Print edition for June 29, 2005

Sports briefs for June 29, 2005: A House committee today approved separate bills that would set minimum steroid-testing rules and penalties for professional sports, and create a U.S. Boxing Commission.

Scientist denies falsifying data on Yucca: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- U.S. Geological Survey scientist Joe Hevesi told a congressional subcommittee that he did not falsify any scientific information on the Yucca Mountain project, though he was "somewhat horrified" when he looked back at his e-mails on the subject, which he thought were personal correspondence.

Beer license yanked due to poker tournaments: Commission member Dennis Weeldreyer said the board had little choice.

Gibson: Slogan deal caught board off guard: Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson said he and fellow Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board members were not aware that a board action would allow its advertising agency to obtain rights to a potentially lucrative slogan.

Report confirms strength of Nevada's economy: Kevin Rademacher; For the second time in two days, economists singled out Nevada as a strong point in the nation's economy.

Metro to hire liaison to help homeless: By Timothy Pratt; Metro Police are expected to begin advertising today for a liaison for the homeless, a paid position that appears to be the first of its kind in the nation.

WPT launches new Internet poker room: By Liz Benston; A West Hollywood, Calif.-based poker empire has launched an Internet gambling site and hopes to be the first U.S. company to capitalize on the white-hot poker trend.

Opposing views show in Yucca surveys: Nevada regional governments with opposing opinions on the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump have studied how their citizens view the project, and the conclusions are as different as the areas in which the people who were surveyed live.

Reno bingo device maker brings in new chief executive: Meilstrup was senior vice president of Niagara Properties at Niagara Falls Casino in Ontario, Canada and also served as general manager of the casino. Previously, he served as vice president of game development for Shuffle Master Inc. and was product marketing manager for Bally Gaming Inc.

Tortoise sculpture: Landscape or waste?: Stephen Curran; With thousands of newcomers flocking to the Las Vegas Valley each year, the state Transportation Department thought a native might be the best symbol to welcome drivers to the city.

Deal on energy standard reached: Kevin Rademacher; Nevada Power Co. of Las Vegas and several parties involved in a regulatory case involving the utility's failure to meet mandated levels of renewable energy usage in 2004 filed a stipulated agreement with the state Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday.

Regent among Henderson police chief finalists: Stavros Anthony, a Metro Police captain and member of the state higher education system's Board of Regents, is one of four finalists for the Henderson police chief job.

Southwest hospital to target valley's rehabilitation needs: Michelle Swafford; A new rehabilitation hospital is on the drawing board for southwest Las Vegas.

USGS scientist denies falsifying Yucca Mountain data: The panel is investigating e-mails written by Hevesi and other scientists that, according to critics, seem to suggest they changed work to reach a predetermined conclusion. The existence of the e-mails, written between 1998 and 2000, was made public by the Energy Department in March.

Firefighters, weather could help keep wildfires from Nevada town: Fire officials assured residents at a Tuesday night meeting at the Caliente town hall that some 961 firefighters using shovels, bulldozers, aircraft and a natural barrier of green, wet mountain terrain could prevent the blazes from reaching the community of about 1,100 residents.

Columnist Jeff German: Slogan deal approved quickly and under radar: But the members of the LVCVA board, who by all appearances so far were duped into paving the way for the $1 sale of "What happens here, stays here," shouldn't be smiling today.

Power outage affects 1,500 in northwest LV: The power went out about 4:30 p.m., said Sonya Headen, spokeswoman for the Nevada Power Co. Although about 95 percent of the customers had their power restored by 5:45 p.m., the remaining 300 were still in the dark until about 10:30 p.m., Headen said.

Senate energy bill has provisions for Nevada: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- If Congress ultimately accepts the energy bill approved by the Senate on Tuesday, the legislation could spur more development of solar, wind and geothermal energy in Nevada, the state's senators said.

Measure gets second chance: The 11-2 vote sends the measure the full chamber with lawmakers in their seventh day of a special session prompted by a Kansas Supreme Court order for them to come up with $143 million more for education by Friday.

Letter: Lack of support to veterans shows GOP's hypocrisy: The growing casualty reports from Iraq indicate the number of wounded and maimed now exceeds 13,000. This does not include the numbers that will carry mental images and scars that will haunt them the rest of their lives. What has become of the promises that our nation has made to the returning veterans from this and other wars?

Ralph Siraco's Hollywood Park selections: 1st Race -- CAAN -- Nakatani atop Dollace trainee for owner Reddam, draws good post for long one-turn opener, can Caan? FLIGHT RAGE -- Baze aboard Puhich trainee, has outside box in maiden/claiming run, best Flight to in-Rage foes for diploma. Value Play -- VICTORIA FLY

Patriots get help for kick returns: The New England Patriots signed free agent kick returner Chad Morton on Tuesday.

State Supreme Court hears argument on tax disputes: CARSON CITY -- A senior deputy attorney general told the Nevada Supreme Court Tuesday that the state Tax Commission, and not the courts, should decide whether big companies are evading millions of dollars in the sales and use taxes.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Dissecting Week 1: We're a little late -- yes, late -- in analyzing the point spreads of the first week of National Football League games.

Worker buried for 20 minutes survives: Eric Leake; A construction worker survived 20 minutes buried at the bottom of a 12-foot trench before firefighters rescued him Tuesday.

Henderson woman receives degree: A total of 447 undergraduates received bachelor's degrees, while 94 graduate students received a Master of Arts or a Master of Science degree.

Letter: Courts help only rich, connected: They have now displayed their arrogance, snobbishness and disregard for the people of this country who support the U.S. Constitution. This same can be said of the federal district courts and the state supreme courts.

Jordan runs fly route: Nick Christensen; Shadow Ridge Mustangs, meet your new MVP.

Tribes push to diversify their economies beyond casinos: Curt Woodward; AUBURN, Wash. -- Past the fireworks stands plastered with colorful flags and homemade murals, down the road from the backhoe working on a new smoke shop, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe has staked out its corner in the next generation of American Indian business.

Columnist Peter Benton: Campbell's U.S. Open triumph a big day for Kiwis everywhere: Peter Benton; Unheralded Michael Campbell, the 2005 U.S. Open champion, is from the same country as I come from, so I thought a little insight regarding his career ups and downs may be of interest.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Rebels unveil some 'classy' scheduling: Goodbye, Big Monday. Hello, Little Wednesday.

Obituaries for June 29, 2005: Charlotte Lundeen Bill, 71, of Henderson died Sunday in Henderson. She was born Feb. 19, 1934, in Tennessee. A resident for three years, she was an administrative assistant for a radio station.

Editorial: Ensuring a free press: As we have written before, it will be a free press in name only if the government is able to force reporters to divulge their sources. Reporters aren't above the law, but 49 states have laws recognizing that reporters have the privilege to keep their sources confidential. The Supreme Court, by declining to intervene, has made it even more compelling for Congress to pass a shield law to protect this privilege in federal court cases.

Juror: Race no factor in Gibson verdict: By Matt Pordum; A jury forewoman said Tuesday that confusing instructions and not race was the reason the jury she led on Tuesday found a white 22-year-old man guilty of battery and instead of attempted murder for the shooting of a 28-year-old black man.

State probe of NLV company leads to pesticide fines: A state investigation of a North Las Vegas company led to the imposition of a federal fine for improperly labeled pesticides, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday.

Injured driver wants to sue Metro: CARSON CITY -- A Las Vegas motorist, severely injured when hit by a vehicle driven by a fleeing criminal suspect, wants the right to sue Metro Police.

Defender: Man bludgeoned wife in 'fit of rage': By Matt Pordum; A public defender claimed Tuesday a 59-year-old man stabbed and bludgeoned his wife to death at their Henderson home in a "fit of rage" because he believed she was having an affair.

McCain says off-reservation gambling could hurt tribes: Erica Werner; WASHINGTON -- Congress never intended for Indians to build Nevada-style casinos away from their reservations, and tribes risk a backlash by pursuing the trend, Sen. John McCain said Tuesday.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Duo honored for commitment to children's future: Elizabeth Foyt; The party and program, headed by FACT President Michael Cline and emceed by attorney/food critic John Curtas, recognized Jones (now of Harrah's Entertainment Inc.) for her dedication to the community, and Ritter (Focus Property Group) for his continued support of FACT.

NIAA board approves new football playoffs: Nick Christensen; A change in the football playoff format and a new statewide drug abuse policy were both approved at last week's Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association's Board of Control meeting in Reno.

Attorneys general want firm to inform customers of breach: In a terse letter sent to CardSystems Solutions Inc., the law enforcement officials said the company needs to tell exactly what happened when a computer hacker may have gained access to millions of credit card numbers.

Council extends ban on gaming projects outside downtown: The council voted 5-0 on Monday to prolong the moratorium until Oct. 31. It applies to new casinos without at least 200 hotel rooms.

Still Smitten: Catchy musical 'Mamma Mia!' celebrates 1,000th show in Vegas: For almost a decade ABBA was one of the most popular pop groups in the world, turning out such hits as "Mamma Mia!" "Super Trouper," "S.O.S.," "Waterloo" and "Dancing Queen."

Drilling contractor pierces water main: Stephen Curran; A pierced water main brought vehicles at one of the Las Vegas Valley's busiest intersections to a crawl Tuesday morning, water district officials said.

Court upholds jury verdict following tribal turmoil: The accounting firm failed to persuade the 3rd District Court of Appeals there was not enough evidence of its negligence in performing its contract with the Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

Power outage affects 2,000 in northwest LV: The power outage struck at about 4:30 p.m., said Sonya Headen, spokeswoman for the Nevada Power Co. Although about 90 percent of the customers had their power restored by 5:45 p.m., the remaining 200 were still in the dark four hours later, she said.

Details sketchy on proposed casino near Detroit airport: "In terms of scope, nature and scale, all that still is in the pre-development stage," John F. Petoskey, general counsel for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, said Monday during a news conference. "If everything goes positive, we're still talking years down the road.

Sugar prices causing bitter battles over trade pact: With public anxiety already high about imports and foreign competition undermining American jobs, Republican congressional leaders are struggling to line up enough votes to pass the Central American Free Trade Agreement, which would cut trade barriers with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Companies prodded to safe action: A number of well-known companies were being challenged to "cease aggressive lobbying against cosmetic safety legislation," according to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. The campaign also wants a pledge from major manufacturers that they make safer products.

Community briefs for June 29, 2005: The American Parkinson's Disease Association's Henderson/Green Valley Parkinson's Support Group will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Presbyterian Church, 1798 Wigwam Parkway at Valle Verde Drive. Call 564-5416 for details.

GDP expands at robust 3.8% rate in first quarter: Jeannine Aversa; WASHINGTON -- The economy logged a solid 3.8 percent growth rate in the first quarter of 2005, a performance that was better than previously thought and a fresh sign the expansion is on firm footing.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Carpentier reaches a fast conclusion -- he likes IRL: It dawned on Patrick Carpentier at the oddest time that he had made the right decision to leave the Champ Car World Series for the rival Indy Racing League.

Editorial: Exposing a secret deal: The agreement between the LVCVA and R & R had been kept secret, and it wasn't approved by the LVCVA's governing board, made up of local elected officials, that oversees its operations. LVCVA President Rossi Ralenkotter says he believes he had the authority to enter into the agreement with R & R without notifying the board. Ralenkotter said the deal was important in order to prevent manufacturers of souvenir knock-offs from devaluing the slogan by infringing on the trademark. And, because R & R has legal expertise in defending intellectual property rights, Ralenkotter believed it was best to assign trademark ...

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

Letter: Downing Street memo ignored: The American people deserve an explanation of the president's actions. The media and president have conveniently concentrated on other issues to turn the attention away from this story.

How to make your own line: Some bettors use the following basic formula, or a variation of it, to make their own betting line for an NFL game. The Las Vegas professional sports bettor known as Fezzik (fezziksplace.com) has written about and, to an extent, popularized this method: