Print edition for May 26, 2005

Horse track operators drop lawsuit to block tribal deals: Brian Melley; SACRAMENTO -- Horse track operators dropped a lawsuit Wednesday that sought to block Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's _$1 billion casino deal with Indian tribes, freeing the state to issue bonds to pay for transportation projects.

Hearing aimed at stripping Emerald of license resumes: The three-year time lag since witness Michael Belletire, a former Illinois Gaming Board administrator, was last on the stand prompted several jokes. Belletire, who is balding, even quipped that he had hair when he originally took an oath to testify.

Man's claims lead to sentencing delay: By Matt Pordum; A 21-year-old man sentenced to life in prison for killing his pregnant sister and their grandparents, despite claims of mental incompetence, now thinks he is being recruited to play soccer for the U.S. national team, according to his attorneys.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Farewell tour continues for Chavez in L.A.: Pop music has Cher.

Tampa bid wins Super Bowl XLIII: A few minutes after Tampa, Fla., was awarded the 2009 Super Bowl, the city's mayor held a joyous news conference Wednesday. Down the hall, the mood was more somber, with officials from Atlanta, Houston and South Florida lamenting the news that their bids had been rejected.

Economy up 3.5%: Jeannine Aversa; WASHINGTON -- The country's economic performance in the opening quarter of 2005 was better than first thought, logging a solid 3.5 percent annual growth rate in a new sign of a strong springtime business expansion.

Exxon Mobil chief exec says no new refineries: David Koenig; DALLAS -- Despite high gasoline prices and a recent decline in production, Exxon Mobil Corp. doesn't plan to speed up investment in new exploration or build new U.S. refineries, Chairman and CEO Lee R. Raymond said Wednesday.

Airline pension troubles push pilots to ask to work until 65: John Hughes; Hundreds of U.S. airline pilots are asking Congress to raise their mandatory retirement age to 65, saying the change won't threaten safety and would give workers more time to recover money lost to pension cuts.

Laid-off attendants to be recalled, union says: The Professional Flight Attendants Association expects more than half of the workers to return to the airline, union spokesman Bob Krabbe said Wednesday. Some of the attendants have been on furlough since October 2001 and may stay in other jobs, he said. The union has about 8,500 members now working at St. Paul, Minn.-based Northwest.

Letter: Law, not politics, focus of judiciary: The extremists currently in control of the Republican Party are bent on replacing our constitutional system with a religious theocracy. To accomplish this, they have started by referring to any judge who does not rule the way they want them to as an "activist," even when such decisions are based on precedents. Combined with this, they are still seeking, despite this week's compromise, to modify Senate rules that have preserved our values for most of our nation's history.

Ralph Siraco's Hollywood Park selections: 1st Race -- SEEKING THE HEAT -- Has good middle post for sprint opener, Baze aboard Baffert trainee for owner Pegram, Seeking The winners circle here. KEYSTONE MALIBU -- Bug boy Fong on Mitchell trainee, draws inner box for dash claimer, hails from solid barn. Value Play -- O K TOPLESS

Dubow named as new CEO: Gannett has said it was looking for a successor for McCorkindale, who turns 66 next month, but the timing of the announcement was somewhat surprising since his contract runs through June of next year.

Columnist Susan Snyder: With park, officials show horse sense: Bradley Bridle Park, located at the Las Vegas Valley's northern end (directions are at the bottom of this column), is the city's first facility for horseback riding and only the second such public park in the valley.

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

Letter: State should pay for bypass, then make it toll road: The property for the bypass is owned by Boulder City and the Bureau of Land Management. Both entities have already agreed to deed the property to the state to construct the bypass. The state could begin constructing the bypass in the next year in order for it to be ready when the new bridge segment opens in late 2008.

Editorial: Life in the efficient lane: On Tuesday the Henderson City Council approved a development on 1,953 acres that will become the second-largest new urbanism community in the country, behind a 4,700-acre project in Denver. It will be built by South Edge LLC, which is a partnership of eight home builders, including KB Homes, which has the biggest share at 48 percent, and Focus Property Group, which will be the master developer.

Editorial: The wave of the future: Yet hydrogen as an automotive fuel has been under research for decades and has proven successful. Bush, for example, visited a retail hydrogen fueling station in Washington on Wednesday and filled up a General Motors Corp. van. "Hydrogen is the wave of the future," he said. On this issue, we agree.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Mates, that was brilliant: Sometimes, the human drama of athletic competition, as they used to say on "Wide World of Sports," finds you. It might be in the cheap seats at the Thomas & Mack Center, at your kid's Little League game or even on your living room sofa. If you've ever flipped on the TV and stumbled onto Roger Clemens working on a no-hitter after seven innings you know what I'm talking about.

51s vet makes case for call-up: Nick Christensen; Night after night, Pat Mahomes has shown reasons why he just doesn't belong in a Las Vegas 51s uniform.

No injuries reported in NLV shootout: Police spokesman Tim Bedwell said occupants of a Ford Expedition and a Mercury Grand Marquis exchanged gunfire at the corner of Lake Mead Boulevard and Civic Center Drive around 8:50 a.m.

Juvenile justice department director Burgess to retire: Molly Ball; Kirby Burgess, director of the county's juvenile justice department, announced Wednesday that he is retiring after more than three decades with the county.

News briefs for May 26, 2005: A Las Vegas man arrested after burning an American flag at a Sept. 11, 2004, ceremony will represent himself at his August trial on a charge of disturbing a meeting, and plans to subpoena Mayor Oscar Goodman to be a witness.

Man who wants to be sentenced to death to stand trial: By Matt Pordum; A 41-year-old man who allegedly confessed to killing a transient in 1998 because he wanted to be sentenced to death will stand trial even though in a recent letter to the district attorney's office he said, "I could plead guilty and save you guys the effort of proving all those charges in court."

Student briefs for May 26, 2005: The Women's Research Institute of Nevada's third annual New Leadership Nevada program will be held June 13-18 at UNLV.

Roadwork to be suspended to aid Memorial Day traffic: Eric Leake; While many people will enjoy barbecues and cold beer, law enforcement will be watching for drunken drivers and traffic congestion this Memorial Day weekend.

Holiday closings: SAFETY: Police and fire emergency services as usual. Administrative offices closed.

Community briefs for May 26, 2005: For Memorial Day, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and the 60th snniversary of the end of World War II, the Gobel Lowden Veterans Center and Museum, 3333 Chamber St., is honoring all Nevadans who served in the armed forces.

Executive stole millions to cover bets, authorities say: David Angelo, 35, was arrested at his home in the Sicklerville section of Winslow Township.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Carrier brothers save Connolly's season: Dave Connolly, who won the NHRA Pro Stock race in April at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and is third in points, found himself out of work for two days after Bullet Motorsports owner Mike Dzurilla closed his operation earlier this week.

Obituaries for May 26, 2005: Garry Lee Abbs, 58, of Henderson died Monday in a local hospital. He was born Oct. 29, 1946, in Upland, Calif. A resident for 27 years, he was a dry wall contractor, a Vietnam War Army veteran and a member of the Vietnam Veterans Association International.

GOP leaders say state budget talks going badly: "I would say we're taking some steps backwards," said Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville.

Poll: New Jerseyans prefer gambling in Las Vegas, not in Atlantic City: John Curran; ATLANTIC CITY -- It's a city with 12 casinos, miles of beaches and a world-famous boardwalk. And it's within a few hours' drive.

Group to begin airing anti-casino TV ads: The idea is to "educate Oregonians about the negative impacts of allowing the state's first off-reservation casino," said Dan Lavey, a Portland political consultant working with the anti-casino coalition.

Clark County meets federal clean-air goal: Launce Rake; Clark County has met a key federal clean-air goal, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday.

State refunds utility $40 mil.: Chuck Chinnock, executive director of the Nevada Tax Department, said today that the state Tax Commission agreed to the refund on May 9. The company sought the return of the taxes paid between 2001 and 2003 and Chinnock said the refund could be larger because of the taxes paid since 2003. The ruling by the tax commission could affect other companies.

LV City Council candidate mudslinging continues: Dan Kulin; Las Vegas City Council candidate Steve Ross' former campaign manager, who is now working for his opponent, Mary Gillins, accuses Ross of lying to him and the media in a letter arriving at thousands of voters' homes this week.

Mack wants rules eased on liquor sales near schools: Dan Kulin; Las Vegas City Councilman Michael Mack is proposing that the city ease restrictions on liquor sales close to churches, schools, child care centers, and city parks.

Legislative briefs for May 26, 2005: The Assembly split down a rare party-line vote Wednesday when it approved a bill to require chiropractors to have liability insurance.

Bill helping businesses expand in West Las Vegas advances: Kirsten Searer; CARSON CITY -- The Assembly approved a bill Wednesday to give tax breaks to businesses that want to start up or expand in West Las Vegas.

University funding stalls progress on budget: Kirsten Searer; CARSON CITY -- Key legislative committees approved several major budgets Wednesday with relative ease, but talks came to a halt after Assembly and Senate leaders were unable to compromise on university funding.

Sports briefs for May 26, 2005: UNLV was scheduled to play Utah in the second round of the Mountain West Conference baseball tournament at 2 p.m. today.

Water treatment plant dedicated: The largest cleanup of a contaminated industrial site in Nevada's history got under way Wednesday as developers took a major step in restoring 2,200 acres for a master-planned community in Henderson.

Committee votes to abolish state TSA: CARSON CITY -- A bill that would return regulation of limousines, tow cars and some taxicabs to the state Public Utilities Commission, was approved by the Senate Transportation & Homeland Security Committee.

Assembly passes education bill: Kirsten Searer; CARSON CITY -- The Assembly unanimously passed a bill Wednesday that would give $100 million to remediation and innovation programs in K-12 education.

Blaze that destroyed veterans building blamed on smoker: A careless smoker is believed to have accidentally started the fire that destroyed the headquarters of the Nevada Paralyzed Veterans of America near Rancho and Vegas drives Wednesday night, a fire department spokesman said this morning.

Spending bill on final arrangements for servicemen OK'd: WASHINGTON -- The House on Wednesday approved a Defense Department spending authorization bill that would require members of the armed services to specify who should make final arrangements if they die.

Children of adult club owner arrested in plot: David Kihara; The son and daughter of the owner of the Palomino topless club paid two men $6,000 to kill a former employee of the club who had been badmouthing the business, Metro Police allege.

Squatters may have caused fire at storage yard: Jeff Donaldson; Chronology of county inspections at Cheyenne Avenue storage yard. (Source was Russell Davis):

Homeless battling valley's heat wave: By Timothy Pratt; Stumps.

State Supreme Court orders new trial over mislabeled drug: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court today ordered a new trial for a Las Vegas couple who want another chance to prove that flawed mislabeling of a prescription drug by a Sav-On Drug Store caused permanent injury to the husband.

Contractors board member says he had sought ethics panel opinion on soliciting contributions: CARSON CITY -- Brian Scroggins, a member of the state Contractors Board, confirmed Wednesday he had asked for the advisory opinion from the state Ethics Commission about soliciting campaign contributions in his run for secretary of state.

Bill would authorize assessment of true cost of federal education mandate: Kirsten Searer; CARSON CITY -- Nevada could reject at least $112 million in federal funding and thumb its nose at one of President Bush's major initiatives under a bill heard this morning by the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

Nevada Senate eyeing wireless gaming: State lawmakers are close to approving legislation that would approve some forms of wireless gaming -- but only in casinos, and only if regulators write rules allowing handheld betting.

Goldstein: Success changed view of Vegas: Rob Goldstein can laugh at the quote today.

Reid presses GOP leaders to abandon 'nuclear option': Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is pleading with Republicans to forget about the long fight over judges and the so-called "nuclear option" so lawmakers can move on to new business.