Print edition for July 20, 2005

Elite talent converges on Vegas: Nick Christensen; Pangos Midnight Madness

Sports briefs for July 20, 2005: The United States improved to No. 6 in FIFA's rankings today, the Americans' best showing in the monthly ratings by soccer's governing body.

Court refuses to reconsider its Costco decision: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court Tuesday refused to reconsider its decision that ordered more hearings in a suit that claimed Costco sold contaminated meat that may have cause food poisoning at an outdoor family party in Reno.

Editorial: Better pay for teachers: Nevertheless, many of the positions will go unfilled and the district will depend heavily on substitute teachers, even for core subjects such as math. The reliance on substitutes -- the district needs about 5,000 of them to fill short- and long-term openings -- was evident last week. A new series of commercials aimed at attracting substitutes to the district was readied for airing. Inability to attract full-time teachers to fill every position has been a problem for years. Today, however, the problem is made worse by the high cost of housing in the Las Vegas Valley.

Fight schedule: THURSDAY

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Commish steers MWC toward prominence: CORONADO, Calif. -- After listening to Craig Thompson's annual state of the Mountain West address Tuesday, it became evident that the sports writers gorging themselves at the nonstop courtesy meals during the conference's football media blitz aren't really the ones with the most on their plate.

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

Court TV covers trial: Court TV Extra is a new online service that brings subscribers multiple live video feeds from courtrooms across the country at a cost of $5.95 per month.

Letter: Defense of Rove is not believable: Exposing a CIA operative's identity could endanger their life under certain circumstances. The fact that Wilson's wife worked clandestinely at the CIA in the area of WMD adds a degree of danger to betraying her cover.

Company sues former exec for taking job with Google: The Redmond-based software power also sued the executive, Kai-Fu Lee, whose appointment Google trumpeted in a news release announcing the lab's establishment.

Letter: Nominee can't be expected to unite country: It's the president who makes the nominations, not the Senate. But now, with another nomination in view, we had Democrats threatening filibusters. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid recently said, "It's up to the president to nominate someone who will unite the country." How absurd. Uniting or dividing the country is not something that is involved in the nomination of a justice to the Supreme Court.

Lawsuit challenges California canal project: David Kihara; Proposed construction on parts of the 80-mile All-American Canal in Southern California will seriously reduce the amount of Colorado River water reaching Mexico, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court in Las Vegas on Tuesday.

Editorial: A reform for justice: Clark County Manager Thom Reilly called upon court officials to establish an official definition of poor. He also directed them to devise a method of verifying the financial status of defendants who ask for a public attorney. The officials hope to have a definition and a fair verification method in place by fall. A sworn affidavit will be part of the method, with penalties attached if defendants are found to have lied.

Guilty plea entered in student's death: By Matt Pordum; A 22-year-old Las Vegas man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Tuesday for the the killing of a UNLV student in her apartment in June 2003.

Chinese appliance maker drops bid to buy Maytag: Maytag said in a statement late Tuesday that Haier America, a subsidiary of Haier Group Ltd., had informed it that the company and partners Bain Capital and Blackstone Group would no longer pursue their bid.

Ralph Siraco's Del Mar selections: 1st Race -- BURNING AFFAIR -- Draws middle post for mile opener, Espinoza on co-owner Dominguez trainee, beach right for a Burning Affair? ALISSA'S ATM -- Draws outside box for two-turn claimer, go go Gomez scales Hines trainee, sans blinkers for this try. Value Play -- LADY'S CAPER

Man gets 6 to 15 years for killing co-burglar: By Matt Pordum; One of two men facing charges in the killing of a third burglar while the three searched the home for a woman who owed them money was sentenced Tuesday to six to 15 years in prison and a year in jail.

Obituaries for July 20, 2005: Barbara Momo "Bobbie" Aquino, 63, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospice. She was born March 5, 1942, in Honolulu. A resident for seven years, she was a homemaker.

Columnist Adam Candee: Summer golf has its peaks and valleys: Adam Candee; Some might wonder what kind of idiot ignores all 115 degrees of Las Vegas heat and chooses to schedule a 12:20 p.m. tee time in July.

Columnist Peter Benton: Las Vegan makes it to U.S. Senior Open: Peter Benton; If you were one of the hundreds of "rabbits" pursuing a life on any of the professional golf tours, you would be guaranteed to face a harrowing, frustrating, and at times, incredibly challenging lifestyle.

Consultants will verify accuracy of blasting study: The Henderson City Council said Tuesday it's hiring two consultants to verify the accuracy of a city-sponsored study that blamed weather rather than construction blasting for damage to homes in the community.

Reid, Ensign speak out: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., wants to review Supreme Court nominee John Roberts' record, but Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., already sees him fit for the job.

Community briefs for July 20, 2005: The Henderson Parks and Recreation Department will host an excursion to Long Beach, Calif., Aug. 13 for a visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific and the Queen Mary.

Juvenile detention center practices 'deplorable': Molly Ball; Practices at the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center are "deplorable" and "appalling," with a severe lack of mental health services and an overly punitive approach, two national nonprofit groups said after an inspection.

Philanthropist Goffstein dies at 81: When chorus line dancer Dottie Goffstein was ordered by an executive at the El Rancho Vegas in 1951 to mingle with the gamblers after a performance, she refused and instead went to the bar alone and ordered a Coke.

Investigation continues into drive-by shooting that injured 4-year-old girl: Lt. John Alamshaw of Metro's violent crimes section said the girl's father, Rock Orpez, had left a friend's house and was heading home on I-15 north about 9:50 p.m. when a red sport utility vehicle passed and fired several shots at his Honda Accord.

TCU brings swagger despite down year: Steve Guiremand; CORONADO, Calif. --- TCU has won at least 10 games in three of its past five seasons.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Cancer institute's benefit is quite a racquet: Elizabeth Foyt; With matches played at Spanish Trail and Red Rock country clubs, the fundraiser also included a festive players party on Saturday evening.

More Vegas flights propel Southwest into B gates: By Richard N. Velotta; When Southwest Airlines pressed past 200 daily flights to and from McCarran International Airport this week, it also forced the airline to move into new territory -- the airport's B gates.

Auditor urges investigation of airport appraiser: Stephen Curran; The Las Vegas real estate appraiser at the center of what county auditors say are questionable land transactions should have to answer to state regulators, according to a report presented Tuesday.

Schools' chiefs get big raises: By Emily Richmond; For taking on duties as co-interim superintendents of the Clark County School District, Agustin Orci and Walt Rulffes are getting raises of nearly $70,000 each.

Heat wave continues to scorch LV Valley: By Mary Manning; 117 degrees: July 24, 1942, and July 19, 2005

Former Caesars Palace chief appointed COO: Juliano was most recently president of Caesars Palace, which was purchased along with Caesars Entertainment Inc. assets last month by Harrah's Entertainment Inc. Trump Entertainment is a newly reorganized company that emerged from bankruptcy with plans to reinvest in its aging Atlantic City casinos. The company is no longer helmed by developer Donald Trump, who remains board chairman.

Las Vegas housing stays hot thanks to short supply: Kevin Rademacher; Recent economic reports have warned of possible stagnation overtaking the red-hot Las Vegas housing market.

'White Peoples Party' forms: CARSON CITY -- A new political party, whose goal is to eliminate affirmative action and other government programs that help minorities, has been formed in Las Vegas.

News briefs for July 20, 2005: An argument over noise coming from an apartment at Nellis and Las Vegas boulevards led to a fatal stabbing Tuesday, Metro Police said.

Official: Britain keeping eye on Nevada: Michelle Swafford; Clark County and other parts of the southwest are important to the United Kingdom's business community, a British official said Tuesday.

Water agency eyes office in Lincoln: The Southern Nevada Water Authority's efforts to sway public opinion will continue Thursday as the agency considers buying an office in Pioche, the Lincoln County seat.

DOE: Yucca document collection facing another delay: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- During arguments made before a Nuclear Regulatory Commission panel on Tuesday, lawyers for the Energy Department said that the department's final document collection for the Yucca Mountain project may be delayed for up to another six months.

Patriot Fund in need of donors: Kirsten Searer; To donate

Markling to head Enforcement Division: Markling, who has been the chief deputy of the division for nine years, will succeed Keith Copher who is retiring after 24 years with the board.

Columnist Jeff German: Rizzolo to feel long arm of law: Back in April, I reported that Rizzolo and federal prosecutors had gotten serious about striking a deal to resolve a decade-long racketeering investigation FBI agents built against him.

Ensign aims to keep casinos from native Hawaiians: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., has blocked a historic bill that eventually would give native Hawaiians sovereign status.

Las Vegas carrier plans north Texas route: Flights will begin Sept. 16 and operate Mondays and Fridays on twin-engine 150-passenger MD-80 series jets.

Replica of famous LV sign OK'd: The Clark County Commission on Tuesday approved a donation from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority of another "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign for the busy corridor.

Tourists seek relief from heat: Eric Leake; There was little refuge Tuesday afternoon for tourists, who ventured onto the Strip only to find themselves in a furnace.

Murder trial under way for roommate of man found buried in apartment floor: By Matt Pordum; Relatives of 52-year-old Robert Wilson testified Tuesday that during the months that they were worried about why they couldn't reach him, his former roommate, Gregory Stiegler, gave them varying stories about Wilson's disappearance.

Former lottery employee indicted in fraud case: Taneil Gage, 33, was charged with theft by a public servant June 28 and faces up to two years in state jail if convicted. She was free on $3,500 bond.

National Cattle Congress seeks state gaming license: NCC officials said the nonprofit group should be grandfathered in because it held a gambling license 11 years ago.

Reid establishes faith site: WASHINGTON -- Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has launched a "faith Web site:" http://democrats.senate.gov/faith.html.

Regulators approve sale of Shreveport casino: Eldorado, based in Reno, received approval Monday to buy the casino from a federal bankruptcy judge in Shreveport. Eldorado officials said they plan to rebrand the casino to something similar to its casino in Reno.

Henderson picks new police chief: The head of the Los Angeles School District Police was been named Henderson's next police chief Tuesday by Henderson City Manager Phil Speight.

Driver's license plan in jeopardy: CARSON CITY -- A drive by Nevada officials to encourage motorists to renew their driver's licenses outside offices of the state Department of Motor Vehicles could be in jeopardy.

Cause of boat fire still being investigated: Two men, one 16-years-old, were airlifted from Callville Bay to the University Medical Center Burn Unit where they were reported in critical condition, National Park Service spokeswoman Roxanne Dey said late Tuesday.

Second trial begins in Lincoln Park case: Eric Tucker; WORCESTER, Mass. -- Two former executives affiliated with Lincoln Park conspired in meetings and by fax to propose a bribe aimed at winning support for more gambling machines at their greyhound racing track, a federal prosecutor said.

Texan to challenge Ensign for Republican leadership post: WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, appears likely to challenge Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., in his bid for a post in Senate Republican leadership, setting up a battle of freshmen senators.

Alaska video poker push a family affair: Matt Volz; JUNEAU, Alaska -- The main sponsor of an initiative proposal to bring video poker to Alaska is the mother of a controversial racetrack owner who has pushed for gambling initiatives in other states, including Maine.