Print edition for January 11, 2006

Flashpoint for Jan. 11, 2006: Get out your scorecards, folks. Three politicians and one former pol -- at least -- will have their careers put at risk today as the state Ethics Commission convenes in Las Vegas. Commissioner Lynette Boggs McDonald must persuade the tribunal that she did not use undue influence to try to save her husband's job with Treasurer Brian Krolicki. Ex-Assemblyman Wendell Williams, who could say almost anything and has nothing to lose, is the star witness against Boggs McDonald. Her defense team will pound on Williams' credibility and the commissioner surely hopes that Krolicki and Assemblyman Morse Arberry, who has provided ...

Columnist Tom Gorman: Singing the praises of a talented and good-natured family who count their blessings in Sin City instead of wallowing in their misfortune: Like most people moving to Las Vegas, Falcony and Lourdes Triunfo arrived with dreams. They left Brooklyn, N.Y., in search of a decent job and an affordable home in which to raise their four young children.

Chanos' land sale is 'not a done deal': A downtown land deal that involves Nevada Attorney General George Chanos may have more legal issues than meet the eye.

Drought-induced wate cuts would affect Nevada, Arizona: Nevada and Arizona will likely bear cuts in water that states can take from the Colorado River should there be a drought-induced reduction, a state water official said Tuesday.

Confusion over law stalls search for UNR president: University regents' attempts to uphold the spirit and the letter of Nevada's open meeting law hinder their ability to get things done, said Jim Richardson, UNR professor and longtime representative of the Nevada Faculty Alliance.

Helping hand lent to quake victim: By Ed Koch; The Pakistani girl didn't speak for six full weeks after an earthquake ravaged the northern regions of her country. When the 10-year-old finally did talk, she told Las Vegas surgeon Dr. Ikram Khan that a large pillar had fallen in her classroom during the quake

State politicians have opposing views on Abramoff controversy: J. Craig Anderson; Jack Abramoff appears poised to surpass actor Kevin Bacon as the person who has crossed paths with the greatest number of famous colleagues.

Highlights of November 2005 revenue report on Nevada casinos: AP; -STATEWIDE: $999.6 million win, up 16 percent.

Editorial: Spying defense rings hollow: Within days after The New York Times reported on the secret program last month, federal judge James Robertson resigned in protest from his position on the 11-member Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court. This is the special court created under the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA. The court's sole job is to review federal requests for domestic eavesdropping, and to rule quickly on whether warrants should be issued.

Editorial: Help students by listening: In the four years since NCLB became law, however, it has produced disappointing results nationally.

Mulroy to offer money for White Pine water: For years Southern Nevada water officials have been battling for water in the state's rural counties. Today, they'll try to buy it.

Columnist Jon Ralston: Assessing fallout as Nevadans spar over Abramoff scandal: Democrats snarling at Republicans or vice versa is a dog-bites-man story -- albeit the self-righteous curs do engender a preternatural interest by the Fourth Estate jackals, especially with a piece of meat like Jack Abramoff to be torn apart.

Getting kids into the swing: By Kristen Peterson; Following a discussion on philistine dance in ancient Middle East, Richard McGee, associate conductor of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, asked something unusual of his young audience last week.

Letter: DeLay has history of ethical impropriety: He must have the meaning of ethical confused with another word. DeLay's opinion that he "acted in an ethical manner" is contrary to the facts. The House Ethics Committee rebuked him for threatening a trade association, for facilitating a golf fundraiser for his benefit, for misusing the resources of the Federal Aviation Administration, and again for conduct that suggested political donations might influence his legislative actions.

Letter: Judge's words speak for themselves: What the judge actually stated was, "Nor do we controvert that ID should continue to be studied, debated and discussed. As stated, our conclusion today is that it is unconstitutional to teach ID as an alternative to evolution in a public-school science classroom."

Editorial: Trying to fight fat in Sin City: But the magazine's America's Fattest Cities survey is designed to examine how a city's environment may contribute to obesity, not how much residents weigh. And Las Vegas did pretty well in some areas.

Columnist Jeff Haney: On the kings of the diamond looking for aces in annual celebrity poker tournament at the Palms: If you come across a poker game filled with major league baseball players, try to snag a seat.

Letter: Reid is working to protect our civil liberties: One of the most objectionable pieces that the dissenters wanted removed was "no-warrant" searches coupled with the threat of arrest if the entity being searched even revealed that a search had taken place. Under the current version of the Patriot Act, the FBI/CIA/NSA can search your home or place of business, and you cannot object or even call your lawyer, because if you do so, you can be arrested for disclosing the fact that you were searched.

Petrimoulx makes his point: Since installing Jason Petrimoulx at the point six games ago and adding a new wrinkle into the offensive philosophy three games ago, UNLV coach Lon Kruger has the Rebels clicking.