Print edition for January 4, 2005

Storms cause minor damage at four schools: By Emily Richmond; The heavy rainfall of recent days caused flooding and minor damage at four Clark County schools and had maintenance crews scrambling to make repairs before students returned Monday from the winter vacation break, just in time for more rain.

Obituaries for January 4, 2005: Leary Bernard Adams Sr., 76, of North Las Vegas died Friday in Las Vegas. He was born March 28, 1928, in New Orleans. A resident for 10 years, he was a former police officer, Merchant Marines and Army veteran, and a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Forresters, and the Colt 38 Club.

Fudging on resumes not worth it, experts say: Alana Roberts; When it comes to a job search, fibs and white lies don't enhance a candidate's resume, they only rouse suspicion among headhunters, employment law experts say.

Contested federal building back to City Council: Stephen Curran; A federal office building that ignited a bitter dispute between a prominent developer and a group of Las Vegas residents is expected to come before the Las Vegas City Council for what could be final approval again on Wednesday.

Hannan may miss UNLV's next game: Steve Guiremand; UNLV could be without one of its starters for Wednesday night's final Mountain West Conference basketball tuneup.

Commission outlines $3.2 billion in Nevada economic development: The report, submitted to the governor and the Nevada Legislature, said 143 companies moved to or expanded to the state during that period, creating 6,752 new jobs.

Letter: No way to win war on Iraqi turf: What in the world was George Bush thinking, anyway? Or does he think?

Tarkanian turns in petition to appear on recall ballot: Dan Kulin; Former Clark County School Board member Lois Tarkanian this morning handed the Las Vegas city clerk a petition that apparently has more than enough signatures needed to put her on the ballot for Las Vegas Councilwoman Janet Moncrief's recall election.

State OKs withdrawal of rural water: Nevada State Engineer Hugh Ricci today announced his approval for the withdrawal of about 8,900 acre-feet of water annually from the Three Lakes and Tikiboo valleys in northwest Clark County and southwest Lincoln County.

News briefs for January 4, 2005: Members of the Metro Police Fugitive Detail, armed with a warrant and a Las Vegas address, arrested Myles Gregory Westbrooks of Los Angeles for aggravated assault on Dec. 30.

Wednesday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1 p.m.

Windows on Wheels showcases computer products: Windows on Wheels showcases computer products

Former UNLV star Jason Thomas tries to reinvent himself and step out of the cold banishment created by ...: Adam Candee; When the stadium lights finally dim for good, even The Man must wear a name tag.

Suspect in L.A. hot oil assault arrested in LV: Westbrooks is suspected of tipping over a 5-gallon pot of hot oil on another man, who was hospitalized for more than a month and may lose a leg, police said. The fight broke out at a fish fry in Los Angeles, where Westbrooks and his family ive.

Women's Top 25 Basketball Schedule: AP; No. 8 Stanford vs. Washington, 10 p.m.

Sunrise Hospital tops off expansion: The $75 million expansion will add more than 60 beds to the current 175-bed hospital. In addition, the hospital, in conjunction with Clark County Safe Kids Coalition, is donating 100 children's bicycle helmets. Helmets are available on a first-come, first-served basis on Friday from the Safe Kids trailer in the parking lot south of the hospital.

Something's Goofy in Anaheim, and so are the Angels: AP; There is something, though, a bit Goofy going on in a town which likes to boast that it not only has Disneyland and major league baseball, but also the lowest utility rates in Southern California.

County office remodeling: While construction is under way, customers are being asked to conduct business license activities on the first floor of the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. License technicians and the cashier will be temporarily located on the first floor next to the Development Services Department.

Nevada delegates return to Capitol Hill: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Nevada's congressional delegation is back in the nation's capital this week for the opening of the 109th session of Congress and faces a slate of familiar issues as well as some new ones.

AP National Football Champions: AP; 2002-Ohio State

Judge asked to settle feud over initiative petitions: CARSON CITY -- A coalition of health groups and the state attorney general's office today were to file a court document to determine if anti-smoking and marijuana initiative petitions qualified to be presented to the 2005 Legislature.

Eppenger picks UNLV: Steve Guiremand; New UNLV football coach Mike Sanford has made keeping local talent at home a top recruiting priority. And on Monday he picked up one of the top members of the class of 2005 from the Las Vegas area.

Top 25 Fared: AP; No. 1 Southern Cal (12-0) did not play. Next: vs. No. 2 Oklahoma, Orange Bowl, Jan. 4.

Mikohn name transition begins: Progressive Gaming International Corp., formerly known as Mikohn Gaming Corp., announced that effective today, the company's trading symbol on the Nasdaq stock market exchange has changed to "PGIC" from "MIKN."

Editorial: Tsunami aid gets boost: We believe the next phase, announced Monday by President Bush, to be equally important. He chose his father, former President George H.W. Bush, and former President Bill Clinton to head a national effort to raise funds from private sources. With the initial needs for food, clean water and health care being met by the United States and numerous other countries, there must be ongoing efforts to meet the long-term needs. Millions of Asian people are homeless and grief stricken, and the infrastructure of their regions has been destroyed.

Sports briefs for January 4, 2005: University of Louisville football coach Bobby Petrino apologized Monday for the weeklong uproar he caused by interviewing with Louisiana State University just days after agreeing to a new Louisville contract, but he insisted that he followed proper procedures in his communication with LSU.

Full ethics panel to decide if Shafer misused his office: CARSON CITY -- A panel of the state Ethics Commission has found that the full commission should decide whether former Clark County Public Administrator Jared Shafer misused his office to gain a lucrative contract in a probate matter.

Rain expected to continue: Mary Manning and Eric Leake; A man died after being pulled out of floodwater in a drainage canal Monday afternoon in North Las Vegas after the valley had been deluged by rain throughout the day.

Company narrows losses: On a per share basis, losses totaled 55 cents per share in fiscal 2004 compared with a loss of $1.51 per share the prior year.

Factory orders rise by 1.2 percent in November: The latest snapshot of manufacturing activity, released by the Commerce Department today, was even better than the 0.8 percent rise some economists were forecasting. The 1.2 percent increase, the most since July, followed a solid 0.9 percent gain in October.

Vestin buys Namath's shares: Kevin Rademacher; Las Vegas-based Vestin Group Inc. said Monday that it has entered into an agreement to purchase 400,000 shares in the company controlled by retired football star Joe Namath.

City to decide if pigs are welcome as pets: Eric Leake and Dan Kulin; Penelope probably won't be attending the North Las Vegas City Council meeting that should decide her fate.

Letter: Bush's effort to improve security eludes liberals: Well, I did re-read McGuire's letter, as Mr. Dull advised. I saw no gospel truth in it, however. I have lived long enough to know the real facts, and I have studied the liberal left. I know of what I speak.

British tourist carjacked after buying panhandler breakfast on Vegas Strip: Stephen Curran; A British tourist trying to help a panhandler on the Strip was robbed at gunpoint early this morning after buying the man breakfast, Metro Police said.

UNLV to host meeting on taxes: Christina Littlefield and Launce Rake; Against a background of growing concern over escalating property taxes in Clark County and calls for cuts or caps to the taxes, UNLV's Department of Public Administration will hold a conference Friday that will bring together the critical interest groups and lawmakers for a look at the issue.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Great idea, if I did say so myself: Get ready for Hoop-a-palooza or the Tournament Playaz Club at Summerlin.

Columnist Nick Christensen: Spartans surprise themselves at national wrestling tourney: Nick Christensen; Cimarron-Memorial High School's wrestling team has consistently been the South's wrestling power, winning four of the six most recent state championships and well on its way to a fifth title this year.

Linen company says service will continue in strike: Alana Roberts; Linen service will continue for many local hotels and restaurants as truck drivers at Mission Industries continue to strike, a spokesman for the company said.

Tarkanian petition expected today: Tarkanian said Monday she will deliver petitions bearing more than enough valid signatures. To qualify for the the ballot, she needs 2,106 signatures of registered voters from Las Vegas' Ward 1.

Sierra Design deal modified: The Las Vegas-based gaming equipment manufacturer announced today that it would pay $40 million to buy the "earnout" portion of the purchase price paid for SDG, which Alliance first announced in November 2003. Under terms of the original contingency, the price was based on SDG's achievement of revenue and cash flow targets over the next three fiscal years and could have resulted in the company paying as much as $95 million more.

Battery maker to buy United Industries for $476 million: Rayovac will pay $406 million in shares and $70 million in cash for closely held United, which is owned by buyout firm Thomas H. Lee Partners LP, and will assume $880 million in debt, the Atlanta-based company said today. The purchase will boost earnings in the first year after completion, Rayovac said.

Goodman to appeal ethics ruling: Dan Kulin; Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said Monday he will appeal the state Ethics Commission's May ruling that he violated ethics laws by using his elected position to help his son's business.

Vegas ad campaign may not mean success with foreign tourists: David Kihara; The award-winning slogan "What happens here, stays here" has been one of the most effective ad campaigns in bringing American visitors to Las Vegas, yet it may leave some international tourists scratching their heads in confusion.

Bill for schools may result in more positions: By Emily Richmond; A bill draft request by Sen. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, which he hoped would reduce the number of Clark County School District administrators, would actually allow 88 new positions to be added, according to an analysis of district statistics.

Airport begins free Internet access service: Jace Radke; Travelers waiting for flights in Las Vegas will now be able to check their e-mail and surf the Internet for free and without plugging into wall jacks, thanks to a new public wireless network at McCarran International Airport.

Slain immigrant hoped for better life: Jen Lawson; Taher "T.J." Jakani came to the United States from Afghanistan to find a better life, friends said Monday, and by all accounts he had succeeded.

Alexander apologizes for remarks: Shaun Alexander apologized Monday to fans -- but not his coach or teammates -- for saying he was "stabbed in the back" by Mike Holmgren's quarterback sneak call that may have cost him a rushing title.

Reid sworn in as top Democrat: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- When lawmakers were sworn in this morning for the first day of the 109th Congress, Democratic Sen. Harry Reid became Nevada's highest ranking member of Congress ever.

Telephone call from gang member foils nurse's release: Jace Radke; Despite a federal court order, a 28-year-old Las Vegas nurse has had at least one phone conversation with a convicted gang member whom she is charged with attempting to help escape from jail.

Editorial: Accounting chicanery: Accounting dishonesty by the Bush administration also has occurred elsewhere, as the White House has refused to include in its routine budget requests the actual costs to fund the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last year, for example, the White House was able to get Congress to approve $87 billion (and another $25 billion this year) for the war efforts in separate supplemental budget requests. It was a maneuver that prevented these war costs from appearing on the regular budget's ledger, thereby masking the true shortfall in the deficit. Maybe it's because such accounting chicanery has become so prevalent that ...

CCSN hiring freeze thaws with complex, new policy: CCSN's four-monthlong hiring freeze came to a halt Monday with the college instituting a new hiring policy, President Richard Carpenter said.

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

Court asked to toss anti-gambling lawsuit: Mark Scolforo; HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Leaders in the state Senate and the attorney general's office want the state Supreme Court to throw out a lawsuit that accuses the Legislature of having used unconstitutional methods in approving slot-machine gambling in July.

Attorney makes motion to keep Murphy out of custody: By Matt Pordum; Just in case Sandy Murphy is sentenced to prison time later this month for stealing Ted Binion's silver, her attorney filed a motion Monday to allow her to remain out of custody on bail until her appeal is heard.

Medical resident's license suspended: CARSON CITY -- The state Board of Medical Examiners said Monday it has suspended the license of Dr. David G. Evans, arrested in Las Vegas on charges of child molestation and child porn possession.

Tribe 'walking away' from Empire Resorts casino deal: William Kates; SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Cayuga Indian Nation of New York will not renew its development contract with Empire Resorts to build a casino in the Catskills, a tribal spokesman said Monday.

Community briefs for January 4, 2005: The Southern Nevada Musical Arts Choral Orchestra Society, now celebrating its 42nd season, is accepting members in the new year.

Overhauled monorail enjoys a busy New Year's Eve: Stephen Curran; If New Year's Eve was any indication, the Las Vegas Monorail appears ready to carry the crowds expected during this week's International Consumer Electronics Show.

Key lawmaker supports video poker at racetracks: Eaton said he also would consider expanding gambling in the future to include the state's grand hotels.

Tuesday's EST Time Schedule: AP; BASKETBALL

Where I Stand -- Guest Columnist Julian Mitchell: Teenagers and the law: By Julian Mitchell

Compiled By PAUL MONTELLA: AP; 1983 - In his 42nd game, Edmonton's Wayne Gretzky scores his 100th point of the season with an assist in the Oilers' 8-3 triumph over the Winnipeg Jets.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Keeping resolution is a grind: Three times.

Moving Art: Godt-Cleary Projects focusing energy on downtown gallery: By Kristen Peterson; With footprints in construction dust, fresh paint on the walls and a mission as clear as the view of the old furniture stores across the street, the Godt-Cleary Projects has further enmeshed itself with the Las Vegas art scene.

Lagoon proposal causing a stink with residents: "The thought of smelling raw sewage around my home, and the bugs we'll have swarming around us, and the decrease in our property values disgusts me," Lenora Beckman said.