Print edition for July 26, 2005

Vegas club takes aim at nationals: Silver State Junior Clay Breakers

State program to help needy with utility bills is swamped: By Timothy Pratt; Southern Nevada residents can call (702) 486-1404 for information about the energy assistance program.

Phone company's quarterly profit rises 18 percent: The gain from the Hawaii sale accounted for almost all the increase in net income to $2.11 billion, or 75 cents a share, from $1.8 billion, or 64 cents, a year earlier. Revenue increased at the slowest pace in five quarters, illustrating the lack of growth that has prompted a majority of analysts tracked by Bloomberg to rate the stock "hold" or lower.

Company's revenue climbs: The company raised its 2005 profit outlook, citing a surge in demand for lodging. Sales rose to $1.56 billion, the 11th consecutive quarterly gain. Net income fell to $145 million, or 65 cents a share, from $154 million, or 72 cents, the White Plains, N.Y.-based company said today in a statement.

Thousands flock to World Market Center: Kevin Rademacher; On the first day of the World Market Center's inaugural Las Vegas market, it wasn't the new, 10-story building or the massive copper waterfall in the lobby that caught attendees' eyes first.

Family reeling from LV woman's death: By Emily Richmond; On the last day of her life, Las Vegas native Kristi Miller celebrated her 27th birthday with her boyfriend in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik, parasailing over the glistening waters of the Red Sea.

$55 billion in loans to be sold to Bank of America: Bank of America will make an initial purchase of $5 billion and will purchase as much as an additional $10 billion each of the five fiscal years from July 2005 to June 2010, the companies said today in a statement.

Labor not leaving AFL-CIO in Nevada: Cy Ryan and Alana Roberts; While a battle rages nationally over the AFL-CIO, a Nevada labor official says unions remain united in this state and will not be splintered by the national fight.

Schmidts take plea agreement: By Matt Pordum; A mother's decision to gamble instead of being at home with her two daughters could lead to eight to 20 years in prison.

Jury to decide if LV man killed in self-defense: By Matt Pordum; A jury will decide this week whether a 62-year-old man acted in self-defense or is simply a cold-blooded killer who shot his roommate and hid the body in a freezer outside his home in July 2004.

Rogers: Gibbons trying to quiet him: State university system Chancellor Jim Rogers says he knows of no other reason an aide for Rep. Jim Gibbons would call members of the Board of Regents other than to "muzzle me" for questioning the congressman's intelligence.

For Coast, practical equals palatable: By Liz Benston; As restaurants with pricey menus become ever bigger profit centers for casinos, the Coast Casinos chain is choosing to stick to a tried-and-true strategy at its upcoming South Coast resort that will instead emphasize value and comfort over glamour.

UMC touts new technology: Michelle Swafford; Digital images recently replaced traditional X-ray and cardiology films at University Medical Center.

Big Time champs get big assist: Steve Guiremand; Defending Reebok Big Time tournament champion Spiece Indy Heat team took the floor at Foothill High School for a key matchup against the Southern California All-Stars and all eyes were focused on 7-foot center Greg Oden.

Metro Police won't be part of Taser lawsuit: David Kihara; Southern Nevada police departments are defending the use of Tasers in light of a federal lawsuit brought by a police department in Illinois accusing Taser International Inc. of not thoroughly testing the device and marketing it as falsely safe.

Sports briefs for July 26, 2005: ESPN+Plus announced Monday that it has selected UNLV's home game Oct. 8 against San Diego State for its Mountain West Conference game of the week, which begins each week at noon.

Hells Angels trial on hold: CARSON CITY -- Concerned about the validity of the criminal indictment, the Nevada Supreme Court on Monday put off the trial of seven Hells Angels accused of murder and other crimes in a bloody battle in 2002 with a rival gang in Laughlin.

Columnist Jeff German: Unions are anything but united: Officially, Nevada labor leaders predicted Monday that labor will be as united as ever in the state.

Sierra Health profit sinks, but number of insured up: Michelle Swafford; Sierra Health Services Inc. announced Monday afternoon that its profit dropped 11.5 percent in the second quarter, but the number of Nevadans it insures continued to rise.

NLV mayor Montandon raised more than $720,000: North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon raised more than $720,000 for his re-election to a third term and has about $200,000 left unspent from the campaign.

Tourist critically injured by CAT bus: A 32-year-old woman visiting Las Vegas from Sydney, Australia, was in critical condition at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center Monday after she was struck by a Citizens Area Transit bus on the Las Vegas Strip, Metro Police said.

House OKs bill creating women's suffrage holiday: Alice Paul, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, all well-known historical figures for their work in the women's suffrage movement, can thank fictional character Kathleen Bowen for the potential holiday.

Hampton overcame spending deficit: Hampton raised slightly more than $42,000 and spent more than $36,000 for the campaign that included a primary in April and general election in June, according to campaign financial reports released by the Henderson city clerk.

Goodman calls for affordable housing: Dan Kulin; Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said Monday the city should "get tough" on developers and demand they provide affordable housing within new developments.

Court: Pregnant casino worker's firing not unlawful: In a 4-3 ruling, the justices -- overturning a lower court's ruling -- said former Atlantic City Hilton employee Christina Gerety was treated no differently than other Hilton employees whose medical conditions caused them to miss more than six months of work in a year.

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

NLV Police say officer observed Taser policy: Officers weren't aware that 18-year-old Ollie Simmons was pregnant, but even if they did, it would not have changed the way they reacted to the situation Sunday at an apartment complex on Cheyenne Avenue near Las Vegas Boulevard.

Automaker to start selling Lexus brand in Japan: Toyota, the biggest seller of luxury cars in the U.S., will rename four existing sedan models under the Lexus brand by 2006, aiming to sell up to 60,000 units a year through 180 dealers in Japan's 120,000 unit luxury vehicle market, the company said in June.

51s end road trip with 9-4 victory: SALT LAKE CITY -- The Las Vegas 51s defeated the Salt Lake Stingers, 9-4, in the final of their Pacific Coast League road trip Monday at Franklin Covey Field.

College football briefs for July 26, 2005: Troy Smith did not break any NCAA rules when he missed a class to attend a football camp sponsored by Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair, the school said Monday.

Federal prosecutors rest case in Lincoln Park retrial: Eric Tucker; WORCESTER, Mass. -- After calling just two witnesses, federal prosecutors rested their case Monday against the Lincoln Park dog track and two former executives, who are charged with conspiring to offer up to $4 million to bribe the speaker of the Rhode Island House through his law firm.

Generic-drug maker to acquire Ivax: The deal will allow the companies to pool their resources at a time when mounting competition is forcing the industry to cut prices and provide a wider range of products. As copies of drugs formerly under patent, generics have become a commodity in the United States and elsewhere, and pharmaceutical companies must operate internationally, analysts said.

Letter: President merely rewarding friends: But look! His mother is tagging along, lending well-rehearsed words of puffery in praise of her son's thoughtful concern for the people.

Fire threatening hundreds of homes near Chukchansi casino: The fire is small -- about 200 acres, or less that one-third of a square mile.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Excalibur poker table quite a deal: I know I'm excited.

Obituaries for July 26, 2005: Evelyn Mae Collyer, 86, of Las Vegas died Friday in Las Vegas. She was born July 27, 1918, in California. A resident for 59 years, she was a secretary for the federal government.

Editorial: Upheaval at AFL-CIO: The dissatisfied unions believe the AFL-CIO's leadership has focused too much on politics and hasn't spent enough resources on organizing workers. Union membership has dwindled precipitously in the United States. Fifty years ago, when the AFL-CIO was formed, about one in three U.S. workers was a union member. Today, just one in 12 private-sector workers belong to a union. Lack of organizing isn't the entire story, though. Part of the decline of unions is because of the changing nature of the workforce, as many factory jobs -- once a key source for union membership -- have disappeared.

Letter: Hours are long, but benefits are low for teachers: What Mr. Lanstyak (and many other people who continue to write letters of this nature) doesn't seem to understand is that teachers work more than 39 weeks of the year. Does anyone really think that all papers get corrected within the working hours of a given school day? Many people may not realize that there is also preparation time, which includes weekends and summers.

Poker boom creates opportunity for magazines: Daniel Yee; ATLANTA -- Bluff magazine routinely reveals a world at the top of the poker craze that few get to see, of millionaire card sharks who spend money with abandon, use $1,000 chips as coasters and fly like rock stars from one glitzy casino to another.

Letter: Court nominee deserves a vote: Once the spin doctors take hold of this nomination, the above facts may be lost in all the rhetoric. Judge Roberts has a sterling record and impeccable character -- items that should not get overlooked in the upcoming mudslinging.

Community briefs for July 26, 2005: A free Health and Wellness Fair will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Lieburn Senior Senior Center, 6230 Garwood Ave.

Editorial: 'Lost' bill costs county: At any given time there are about 100 youths at the county camp. Consistently among that number are about 70 eligible for placement in either of the state's juvenile facilities in Elko and Caliente. Those facilities, however, are at full capacity. Without the county-operated camp, the state would be faced with spending millions for additional space. The camp's budget is $3 million a year, of which the state regularly pays only $342,000. Voy says if the state doesn't find a way to provide the extra $1.4 million for 2005 through 2007, he could, if it came to that, start sentencing ...