Print edition for September 23, 2005

Sports briefs for Sept. 23, 2005: Venus Williams withdrew from the China Open before her quarterfinal match with Marta Domachowska this morning because of an injured left knee.

Audit of Managerial Assistance Program shows mistakes: A university system audit found several cases of mismanagement during a review of the system's Managerial Assistance Program.

Seven teachers find work here: By Emily Richmond; So far seven teachers whose jobs were lost in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina have found work in Clark County schools.

Ensign planning visit to Gulf Coast region: WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., is planning a trip to the devastated Gulf Coast region next week to draw attention to the risk of pets abandoned in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Doctor helps hurricane victims: J. Craig Anderson; Dr. John Kiley speaks quickly and provides terse answers. He pauses to check his packing list: poncho, flashlight, gloves, dust mask.

Editorial: Relief raises questions: Sept. 24-25, 2005

Preps: Schedule: 4A Football

Nevada wins fight over draft license application: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Nevada has won its fight against the Energy Department's attempt to keep the Yucca Mountain project's draft license application out of its hands.

I-15 crash causes multiple injuries: Honea said a preliminary investigation revealed that the semi may have made an unsafe lane change. The semi and the car were driving on I-15. The trooper's vehicle was pulled off on the side, half on the pavement of the shoulder, half on the dirt. Honea said it was still unclear this morning if the lane change forced the woman driver onto the shoulder and into the NHP vehicle.

Developer: Construction costs mandate second Majestic tower: Jennifer Shubinski; After quietly suspending sales for his condominium-hotel on the Las Vegas Strip several months ago, Lorenzo Doumani said he needed to take a step back to evaluate skyrocketing construction costs.

Letter: Senior offended by column: Sept. 24-25, 2005

Emergency crews apparently passed test in Strip crisis: David Kihara; When a car mowed down more than a dozen people on a sidewalk along the Strip during the 5 p.m. rush hour on Wednesday, it provided a real-life test of emergency response capabilities in the most crowded tourist corridor of the valley.

Feds, Northern Arapaho agree to terms for Class III casino: Dan Lewerenz; CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- The U.S. Department of the Interior has signed documents allowing the Northern Arapaho Tribe to begin offering Las Vegas-style gambling.

Editorial: Stop trifling with nature: Sept. 24-25, 2005

Extreme weather is likely on tap for West: The climate globally is changing, mostly getting hotter, and the bad news for the West is that the "worst and first" impacts are already here, scientists reported Thursday at a Las Vegas conference.

Community news briefs for September 23, 2005: The Spring Mountains National Recreation Area firewood cutting season opens Oct. 1 and runs through Feb. 28.

Obituaries for September 23, 2005: Benjamin L. Cuenco, 69, of Las Vegas died Thursday in Las Vegas. He was born May 4, 1936, in the Philippines. A resident for five years, he was a retired pharmaceutical sales agent.

A journey of hope: WEEKEND EDITION

Letter: Award that was most deserving: NORMA PRICE

Harrah's will continue to pursue casino plans: "We are reading the Supreme Court decision and making determinations on which way we want to go," Jones told The Providence Journal. "But at this moment, we don't see this as an endgame necessarily at all."

Vasser might be taking his last laps: WHAT: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and Champ Car World Series

Yucca advocates remain resolute on nuke storage: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Yucca Mountain's destiny as the country's final resting place for used nuclear fuel, either in its current form or after reprocessing, has not changed, site supporters say.

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Visit to Michael Mina worthy of award: Dining with friends at Michael Mina restaurant in Bellagio is always an exceptional experience, so I was delighted to join my friends Bob and Rita, who dine there regularly.

Marina gas taxes aimed at boating safety at Lake Mead: WEEKEND EDITION

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Two sides of Vegas: WEEKEND EDITION

Fishing report: Full moon rising slows striper action: LAKE MEAD: Fishing continues to be good throughout the lake as anglers are finding striped bass in the Las Vegas Wash area and in a variety of locations in the Overton Arm.

Letter: Selective Service registration is not voluntary: Sept. 24-25, 2005

Columnist Jerry Fink: Molasky's talent far from shallow: Sarah Molasky's career has taken a dive since graduating from San Jose State University in 2003.

Several with connections to Nevada make Forbes 400 list: Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates topped the just-released Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans with a reported net worth of $51 billion, edging out investment guru Warren Buffet with $40 billion.

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

Regents weigh different visions of medical center: With various proposals for establishing an academic medical center in Las Vegas being floated by them, university regents need lessons in navigating the "alphabet soup," the dean of the state's medical school said.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Perkins' exit alters dynamics: WEEKEND EDITION

Columnist Jeff German: Getting to bottom of inspector 'shortage': WEEKEND EDITION

Letter: Coordination is massive failure: JOHN TOMINSKY

'Excitable Boy' shows Zevon at his coolest: Spencer Patterson; Warren Zevon once wrote a song titled "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead," but it wasn't until his death two years ago that many music fans actually woke up to his music.

Las Vegas news briefs for September 23, 2005: Henderson Police are asking the public's help in identifying the body of a man that was discovered at 7:19 a.m. Wednesday.

EPA extends comment period: WASHINGTON -- The Environmental Protection Agency extended the public comment period for the proposed radiation standards for the Yucca Mountain project by 30 days.

Hot V.W.: Spencer Patterson; Vanessa Williams has recorded No. 1 hits, acted in blockbuster films and earned a Tony Award on Broadway, but her latest venture offered an opportunity to showcase yet one more performing talent.

Line shift puts Mueller back at center: Steve Guiremand; UNLV coach Mike Sanford decided to shake things up on his offensive line following last week's disappointing 22-14 loss at UNR.

Global warming may strengthen hurricanes: Global climate change may not increase the number of hurricanes, but a growing body of evidence suggests that the strength of those storms may be growing because of the warming that scientists have tracked over the last 30 years, climate researchers said at a Las Vegas conference Thursday.

Accounting whistleblower gets 27-month prison sentence: The judge acknowledged the wide range of sentences that have been imposed in the HealthSouth case and almost invited an appeal to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta.

Even in scaled-back production, Crawford comfortable with his Pop: When: 2 p.m and 8:30 p.m. Sundays; 8:30 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays and Fridays and Saturdays. Beginning Oct. 2: 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 8:30 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays and Fridays. Dark Thursdays.

Lottery pulls plug on Hot Spot, ending two-year legal battle: Steve Broadwater, a lawyer for the Hot Spot, said without income from the lottery machines, it will be hard to pay bills while waiting for the state Supreme Court to decide whether to hear two pending appeals. He said the Hot Spot could operate as a convenience store or neighborhood bar, because it has a liquor license, but that it needs the video lottery machines to be profitable.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Champ Car Series back on its feet, er, wheels: For a series that was left for roadkill in the winter of 2003, the Champ Car World Series has rebounded better than Paul Silas following a missed free throw.

Letter: Universal health care, pensions are needed: It's a failed system, and we should at least consider changing to a system similar to the other modern nations. It doesn't have to happen overnight, but start with universal health care, so all Americans can get the care they need, and then work on a government retirement plan that will guarantee a high enough payment to all retirees so they can live out their lives in proper fashion. The alternative is hordes of our seniors living in abject poverty, with no assurance of health care.

Hatch to revive nuke waste options: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Sen. Orrin Hatch is planning to breathe fresh life into a bill aimed at seeking options to Yucca Mountain.

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Gear-shifting DJ takes a trip to Vegas: Spencer Patterson; DJ Z-Trip has been called the "king of the mashup" since his collaborative mixtape with DJ P, "Uneasy Listening, Vol. 1," took the underground by storm in 2001.

Q&Accent: 2000-2005: WEEKEND EDITION

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Starr's thoughts with Houston: David Starr, who won the 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, will have more than racing on his mind this weekend.

Columnist Susan Snyder: From here, the views were good: WEEKEND EDITION

Visit to 'Zumanity' appealing -- but not to everyone: Where: New York-New York's Zumanity Theatre.

Editorial: Nevadans answer call: With images of Hurricane Katrina still embedded in the national consciousness, though, emergency planners know for sure there will be people left behind, despite the planes and hundreds of buses that are joining the exodus loaded with disabled people and those who do not have their own transportation. The managers are vowing to be much more prepared than they were for Hurricane Katrina. Truckloads of food and water are being moved into position. National Guardsmen are being mobilized. And other states, including Nevada, are sending help.

Columnist Jerry Fink: In face of disaster, band keeps up its Dukes: Even a hurricane can't keep the Dukes of Dixieland from performing.

Columnist Nick Christensen: Finally, the answers to all my prep questions: Nick Christensen; A mystery package arrived at my office on Wednesday.

Editorial: Economy's tough test: The increase in the cost of natural gas and electricity comes on top of a recent spike in the price of gasoline, which hit an all-time high shortly after Hurricane Katrina caused the temporary closure of many oil refineries in Louisiana. Four refineries there are still shut down, and there is a growing concern that Hurricane Rita could create even more havoc if it causes devastation along the coast of Texas. The Associated Press reports that there are 26 refineries in the path of Hurricane Rita, and they account for more than 25 percent of the nation's refining capacity. Even ...

White House still has eye on county land sales: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The proposal to shift Clark County federal land sale profits from Nevada to the U.S. Treasury is still being quietly discussed as a cost-savings measure for an increasingly burdened federal budget, congressional sources said.

Charges dropped against war vet: Prosecutors this morning dropped the murder and attempted murder charges that a 20-year-old Iraq war veteran had been facing and will dismiss all remaining charges against him if he completes two therapeutic programs and stays out of trouble.

Nevada Cancer Institute celebrates opening tonight: Michelle Swafford; The Nevada Cancer Institute will celebrate its grand opening tonight, signaling the beginning of new opportunities for health care, the community and the economy.

Funds approved for NLV vets hospital: The House already approved the money as part of its spending bill this year and House-Senate negotiators will meet to work out differences between the two versions.

Court rules for attorney fees in pro bono cases: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court on Thursday ruled it was proper for a District Court to award attorney fees to a lawyer who was representing the client free of charge.

Construction plans considered: Executives of four development companies on Thursday afternoon pitched university regents on what their companies can do to help the Nevada System of Higher Education meet some of its building needs.

Regents approve raises for Carpenter, Wells: By Christina Littlefield; The university Board of Regents approved several new employee contracts Thursday and today, including a $20,000 raise for Community College of Southern Nevada President Richard Carpenter and a $20,000 salary supplement for Desert Research Institute President Stephen Wells.

Empty nuke can on train tips; no radiation released: WASHINGTON -- An empty container used to store spent nuclear fuel tipped over Thursday while being hauled by train to a shipyard. The container was not damaged and there was no release of radiation, according to the Energy Department.

Hotter, drier years in store for LV, study says: Las Vegas hit its highest average temperature in recorded history in the summer of 2005, but expect more of the same over the next, say, several hundred thousand years.

Nevada to get funds from bill: WASHINGTON -- Nevada will receive $3.5 million for projects ranging from fighting crickets to rangeland conservation as part of the Agriculture Department spending bill approved by the Senate on Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said.

Historic Huntridge Theatre may be torn down: By Cy Ryan; It was one of the earliest movie theaters built in Las Vegas and remains among the oldest entertainment centers in Southern Nevada.

Father charged in son's suicide describes conversation on guns: The day before a 12-year-old boy killed himself with a 12-gauge shotgun his father left unattended in their Henderson home, the boy asked his father if the ammunition he was holding was meant for the gun.

Second person in Strip crash dies: Mary Manning and Matt Pordum; A second man who was among the Strip sidewalk crowd run over by a car on Wednesday has died, and prosecutors may seek the death penalty in this case.

Guinn to name Chanos as new attorney general: CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn said Thursday he will name Las Vegas attorney George J. Chanos, husband of the state consumer advocate, to succeed Attorney General Brian Sandoval.

LV man indicted on weapons, drugs: The grand jury indicted Dave Arndt, 33, on eight counts, including conspiracy to distribute and possession of methamphetamine and for being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the indictment.

Company to cut health benefits for retirees under 65: About 6,750 retirees, or 15 percent of those enrolled in the company's retirement program, will pay the full cost of premiums starting on Jan. 1, spokesman Chris Brathwaite said today in an interview. Benefits will be restored for these former workers when they turn 65 provided they retired before Jan. 1, 2000.

Geologist: Nevada at risk for major quake: J. Craig Anderson; Floods, tremors, volcanoes and radioactivity may terrify the average citizen, but to a group of geologists meeting this week in Las Vegas for a conference, they are the spice of life.

State tough place to find affordable housing: By Timothy Pratt; Nevada is the seventh toughest state in the nation to find affordable housing if you're physically or mentally disabled and receive Social Security benefits, according to a report released at a local conference this week.

Columnist Jeff German: Perkins didn't have a chance: Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins left a lot of people hanging this week, including himself, when he pulled out of the race for governor the day before he was supposed to announce his candidacy.

Attorney general seeks more info on allegations: In a motion in U.S. District Court in Reno, Stephen Quinn, senior deputy attorney general, asked for additional details on 12 allegations made in a suit filed against Bruce Bommarito, executive director of the Nevada Commission on Tourism. The attorney general's office is representing Bommarito in the case.

Jury: New Frontier must pay $110,000 to card counter: By Liz Benston; A Clark County District Court jury has awarded a gambler $110,000 for an incident in 2001 in which he was detained in a security office at the New Frontier.