Print edition for January 14, 2006

Ethics Commission on trial: J. Craig Anderson; For Clark County Commissioner Lynette Boggs McDonald, last week's ethics hearing was nothing less than a trial for her political life. As the case unfolded, however, the Ethics Commission also found its own conduct under scrutiny.

Editorial: Dozens of unanswered questions: The book, published by Doubleday Books, is billed as Frey's autobiographical account of how he lifted himself from drug addiction and alcoholism. It was first published in 2003, but became a national sensation last year after Oprah Winfrey chose it for her book club. It has sold more than 3 million copies.

Letter: Too steep a price to pay for progress: Drive more native animals off the land they have called home for thousands of years. Who cares about Las Vegas residents who go to "Red Rock" to get away from the crush of humanity, to spend a few hours in a quiet and peaceful paradise.

Editorial: Disclosing IRS' heavy-handedness: "At a minimum, this procedure constitutes an extraordinary violation of fundamental taxpayer rights and fairness," Nina Olson, the IRS taxpayer advocate, wrote in her annual report to Congress. "In our view, it may also constitute a violation of due process of law."

NASL has novel plan: More than a few questions remain regarding the new indoor National Alliance Soccer League, which begins next month at the Orleans Arena.

Editorial: Good intentions not enough: An official involved with the program, Nancy Wesoff, director of operations for the Clark County Housing Authority, provided the Sun with her view of why it is stalled. "This is a tough population to work with," she told Sun reporter Timothy Pratt for a story published Thursday. "They're inconsistent as far as coming in with documents, making appointments."

Expanded courts would need 4,000 new employees: WANTED: Roughly 4,000 new Clark County employees to work in several areas of the justice community. Deadline for applications is 2025.

Flashpoint for Jan. 14, 2006: Something tells me Rep. Jon Porter may regret announcing so quickly that he backs Ohio's John Boehner to succeed Tom DeLay. Porter appeared to know nothing about Boehner's notorious disbursement of tobacco checks on the House floor a decade ago. And I bet he is unaware that dump proponent Boehner once was "educated" about Yucca Mountain by the Nuclear Energy Institute. And as Jonathan Turley wrote in The Chicago Tribune, Boehner and a colleague felt that "they could best understand Yucca Mountain not by visiting Nevada but with a paid tour of Barcelona and Seville, Spain--with their wives--at a cost ...

Letter: Leave the abortion debate to biologists: Mr. Gould writes, "Legislative bodies should publicly debate when a cell becomes a person and pass compromise laws ..." What makes him believe any individual legislator is knowledgeable enough about biology to debate the question? Actually, only biologists have the complete knowledge and understanding to determine this question -- or is Mr. Gould only looking for another manner in which to chip away at the right to an abortion?

Valley Muslims reach out: Standing in a tightly packed mosque, men and women dressed in Ethiopian, Pakistani and other ethnic garb came together last week for prayer and a sermon about reaching out to Las Vegas.

Rulffes' stock is up for top post: By Emily Richmond; Although the Clark County School Board deferred a final vote on a new superintendent Friday, members sent signals that local candidate Walt Rulffes stands in a strong position.

LV says no 'Clear' cash flow: Dan Kulin; The Las Vegas Centennial folks have said Hell(dorado) No to Clear Channel.

Letter: Assorted rants for the new year: Try working your way through the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program for a few days. And this comes to us from some of the same people who tout Intelligent Design?

Price of water to consumers will surely rise: Population growth, environmental issues and drought are confronting the West with unprecedented water woes, but collaborative efforts can overcome the issues.