Print edition for January 9, 2006

Editorial: Light bulb comes on at Ford: But there may be some good news in the future for Ford, the No. 3 automaker in the world behind General Motors and Toyota. The company has a new president over its operations in the western hemisphere. His name is Mark Fields and he seems to understand what must be done in the future.

Letter: Bipartisan meeting just a charade: There appeared to be no sincerity in such a meeting, one might even call it a sham. He appears to be reacting to the cover picture on a December issue of Newsweek depicting him as a "Bubble Boy."

Board elects to make a quick pick for president: By Emily Richmond; Thursday's elections for officers of the Clark County School Board set a record for brevity -- less than 30 seconds to choose a new president.

Christmas trees can be recycled: As the holiday season ends and Las Vegas residents strip their evergreens of ornaments, the Springs Preserve says that Christmas trees can be recycled.

Letter: Patriot Act helps keep nation safe: For those who have read or even thought about it, Las Vegas is very high on the most likely targets by terrorists. Indeed, some of the 9/11 bunch came here to likely "have a good time" (or perhaps get motivated) before their devastating mission, so our reputation is well known to them. We have everything that our enemies say they despise -- (concentrated) wealth, extravagance, opulence, (a gathering of) thousands of friendly visitors from all over the world to tell the tale, power (the site of the first atomic bomb explosion), and, yes, debauchery.

On the Strip, drinking not free for all: CARSON CITY -- If you're looking for a complimentary cocktail in a casino, forget the Strip. Your best best is in the tiny northern Nevada town of West Wendover.

Officials to get cracking on building problems: By Emily Richmond; Cracking walls and buckling floors suggest all is not well below ground at Variety School, which serves some of the Clark County School District's most severely disabled students.

NLV, feds locked in conflict: David Kihara; The federal government sometimes appears to be a bottomless well of money, but does that well eventually dry up?

Letter: Alito would set back women's rights: Let's keep it real: Samuel Alito hates pro-choicers. That's no big news. The writing is on the wall -- he wants to overturn Roe v. Wade. My question is: Why are we going backwards? Shouldn't we progress as a society, shouldn't we protect our "freedom?" Isn't that what they're fighting for in Iraq? Is it just me, or are most of us walking around like a bunch of zombies?

Editorial: Entertaining rules for Congress: Abramoff's cozy, lucrative relationships with elected officials were shattered last week when he cut a deal with federal prosecutors, agreeing to work with them in a bribery and corruption case and also plead guilty to conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion. Abramoff, who commanded $750 an hour as a lobbyist, admitted to providing luxury trips, golf outings, campaign contributions and lavish wining and dining to influence politicians. He even admitted to defrauding Indian tribes he represented.

Editorial: Mine safety needs research: One miner apparently died as the result of the explosion. One survived, but oxygen deprivation has left him in critical condition. Early reports suggest the other 11 miners died from carbon monoxide poisoning, although the official cause of death has yet to be determined.

State grants $87 million to public schools: CARSON CITY -- Nearly $87 million will be distributed by the end of the month to more than 470 public schools to install innovative programs to boost lagging student achievement.

Inmate's case raises mental health issues: Matt Pordum; Arie Redeker seems to have found all the trouble spots. From his brush with Clark County medical providers to his appearances in court and now to his jail cell, where he awaits trial facing the death penalty, Redeker has caused hiccups in the mental health and criminal justice systems big enough that the case has captured the attention of medical and legal authorities across Nevada.

Research on child fatalities hampered by law: David Kihara; Knowing how and why teens die or commit suicide helps policymakers identify issues and, hopefully, can prevent future deaths, but federal laws prevent them from getting all of the details.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Why 'Glory Road' rules, and how Don Haskins is rightly portrayed as a pioneer: Back in 1985, when the NCAA still played its basketball regionals in the geographical areas of the country for which they were named, I remember watching North Carolina State practice for the West Regional at The Pit in Albuquerque when the late Jim Valvano was coach.

The long way home: By Timothy Pratt; Michael Valentine started writing in a book last fall about all the things he wanted his five children to remember about him.

Flashpoint for Jan. 9, 2006: Attorney General George Chanos may have thought he was choosing sides in a legal dispute. But after being pummeled by Democrats, and an incendiary set-to last week on "Face to Face" with Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, the AG now is finding he has created what may become the issue in his campaign. Whether he was right to scuttle the drug importation law, he is finding the political fallout quite harsh. And it will continue this week as the state Pharmacy Board meets on the issue. Already, one liberal group is harnessing union firepower to attack Chanos today for making ...

Columnist John Katsilometes: The corps of the story at Jay Leno's show at the Mirage: "Tonight Show" host and tireless stand-up practitioner Jay Leno seized the stage at the Danny Gans Theatre at the Mirage on Friday and Saturday nights. Leno's somewhat stale material (are we still riffing on the Menendez brothers and the O.J. Simpson trial?) was recited in his typically crisp, well-scripted delivery.

Columnist Jeff Haney: Breaking out the calculator to maximize your earning potential on a correct Super Bowl pick: After the weekend's NFL playoff games, sports books in Las Vegas will post updated odds today on each of the eight remaining teams to win the Super Bowl.

Neighborhood watch: Dan Kulin; In the northeast corner of downtown Las Vegas is a small neighborhood that has taken a turn for the worse during the last year, a product of the slow process of redevelopment.