Print edition for March 3, 2006

Letter: Democracy in Iraq might not be possible: Many military people see no hope of success in Iraq. As the situation deteriorates it is time to consider whether our troops may be at risk of being turned against and overrun by destitute Iraqi citizens and the feeble Iraqi army we have unsuccessfully tried to train.

Letter: Equal access would make lobbying fair: For every meeting granted to lobbyists, that representative or staff member must provide the same equal access and time to any opposition group on a first-come, first-served basis. All meetings and times are to be posted in public places and conducted at the expense of the congressional representative.

Note to judge leads to criminal trial: A year ago David Panko tried to warn District Judge Michelle Leavitt.

John Katsilometes on how a clasp of hands between 'La Cage' star Frank Marino and Norbert Aleman was likely a tip-off that their feud has come to an end: kats@lasvegassun.com; That clasp of mitts was, it seems, a signal of something more than just a handshake agreement between the two.

Letter: HOA assessments are not optional dues: These assessments are used, among other things, to insure the homeowners' association, repair and maintain any common items (landscaping, pool, clubhouse, gates, private streets, etc.), pay for utilities, legal and accounting fees, postage, and management services. If residents were allowed to "opt out" of paying these assessments, their share would then fall on the rest of the residents and soon nobody would pay any assessments, resulting in bankruptcy for the homeowners' association. That is why they are mandatory.

County will consider an EOB bailout: By Timothy Pratt; Buckling under spiraling debt and facing a future in doubt, the Economic Opportunity Board is looking for $250,000 from Clark County to help pay bills.

Academic med center compromise forming: Dan Kulin; Specifics remain to be worked out, and Dr. John McDonald, dean of the Nevada medical school, has yet to bring a plan for a center to the Board of Regents - something he plans to do March 17.

Tom Gorman on the chances the lawn mower is going the way of the horse and buggy: By Tom Gorman; And that's rotten for George and Phyllis Diether. They sell and repair lawn mowers. Their business, The Lawnmower Shop on Nellis Boulevard near Tropicana Avenue, just started its 25th year. And it won't be their best. "In 1988 we sold 250 lawn mowers," George said. "Last year we sold three. Three. There's simply less grass in the valley today than there was then."

TAKE FIVE: UNLV VS. TEXAS BASEBALL: When UNLV head baseball coach Buddy Gouldsmith looks across the field this evening during the first of a three-game series with defending national champion University of Texas, he won't just see one of the most successful collegiate baseball programs in the nation.

EXCUSE THE INTERJECTION: DO FANS DESERVE A REFUND WHEN HEADLINERS WITHDRAW FROM TOURNAMENTS ON SHORT NOTICE?

FLASHPOINT for MAR 03, 2006: John Ralston; So will George Clooney be saying good night and good luck to Las Vegas, leaving behind a dream called Las Ramblas? One of his local partners, Jim Stuart, candidly said Thursday that he's not sure if the multi-billion venture will ever be built. During a "Face to Face" interview, Stuart and his partner, Ken Sullivan, said construction costs had doubled since the original $3.5 billion venture was proposed. Clooney loves Las Vegas, they insisted. I guess we will find out how much. On the same program, Panorama Tower developer Laurence Hallier expressed skepticism about condo projects working on the 61 ...

Jeff Haney on why bookies, wise guys will return because 'year of the favorite' was a fluke: By Jeff Haney; Henderson-based TV sports prognosticator Wayne Root has updated that old Kinerism to reflect the reality of the modern sports betting scene in Las Vegas.

Editorial: Cutting off Canadian drugs: According to the St. Petersburg Times, such drug imports are against federal laws, although many municipalities, counties and states - including Nevada - contend the law has a loophole that allows individuals to acquire them in small amounts. As a result, many state and local governments have enacted, or are considering, programs through which residents may obtain Canadian drugs. Nevada State Board of Pharmacy members on Wednesday approved regulations that, if approved by the Legislative Commission in April as expected, will allow Nevadans to obtain Canadian medicines with state assistance.

Looking back: Emily Richmond, Las Vegas Sun; Clark County population 103,000 1.75 million Median home price $17,800 $250,000 Student enrollment 20,420 291,510 Total schools 30 317 District employees 1,300 34,249 Operating budget $7.25 million $1.7 billion Per-pupil expenditure $300 $5,600 Starting teacher salary $3,810 $30,468 High school construction cost $300,000 $60 million Matinee movie ticket 50 cents $6.50 Cost for postage stamp 3 cents 39 cents Gallon of gas 30 cents $2.38 Nations in Winter Olympics 32 85 Medals won by U.S. athletes 7 25

Editorial: Right message, wrong messenger: "The American dream begins with saving money and that should begin on the very first day of work," Cheney told a conference in Washington that was looking at ways to get more Americans to start saving for retirement.

Culinary not yet on Titus' dance card: By J. Patrick Coolican; Sen. Dina Titus has racked up a number of big-time endorsements from labor unions in her bid to become the Democratic nominee for governor: teachers, firefighters, public employees, among others. One, however, is conspicuously absent - the Culinary Union.

Jon Ralston pulls no punches on the race for governor, guilt by association and the Walters mess: By Jon Ralston; Master of the Democratic domain? Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson, whom I have lampooned at times for being invisible so far, apparently doesn't have to do much because he is all but even in a poll conducted for his campaign.

Student walkout raises questions: By Emily Richmond; Students at Green Valley High School staged a peaceful walkout Thursday to protest what they claim is unfair treatment of minorities by the campus administration.

Editorial: What happened to leadership?: The video, which was leaked to the Associated Press, aired Wednesday. It shows an exchange of information between federal officials and officials of the Gulf States that were in the path of the storm, which struck land early on Aug. 29.