Print edition for September 2, 2005

Editorial: Meetings law applies to all: The commission points to a law that allows anyone appealing their tax levies to meet privately with the commissioners when discussing the specifics of their finances. This is reasonable, as it safeguards financial privacy and proprietary information that would be useful to competitors. But the commission contends that state law allows it to conduct the whole proceeding in private, including all discussions among commissioners as well as the final vote.

Medicare beneficiaries can expect drug plan marketing onslaught: Michelle Swafford; Get your mailboxes ready.

Saturday's horse racing entries: Post Time 10 a.m.

Las Vegas plummets in housing appreciation for second quarter: Jennifer Shubinski; From beauty queen to wallflower.

Experts: High gas prices could have long-term effect on Vegas: By Richard N. Velotta; The spike in gasoline prices in the wake of Hurricane Katrina isn't discouraging tourism traffic to Southern Nevada -- yet.

Harrah's is hoping to build temporary Mississippi casino: By Liz Benston; Harrah's Entertainment's top executive is recommending the Mississippi government allow the company to build a temporary casino on land to replace its Grand Casino Biloxi riverboat, which was hurled ashore and destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.

Nevada hits NRC with suit over 1990 ruling: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Nevada has filed yet another lawsuit aimed at thwarting Yucca Mountain.

Where I Stand -- Guest Columnist: Art lives in Las Vegas: LESS THAN a decade ago if you had mentioned art in Las Vegas to someone from New York or Los Angeles, the very idea would have been sniffed at with contempt. But, as the city's population boomed and tourism reached record highs with each passing year, the cultural life of Las Vegas evolved to suit the needs of this diverse city of nearly 2 million people.

Gasoline prices in valley hit $3 mark: Prices for regular gasoline at scattered locations throughout the Las Vegas Valley were at or near a record $3-per-gallon level Thursday, a ripple effect from Hurricane Katrina.

Company opposes zoning change to allow casino: Equitable, which recently moved into new headquarters nearby, said a casino is inconsistent with promises made by city officials to maintain a business- and family-friendly environment between the two stadiums.

Public session set on power rate hike plan: Kevin Rademacher; Consumers will get a chance on Tuesday to tell state regulators, utility officials and attorneys for the Bureau of Consumer Protection what they think of Nevada Power Co.'s request for a rate increase of nearly $10 a month.

Novartis offers to buy out Chiron for $4.5 billion: Investors vaulted Chiron shares well above Novartis' bid of $40 cash per share. That suggests it may need to sweeten its offer for the California biotech, which is still recovering from its failure to supply nearly half the United States' flu vaccine this past flu season.

College students scramble to find spots elsewhere: Colleges and universities nationwide, many of them swamped by calls from anxious parents, are opening doors -- at least temporarily -- to students displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

At West Las Vegas market, it's talk about down home: By Timothy Pratt; If you had to choose one place to go for news of Hurricane Katrina in the Las Vegas Valley, it might be Mario's Westside Market.

AG lashes back on closed meeting debate: CARSON CITY -- The state attorney general's office said Thursday that lawyers for the Legislature were way off base in their opinion that the Nevada Tax Commission can vote in closed meetings on taxpayer appeals.

Guinn to announce education panel: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn is waiting until after the deadline to announce his selections to the Educational Excellence Commission that will allocate millions of dollars to Nevada's failing schools.

Lawmaker files petition to restrict property tax: CARSON CITY -- Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno, says her property tax limitation plan is not tied to her run for the GOP nomination for Congress.

Steichen takes the reins of Rebels' spread offense: Steve Guiremand; Shane Steichen was a true freshman expecting to redshirt in 2003 when John Robinson surprisingly summoned him to replace an injured Kurt Nantkes in the 10th game of the season.

West Memphis calls Nov. 8 gambling election: On the ballot will be an ordinance that would allow "electronic games of skill" at the track.

Nevada lawmakers head to Washington to help with response: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid was back at work here Thursday as congressional leaders rushed to the Capitol to approve an emergency package of federal money in response to Hurricane Katrina.

Sports briefs for September 2, 2005: Southern Mississippi's football team has relocated to Memphis for about a week after Hattiesburg was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Hearings scheduled on tribes' proposed casino in Oregon: Matthew Daly; WASHINGTON -- The Bureau of Indian Affairs has scheduled five public hearings this month on a proposal by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs to build a $300 million casino in Cascade Locks, Ore.

Lottery official wants keno offered at Detroit airport: Kathy Barks Hoffman; LANSING, Mich. -- Grab your pencils. Club Keno could be coming to Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Ecstasy and agony for UNLV football: It was The Ecstasy and the Agony for USC East -- er, the UNLV football team -- this week.

Letter: Even Darwin had doubts about evolution theory: I enjoyed Marsha Norton's Aug. 12 comment, citing Francis Bacon, Newton, Pasteur, Faraday, Pascal, Kepler and others as being among the greatest contributors to science, and, more importantly, as "believing in a Divine Creator." Ken Lucas' Aug. 11 letter also stated a true fact: that whether creationist and worshipper of Christ, or evolutionist and follower of Darwin, we both employ the element of faith in our outlook on the world and how it has its existence; the difference being, that we bow at different altars.

Golf briefs for September 2, 2005: Brad Faxon is coming off his first PGA tour victory in four years, closing with a 61 in the Buick Championship and winning a playoff by hitting 7-iron out of a fairway bunker to 3 feet. When he got home, some five dozen friends were waiting at his house to celebrate.

Letter: Event shows need for camera in cab: Although the Nevada Taxicab Authority has stated that the taxi driver was following his training by pulling over and calling for help, that doesn't mean that family members won't file a lawsuit at some point, putting the blame on the driver and the cab company.

Company plans $170 million thoroughbred track and casino: In a filing earlier this month with the Securities and Exchange Commission, MTR said construction will occur in time to satisfy its racing license condition that live racing begin by December 2007.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Inconsistent Kahne team running to build momentum: After a brilliant rookie season in which he posted five second-place finishes and 14 top-10 efforts in 2004, Kasey Kahne fully expected to be among the 10 drivers competing for the NASCAR Nextel Cup championship this season.

Property opens poker room: The poker room, part of a five-year master plan to upgrade the property, contains 11 tables and will offer daily no-limit Texas hold 'em tournaments.

Obituaries for Sept. 2, 2005: George B. Boyer, 84, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. He was born Oct. 20, 1920, in Parsons, Kan. A resident for 60 years, he was a retired musician and a World War II Army Air Corps veteran.

Unemployment rate falls to 4.9 percent in August: The latest snapshot of the United States' jobs climate, released by the Labor Department today, buttressed observations by Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and his colleagues that the hiring situation was gradually improving -- a bit of good news for workers as they headed into the Labor Day weekend.

Editorial: Lakes Crossing delays: As the Las Vegas Sun's David Kihara reported Thursday, state officials in charge of Lakes Crossing say that the Clark County Detention Center is not sending them inmates as soon as they are ready; rather, the Clark County Detention Center waits until at least three inmates are ready and then transports them all together, causing the delays. County and court officials, however, say that the delays are because there isn't enough room at Lakes Crossing to admit inmates.

Editorial: Cash is the best gift: Two of the primary relief organizations are the American Red Cross and Salvation Army. Here are their addresses:

Boeing machinists strike, halting aircraft production: James Gunsalus; Boeing Co.'s 18,300 machinists went on strike for the first time in 10 years after rejecting the company's wage and benefit offer, shutting down production at the world's biggest aircraft maker.

Ralph Siraco's Del Mar selections: 1st Race -- BEAR ON MY MIND -- Draws inner box for sprint claimer, P. Val on, In My Mind the Bear gets there. MARTINBLESTME -- Go go Gomez scales, draws well, devine win? Value Play -- BRAHMA BULL

State to stop using Microsoft Office by January 2007: The decision by Massachusetts, after spending almost two years considering a switch, is a blow for Microsoft, the world's largest software maker.

Columnist Jerry Fink: Gents of Swing satisfy with helping of Wrice: "Some people who don't know my name just call me the hat man," said 78-year-old Wrice, whose trio -- The Gents of Swing -- perform from about 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. for Sunday brunches at the Artisan, 1501 W. Sahara Ave.

Las Vegas seeks offers on land for grocery store: Dan Kulin; Las Vegas put out a call Thursday for offers on a 10-acre piece of vacant land at Martin Luther King and Lake Mead boulevards, giving hope to some that a grocery store might soon move into the neighborhood that has been calling for a supermarket for over a year.

Preps: Thursday's results: Reno 37, Churchill County 12

Fishing report: Busy weekend awaits anglers: Anglers reported that they have been catching stripers this week at a depth of 80 feet in Las Vegas Bay.

Judge willing to rehear DUI case: Henderson Municipal Court Judge Ken Proctor said Thursday he's willing to reconsider his March 24 ruling dismissing a DUI charge against a former state Parole and Probation Department administrator and set Oct. 4 to hear testimony.

Services set for soldier killed in Iraq: Army Spc. Joseph L. Martinez, 21, was killed in Tal Afar, Iraq, on Saturday when his dismounted patrol was engaged in a fight with enemy forces who were using small-arms fire, the Defense Department reported. Tal Afar is about 260 miles northwest of Baghdad.

Community briefs for Sept. 2, 2005: The U.S. Achievement Academy announced that Alyssa LoBello, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles LoBello of Henderson, has been named a national award winner in English.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: An's newest restaurant is a masterpiece: Hannah An is a remarkable woman who not only knows about food and wine, she has a number of degrees, including engineering and computer programming, and she created and designed the Neighborhood Bistro. Hannah's grandmother and her mother, Helene, led the way and the An siblings (all daughters) followed. They are a remarkable family.

Columnist Jerry Fink: 'On Tour' makes stop in Vegas: "On Tour" premiered locally on KVVU Channel 5 (Fox) last week, where it will be broadcast for at least 13 weeks. The 30-minute program airs at 1:30 a.m. late Friday night/early Saturday morning.

Columnist Nick Christensen: New transfer rule would benefit all parties: Nick Christensen; It's overdrive week at the Clark County School District's athletics office.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Tower of Power a noteworthy Vegas attraction: Spencer Patterson; "There was a time we couldn't get arrested there," said Castillo, tenor saxophonist and leader of the horn-driven funk band since its formation in 1968. "In the '80s the only place we could play was ... What was that joint? ... Calamity Jane's. That was the only gig we could get in town. Nobody wanted us."

'59 session well-remembered in 'Shape of Jazz to Come': Spencer Patterson; An album titled "The Shape of Jazz to Come" has an awful lot to live up to.

Rainiers' six-run ninth closes door on 51s: PROBABLE STARTERS

'Toxic Audio' a celebration of vocal talent: The off-Broadway production, a fun show that celebrates the human voice in an age dominated by electronics, premiered Aug. 19 and is scheduled for an extended engagement that continues through Nov. 16.

Harvesting Support: Heading into Farm Aid, Mellencamp restates case for farmers: Spencer Patterson; "We are going to see a gallon of milk go from like $3 to more than $4.50," Mellencamp said. "A gallon of milk will cost a lot more than a gallon of gas."

HOLIDAY CLOSINGS: SAFETY: Police and fire emergency services will be operating as usual. Administrative offices will be closed.

Blood drives: Thursday: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., in Rooms 202 and 203, and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. in UNLV's conference room.

Nevadans heading out for holiday in droves: Stephen Curran and Mary Manning; If Thursday's already steady thump-thump of wheelbarrows stocked with food and drinks careening their way to the dock at Callville Bay was any clue, law enforcement on Nevada's roads and on its waters will have their hands full.

Schools expect influx of new students: By Emily Richmond; The Clark County School District is bracing for an influx of new students: Hurricane Katrina refugees on their way to Southern Nevada.

Nevadans contribute to Gulf Coast relief efforts: Nevadans continue to contribute manpower and money to the relief efforts along the Gulf Coast -- not only military missions but millions from the entertainment industry.

Slain man was Henderson contractor: Jen Lawson; The 64-year-old man shot and killed Wednesday in his Henderson office was a contractor who dealt with local government on multimillion-dollar public works projects, records show.

News briefs for Sept. 2, 2005: Siegfried and Roy's 57-year-old elephant, Gildah, died at the Secret Garden at the Mirage, the entertainers said in a statement Thursday.