Print edition for June 17, 2006

Soccer turf 'like butter': Former UNLV soccer player Bart Gallia spilled buckets of sweat and more than a few beads of blood onto the turf at Peter Johann Memorial Field.

Editorial: Can FEMA weather storm?: Government Accountability Office investigators who posed covertly as victims said it was not hard to obtain FEMA money with a fake address.

Editorial: Leavitt's luxurious travel: Leavitt has flown the 14-seat Gulfstream to more than 90 cities this year, at a cost of about $720,000, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Letter: Inmates shouldn't enjoy good life on death row: I personally feel that in many cases, such as Scott Peterson's, life in prison without possibility of parole would be the best punishment.

Letter: Reid's bill doesn't put national security first: It is to be assumed that Sen. Reid is well aware of what the entire world knows, that Iran is on the verge of acquiring an atomic bomb, which represents a great danger for the free world, but it appears that the senator has other priorities.

Letter: Gay marriage: Much ado about nothing: With all due respect, I must congratulate our most esteemed congressmen - Republican and Democrats alike - for bringing out the most important issue facing America today. I'm sure this matter - gay marriage - is at the very top of every citizen's mind. I'm completely awestruck at the intelligence and genius of our elected officials in Washington, D.C.

Editorial: We can do better than this: Overall, the report contained some inspiring news, but not so much for Nevada. The study found that, when it comes to lending a helping hand, Nevadans ranked last in the nation.

Rogers woos Thom Reilly for COO post: Christina Littlefield; Over dinner at Landry's on Thursday, Rogers and Reilly discussed the possibility of Reilly becoming the chief operating officer for the University of Nevada's proposed health science center, according to higher education insiders.

Locals urged to take part in national 'die-in': The rally at 333 Las Vegas Blvd. South is part of World Refugee Day activities that will feature similar demonstrations in Washington, San Francisco and other cities.

State faces hard choice after judgment: Cy Ryan; In the wake of an arbitration panel's ruling that the state owes $10.3 million for its poor handling of the construction of the Veterans Home in Boulder City, the state is faced with basically two choices: incur about $800,000 in estimated interest charges if it waits for the 2007 Legislature to approve the claim, or hold a one-day special session, at an estimated cost of $50,000, to get legislative approval.

Growth dominates Democrats' gubernatorial debate: By J. Patrick Coolican; The two Democratic candidates for governor sparred - sometimes in minute detail - over growth and how to manage it, before lightly touching on education. Part 1 of the two-part debate aired Friday night on "Face to Face With Jon Ralston" on Las Vegas ONE, Cox Cable channel 19. Part 2 will air Monday.

Jaded Justice: Imagine a series of car wrecks involving the same drivers again and again, but police refuse to investigate whether the drivers are at fault. Instead, police call for better roads.