Print edition for March 30, 2005

Small Las Vegas-based airline plans expansion in Orlando: Allegiant Air, a privately held airline that links Las Vegas with several small and intermediate sized airports, will attempt to duplicate its success in another tourism hotbed, Orlando, Fla.

Few gaming firms disclose figures on minority hiring: By Liz Benston; While MGM Mirage isn't the only company to make public its track record on minority hiring and purchasing, most other gaming companies either choose to keep such information private or say they haven't made a decision on whether to release it.

MGM Mirage making strides on diversity: Alana Roberts; MGM Mirage announced its diversity statistics Tuesday and emphasized the progress the company, the state's biggest employer, has made in its initiative to employ more minorities and spend more on minority-owned vendors and contractors.

Feds cut funds for housing 7.8%: By Timothy Pratt; The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has notified local officials that private and public agencies can apply for a total annual grant of up to $4.7 million, said Shawna Parker Brody, analyst at Clark County Community Resources Management. Last year's amount was $5.1 million.

Earnings flat for manufacturer: GPI reported fourth-quarter net income of $1.3 million, 16 cents a share, on revenue of $13.2 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31. In the same period a year earlier, the company reported net income of $1.3 million, 18 cents a share, on revenue of $10.9 million.

Show highlights newest promotional products: Kevin Rademacher; An estimated 5,000 people are gathering in Las Vegas this week to talk about promotional products, but organizers said that the industry that creates corporate coffee mugs and key chains is anything but low tech.

Judge rules against Ethics Commission: Jace Radke; A federal judge has ruled that it is unconstitutional for the state Ethics Commission to serve as arbiter of speech made about political candidates, so he is forbidding enforcement of the Nevada Revised Statute that allows the commission to impose civil penalties including $5,000 fines.

518525646.html: Richie Hearn had become accustomed to getting a phone call in May from fellow Henderson resident Sam Schmidt, summoning him to Indiana for a last-minute ride in the Indianapolis 500.

Friends, family recall Weiss as nonviolent: By Emily Richmond; He was a soft-spoken man, the one his co-workers relied on to cool things down when business meetings turned volatile, friends say.

Molasky: Firms should enhance Vegas community: Jennifer Shubinski; Developer Irwin Molasky told business leaders Tuesday about the importance of companies giving to the community and announced a new foundation, Relevant Education about the Law, which will debut in some schools this fall.

Nevada, Pittsburgh universities discuss joint medical center: Dan Kulin and Christina Littlefield; The University of Nevada School of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have had "cordial" and "productive" talks about working together to operate a proposed academic medical center for downtown Las Vegas, but the discussion of a possible partnership is in its infancy, top Nevada university officials said this morning.

Insurers expanding Medicare drug plans: Michelle Swafford; PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. today announced its intention to offer a prescription drug plan for seniors on traditional Medicare next year.

Casino plan stirs discomfort within proposed partner tribes: The Regulated Industries Committee was planning up-or-down votes Tuesday night on the governor's casino bill and another to allow slot machines at Canterbury Park racetrack in Shakopee.

Young submits $441 million budget to city, county for Metro: Jen Lawson; Sheriff Bill Young submitted an amended budget Monday to the city and county that asks for $441 million for the upcoming fiscal year, noting that he expects to adjust his budget once the Legislature makes a decision on the property tax issue.

Proposal would bring casino, thousands of jobs, slots to area: To make the project possible, supporters are drafting legislation to expand gambling at sites, such as the proposed casino, not linked to a racetrack. The 1994 law that legalized slot machines in Delaware required they be restricted to sites related to the horse racing industry.

Preliminary study shows link between gambling, bankruptcy: The University of Northern Iowa study was commissioned by the Legislature last year as lawmakers considered expanding the number of casinos in the state.

Reactions mixed for recreation center on Mount Charleston: David Kihara; The public got its first look Tuesday at the U.S. Forest Service's proposals to develop 2,500 acres of Mount Charleston for a recreation center -- a center that is expected to cost upwards of $60 million and could have a summer 2006 construction start, according to forestry officials.

Panel pushes better coordination on valley roadwork: Stephen Curran; A pattern of unexpected roadwork that frequently brings Las Vegas-area traffic to a screeching halt could be eased if various agencies communicate more, according to a Regional Transportation Commission oversight committee.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Widow's web pockets Sun reader: Contrary to what you may recall from biology class, the Black Widow doesn't always eat its mates.

Assemblyman's donation link on Web site is shut down: Kirsten Searer; CARSON CITY -- A Web site for Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, a potential candidate for governor, was set up to allow donations until Tuesday, despite a state law that bans legislators from taking contributions during the legislative session.

Race set to benefit orphaned youngsters: By Emily Richmond; For more information call Kyriacou at VoTech at (702) 799-7500, ext. 4178 or to register online, go to www.active.com and enter "Roadrunners" in the event search engine.

Property tax plan faces overhaul in Senate: Kirsten Searer; CARSON CITY -- The Assembly overwhelmingly passed a bill Tuesday that would give tax relief to all property owners, though the bill could evolve in the Senate.

Legislative briefs for March 30, 2005: Salaries of county officials in Nevada would be increased, effective July 1, under a bill introduced by the Senate Government Affairs Committee Tuesday.

Farley's request for early release is denied: By Matt Pordum; A judge told an alleged member of the 311 Boyz gang that he will have to "be a man" and serve the remaining four months of the jail sentence he received for his part in the July 2003 rock attack that left 18-year-old Stephen Tanner Hansen with a crushed face.

County reschedules neighborhood casinos meeting: A little more than a month after abruptly canceling a meeting of an embryonic group that was to look at rules governing development of so-called "neighborhood casinos," Clark County has rescheduled the group's first meeting for Friday.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Shadow of scandal leaves mark on baseball betting: At the height of baseball's power boom that ran from the late 1990s through 2002, the sport's leading home run hitters were sometimes derisively referred to as "cartoon characters."

Governors discuss growing Indian gambling industry: Colleen Slevin; DENVER -- Amid growing conflicts between the $20 billion Indian casino business and state governments, Western governors and tribal leaders gathered in Colorado Tuesday to take a close look at the industry.

Community briefs for March 30, 2005: The fifth annual Empty Bowl Benefit and Auction will be 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Green Valley High School, 460 Arroyo Grande Blvd., Henderson, to benefit food programs helping the poor and homeless of Southern Nevada.

Reno sets 'terrible precedent': Nick Christensen; Bill Garis is worried.

Foothill's search is on to replace Fenton: Nick Christensen; With Foothill football coach Ray Fenton having officially accepted the head coaching job at his alma mater in Cypress, Calif., the school has begun taking applications for one of the prime vacancies in Southern Nevada.

Sierra Vista off to impressive start to season: Nick Christensen; As is his duty as a high school sports coach, Sierra Vista's Nathan Selby would like to remind everyone that his baseball team isn't the greatest thing around.

Newcomer has skills, attitude of a winner: Steve Guiremand; As Jarrod Jackson walked onto the Rebel Park practice field for the first day of spring practice on Tuesday afternoon, it would have been very easy to confuse him for a team manager.

Editorial: Tax plan has merit: Under a bill that appears ready for approval, people who live in their homes -- as opposed to homes owned by absentee investors -- would have their property taxes capped at 3 percent. This is only 1 percent higher than what Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno, is proposing as a cap in her push to bring Proposition 13 to Nevada. Businesses and investor-owned properties would be dealt with using a formula that could see their taxes rise as high as 12 percent, which is still much lower than the inevitable 30 percent to 50 percent increases if nothing is done.

Murder trial will focus on lives of crack dealers: By Matt Pordum; The trial of a 24-year-old man charged with killing a 43-year-old woman was set to resume today in a case that both the prosecutor and defense attorney agree will offer jurors a look at the hard realities of the world of street-level crack dealers and prostitutes.

News briefs for March 30, 2005: Clark County is encouraging residents affected by January's flooding to attend an informational open house Thursday to learn more about assistance that could be available.

Letter: Radical change to Social Security is better for all: The reason conservatives want to end it is that there is a better way! Here is an oversimplified outline: Currently all wage earners pay a 12-plus percent payroll tax on their income in addition to income tax and Medicare tax. If 5 percent of their income went into a mandatory, private, personal and diversified investment account, and 5 percent went to purchase mandatory, private, personal disability/life insurance, every worker in America would fund their own retirement and be covered in the case of tragic circumstances. An added bonus would be a 2 percent lifetime wage increase and maybe leave the ...

Panel eyes 30-35 percent tax rate for slot machines: If lawmakers allow anyone 18 and over into the gambling areas of three tracks and a jai-alai fronton in Broward County, parents are going to protest, Sen. Jim King said during a meeting of the Senate Regulated Industries Committee.

Letter: Only GOP sees it as raising taxes: We're seeing a similar approach to Social Security. You see, back in 1993, Congress put a cap of $90,000 on Social Security taxes, so people with high incomes only pay Social Security taxes on their first $90,000 earned.

Sports briefs for March 30, 2005: UNLV committed a season-high six errors and managed only three hits in an 11-2 loss to visiting UC Irvine in a nonleague game at Earl E. Wilson Stadium Tuesday.

Land buys, fancy drawings part of gambling promotion strategy: John Seewer; Developers and city leaders who want to bring gambling to Ohio are mapping out sites where casinos may stand someday and showing off drawings that reveal how these glitzy buildings could transform their downtowns.

Gillins, Ross top Ward 6 fundraising: Dan Kulin; Almost all of the Las Vegas politicians who got a free pass to re-election this year also easily out-fundraised the candidates in the city's contested elections, according to campaign finance disclosures that were due Tuesday.

Company breaks ground on urban village: Company breaks ground on urban village

Editorial: Remembering Polly: And along with all of her other viewers, we were deeply saddened Monday when we learned of her tragic death, the result of a car accident. "She would just light up the room with her spirit, energy and passion," Robert Stoldal, vice president of news operations for Channel 8, told the Sun.

Panel examining e-mails that suggest Yucca data falsified: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The Energy Department and Interior Department gave e-mails to a Congressional subcommittee Tuesday in preparation for next week's hearing on alleged falsified scientific information related to the planned Yucca Mountain nuclear dump.

International students concerned about hacker: More than a week after a computer hacker possibly accessed their personal data, UNLV international students said they want to know more about what information the hacker was actually able to download and how that information might be used.

Abuse trial delayed in stabbings of two girls: By Matt Pordum; The trial of the mother of two children who were stabbed in Mesquite was postponed Tuesday because her lawyers said they need more time to investigate about 65 people on the prosecution's witness list.

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Women of distinction honored at gala: Elizabeth Foyt; Attended by more than 600 members, colleagues and supporters, the event again generated funds to assist the Women's Development Center, an agency working to end poverty by helping women and their families reach self-sufficiency.

Growth panel readies package for commission: Clark County's Growth Management Task Force came close to wrapping up more than a year's worth of detailed work Tuesday, going page-by-page over a 149-page report it will formally present to the Clark County Commission next week.

Columnist Peter Benton: Red Cross benefit approaching: Peter Benton; The Southern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross will stage its fourth annual golf classic -- "Play Like a Pro" -- on April 18 at the TPC in Summerlin.

Ralph Siraco's Santa Anita selections: 1st Race -- SAY TOMORROW -- Draws good box for short two-furlong drag race. SCOOTIN GEORGE -- Pedroza on one of two Sise-trained entries. Value Play -- MORE BERTRANDO

Columnist Adam Candee: Park already emerging as part of golf's 'In' crowd: Adam Candee; To those who haven't spent the past year sharing space under a rock with Bud Selig, Michelle Wie is arguably the hottest story in golf right now.

Preps: Tuesday's Results: Green Valley 3, Bonanza 0: W: Gregory Krause 7 IP, 2 H, 3K. GV: Ryan Foley 2-4, 2B; Tyler Hansen RBI.

Bush puts lesser-knowns in charge of economic unit: Tom Raum; WASHINGTON -- President Bush has beefed up his national security team with big-name advisers but has left his economic agenda in the hands of lesser-known officials whom some consider weak, unproven or inexperienced.

Baseball roundup: Former Arizona third baseman and UNLV standout Matt Williams announced Tuesday he is becoming a partner in the Diamondbacks and will invest $3 million in the club over the next 10 years.

Legislature remembers television anchor Gonzalez: CARSON CITY -- Legislators in both houses took time Tuesday to remember KLAS Channel 8 anchor Polly Gonzalez, who was killed Monday in a car accident in California, just north of Baker.

Flexibility added to stock option expense rules: "They are allowing a lot of flexibility in the accounting," said Michael A. Moran, an accounting analyst at Goldman Sachs. But, he added, the SEC also made it clear that it expected companies to disclose details about what they did, to make it possible for investors to evaluate the accounting.

Obituaries for March 30, 2005: Robert Ray Abbott, 48, of Las Vegas died March 6 in Las Vegas. A jeweler, he was born June 8, 1956, in Fort Riley, Kan.

Social Security proposal under attack: David Kihara and Steve Kanigher; Democrats in the House stepped up efforts in the valley to counter President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security on Tuesday, with Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., criticizing the president's proposal at a town hall meeting in Las Vegas.

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

Pole Place: Zieba's rich heritage reflected in Las Vegas restaurant: Ken Miller; "'Mario sounds like Italian,' they all say," Zieba said during an interview at his Polonia Restaurant and Market. "I just say, 'Ever since the pope moved to Rome, all Italian names have become Polish names.'"

Wranglers' coach: 'We had 10 quitters': Nick Christensen; Wranglers coach Glen Gulutzan stormed through the clubhouse Tuesday, memories of a cold night in 1991 still fresh in his head.

GDP grows at solid 3.8 percent pace in final quarter of 2004: The reading on the gross domestic product, released by the Commerce Department today, turned out to be the same as a previous estimate made a month ago.

Southwest beltway to speed up with offramp openings: Stephen Curran; Traffic should begin moving more quickly Friday along a southwestern section of the Las Vegas Beltway after a multi-day closure of a key southwest Las Vegas offramp slowed vehicles to a crawl during rush hours earlier this week, Clark County Public Works representatives said.

Property tax plan targets relief to Nevada homeowners: AP; -Using a clause in the Nevada Constitution that allows tax exemptions for homeowners experiencing "severe economic hardship," the bill would cap property tax increases at 3 percent for all single-family, owner-occupied residences.