Print edition for July 22, 2005

Water Authority OKs cost hikes: The Water Authority board voted 6-0 Thursday to approve a series of cost increases, largely to support capital needs, including a $650 million "third straw" intake at Lake Mead.

Three hurt in small-plane crash: How two U.S. Forest Service employees and a pilot survived the mangled wreck of their twin-engine plane that crashed Thursday as it tried to take off from North Las Vegas Airport remained a mystery today.

Sergeant who pulled driver from burning car honored: Metro Police Sgt. Ruben Hood insists, "I'm not a hero."

Convicted sex offender arrested: Jen Lawson; Metro Police on Wednesday arrested a 58-year-old convicted sex offender on suspicion that he molested three children and recorded the activities using digital and Web cameras.

Up next: Las Vegas 51s (41-57) at Salt Lake Stingers (56-41): Game 2 - TBA vs. Eric Hull (5-5, 3.66 at Double-A)

Thunderstorms sweep across LV: Nature put on a fireworks display to rival a Fourth of July celebration Thursday night as the first thunderstorms from this year's monsoon season swept across the Las Vegas Valley.

GAO to update probe of Yucca Mountain: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The Government Accountability Office will be in Nevada next month to update an investigation on the Yucca Mountain project.

Event is primed to 'exceed expectations': Kevin Rademacher; More than 50,000 furniture retailers, decorators and manufacturers are expected to descend on Las Vegas over the next several days for the first Las Vegas Furniture Market.

America West to curb growth: America West Airlines, the airline that has led growth at McCarran International Airport in the last year, expects to slow the pace in the second half of 2005 as it works to integrate with its merger partner, US Airways.

Jumping through hoops: Nick Christensen; And so it begins.

Golf briefs for July 22, 2005: At Aberdeen, Scotland, Loren Roberts made his Champions Tour debut Thursday with a 1-over 72 at Royal Aberdeen to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Senior British Open.

Agency says it will oppose development group lawsuit: The Southern Nevada Water Authority must oppose a lawsuit filed by a Mexican business development group and U.S. environmental groups that seeks to end water seepage from the All-American Canal in Southern California, the agency head said Thursday.

Changes in property tax bills get mixed reviews: By Ed Koch; For questions about qualifying for the 3 percent cap on a primary residence call (702) 455-3882 or go to accessclarkcounty.com/assessor.

B.C. High grad to command warship: By Emily Richmond; For Cmdr. Deidre McLay, it has been a 23-year trip from valedictorian of her class at Boulder City High School to being named the first woman skipper of a guided-missile destroyer.

Company increases dividend, adds board member: The dividend is payable Aug. 24 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 10.

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

Hells Angels get stay from court: By Matt Pordum; An emergency stay granted by the Nevada Supreme Court, not an expected plea agreement, has put a hold on Monday's trial of the Hells Angels members accused in the fatal Laughlin River Run riot.

Sports briefs for July 22, 2005: American Chelsea Davis hit her face on the diving board during the 3-meter springboard preliminaries today at the World Swimming Championships in Montreal.

Performers given political asylum: By Jerry Fink; The Cuban cast members of "Havana Night Club" were prepared to appear at the Social Security Administration office this morning to apply for Social Security numbers after receiving word their request for political asylum had been granted.

Fishing report: No hot fishing spots on 120-degree days: The Las Vegas Wash Arm continues to be fairly good for boaters fishing with anchovies and surface lures. No luck has been found recently by boaters in the Boulder Beach area.

Nevada company sued over spam e-mails: David Kihara; The Justice Department filed a civil suit in federal court on Wednesday against a Nevada company that allegedly operates Internet sex sites without properly labeling its unsolicited e-mails as "sexually explicit."

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Taking media days one quote at a time: One of these years, one of the players at the Mountain West Conference football media blitz is actually going to say what's on his mind rather than regurgitate the usual rhetoric espoused by their coaches and sports information departments. But it wasn't this year.

Ralph Siraco's Del Mar selections: 1st Race -- ELUSIVE BABE -- P. Val on Ward trainee, draws good box for maiden/claiming sprint, Elusive diploma for Babe? SPACE WALK -- Go go Gomez scales co-owner Lewis trainee, draws outer post for tag dash opener, Space to race and Walk the walk leads to graduation. Value Play -- MUCH

Bradley approaching time to return to parent team: Nick Christensen; Earlier this week, Milton Bradley said he hoped he'd be rejoining the Dodgers today in New York.

County to name Smith fire chief: Stephen Curran; The Clark County Fire Department will have one of its own at the helm after outgoing Chief Earl Greene retires early next year, officials announced Thursday.

Police conduct drug raid at apartments: Eric Leake; Conditions at Monterey Villas, as described by police and residents, have gone from very bad to worse.

News briefs for July 22, 2005: The Nevada Highway Patrol is searching for a 27-year-old Las Vegas man in connection with a hit-and-run wreck that critically injured a bicyclist near Red Rock Canyon on Wednesday.

'Medicare Express' road show to tour Nevada: CARSON CITY -- A road show kicked off Thursday to tell an estimated 292,000 Medicare recipients in Nevada about the benefits and costs of the federal government's new prescription drug program.

Roddick gains quarterfinal: Two-time defending champion Andy Roddick recorded his 12th consecutive victory at the RCA Championships on Thursday night, advancing into the quarterfinals along with three other Americans.

Regulators eye charity event sponsored by online casino: Liz Benston and Richard N. Velotta; This weekend, thousands of military troops stationed in Hawaii are expected to participate in a charity event involving a meet-and-greet with Hollywood stars and a concert by rapper Snoop Dogg.

Insurance commissioner urges defeat of bill: CARSON CITY -- State Insurance Commissioner Alice Molasky-Arman Thursday called on Congress to defeat a bill that would strip the states of regulation over certain health insurance plans.

China marketing campaign wins award: The Nevada Commission on Tourism will receive a 2005 Odyssey Award from the Travel Industry Association of America in October for its efforts to develop a marketing program.

Firm finalizes purchase of land from BLM auction: Along with the $102 million paid on the date of the auction, the transaction totaled $510 million. Focus said it completed the deal with a consortium of home builders, including KB Home, Kimball Hill Homes, Lennar/US Home, Meritage Homes, Pulte Homes, Ryland Homes, Toll Brothers Homes and Woodside Homes.

Nevada keeps jobless rate of 4 percent: CARSON CITY -- Unemployment in June remained at 4 percent in Nevada with an estimated 50,000 persons out of work. The state's 4-percent rate is still below the jobless rate in the nation and in neighboring California.

NLV pastor delivers opening prayer at Senate: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Moments after North Las Vegas pastor Percell Church delivered the opening prayer of today's Senate session, Reid thanked him in remarks on the floor. Reid offered kind praise for the Zion United Methodist Church leader.

Columnist Jeff German: Problems grow for Rizzolo: By Jeff German; The embattled Crazy Horse Too owner showed up Wednesday for that pressure-packed deposition I told you about in the Kirk Henry civil lawsuit against the topless club.

Fair to highlight possible casino jobs: The northern New Mexico pueblo and Peters are seeking approval from the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to build a casino in Anthony.

Plame's 'outing' reduced security: The U.S. is frequently not regarded as a secure intelligence partner. Now, we have the White House and the executive branch involved in blowing the cover of a covert agent.

Obituaries for July 22, 2005: William G. Buckingham, 79, of Henderson died Wednesday in a local care center. He was born June 15, 1926, in Nebraska. A resident for six years, he was a retired corporate pilot and a World War II Navy veteran.

Molestation, stabbing cases combined: By Matt Pordum; Two cases were combined Thursday for a man accused of molesting his wife's 8-year-old daughter and later stabbing the girl's natural father in hopes of preventing him from attending a custody hearing.

Community briefs for July 22, 2005: The American Red Cross and Nevada Recreation and Park Society Aquatics Committee are co-sponsoring the 2005 Southern Nevada Lifeguard and Junior Lifeguard Games July 30.

Storms, fires hurt tortoises, cultural sites: Mojave Desert tortoise habitat and American Indian cultural sites are among the resources hurt by winter storms and threatened by wildfires, a team of 11 specialists said Thursday.

Letter: State GOP must never concede on nuclear dump: We will not have a new nuclear plant online for at least another 10 years, and even if new plants are twice as efficient as the current aged plants, we will need at least 52 more. Instead of heavily subsidizing this large number of plants, why not subsidize alternative technologies that are becoming more realistic with oil at $60 a barrel?

Ex-DMV employee who sold fake ID gets probation: By Matt Pordum; A Department of Motor Vehicles employee caught on tape selling a fake state identification card was sentenced to probation Thursday and will have to disclose her conviction to future employers.

Man convicted of killing wife despite evidence: By Matt Pordum; David Ruffa's reluctant entrance with his sister into court Thursday afternoon will be his last act of freedom for at least 10 years.

Investigation into incorrect lottery draw continues: On June 24 one of the numbers in the live random drawing was reported as 37, although the number drawn actually was 27. The incorrect number was sent to media outlets across the state and posted on the South Carolina Education Lottery Web site.

Horse tracks hit final stretch for electronic-games approval: Sean Murphy; OKLAHOMA CITY -- Two of Oklahoma's horse racing tracks moved closer Thursday to operating electronic gaming machines at their facilities.

Editorial: Detention reforms are needed now: At the center of the inspectors' attention was the detention center's policy of using pepper spray, restraint chairs and room confinement to control suicidal, defiant or violent youths. "The bottom line is that staff often responds with dangerous, punitive and counterproductive methods of control ... that have no place in a properly run detention facility," the inspectors reported.

UNLV art director wins achievement award: Jerry Schefcik, director of UNLV's Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery since 1991, received the award in a ceremony Saturday afternoon at the Charleston Heights Arts Center. The commission also honored local artist Sylvester Collier, a UNLV alumnus.

Company to purchase Managed Care Consultants: Under the terms of the deal announced Wednesday, Cigna would acquire Managed Care's preferred-provider organization that insures about 140,000 Nevadans and its three provider networks associated with those plans.

Blood drives for July 22, 2005: Tuesday: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., St. Rose Dominican Hospitals Siena Campus, 3001 St. Rose Parkway, Henderson; noon-5 p.m., Fiesta Rancho.

Columnist Jerry Fink: Showroom springs up in Chinatown: It's relatively small, a few square blocks of restaurants and other businesses located about a mile west of the Strip on Spring Mountain Road.

Committee hears testimony on allowing more gambling: Others said gambling doesn't help Wyoming's quality of life and doesn't have a place here.

Editorial: Speculation pays off: School district officials maintained that they had gotten a great deal, especially in this hot real estate market, and it now appears they were right. Walt Rulffes, co-interim superintendent of schools, says within weeks after its purchase the district has received offers of up to $18 million to buy the building. Rulffes says the School Board will consider next week what should be done with the building, which currently is unoccupied, including the option of selling it and possibly making a $3.5 million profit or more. It's a smart decision to consider selling and using some of that money on ...

Navajo Council approves revenue-sharing agreement: Delegates from Shiprock, Upper Fruitland and Hogback all voted in favor of the deal, with the exception of Richard Begaye of Shiprock, who was not present for the vote. The measure was approved 47-12, with 29 members not voting.

Judges warned about soliciting: CARSON CITY -- The state Judicial Discipline Commission is warning judges they should not use pressure tactics to get campaign contributions from lawyers, especially those with cases before the judge.

Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Like father, like son: Barnhart joins family business: Lisa Ferguson; It was natural for Don Barnhart Jr. to follow in the footsteps of his father, Hollywood director/producer Don Barnhart, who helmed such sitcoms as "Mork & Mindy," "Benson" and "Saved By The Bell," among others.

Letter: Bush's same old tune is tiresome: July 23-24, 2005

Columnist Jeff German: State holds breath as national labor splits: WEEKEND EDITION

Editorial: So much for competition: July 23-24, 2005

King of 'Las Vegas': Kirk Baird; WEEKEND EDITION

Datebook for July 22, 2005: Las Vegas presents an "Old Time Barn Dance" from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Charleston Heights Center Ballroom, 800 S. Brush St. Admission is $6 adults, $5 members, $3 students and active military, free for children under 15. 229-6383.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Feminist trio Le Tigre promises serious fun at HOB: Spencer Patterson; Sounds pretty heavy, huh? But in the hands of Kathleen Hanna, Johanna Fateman and JD Samson, serious messages are conveyed with a wink and a smile.

Lack of finances shouldn't keep kids from camp: July 23-24, 2005

Columnist Susan Snyder: Miss Nevada states case in crusade: WEEKEND EDITION

In the middle of the road, Rudner is in cruise control: She looks feminine. She sounds feminine. She sees the world through feminine eyes. "Men like cars and women like clothes," she deadpans during her popular show, which celebrated its fourth anniversary at New York-New York on April 20. "I like cars because they take me to clothes."

Latest 'Potter' an all-consuming force: It has become a sickness.

How R&R spends its $67.4 million LVCVA budget: WEEKEND EDITION

Editorial: A hero among heroes: July 23-24, 2005

'What happens here' has been used elsewhere: By Steve Kanigher; WEEKEND EDITION

Philharmonic awards scholarships to young Las Vegas Valley musicians: Violinist James Reinarz, clarinetist Lindsay Lozito and flutist Kevin Wu were selected out of the five competing finalists.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Harrowing time on high seas: WEEKEND EDITION

Rap rise: Hip-hop's evolution pushes most controversial stars atop charts: Spencer Patterson; Consider that N.W.A, generally credited with launching the genre in the mid-1980s, couldn't get its songs onto the radio most anywhere in America.

On Display for July 22, 2005: Artist Susan Bowen's digital panoramic photographs will be displayed until Aug. 1 at CCSN's Performing Arts Center, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. Admission is free. 651-4205.

Letter: Teachers' benefits package is plenty: July 23-24, 2005

Guest columnist David Mills: Teach children scientific theory, not myths: WEEKEND EDITION

For a taste of the Groovies, order 'Shake': Spencer Patterson; The Flamin' Groovies were perhaps the strangest of the many strange bands born in the psychedelic haze of late-1960s San Francisco.

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Judging the judge: WEEKEND EDITION

Performing Arts for July 22, 2005: Concerts

A feeling for tradition: WEEKEND EDITION

Columnist Jerry Fink: Prima Jr. passionately protects the Prima legacy: By Jerry Fink; The late jazz singer and trumpeter was an icon of the Entertainment Capital of the World in the '50s and '60s, a tireless performer who became a lounge legend.