Print edition for February 28, 2005

Group holds diabetes seminar: Group holds diabetes seminar

Vacant prison proposed for use as youth detention facility: David Kihara; When Aaron Estrada entered High Desert State Prison near Indian Springs in 2003 at the age of 15, he expected he would spend at least 10 years behind bars at the crowded penitentiary.

Vandal again targets trees in Anthem: For the second time in three months, a vandal has cut down several dozen trees in a Henderson residential development, prompting authorities to offer a reward in the felony case.

Hughes bribe of Nixon alleged: A chief Senate Watergate investigator told "60 Minutes" that Howard Hughes gave a $100,000 bribe to President Nixon and that may have led to the break-in that started the chain of events that culminated with Nixon's resignation in 1974, according to a report aired Sunday.

Biogen, Elan withdraw MS drug; shares plunge: Mark Jewell; BOSTON -- Biogen Idec Inc. and Elan Corp. announced today they have voluntarily withdrawn a recently approved drug used to treat multiple sclerosis after one patient died and another developed a serious disease of the central nervous system after taking it in combination with another drug. Stocks of both companies plunged.

Mired in mold: Tests show problem rampant in public housing: By Timothy Pratt; On a recent visit to a West Las Vegas cinder-block house, the rain had lifted for a few hours and 16-month-old Jhirimerah Hooks was outside, getting her new overalls dirty.

News briefs for February 28, 2005: A 34-year-old man died Saturday night after walking in front of a bus on Las Vegas Boulevard, Metro Police reported.

Assembly panel discusses bids on mental health triage: Kirsten Searer; Several members of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee said Monday that more companies should get a chance to bid on providing Clark County with a mental health triage center.

Classical station again goes off the air: Warren Brown, chief engineer for KCNV, said snow on Mount Potosi -- home to the station's broadcast tower -- has made it impossible to determine the precise cause of the problem. However, he speculated it is weather related.

Wind turbines studied for high school: By Emily Richmond; They look like giant egg beaters, stirring up clouds in the sky above Sierra Vista High School. But they're actually four wind turbines, devices capable of turning a natural resource into big savings for the Clark County School District.

Use of hospitalists growing in LV: Michelle Swafford; Physicians who specialize in treating hospital patients are increasing in number in the Las Vegas Valley but remain less common than in other metropolitan areas.

Land issues in NLV, Henderson eyed: The Clark County Commission will consider land-use issues affecting two of its sister governments during its regular meeting Tuesday.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Schedule is good news, bad news for Rebels: So who's next, the 1927 Yankees? The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings? Roy Hobbs and the New York Knights?

Letter: Opposing more education funds is shortsighted: Perhaps the following analogy can shed some light on why this argument lacks credibility:

Iowa, unlikely gambling pioneer, is expanding industry yet again: Ryan J. Foley; DES MOINES, Iowa -- Gamblers who lose money playing the slot machines in this state sure have something to show for their losses.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: 6 Derby contenders still to make 3-year-old debuts: Ralph Siraco; What do Eclipse Award-winner Declan's Moon, undefeated Rockport Harbor, Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Wilko, runner-up Afleet Alex and fifth-place finisher Roman Ruler along with the promising High Limit have in common?

Local Catholics pray for John Paul's recovery: Half a world away from where Pope John Paul II made a two-minute appearance at his hospital window Sunday, Las Vegas Roman Catholics flocked to church and met in groups praying for the pontiff's recovery.

Expert: Vegas market attractive for investors: Jennifer Shubinski; The president and chief operating officer of NAI Global said the pace of Las Vegas' rapid growth is still difficult for people from outside the market to understand.

Company posts loss: On a per share basis, the Las Vegas firm posted a loss of 31 cents per share, in line with last year.

Sports briefs for February 28, 2005: Top-ranked Roger Federer won his third consecutive Dubai Open on Sunday, defeating Ivan Ljubicic 6-1, 6-7 (6), 6-3. It was the third time this year Federer has beaten Ljubicic in a final.

Trade group adds lobbyist: Jackson has served as a senior professional adviser to former House Speaker Tom Foley, legislative counsel to Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Donald M. Payne (D-N.J.) and chief of staff for three members of Congress.

Pioneer casino boss Simmons dies: From working at the Desert Inn under Moe Dalitz and then the reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes, casino manager Cecil Simmons oversaw a major transition in Las Vegas and helped make golf one of the town's selling points.

Kyle Busch disappointed with career-best finish: FONTANA, Calif. -- Kyle Busch didn't have long to enjoy running up front in Sunday's Auto Club 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup race at California Speedway.

Hearing on complaints against eye doctor to continue: Molly Ball; The state Board of Osteopathic Medicine began hearing testimony over the weekend on malpractice allegations against a Henderson eye doctor who claims he is the victim of trumped-up charges.

Federated to buy May for $11 billion: John Nolan; CINCINNATI -- Federated Department Stores Inc. is buying rival May Department Stores Co. for $11 billion in cash and stock in a deal that would create a powerhouse better able to compete against discount giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. at one end of the retailing spectrum and specialty stores and other upscale merchants at the higher end.

Florida lawmakers struggle with slots: Jackie Hallifax; TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Promised a big payoff for education, state voters broke with Florida history in November and approved a ballot measure that could allow the expansion of gambling in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Futures rise as snowstorm approaches East Coast: Heating demand in the region, the biggest consumer of heating oil in the U.S., will be 14 percent higher than normal in the week ending March 4, Belton, Missouri-based Weather Derivatives Inc. said last week. Temperatures may be below average in the region from Saturday to March 13, according to a forecast on the U.S. National Weather Service Web site.

Obituaries for February 28, 2005: D. Jane Driscoll Alonso, 80, of Henderson died Saturday in a local hospice. She was born March 6, 1924, in Oakland, Calif. A resident for four years, she was a retired county government building inspector.

Changes needed in Guinn budget: CARSON CITY -- There are 50 errors in Gov. Kenny Guinn's $5.7 billion proposed budget, and the state needs to factor in an additional $68 million in spending on public schools, officials said this morning.

Father-son team sets Class 1 race record: The father/son team won the unlimited Class 1 class for open-wheel desert racecars, covering the rugged 240.34-mile course in 3 hours, 48 minutes, 6 seconds with a race-record average speed of 63.06 miles per hour.

Letter: Cost of Iraq war is much too high: When will this war be finished? President Bush keeps changing the time frame from when we will withdraw from this country. Meanwhile our friends, our sons and our daughters die for this war. They die in service to our country, but how much blood are we willing to shed for this war? How many mothers and fathers must mourn because they have lost their children?

Seniors bid farewell on big stage vs. Lobos: Steve Guiremand; UNLV's five senior players take the floor at the Thomas & Mack Center for their final Mountain West Conference home game tonight.

Expansion planned by new Showcase mall owner: Jennifer Shubinski; The Showcase mall, known for its landmark facade featuring a multi-story Coke bottle and M&M package, was sold to a California investor who said he will stick with plans to expand the center.

Editorial: Troubling development: So what would it mean for Nevada -- specifically, the federal government's plans to bury 77,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, just 90 miles away from Las Vegas -- if the Utah facility were to open? It's possible that some members of Congress and the nuclear power industry, which is becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress at Yucca Mountain, could find it enticing to just leave nuclear waste in Utah and give up on Yucca Mountain. But a spokesman for the Nuclear Energy Institute, a lobbying arm for the nuclear power industry, says the industry ...

Bishop Gorman's 'Chief' saved his best for last against Panthers: Nick Christensen; His team up 30-24 after three quarters of Friday's 4A boys' basketball state championship, Bishop Gorman guard Kashif Watson shifted into overdrive.

Gaming briefs for February 28, 2005: HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Authors of the state's slot-machine gambling law slipped it past an uninformed Legislature, opponents wrote in Supreme Court briefs filed Friday, while the legislation's defenders contended it was constitutional and subject to plenty of debate.

Biffle's gamble pays off: FONTANA, Calif. -- Greg Biffle used everything he had -- including all four tires and the Turn 2 wall -- to drive his Roush Racing Ford to victory Sunday in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway.

Wynn, MGM Mirage bid for Singapore casino franchise: Chan Sue Ling and Linus Chua; Wynn Resorts Ltd., a Las Vegas-based casino company led by Steve Wynn, and Kirk Kerkorian's MGM Mirage submitted bids to develop a Singapore resort that may include the city's first casino.

Preps: Championship recap: Nick Christensen; 4A Boys' Championship

Personal income, new home sales drop: The Commerce Department said the sharp January drop in incomes followed a record 3.7 percent jump in incomes in December with both months heavily influenced by a $3 per share dividend payment that computer software giant Microsoft made on Dec. 2.

Poll: Table games toss-up: Lawrence Messina; CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The House of Delegates would likely pass a bill allowing Hancock, Jefferson, Kanawha and Ohio counties to decide whether to add casino-style table games at their racetracks, but the vote would be a squeaker in the Senate, an Associated Press poll suggests.

Killer receives additional time for robbery: By Matt Pordum; A 46-year-old man who was previously sentenced to death for murdering a mother and daughter at the jewelry store they owned was given the maximum penalty on Friday for robbing the store after the killings.

Editorial: Nothing seamless here: In December the Clark County Health District, which has been operating the centers at an elementary school, a middle school and a high school, gave notice that the settlement money was running out. It recommended that Nevada Health Centers take over. This is a nonprofit organization that uses federal grants to operate several clinics for homeless and low-income people. Contract talks began and National Health Centers secured a federal grant to operate the campus health facilities. The earliest this proposed transfer of management could be placed onto a School Board agenda for approval was this past Thursday.

New state money can lure private funding at UNLV: University system officials are asking the Board of Regents and state lawmakers to approve a $20 million expansion to the proposed UNLV Greenspun College of Urban Affairs building, bringing the building's cost to more than $60 million.

Developer proposes high-rise condo project near Henderson: Jennifer Shubinski; Three 15-story condominium and retail towers are slated to be built just outside Henderson city limits near the St. Rose Dominican Hospitals - Siena Campus.

Officers cleared in shooting of robbery suspect: Jen Lawson; Metro Police Officer David Garris had Jeffrey Gaddis at gunpoint and was yelling for him to put his hands up, but the 28-year-old robbery suspect instead slowly reached for a handgun, Garris said at a coroner's inquest Friday.

Birth announcements for February 28, 2005: Feb. 14:

Community briefs for February 28, 2005: The Las Vegas Community Correctional Center at 2901 Industrial Road will be open to the public for tours from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Peeping Toms prowl UNLV: Eric Leake; UNLV police are warning students about two unwelcome men on campus -- one who allegedly groped women and the other who has been peering into stalls in women's restrooms.

Nevada retirement plan offered as Social Security idea: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., wants Washington to pay close attention to Nevada's government employee retirement system as the debate on Social Security reform takes shape.

Trekked Out: Fans lamenting end of 'Enterprise' as 'Star Trek' franchise teeters: Kirk Baird; Since the group's formation a decade ago, its beloved franchise has been in the midst of a renaissance, beginning in 1987 with "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and including three additional TV series and several more feature films.