Print edition for January 21, 2006

Metro's homeless liaison still not hired: By Timothy Pratt; Seven months after announcing its intentions to hire a first-in-the-nation homeless liaison, Metro Police still has not filled the position, an official said.

River water on states' agenda: Professional water managers from seven states are once again flocking to Las Vegas for what may be a do-or-die meeting to hammer out recommended rules on how to deal with water shortages in the Colorado River system.

Known versus unknown -- Local contingent travels to New York to see firsthand: By Emily Richmond; NEW YORK -- International High School is the jewel in Eric Nadelstern's crown. The finalist for Clark County schools superintendent said the program he co-founded embodies what he believes works - and doesn't work - in public education.

Editorial: Fighting fire with money: According to a recent story in the Las Vegas Sun, the in-house study shows that firefighters and paramedics arrived at the scenes of priority emergency calls in fewer than four minutes only 51 percent of the time. The National Fire Protection Association recommends arriving in that period of time on 90 percent of such calls.

Flashpoint for Jan. 21, 2006: The annual partisan rites known as Lincoln Day dinners will soon begin around Nevada. Here in Clark County, the locals have landed a high-profile guest in Ken Mehlman, the chairman of the Republican National Committee. The dinner, of course, is at The Venetian, the place run by Gondolier Numero Uno and where only GOP functions are allowed. The best theater during these events is to watch the local pols try to suck up to a national figure like Mehlman and to watch to see if Mehlman mangles any local names. Who can forget ex-Vice President Dan Quayle referring a congressional ...

Letter: 'Brokeback' awards are well-deserved: To begin with, the Golden Globe Awards are selected by the Foreign Press Association, a group of 80 or so international journalists; the Critics Circle Awards are presented by a select group of leading motion picture newspaper and magazine critics throughout the United States. Neither award is influenced by the Hollywood culture. "Brokeback Mountain" won prestigious awards -- best drama from the Golden Globe Awards and best film from the Critics Circle Awards.

Mental hospital may be delayed: SPARKS -- Construction of the state's new mental hospital in Las Vegas is on schedule and within budget, but it may not open on time because of a lack of nurses.

Editorial: New worlds of knowledge: In truth, we know very little about our solar system. Scientists can only theorize about its origin, and our knowledge of the distant planets, moons, comets, rings and belts is rudimentary at best. We're not even sure how many planets there are. A 10th planet was identified last year year and there may be more.

Known versus unknown -- Rulffes supporters say there's no substitute for knowledge: For the unions representing Clark County School District teachers and support staff, the known home-grown commodity of Walt Rulffes beats the unknown out-of-town product of Eric Nadelstern.

Letter: Story illuminates invisible world: He led the reader into a world that is often invisible. He showed us the poverty, isolation and human suffering of our own people, our own veterans. I was outraged at the plight of Richard Salyers, but what good, really, is that? When I reread the story, I wanted to reach out to Mr. Salyers, and offer my help to him in any way that I could.

Letter: Alaska oil extraction better late than never: Mr. Mundy states that oil companies are under no obligation to ship the oil to the "lower 48 states." Wrong! The government determines where it is able to ship that oil. The process is much more complicated than some people would have you believe. An oil company cannot just decide to ship Alaskan oil anywhere it deems necessary.

Letter: Japanese market booms, but won't bust: Businesses, including banks, closed because there was no cash to flow. With no money for payrolls, everyone suffered. The rich, who seldom paid in cash, were the most despondent; their "money" was in closed or valueless accounts.

No takers for teachers' housing grant: Dan Kulin; The city set aside $500,000 in May for a program to give qualified teachers up to $30,000 each to help them buy a house. So far there have been no takers.

New York Minutes: Vegans take on big apple: By Emily Richmond; Not long after Sheila Moulton told a New York City school guide that she was on her first trip to the city, the Clark County School Board member added an exclamation point.

Editorial: A big job for new director: Cheryln Townsend, whose title is director of Juvenile Justice Services, has a background appropriate for running this critical $40 million, 400-employee department. She holds two master's degrees and her experience includes 20 years in various justice positions in Texas and 10 years heading up the juvenile justice department in Maricopa County, Ariz., which includes Phoenix.