Print edition for September 30, 2005

Sports briefs for Sept. 30, 2005: Baseball officials in San Diego said Thursday they expect Cuba to participate in the first World Baseball Classic in March.

Editorial: Time to reimburse soldiers for armor: Defense Department officials say they need another 60 days to finish working out the process that will pay back up to $1,100 per piece of equipment. Perhaps they are slow to pay because the lack of urgency comes from the top. When asked before a group of more than 2,000 soldiers why adequate armor hadn't been supplied, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld quickly replied, "You go to war with the army you have." He made the comment two months after the reimbursement had been approved. But his seemingly lackadaisical attitude toward protecting our troops continues nearly a year later. It is ...

Rebels will try a proven winner: Steve Guiremand; The last time Jarrod Jackson started a game at quarterback, it was for Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif. And he experienced something that has been very rare in his career -- a loss.

Letter: Sun, Hank fondly remembered from early days: So I turned to the newspapers. It was my introduction to the Las Vegas Sun and Hank Greenspun, the paper's founder and publisher. That a man would put his editorials (Where I Stand) on the front page got my attention. What he was writing about made me realize the editorials deserved to be on the front page.

Letter: Afternoon news will be missed: You'll be missed in the afternoons.

Letter: Paper will shine for more readers: I don't know if all my favorite Sun columnists and reporters will be retained when your paper is inserted in the R-J and becomes a morning paper, but I want your talented staff to know that I have enjoyed their stories and reports, and that your afternoon presence will be missed.

Editorial: We need to be aware of suicide: The mother of the 16-year-old girl who killed herself while in the county's custody is working hard to raise the perception. She believes that with more public awareness there will be more effort toward saving people with suicidal thoughts. It was only after her daughter's suicide that she herself became aware of the extent of the tragedy throughout Las Vegas and the state. "I had no idea, because it's never talked about," Lynette Kish told Las Vegas Sun reporter Molly Ball.

Blair takes new security position: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- Jim Blair's security experience at McCarran International Airport has kept him at the Transportation Security Administration headquarters, even as it reorganizes its staff.

Judge nominee Sandoval has smooth hearing in D.C.: Benjamin Grove; WASHINGTON -- Attorney General Brian Sandoval flew into the nation's capital two days early for his hearing Thursday in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. That gave the U.S. District Judge nominee time for a brutal mock-hearing practice session with Justice Department officials on Wednesday.

Janison chosen to fill School Board vacancy: By Emily Richmond; Community advocate Terri Janison was chosen Thursday to fill the vacant seat on the Clark County School Board.

Henderson workers charged in theft: Two employees of the Henderson water treatment plant have been charged with felony theft in a bizarre case that includes accusations of buying expensive art work, purchasing equipment used for outside construction work, employee intimidation, getting paid when not working and taking excessive overtime.

Penn National's plan to buy Argosy OK'd: Megan Reichgott; CHICAGO -- The Illinois Gaming Board on Thursday approved casino operator Penn National Gaming Inc.'s $2.2 billion plan to buy rival Argosy Gaming Co., but as a condition two Illinois casinos have to be sold.

LV woman hit by pickup, has leg amputated: Anissa Kenney, 33, was a passenger in a 1976 Mercury Cougar that was northbound on Boulder Highway south of Glen Avenue about 12:50 a.m. when the car apparently ran out of gas and stopped on the busy thoroughfare, police said.

Nevada's unemployment fund well over solvency level: CARSON CITY -- Nevada's strong economy has filled the fund used to pay unemployment benefits to a high of $568.1 million, or $121.6 million over the solvency level, Birgit Baker, director of the state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, said today.

Court rules in favor of UMC worker: CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the failure of a Las Vegas union to protect a nonunion employee at University Medical Center was a "willful interference" with the rights of the worker.

UNLV crime rates remain low: UNLV's campus continues to be a relative safe haven compared to the crime in the surrounding area, a public safety and security report released this week shows.

St. Rose parent posts healthy gain in income: Michelle Swafford; Catholic Healthcare West -- owner of St. Rose Dominican Hospitals -- reported its net income increased 40 percent during fiscal year 2005 from the previous year.

Gaming news briefs for September 30, 2005: The nine-member Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling, created by Gov. Kenny Guinn to allocate casino tax money to help compulsive gamblers, will hold its first meeting Oct. 6 in Las Vegas to approve its bylaws and set funding priorities.

California agencies to help fund Colorado River study: While a state panel has thus far declined to fund a study of the Colorado River, the panel's counterparts in other states are contributing to the scientific effort.

Business news briefs for September 30, 2005: Five local homebuilders have agreed to pay the Nevada Labor Commissioner's office $277,640 in unpaid wages on behalf of about 100 workers after a subcontractor closed shop in June without paying its employees.

Gaming firm in dispute with insurer: By Liz Benston; Pinnacle Entertainment, left with three damaged casinos in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, is headed for a dispute with one of its insurance carriers that believes Pinnacle is entitled to less money than the company has previously disclosed.

Iranian charged in bus threat 'always wanted to be' in U.S.: The transcripts of grand jury proceedings obtained by the Sun reveal additional details about the 23-year-old Iranian man who is charged with making threats or conveying false information regarding an act of terrorism.

Teacher charged in porn case: David Kihara; Two Clark County School District employees arrested this week face multiple counts of lewdness with minors under the age of 14, police said.

Columnist Jeff German: Bertha's was a big part of Vegas lore: With news of her death this week, 94-year-old Bertha Ragland is being remembered as one of this city's finest entrepreneurs.

Community news briefs for September 30, 2005: These locations will host blood drives next week for United Blood Services, 6930 W. Charleston Blvd.:

A look at major trails hiked by Marcia and Ken Powers: AP; AMERICAN DISCOVERY TRAIL: Runs 4,900 miles through 15 states between Delaware's Cape Henlopen on the Atlantic Ocean and California's Point Reyes on the Pacific Ocean.

Bellagio is favorite Vegas resort, visitor survey shows: A new independent tourism survey says Bellagio is the favorite casino resort in Las Vegas.

Gas bills likely to explode in coming months, PUC told: Kevin Rademacher; The news was not good at a Public Utilities Commission forum on the rising cost of natural gas.

Panel recommends rise in workers' comp rates: CARSON CITY -- After two years of decreases in workers' compensation insurance rates, a state advisory council has recommended that Nevada employers pay more to cover workers injured on the job.

Expert: Casinos will be only part of future resort development: Jennifer Shubinski; The days of building a standalone casino on or near the Strip are over.

To Our Readers: For 15 years the Sun has been carried with the Review-Journal on Sundays, and this practice will now extend throughout the week.

Birth notices for September 30, 2005: Sept. 19:

Ethics panel searches for Williams: CARSON CITY -- Where's Wendell?

Local News Briefs for September 30, 2005: A 13-year-old boy was in critical condition at University Medical Center this morning after being hit by a car on Desert Inn Road about 1 a.m., Metro Police said.

Onshore casinos clear first hurdle: Emily Wagster Pettus; JACKSON, Miss. -- The House Gaming Committee late Thursday took the first step toward allowing casinos to move off the water and onto the shore along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Banned literature gets day at library: Between readings of a handful of books deemed offensive, ACLU attorney Allen Lichenstein stood in a spotlight at the Flamingo Library's theater and defended access to books, newspapers, leaflets and magazines.

Early morning jaywalker hit by cab, killed on LV Strip: David Kihara; A 29-year-old Utah man was killed early this morning when he was hit by a Nellis Cab on the Strip near Treasure Island.

Saturday's horse racing entries: Post Time 12:45 p.m.

Columnist Nick Christensen: High school athletics: Spirit of community: Nick Christensen; The 8-ball is disappointed.

Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Busch plans to start his comeback charge Sunday at Talladega: Kurt Busch may be 170 points out of first place after two disastrous races in NASCAR's Chase for the Nextel Cup, but he plans to get himself back into the championship hunt beginning with Sunday's race at Talladega Superspeedway.

Goodman sets deadline for downtown developer: Dan Kulin; The company charged with developing the plan for the 61 vacant acres in downtown Las Vegas is running out of time, and Mayor Oscar Goodman said Thursday he wants to see a final proposal by Oct. 7 or the city might "do it ourselves."

Fall pollen nothing to sneeze at: For a few weeks twice a year Southern Nevada residents suffer more with watery eyes, sneezing, wheezing and coughing, all caused by the pollen from blooming desert plants and weeds.

Obituaries for September 30, 2005: Micheal Brandise, 45, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. He was born March 31, 1960, in Las Vegas. A lifelong resident, he was a finish carpenter and an Army.

Corrections: Corrections

Carbon-zero program hopes to cut emissions: With evidence growing that people are changing the Earth's climate, one conservation group is working to make a small correction to that trend.

Energy Department wants more time for NRC: Suzanne Struglinski; WASHINGTON -- The Energy Department will continue its fight to keep a draft of Yucca Mountain's license application out of the state's hand and has requested more time from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to do its work.

Preps: Schedule: 4A Football

Boon's death stopped clock for Minutemen: Spencer Patterson; Of all the senseless, way- before-their-time deaths in rock 'n' roll history, few continue to hit me as hard as that of D. Boon, frontman for the Minutemen.

Columnist Jerry Fink: Tranz embraces brand X: Chances are, you aren't going to see local hypnotist Justin Tranz in his reality TV show, "Extreme Truth."

Essay competition aimed at increasing awareness of pets' value: WEEKEND EDITION

Time constraints don't help 'We Will Rock You': Where: Paris Las Vegas' Le Theatre des Arts.

Columnist Jerry Fink: New adult club Scores at Jaguars' old location: Can a Jaguar change its spots?

Columnist Spencer Patterson: Farewell transmission: Push your musical boundaries: Spencer Patterson; For the past three years I've done my best to keep Las Vegas Sun readers well-informed on Southern Nevada's ever-expanding music scene.

Kid at Heart: Spencer Patterson; What: Andre Agassi's "Grand Slam for Children" concert, featuring Celine Dion; Usher; Glenn Frey; Robin Williams; Duran Duran; Earth, Wind & Fire; George Lopez; Mary J. Blige.

Fishing report: Shoreline anglers are still waiting: Boaters are having fairly good success for striped bass in the Las Vegas Wash Arm, with most of the fish weighing around two pounds. Jigging, drifting with anchovies and trolling are all catching stripers.

Back to the future: WEEKEND EDITION

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Chef Robuchon makes it great in the States: Dining at Joel Robuchon's first and only fine dining restaurant in the United States, Robuchon at The Mansion, was an exquisite experience. I had met with the legendary chef during his frequent visits to oversee the construction.