Print edition for May 8, 2006

Editorial: President's cone of silence: Specifically, the White House has asserted it held dozens of meetings with key members of Congress to brief them on the National Security Agency's monitoring program of overseas calls between Americans and individuals suspected of having links to al-Qaida. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, since December, has requested that a list of lawmakers, along with dates of the briefings, be made public. But Bush officials have bottled up that most basic information inside the House Intelligence Committee, claiming it is classified.

Medical board not tough enough?: Rankings of state medical boards' serious disciplinary actions for Nevada and other Western states in recent years:

Search is on for missing centennial funds: Dan Kulin; Committee Vice President Betsy Fretwell, also a Las Vegas deputy city manager, said the committee gave Michael Hyams $20,000 to reserve two 30-minute slots on cable television for programs on the city's 100th birthday celebration and on 100 simultaneous weddings held on Fremont Street as part of the festivities.

Letter: Appropriate symbol for local politicians: I do hope the County Commission retains the "finger," as it is an appropriate and fitting coat of arms for our local and national discombobulating political poltroons!

Editorial: Medicare drug plan snafu: The GAO investigation is timely because seniors have until just May 15 to enroll in the complex new program, which for months has baffled Medicare recipients with a dizzying array of drug plan choices.

John Katsilometes talks with a 'Phantom' actor who brings Broadway credentials to Las Vegas: "If any show is going to make it in Vegas, it's this one," Morbitt said Friday morning at Valcom Studios on South Commerce Street, tucked away in downtown Las Vegas. "It's immediately recognizable. It's sung in so many languages, and given that Las Vegas is an international city I think it's a great fit."

All the right moves: Kristen Peterson; When: 8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. Sunday

Letter: Much time needed to heal from Bushitis: The United States will suffer for generations from the aftermath of this plague Bush has spawned. The worldwide respect the United States has enjoyed since World War II has now taken on the image of the scourge of the planet. All this since Bush invaded Iraq in what many believe is an unwarranted invasion and probably an illegal war. Bush seems to think he is a messenger of God who wanted to go down in history as a great president. History, however, will undoubtedly put him at the other end of the spectrum among those who have led our nation.

Letter: Hijacking of national anthem isn't funny: Secondly, the difficulty in actually singing the notes of the Star Spangled Banner - which seems to take up much of his column - has nothing whatever to do with the language in which it is being sung! He doesn't make clear whether the "Latin pop" version sung in 1968 by a Puerto Rican refers to beat or language. And, anyhow, that was almost 40 years ago before the influx of illegal aliens from south of our border became the problem it is today - and it is a problem, from the refusal to integrate and learn to communicate in ...

Goodbye to the 'burbs: Jennifer Shubinski; When newlyweds Eva and Brooks Compton went house-hunting, they quickly dismissed the new suburbs sprouting on the outskirts of Las Vegas. They had no use for two- and three-story stucco homes built cheek-to-jowl on postage-sized lots, in master-planned communities governed by homeowner's associations.

Editorial: An ominous publicity stunt: But at least they are harmless, or have been so far.

Homeless program may need new place of its own: Dan Kulin; Unless the Las Vegas City Council grants zoning and land-use changes opposed by some neighbors, Family Promise could be forced to move from its central office, a hub that offers a variety of services for the homeless.

Centennial team knows the drill: Emily Richmond; For the first time, Centennial won overall 1st place in the Clark County School District JROTC Drill meet at Cashman Field, besting 14 other corps. It was the closest district JROTC championships in 20 years; most schools finished in the top three in at least one of the events.

Bridge has shaky future: Clark County commissioners' showdown with a concrete company could jeopardize the $234 million Hoover Dam bypass bridge.

Golden Boy inspired by trash talk: Mayorga, a Nicaraguan wildman with an unpredictable personality, needed a big-name opponent and the payday that would accompany it.

Performers hope to make a good impression: By Jerry Fink; New to the convention this year will be Natalie Reid, impersonator of Paris Hilton, and Tiffany Cole, impersonator of Angelina Jolie.

Jeff Haney crunches the numbers to find good over/under bets: In his newsletter, "The Pinnacle Pulse," offshore oddsmaker Simon Noble recently outlined a method to analyze this popular wager, in which gamblers bet whether NFL teams will finish with "over" or "under'' a set number of victories.

THE OPENING LINE: When it comes to golf and the so-called "game within the game," it's all in the cards for Lake Las Vegas resident Natalie Gulbis.