Print edition for May 11, 2005

Experts: Makeup of real estate in Vegas changing: Kevin Rademacher; Between high-rise condos and rising home prices, the Las Vegas real estate market is going through significant change.

CCSN, Dixie take turns at the top: Tim Chambers began his Community College of Southern Nevada baseball program six years ago trying to emulate Dixie State.

Taxation Committee passes measure on police tax: CARSON CITY -- Clark County Sheriff Bill Young is one step closer to being able to hire more Metro Police officers.

Lawsuit against homebuilder expands: Kevin Rademacher; A 2003 lawsuit against Del Webb Communities Inc. -- originally filed on behalf of nine homeowners -- has been expanded to include owners or representatives of more than 1,500 additional homes, all in Sun City Summerlin.

Missouri official hired to start state lottery: The vote was unanimous from the Oklahoma Lottery Commission to hire Scroggins, 61, at a base salary of $175,000 a year, plus $30,000 in one-time transition expenses.

Board member seeks to limit Garcia: By Emily Richmond; Clark County School Board member Shirley Barber wants to curtail Superintendent Carlos Garcia's authority for the two months remaining in his tenure, including prohibiting him from making purchases, creating new administrative positions or approving pay hikes for current employees.

Mind over matter: Eyeballs tell Barbara Russom when she's beginning to penetrate the soul of another Coyote.

Apparent suicide probed at Green Valley High School: Jen Lawson and Emily Richmond; The man, whose name was not released this morning, is not believed to be a student, Officer Todd Rasmussen, a Henderson Police spokesman, said.

LVCVA details ad campaign with goal of drawing 43 million: When Rossi Ralenkotter announced in January that the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority hopes to attract 43 million people to Las Vegas by 2009, he promised comprehensive details about how that would occur with the publication of the LVCVA's marketing plan.

Judah issues challenge to Oscar: Undisputed welterweight champion Zab Judah wants to meet Oscar De La Hoya in a megafight for supremacy at 147 pounds by the end of this year, he said Tuesday.

Neighbors stunned by young man's slaying: Jen Lawson; Friends said Justin Meece was four moves into a chess game when someone knocked on his apartment door just after midnight Tuesday.

Legislative briefs for May 11, 2005: Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Minden, said two years ago there was $10 million in uncollected property tax.

Assembly approves health bill: Kirsten Searer; CARSON CITY -- The Assembly approved a bill Tuesday that will give more health insurance coverage to pregnant women, small-business employees and people who are medically needy but not covered by Medicare.

Reid reiterates displeasure with Bush's priorities: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., on Tuesday dug in his heels for a potentially explosive confrontation over President Bush's judicial nominees -- and issued a fresh attack on Bush's agenda.

Flights to South Dakota planned: Nonstop round trips between McCarran International Airport and Rapid City, S.D., Regional Airport are planned twice a week beginning July 6.

Florida slot-machine fight is likely to end up in court: Jackie Hallifax; TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Slot machines generated a lot of conversation during the legislative session, but lawmakers couldn't agree on how to tax or even define them.

Prison guards bill hits a wall: CARSON CITY -- A legislative subcommittee deadlocked Tuesday over whether to add 17 more guards at the High Desert State Prison near Indian Springs despite prison officials' warnings that the additional guards are needed to maintain control at the prison.

Prosecutors open their case against LV's Malone: SAN DIEGO -- Federal prosecutors opened a political corruption trial Tuesday alleging a Las Vegas strip club owner and former Clark County commissioner bribed San Diego city councilmen to get them to loosen an ordinance restricting strippers' actions.

Paving worker killed in accident: Eric Leake; A 25-year-old paving worker was killed Tuesday afternoon when he was run over by a truck at a road construction site.

Gaming win hits record $1 billion: CARSON CITY -- For the first time Nevada's casinos won more than $1 billion from gamblers in a month.

Sports briefs for May 11, 2005: Antonio Perez and Brian Myrow hit home runs, and Eric Gagne pitched another strong inning in his rehab assignment as the visiting Las Vegas 51s beat the Memphis Redbirds, 5-4 at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tenn.

Panel OKs hike in salary: Kirsten Searer; CARSON CITY -- An Assembly panel was quick to approve two measures Tuesday that will boost legislative pay and travel reimbursements.

Governor OKs plan to help problem gamblers: David Ammons; OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Gov. Christine Gregoire on Tuesday signed legislation committing the state to help problem gamblers.

Boating safety emphasized as holiday weekend nears: As Memorial Day weekend approaches, the National Park Service is warning boaters and personal watercraft operators to stay alert as they enjoy the changing water levels on Lakes Mead and Mohave.

Bodman refuses to halt Yucca: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said he will not halt the Yucca Mountain project and has not seen any evidence of compromised science, despite Nevada lawmakers who say project worker e-mails suggest Yucca data is flawed.

Revlon gives free makeovers: Revlon gives free makeovers

Eagles' owner: Owens' deal will not be renegotiated: The Philadelphia Eagles will not renegotiate the contract of star wide receiver Terrell Owens, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported today.

Adoption campaign appears to be paying off in county: Stephen Curran; The advertising campaign unveiled last week to urge residents to adopt or take in the scores of children overwhelming Clark County children's services programs appears to be paying off, the woman in charge of those programs said Tuesday.

Columnist Adam Candee: Garcia not yet doomed to repeat Norman's history: Adam Candee; How easy it is for a golf writer's thoughts to drift this time of year, nice weather and singing birds and all.

Audit reveals student loan delinquency at state agency: CARSON CITY -- A state commission that loans money to students to attend out-of-state professional colleges and universities, has failed to collect $600,000 in delinquent loans, a legislative audit says.

Agreement signed with GTECH for new slots: The companies also agreed to work together on development projects at race tracks considering legalized casino gambling, including Suffolk Downs in Massachusetts and Turfway Park in Kentucky.

Columnist Jeff German: Wilhelm laboring for change: The energetic, Yale-educated labor leader, who's well known on the Las Vegas Strip, is at the forefront of a serious push for change within America's declining labor movement.

Court denies inmate's appeal: CARSON CITY -- An inmate, sentenced in 1983 to 123 years in prison plus two life terms with parole for a variety of crimes in Clark County, has lost his appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Capitol, White House evacuated briefly: WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Capitol and White House were briefly evacuated today after a small plane entered restricted airspace over the city.

Highlights of March 2005 revenue report on Nevada casinos: AP; -STATEWIDE: $1.03 billion win, up 10.9 percent.

Durango beats Cimarron, gets third crack at Sierra Vista: Nick Christensen; Tuesday's Sunset Region first-round baseball game between Cimarron-Memorial and Durango was supposed to be a pitchers' duel.

Clark's playoff drought ends after three years: Nick Christensen; Brittany Garrett's sixth-inning RBI single to left gave Clark its first playoff victory in three years as the Chargers defeated Centennial 1-0 at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park.

State braces for new assault on lands sales funds: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The House Appropriations Committee approved an order for a study detailing how the government has spent money earned through public lands sales in Clark County.

Grant from EPA will help look for petroleum waste: The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded North Las Vegas a $200,000 grant to look for petroleum waste on downtown properties and develop a plan for its cleanup as a way to spur more redevelopment.

Tule Springs tours offer vistas into the past: Las Vegas residents can visit a slice of geologic history carved into the northwestern valley.

Weather kind to Sunrise golfers: Jeff Neubert; When the first four golfers in the Sunrise Region championship teed off, they got something totally unexpected -- no wind, or any other weather. The forecast called for gusty winds and even some showers throughout the day, but Rhodes Ranch Golf Club saw none of that.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Winky by decision is worth the gamble: Boxing bettors who think Winky Wright has at least a fighting chance against Felix "Tito" Trinidad in their big middleweight bout Saturday at the MGM Grand should consider placing a wager on Wright to win by decision, a proposition that would pay off at plus-300, or 3-1.

Profit climbs on demand for network systems: The company, which is considered a bellwether in the corporate technology industry, had net income of $1.41 billion, or 21 cents a share, compared with net income of $1.21 billion, or 17 cents a share, a year earlier.

Veto costs Chester racetrack funding for breeders, purses: Manchin last week vetoed a bill that would have created a breeders' fund program at Mountaineer Racetrack & Gaming Resort in Chester, but signed another one requiring horse and dog tracks to contribute 1.5 percent of their video lottery revenues to state thoroughbred and greyhound development funds.

Racino's biggest backer doesn't want tribal partnership: The decision by Senate Minority Leader Dick Day, R-Owatonna, to yank his support is yet another blow to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's push for expanded gambling in Minnesota to help fund state needs.

March U.S. trade deficit falls: The Commerce Department reported today that the gap between what the United States imports and what it sells to foreign countries narrowed by 9.2 percent in March to $54.99 billion, down from the record monthly deficit of $60.57 billion set in February.

Resident takes fight to Supreme Court: A Boulder City resident fearful of widespread development is petitioning the state Supreme Court to throw out a June 7 ballot measure that enables the city to sell land around Boulder Creek Golf Course for a 90-home subdivision.

Adoption campaign appears to paying off in county: Stephen Curran; The advertising campaign unveiled last week to urge residents to adopt or take in the scores of children overwhelming Clark County children's services programs appears to be paying off, the woman in charge of those programs said Tuesday.

Ralph Siraco's Hollywood Park selections: 1st Race -- CUT TRAIL -- Draws good rail post for route maiden/claimer, Martinez here, adds blinkers for thid diploma try. NEWTON JOHN -- Starts alongside top pick for tag run opener, Court atop, sans blinkers for this graduation try. Value Play -- QUICK THINKING

Columnist Elizabeth Foyt: Catholic school fundraiser a success: Elizabeth Foyt; The event was sponsored by DeLuca Liquor and Wine, Las Vegas Hilton and Encore Productions.

Off-road, bighorn sheep enthusiasts critique plan: Off-road motorists and fans of desert bighorn sheep weighed in on a management plan for the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area Tuesday night.

Editorial: Sadly, secrecy prevails: Despite the legal victory for Cheney, himself a former oil company executive, the public is the real loser in this case, since we don't know exactly how the task force operated. What is clear is that environmental groups were shut out of any meaningful input in the process as evidenced by the recommendations favoring those industries -- oil, coal, natural gas and nuclear power -- that sat in on the meetings. To get a sense of the arrogance of the Bush White House, Cheney wouldn't even submit to Congress a list of the names of energy executives who attended the ...

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Models make clothes seem valuable: In truth, except for the fancy design on the seat part, there was nothing to distinguish those pricey pants from the equally attractive jeans at much lower prices.

Students news briefs: The Commission of Presidential Scholars at the U.S. Education Department recently announced the selection of seven outstanding Nevada students, including two Southern Nevadans, as semifinalists for the 2005 Presidential Scholars Program.

Preps: Baseball Top 10: Preps: Baseball Top 10

Guard, Reserve personnel will work together back home: Jeff Donaldson; Air Force and Air National Guard personnel in Nevada today moved another step toward working together in integrated units.

Cole leaps onto scene: Mike Sims; Just look at Rhendell Cole and you can tell he was born with a great deal of athleticism.

Preps: Tuesday's results: Foothill 7, Las Vegas 5: W: Kreier. L: Pluta. 2B: Medrano (FTHL), Kreier (FTHL), Chace (LV), Segovia (LV), Seabolt (LV). HR: Sexton (FTHL), Dudley (FTHL), Deets (FTHL).

Fight schedule: Friday

Editorial: Crashes show safety issue: On April 26 in New York City, however, the 44 children and two adults who were passengers when a school bus rolled over while taking a Queens exit ramp sustained just just minor neck and back injuries. This bus was equipped with seat belts.

Jail tale doesn't warrant murder retrial: By Matt Pordum; A sister and brother convicted of killing the woman's husband to collect a $500,000 life insurance policy in 2002 will not receive a new trial even though a jailhouse confession allegedly points to another man as the killer.

Two men charged with illegal gambling plead guilty: Kevin Flanagan, 41, and John Zaspal, 38, both of Cedar Rapids entered the guilty pleas Monday to one count of illegal gambling. The men were arrested late last year after authorities say they worked at an illegal gambling business involving sports betting and parlay card bookmaking.

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

Letter: Developers, casinos should pay for pipeline: Let the Las Vegas casinos pay for it. If they can spend billions on their new hotels, they can afford this. Let the housing developers also pitch in, as they are the ones making tons of money off of the new homes they are building.

Letter: Gold Butte needs more protection: Archaeology site stewards I know who monitor the area are appalled at the amount of vandalism from bullets, paint, defacement and fire smoke to these precious sites. While both the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service manage sections of the Gold Butte area, they lack appropriate funding and staffing to adequately protect the area from vandals.

Descendents of pioneers honored by centennial: Former District Judge John Mendoza remembers how his grandfather Fermin Mendoza, a part-time bootlegger, used to react when he was tipped off when federal authorities were coming to raid the family's home at F Street and Bonanza Road.

Obituaries for May 11, 2005: Kenneth E. Acker, 75, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospital. He was born Feb. 13, 1930, in Wheeling, W.Va. A resident for 25 years, he was a retired shift manager in the gaming industry and a Korean War Air Force veteran.

Community briefs for May 11, 2005: The organization H20 will present "Sexy Seniors," a lecture from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. today in Sunrise Hospital's Auditorium, 3101 S. Maryland Parkway.

Today's frontpage

< Previous | Next >

Most Read
Discussed
Most E-mailed

Complete Listing

Blogs

Elsewhere

Sands China raises $2.5 billion in Hong Kong IPO

3 hours, 45 minutes ago

Marquardt v. Sonnen scheduled for UFC 109

20 hours, 45 minutes ago

Bloggity, Bloggity, Bloggity

Will a fourth consecutive title by Jimmie Johnson be good or bad for NASCAR? (2 Comments)

21 hours, 42 minutes ago

Top Chef: Las Vegas

The Jet Stream: And then there were four

21 hours, 46 minutes ago

Top Chef Episode 12: On keeping it simple

21 hours, 56 minutes ago

Miech Again

Chilly start for Chace, but Stanback says he'll warm up (1 Comment)

23 hours, 23 minutes ago

Elsewhere

Harvard Poker Pro: Texas Hold 'Em skills can help traders

1 day, 1 hour ago

More blogs »

Live chat: Tuesday, noon PST; Chat with Krista Creelman; Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question