Print edition for April 7, 2005

Nevada to share in drug settlement: The lawsuit alleged that the company unlawfully extended its monopoly by improperly listing a new patent for Remeron, an antidepressant, with the Food and Drug Administration.

Obituaries for April 7, 2005: Faustino "Bam" Alamillo, 59, of Henderson died Tuesday in a local hospital. He was born Nov. 5, 1945, in Canoga Park, Calif. A resident for 26 years, he was a technician at an auto body repair shop, a Vietnam War Navy veteran and former president of the Las Vegas Bass Club.

Preps: Softball Top 10: Compiled by the Las Vegas Sun and the Sparks Tribune

Columnist Jeff Haney: Cherubic Elder believes his walk with God will lead him to title: Lightweight contender Ebo Elder, a deeply spiritual young man, believes he is doing God's work in the boxing ring.

Sponsors brought back with eye toward renovation: Adam Candee; AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The sponsors are back, the pins are staying and the members of Augusta National are praying for a scaled-down golf ball.

Letter: Cleaner sources of energy must be developed: Extracting the small amount of oil present in the pristine Arctic refuge would do nothing to lessen our dependence on foreign oil or to lower the price of gasoline. The Bush administration's own estimates say that there is likely less than eight months' worth of oil in the refuge, and we wouldn't even see a drop of it at market for 10 years. Several years ago, Chevron-Texaco drilled a test well in the refuge, the results of which have been kept secret. But we do know this -- Chevron-Texaco has joined BP-Amoco and Conoco-Phillips in withdrawing their support of the ...

Teacher training programs debated: CARSON CITY -- In Clark County more than 6,000 teachers are trained each year to be more effective in the classroom, but the instruction is avoided by some of those who need it the most, the program chief said Wednesday.

Scientist linked to Yucca e-mails remains on payroll: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- A scientist under investigation for allegedly falsifying documents at the Yucca Mountain project briefly worked on the project again, despite the fact that the Energy Department already had discovered e-mails in which the scientist had written about making up data.

Editorial: Rogers clearly is best choice: The university system needs a chancellor who is intelligent, creative, strong-willed and understands firsthand the needs of improving higher education in Nevada. Going ahead with a national search just doesn't make much sense -- not when the man who currently is in the job is the perfect candidate.

Diet keeps Marshall out of spring practice: Steve Guiremand; Alvin Marshall was anxious for the start of spring practice last week. And for good reason.

Editorial: Internet no substitute: And Assembly Bill 478 would open the door for publishing legal notices, including the annual tax rolls, only on the Internet. The law now requires that they be published in newspapers. The tax rolls allow property owners to compare their taxes with their neighbors' and other equally valued properties, to ensure fairness.

Letter: Bush hypocritical to attend funeral: The two of them are light years apart. One gets Americans killed or maimed while the other made life our most precious commodity.

Yun at Heart: Reviews for violinist Chee-Yun are often so deeply poetic you wonder what kind of spell she has placed on her critics.

Legislative briefs for April 7, 2005: The state Department of Motor Vehicles will be able to enter into contracts with private companies to place advertisements in its offices, on its mailings and on its Web site under a bill approved by the Senate 13-7 Wednesday.

Manager's message: Everyone is a prospect: Nick Christensen; Long before he recorded his 1,442nd at-bat in a Las Vegas 51s uniform, observers began saying that Joe Thurston wasn't a prospect.

Senate bill would send some casino taxes to state: The Senate also kept part of the tax bill that would steer some local casino tax revenue to the state, despite objections from lawmakers from counties and communities with riverboats.

Tribe sues over use of games: The lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Omaha, says the U.S. Department of the Interior's ruling was arbitrary, capricious and deprives the tribe of needed income.

Governor, tribes sign deal: Residents of this fading Columbia River town hope the casino will reverse an outgoing tide of businesses, people, money and services that has put it on the ropes.

Plans, opposition developing for south Reno casino: Atlantis Casino Resort officials go before the Reno City Council next Wednesday with plans for a 201-suite resort and spa on the south end of town.

Sports briefs for April 7, 2005: Bo Jackson filed a defamation lawsuit Wednesday against a California newspaper that quoted a dietary expert who said the former two-sport star used steroids.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Step up to Pro Stock has been a culture shock for Enders: Erica Enders has made countless runs -- and won a handful of races -- as a Junior Dragster competitor on the quarter-mile drag strip at Houston Raceway Park.

Las Vegan stays busy at remote base: Dick Benoit; Las Vegas students who choose the Vo-Tech option of secondary schooling aren't likely looking for cushy jobs after graduation. Nicole Cherry, a 2001 Vo-Tech High School graduate, is no exception.

Lawyer: Teen's bullets didn't wound victims: By Matt Pordum; An alleged member of an Asian gang who is accused of wounding four people at an Internet lounge in 2003 did fire a gun at the scene but was not the one whose bullets hit the victims, his defense lawyer told jurors Wednesday.

Valley's Jones makes first inning hold up: Nick Christensen; Valley coach Leslie Samson knows her Vikings softball team was lucky to escape Desert Pines with a win. But she'll take it.

Man pleads not guilty in roommate's killing: By Matt Pordum; A 57-year-old man who belatedly reported the killing of his roommate pleaded not guilty to murdering her.

Community briefs for April 7, 2005: Project Sunshine will host the second annual Art & Innocence Celebration Saturday, benefitting recreational camps for critically ill and disadvantaged children.

Vick sued by woman who claims he gave her herpes: Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is being sued by a woman claiming to be his former girlfriend.

Ralph Siraco's Santa Anita selections: 1st Race -- RAZIK -- Wheels back quickly from recent victory, Pedroza stays on Mitchell trainee, strikes while the iron is hot? CALIFORNIA POWER -- Gomez on Carava trainee, needs prompt start and clean trip from rail post in claiming sprint opener, to over-Power California foes? Value Play -- DEALINWITHINSANITY

Probation not likely in nanny case: A public campaign seeking a prison sentence for a 24-year-old nanny accused of abusing a Henderson infant who was hospitalized again last week may be paying dividends.

Preps: Schedule: Baseball

Warning issued over blowing dust: Officials are expecting high winds in Southern Nevada until Friday, and county air quality officials will post alerts on the county's Web site (www.accessclarkcounty.com) if unhealthy levels of dust is raised.

51s: Pacific Conference teams at a glance: Nick Christensen; Colorado Springs SKY SOX MAJOR-LEAGUE AFFILIATE: Colorado Rockies (13th year). CLASS AA AFFILIATE: Tulsa Drillers (72-68 in 2004). MANAGER: Marv Foley (2nd year). HOME BALLPARK: Security Service Field (9,000; opened 1988). IN LAS VEGAS: April 15-18, May 31-June 3. TOP PROSPECTS: Jeff Salazar (RF), Jayson Nix (2B). OUTLOOK: The Sky Sox moved into the Pacific Conference this year and will play the 51s 16 times. Many of the Rockies' top prospects will start the year in Denver, and this year's Sky Sox could struggle. WHO KNEW? The Sky Sox have won five of their seven preseason meetings with the Rockies, ...

Iowa officials tour sites seeking casino licenses: David Pitt; FORT DODGE, Iowa -- The five members of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission boarded a charter bus Wednesday and began a two-day tour of proposed casino sites.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Crusader boasts a prickly plan: A whole mess of 'em -- beaver tail, cotton-top barrel, fire barrel, cholla, hedgehog and pincushion varieties.

Effect of hires felt valleywide: Alana Roberts; Of the 9,500 workers Wynn Las Vegas has hired, 20 percent were hired from former Mirage Resorts properties, the property's top human resources executive said.

All fired up: Special effects firm expanding in Vegas: Michelle Swafford; People who have seen special effects at concerts by Metallica, Britney Spears, Shania Twain or Puff Daddy witnessed the creative expertise of a company growing quickly in Las Vegas.

First round delayed by storms: Adam Candee; AUGUSTA, Ga. -- The conventional wisdom at Augusta National this week holds that nothing can prevent one of the so-called "Big Four" from winning the Masters.

WTO ruling provides scope for U.S. online gambling ban: By Liz Benston; An appellate body of the World Trade Organization handed down a landmark decision on Internet gambling today that online gambling supporters say could end up forcing the United States to allow gambling sites based in Antigua and Barbuda to accept bets from U.S. gamblers.

Harrah's earnings forecast stronger than expected: Harrah's Entertainment Inc. surprised gaming analysts today with an announcement that it expects to report first quarter adjusted earnings per share of between 95 and 99 cents, easily beating earlier estimates of 83 cents.

LV threatens motel with loss of its license: Dan Kulin; With its hourly rates and inexpensive rooms, and allegedly popular with prostitutes, the Del Mar motel in Las Vegas is in jeopardy of losing its license.

Gibbons to work on environment task force: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., will participate in a House task force looking to improve the National Environmental Policy Act.

Utility warns consumers of telephone scam: The company said it has received reports of someone posing as a Southwest Gas representative asking customers for checking account information over the telephone.

Mom's car kills child in driveway: David Kihara; A boy just two weeks shy of his second birthday was killed on Wednesday in Henderson after his mother's car rolled over him in the family's driveway, marking the second such incident in a week.

AOL to begin VoIP service in Vegas: The Voice-over Internet Protocol service is being billed by AOL as a cost-saving alternative to traditional telephone service, and it will join several other VoIP services already available in Las Vegas from providers including Vonage and AT&T's CallVantage.

Bills would extend felons' voting rights: Kirsten Searer; CARSON CITY -- Several legislators are sponsoring bills that would make it easier for felons to regain their eligibility to vote after they serve their sentences.

Developer to sue over shadows: Stephen Curran; A Las Vegas developer said the Clark County Commission left him with no other option than to sue a competing company whose property would literally cast a shadow on his planned Strip megaresort.

Sunrise Hospital fights malpractice suit: Molly Ball; If Sunrise Hospital had treated a homeless man's illness instead of ejecting him from the emergency room, he would not have collapsed and died on the hospital's lawn, lawyers for the dead man's family told a jury on Wednesday.

Bill would help protect rural water supplies: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn sent word to the Nevada Legislature today that he opposes a bill that would give added protections to rural Nevada in its battle against losing water to the growing population in Las Vegas.

Editorial: Voters, where were you?: Unfortunately, the municipal primary elections in Southern Nevada on Tuesday dashed that hope. Only 7.65 percent of the cities' registered voters showed up at the polls. Winning their races outright were Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson and Las Vegas Municipal Judge Cedric Kerns. Imagine, such important offices being decided by so few voters.

County bars airport from negotiating land deals: Stephen Curran; The Clark County Commission on Wednesday formally approved a measure that bars McCarran International Airport from negotiating its own land sales.

Study: Fewer locals gambling in convenience, grocery stores: One in four Clark County residents who gamble play in convenience stores, grocery stores or gasoline stations, a study commissioned by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority said.

Regents push for naming Rogers: Believing that a national search at this point is futile, five regents have requested an agenda item for next week's Board of Regents meeting to go ahead and appoint Jim Rogers as the university system's permanent chancellor.

Rainy day in Georgia: Adam Candee; AUGUSTA, Ga. -- For some reason, what's good enough for the gander can't seem to include the Goose.

FDIC lauds Nevada health: Kevin Rademacher; The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Wednesday cited Nevada as an example of economic vitality, a point federal regulators have made for many consecutive quarters.

$20 million advertising campaign planned: The company, owned by the Greenspun family, which also owns the Las Vegas Sun, will develop four 30-second and 45-second TV spots in which people in everyday situations are transported to Las Vegas after encountering a buzzing VEGAS.com sign. A new tagline -- "Do Vegas Right" -- also is included.

Venetian owner ordered to pay $38.5 million: By Liz Benston; The owner of the Venetian resort faced a setback last month in a long-running construction lawsuit when a Clark County District Court judge ordered the company to pay interest, attorneys' fees and other costs totaling $38.5 million on top of a previous jury award of $42 million.

Sumo, Larry and Curly: For centuries, Sumo wrestling has been shrouded in grand and glorious traditions in Japan, accompanied by rigid ceremonies that hearken back to ancient times.

Las Vegas Sands, buoyed by success, is eager to expand: By Liz Benston; Less than four months since it pulled off the most lucrative initial public offering in casino history, Las Vegas Sands Corp. is boldly trumpeting the company's accomplishments as part of its worldwide expansion efforts.

Teen killed in rock climbing fall identified: It took rescuers two hours to get to Kyle, who had been with two friends in a remote area near White Rock Wash in Arizona, Roxanne Dey, spokeswoman for the recreation area, said.

Correction: Correction

DOE wants to move radioactive waste away from Colorado River: The Energy Department wants to move a 12-million ton pile of radioactive waste away from the Colorado River, a major source of drinking water for about 25 million people, including Las Vegas.

News briefs for April 7, 2005: A Florida man shot and killed himself on Wednesday night after taking his estranged wife and her roommate hostage at a northwest apartment complex and shooting at them after they escaped.

Table games legislation is 'dead,' lobbyist proclaims: "As far as we're concerned, the bill is dead," said Nelson Robinson, a lobbyist for Mountaineer Racetrack and Gaming Resort. "At this point, the votes are not there."

Las Vegans tell Gonzalez goodbye: Eric Leake; Las Vegas residents and television viewers on Wednesday remembered KLAS Channel 8 anchor Polly Gonzalez, a woman many of the approximately 1,000 mourners had never met.