Grant Could Fund Drug Testing
A Federal grant could make drug testing for more local high schools feasible. The Clark County School Board will vote this afternoon on whether or not to apply for 450-thousand-dollars federal grant that would fund random drug testing at seven Clark County high schools. In January, Green Valley High began drug testing for all student athletes as well as any student whose parents requested the testing. Each student who participates pays ten-dollars, and the remaining cost is covered by private grants. If the school board approves the application today, drug testing could begin this coming January at Centennial, Del Sol, Desert Pines, Durango, Eldorado, Foothill and Mojave High Schools. The school board meeting will be held at the district education center on East Flamingo Road, starting at 4 this afternoon.
05/08JACKPOT
Fifty-eight-year-old Texan, Connie Thiele was playing 150 dollars on one of the Megabucks machines at The Palms hotel and casino Wednesday. On a whim she decided to put another 20 dollars into a nearby machine. Life as she knew it changed when she hit the big jackpot on her first pull. She became a millionaire twenty-one times over as the machine announced her big win. Thiele and her husband had hoped to win enough money for lunch. Now, her modest plans are to pay off some bills, buy a new car, and cut back on her work schedule.
05/08Riviera Revenues Continue to Dip
The parent company of the Riviera Hotel is the latest in a string of casino businesses to show lower revenues in the first quarter. Riviera Holdings says it earned 48 million-dollars from January to March, an eight percent drop from the same period last year. The company cited high gas prices and a weaker economy for the reduced revenues. On the brighter hand, the Las Vegas Strip resort is enjoying strong demand among convention-goers and is currently spending 20-million-dollars to renovate its hotel rooms.
05/08Finance Committee Gets Propose Cuts
Governor Jim Gibbons decided to submit his proposed budget cuts to lawmakers. The office of the attorney general recommended he send them to the Interim Finance Committee of the Legislature even though the reductions do not require their vote. The cuts take effect 15 days after the committee receives them. Last month, Gibbons and leaders from both houses agreed to take many difficult steps to avoid a deficit of more than 900-million-dollars through mid-2009. Gibbons claims the cuts will not affect education, public safety or health and human services programs but will be achieved by delaying several major construction projects and the funding of several reserve funds.
05/08The End of a Gaming Era
An era ends as longtime casino owner Jackie Gaughan gets out of the business. The state Gaming Control Board approved his request to sell off his stake in the El Cortez hotel. Gaughan owned all or part of the downtown Las Vegas resort since 1963. He also owned a stake in the Flamingo, Golden Nugget and Plaza hotels. The 87-year-old Gaughan will still reside at the El Cortez hotel and continue to be its goodwill ambassador.
05/08
