Print edition for November 30, 2006

Declaring war on graffiti: Anti-graffiti activists in Clark County are waging their spray paint war online, trying to hit taggers where it really hurts: MySpace.

Ron Kantowski on the backlash both he and university system Chancellor Jim Rogers have felt since issuing missives on UNLV athletics: If you think Reggie Hammond - the character played by Eddie Murphy in the popular movie "48 Hrs." - caused a ruckus when he strutted into Torchy's honky-tonk with Nick Nolte's detective badge, you weren't hanging around UNLV 48 hours after university system Chancellor Jim Rogers wrote a memo requesting the Board of Regents start taking more responsibility for UNLV and UNR football and basketball programs.

DA has next move in Gibbons assault case: By Jeff German; Metro Police were putting the finishing touches Wednesday on their investigation into a Las Vegas woman's claims that Gov.-elect Jim Gibbons assaulted her last month.

LOOKING IN ON: MOTOR SPORTS: Timing is everything in racing - a lesson Jace Meier learned during the Fall Classic open comp race earlier this month at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Politics of recycling: By Tony Cook; The atmosphere more closely resembled that of a political war room than a meeting of the Southern Nevada Recycling Advisory Committee.

Letter: U.S. can't turn other cheek on Islamists: The war ended when we deposed Saddam Hussein, and that was no failure.

FLASHPOINT for Nov 30, 2006: There will not be a wet eye in the Democratic house in Nevada with this news: Jack Carter probably won't return to the campaign front. That's from his dad, former President Jimmy Carter, who said this on "Hardball" about his son: "He took on that task of running for office against a well-established, very wealthy, handsome and popular senator he ran a good campaign. He did well. And afterward, Jack said it was worth the effort. He learned a lot about his state. He learned a lot about the nation. He learned about people. He learned about politics. And my ...

Big hair, bigger hats: There she was backstage, every hair in place, makeup touched up, outfit on and ready to go. Almost, except for a complaint unheard of in any Las Vegas show featuring 28 young women.

Hospitals brace for strike: By Marshall Allen; The bickering parties in a contract dispute disagree about the implications of an impending nurses and technicians strike at Valley and Desert Springs hospitals.

Editorial: Why ignore this allegation?: The Republican congressman is alleged to have broken federal law by making phone calls from his congressional and district offices during his narrowly successful re-election bid against challenger Tessa Hafen.

Letter: Bush too casually looked past risks of war: Perhaps if someone had purchased a board game for Mr. Bush, we would not have all the human casualties now.

Editorial: Integrity of gaming on the line: Gaming Control Board member Mark Clayton told a seminar that he would be willing to consider it, and we just don't understand it. Such a move would allow gaming companies to cater to high rollers, giving them better payouts than the everyday player, who would be stuck with tougher odds.

Letter: Smoke-free business will prosper in time: I, as a nonsmoking patron and gaming employee, can't wait for Dec. 8 and a clearing of the air. But that would be selfish if I didn't also believe that every employee and the majority nonsmoking public will wonder why we didn't kick out the smokers sooner. Especially when business and revenues go up, not crash as the Chicken Littles predict.

Democrats are not writing off rural voters for 2008: WASHINGTON - Trying to get out the Democratic vote in rural Nevada may have been a waste of time for Dina Titus, but not for Howard Dean.

Letter: Variable payouts would kill credibility: Don't the state gaming regulators also represent that average player who saves all year for a visit to Las Vegas? I understand the bulk of the money the casinos win from players comes from those who play the penny, nickel and quarter machines expecting a fair deal, not to finance the moneyed players.

Editorial: Park closure won't work: Certainly the area of the park where the incident took place should have been roped off while police investigated. Another reasonable precaution would have been for Metro Police to step up patrols around the three-acre park on Maryland Parkway just south of Charleston Boulevard.

Letter: Draft will mobilize war protesters: If the rationale is murky and unconvincing, these same young adults will protest vehemently, everywhere, particularly on college campuses where students have the time and wherewithal to take such action. It is only the prospect of widespread and continual protest that guarantees real checks and balances on an administration contemplating unleashing its war machinery.

John Katsilometes talks with a former president's daughter, who stopped by to sign books and raise funds for a foundation: The luncheon, after which Bush Koch signed copies of her new book, "My Father, My President" (Warner Books, $29.99), was a fundraiser for Keep Memory Alive, the foundation for the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute. The Bush family's only daughter said she has learned to weather criticism of her family, particularly the two members who have ascended to the presidency.