Print edition for May 12, 2005

Founder closer to taking company private: With the acquisition, he will own more than 2.4 million shares -- about 95 percent -- of the Las Vegas lending company. Through the tender offer, the shares will be purchased for $2.85 each.

News briefs for May 12, 2005: An out-of-control BMW hit eight cars at a car dealership at Decatur Boulevard and Sahara Avenue on Wednesday afternoon, causing about $250,000 in damage to the vehicles, authorities said.

Las Vegas Centennial: Dessert passage: Las Vegas prepares for biggest cake: Las Vegas doesn't really need to do anything extraordinary to put itself on the map.

Las Vegas Centennial: After sale, Vegas set sail: There was nothing particularly exceptional about Las Vegas' birth, but what grew from ordinary roots was something quite special, one local historian says.

Las Vegas Centennial: LV: 100 years, 21 sites: Kirk Baird; Las Vegas is a city more often concerned with its present than its past, as made evident by the hoopla surrounding the opening of Wynn Las Vegas.

Editorial: A 'yes man' for Bush: While Bodman's full-speed ahead approach is wrong, it's not altogether surprising given the Bush administration's love affair with the nuclear power industry. It is particularly ominous that Bodman told members of the congressional delegation that he wouldn't turn over some Yucca Mountain project documents that Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., has requested, documents that very well could be the undoing of this controversial program.

Columnist Susan Synder: A parade of reasons to celebrate: Susan Synder; You know, the residents. Local schmos -- not megaresort moguls -- are behind the floats, bands and marching units.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Castillo calls for rematch against Corrales: Jose Luis Castillo reiterated his desire for a rematch against Diego "Chico" Corrales on Wednesday, but Corrales' handlers were in no hurry to make one.

Editorial: A reasonable salary: Many members of the Legislature must give up their full-time jobs -- including their salaries and health insurance benefits -- during the 120-day legislative session. Paying lawmakers for just 60 days -- when they're serving twice that period -- is flat-out wrong. If we genuinely want a citizens' legislature -- one that isn't limited to the wealthy and includes those with modest means -- then we need to provide a wage that is reasonable. We shouldn't make public service such a financial hardship that only those who are well off or retired can afford to do so. We all lose ...

Las Vegas Centennial: Music celebration canvasses all genres: Spencer Patterson; The Red Hot Chili Peppers' giant free concert is still seven weeks away, but Las Vegas begins celebrating its Centennial with live music throughout this weekend.

Get it in Writing: Planning for death can alleviate financial, emotional tension: Michelle Swafford; That can leave big decisions and bills for surviving family members during a time of grief.

Las Vegas Centennial: May babies to get special recognition: Even the newest and smallest Las Vegans are being honored during the Las Vegas Centennial Celebration.

Company agrees to sell Reno Hilton resort: Grand Sierra Resort said it will redevelop the property. Plans include building an indoor water park.

Court urged to strike down law letting casino relocate: The attorney general's office and the Better Government Association urged the justices to strike down the Emerald Casino legislation.

Advance research helps sort out money, options: Michelle Swafford; Preparing the funeral and burial preferences are not the only considerations for death planning. Preplanners also often establish a will or trust, a living trust and power of attorney for health care and other financial arrangements to take care of the person if they become incapacitated or die.

Court refuses to hear appeal of Lewis casino referendum: The state Supreme Court voted 4-0 this week not to hear the appeal of Lewis County Circuit Judge Thomas Keadle's decision to uphold the November referendum. Justice Larry Starcher did not participate in the vote.

April retail sales rise by 1.4%: Last month's increase was far better than the 0.8 percent gain many analysts had been expecting and represented a significant rebound from the lackluster 0.4 percent increase in March.

Las Vegas Centennial: Wedding spectacle planned: Ken Miller; After gambling, the one thing many people think of when they hear "Las Vegas" is weddings.

Las Vegas Centennial: Parade participants are ready to play with blocks: It's exhilarating. Breathtaking, really.

4 new casino licenses OK'd: David Pitt; JOHNSTON, Iowa -- The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission voted Wednesday to approve casino licenses for Emmetsburg, Riverside, Worth County and Waterloo.

Company delays date of exiting bankruptcy to May 20: Trump Hotels previously had said it would emerge from bankruptcy protection today. The company provided no reason for the delay in a statement. Trump Hotels owns three casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where it's based, and a riverboat casino in Indiana.

Dolezel, Nash play through pain: Adam Candee; Just two of their four most important legs will be healthy, but the Gladiators are not content with those excuses heading into Saturday night's crucial game at Los Angeles.

Preps: Wednesday's results: SUNRISE REGION

Las Vegas Centennial: Columnist Susan Snyder: Organizer: .com con deplorable: Send Stacy Allsbrook chocolates, but make sure they are not from Belgium.

Letter: Country needs an independent, strong judiciary: Lucas wrote that liberals "seem to have no problem with judges foisting upon the American people things like abortion, gay marriage, busing, removing God from all vestiges of American life and, most recently, the execution of a helpless woman who was only guilty of being unable to feed herself."

Air Force JROTC teachers sought: Dick Benoit; The Air Force is looking for qualified instructors to serve in rapidly expanding Air Force Junior ROTC programs, said Jo Alice Talley, chief of instructor management for Air Force Junior ROTC in a release from its headquarters at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

Letter: Bush's record has earned no respect: Let's look at the president's accomplishments:

Centennial field jinx strikes down Panthers once again: Nick Christensen; Whoever is coaching Palo Verde's baseball team next year might want to consult an exorcist before the Panthers play their first game at Centennial High School's field.

Board says All-Star game worth the expense: Dan Kulin; The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority bid for the 2007 NBA All-Star Game could include an offer of free venues for the game and fan activities, 100 hotel rooms and 30 hotel suites for four nights, plus $750,000, according to information shared with LVCVA board members in recent weeks.

Senate considers social, legal expenses of starting lottery: Margaret Lillard; RALEIGH, N.C. -- If North Carolina joins every other state on the East Coast and creates a lottery, the cost of policing it and offering help to problem gamblers could cost several million dollars a year, witnesses told a Senate committee on Wednesday.

Las Vegas Centennial: City resurrects Helldorado: Las Vegas' past may save the future of Helldorado Days, once an annual, Western-themed community celebration that included rodeos, parades and other events that lasted almost two weeks.

Friday's horse racing entries: Post Time 7:05 p.m.

Officials call for overhaul of tribal recognition process: Lolita C. Baldor; WASHINGTON -- The thirst for lucrative Indian casinos can taint the tribal recognition process, which is too slow and costly, state and federal officials told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee Wednesday.

Rhetoric gets more intense: Pay close attention to the expression on Felix Trinidad's boyish face after Round 1 of Saturday night's big middleweight fight, Winky Wright said.

Sports briefs for May 12, 2005: Although it's unlikely that the beaten Kentucky Derby favorite owned by Yankees boss George Steinbrenner will be healthy enough to run in the final leg of the Triple Crown, it's not out of the question.

Redbirds slam 51s: Hector Luna and Peter Zoccolillo both hit grand slams as part of two-homer afternoons, powering the Memphis Redbirds to a 15-4 triumph over the visiting Las Vegas 51s on Wednesday before 10,801 at AutoZone Park.

Ravens cut ties with Boulware: The Baltimore Ravens released four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Peter Boulware and said they will replace him with younger, cheaper players.

Welsh's body goes unclaimed; military burial still possible: The body of award-winning Las Vegas boxing writer Jack Welsh has not been claimed by family members, prompting a mortuary Wednesday to seek authorization to have him buried in an unmarked Clark County pauper's grave.

Sierra Vista comes together, routs top-seeded Bonanza: Nick Christensen; Sierra Vista's softball team spent the past two months as an enigma, a preseason favorite that limped into a third seed in the Sunset Region playoffs.

Judge rules DNA evidence can be used in trial of alleged serial rapist: By Matt Pordum; District Judge David Wall ruled Wednesday that DNA evidence that stemmed from a DNA sample illegally obtained from an alleged serial rapist by his probation officer can be admitted at the man's trial.

Brackets fall in line for boys' volleyball: Jeff Neubert; Being a favorite has worked out pretty well for boys' high school volleyball teams. The favorites lost just one game in the Sunrise and Sunset regional quarterfinals this week, making for some pretty good matches in today's semifinals.

A nurse's day: 10 a.m. Patient 2 (a 5-year-old boy)'s mom wanted to talk with Katz about the boy's test results and asked for some coffee.

Release of toxic chemicals drops: Nevada industrial plants reported a drop in toxic chemical releases to air, land, water and off-site deposits in 2003, the federal Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday.

Police power clarified on blood-alcohol test: CARSON CITY -- Law enforcement officers may consider many factors in determining if a motorist should be ordered to take a blood-alcohol test, the Nevada Supreme Court said today.

Defense: Malone unaware of scheme: SAN DIEGO -- The lawyer for Lance Malone told jurors Wednesday that the former Clark County commissioner and Metro Police officer had been unaware of a strip club owner's conspiracy to bribe San Diego city councilmen.

Burns says Reid backed bill limiting wild horse protection: David Kihara; Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., a well-known defender of wild horses in Nevada and the West, has been accused of supporting changes to long-standing protections for the horses -- changes that have led at least 41 wild horses to the slaughterhouse.

Fore nominated for D.C. post: The State Department said the six undersecretaries form the department's "corporate board" on foreign policy.

Federal law on additional IDs for licenses will hurt DMV: CARSON CITY -- A proposed federal law that would require additional forms of identification to obtain driver's licenses will mean a "significant" increase DMV workload and will increase wait times at the agency's Clark County offices unless government is willing to spend more money.

Turnberry, Schaeffer plan new resort on the Strip: By Liz Benston; Condominium developer Turnberry Associates has formed a private company with former Mandalay Resort Group President and Chief Financial Officer Glenn Schaeffer to develop a major casino resort on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip.

Fugitive, girlfriend to stand trial together: By Matt Pordum; Less than a week after District Judge Lee Gates said a woman who allegedly shot at police while her fugitive boyfriend led Metro officers on a high-speed chase would not stand trial together, Gates changed his mind.

Boyd property plans to double size of original project: "Demand for hotel rooms in Las Vegas has been very strong, as evidenced by the great success of our recent rooms expansion at the Orleans," said Michael Gaughan, chief executive of the Coast Casinos division of Boyd, in a statement announcing the expansion.

Residents offer ways to use and protect Sloan Canyon area: Henderson resident Terrie Schaefer collects six to eight trash bags full of soda cans, beer bottles, plastic containers and cardboard boxes every Monday morning when she walks her dog in the Sloan Canyon area near her home, she said.

Nevada's nurses face ever-growing challenges: Michelle Swafford; When Marty Katz reports to work at Sunrise Children's Hospital, he never knows what the day will bring -- but he knows it will be busy.

Caesars to sell Reno Hilton property: By Liz Benston; Caesars Entertainment Inc. has signed an agreement to sell its Reno Hilton property for about $150 million to a Nevada development company with plans to redevelop the aging property into a family resort.

Obituaries for May 12, 2005: Teylan Tyzell Adams, 20 days, of Las Vegas died May 5 in Las Vegas. He was born April 15.

Housing authority slashes budget, programs: David Kihara; The North Las Vegas Housing Authority will lay off four employees and reduce the services it offers to low-income families -- including after-school programs for children -- to reduce costs after running hundreds of thousands of dollars in the red in the last two years, the authority's executive director said Wednesday.

Battle brews over Canadian drug bill: Kirsten Searer; CARSON CITY -- A showdown was expected today over a bill that would make it easier for Nevadans to import Canadian drugs.

Veterans of recent wars add to homeless rosters: David Kihara; Gary Andrey was drafted into the Marines at the age of 23, served three years in the military including seven months in Vietnam and suffered several minor wounds while in Southeast Asia.

DMV rebate might cause tax trouble: Kirsten Searer; CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn's idea to rebate vehicle registrations to taxpayers hit another hitch Wednesday.

Sam Schmidt pleased with team's progress at Indy 500: Indianapolis 500 team owner Sam Schmidt of Henderson is ecstatic over his team's progress at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway after just two days of practice.

House approves tough anti-gang legislation: Republicans shocked by true-crime tales of beheadings and machete assaults sped legislation through the House to make gang attacks federal crimes and put gang members in line for long federal prison sentences or even the death penalty.

Democrats balk at Guinn's school spending: Kirsten Searer; CARSON CITY -- The Senate is poised to approve Gov. Kenny Guinn's plan to infuse $100 million into primary grades for remediation, but it appears Assembly Democrats differ on how to spend it.

Ross calls foul over Mack's support of Gillins: Dan Kulin; Las Vegas City Councilman Michael Mack is throwing his support behind one of his potential replacements, Ward 6 candidate Mary Gillins, whose opponent said Mack is being paid to help Gillins.

Travel expert lauds Las Vegas for service: Travel expert Peter Greenberg figures the airline industry could learn a thing or two about keeping the customer satisfied by coming to Las Vegas.

Compromise OK'd for retirees health program: CARSON CITY -- A legislative budget committee voted Wednesday to accept a compromise plan regarding an increase in state health insurance rates for state retirees who are also covered by Medicare.

Legislative briefs for May 12, 2005: By a 21-0 vote, the Senate Wednesday approved a bill to rename the University and Community College System of Nevada; it will be known as the Nevada System of Higher Education.