: Jace Radke; The U.S. Marshals Service, the oldest federal law enforcement agency in the country, today is celebrating its 215th anniversary and its expanding law enforcement capabilities.

Experienced Palo Verde has finishing kick: Adam Candee; For three and a half quarters, Eldorado performed like it did in the days when Darwin Rost coached there, dominating Palo Verde for all but two plays.

Durable-goods orders decrease: Jeannine Aversa; WASHINGTON -- Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket goods dropped in August, largely weighed down by a sharp decline in demand for commercial airplanes.

'Ovation' just the latest of Stuart's productions: Producer John Stuart, founder of the legendary "Legends in Concert" at the Imperial Palace, says he doesn't gamble.

Editorial: Augustine must step down now: The state Ethics Commission, which heard the complaint lodged against her by the state attorney general's office, on Wednesday voted 3-2 to accept the stipulation that found Augustine guilty of three violations of state law and fined her $15,000. Augustine can't find solace, though, in the two votes against the stipulated agreement. Commissioner William Flangas said the fine was too low and should have been set at $25,000. Flangas noted that there was compelling evidence that demonstrated not only "unethical (conduct) but also flagrant, reckless and shameless abuse of authority." Commissioner Mark Hutchison also voted against the settlement, saying there ...

Bond sale OK'd for halfway house: CARSON CITY -- The state Board of Finance on Thursday approved the sale of bonds to pay for a halfway house in Las Vegas to prepare prisoners for release.

As luck would have it, 'Ovation' finds a home: Since being evicted from the showroom at the Aladdin by a former producer of the show earlier this year, "Ovation" has found a new home downtown at Lady Luck.

Rebels' season at a senior moment: Steve Guiremand; Going into the 2004 season, one of the strengths of the UNLV football squad was expected to be the team's senior leadership.

Domestic violence council to announce new members: Heather Rawlyk; For the first time in five years, a handful of new faces will be added to the Nevada Domestic Violence Prevention Council.

Sports briefs for September 24, 2004: James Toney relentlessly pursued Rydell Booker and punched him almost at will on his way to a lopsided decision in their 12-round heavyweight fight Thursday night at Temecula, Calif.

Letter: Selecting clothing teaches students responsibility: While many worthwhile jobs -- including those of peace officer and firefighter -- require uniforms, many more are low-paying jobs with no future. Would you be satisfied with your children working in fast food or sweeping floors? In the business world there is a uniform, but those who are so employed are expected to be able to select their own clothing. I have yet to see a CEO of a top company dressed in khakis and a red or blue polo shirt with a collar. If we are so concerned with preparing our children for the future, then we should ...

Top 25 Schedule: AP; Saturday, Sept. 25

Sony seals deal: Following the expected close of the deal in mid-2005, Sony Pictures Entertainment will co-finance and produce new movies with MGM in addition to distributing MGM's existing movies and television content through Sony's global distribution channels.

Trump forced to regroup after bailout plan shelved: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- Donald J. Trump may have a new project for his apprentices -- helping him try to figure out how to take his troubled casino company private after a proposed bailout fell through.

Astros rally past Giants: AP; Berkman hit a three-run homer off Dustin Hermanson, highlighting a five-run ninth inning that sent Houston to a 7-3 win over San Francisco on Thursday night. A loss would have put the Astros four games behind the Giants in the NL wild-card race. Instead, they remained 2 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs, who beat Pittsburgh 6-3 and took a half-game lead over San Francisco.

Blood drives: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunset South High School, 5300 E. Russell Road; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Tampa Bay at Oakland a matchup of freefalls: Sal DeFilippo; January 26, 2003, doesn't seem like that long ago.

Saturday's matchup: Utah State (0-3) at UNLV (0-3): Steve Guiermand; WHEN UTAH STATE HAS THE BALL Utah State run offense vs. UNLV run defense Something has got to give in this matchup between one of the nation's worst run offenses in Utah State and one of the nation's worst run defenses in UNLV. The Aggies rank 115th out of 117 teams in rushing offense with an average of just 55.67 yards per game. Sure, the schedule included teams like Alabama and Utah but it also included a home date with Idaho. UNLV, which did a nice job of run defense in its 18-3 loss at Wisconsin, totally fell apart against ...

Fight schedule: At Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas, Diego Morales, Mexico, vs. Phillip Payne, St. Louis, 10, super bantamweights.

Regents set up search committee to find new chancellor: Interim Chancellor Jim Rogers' days as the person in charge of the state's higher education system are numbered.

Assessor works on tax cap: Schofield, who presented the proposal to the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition on Thursday, said getting the cap to apply to some properties and not others would take a constitutional amendment because now the state Constitution requires all property be treated the same under the law.

Champion with a cause: Schedule for this weekend's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Champ Car World Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Brazilian driving stars face real perils off track: As the latest in a long line of auto racing stalwarts from Brazil, Bruno Junqueira knows what it is to risk life and limb every time he leaves the house.

Hunter heads for team in Sweden: Former UNLV basketball player Demetrius Hunter signed a contract late Thursday to play this season in Uppsala, Sweden, for former Rebels assistant coach Deane Martin.

Mystery surrounds death of 15-month-old NLV boy: Quin'Tavion Wells died as a result of a blow to his head that caused a fractured skull, the medical examiner determined.

House committee debates bill to give land to Indian tribe: Erica Werner; WASHINGTON -- The House committee that sets environmental policy appears poised to add 990 acres to the Riverside County reservation of California's wealthy Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians.

Take It ZZ: Spencer Patterson; Veteran blues-rock trio ZZ Top are most identifiable by two of their members' beards, but frontman Billy Gibbons insists growing the famously long facial hair was never a scripted effort.

Datebook for September 24, 2004: Journalist/author Bob Woodward and publisher Ben Bradlee will speak at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at UNLV's Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall as part of the Barrick Lecture series. Admission is free, but tickets are required. 895-2787.

Class size, accountability focus of Democrats' education plan: By Emily Richmond; Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, detailed the state Democratic Party's education agenda for the 2005 legislative session Thursday, calling for "ABCs" -- accountability, better schools and communication.

NeonFest marks a cultural shift in Las Vegas: In fact, if you zigzag across the United States, you'll find established gay and lesbian film festivals in dozens of cities. But until this year -- more specifically, this weekend -- Las Vegas was not on the list.

Preps: Schedule: Boys' Tennis All times 3 p.m. unless noted: Basic at Del Sol, Coronado at Boulder City, Foothill at Silverado, Liberty at Green Valley, Canyon Springs at Eldorado, Desert Pines at Chaparral, Las Vegas at Valley, Rancho at Moapa Valley 3:30 p.m., Bishop Gorman at Durango, Bonanza at Clark, Sierra Vista at Western, Cimarron-Memorial at Cheyenne, Centennial at The Meadows, Mojave at Shadow Ridge, Spring Valley at Palo Verde.

Letter: GOP takes away overtime pay: By recently denying overtime pay to millions of deserving workers, George W. Bush and company have guaranteed that their right-wing base of huge corporations, the major contributors to the Republican Party, are once again jumping for joy.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Cho offers her 'State of Emergency' address: Lisa Ferguson; President Bush and Sen. John Kerry are "almost screaming in the camera at each other," she says. "It's just escalating to like this death match."

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Top trucks rookie nearly blew the call: David Reutimann, the most successful rookie in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season, came within about 60 seconds of blowing his big opportunity to drive for team owner Darrell Waltrip this year.

Coliseum GM says NFL serious about Los Angeles: The general manager of the Los Angeles Coliseum expressed optimism Thursday concerning the possibility of an NFL franchise playing there in four years.

Letter: Saddam never faced insurgency: TERRY E PEELE

Tarkenton still knows value of improvisation: How does the son of a Methodist preacher develop the brashness to put himself into his first college football game?

Gators get head start in 14-9 win: Nick Christensen; After Greg Murphy left Centennial to coach at Green Valley, and Joel Bertsch took over, some wondered whether Murphy would regret the move.

Blue Man Group sets date for Venetian move: The cobalt-blue troupe of performers, noted for such oddball talents as playing percussion on plastic tubes, is scheduled to premiere in a new 1,750-seat theater. Its run at the Luxor will end on Sept. 15.

Saturday's horse racing entries: Post Time 10 a.m.

Fishing report: Shore anglers aren't finding much luck, but boaters are OK: Boaters have been doing well for stripers at Las Vegas Wash by fishing deep with anchovies. They are also catching stripers off Special Events Beach and in open water near the mouth of Government Wash.

On Display for September 24, 2004: California artist Nila Oakes will display her landscape paintings in "All Who Wander: Reflections from Journeys Past," until Nov. 14 at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. Admission is free. 229-4674.

Microsoft files nine suits alleging e-mail abuse: One suit was filed against a company that offered to host Web sites for spam senders in China to avoid being shut down by U.S. laws, Microsoft said in an e-mailed statement. The spam e-mails were made to look as if they were coming from MSN and Hotmail e-mail accounts and advertised services such as pornography and stock advice.

Preps: Scoreboard: Western 30...Basic 6 Coach Brian Murray said his team's offense, which had scored 19 points all year, "woke up about halfway through the game and decided to run all over the place." Next week: Western (1-4) at Durango (0-4), Basic (0-4) vs. Silverado (3-1

Letter: Too many have died in vain: I doubt that the more than 1,000 GIs who died in vain in Iraq would have felt safer because of his leadership. And I doubt that the more than 7,100 GIs who have been wounded or maimed for life would agree he has made the world safer.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Die is cast as Story of the Year hits Las Vegas: Spencer Patterson; With a pounding chorus of "Until the day I die/I'll spill my heart for you," how could it not be, right?

Columnist Barb Henderson: Opening day can't get here fast enough for duck hunters: Barb Henderson; It is hard to believe that fall has already arrived.

Letter: Kerry is more qualified to lead: Contrast these actions with the lack of action by the current president shown in the film taken immediately after his notification of the attacks on the World Trade Center by terrorists three years ago.

Letter: Health care system is lacking: There are now 45 million Americans without health insurance, and the number is rising. When doing his research on the subject of health care, did the vice president miss the fact that, according to the World Health Organization, the United States ranks 37th in health care performance? Maybe he had some old information.

Baseball poised to make its move: On the day Major League Baseball's executive council met for three hours in Milwaukee and moved the Montreal Expos closer than ever to a transfer to Washington, D.C., the point man of the Las Vegas effort to lure the team met with mayor Oscar Goodman, who canceled his weekly news conference in favor of a baseball update.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Keller's Fleur de Lys rises again in LV: Inside the restaurant all was calm and serene. And so was Keller. He and his wife and business partner, Chantal, are a wonderful team. They fought their way back after a fire devastated their beloved Fleur de Lys in San Francisco.

Columnist Susan Snyder: LV absence marked at PTA: Today pupils of Clark County's 180-and-counting elementary schools are lucky if they sit in an actual classroom. And "empty" typically refers to program funds and, unfortunately, parent-teacher association rosters.

Judge: No pressure on Ward 1 boundaries: Sito Negron; The retired Wisconsin judge hired to draw a new ward map for Las Vegas said he was not told to create boundaries specifically to keep anyone in or out of Ward 1, where a group of residents angrily opposes being moved to a different district.

Hard Rock CEO planning $1 billion condo-hotel: By Liz Benston; The chief executive of the Hard Rock Hotel on Thursday announced plans to build four condo-hotel towers behind the resort at a cost of $1 billion, locking up a key parcel of land for future expansion.

Profit for state's hospitals soars: CARSON CITY -- Profit among Nevada hospitals soared to $98.5 million last year, an increase of 98.8 percent over 2002, the state reported today.

VA won't confirm site for hospital: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- A trio of new medical facilities for veterans is planned between Pecos Road and Lamb Boulevard just south of the Las Vegas Beltway, officials have told the Sun.

Regulators set to fine Station Casinos $2.4 mil.: Station Casinos Inc. has agreed to pay $2.4 million in fines and investigatory costs to settle a financial reporting complaint from the state Gaming Control Board.

News briefs for September 24, 2004: A man who was standing on a corner died after a car drove up onto the sidewalk and struck him Thursday morning, Metro Police said.

Gaming briefs for September 24, 2004: PDS Gaming Corp. shareholders Thursday voted to approve a plan by management to take the company private. The deal is now subject to approval by gaming regulators as well as finding necessary financing.

Boggs McDonald's remark angers blacks: Leaders of the Las Vegas black community demanded an apology today from County Commissioner Lynette Boggs McDonald for comparing the Democratic Party to a plantation.

Board to examine dress codes: By Emily Richmond; The Clark County School Board will tackle its controversial dress code policy at a work session set for Oct. 14.

Columnist Steve Guiremand: Lubick's experiment a costly one for Rams: Steve Guiremand; There's an old coaching axiom that you never schedule yourself out of a job.

Art students display portfolios: Art students display portfolios

Woman accused in daughter's death out on bail: Cheryl Botzet must report to jail in person once a week to verify she is still in the county as per the orders of District Judge Sally Loehrer.

Engineers union OKs strike: Alana Roberts; Members of the Operating Engineers Local 501 voted Thursday to authorize the union to strike at three Mandalay Resort Group properties if the company doesn't rescind a two-tier wage proposal.

Residents warned about phony funeral scam: Lt. Steve Franks said the suspects have been targeting residents around Lake Mead Boulevard and Pecos Road as well as Stewart Avenue and Lamb Boulevard.

Nevada rates an F for disclosure laws: Molly Ball; In his financial disclosure, one Nevada legislator lists income from eight different sources. Among them are his salary as an attorney, interest and dividends, social security payments, and compensation for sitting on the boards of two corporations and a charitable foundation.

FDIC offers Nevada high marks in business growth, job creation: Kevin Rademacher; Market analysts with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Thursday handed out their regional economic report cards, and once again, Nevada was at the head of the class.

Problems plague NHP communications: CARSON CITY -- Problems continue to crop up on the $14 million project to switch the radio frequencies of the Nevada Highway Patrol, which are now operating on illegal channels.

Police make pitch to voters: Jen Lawson; First came the call reporting shots fired downtown; then moments later a robbery was reported blocks away.

Arrest made in bat attack: Jen Lawson; An 18-year-old man arrested Thursday on charges of beating a group of women with a baseball bat at a park last week made a full confession and told Metro Police he was sorry, according to police officials, but one of the victims said she doesn't buy it.

Local players: 16. Pierre M. Omidyar, $10.4 billion, a 37-year-old computer programmer and Henderson resident, was responsible for launching the Internet auction site eBay.

Bonaventure campaign criticized: Stephen Curran; A complaint filed against Justice of the Peace candidate Joe Bonaventure alleges the son of the judge in the Binion murder trial is using his prominent father's name to drum up support for his own political campaign.

CCSD expected to be fifth-largest U.S. district: By Emily Richmond; Today's head count of Nevada's public school students is expected to make official what educators have been anticipating for months: Clark County is the nation's fifth-largest school district.

Lawmakers call for Augustine's resignation: Dan Kulin and Suzanne Struglinski; What started as a Democratic refrain has grown into a bipartisan chorus of Nevada elected officials publicly calling for state Controller Kathy Augustine to resign, although there is no indication she will.

More billionaires than ever on Forbes 400 list: Madlen Read; NEW YORK -- It looks like the U.S. billionaire's club isn't quite as exclusive as it once was.

Columnist Jeff German: Time for cab board to earn its fare: WEEKEND EDITION

Longtime Strip waitress, Culinary official Duke dies: For 27 years Lillian Duke was a waitress at the Riviera hotel, where she served Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Elizabeth Taylor and a host of other notables.

Just Say Joe: WEEKEND EDITION

Rounding up readers: Eric Leake; WEEKEND EDITION

Agassi warming up for ninth 'Grand Slam': WEEKEND EDITION

Editorial: An F for disclosure: September 25 - 26, 2004

Obituaries for September 24, 2004: Felicia Arguelles, 72, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospital. She was born May 16, 1932, in Manilla, Philippines. She was a retired chemist.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Student's decision is clothes call: WEEKEND EDITION

Las Vegas residents can find themselves lost in space: Heather Rawlyk; WEEKEND EDITION

LV man named Arts Alliance chief: Martin has served on the alliance's board of directors for three years.

Letter: Stubborn Bush disregards safety of troops in Iraq: September 25 - 26, 2004

Letter: Tax money used for disaster relief: September 25 - 26, 2004

Editorial: America Love it or leave it?: September 25 - 26, 2004

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Not without a fight: WEEKEND EDITION

Notes from Thursday's games: AP; TEXAS: RHP Doug Brocail has gone 17 2-3 consecutive innings over 15 outings without allowing an earned run. He threw another scoreless inning Thursday. ... The 5-4 win Thursday over Oakland was the 15th win this season for Texas in its last at-bat, and sixth in the bottom of the ninth inning or later.

Gaming Commission dismisses two of three Hard Rock complaints: The Nevada Gaming Commission on Friday dismissed two of three counts of a complaint it had against the Hard Rock Hotel for a controversial advertising campaign.

Community briefs for September 24, 2004: Gov. Kenny Guinn has proclaimed Sept. 25 as a day to honor the good work and great cause that drives the Nevada chapter of the Wheelchair Foundation, whose goal is to provide free wheelchairs to everyone in the state who needs them.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Mayor just keeps 'em laughing: WEEKEND EDITION

Signs of fall abound in Southern Nevada: The crisp bite of a freshly harvested apple from Gilcrease Orchards. The splash of color in the foliage of Mount Charleston. The relief from triple-digit temperatures of the seemingly endless Las Vegas desert summer.

Columnist Jeff German: Hard Rock takes hard road on ads: Unable to buy its peace, it has embarked on an all-out war with the Gaming Control Board in a bid to keep alive its irreverent marketing campaign aimed at the lucrative 20-something party crowd.