Print edition for May 4, 2006

Dipping into the future for roads: Worried more about the traffic congestion just around the corner than about the one far down the road, Boulder City officials are considering diverting millions of federal dollars earmarked for a bypass still decades away to make more immediate highway improvements.

Political odd-fellows: By J. Patrick Coolican; Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt is a former lounge singer who once sang "Getting to Know You" while on a trade mission in China. Her predecessor wore a red leather jacket emblazoned with "Lonnie Hammargren, Neurosurgeon," and once had a body double go to a public event in his stead.

Editorial: The plan for the next hurricane: Interestingly, however, the plan does not include an emergency shelter of "last resort" where individuals who can't make it to a bus or train in time can ride out the storm. Memories are fresh of the deplorable conditions at the Superdome and the Convention Center during Hurricane Katrina, so it's easy to see why Nagin, facing a re-election battle, does not want to advocate an option that people associate with squalor, lawlessness and desperation.

Police hope to see more rooftop digits: And they'd like it in 5-foot-tall numbers on your roof.

Painting a delicate picture: Sharon Feeney is the first to acknowledge that marketing children for adoption is a delicate issue. There are the carefully worded pitches, the question of how to describe the children's behavior and, most important, portraying them as human beings, rather than a commodity.

Letter: Americans should give others a chance: It took my father years to attain his citizenship. And my wife had a hell of a time getting her visa here. We did it all completely legally and you know what? I don't wish that kind of struggle on anyone else. Especially those trying to escape hardship in their own countries and coming here to better their lives. Why should anyone wait months or years to join their family, or find decent work? Why should we deny them that?

Horse park has 'money issue': Dan Kulin; The possible design and cost of a proposed 320-acre equestrian park on Las Vegas' northern edge are beginning to take shape - but the plan still is many furlongs from the finish line.

Charities get a good deal from Monty Hall: The celebrated host of such game shows as "Let's Make a Deal" has closed the door on his performing career - now he is active in charitable pursuits.

LETTERS: Regarding Ron Kantowski's column on the Thomas & Mack Center ("T&M is under assault," May 1):

Al Unser Jr. hopes for the best in Indy 500 return: Although Sunday officially is a day for Indy 500 rookies, Unser will be on the track to shake off any rust he might have accumulated during a 20-month layoff. Unser, 44 and a Henderson resident since 2002, is stepping out of retirement to run the Indy 500 as a one-off effort with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

Saitta, Steel battle tradition in quest for high court: Cy Ryan; Since the 1915 Legislature made the election of judges and Supreme Court justices nonpartisan, only three incumbents have been defeated in the 19 elections in which a challenger entered the race.

Editorial: Season for child safety: Every year during these months the Las Vegas Sun and other news sources report about children who were left alone in cars, or who were left unsupervised around back yard pools, and who died or were seriously injured as a result.

Letter: Garbage rules more strict in other places: We own a second home in California that is unoccupied most of the year. We also tried to stop garbage collection - we pay $19.80 per month - but were denied there.

John Katsilometes recounts a legendary tale that unfolded more than 35 years ago at the LV home of Chester Simms: For weeks John Durbin, a member of one of the biggest burglary-robbery gangs in Las Vegas history, had been planning a heist at the Simms home while the family was vacationing in Florida. But the Sheriff Department's intelligence men learned of the scheme, and for two nights detectives staked out Simms' house on South Sixth Street.

Letter: Negative to send money to Mexico?: By the same token, can they research how much of the profits for Toyota and Honda from the United States are sent to Japan? How much Hyundai profits from the United States go to South Korea? How much from Mercedes profits in the United States go to Germany?

Gorman grad's N.Y. moment: "It's kinda crazy," Smith said. "I felt like an actual New Yorker. It's really unbelievable. I'm just a guy from Vegas who went to college at Oklahoma State. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd be playing for the Yankees."

Editorial: Better mileage is critical: Bush's new requirements were an improvement, but just barely. California and nine other states are now fighting in federal court his lackluster action, arguing that global warming and rising gasoline prices cry out for a much more ambitious effort.