Print edition for May 2, 2005

Summer restrictions take effect: Under the restrictions, sprinkler watering is prohibited between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Watering during those hours may result in a water waste fee, according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the regional agency that manages water conservation and water resources.

Neiman Marcus agrees to sale: Cotten Timberlake and Brett Cole; Neiman Marcus Group Inc., the department-store chain that sells $4,800 Gucci purses, agreed to a $5.1 billion takeover by two buyout firms, the third multibillion-dollar retail deal this year.

Company to correct accounting: AIG delayed its 2004 annual report for the third time in six weeks, saying in a statement Sunday that a review of its books may not be finished until May 31. PricewaterhouseCoopers, its auditor, is expected to sign off once the report is done, the New York-based company said.

Bowlers strike it rich with Sunset center: By Liz Benston; The most expensive bowling center in the nation opened last month at the Sunset Station casino in Henderson.

Space joins Air Warfare Center: Creating the new Air Force Warfare Center will not involve the physical movement of personnel or facilities but will likely include a reorganization of the various missions undertaken by the commands, said Capt. Angie Blair, a spokeswoman with the Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

Future of gambling tied to school finance case: When the Senate adjourned Friday evening, two gambling proposals remained in play but did not have enough votes for passage. Lawmakers hope to wrap up their session Saturday and Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, said gambling isn't on the call sheet.

Letter: Viable energy policy requires good leadership: It's time for the United States to develop both a short- and long-term plan leading to energy independence. Some people, mostly right-wing conservatives, would have you believe that energy independence is impossible to achieve. But we have always been able to build a better mouse trap when we have seen the need to do so!

Company declares stock split: The Las Vegas company's outstanding shares of stock will increase to about 55.6 million and the number of authorized shares of stock will increase to 120 million.

Families of four slain men talk about their loss: By Matt Pordum; After sitting through a week of jury selection and four days more to see if the man who killed their sons and brothers would face the death penalty, the families of the young men that Donte Pattison murdered execution style were heard.

51s earn split against Fresno: Cashman Field All Games 7:05 p.m. Radio: all games on 1460-AM

Senate approves tough penalty in fatal accidents: CARSON CITY -- A motorist who kills somebody won't get off with just a traffic ticket in the future.

Lawmakers to rule on cab recorders: The Legislative Counsel Bureau will ask the Nevada Legislature within the next month whether it wishes to reject a regulation from the Nevada Taxicab Authority that allows taxicabs to be equipped with video cameras that can also record sound.

White Pine County residents seek help from Reid: Unlike a similar effort in Lincoln County, the Southern Nevada Water Authority may not have a powerful ally when it comes to putting wells and pipelines in White Pine County.

Authority's plan sparks concerns: The Bureau of Land Management will hold a hearing on the environmental impacts of its groundwater project Wednesday at the Alexis Park Hotel, 375 East Harmon Ave., from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The meeting is one of nine scheduled for Nevada and Utah.

Monorail suffers communication breakdown: The latest glitch for the Las Vegas Monorail began about 4 p.m. Sunday and lasted about three hours after the command center lost communications with six trains running at the time.

Study: Hospitals major contributors to economy: Michelle Swafford; A study released today by UNR shows that Nevada hospitals are major contributors to state and local economies through tax revenue, job creation, capital investments and uncompensated health care services.

News briefs for May 2, 2005: Two 21-year-old Las Vegas residents were killed Saturday morning when their car plunged 30 feet off Sunset Road near the McCarran International Airport tunnel, Metro Police said.

BLM accepts NLV's land auction request: The Bureau of Land Management has agreed to North Las Vegas' request for an auction of 2,900 acres as part of a larger strategy to deal with the rare plants and fossils that postponed a February sale.

Sports briefs for May 2, 2005: Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. was injured in a motorcycle accident Sunday, but the team said his injuries aren't life-threatening.

Nellis rescue group returns from duty in Afghanistan: Eric Leake; Members of the 563rd Rescue Group returned Sunday to Nellis Air Force Base and a world months older than the one they left.

Founder extends tender offer: Shustek has offered to purchase the stock for $2.85 a share. The original offer was scheduled to expire today.

Sixteen schools adopt uniform policy: By Emily Richmond; Sixteen Clark County campuses will adopt mandatory uniform polices after meeting the School Board's requirement that at least 55 percent of surveys returned by parents be in favor of the stricter dress code.

Details of expansion discussed: To be built on a 24-acre adjacent parcel Hard Rock Hotel owner Peter Morton recently bought for $85 million, the project will include an expansion of The Joint concert venue, four new restaurants and a rooftop ultra-lounge.

Interim housing director resigns: By Timothy Pratt; Patricia Sherwin Lucas, interim executive director of the Clark County Housing Authority, has stepped down from her position, leaving the agency without someone at the helm for the second time in a year.

Casino money a different game for non-Nevada banks: Kevin Rademacher; In Las Vegas, bankers hardly blink at a multi-million dollar change order from a Strip casino customer, but such a request creates quite a stir in just about any other market.

Letter: U.S. must reduce reliance on oil: Most experts agree that peak oil production will happen by 2008 and maybe by next year. The rising demand will exceed the supply. Drilling and refineries will not overcome the demand. Even building nuclear electric plants to help would require 1,200 new facilities.

Obituaries for May 2, 2005: Grace E. Carrigan, 84, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. She was born Sept. 11, 1920, in Iowa. A resident for 10 years, she was a homemaker.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Search is on here for next American F1 driver: Although most in the NASCAR Nation refuse to acknowledge its existence, the world's most popular form of auto racing is still Formula One. Its annual television viewership of 54 billion is second only to soccer, another sport that most Americans find about as relevant as the price of tea at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Hells Angels judge's status in limbo: By Matt Pordum; After threatening defense attorneys representing members of the Hells Angels with possible disbarment if they were not prepared for trial, it may turn out that District Judge Donald Mosley won't even be presiding over their case.

Sands awarded $67.7 million in bonuses in '04: Jeannine DeFoe; Las Vegas Sands Corp. awarded Chief Executive Sheldon Adelson and three top executives a total of $67.7 million in bonuses last year after selling a shopping mall in a casino under development.

After deaths, lawmakers rethink casino legalization in Mexico: Will Weissert; MEXICO CITY -- The gruesome lunchtime slaying of three would-be casino developers outside a popular northern Mexican restaurant has delayed a congressional vote to amend a gambling ban and sparked calls for stricter controls on the few places Mexicans are allowed to place bets.

Mother originally charged with trying to smother son enters plea: By Matt Pordum; A 39-year-old woman who said a devil voice told her to smother her 9-year-old son pleaded guilty to one count of child abuse and neglect on Friday.

Columnist Ralph Siraco: Hughes may have to choose between two horses to run: Ralph Siraco; Churchill Downs race track, in Louisville, Ky., opened its doors to a new era Saturday, one week before the renewal of its marquee race, the Kentucky Derby.

Win slips through Gladiators' fingers: Darryl Mellema; ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Spartacus would have been proud.

Ground water pumping called 'recipe for disaster': Eric Leake; Robert Glennon asked his audience to imagine a 12-ounce bottle containing all the water below ground.

Forum's report answers spending questions: Kirsten Searer and Cy Ryan; CARSON CITY -- Legislators this afternoon were to find out exactly how much money the state can spend for the coming two years.

Manufacturing rises in April: The Institute for Supply Management said today that its index measuring manufacturing activity registered 53.3 in April, down from March's 55.2 reading. The performance was weaker than the 55.0 analysts had expected, putting the index at its lowest level since July 2003.

Supreme Court will hear construction case: CARSON CITY -- A near $14 million judgment in a class action construction-defect case against home builders in Las Vegas comes before the Nevada Supreme Court for oral arguments Thursday.

Preps: This week's schedule: Baseball

Casinos get zoning approval from city council: City council on Friday agreed to establish a special construction zone. The vote affects zoning for Greektown and MotorCity casinos, the Detroit Free Press reported; MGM Grand Detroit Casino already had been through the process.

Editorial: Bill would help prevent Sky-Vue-type travesties: Assembly Bill 343 would help prevent such a communication gap in the future. The bill calls for the state Division of Manufactured Housing to be notified in the event of any violation at a mobile home park. The division is responsible for the safety of the mobile homes, while other jurisdictions -- cities, counties, health districts -- often inspect only the land on which the homes sit. Sky-Vue might have been acted upon earlier if division inspectors had seen the leaky sewer pipes and electrical problems affecting the homes, and the garden hoses that were supplying their water.

Temple honors Rabbi Goodman: The celebration will also note that Goodman and the temple have agreed to another seven-year term.

Birth announcements for May 2, 2005: April 21:

Editorial: Bush speaks out, finally: On Thursday, during a news conference, President Bush was asked about this controversy, specifically about Perkins' statement that Democratic judicial filibusters were an attack against people of faith. Bush responded that Democrats were objecting to his nominees for reasons other than religion. "I think people are opposing my nominees because they don't like the judicial philosophy of the people I've nominated," Bush said. "I don't ascribe a person's opposing my nominations to an issue of faith. ... I am mindful that people in political office should not say to somebody, you're not equally American if you don't happen to agree ...

Vegas man comesthisclose to beating Kalitta in final: Las Vegas resident Rod Fuller advanced to his first NHRA Top Fuel final round Sunday at Bristol (Tenn.) Dragway before narrowly losing to veteran Doug Kalitta, but Fuller said he left the track with mixed emotions.

Centennial schedule: Today through May 17: Vegas Century Exhibit by the American Institute of Architects of Las Vegas. The display at the Fashion Show mall depicts 100 events, structures and people who have shaped Las Vegas.

Columnist Susan Snyder: Couple take a shine to Goldfield: "So, you want to buy my hotel?" he asks anyone peering through the dusty windows of the 97-year-old structure.

May proves to be big month for Centennial: For more information on the centennial celebration, go on line at www.lasvegas2005.org or call the centennial office at (702) 229-2005.

Coldplay warms up for receptive audience: Kirk Baird; Frontman Chris Martin has received most of the attention since, with a marriage to Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow and the birth of the couple's daughter, Apple Blythe Alison Martin.