Print edition for July 23, 2006

Editorial: 'The homeless' are human: Too often the latter image, reinforced by the way homeless people are treated, springs to mind.

Letter: Countdown to end of embarrassment: Having contributed nothing but turmoil in the Middle East during his time in office, our president's candid comments, uttered through a mouth full of food, showed how little he has to contribute to matters of state.

Hal Rothman on how the old-fashioned approach to growth has reclaimed Las Vegas from a concept that was doomed from the start: We are not going to see a skyline that resembles the urban spaces of New York. Nor are we going to become a city of pedestrians who use public transportation to get where we are going. The idea was overblown to begin with; the phrasing was typical Las Vegas, designed to appeal to people whose eyes are bigger than their stomachs.

Jon Ralston presents an unreal gubernatorial debate between candidates Jim Gibbons, Lorraine Hunt and Bob Beers: I have obtained a transcript:

Nevada: a likely hot spot in 2008 Democratic presidential race: AP; OVERALL: Nevada was a sparsely populated stretch of desert state that tourists had to get through on the way to California when the state legislature in 1931 legalized casino gambling and sparked growth in the Nevada desert that has continued to this day. The state also attracts other businesses such as credit card operations and distribution centers, and is popular for West Coast retirees.

Letter: Bush serves his own agenda, not America's: The majority of Americans are in favor of stem-cell research, yet, we allow Bush to dictate what he believes in. He created the war in Iraq, which has killed thousands of our soldiers, not to mention thousands of innocent Iraqi men, women and children. I guess he does not consider these lives important. He would rather protect embryos that would be discarded anyway rather than try to save someone from a debilitating disease.

Letter: No compassion shown for victims of disease: Many of the world's most prominent scientists have stated that there is great hope for possible cures in the future with stem-cell research. But until that happens, all that the loved ones of these unfortunate people can do is to helplessly watch the massive deterioration until their ultimate demise.

566683881.html: Elizabeth Butterworth reflecting on her family's difficult life in Las Vegas

Jeff Simpson sees dangerous trend in Nevada's inaction on growing online action: The state's Gaming Control Board takes great pride in being strict enforcers of the rules that govern Nevada gambling.

A poor place to be a kid: By Marshall Allen; Seven-year-old Lea Butterworth has been wearing the same brown crushed velvet shirt and rainbow-striped skirt for nearly a week. As dingy as the outfit is, it is carefully washed nightly in the motel room sink.

Letter: President has stayed true to his word: We must remember that President Bush promised during his campaigns for president that he would not allow federal taxes to be spent on "embryonic" stem-cell research.

Reid puts Nevada in '08 spotlight: By J. Patrick Coolican; A committee of national Democrats charged with selecting which state would follow the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucus chose Nevada on Saturday by an overwhelming vote. The decision, made at a Washington meeting, still needs to be ratified by the Democratic National Committee in August, but Nevada is looking like the solid favorite.

Brian Greenspun says Syria's phone needs to be ringing with world leaders urging control of terrorists: It was a terrible, devastating, gut-wrenching feeling of helplessness, rage, anger and bewilderment. The Israelis have lived that way for almost 60 years. America has only been at this for about five years, but learned enough by now to know what we don't like and cannot abide.

John Katsilometes on four-course 90 Minute Experience featured at the recently opened Guy Savoy: Savoy and his son, Franck, and daughter-in-law Laura, who operate Savoy's Las Vegas restaurant, are giving a shorter option to patrons who might not be able or willing to commit to multicourse meals that can sometimes last four hours (and beyond).

Editorial: A report that lacks punch: In response, the Nevada State Athletic Commission last fall created a five-member panel to recommend ways to improve the sport's safety record. Known as the Advisory Committee on Boxer Health and Safety, the panel was headed by Sig Rogich, a former athletic commissioner, but best known as one of the state's most influential political advisers.

Who's laughing now?: By J. Patrick Coolican; For so long liberals were neither fun nor funny. No meat, no cigarettes, no ethnic or sexual jokes. They were a joyless lot, with their public radio droning on about some faraway genocide or the latest trend in rooftop organic gardening. And for a magazine, the left had The Nation, printed on cheap and - surprise! - recycled paper filled with obscure debates about Alger Hiss.