Print edition for July 27, 2006

John Katsilometes takes a look at the lavish Signature at MGM Grand and sees why 350 job postings got 30,000 hits: "We had 30,000 hits," Signature Executive Director Frederick Luvisutto said Wednesday morning during a media tour (including one hastily arranged for this straggler) of the resort's Tower 1, which opened in June.

Editorial: Honor high court's ruling: U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales confirmed during a C-SPAN interview Wednesday that the Bush administration's draft proposal calls for indefinite detention of terrorist suspects and barring defendants from attending their own trials if deemed necessary to protect national security. It would also allow the use of hearsay evidence.

Letter: Terror groups at root of Mideast crisis: Greenspun covered the Israeli-Lebanon crisis quite thoroughly, explaining the type of terrorist organizations the world has to deal with in Hezbollah, Hamas and their supporters.

Editorial: Saying no to more drilling: The House on Monday approved a bill that would ban oil and gas drilling in this prized recreational area of conifer trees, rolling meadows, streams and extensive wildlife. The Senate should do the same.

Ron Kantowski on the ambitious basketball schedule put together by Las Vegas' new college prep school team, the Warren-Walker Academy's Findlay College Prep Pilots: "Well, why don't you come out on Dec. 2 and find out for yourself?" said Milan O'Hara, the athletic director at Warren-Walker, under whose academic banner the Findlay (as in Cliff, the local car dealer magnate) College Prep Pilots will hoop it up.

Letter: Nevada's judges should not be above the law: The Las Vegas Sun's July 21 editorial, "Judging the judges," makes clear that complaints against judges should be promptly resolved and the result publicly released, not kept secret.

LOOKING IN ON: MOTOR SPORTS: Robby Gordon hasn't had a weekend off since Easter and won't have another one until the end of November, but his plans for this week's break in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series schedule don't include fishing or lounging around a pool.

Letter: There's more to being rich than money: We live in the richest country in the world, with more millionaires than any other nation. In fact, our economy and laws are such that everyone has the opportunity to create their own destiny.

You bet there's a problem: James nursed his teenage gambling habit with small-time crime - stealing from his mother's purse, breaking into piggy banks, picking pockets and running to the racetrack, where his problems all began.

FLASHPOINT: With early voting only a few days away, at least two scary possibilities still exist. First, Bob Stupak, the Polish Maverick himself, could end up becoming the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. No one has spent money on that side. Hello? On the other side, Lonnie Hammargren, who had the job once and remains well known, could win it again, according to recent polls. He still has name ID and the potential to do great harm. Or is it the potential to do great comedy? I'm sure there are other frightening prospects out there, depending on your point of view. ...

Mensans search for other intelligent life: By Marshall Allen; Click here for a printable Mensa graphic.

Editorial: Speech boycott warranted: The lawmakers were angered because al-Maliki has made reference to stopping "Israeli aggression" and Israel's "hostile acts." He has not denounced the radical Islamist group Hezbollah, which kidnapped Israeli soldiers and launched missile strikes against Israel. Israel retaliated with an offensive on southern Lebanon, and two weeks of fighting have not abated.

Debate gets edgy when attack ads are played: Michael J. Mishak and J. Patrick Coolican; The first half of a televised debate between the two Democrats running for governor looked like a friendly policy seminar, with candidates agreeing that the state needs to spend, spend, spend on education. With their campaigns leveling relentless personal attacks, it was remarkable for being so civil, and so dull.

Mayor to developers of tardy high-rise projects: Build it or lose it: Dan Kulin; A year ago, a company called the 702 Group bought a 1.1-acre site in downtown Las Vegas for about $5 million, then later won City Council approval for a 55-story condominium and retail project on the property.