Print edition for June 25, 2006

Editorial: No place like home: According to a recent story in the Las Vegas Sun, residents of Lawry Avenue say the 11 group homes in their neighborhood have changed the area's character. Some of the homes serve parolees, but others also serve people who are homeless and those who are mentally ill.

Jon Ralston on the sense of deja vu felt in this year's state gubernatorial race, which closely resembles the 1998 race that anointed Kenny Guinn: An initiative that causes consternation on both sides of the aisle and is disavowed by the GOP frontrunner even though many in the party support it.

Letter: Heed the words of Teddy Roosevelt: These mistakes have cost the lives of more than 2,500 brave men and women who are trying to succeed using a plan that is doomed to fail.

Editorial: Squeezing justice's juice: For those who may not have read the series, here are but a few of the troubling findings uncovered by the Times:

Jeff Simpson catches up with MGM Mirage's big plans for reshaping Las Vegas: But last month's setback hasn't dampened his enthusiasm for two even bigger projects the company is planning in the United States.

Letter: No consensus reached on global warming: The last ice age happened some 13,000 years ago, with the cycle of about 15,000 years. We can expect a new ice age to occur within the next few thousand years. If (and that is a big if) there is a small uptick in global temperatures occurring now, it is just that and has nothing to do with puny human activities occurring now.

Letter: Gore's movie is a must-see for doubters: The carbon dioxide that took thousands of years to produce now just takes a few years - starting at the start of the Industrial Revolution, but increasing immensely the past 30 years. We are running out of time to stop it.

Hal Rothman on why the world's oldest profession is an anchor to rural Nevada: Hal Rothman; Theoretically, there could be a legalized house of prostitution about one mile from the state capital, across the Storey County line. What would that say about our already suspect politics?

Programs such as AVID, which steers students toward more challenging curriculum while providing intensive tutoring and mentoring, are one way to address that gap. Nationally, 95 percent of AVID studen: clittle@lasvegassun.com; "We need AVID in every middle school and high school we have," Rulffes says. "If we had the money, we would have done it already."

TV fans go all-in on poker: By Liz Benston; But as Las Vegas heads into the thick of poker season, executives with the two major poker franchises scoff at such predictions and say the best years are yet to come for a game growing in viewership and, more significantly, participants.

Letter: Dixie Chicks have every right to speak truth: First, not everyone was angry with the Dixie Chicks, and many like myself applauded the comments made by Maines and believed that Mr. Bush was most deserving of the criticism.

Editorial: Engaging shady business: In a unanimous vote, council members set aside $3 million to buy shade canopies and some new playground equipment for 78 playgrounds in 49 city parks. It is similar to efforts by the cities of North Las Vegas and Henderson and the Clark County School District to add shaded play areas in parks and at schools.

John Katsilometes on the latest award Wayne Newton has collected in his illustrious career: Newton is about to add to the "Red Room's" decor. He is set to be honored again, on Wednesday by the Daughters of the American Revolution at the organization's Continental Congress convention at Constitution Hall in Washington. The Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 and is "devoted to promoting historic preservation, education and patriotism," so says a news release.

Supporters: Performing arts facility is for locals: By Ed Koch; The center's supporters say yes because it's geared for locals and it's seen as the centerpiece of Union Park, the redevelopment plan for 61 acres of former rail yard in western downtown.

David M. Schwarz has been tapped to design Las Vegas' cultural palace. What will he do with the centerpiece of 61 acres?: By Kristen Peterson; Forget slick modernism. Architect David M. Schwarz borrows from hundreds of years of history and has a resume heavy with brick-and-limestone references to Europe.

A meeting of the minds on preparation for college: Emily Richmond and Christina Littlefield; A meeting of the minds on preparation for college

The Vision: Kristen Peterson, Las Vegas Sun; Born: Jan. 26, 1951, in Los Angeles

Brian Greenspun warns that you get what you vote for; so don't complain when things don't go right: To that I can add, be careful what you vote for and be careful what you editorialize for. And I can put all of that in a hat and dump it in the lap of the Review-Journal and others similarly disposed.