Print edition for June 28, 2005

Partner buying real estate interests of Barrick Gaming: By Liz Benston; An international investment company has signed a deal to buy out business partner Barrick Gaming Corp. for an undisclosed price.

Two Palo Verde graduates compete in D.C. car event: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- For the rest of their lives, Las Vegas residents Tony Enomoto and Julian Thommes expect they will remember that the fuel pump drive module of a 2005 Ford Focus is under the back seat.

Letter: Better wages for more workers is crucial for system: From the 1940s into the 1970s, workers' unions were strong enough to offset the power of big industry in battles in the halls of Congress and keep wages high. As a result, the U.S. had a huge middle class that provided the world with a market that drove the world economy. Then U.S. capitalists began moving their factories to Asia and other places, practically neutering the labor unions. Today, couples struggle to keep up the middle-class front by earning two main incomes, taking extra jobs, depleting savings, spending their equity borrowing on credit cards and going deeper in debt.

Tech industry faces new legal worry after ruling on file-sharing: Matthew Fordahl; SAN JOSE, Calif. - The technology world -- from multibillion-dollar computer companies to garage tinkerers -- faces new and potentially costly uncertainties with the Supreme Court's ruling that inventors can be held liable if third parties use their products to infringe on copyrights.

Japan could be next Asian hotbed for legalized gaming: SINGAPORE -- Where will be the next casino hotspot in Asia after Macau and Singapore?

Jury acquits Scrushy: Scrushy had been charged with fraud, false corporate reporting and making false statements to regulators. He was the first CEO charged under the Sarbanes-Oxley corporate reporting law.

Bankruptcy court asked to OK World's Fair site sale: Court papers filed Thursday and obtained Monday by Dow Jones said the company's official committee of equity security holders has found a lead bidder who is willing to pay $12.5 million for the Atlantic City, N.J., site.

Editorial: Commuters win one: In return for the Sierra Club dropping the lawsuit, local, state and federal agencies agreed to a number of concessions, such as installing pollution monitoring and air filtration systems, which are supposed to reduce air pollution, at the nearby schools. Also, three portable buildings at a kindergarten playground will be moved farther away from the highway. The Clark County School District will use $1 million to retrofit its buses so that they reduce diesel emissions. Additionally, a study will be conducted to check vehicle emissions at five highway locations across the country to evaluate the levels of toxic air pollutants ...

Amendment to energy bill helps protect whisteblowers: WASHINGTON -- Energy Department workers who expose wrongdoing have another layer of protection based on an amendment included in the energy bill that passed the Senate today.

Water panelist calls for deep cuts in per-person use: A prominent Las Vegas developer and member of a committee looking at the water future of Southern Nevada called Monday for deep cuts to the amount of the resource used per person over the next five years.

Harley-Davidson looks to rental business to rev up sales growth: Ryan Nakashima; MILWAUKEE -- Kari Schwear and her husband Rob took off one day last August on two sets of rented wheels from Harley-Davidson Inc., with their children straddled behind them.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Kyle Busch takes step back, but still not discouraged: Until his 40th-place finish Sunday at Infineon Raceway, it appeared as if Kyle Busch was inching closer to winning his first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race.

Campaign targets bad driving: Annie Flanzraich; Authorities are trying to make the point that there's no good excuse for bad driving by asking motorists what their excuses are.

Approved fireworks go on sale today: Some safety precautions people should take when using fireworks include:

Tribe's suit a bargaining tool in negotiations on casinos: The claims in the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Toledo, include the entire city of Wapakoneta, parts of Lima and several dairy farms near Bellefontaine. The tribe would seek title to the land and repayment of taxes and other revenue the state has collected on it since taking it over in 1831.

U.S. companies protest worker screening change: Mark Drajem; Representatives of technology and manufacturing companies such as Intel Corp. and General Electric Co. asked the U.S. Commerce Department to drop consideration of broadening mandatory background checks of foreign workers.

United Airlines parent seeks court approval to amend loan: The Tranche A loan would be sized at $200 million, and the Tranche B loan at $1.1 billion, the Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based company said.

Singles Scene: Dollar Store Expo shows the latest in buck trends: The dancing inflatable sign is convulsing, rippling, bowing forward. A blinking strobe flashes intermittently through its body. It flails its arms and jerks backwards.

Southwest, ATA to connect at McCarran: Southwest Airlines, the busiest airline at McCarran International Airport, is likely to get a little busier in August when it expands its code-share agreement with ATA Airlines and begins offering connecting service to Honolulu through Las Vegas.

Editorial: Court's split verdict: Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ruled in a case from Kentucky that the Ten Commandments displayed in two county courthouses were a blatant endorsement of religion. It was only after the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit objecting to the Commandments that the courthouses added other displays. "The reasonable observer could only think that the counties meant to emphasize and celebrate the religious message," Justice David Souter wrote for the 5-4 majority.

Babysitter gets four years of probation: By Matt Pordum; A 58-year-old babysitter who pleaded guilty to child abuse and neglect, but "vehemently denies" inflicting injuries on a 5-month-old baby placed in her care, was sentenced to four years probation on Monday.

Man: Shooting caused by panic: By Matt Pordum; A white 22-year-old man on trial for attempting to murder his younger sister's black boyfriend said he did intentionally shoot him, but testified Monday he only did so because "he scared me real bad, I panicked."

Military officials to visit Nevada sites: WASHINGTON -- Philip Coyle, one of nine commissioners who are studying a sweeping Pentagon base closure and realignment proposal, will visit two Nevada sites on the chopping block.

Mortgage giant names new chief audit executive: S. Jean Hinrichs, who is a certified internal auditor and fraud examiner with experience at a large investment firm and the Federal Reserve, will assume the job of senior vice president for internal audit next month, Fannie Mae announced. She will report directly to the board of directors' audit committee.

Former county health official Schmutz dies: In the 1960s, then-Clark County Health District inspector Clare Schmutz noticed a lot of old and outdated equipment being installed in Las Vegas restaurants.

Letter: Half day of kindergarten OK: What educational level is expected of children before they enter the classroom? Should they be able to say their ABCs, color inside the lines, count to five, say the Pledge of Allegiance, speak English? There must be some criteria other than age.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Golf experts have a chip on their shoulders: Some time after Annika's Soren-slam failed to materialize, somebody pulled out a calculator to deduce 15-year-old sensation Michelle Wie's final-round score and the other amateurs the TV executives and sports columnists were practically cheering out loud for fizzled, or at least were fizzed on, at the U.S. Women's Open on Sunday, the so-called experts went all Happy Gilmore on us, suggesting the women can't play, the course conditions at Cherry Hills Country Club were too diabolical, or both.

Governor still touting Senate gambling plan, not compacts: John Hanna; TOPEKA, Kan. -- Gov. Kathleen Sebelius continued to argue Monday that two American Indian gambling compacts won't provide revenue for schools quickly enough, and an aide noted that a legislative leader pushing the agreements blocked a vote on one last year.

Vegas valley battening down for monsoon season: From July through September, Las Vegas Valley weather forecasters, emergency personnel and public works crews keep wary eyes on the skies.

Sports briefs for June 28, 2005: In Seoul, South Korea, a sports promoter has a different idea about how North Korea and South Koreas should reconcile. He thinks they should use their fists.

Police union leader urges approval of salary package: Jen Lawson; The leader of the union that represents most Metro Police officers said Monday that the department might face difficulty attracting suitable applicants if the department doesn't increase salaries.

Professional poker player 'Chicago Sam' Petrillo dies: When "Chicago Sam" Petrillo came to Las Vegas in the late 1960s, he had aspirations of making it as a professional gambler, but first had to pay his dues.

Campaign spending topped $120 million in the 2004 cycle: The analysis by the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, a nonprofit watchdog based in Lansing, also called for changes in state law to improve accountability in election spending. It lists as major flaws a lack of restrictions on political parties and political action committees, weak regulation and the lack of timely reporting of campaign spending.

Obituaries for June 28, 2005: Richard A. Gottschalk, 77, of Squantum, Mass., died Thursday. He was born Aug. 11, 1927, in Englewood, N.J. A former Las Vegas resident for 15 years, he was a retired security officer from Binion's Horseshoe, managed several hotels and motels, was a veteran of the Englewood police department, achieving the rank of detective first class, and a World War II Army veteran.

Company reprices options: The exercise price would reduce the value of the 150,000 share options granted to each Lowden from more than $4 million each to more than $1 million, based on Archon's midday share price of about $29.50.

Immunization schedule for June 28, 2005: The Clark County Health District has four public health centers and 15 satellite clinics open each week to administer vaccines needed for school to those age two months-19 years. A $15 administration fee will be assessed per visit. These clinics will be open this week:

Four plead not guilty in slaying: Anabel Espindola, 33, and Luis Hidalgo III, 24, allegedly hired a Palomino Club employee, 24-year-old Deangelo Carroll, to arrange the death of Timothy J. Hadland.

Online poker company's stock opens strong in London IPO: Shares in Gibraltar-based PartyGaming opened at an offer price of 116 pence ($2.12) on the London Stock Exchange, valuing the company at 4.64 billion pounds ($8.46 billion). By the end of trading, the share price had risen to 129 pence ($2.35).

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

Local students win scholarships: Scholarship winners were selected from an applicant pool of nearly 2,000 graduating high school seniors nationwide who applied for the scholarship which is offered to college-bound students who will be the first in their families to attend college.

Thompson strong in debut with 51s: TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Las Vegas 51s scored four runs in the third and three in the seventh in an 8-3 win against the Tucson Sidewinders on Monday at Tucson Electric Park.

Cause for weekend power outage unknown: Power for nearly 8,000 customers in Boulder City was restored at 1:30 a.m. Monday, city officials said.

Columnist Jeff German: Slogan sale may have skirted law: The high-powered advertising agency obtained the rights to the phrase it created for $1 in a Nov. 9 written agreement between Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President Rossi Ralenkotter and R & R Partners CEO Billy Vassiliadis.

Men who allegedly tried to rob poker champ pleads not guilty: By Matt Pordum; Two men charged with attempting to rob 2004 World Series of Poker Champion Greg Raymer pleaded not guilty on Monday.

Ralph Siraco's Hollywood Park selections: 1st Race -- ACCELERATION -- Draws outside box in five-filly sprint opener, Solis scales Mullins trainee, has most Acceleration here? TOPPERS GOLD -- Training at Santa Anita, needs prompt start and clean trip from rail post in starter allowance dash, Baze aboard Lewis trainee. Value Play -- I CAN SEE

VA secretary: Budget woes won't affect new projects: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- A $1 billion budget shortfall disclosed last week by the Veterans Affairs Department will not endanger new construction projects, Department Secretary James Nicholson said today.

Man killed in boat crash at Lake Mohave: David Kihara; Investigators on Monday were still not saying exactly what caused a family-filled boat to flip Sunday near Cottonwood Cove at Lake Mohave. A 48-year-old Las Vegas man who had been at the helm was killed and four others were injured in the crash.

Durango command central for those fighting wildfires: By Emily Richmond; With its athletic fields covered with tents sheltering exhausted firefighters and the campus theater turned into command central for emergency personnel, Durango High School played a key role in the battle against the Goodsprings fire.

Garcia praises highway resolution: Stephen Curran; Workers could begin laying asphalt for an expansion of U.S. 95 this fall, ending what state and federal officials worried could become a never-ending string of lawsuits to threaten massive road projects nationwide, transportation officials said Monday.

Questions surround LVCVA's slogan deal: Richard N. Velotta and Jeff German; A Las Vegas advertising executive says the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority's assignment of the "What happens here, stays here" slogan to R&R Partners, the organization's advertising agency, is "an unusual arrangement."

Virus that causes encephalitis found in migratory mallard: Blood from a migratory mallard duck passing through Clark County has tested positive for St. Louis encephalitis, the Clark County Health District announced today.

Crews gaining control of fires: Eric Leake; 138,018 acres 42 miles northwest of Mesquite and 30 miles south of Caliente.

Lawyer sentenced for forging signature of federal judge: No fines or restitution were imposed, the spokeswoman, Natalie Collins, said.

One dead following bus pass dispute: Jen Lawson; At the root of an argument between two roommates that left one man dead of a shotgun blast to the chest was a disagreement over a missing bus pass, Metro Police said.

News briefs for June 28, 2005: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is the new chairman of the U.S. Conference of Mayor's business council, a position the mayor said, he will use to try to lure new businesses to Las Vegas.