Print edition for February 9, 2006

Dropout rates raising concerns: By Emily Richmond; If the Council for a Better Nevada hopes to work closely with the Clark County School District to improve public education, the two sides will first have to agree on a common vocabulary.

Gordon: Seven is a long shot: Gordon, who won his fourth Cup title in his ninth full season, said he does not plan to hang around the sport long enough to win a seventh or eighth championship.

School architect Scheideman dies: Scheideman's handprint is on all of the 169 Southern Nevada schools built since 1991 and the nearly 200 projects at existing schools that are expected to be completed by 2008.

Editorial: Jeff German on Sheriff Young's call to casinos and nightclubs to ban gangster rap shows which, he says, breed an atmosphere of violence: By Jeff German; Days after one of his veteran officers, Sgt. Henry Prendes, was gunned down by a budding rapper, Young said that he doesn't believe casinos should be booking these kinds of groups because of the violence they breed.

Charismatic Couture's retirement from UFC bittersweet: Earlier on Saturday evening, Couture, one of the most popular and charismatic stars of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, announced his retirement from mixed martial arts in the center of the octagon after losing to light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell in the third fight of their memorable trilogy.

Letter: Islamic protests not surprising: Indeed, one must consider how Christians would react if mainstream newspapers began publishing cartoons blatantly insulting or ridiculing Jesus or the Virgin Mary - no doubt the outcry would be thunderous.

Letter: Thankful for our police officers: We are fighting terrorists abroad and also in this country. Officer Prendes' killer is no different than a foreign terrorist firing an assault rifle in Iraq. What would this country be without police protection?

Editorial: The Energy Hog is grinning: Television, radio and Internet public service announcements were drawn and written around the repulsive creature, which delights in wasting energy without concern about the impact on the country. The announcements were clever but insincere, though, as federal funding for conservation programs have been dwindling over the past four years.

Schools inherit old debate: Schools, churches, scientists and the courts are arguing over the teaching of creationism and evolution. School board decisions are being challenged. Fur is flying.

Letter: Don't blame union for city's problems: Teamsters Local Union 14 does not normally use the media regarding its ongoing negotiations with the city of North Las Vegas. However, I would like to set the record straight regarding the five-day work week issue. The only departments within the city that do not have five-day coverage are City Hall, Community Development Center and the Municipal Court. The rest of the city services have at least a five-, six- or seven-day schedule.

John Katsilometes on Newton's connection with the planned USO lounge at McCarran: kats@lasvegassun.com; For months USO officials have been working behind the scenes to arrange for the Wayne-ified title. Newton himself appeared before the County Commission on Tuesday to make a case for securing $750,000 from the county's Aviation Department to fund half of the $1.5 million project (the USO is collecting donations for the balance of the lounge's cost).

Union, Las Vegas to work on deal: Dan Kulin; Four years after their last failed attempt to negotiate a new contract, Las Vegas' largest employees' union and administration officials are headed back to the bargaining table next week.

Students have fashion-ating experience: Five students from UNLV's Educational Outreach fashion design certificate program competed "Apprentice"-style to help launch shoe company Farylrobin's Las Vegas debut this evening at Nordstrom in the Fashion Show mall. One student will win a summer internship in New York City with the up-and-coming company.

Researchers push for minorities in drug trials: By Timothy Pratt; The drug showed little success. But researchers then tried something different: They tested it only on black patients and found a dramatic turnaround.

Editorial: Protecting our wild horses: Congress stopped short of banning the slaughter of horses last fall and instead cut all funding for the salaries and expenses of the federal officials who inspect slaughterhouses. Horse meat is rendered in three slaughter plants - two in Texas and one in Illinois - and sold for human consumption in Asia and Europe. Some of it also ends up in U.S. zoos.

Editorial: Violence in Mideast, Europe: One of the important points to remember about this developing story is that the cartoon was first published in September, and the protests by Muslims, who believe that any illustrations of Muhammad are forbidden, were relatively modest in Denmark several months ago.

Letter: Speech doesn't include violence: I am offended by what you have written, Mr. Peele, I protest what you have written, Mr. Peele, but I don't have any intention of hurting you or burning down your house. My religion teaches a much more sane and legal approach to protest and freedom of expression.