Print edition for February 17, 2005

Alleged peeping Tom arrested in Henderson: Jen Lawson; Police had Sammie Combs under surveillance because he was suspected of trying to break into a woman's apartment at the same place, the Invitational complex on Green Valley Parkway near Wigwam Parkway, in December.

News briefs for February 17, 2005: Metro Police on Wednesday identified the officer who fatally shot a Las Vegas man after a lengthy standoff Monday as 39-year-old Mark Fowler.

Price of gasoline could reach record high: David Kihara; Despite several months of low prices at the gas pumps, the cost of gas is again on the rise and may reach record highs this year, AAA said on Wednesday.

Strip club reopens after liquor license restored: Dan Kulin; Owners of the Treasures strip club re-opened Wednesday night just hours after a divided Las Vegas City Council voted to give the club owners a liquor license.

Lawmakers back Guinn plan to save Millennium Scholarships: Kirsten Searer; CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn patched together an idea to save the Millennium Scholarship program late last Friday, when he learned his staff had discovered about $32 million in extra funds.

Bus-stop death draws 40 years: By Matt Pordum; A man was sentenced to 12 to 40 years in prison this morning for being drunk and on drugs when he crashed his truck into a Las Vegas bus stop, killing a 4-year-old boy and injuring the child's mother.

Delay in construction of solar energy project draws criticism: CARSON CITY -- Construction of a proposed solar energy plant to supply Southern Nevada is far behind schedule and the chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor is highly critical.

New school designs to be safe and green: By Emily Richmond; The student athletes take to the field for the football game, solar-powered stadium lights illuminating the artificial turf. As spectators pass through specially designed checkpoints, two people attempt a shortcut over a fence but are stopped by an officer alerted via closed-circuit video camera.

Protest of teacher's suspension continues: Stephen Curran; A small band of students dawdled outside Canyon Springs High School this morning continuing Wednesday's protest of the apparent suspension of a popular teacher.

Police question safety of Tasers: Jen Lawson; A major police chiefs association is urging police departments to review their use of Taser stun guns in light of reports that the weapons might have been factors in several deaths, but Las Vegas Valley police say they already do careful studies of each time a Taser is used.

LV airline plans Missouri flights: Twice-weekly nonstop round trips between McCarran International Airport and Springfield-Branson Regional Airport will leave Las Vegas at 3:10 p.m., arriving in Springfield at 7:55 p.m., and return at 8:35 p.m., arriving in Las Vegas at 9:40 p.m., Thursdays and Sundays.

60-story building to replace historic railroad cottages: Dan Kulin; The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday approved plans for a 60-story building that will push several historic railroad cottages from downtown to a planned historic display at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve.

Community briefs for February 17, 2005: The Community College of Southern Nevada Fine Arts Gallery will exhibit the watercolor paintings and black and white photography of artists Alex Hirsch and Dana Fritz Friday through March 18.

Editorial: Heartless budget plan: The aforementioned programs slated for elimination or a massive reduction would be bad enough, but there is more. Two stories in Wednesday's Las Vegas Sun brought home just how much the reductions in the president's proposed budget would affect Las Vegans. One story, by Washington correspondent Benjamin Grove, noted that the president wants to cut $10 million in vocational education funding that Nevada currently receives. The president even wants to eliminate a program that was set up in 2001 to ensure that states test the hearing of newborn babies. State officials say that Nevada, which received $75,430 for this program ...

Groups tangle over Strip high-rise project: A legal opinion by the county's attorney sent a high-rise developer back to square one and sent sparks flying in the Clark County Commission chambers Wednesday.

Letter: Leaders too far removed from average workers: Additionally, members of Congress have their own excellent private retirement plan that is not connected with our Social Security plan. In summary, Bush and "the government" won't get hurt, as all of them have excellent plans.

Some considering linking slot machines with Texas lottery: Such a bill would only require a majority vote in the House and Senate and then the governor's signature. A proposed constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers and then a vote by the public.

Columnist Susan Snyder: McCarran has a lot of issues: Whoop-dee-doo.

Tribe looks to develop floating casino off Mexico: The Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is negotiating to launch a floating casino -- The Dream Catcher ship -- in international waters near Cancun, said Carol Brown, an attorney for the tribe.

Leading economic indicators fall 0.3 percent in January: The Conference Board, a private research group, said today that its Index of Leading Economic Indicators declined to 115.6 last month after rising a revised 0.3 percent to 115.9 in December.

Legislation to legalize slots advances in Maryland Senate: Tom Stuckey; ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Gov. Robert Ehrlich's slot machine bill moved to within one step of passage in the Senate Wednesday, prompting Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller to predict that after two years of failure, the legislature will approve a slots bill this year.

Obituaries for February 17, 2005: Jaime C. Alirez, 34, of Las Vegas died Friday in Las Vegas. He was born June 15, 1970, in Las Vegas. A lifelong resident, he was a fork lift operator.

Racing Services founder says she should be acquitted: A jury found Bala, 50, and her company guilty in federal court earlier this month on 12 felony counts, including money laundering. Prosecutors said Bala ran an illegal gambling parlor in south Fargo that generated about $99 million in bets.

Editorial: A season melts away: The apathy by fans to the loss of an entire hockey season should concern all sports leagues and shouldn't be minimized just because hockey isn't one of the premier sports in the United States. Fans of all professional sports leagues have grown disenchanted. The high cost of ticket prices is a big turnoff. Not far behind are players whose wealth -- and, in too many cases, their thuggish behavior -- has alienated their fans. And don't forget the enmity created by owners who apparently don't have enough discipline to prevent themselves from paying astronomical salaries to their players, as they ...

Next two games crucial in shaping Lady Rebels' season: Adam Candee; New Mexico, Utah and even BYU are better teams than UNLV. Air Force and San Diego State are not.

Guinn lends support for mental court: Kirsten Searer; Gov. Kenny Guinn made a personal appeal to legislators Wednesday to approve $2 million for a mental health court in Clark County.

Legislative briefs for February 17, 2005: The pay for jurors would be cut from $40 per day to $15 a day under a bill introduced by Sen. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora Wednesday.

Other side of the fence: DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Brendan Gaughan is back at Daytona Intentional Speedway this week, but his accommodations are slightly different from a year ago.

Local 1A teams swept from girls' tourney: Two local entries in the 1A Southern Region girls basketball tournament were ousted in the first round of competition.

Spoonhour still part of UNLV family: By Rob Miech; During Saturday's Wichita State-Bradley telecast in Peoria, Ill., someone fed analyst Charlie Spoonhour the UNLV-San Diego State score.

Wynn team won't fight Adelson's Walgreens project: It wasn't exactly a rousing chorus of "Kumbaya," but the legal and land-use teams representing competing Strip moguls Sheldon Adelson and Steve Wynn appeared to come close to settling a year of sometimes-sharp disagreement before the Clark County Commission on Wednesday.

Settlement reached in local suit over do-not-call violations: Kevin Rademacher; A Las Vegas telemarketing company sued last summer for violating the rules of the federal do-not-call registry has reached a settlement that promises to silence the phones.

Busch out front for IROC: DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Kurt Busch will start on the front row at Daytona International Speedway this weekend -- but not in Sunday's Daytona 500.

Bill clarifies student residency: CARSON CITY -- A bill to cure the controversy about colleges overcharging nonresident students hundreds of thousands of dollars received favorable treatment from the Senate Human Resources and Education Committee Wednesday.

LV-based AmLand plans condo towers: Jennifer Shubinski; Las Vegas-based AmLand Development Inc. is entering the high-rise market with a series of condominium towers in south Las Vegas.

Two killed in accidents on Lake Mead roads: A Mesquite man riding with five other motorcyclists on Northshore Drive between Overton and Callville Bay crashed, Park Service spokeswoman Roxanne Dey said, in a place where the two-lane road curves and dips.

Coaches expect close, exciting games in Class 3A semis: Mike Sims; The hype for this weekend's regional tournaments is centered around the 4A teams, but there will be some exciting basketball played at today's 3A semifinals at Del Sol High School.

Attorney says Sisolak should be compensated for airspace invasion: CARSON CITY -- An attorney told the Nevada Supreme Court Wednesday that McCarran International Airport permanently invaded the airspace over adjacent property and that landowner Steve Sisolak should be compensated.

Teacher leaves campus after students protest: Stephen Curran; The North Las Vegas social studies teacher whose fiery play ignited a free speech debate earlier this year abruptly left the campus Wednesday after more than 100 students demonstrated in support of his controversial work, the school's principal said.

Women of Faith conference starts at T&M: More than 10,000 Christian women are expected at the three-day conference elebrating their faith, which starts tonight.

Sunrise semifinals feature championship rematch: Nick Christensen; Don't be surprised if the Desert Pines girls' basketball team walks into Coronado's gym today with a little swagger.

Gillespie named NLV fire chief: City Manager Gregory Rose announced the selection of Al Gillespie, who has served as fire chief of Augusta since 2002. Gillespie has more than 25 years of experience in fire fighting, including seven years as a chief, officials said.

Despite Yucca uncertainty, industry plans new plants: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Uncertainty on the Yucca Mountain federal nuclear waste repository will not stop the nuclear industry from planning to build new plants, industry experts said at a conference Wednesday.

Council enters land deal with McDonald: Dan Kulin; Former Las Vegas Councilman Michael McDonald brought his plans for a senior housing complex on city-owned land to the City Council on Wednesday, and the council agreed to enter into an exclusive negotiating agreement with McDonald for the land.

Father of Marine who died in Iraq still has questions: A father's anguish is turning into an agony full of unanswered questions over the death of his 19-year-old son, Marine Lance Cpl. Richard Perez Jr., in Iraq.

Lawmakers launch new heliport effort: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Nevada lawmakers are again trying to pass legislation that would establish a heliport near Sloan, despite lingering objections to the plan by environmental groups and the Bush administration.

Governor's aide briefed on megamall casino: Brian Bakst; ST. PAUL -- Gov. Tim Pawlenty's chief of staff got a private briefing Wednesday on a proposed casino at the Mall of America, but the Republican administration is remaining publicly neutral on whether slots, blackjack or other games should land there.

Sea Scout's dream of wings comes true: The Valley High School senior was always fascinated with aircraft flying overhead, recall Alan and Angela Lin-Greenberg, noting that he would stop and gaze up at them longer than his older sister and most other children.

Sports briefs for February 17, 2005: Unwilling to accept a secondary role with the Buffalo Bills, quarterback Drew Bledsoe is seeking a new team for another shot at being a starter.

That Sinking Feeling: Animatronic figures, tireless staff bring Atlantis to life at Forum Shops: They've broken arms, hips, necks and fingers. They've torn their skin and beat themselves. Yet at nearly 10 feet tall, these several-hundred-pound mechanical actors aren't likely to stray from their lot in life.

Letter: Trips to Iraq divert attention: The only surprise about these visits is that the public is not catching on to the fact that these are just diversions to keep the missteps of the Bush administration off the front pages.

City seeks time to address issues of conservation: North Las Vegas has asked the Bureau of Land Management to consider an August auction of 2,900 acres north of the city as part of a strategy to deal with rare plants and fossils that held up a land sale earlier this month.

Grant program to help downtown area: Dan Kulin; To encourage improvements in Las Vegas' Downtown Entertainment District, the City Council on Wednesday approved the creation of a $500,000 grant program that will help pay for renovations or other construction at properties within the district.

FTC signs off on MGM Mirage's buyout of Mandalay Resort Group: Liz Benston and Richard N. Velotta; The Federal Trade Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to allow MGM Mirage's $7.9 billion buyout of Mandalay Resort Group to proceed, paving the way for a deal that would put nearly half of the Strip's more than 74,000 hotel rooms under one company.

Member of gang sentenced to 14 years: Jace Radke; Henry Arthur Carr Jr. said Wednesday that he was not a leader in the Rolling 60s Crips street gang, but U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks was unconvinced, saying that Carr . was a "street commander" serving as a manager of a gang cell.

Universities could be forced to return funds: Nevada's two universities could be forced to return $8.75 million in federal student loan money if one of President Bush's proposed education cuts goes through Congress, school officials said.

The 'other' Hard Rock targets expansion: By Liz Benston; The Orlando, Fla.-based owner of the Hard Rock restaurant chain and Hard Rock Hotel and Casino resorts in Florida has hired away a Caesars Entertainment executive to serve in the company's first casino development position.

Third season to debut on Travel Channel: The 16 episodes will air every Wednesday at 9 p.m. eastern and pacific time and will also be broadcast in more than 50 countries.

City officials sign lease with Wild Rose Entertainment: Under the 30-year lease agreement, Wild Rose Entertainment will pay 200 percent of any improvements needed in the city and county for the casino, up to $10 million.

Nevada Power says proposed rate delay would mitigate effect of hike: Kevin Rademacher; With hearings into a $115.9 million rate increase request just a week away, Nevada Power Co. is defending a plan to delay the increase by a year.

Company honored by Asian Chamber of Commerce: Caesars Executive Vice President Steven F. Bell will accept the honor at the Asian Chamber's annual Chinese New Year gala today.

Public meetings scheduled: The Las Vegas electric company also has asked for permission to delay the implementation of the rate increase until April 2006.

Status of DNA may be key in serial rape case: By Matt Pordum; A 38-year-old man accused of committing a series of rapes in the late 1990s will stand trial, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman ruled Wednesday.

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