Print edition for July 28, 2005

Profit more than doubles on asset sales, tax audit benefit: The upscale hotel operator reported net income of $202 million, or 49 cents per share, compared with $75 million, or 19 per share, in the year-ago period.

Company said to be considering sale: The news is the latest in a series of twists for DreamWorks, a company co-founded in 1994 by Spielberg, the music mogul David Geffen and the film executive Jeffrey Katzenberg. More than a decade after opening its doors, DreamWorks has not turned out to be the media giant the founders had hoped it would be.

PacifiCare profit up 21.8%: Michelle Swafford; PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. today reported that an increase in Medicare and commercial membership raised its profit by 21.8 percent in the second quarter.

Power plant work ahead of schedule: Kevin Rademacher; Regulators and decision makers in the financial markets have been closely watching the progress of Nevada Power Co. as its works to complete a partially constructed power plant it purchased in 2004.

Henderson Mayor Gibson to run for governor: Three-term Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson told his colleagues on the City Council this week that he will seek the Democratic nomination for governor, setting up a likely three-way battle that pits the mayor against a key Henderson Police official.

Holdout threats report on time: Shaun Alexander and Edgerrin James, two of the NFL's best running backs, have brightened their teams' outlooks, one by signing on the dotted line, one by simply showing up.

Wife killer gets life in prison without parole: By Matt Pordum; A prosecutor said Wednesday that finally after roughly three years and five months of waiting, justice has been served to David Ruffa in the killing of his estranged wife.

Nevada regulator joins compliance committee: The six-member committee is responsible for overseeing compliance with all gaming regulations governing the company.

Witness describes body in freezer: By Matt Pordum; A female drinking buddy of Lawrence Pruett said it wasn't until after the pair saw a freezer in his yard that Pruett told her his roommate had not left Las Vegas, but instead was dead and on ice.

MGM Mirage to spend 'hundreds of millions' on property upgrades: By Liz Benston; MGM Mirage executives said today the company will embark on an aggressive capital spending program to upgrade its newly purchased Mandalay Resort Group casinos by adding noncasino attractions such as restaurants, retail stores, lounges and entertainment venues as well as upgrading casino floors and hotel rooms.

Rogers' remarks causing rift: Ed Koch and David Kihara; A little tension seems to be developing in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood.

No Boston-to-Canada ferry service this year: Several months of negotiations to bring the Scotia Prince ferry to Boston for trips to Shelburne, Nova Scotia, ended this week with the ship's owners, Scotia Prince Cruises, rejecting a proposal from the Boston investors group Shores Atlantic LLC.

R&R trademark suit to continue in Reno: A trademark infringement lawsuit that R&R Partners Inc. of Las Vegas filed against a California clothier will proceed in U.S. District Court in Reno after a settlement conference Wednesday ended without resolution.

Bush's LV land grab is losing its grip: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration proposal to funnel the profits from the sale of public lands in Clark County from Nevada to federal coffers is down -- but not out, several lawmakers said.

DMV shifting vacant positions to Reno office: Cy Ryan and Eric Leake; Solving a growing problem of long waits at a Reno Department of Motor Vehicles office by taking proposed positions from Southern Nevada might be like robbing Peter to pay Paul.

More county schools fail to show progress: By Emily Richmond; (* denotes Title I school)

Hard Rock reports record quarterly profit: Hard Rock Hotel Inc., which owns and operates the hotel and casino, said it reported profit of $4 million in the second quarter ended June 30 compared with $650,000 in the same quarter a year ago.

Lightning strike knocks out lottery ticket terminals: The lightning struck an online vendor facility in the Harrisburg area at about 4:25 p.m., Pennsylvania Lottery security director Jim Morgan said. The bolt damaged control equipment for a high-speed data line that allows the lottery machines to operate in convenience stores, at newsstands and in other locations, Morgan said.

Planners propose zoning changes to allow casinos: The proposal by city planners, unveiled Tuesday, would allow a casino to be built on areas of the North Shore, the South Side and downtown that aren't now zoned for it. Only three of the seven proposed sites for a possible casino in Pittsburgh have the proper zoning.

Airport to only get 25 new screeners: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The Transportation Security Administration has authorized McCarran International Airport to have 1,079 security screeners, but will not be adding 247 new employees as reported Wednesday.

Valuable casino license caught in knot of suits: Maura Kelly Lannan; CHICAGO -- Here's how complicated things have gotten in the legal battles over bankrupt Emerald Casino:

Abused woman, 87, was 'barely' kept alive: By Matt Pordum; If not for a Henderson Police officer's decision to investigate a suspicious van on the side of the road in January, no one might ever have known what happened to 87-year-old Carol Dalton.

Survey: 62 percent have unfavorable view of Yucca: Stephen Curran; The proposed high-level nuclear waste dump 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas could provide some unwanted relief for would-be homeowners stifled by rising housing costs, a Clark County-sponsored survey found.

Station plans residential high rise in Summerlin: By Liz Benston; Station Casinos Inc. said today it intends to build a residential high rise on eight acres of land next to its Red Rock Resort in Summerlin.

Obituaries for July 28, 2005: Marcelino Arca Sr., 89, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local care center. He was born June 2, 1916, in the Philippines. A resident for 14 years, he was a retired musician.

S. Nevada hospital operators' profit rises: Michelle Swafford; Two Southern Nevada hospital operators reported strong profitability.

Wildfire in Sloan Canyon contained: Fire investigators are expected to determine whether it was a lightning strike or another cause that ignited the fire burning south of Henderson, BLM spokeswoman Kirsten Cannon said.

First case of Nevadan with West Nile detected: CARSON CITY -- The first case of a human infected with West Nile virus in Nevada this year has been detected, the state Health Division said Wednesday.

Lack of black jurors halts boxer's trial: By Matt Pordum; The bell didn't ring to start WBC lightweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s trial on Wednesday.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Mayorga turns to Judah to improve defense: Long known as an offensive-minded power puncher, former world welterweight champion Ricardo Mayorga is adding a new skill to his repertoire, one he has seldom displayed in his impressive yet sometimes tumultuous career.

Sports briefs for July 28, 2005: UNLV fans can buy tickets to this season's road games directly from the university beginning Aug. 1, the athletics department announced Wednesday.

'Pets for the Elderly' concept benefits both: Eric Leake; Dorothy Rathbone already had decided, for numerous reasons, to adopt a pet before she visited the Lied Animal Shelter.

Local duo picked for competition in reality series for racecar drivers: Local racers Matt Jaskol and Scott Lynch are well aware of the path Las Vegas native Kurt Busch took from The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to NASCAR stardom.

Letter: More practical alternative fuels must be priority: The problem here is that one must deal with reality, and the reality is politics and pragmatics, not defeatism. Perna also talks about safety issues only in the context of nuclear but says nothing about safety and other problems associated with 6 billion people on our planet burning fossil fuels. Nuclear waste is already here to stay. If you have 80,000 tons of waste, will 160,000 tons make that much of a difference?

Letter: CCSD pay raises are outrageous: Obviously, someone doesn't understand organizational design (two superintendents?) and what these jobs are really worth, compared to the average wage in Las Vegas.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Food news is fun to snack on: At one of the six Pennsylvania high schools studied researchers noted that 380 pepperoni pizzas were ordered daily, on average, when nutritional information was not posted.

Friday's horse racing entries: Post Time 4 p.m.

Red Cross offers flood safety tips: For more information, call 791-3311 or visit the Website www.redcrosslasvegas.org

Editorial: An extraordinary feat: Maddux, who won four straight Cy Young Awards in the 1990s, has been equally impressive for how he has carried himself throughout his career -- he has been a true sportsman. He is an intense competitor, but he doesn't showboat and doesn't engage in trash-talking like so many other professional athletes today. Maddux simply goes out and does his job. We wish more kids would emulate Maddux, a terrific role model.

Marine returns home from Iraq: Dick Benoit; Lance Cpl. Kenneth Finley Jr., son of Donna Finley of Henderson, along with his fellow Marines of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division, recently returned to home base in Madison Wis., from a deployment in Iraq.

Vegas judge tosses out Mayweather jury pool: Christina Almeida; LAS VEGAS -- The domestic violence trial of world champion boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. was delayed Wednesday after a judge dismissed the jury pool because of a lack of black jurors.

LV man pleads guilty to tax evasion: George Rodriguez pleaded guilty Tuesday before U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan to one count of attempt to evade or defeat tax, a felony, said Daniel G. Bogden, U.S. attorney for Nevada.

State ethics panel clears Goodman on complaint: By Cy Ryan; CARSON CITY -- Mayor Oscar Goodman withheld any comment after a panel of the state Ethics Commission cleared him Wednesday of a complaint that he used his office to help his lawyer-son in trying to buy downtown Las Vegas property near a redevelopment area.

Hectic schedule tougher on Venus than first round: Venus Williams has taken 11 flights since her thrilling Wimbledon title 3 1/2 weeks ago, making media appearances all over the country and launching a new reality show with sister Serena.

Complaint against Maxfield dismissed: CARSON CITY -- A panel of the state Ethics Commission on Wednesday dismissed a complaint against Clark County Commissioner Chip Maxfield, who had been accused of voting on a zoning change involving his future in-laws.

Roberts' confirmation should have little effect on Sandoval nomination: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- President Bush's nomination of Attorney General Brian Sandoval to be a U.S. District Court judge is in no danger of being significantly delayed by the Senate's focus on confirming Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, several sources said.

Pedestrian safety targeted in NLV police checkpoints: Annie Flanzraich; Convincing drivers to give pedestrians the right of way is the goal for North Las Vegas Police when officers are stationed at various locations in city next week.

Automaker's profit unexpectedly rises 24%: Net income climbed 24 percent to 613 billion won ($595 million) in the three months ended June 30 from a year earlier, the Seoul-based carmaker said in a statement today. Nine analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial estimated profit to fall 12 percent to 448 billion won. Sales and operating profit declined on higher costs of steel and a stronger won currency.

Ralph Siraco's Del Mar selections: 1st Race -- LUCKY STAB -- Draws good inside post for mile opener, Solis scales Headley trainee, take a Lucky Stab here. TERESITA -- Draws alongside top pick for two-turn maiden run, Espinoza on Baffert trainee for owners Bob & Beverly Lewis, barn got off to hot start at meet. Value Play -- THE WAGERS OF SIN

Editorial: Energy bill falls short: The early word is that U.S. dependence on foreign oil will not be reduced by the bill. And the word comes not only from those with environmental and liberal leanings, traditional critics of Bush, but from a well-known conservative group, the Heritage Foundation. In a story this week the Washington Post quoted Ben Lieberman, who tracks energy issues for the group, as saying, "We'll be dependent on the global market for more than half our oil as long as we're using oil, and the energy bill isn't going to change that."

SCORE desert race festivities begin tonight: The inaugural SCORE Las Vegas Terrible's Cup I desert race, being held Friday and Saturday nights at the dirt track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, kicks off tonight with a pair of events at the Fremont Street Experience.

Women to get awards from Action Network: The 2005 recipients are: Barbara Robinson, Southern Nevada Workforce Investment Board; Las Vegas Councilman Lois Tarkanian; state Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus; Gail Burks, Nevada Fair Housing Center; JuJuan Morris, Nevada Partners and Culinary Training Academy; Evelyn Washington, Kermit L. Waters Law Firm; Jackie Ingram, Wells Fargo Bank.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Beard set to make debut with Fuller's NHRA team: After a month layoff during which he missed two NHRA national events, Las Vegas resident Rod Fuller is eager to get back in the cockpit of his David Powers Motorsports Top Fuel dragster this weekend at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

Atlas experiment held at Nevada Test Site: A powerful pulse of electrical current crushed an aluminum shell at the Nevada Test Site on Wednesday, the first experiment on a transplanted laboratory generator designed to test materials similar to those used in nuclear weapons.