Print edition for December 21, 2005

Editorial: Teach your children well: That's the insidious trap that so many teens fall into. Their young bodies are initially able to fight back against tobacco's active ingredient, nicotine, a poison so powerful that it is used in pesticides. Young smokers rarely realize they will die from the inside out if they keep it up.

Studying teens at risk: By Emily Richmond; Nevada's middle and high school students are less likely than their peers two years ago to use drugs or smoke tobacco, but the severity of suicide attempts has increased sharply, according to a statewide survey.

A midnight snack on ice: The commoner might have a difficult time fitting a late-afternoon nap, or after-dinner snooze, into his schedule to have the proper reserves to last through a midnight hockey game. But Las Vegas isn't an average city.

Editorial: The enduring promise of spring: From that point forward, daylight will last just a bit longer as our season marches toward spring. In ancient times the early disappearance of the sun in late December was troubling to many people, who feared that the long night ahead would last forever.

Transfers make the grade: Community College of Southern Nevada transfers, for instance, earn a slightly higher grade point average at UNLV than first-time freshmen. The transfers are more likely to persist through school and graduate, according to statistics provided by both CCSN and UNLV.

Scientists have a devil of a time with pupfish: So far scientists have been stymied by an inch-long fish.

Editorial: Calling all jurors with an electric bill: The six-year-old measure allows courts in counties with populations of less than 400,000 to demand such lists from utility companies to make sure there are enough jurors to do the job. But the law is vague regarding counties with more than 400,000 residents, and a Las Vegas Sun story on Tuesday reported that Nevada Power officials have interpreted it to mean they should refuse to provide the utility's customer list to Clark County's courts.

Judge takes to task public defender: District Judge Sally Loehrer has called upon the Clark County public defender to discipline or possibly fire one of his attorneys for poorly representing a defendant in 2003.

Letter: Alaska senator's behavior is reprehensible: The proposal to drill has been defeated numerous times, but Ted Stevens, a U.S. senator from Alaska, is using backdoor tactics to again attempt approval.

Casinos may face bans on smoking: By Liz Benston; One of the key issues the American Gaming Association will tackle next year will be fighting initiatives across the country that would ban smoking in casinos.

Columnist Tom Gorman: On being a premature grandparent: A recent report indicates where in the valley we most likely will find the greatest number of new (and probably the most chagrined) grandparents.

Railroad agency has high safety standards: The Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) commitment to highway-rail grade crossing safety is second to none. Indeed, our long-standing and comprehensive efforts have led to real and significant advances in the prevention of train- vehicle collisions.

Ex-Globetrotter's dream of helping kids hits a wall: The dream of a former Harlem Globetrotter to help get children off the streets in North Las Vegas has turned into a nightmare for now.

Where I Stand -- Marisa Miller: For teens, many local issues hit home: Marisa Miller; By Marisa Miller Guest Columnist

THE ELEVATOR: Who's headed toward the penthouse on the local sports scene -- and who's getting the shaft:

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