Print edition for January 31, 2005

Kovpotina blows away women's record: Mike Sims; Olga Kovpotina ran like she had the wind at her back, not swirling all around her.

Patient Falcons await Rebels: Steve Guiremand; COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Tonight in the shadow of Pikes Peak, the UNLV men's basketball team finds itself with a mountainous task.

Sports briefs for January 31, 2005: Another team is giving Billy Tibbetts a chance.

Personal incomes jump 3.7%: Martin Crutsinger; WASHINGTON -- Personal income, boosted by a large dividend payment from computer software giant Microsoft Corp., shot up by a record 3.7 percent in December. That helped to boost consumer spending during the all-important holiday season by 0.8 percent.

Company said to be seeking Creo for $1 billion: Exact terms of the proposed deal could not be learned. The executives cautioned that it was still possible the talks could fall apart.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Las Vegan wins $384,500 in handicapping contest: Ralph Siraco; Horse players from all over the country converged on the Orleans hotel-casino over the weekend for the first -- and what is sure to be annual -- Horseplayer World Series, a three-day test of handicapping talents. They came from qualifiers at race tracks, simulcast centers and other Coast Casinos contests and tournaments throughout the year for a chance at the biggest prize fund in the history of handicapping tournaments for equine punters.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Gladiators' opener was a sound for sore ears: I WAS HAVING TROUBLE PUTTING INTO WORDS WHAT IT WAS LIKE AT SUNDAY'S GLADIATORS ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE SEASON OPENER AT THE THOMAS AND MACK CENTER. SO I SETTLED FOR THESE CAPITAL LETTERS AND A FEW EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!

Guinn seeks more for Medicaid: CARSON CITY -- More than 3,750 low-income pregnant women would be eligible for free medical care and an additional 4,000 children of families of the working poor will have health insurance coverage in the coming two years. And low-paid workers in small businesses that provide health insurance would qualify for a $100 per month subsidy to help pay the premiums.

Study sought on children in foster families: The Clark County Family Services will ask the County Commission Tuesday for a study on how children fare in the department's foster-family program.

Developers eyeing other projects for downtown: Jennifer Shubinski; Sandhurst Development LLC has more than a condo tower in mind for land near downtown Las Vegas and other developers are also continuing with their plans for the area.

NFL crackdown dampens party: By Liz Benston; Scott Howarth was looking forward to his annual trip to Las Vegas to kick back with friends and watch the Super Bowl at a casino.

Vengeance for Las Vegas: Adam Candee; If they go on to a great season, then this one might look like the springboard for the Las Vegas Gladiators.

The Armenian connection: By Timothy Pratt; Mariam Sarkisian, the younger of the two Armenian sisters who were released from federal custody Friday after two weeks in a Los Angeles holding cell, was expected to resume her life as a junior at Palo Verde High School today.

Car maker adds new safety devices to standard lineup: With cash incentives losing their ability to attract new customers, the announcement is a sign GM is trying to differentiate itself in the marketplace.

Jury deliberates in Lone Mountain murder case: By Matt Pordum; A 19-year-old man accused of beating to death and then robbing his friend before leaving the body at the base of Lone Mountain last summer may learn his fate today.

State considers appeal of ruling on petitions: David Kihara and Cy Ryan; The state attorney general may file an appeal to overturn the recent federal court ruling that allows the backers of a marijuana petition to present their initiative to the 2005 Legislature, the lead attorney said Friday.

Editorial: Cameras, yes; audio, no: When owners of cab companies announced plans for cameras with full audio capability, it brought objections from legislators (who must approve the regulations), the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada and the drivers. The concern was privacy. A legislative committee rejected the regulations for that reason.

Dancer's prostitution conviction overturned: By Matt Pordum; A judge overturned a strip club dancer's conviction of soliciting prostitution on Friday, which might clear the way for Treasures' fight to regain its city licensing.

Despite Trump bankruptcy, creditors to be paid in full: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- When a company goes bankrupt, it's often the small-time vendors and suppliers who suffer.

December new home sales up slightly: Victor Epstein; U.S. sales of new homes rose 0.1 percent last month to 1.098 million houses at an annual rate, capping the fourth consecutive record year.

Goodman appeals ethics panel ruling: Goodman's two-page petition filed in Clark County District Court last week listed the general grounds for the appeal, which state that the ruling was clearly wrong or unlawful, but did not state an argument to back up his appeal.

Officer at coroner's inquest: Two shots not enough: Jen Lawson; After a whack with a baton on the thigh, a zap with a Taser gun and two bullets shot into his body, 21-year-old Aquileo Jiminez-Duran kept charging at Metro Police Officer Jon David, the officer testified at a coroner's inquest.

January was one of the wettest in valley: Record rainfall in January, from National Weather Service records:

Tisdale shows smooth moves at Boulder Station: Spencer Patterson; To prepare for concert assignments, Las Vegas Sun photographers sometimes dig up recent photos of their subjects before heading to the venue.

Gambling expansion doesn't look like good bet in 2005: Opponents and even some supporters of the idea say the stars would have to align for legislation to pass, though there might be an outside shot at getting a proposed constitutional amendment approved for placement on the ballot in 2006.

Readers prompt return of Duplex to Sun's comic pages: The Duplex makes its return to the daily paper on Feb. 7, and will return to the Sunday color comics section on Feb. 20.

Appeals court upholds cigarette suit: CARSON CITY -- A federal appeals court has reinstated part of a lawsuit brought in Las Vegas against Philip Morris by a man whose wife died of lung cancer after 30 years of smoking Marlboro cigarettes.

Pawnee Nation plans gambling resort with golf course: The Pawnee Nation plans to build the resort on 800 acres adjoining the old Chilocco Indian School, which is north of Newkirk and just south of the Kansas state line. The 167-acre campus has been vacant three years.

Brown files for re-election to Las Vegas City Council: Brown is seeking a third term on the council, and so far has no challenger.

Letter: Rice's opponents showed integrity: Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., called it right during the committee hearings when she suggested Rice's loyalty to the president was more important to Rice than dealing with the truth. As senators too old to be in the military go home each day to comfort and security, we continue to sacrifice our youth and countless Iraqi civilians in an escalating mess that worsens every day.

Sand Dollar fans singin' the blues: The owner of the Sand Dollar Lounge padlocked a piece of Las Vegas history last week, closing one of the city's most well-known blues clubs where seven nights a week fans could listen to the likes of the Ruffnecks or the SpellCasters or one of dozens of other bands.

Birth announcements for January 31, 2005: Jan 12:

County moves on land swap audit: Clark County management moved forward with a plan to conduct an audit of land deals involving the county's airport property and specifically a land swap that led to a contentious zone change earlier month.

Tribe devises rewards program for workers: William Kates; VERONA, N.Y. -- The Oneida Indian Nation, which is building an economic empire with profits from its Turning Stone casino, has created a kind of stock option for its 4,500 employees that is the first of its kind among Indian tribes.

Editorial: Girls' ordeal should never be repeated: We were among many people and organizations calling upon the federal government to use discretion in this case. The girls were brought to this country by their father when they were 4 and 3. This is the only country they've ever known. Immigration law is not so strict that discretion cannot be used when warranted. As we saw it, how in the name of justice could two girls be torn from their American home and dropped, penniless, into a country whose customs and language are alien to them, and where they have no family, friends or jobs awaiting?

Letter: Bush's plan for Social Security only aids cronies: Corporations are donating to a fund to buy ads to promote privatization. Does anyone think it's because big corporations have the best interest of the people at heart? Privatization will save those businesses money, because they have to pay the employer share of the Social Security tax. They won't have to contribute to the percentage that is privatized. Brokers will be paid a fee out of your account and the transition is estimated to cost $2 billion in the first decade, which will be added to our national debt.

Obituaries for January 31, 2005: Daniel L. Beall, 79, of Las Vegas died Friday in Las Vegas. He was born May 10, 1925, in Orlando, Fla. A resident for 18 years, he was a retired mail carrier and a World War II and Korean War Navy veteran.

Lady Rebels build momentum: Adam Candee; Finally, UNLV enjoyed a conference game that stuck to the script.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Pioneers no longer overlooked: We hear about the miners and the ranchers. We hear about the railroad men and the casino mavericks. We've even heard about the women who, um, kept them all entertained.

Owner admits involvement in formation of operation: Allan Hart earlier said he invested a small amount in the start up of Concord-based International Players Association LLC, but had no involvement in the operations.

Reid slams Bush on Iraq policy: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., had tough words for President Bush today in a Democratic "pre-buttal" to Wednesday's State of the Union.

United pilots ratify contract: Mike Colias; CHICAGO -- United Airlines' pilots today ratified a new contract that would reduce hourly wages 11.8 percent, three days after the carrier's mechanics rejected their tentative deal.

Company buying Canada's Creo: Kodak said today its acquisition of Vancouver-based Creo, the world's biggest maker of printer software, will modestly dilute its earnings this year but will not alter its full-year profit projections of $2.60 to $2.90 a share.

Commercial property owners feel tax bite: Molly Ball; Much ado has been made of the effect on Las Vegas Valley homeowners of increases in property taxes.

News briefs for January 31, 2005: Metro Police this morning were investigating the death of a Las Vegas man found Friday afternoon stabbed in his apartment.

Student's comic strip depicted teacher's death: By Emily Richmond; A Centennial High School student who created a comic strip depicting the violent death of one of his teachers is facing expulsion for the drawings.

Slain Marine was dedicated to job, family: Marine Cpl. Christopher Lee Weaver expected to return from Iraq to his job with Bechtel Nevada's counterterrorism program at the Nevada Test Site in March.

Doctors want to revive medical lawsuit screening: Kirsten Searer; The Clark County Medical Society has sent out a letter to its members saying it will lobby for a new medical screening panel that would examine medical malpractice claims.