Print edition for June 22, 2005

Airbus picks Mobile, Ala. for new factory: The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. selected the Alabama site over Melbourne, Fla.; Kiln, Miss.; and North Charleston, S.C.

Officials scramble to battle blazes: Federal, state and local officials this morning were scrambling to respond to wildfires sparked by overnight thunderstorms in Clark County.

Officials: State running out of roadwork money: CARSON CITY -- In three years, the state won't have enough money to build and maintain enough roads for its booming population, particularly in Southern Nevada, state officials said Tuesday.

Public TV, radio face cutbacks: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- A House bill that cuts federal money for public broadcasting would slice the budgets of KLVX Channel 10 by $250,000 and trim about $420,000 from the budget of Las Vegas public radio station KNPR.

Firefighters battle blazes across Nevada: AP; More than 300 firefighters were battling the Badger fire in Brunswick Canyon southeast of Carson City, assisted by two air tankers, three helicopters and four bulldozers. It was 65 percent contained by midday Wednesday, fire spokesman Kirk Frosdick said.

Obituaries for June 22, 2005: Violet M. Byrd, 87, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. She was born Nov. 17, 1917, in Jonesboro, Ark. A resident for 10 years, she was a retired sales clerk and a member of the Ungava chapter 106 of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Columnist Peter Benton: Do yourself a favor, and protect your skin: Peter Benton; It was just a couple of years ago this space was dedicated to the trials, tribulations and trauma of a person afflicted with skin cancer -- and it was all about yours truly.

Former UNLV hotel school professor Basile dies: In 1969, as the Council on Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Education was planning its national convention in Philadelphia, its organizer died, thrusting Richard Basile into the position of quickly putting the event together.

Community briefs for June 22, 2005: The Nevada Army National Guard will host an open house 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Clark County Armory, 6400 N. Range Road. The open house is free and open to the public.

Columnist Adam Candee: Surprise winners are a treat, but not for long: Adam Candee; So you know all about U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell's perseverance, heritage, injuries, thoughts, hopes and dreams by now, right?

Las Vegas developer commended for charity's work: John Ritter, CEO of Focus Property Group and head of the Ritter Charitable Trust, and partner Hilary Westrom compiled a collection of what they called "life skills" meant to help those teens who, once they reach 18 years old, are often "thrown out with a garbage bag of their meager belongings" with little financial or emotional help, Westrom said.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Service is a day at the beach: Spa sleuths may have yet to uncover such programs as Pure Indulgence, eight hours of treatments custom designed by your own personal spa therapist, and Ceremonial Rituals for the Bride -- personalized treatments designed for the bride-to-be.

Editorial: Red-hot concerns: With the concert scheduled for July 2, when the temperature is apt to be 100 degrees or more, the move to a grassy area was necessary. The parking lot would have radiated heat throughout the anticipated crowd of 50,000-plus. Additionally, traffic control would have been extremely difficult in that already congested area off the Strip.

Man accused of molesting faces more charges: By Matt Pordum; A 41-year-old Las Vegas shuttle driver already facing charges of molesting two 13-year-old girls after luring them into a closet with a promise of lollipops is now accused of molesting a relative.

Chaos erupts in court's hallway after sentencing: By Matt Pordum; The sentencing of two people who killed a 57-year-old man turned into a screaming and slapping match between their relatives in the hallways of the courthouse Tuesday.

Teen, shot during mom's slaying six weeks ago, dies: The 18-year-old Coronado High School senior who was shot along with his mother in their Green Valley Ranch home six weeks ago was taken off life support and died Monday, authorities said.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Patrick not concerned about F1 boss's foot in mouth: As if Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone didn't have enough problems this past weekend with his ill-fated attempt to stage a full-field race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he managed to offend at least half the world's population with an appallingly ignorant comment directed at women.

Report: Shortage of doctors still a problem in Nevada: CARSON CITY -- A record 538 doctors were admitted to practice in Nevada last year but that still isn't keeping keeping pace with the population growth, the state Board of Medical Examiners said.

Ralph Siraco's Hollywood Park selections: 1st Race -- S S STRANGE -- Draws middle post in small five-horse route claimer, Baze aboard Mitchell trainee, S S sails into winners circle? LONE PRAIRIE -- Draws rail box for two-turn sophomore tag run, Espinoza on young Stute trainee, Lone victory on Prairie Avenue? Value Play -- PEAKTOPEAK

Ford cuts forecast; ratings may be cut: Bill Koenig; Ford Motor Co.'s credit ratings may be lowered after the automaker cut its 2005 earnings forecast for the second time this year, Standard & Poor's said.

County starts work to cut airport noise: Stephen Curran; The Clark County Aviation Department on Tuesday launched the year-long process designed to keep window-rattling at a minimum for homes near the fast-growing McCarran International Airport.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Rodman honored for years of philanthropic work: Elizabeth Foyt; The gala, presented by the Food & Beverage Directors Association of Las Vegas, funds the organization's scholarships for students pursuing careers in culinary and hospitality. The benefit also covers costs for educational outreach at high schools with culinary programs and provides gifts to charities serving underprivileged youth.

Profit falls 24 percent: After the news, shares of Morgan Stanley rose 23 cents to $51.20 in pre-market trading.

Animal research at UNLV problem-free: UNLV researcher Stanley Hillyard gets excited about the drinking habits of desert toads.

Politicians likely to kill N.J. video gambling: "This bill is not going to go anywhere," Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Roberts, a Camden Democrat, said in an interview. "Although this holds out the promise of yielding additional revenue, it would do so by threatening the very survival of the investment that's been made in Atlantic City."

News briefs for June 22, 2005: The man who died in Metro Police custody after being stunned with a Taser gun outside of the Western Hotel on June 6 has been identified as 47-year-old Russell Walker.

Mathis to run for governor on gambling platform: If elected, Mathis said he will try to bring casinos to Alabama and would tax them to help fund health care, prisons and state troopers.

MLB official denies story told by Rose: In a feature that ran in Tuesday's edition of the Sun, Rose said, as per MLB requests, he did not go to Cooperstown the last three years, but that he planned to hold such an event there late next month.

Sports briefs for June 22, 2005: Myron Cope, whose screechy-voiced antics and towel-waving enthusiasm became nationally known during the Pittsburgh Steelers' string of Super Bowl championships in the 1970s, is retiring after 35 years as a team announcer.

Royal Bleu: Ahuja's European experiences reflected in new Vegas restaurant: Ken Miller; Just ask Sonny Ahuja, the owner/operator of Bleu Gourmet, a European fusion restaurant he opened in Summerlin in December.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Kruger says NBA age rule has little impact: If there is going to be a trickle down effect to the NBA's decision Tuesday of putting a 19-year-old minimum age limit on its players, Lon Kruger said it won't make it as far as Maryland Parkway in Las Vegas.

Ensign eyes key Republican post: WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., is maneuvering to win a Senate Republican leadership post next year.

Slides for 51s, Dodgers related: Nick Christensen; Cashman Field 7:05 p.m. Today-Friday Radio: all games on 1460 and 870-AM

Letter: Treat limos the same as taxis: Currently, taxicab drivers receive very little in the way of "kickbacks" from adult establishments, with the bulk of this money going to the hotel doormen and the limo drivers. This is because the limo drivers are allowed to wait on a hotel property and make deals with the doormen for those "special" rides. Most of these fares would arrive at the clubs in taxis if not for this unregulated diversion by the doormen. The bill Gov. Kenny Guinn vetoed was designed to allow only the limo drivers to receive these tips.

Letter: It's capitalism, not a kickback: The practice has been referred to in both positive and negative ink as a kickback. Yet it can't be a kickback because that requires an amount having been paid previously. Some negative ink has called it extortion. Extortion requires a threat and a reward to stymie that threat.

Letter: Troops effectively keeping us secure: To compare Gitmo to Nazi camps is also a slap in the face to the few remaining former World War II POWs who are still alive.

Columnist Jeff German: NLV police chief misses ethics point: Local ethics expert Craig Walton says he's "astounded" that the chief sees nothing wrong with the hiring of a North Las Vegas councilwoman's daughter as an intern at his department.

Rogers names Mason to head programs: Rogers named Larry Mason, the dean of student affairs and community outreach, to lead activities related to its "seamless education" plans, he said. Mason is the dean of student affairs and community outreach at CCSN and he's the president of the Clark County School Board.

Woman shot dead by Henderson police: Eric Leake; A woman whom Henderson Police said pointed a sawed-off shotgun at four officers was shot dead Tuesday night on Sunset Road, police said.

Anti-gambling leader urges community to reject casino: "This is bigger than just Pennsylvania now ... because of where they've chosen to put it," the Rev. Tom Grey, executive director of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, said at a public meeting Monday night. "It's a definitive battle in terms of how far America is prepared to go with gambling."

Editorial: White collar; blue future: Why these and other recently charged or convicted corporate executives have reason to be concerned has to do with prison sentences that were handed down on Monday. John Rigas, 80, who founded Adelphia Communications Corp. in 1952 and turned it into the nation's sixth-largest cable company, was sentenced to 15 years by an unsympathetic federal judge in Manhattan. Rigas' son, Timothy, who served as the company's chief financial officer, was sentenced to 20 years. The two were convicted last July of bank fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy. Unknown to investors and securities officials, over time father and son had diverted ...

Nevada Power to buy Apex plant: Kevin Rademacher; Officials with Nevada Power Co. said on Tuesday that the company will buy a 75 percent stake in the Silverhawk Power Station north of Las Vegas for about $208 million.

Common sense can help protect users against credit card fraud: Ellen Simon; NEW YORK -- You may not be able to keep hackers or dishonest employees out of your credit card processors' office, but you can keep thieves from filching your credit card information from the garbage.

Expanded gambling may help Kansas school crisis: Carl Manning; TOPEKA, Kan. -- Expanded gambling won't mean instant riches for the state, but it could provide enough revenue in time to satisfy a state Supreme Court mandate that legislators quickly come up with more money for public schools.

Letter: Garage sales laws really are needed: It is obvious that Bolander has never been exposed to some of the hard-core garage-sale folks here in Las Vegas. Three months ago I sold my house and purchased a new home elsewhere. I couldn't help it. My next-door neighbor constantly covered her frontyard, from sidewalk to front door, with junk. She acquired this debris by "Dumpster diving" at night and then having daily garage sales from her frontyard. At one time, she had a workshop in her garage and a guy running a furniture restoration business out of it. Her backyard was completely covered with absolute junk!

Wind power projects may mean 1,500 jobs: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Wind power projects on government land could generate almost 1,500 new jobs and $16.5 million in sales tax in Nevada by 2025 based on a final study released Tuesday.

Company forms lottery venture with Finland's Veikkaus: Gtech will hold an 81 percent stake in the venture, with Veikkaus holding the remainder, the West Greenwich, Rhode Island- based company said in a statement. The venture will be based in Finland and will be staffed initially by Veikkaus workers, Gtech said.

Alligator gives officials the slip: So far the score is Alligator 1, federal Bureau of Land Management 0.

Thursday's horse racing entries: Post Time 1:20 p.m.

Airbus picks Mobile, Ala. for new factory, sources say: The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. selected the Alabama site over three rival bids from Melbourne, Fla.; Kiln, Miss.; and North Charleston, S.C., a congressional source and an Alabama source familiar with the industry recruiting project said Tuesday.

Powers resigns from agency: Powers was arrested June 9 in Las Vegas on charges of drunken driving and crashing his vehicle into a parked police motorcycle. Both vehicles hit a policeman standing nearby, according to a police report.

Nevada files its final legal brief in attempt to stop nuclear waste: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Nevada filed its final legal brief Tuesday in its quest to derail the Energy Department's plan to ship waste to Yucca Mountain via train.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Enormous field lengthens odds at WSOP: It's unusual to see an event in which the person favored to win is listed at odds of nearly 300-1.

Letter: Support for Bush is sure to plummet more: Thousands of lives and billions of dollars have been lost in Iraq, with no end in sight. Bush won re-election using scare tactics about terrorism, yet the Homeland Security Department wastes tax dollars and has largely been ineffectual -- weapons still pass unnoticed through airport gates.

Letter: Crack down on unsafe cabbies: What would be beneficial to pedestrians and fellow motorists, though, is to have cameras that monitor cab drivers who are rude, commit flagrant traffic violations and have that "gotta get the next fare" attitude. I work downtown and I see cab drivers committing traffic violations on a daily basis.

Council orders halt of blasting near homes: Henderson City Council members Tuesday directed the city to halt close-range blasting near homes while they consider a proposed ordinance to do just that.