Print edition for November 27, 2005

An endangered program?: J. Craig Anderson; Turf battles and pet projects have prevailed over endangered plants and animals in a Clark County program intended to protect wildlife from rampant development.

Columnist Jon Ralston: What Nevada politicians have to be thankful for: As you emerge (or not) this weekend from your tryptophan-induced haze, having given thanks for a bountiful life and faithful friends and family, you must be wondering what others expressed gratitude for on Thanksgiving. So here is what some notables surely are thankful for in 2005:

Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: Giving thanks for what we have in LV -- and what more we can do: Like most of you, I ate too much, didn't sleep enough and basically, overloaded on all that is good in life during Thanksgiving weekend. It had plenty of family, friends and that feeling that this is the greatest country in the world and that we live in the greatest city in the world. And that what we have in such abundance we should be willing to share with those who don't. I think that is the message of Thanksgiving. Or, at least, it should be.

Conservation plan includes protections for 78 plant and animal species: By Launce Rake; The Clark County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan includes protections for 78 plants and animals.

Editorial: Ready to reel in the Marlins?: This time it is the Florida Marlins, whose owners are upset that the team must play in the Miami Dolphins football stadium instead of a stadium of its own. Last year Las Vegas worked hard to attract the departing Montreal Expos, which ultimately chose Washington, D.C., as their new home.

Letter: Vegas documentary was best of them all: I've seen dozens of documentaries about Las Vegas. Stephen Ives' "Las Vegas: An Unconventional History," which ran on PBS, was the best of them all. Mr. Rothman, however, belittles it. Sounds like sour grapes to me. As a consultant on the film, he admits that they didn't listen to his advice, so ... he doesn't like the film.

Rogers: Nevada university president's salary to remain the same: AP; Rogers said he thinks Lilley's $227,500 base salary and $90,000 foundation supplement are sufficient to attract a top candidate.

A new day for Aurora: Aurora Roach, a 12-year-old cancer survivor, is thankful for the most precious of all gifts during this season of giving thanks.

Flashpoint for Nov. 27, 2005: Yes, that new attorney general sure is a bonehead. How dumb he is to announce a probe of suspicious local government maneuvers and then have to recuse himself because he has business before that government -- totally unrelated business, that is. I'm not surprised his opponent's supporters are pushing the story. That's really going to have legs. It's obvious which side you want to be on. Do you want to be the chief law enforcement officer who decides to do something about local government misdeeds but takes the ethically correct route by appointing a special counsel? Or do you want ...

Case sheds light on juvenile justice system: Molly Ball; One of Marcus Dixon's hardest days in prison was when he heard about a roller coaster about to open atop the Stratosphere.

Columnist Tom Gorman: Discovering the defining characteristics of Las Vegas' neighborhoods, including his own and yours, too: Perhaps more than any other place in the country, we residents of Las Vegas find ourselves trapped in a caricature.

Editorial: Putting a price on bad judgment: Brown -- whose mishandling of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's response to Hurricane Katrina made him the poster boy for the ills created by cronyism within the Bush administration -- has announced he will work as a private consultant to help others avoid making his mistakes.

Columnist Jeff Simpson: On more use of private gaming areas: By Jeff Simpson; For the past couple of years the only news that was made in the handful of Strip private gaming areas was about how they were almost never used.

Letter: Credit is due to Marshall and Kennan: I think Mr. Friedman is only fractionally right when he maintains that the first President Bush managed the collapse of the Soviet Union, and I'm not referring to Ronald Reagan's bravado "Tear down that wall" speech. I'm referring to the most important Americans in our Cold War with Russia.

Columnist Hal Rothman: Why splitting up the school district is a bad idea, and why Sen. Tiffany keeps trying to do it: Hal Rothman; Once again, the prospect of dividing the Clark County School District into a series of Balkanized provinces has reared its ugly head.

Columnist John Katsilometes: Paul McCartney's rare approach to song selection at the MGM Grand: Paul McCartney periodically embarks on "get back" adventures. He did it in the late-'60s with the Beatles, he did it early in his solo career, and again in 1999 with "Run Devil Run," an album populated with oldies McCartney grew up with.

Editorial: Debt, tax cuts do not work: Millions of baby boomers are beginning to retire, adding hundreds of billions of dollars to the projected cost of Medicare. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will cost the federal government more than $200 billion. A $286 billion transportation bill was recently passed. It is incalculable how much a bird flu pandemic would cost if one develops. Social Security faces a multitrillion-dollar deficit. And even without these expenses, the federal government has been spending about $400 billion a year more than it receives in tax revenue.

Collective spirit: The auction is from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at the Ice House, 650 S. Main St. The evening includes music by the Las Vegas Jazz Society and hors d'oeuvres. Admission is $40 at the door, $35 in advance. Admission is $40 at the door, $35 in advance

Letter: Political labels stifle healthy debate: But enough with the political attack labels. Labels are only useful on consumer products. They tell me how I'm supposed to wash my clothes; how much fat or salt are in a product; if it's good or bad for me; and what I'm supposed to do if I accidentally ingest a hazardous product or splash it on me.

Letter: If Prop 13 is so great, why the exodus to here?: California's Proposition 13 has achieved iconic status over the years, symbolizing tax reform. The unfortunate truth is that Proposition 13 is so flawed that it has created a multitude of unintended consequences that has caused even higher taxation to the average taxpayer than had the original initiative not passed at all.