Las Vegas Sun

Archive for June 23, 2005

Wildfires still raging after valley's lightning storms: There are 200 firefighters battling 16 blazes on more than 5,000 acres of public lands around the Las Vegas Valley this morning.; 11:18 a.m.

Schools tap boundless energy of the sun: Annie Flanzraich; On any grueling, sweaty Las Vegas summer day, the sun can be a fiery fiend taunting energy bills that rise with the cost of pumping out cold air.; 11:15 a.m.

Community mourns Marine: By Timothy Pratt; Eugene Escamilla looked at the floor of Palm Mortuary and recalled his best friend's advice about Iraq.; 11:14 a.m.

Thunderstorms have cooling effect: After a high of 105 degrees on Tuesday, the first day of summer, thunderstorms rumbled across the Las Vegas Valley on Wednesday and the air cooled down to 99 degrees, a delightful change for the ...; 11:12 a.m.

Homicide ruled in use of Taser: Jen Lawson; The death of a man earlier this month who was shocked with a Metro Police officer's Taser gun while handcuffed was a homicide, the Clark County coroner's office determined Wednesday.; 11:11 a.m.

Report: Perchlorate cleanup needs tracking: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Perchlorate contamination and cleanup efforts in areas of the nation like Southern Nevada need to be tracked by the federal government and state agencies, according to a report by Government Accountability Office released ...; 11:10 a.m.

Construction worker hit by lightning, not injured: Jen Lawson; Construction worker Israel Lara was dazzled by the lightning that flashed through the Southern Nevada sky Wednesday, and he was even more amazed when he witnessed his co-worker get shocked by a bolt, causing the ...; 11:08 a.m.

Detective: Kane still dangerous: By Matt Pordum; The detective who interviewed Michael Kane said if Kane is released from the state's mental facility and placed back into society he "will strike again, as he has tasted blood and likes it."; 11:07 a.m.

Fund for fighting drugs, gangs dries up: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- A special fund used mostly for battling drugs and gangs in Nevada has shriveled in recent years, an apparent victim of the federal government's ever-increasing emphasis on homeland security.; 11:07 a.m.

Illinois senator delays vote on Nevadan: Benjamin Grove and Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is delaying a vote on State Department post nominee Henrietta Holsman Fore until he has more clarification about controversial statements the Las Vegan made in 1987.; 11:04 a.m.

Taxable sales still soaring: CARSON CITY -- For the 16th consecutive month, taxable sales in Clark County posted a double-digit increase in April, spurred in part by purchases of building supplies and cars.; 11:03 a.m.

Coast Casinos disputes fine levied by state commission: Coast Casinos was fined in April and will get a chance Friday to argue before the Accountability and Disclosure Commission for the fine to be forgiven.; 11:01 a.m.

News briefs for June 23, 2005: Two Las Vegas elementary schools were locked down this morning after a shot was fired at a maintenance worker on the roof of Woolley Elementary, Metro Police said.; 11:00 a.m.

Stratosphere owner files for $1 billion offering: Through a subsidiary, the New York-based company owns the Stratosphere hotel and casino as well as Arizona Charlie's Boulder and Arizona Charlie's Decatur in Las Vegas.; 10:59 a.m.

McCarran ramping up hiring to help keep pace with growth: By Liz Benston; With the rapid growth of passenger traffic at McCarran International Airport and $2.4 billion in major construction projects planned over the next six years, airport officials are launching their largest job-recruiting effort in more than ...; 10:58 a.m.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Mayweather feels media portrayal unfair: Much like the eponymous outlaw-with-a-heart-of-gold immortalized in song by Woody Guthrie, "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather believes he's unfairly being portrayed as a "bad guy."; 10:35 a.m.

Senator seeks delay on vote on Nevadan: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is seeking to delay a vote on Nevadan and State Department post nominee Henrietta Holsman Fore until he has more clarification about controversial statements she made in 1987.; 9:40 a.m.

Killer refuses to be transported to court for hearing: By Matt Pordum; A 21-year-old man who was convicted of murdering his pregnant sister and their grandparents, refused to be transported to court for a hearing Wednesday to determine whether a new mental competency hearing is required before ...; 9:36 a.m.

Groups say land being allocated for conservation not sufficient: Despite opposition from environmentalists, North Las Vegas has struck a deal with the Bureau of Land Management and federal and state agencies for conserving roughly 12 percent of a 2,300-acre site to protect rare plants ...; 9:32 a.m.

Assemblyman Manendo quits post with community college: Manendo has worked for the college since August 2002, John Kuminecz, CCSN spokesman, said. Manendo's current salary is $31,365 a year.; 9:31 a.m.

Company to reorganize: The company will be realigned into GE Infrastructure; GE Industrial; GE Commercial Financial Services; NBC Universal; GE Healthcare and GE Consumer Finance. Dave Calhoun, 48, will lead the Infrastructure group, Michael Neal, 52, will head ...; 9:30 a.m.

Existing home sales dipped slightly in May: Sales of previously owned homes and condominiums edged down 0.7 percent last month, the National Association of Realtors reported Thursday. The small decline left sales at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 7.13 million units, ...; 9:29 a.m.

CNOOC offers $18.5 billion for Unocal; tops Chevron: CNOOC bid $67 cash per Unocal share, or $1.5 billion more than Chevron's cash and stock plan, the Beijing-based company said in a statement today. San Ramon, Calif.-based Chevron's agreement is "highly likely" to be ...; 9:29 a.m.

Rumors have Vegas High star transferring: Nick Christensen; The state's top returning prep football player hasn't transferred schools, yet.; 9:23 a.m.

Sports briefs for June 23, 2005: Lance Armstrong will have most of last year's team back when he goes for his seventh consecutive Tour de France victory.; 9:23 a.m.

State audit finds Indian gaming profit up 23 percent from 2000: The tribes also saw a 34 percent increase in revenue between last year and 2000, the Legislative Audit Bureau said after reviewing independent financial audits the tribes submitted under terms of their gaming compacts with ...; 9:22 a.m.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Ousted Dupuy hooks on with Herbert's team: It didn't take long for veteran crew chief Wayne Dupuy to land on his feet.; 9:22 a.m.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court upholds slot-machine law: Peter Jackson; HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania's highest court unanimously upheld the state's slot-machine gambling law Wednesday, rejecting a constitutional challenge that threatened to stop the creation of a multibillion-dollar gambling industry and a major property-tax relief initiative.; 9:21 a.m.

Deal between state lottery, pueblo casino scratched: "I am very concerned the new game sends the message that the state is promoting casino-style gambling," Richardson said Tuesday in a prepared statement.; 9:21 a.m.

Casinos, buses adjust to rock slide closure: Catherine Tsai; DENVER -- Buses accustomed to shuttling Denver-area gamblers through a narrow canyon on U.S. 6 to mountain casinos in Central City and Black Hawk on Wednesday braced for up to a month of taking a ...; 9:20 a.m.

Fate of expanded gambling uncertain in Senate: With the Legislature in special session Wednesday and under orders from the Kansas Supreme Court to find additional money for public schools, some supporters detected a favorable shift in momentum.; 9:20 a.m.

Totten credits turnaround to renewed concentration: Nick Christensen; Heath Totten was just off his best start of the year when he got the news.; 9:20 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's Hollywood Park selections: 1st Race -- SHARPSTER -- Hustling Pedroza on Mitchell trainee, draws post 5 in six-horse route claimer, Sharpster effort gets victory. UNDER THE SUN -- Martinez aboard Mullins trainee for owner Bone, has inner post ...; 9:19 a.m.

Court again hears case of makeup requirement: David Kravets; SAN FRANCISCO -- An appeals court heard arguments Wednesday in the case of a female casino bartender suing Harrah's Entertainment after she was fired for refusing to wear makeup.; 9:15 a.m.

Friday's horse racing entries: Post Time 7:05 p.m.; 9:14 a.m.

Fight schedule: At Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, N.J. (ESPN2), Oleg Maskaev, Staten Island, N.Y., vs. Dale Crowe, Norwood, Ohio, 10, heavyweights.; 9:12 a.m.

L'Octaine, called key to redevelopment, opens: Dan Kulin; The L'Octaine apartments in downtown Las Vegas -- touted by the mayor and some City Council members as an important part of the redevelopment plan for the city's inner core -- were ceremoniously opened to ...; 9:07 a.m.

Pit boss who reported he saw runaway bride fired: Eric Leake; A former Treasure Island pit boss said he was trying to do the right thing when he told the media he had seen Jennifer Wilbanks, the infamous runaway bride, in the casino.; 9:07 a.m.

County approves Summerlin expansion: The massive plans for the south side of Charleston Boulevard west of Hualapai Way are expected to add another 14,600 residences to the community, almost doubling the roughly 18,000 already spread out over more than ...; 9:06 a.m.

Letter: Hawthorne depot must be retained: The lonely, trout-fishing town of Hawthorne faces a largely unused water supply (Walker Lake). Surrounded by the seemingly endless ammunition igloos in the desert, it is remotely located at the juncture of a main trucking ...; 9:06 a.m.

Letter: GOP doesn't care about problems of middle class: I am proud that Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is fighting for the people, because Republicans don't care that the middle class is hurting, that many of our people can't find decent jobs and that many ...; 9:05 a.m.

Editorial: Gridlock can't be in our future: In response to this development, announced at a Tuesday meeting of the state Transportation Board, Guinn said a task force would be created to analyze the needs and costs of our transportation system and to ...; 9:05 a.m.

Obituaries for June 23, 2005: Jacoba Carino Baria, 88, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local care center. She was born Dec. 28, 1916, in the Philippines. A resident for 18 years, she was a homemaker.; 9:04 a.m.

Boggs McDonald among Hawaii-bound officials: Stephen Curran; Three Clark County officials are expected be among the roughly 2,000 people who will head to Hawaii, courtesy of taxpayers, to rub elbows with leaders from throughout the country next month.; 9:04 a.m.

Racino bill remains in limbo: A measure calling for a November vote on the proposal was sent last Friday to Gov. John Baldacci, who vetoed a similar bill without a referendum provision and whose leanings now remain under close scrutiny.; 9:04 a.m.

Clarification: The Sun corrects its errors. If you find a mistake, call 385-3111 to report it.; 9:03 a.m.

Editorial: A giant of our times: For Kilby's obituary in the Los Angeles Times, Texas Instruments' chairman Tom Engibous said, "In my opinion there are only a handful of people whose works have truly transformed the world and the way we ...; 9:03 a.m.

Report says states aren't honest about grad rates: By Emily Richmond; States aren't being honest enough about their high school graduation rates and the widely ranging formulas being used are only further muddying the waters, according to a new report by an education watchdog group.; 8:55 a.m.

Community briefs for June 23, 2005: Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada will present a workshop on preparing for effective use of spontaneous volunteers in disaster at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Mojave Training Center, 861 N. Mojave Road.; 8:49 a.m.

Las Vegas to host training conference for Guard, Reserve: Dick Benoit; National Guard and Reserve officials, along with citizen volunteers from 11 western states will gather at the Embassy Suites Las Vegas Convention Center beginning tomorrow for a regional training conference conducted by the Committee for ...; 8:49 a.m.

Authorities conclude inmate died of self-inflicted overdose: AP; But a lawyer for the family of Stanley Wayne Brown said the determination leaves too many questions unanswered.; 8:44 a.m.

Operation Rocky freedom: Cult film classic celebrates 30th anniversary in Vegas: Kirk Baird; In most places David Blunk would stick out.; 8:21 a.m.

Columnist Susan Snyder: In crisis, safety tips reinforced: My old man would have put me "in the mood" right quick. He'd have celebrated my safe return by grounding my irresponsible self until I was in eighth grade. National humiliation would have been the ...; 8:14 a.m.

53 stories

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