Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV) articles from March 2001

Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV) archives from March 2001

Harrah's Entertainment Casino Hotel in Las Vegas Lays Off 99 Workers.
March 20, 2001... Byline: Jeff Simpson Mar. 20--Harrah's Entertainment's Rio has laid off 99 employees, the property's second layoff since August. The layoffs, which came on Friday, were Rio custodians, housekeepers, front desk workers, casino hosts,...

Nevada's Jobless Rate Decreases to 4.2 Percent in January.
March 20, 2001... Byline: Sean Whaley Mar. 19--CARSON CITY, Nev.--Unaffected by economic uncertainty in other parts of the nation, Nevada's jobless rate improved in January. The state's preliminary, statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for...

Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nev., Business Briefs Column.
March 21, 2001... Mar. 20--LAS VEGAS AMONG TOP MOVED-TO CITIES: U-Haul International, a division of Reno-based Amerco, ranked Las Vegas as the fourth-most moved-to city in 2000, according to its 2000 national migration-trend report, "Top 50 U.S. Destination...

Christian Coalition Chief Defends Casino Gifts to Political Parties.
March 21, 2001... Byline: Tony Batt Mar. 20--ALEXANDRIA, Va.--Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson said Monday he supports the rights of casinos and other industries to make large "soft money" contributions to the political parties. Robertson said...

College Sports Betting Ban Resolution Heads to Full Nevada Senate.
March 21, 2001... Byline: Ed Vogel Mar. 20--CARSON CITY, Nev.--After only a 20-minute discussion, the Senate Judiciary Committee adopted a resolution Monday urging Congress to keep its hands off Nevada's betting industry. The committee approved Assembly...

Slow Economy Leads to Increase in Shoplifting, Las Vegas Retailer Say.
March 21, 2001... Byline: Sharon Gerrie Mar. 20--Shrinking profits aren't the only thing retailers have to worry about when the economy turns south. Shrinkage, which is what retailers call shoplifting, rises during tough economic times, further cutting...

Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nev., Business Briefs Column.
March 22, 2001... Mar. 21--ALLIANCE WILL MOVE TO NATIONAL EXCHANGE: Alliance Gaming Corp., a Las Vegas-based maker of slot machines, video gambling and amusement machines, said its stock will move to the Nasdaq National Market from the Nasdaq SmallCap Market on...

Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nev., Business Briefs Column.
March 22, 2001... Mar. 21--RIO WORKERS RATIFY UNION CONTRACT: Rio workers who voted by card check to join the Culinary Local 226 in January on Tuesday ratified a union contract, Culinary officials said. In a statement, the union said the contract passed by...

Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nev., Business Briefs Column.
March 22, 2001... Mar. 22--WIND POWER PROJECT MOVES FORWARD: A wind power project proposed for the Nevada Test Site moved a step closer to becoming a reality with the Department of Energy putting the project's environmental assessment out for public review...

Nevada Gaming, Mining Lobbyists Say Bill Would Limit Electricity Availability.
March 22, 2001... Byline: Ed Vogel Mar. 22--CARSON CITY, Nev. -- Mining and gaming industry lobbyists said Wednesday that a new version of a deregulation bill would block new electrical producers from selling them power before July 2003. "We need more...

College Sports Betting Ban Introduced in Congress.
March 22, 2001... Byline: Tony Batt Mar. 21--WASHINGTON--Two House members introduced their long-awaited bill Tuesday to prohibit Nevada sports books from taking bets on college games. Earlier in the day, MGM Mirage Chairman Terry Lanni said he will...

Nevada Panel to Consider Gaming Black Book Nominee.
March 22, 2001... Byline: Jeff Simpson Mar. 21--A convicted slot-machine cheat is slated to have his nomination to the state's list of excluded persons, popularly known as the Black Book, considered by the Nevada Gaming Commission at its Thursday meeting in...

Interior Department to Announce Review Period for Hard-Rock Mining Rules.
March 22, 2001... Byline: Steve Tetreault Mar. 21--WASHINGTON--The Bush administration plans to announce today it is withdrawing at least temporarily a set of controversial environmental rules governing hard-rock mining on public land, according to Nevada...

Bush Administration to Reconsider Environmental Rules for Hard-Rock Mining.
March 22, 2001... Byline: Steve Tetreault Mar. 22--WASHINGTON--The Bush administration announced Wednesday it plans to reconsider environmental rules for hard-rock mining that were furiously debated for years before finally being put into effect on...

Nevada's January Sales Climb 5.5 Percent from Last Year.
March 22, 2001... Byline: Sean Whaley Mar. 21--Carson City, Nev.--Nevada taxable sales in January climbed 5.5 percent over January 2000 to $2.3 billion, led by a 21 percent increase in general merchandise stores, the Department of Taxation reported Tuesday....

Power Agreements Sought in Exchange for Water Rights in Las Vegas.
March 22, 2001... Byline: John G. Edwards Mar. 22--The state engineer ruled Tuesday that he will grant the Las Vegas Valley Water District a permit for water rights in the Apex industrial area. The decision by State Engineer Hugh Ricci authorizes the...

New Wireless Technology on Display at Las Vegas Communications Expo.
March 22, 2001... Byline: Sharon Gerrie Mar. 21--The hottest tickets in wireless communications were busy flashing, linking and talking back Tuesday at The Venetian's Sands Expo Center. In remarks from speakers attending the Cellular Telecommunications...

Owner of Las Vegas-Based Web Firm to Make Bid on Another Airline.
March 23, 2001... Byline: Hubble Smith Mar. 23--Carl Icahn said Thursday he will make $400 million available to his Las Vegas-based lowestfare.com to either build or buy another airline following his unsuccessful bid to acquire Trans World Airlines. ...

Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nev., Business Briefs Column.
March 23, 2001... Mar. 23--NEW YORK--The U.S. economy continued to falter last month, but steered clear of tipping into a full-fledged recession, an industry research group reported Thursday. The New York-based Conference Board said its Index of Leading...

Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nev., In Businesss Column.
March 23, 2001... Mar. 23--Silver State Bancorp, the holding company for Silver State Bank, will hold its annual shareholders meeting at 10 a.m. April 19 at Silver State Bank's headquarters at 400 N. Green Valley Parkway in Henderson. Shareholders of record as...

Nevada Assembly Committee Votes to Halt Electric Deregulation.
March 23, 2001... Byline: John G. Edwards Mar. 23--The Assembly Select Energy Committee voted Thursday to stop electric deregulation in Nevada and halt the state's two major utilities from selling off their power plants for $1.7 billion. Assembly...

Nevada Gaming Commission Denies Developer's License Request.
March 23, 2001... Byline: Jeff Simpson Mar. 23--Luke Brugnara went down for the count Thursday in his attempt to secure a gaming license for his north-Strip Silver City casino, but the San Francisco real estate developer promised to fight on with a federal...

Las Vegas Newspaper Fills Two Advertising Positions.
March 23, 2001... Mar. 23--Tod Young has been promoted to classified advertising manager for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Mike Dayley is moving up to major accounts manager. Young began his newspaper career as a commercial classified advertising account...

Nevada State Senate Tells Congress to Stay Out of College Sports Betting.
March 23, 2001... Byline: Ed Vogel Mar. 23--CARSON CITY, Nev.--A statement demanding that Congress keep its hands off college sports betting in Nevada was forwarded to Washington on Thursday after receiving unanimous approval in the state Senate. ...

Sinking Stock Market Leaves Las Vegas Brokers Feeling Unsure.
March 23, 2001... Byline: Sharon Gerrie Mar. 23--Las Vegas brokers and investors were in some unfamiliar territory Thursday. With the Dow Jones industrial average dipping into bear market territory for the first time in years, many local brokers were...

Nevada Lawmaker's Bill Would Allow Las Vegas Time Shares to House Casinos.
March 23, 2001... Byline: Tony Batt Mar. 22--WASHINGTON -- A Las Vegas legislator has proposed a bill that would allow Strip-area time share projects to have casinos, but knowledgeable sources say the bill will likely face opposition from the gaming...

Airline Service to Las Vegas Increases as Hotel Room Rates Drop.
March 23, 2001... Byline: Hubble Smith Mar. 23--Airline service to Las Vegas continues to grow, but weekend room rates at Strip hotels are showing their first decline in months, a precursor to weakening demand in the leisure travel industry. The number...

College Basketball Spokesman Decries Sports Betting in Las Vegas.
March 25, 2001... Byline: Tony Batt Mar. 23--WASHINGTON -- The argument that legalized betting on college sports in Nevada deters illegal gambling in other states is the same as suggesting that cocaine use should be permitted in Las Vegas to promote the war...

Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nev., Business Briefs Column.
March 26, 2001... Mar. 24--ENRON SAYS DEAL PROBABLY WON'T CLOSE: Enron Corp., the largest energy trader, said its $3.1 billion sale of Portland (Ore.) General Electric Co. to Sierra Pacific Resources of Reno probably won't be completed. "There's probably a...

Las Vegas Casino Firm Shakes Up Management.
March 26, 2001... Byline: Jeff Simpson Mar. 24--Station Casinos announced two key personnel moves Friday. The dominant Las Vegas locals casino operator appointed new general managers for its new Green Valley Ranch property and for a tribal casino the...

Rising Land Prices Squeeze Profit Margins in Las Vegas.
March 26, 2001... Byline: Hubble Smith Mar. 24--Rising land prices in Las Vegas are putting the squeeze on profit margins for investments in the commercial real estate market, but there's still no better time than now to buy land in the valley, experts said...

Fed Board Member Disagrees with Greenspan, Advocates Sharp Rate Cut.
March 26, 2001... Byline: John G. Edwards Mar. 24--Former Federal Reserve Board member Wayne Angell said Friday that the central bank needs to lower interest rates fast, rather than slowly and painfully. "The worst thing that the Federal Reserve could...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Business Calendar Column.
March 27, 2001... Mar. 25--BUSINESS WATCH: Business Watch Network will meet at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Palace Station, 2411 W. Sahara Ave. Mujahid Ramadan, executive director of Nevada Partners, and Larry Woolf, chief executive officer of the Navegante Group,...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Conventions Column.
March 27, 2001... Mar. 24--SCHEDULED CONVENTIONS: (Dates, Attendance, Location) Service Industry Assn. March 25-28 300 Mirage American Mgmt. Assn. International March 25-28 25 Riviera Int'l Warehouse Logistics Assn. March 25-28 500 Venetian ...

Nevada Power Authorities Clamor to Re-Regulate Industry.
March 27, 2001... Byline: John G. Edwards Mar. 24--Give me that old-time regulation. That's the theme of electric energy policy-makers this year, as California continues to cope with rolling blackouts and as power prices soar around the Western United...

Professional Poker Player Parlays Parlor Parlance into Publishing Proceeds.
March 27, 2001... Byline: Jeff Simpson Mar. 24--Only in Las Vegas. Anthony Curtis, a widely recognized gambling expert, owns Huntington Press, a Las Vegas publishing company. The company publishes the Las Vegas Advisor, a visitors' newsletter; "how...

Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nev., Gaming Chips Column.
March 27, 2001... Mar. 24--ANALYSTS DIFFER ON OUTLOOK FOR CASINO: A pair of casino industry analysts view the prospects for Harrah's New Orleans casino differently, assuming the state approves a 50 percent tax cut for the bankrupt property. "Subjectively,...

Lobbyist Says Congress Will Ban College Sports Betting at Nevada Casinos.
March 28, 2001... Byline: Tony Batt Mar. 27--WASHINGTON -- The NCAA's chief lobbyist told a church conference Sunday she believes Congress will approve a ban on college sports betting at Nevada casinos, but money from the gambling industry is making her...

Las Vegas Review-Journal In Business Column.
March 28, 2001... Mar. 27--BANK ANNOUNCES STAFF PROMOTIONS: Nevada State Bank named Barbara Pascoe assistant vice president and regional operations manager; Sue Watson assistant vice president and service staff manager; Joanne Lopez assistant vice president and...

Las Vegas Review-Journal In Businesss Column.
March 28, 2001... Mar. 26--ACRES RECEIVES DEPOSIT FOR ORDER: Acres Gaming, a Las Vegas-based casino products and services provider, on Friday said it received a $1.1 million deposit for an order of Acres Advantage products from New York-New York. In a...

Nevada Energy Bill Calls for Major Regulatory Changes.
March 28, 2001... Byline: John G. Edwards Mar. 27--The Assembly Select Committee on Energy late Monday introduced a measure that calls for electing state utility regulators, requires hearings before rate increases and encourages use of renewable resources,...

Nevada Regulators to Rule on Sale of Laughlin, Nev., Power Plant.
March 28, 2001... Byline: John G. Edwards Mar. 27--State regulators have scheduled a special meeting Thursday to consider whether to suspend the $133 million sale of Nevada Power Co.'s interest in a power plant in Laughlin. The Public Utilities...

Public Distrusts Casino Industry, Nevada Gaming Regulator Says.
March 28, 2001... Byline: Jeff Simpson Mar. 27--Don't be fooled by the rapid spread of legalized gambling in the United States during the past 25 years, a Nevada Gaming Control Board member observed Monday. Despite its increasing acceptance, the casino...

Las Vegas Left Out of Book on Hip Places to Retire.
March 28, 2001... Byline: Hubble Smith Mar. 27--Despite strong representation by retirees and senior citizens, Las Vegas was not mentioned in a book published by the Urban Land Institute on today's "hip" retirement communities. In "Developing Active...

New Home Sales in Las Vegas Rise despite Declines Nationally.
March 28, 2001... Byline: Hubble Smith Mar. 27--In contrast to national numbers, new home sales in Las Vegas got off to a strong start this year with 1,582 recorded sales in January, an 18.3 percent increase from the same month a year ago, according to Home...

Henderson, Nev.-Based Motorcycle Dealer Hopes New Line Is a Hit.
March 28, 2001... Byline: Sharon Gerrie Mar. 27--When Bourget's Bike Works Rude American Motorcycle rolls off the assembly line in the next couple of weeks, a Henderson businessman hopes they'll be taking him down the road to success. Steven "Staz"...

Las Vegas Review-Journal The Online Guy Column.
March 28, 2001... Byline: Al Gibes Mar. 26--Need tax answers? Visit the IRS online Robert Grossman enjoys talking about a topic that many people run and hide from -- the Internal Revenue Service. His enthusiasm for changes in tax laws and keeping money...

Las Vegas Computer Consultants Able to Help Companies Overcome Problems.
March 28, 2001... Byline: Sharon Gerrie Mar. 26--Monday: 9 a.m. There's a note on your desk from the computer information specialist, Roy, saying he quits. Monday: 9:02 a.m. Your assistant comes in saying she can't get into her computer...

Las Vegas Air Tour Operators Hope to Block Proposed Route Changes.
March 29, 2001... Byline: Christine Dorsey Mar. 28--WASHINGTON--Las Vegas air tour operators plan to file a lawsuit within days against the Federal Aviation Administration in an attempt to block new air tour routes over the Grand Canyon from taking effect...

Nevada Congresswoman Rails against Bill to Ban College Sports Betting.
March 29, 2001... Byline: Tony Batt Mar. 29--WASHINGTON--When a group of about 30 freshmen and sophomore House Democrats showed up at Shelley Berkley's house on March 6, they knew she was going to talk about gambling and the National Collegiate Athletic...

Las Vegas Review-Journal Business Briefs Column.
March 29, 2001... Mar. 29--VENDINGDATA ACQUIRES SPINTEK ASSETS: VendingData Corp., a Las Vegas-based developer, manufacturer and distributor of products and services for the gaming industry, on Wednesday said it acquired the assets of Nevada corporations Spintek...

Las Vegas Review-Journal In Business Column.
March 29, 2001... Mar. 29--The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, a Los Angeles company, on Tuesday said it will open its first stores in Las Vegas this summer. In a statement, the company said it signed an area development agreement with Las Vegas Coffee Investors...

Las Vegas Review-Journal In Business Column.
March 29, 2001... Mar. 28--COMPANIES HOST WORKER EVENTS: Eighty percent of the companies participating in the Eastridge Group of Staffing Cos. second biannual Southern Nevada Benefits Survey host activities for their employees, the Eastridge Group reports. ...

Two Las Vegas Casinos Begin Negotiations for New Union Contract.
March 29, 2001... Byline: Sharon Gerrie Mar. 28--The Transport Workers Union of America this week begins negotiations with two of three casinos for a dealer labor contract. Union organizers will meet with Aztar Corp.'s Tropicana today and Carl Icahn's...

Proposed North Las Vegas, Nevada Casino Deemed Harmful to Area.
March 29, 2001... Byline: Jeff Simpson Mar. 28--A state panel ruled Tuesday that a proposed Station Casinos neighborhood casino at Craig Ranch Golf Course in North Las Vegas would harm the quality of life of nearby residents. The 3-2 ruling by the...

Gaming Grows Significantly near Mississippi's Waterways.
March 29, 2001... Byline: Tony Batt Mar. 28--WASHINGTON--Demographics played a key role in the success of Mississippi gaming, which mushroomed in just eight years into a $2.6 billion industry by the end of 2000. Realizing that conservative Southern...

Nevada Regulators Revoke Las Vegas Pool Company's License.
March 29, 2001... Mar. 29--The Nevada State Contractors' Board revoked the license of Aqua Blue Pools, based in North Las Vegas, and four other licenses of companies associated with Walter Welty, president of Aqua Blue Pools. The pool contractor was found...

Nevada Utilities Officials May Force Reduction in Company's Rates.
March 29, 2001... Byline: John G. Edwards Mar. 28--The staff of the Public Utilities Commission is urging the commission to order a $8.1 million cut in Southwest Gas rates, arguing the utility failed to use the best buying practices. Of that total, the...

NCAA Linked Indirectly with Oddsmakers While Pushing Anti-Gambling Bill.
March 30, 2001... Byline: Dave Berns Mar. 29--CBS and local oddsmaker Las Vegas Sports Consultants are linked through a series of business dealings at a time when the broadcast network is reaping the financial benefits of its multibillion-dollar investment...

Las Vegas Review-Journal In Business Column.
March 30, 2001... Mar. 30--E-COMMERCE COMPANY MOVES TO LAS VEGAS: V-Twin Holdings, a business-to-business, Web-based marketplace builder, moved its headquarters from New York to 7324 Cheyenne Ave., Suite 8 in Las Vegas. The company named Claudia Ruiz...

Casinos Unthreatened by California's Electricity Rate Hikes, Analysts Report.
March 30, 2001... Byline: Dave Berns Mar. 30--Major across-the-board rate increases for California energy users will not have a huge impact on travel to Las Vegas, according to a Thursday report from the investment banking firm of Merrill Lynch. In...

Casino Executives, Congressional Leaders Discuss Minority Hiring.
March 30, 2001... Byline: Jeff Simpson Mar. 30--Executives of MGM Mirage, Park Place Entertainment and Harrah's Entertainment met Thursday in Washington, D.C., with members of the Congressional Black Caucus to discuss the casino industry's efforts to...

Fire Causes Partial Shutdown at Laughlin, Nev., Coal Power Plant.
March 30, 2001... Mar. 29--An electrical fire Wednesday on a cable caused one of two units at the coal-fired power plant in Laughlin to go out at 11:15 a.m., causing heightened concern about power outages in California. No injuries were reported. The...

Nevada Software Firm Will Be Main Tennant at New Las Vegas Tech Center.
March 30, 2001... Byline: Hubble Smith Mar. 29--Nevada Title Co., with five locations in Southern Nevada and 175 employees, has signed an agreement to be the anchor tenant for Las Vegas Tech Center II at Buffalo Drive and Smoke Ranch Road. The land...

College Newspapers Permit Internet Gaming Ads, Poll Finds.
March 30, 2001... Byline: Tony Batt Mar. 30--WASHINGTON--Student newspapers at all 65 universities that qualified for this year's NCAA men's basketball tournament either take or would publish advertising for Internet gambling, the American Gaming...

Advocates, Opponents Debate Merits of Green Power Bills before Nevada Senate.
March 30, 2001... Byline: John G. Edwards Mar. 30--A long list of advocates and one opponent of a green or renewable energy bill testified Thursday before a state Senate committee hearing. Senate Bill 372 requires Nevada's two investor-owned utilities...

Las Vegas Union Workers Demonstrate against National Labor Relations Board.
March 30, 2001... Byline: Sharon Gerrie Mar. 30--Workers at the National Labor Relations Board Union finished a second day of distributing handbills in Las Vegas on Thursday in an ironic twist to the agency's statutory assignment -- to prevent and remedy...

Nevada Regulators Postpone Sale of Utility's Stake in Power Plant.
March 30, 2001... Byline: John G. Edwards Mar. 30--State regulators Thursday suspended an order authorizing the $123 million sale of Nevada Power Co.'s interest in a coal-fired power plant in Laughlin. The decision, by the Public Utilities Commission,...

National Trade Show Features Illinois-Based Firm's French Fry Vending Machine.
March 30, 2001... Byline: Hubble Smith Mar. 30--R-O International has to be a strong candidate for having the hottest vending machine on display Thursday at the National Automatic Merchandising Association Spring Expo in Las Vegas. The Roselle,...