Print edition for August 16, 2005

Columnist Susan Snyder: Sock issue reminds of growing needs: In a story published in Sunday's Las Vegas Sun, reporter Timothy Pratt detailed the frustrating fiery hoops through which homeless women with children must jump to obtain assistance from an over-burdened social service system. (Go dig the paper out of the recycling bin and read it, if you didn't get the chance.)

Staggs tries to follow his mentor's lead: Steve Guiremand; UNLV must replace several key players from a scoring defense that ranked dead last in the Mountain West Conference a year ago.

Editorial: Face into the harsh truth: But can anyone really say with any degree of optimism that there will be no more people living on the streets by 2015? The only way that could happen is if sometime between now and then the nation has been able to eradicate mental illness, domestic violence, shortages of low-cost housing, drug, alcohol and gambling addictions, unemployment, post-traumatic stress disorders, poverty, emotional upheavals and every other reason why people drift onto the streets. We cannot see this happening at any time in the future.

Obituaries for August 16, 2005: Gregory Allen Andreoli, 45, of Las Vegas died Wednesday. He was born Aug. 15, 1959, in Lebanon, Ind. A resident for 45 years, he was a blade operator in the construction industry.

School District, UNLV may team on 'high tech' high school: By Emily Richmond; Clark County School District and UNLV officials are considering teaming to site a "high tech" high school at the university's proposed new campus in North Las Vegas.

Film details water crisis: The wrangling over water for Las Vegas and in the West generally is just one part of a global water crisis that, for many, has life and death consequences, a mixed crowd of policy makers, scientists and others heard Monday evening.

Loss of Air Guard planes would cripple emergency response: AP; "The disconnect is not lost on us," said Col. Jon Proehl, commander of the 152nd Airlift Wing based at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

Yucca to cost county $2.5 billion: Stephen Curran; A proposed nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain is likely to cost Clark County roughly $2.5 billion in added fire, police and emergency expenses, according to a report that was expected to come before the commission this morning.

Letter: Palmeiro gets reward for lying: The only record he should be noted for is being a major-league liar. What an example he sets for the youth of this country: Lie and cheat and you'll go far in life. I guess that has become the creed in all aspects of American life.

Hotel between LV, Pahrump to be proposed: A developer will try to overcome the objections of neighbors, an advisory committee and Clark County planners when he brings a proposal to build a hotel on the mountain highway between Las Vegas and Pahrump before the Clark County Commission on Wednesday.

Kerstein takes over as chief of Henderson Police: Alan Kerstein settled into his new job Monday as Henderson Police chief earning $144,721. He already has a home in the Anthem area, and the city plans to reimburse him $2,500 for his move from California, city officials said.

Names in the game for August 16, 2005: Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield was banned from fighting in New York by the state's athletic commission, the Daily News reported this morning.

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 2 p.m.

Suspect sought in theft of radios: By Emily Richmond; Clark County School District Police are searching for a white Jeep Cherokee seen leaving the Arville Street transportation yard just prior to the discovery that 181 two-way radios had been stolen from school buses.

Editorial: Recreation's value: The differences might seem something of an academic exercise that would matter only to economists, but environmentalists are concerned that the new numbers will be seized upon as a reason why there should be more logging and mining on national forest lands. In the past, by citing the $111 billion GDP figure, environmentalists and conservationists could claim an economic justification for protecting forest land for sightseers, hunters and fishers.

Inside Job: Young men dig deep into selves in Rites of Passage Mentoring Program: The West African word means to move ahead by learning from the past. To Majied, these boys, who are nearing the end of a 16-week rites-of-passage program, are indeed moving ahead.

Sports briefs for August 16, 2005: Despite returning seven starters from last year's Mountain West Conference regular-season championship squad, UNLV was picked to finish fourth in the 2005 MWC preseason coaches' poll.

Community briefs for August 16, 2005: The Clark County Health District will offer extended hours for back-to-school immunizations from Aug. 22 to Sept. 9 at its main campus, 625 Shadow Lane.

Sierra Vista climbs out of hole: Nick Christensen; Heading into Saturday's American Legion regional tournament game, Sierra Vista pitcher Justin Mettelka didn't just have a good record, he had a dominant one.

Immunization schedule for August 16, 2005: HENDERSON PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER: 129 W. Lake Mead Parkway, Building A, Suite 10, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., through Friday.

Ralph Siraco's Del Mar selections: 1st Race -- B.L.'S COO COO CODY -- Draws outside box in small five-horse starter allowance sprint, Desormeaux on Cerin trainee, Coo Coo gone gone? BLAZE IT -- Go go Gomez scales Gonzalez trainee, starts alongside top pick in dash opener, Blaz-ing fractions does It here? Value Play -- MOONLITE ROMANCE

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Tracy's Nextel Cup debut put on hold temporarily: Despite having what team owner Richard Childress called a "very good test" last week in a NASCAR Nextel Cup car, open-wheel star Paul Tracy will not attempt to race in this weekend's Cup event at Michigan International Speedway.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Sign of the times: Coach has no fear of opening playbook with practice closed: This is what I saw on the first day of full pads football practice at UNLV:

Where I Stand -- Guest columnist Terry Lanni: Sustain the good life: AS CHAIRMAN of the largest company in our community, I often consider the role MGM Mirage should take in our growing community as we seek to create meaningful outcomes for our shareholders, employees and the general public.

Letter: Endless reports not the solution to most problems: She wrote of the need for mental health services for juveniles, and the need for a reduction of "dangerous, punitive and counter-productive methods of control" as stressed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Repairs continue on spill, road washout: Although thunderstorms avoided the Las Vegas Valley on Monday, a sewage spill in Henderson and a washout on U.S. 93 continued to cause headaches for Southern Nevada residents and visitors after Sunday's deluge.

Lottery director: Pump price might hurt lottery sales: Lottery Director Chuck Keller said convenience stores have reported that the rising prices at the pump are affecting the sales of lottery tickets as well as such items as candy and pop.

Campus to offer surgery for patients with retina problems: The retina is a multilayered nerve membrane in the inner eyeball that senses light and receives images. It can be damaged by head injuries, infections, age or diabetes.

Yucca to cost Clark County $2.5 billion: Stephen Curran; A proposed nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain is likely to cost Clark County roughly $2.5 billion in added fire, police and emergency expenses, according to a report that was expected to come before the commission this morning.

Cannery expansion continues: Cannery expansion continues

Culinary demands Boyd pay union $1.9 million a month: Alana Roberts; The Culinary Union has placed a price on its dispute with Boyd Gaming Corp. over its neutrality agreement involving three Coast Casinos properties: $1.9 million per month.

July slot winnings funnel $40 million to state coffers: Foxwoods Resort Casino reported about $80.1 million in slot revenue for July, the casino's highest-ever one-month take. The previous record was $77.6 million, set in July of last year.

Consumer prices jump in July: Martin Crutsinger; WASHINGTON -- Consumer prices shot up in July, reflecting higher prices for gasoline and other energy products while output at the nations' factories, mines and utilities slowed sharply.

Trump reports $7.6 million loss in part of quarter: Jeannine DeFoe; Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc., the casino company led by Donald Trump, said it had a loss of $7.6million in the portion of the second quarter after it emerged from bankruptcy.

Owner of funeral homes delays quarterly results: Service Corp. delayed the release of its second-quarter financial statements for the second time this month while it reviews its accounting, the Houston-based company said in a press release distributed today by PR Newswire. It may be necessary to restate quarterly or yearly financial statements for the first quarter of 2005, as well as 2000 through 2004.

County seeks long-term solutions to fuel woes: While Clark County officials hope a blue-ribbon committee will provide ideas to help solve a growing fuel-supply problem in Southern Nevada, it's the West's oil refineries that hold the key to long-term solutions to the problem.

Top Rhode Island court hears arguments on tribal casino: Eric Tucker; PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Supporters of a proposed Narragansett Indian casino told Rhode Island's high court on Monday that the state would have operational control of the gaming site.

Rising construction costs to affect Yucca: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Las Vegas home buyers aren't the only ones being pummeled by the skyrocketing cost of construction -- rising prices are likely to deliver a severe wallop to Yucca Mountain.

Internet casino buys pirogi in image of Jesus for $1,775: GoldenPalace.com purchased the item Monday during an auction offered by eBay.

State aims to protect milk supply from terrorists: CARSON CITY -- Increased security and training are in place to protect the milk produced in Nevada from being contaminated by terrorists, a state official said Monday.

State is preparing contract to divert mental patients from emergency rooms: CARSON CITY -- Anywhere from 52 to 77 mentally ill patients have been clogging emergency rooms in Las Vegas hospitals each day this month, waiting to be admitted to the state mental hospital.

Four former brokers accused in eavesdropping plot: In separate actions, the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission contended that day traders paid thousands of dollars to the four brokers -- who worked at Citigroup, Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch -- for access to their so-called squawk box intercoms, which broadcast their biggest customers' stock orders. The traders, in turn, used that information to buy those same stocks before the large orders bid up the price, and quickly sold them for hundreds of thousands of dollars in gains. This type of stock-selling scheme is known as front running.

100 school bus drivers still needed: By Emily Richmond; With the new school year beginning Aug. 29, the Clark County School District will hold a series of community meetings to address transportation questions and concerns. The meetings will be held in each of the district's five regions, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.:

Rogers brings Nichols back: Chancellor Jim Rogers has persuaded his predecessor to return to the Nevada System of Higher Education as his vice chancellor for academic and student affairs.

Focus groups to target convention center upgrades: The focus groups will be asked to suggest enhancements to the convention center. The upgrade, approved in March, is part of the LVCVA's five-year marketing plan aimed at growing visitation to 43 million people by 2009. The first phase of the project is expected to begin in the first quarter of next year and conclude by the end of 2009.

Iranian man arrested in grenade incident on bus faces deportation: By Matt Pordum; The 23-year-old Iranian man who allegedly claimed to be Osama Bin Laden's cousin before displaying an inert grenade on a bus may be caught in a catch-22 situation between local and federal authorities.

Unattended candle causes complex fire: An unattended candle left burning inside an apartment in the 1400 block of South Valley View Boulevard caused a fire at a senior citizens complex that forced two residents to other units in the complex Monday.

News briefs for August 16, 2005: A federal judge on Monday sentenced a Portland, Ore., man to more than six years in prison for laundering the proceeds of an interstate prostitution business that also involved a Portland-based attorney, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

PUC staff criticizes utility's proposals on renewable energy: Kevin Rademacher; The staff of the state Public Utilities Commission took exception to many proposals made by Nevada's largest electric utility in a plan to meet renewable energy usage standards established by the Legislature.

Sands Macau raises junket commissions to record: The increase may unsettle rival casino operators including gambling tycoon Stanley Ho, who has said such a move would mean "war," the Hong Kong-based, English-language newspaper said, citing unidentified industry people.

Texas Lottery may rethink jackpots: Jim Vertuno; AUSTIN -- Texas Lottery officials are considering guaranteed jackpots to help avoid inflated estimates like the one in June that prompted a consumer complaint to the state attorney general and cost the agency director his job.

Columnist Jeff German: Governor race is wide open: "I've never seen a mix like this," says veteran political consultant Kent Oram, who was intimately involved in the campaigns of retiring Gov. Kenny Guinn and former Gov. Bob Miller.

Exec to be chairman of Fox Television Stations: The appointment, which was announced by Fox's parent, the News Corp., gives Ailes oversight of Fox's 35 broadcast television stations and a production studio, Twentieth Television.

State scholarship won't cover remedial classes: By Cy Ryan; CARSON CITY -- Students who gain Millennium Scholarships for college in Nevada will not get the state money for remedial courses starting this school year, the state attorney general's office said Monday.

International tourism to Las Vegas increases: The United Kingdom was the No. 1 market for Las Vegas tourists, up 8 percent to 392,000 people. Tourism from Britain benefited from an increase in nonstop flights to Las Vegas including the October debut of service from Manchester, England to Las Vegas on BMI.

County to limit access to graffiti tools: Stephen Curran; Phone numbers to request graffiti removal:

Company reports quarterly loss of $3 million: Archon Corp. of Las Vegas attributed the loss to stock option grants to executives worth an estimated $3.9 million as well as a slight revenue decline at its primary asset, the Pioneer Hotel and Gambling Hall in Laughlin.