Print edition for October 19, 2006

Editorial: Concerns over firing plans: The U.S. Coast Guard has temporarily suspended live-fire testing of machine guns mounted to Great Lakes patrol boats, after public criticism that the service failed to host required public meetings about plans to use the guns.

Letter: Easy solution bad for taxpayers, retirees: The easiest solution to the unfunded liability issue facing Nevada is to take a drastic measure. The governor has proposed such a drastic measure, which is to no longer offer, to any newly hired state employee, health insurance at retirement age.

Letter: Captain Bush steering this ship into disaster: Unfortunately, our nation's captain and crew exhibit considerable incompetence and a stubborn unwillingness to alter a course destined to be destructive to all of us. As time grows closer to the end of Bush's term at the helm, talk of nuclear confrontation with Iran and North Korea will undoubtedly intensify. The path for a pre-emptive strike against one or both of these nations is now being paved in gradual increments of bellicose posturing by the administration. A miscalculation by our leaders could easily put us in a nuclear world war!

Letter: Middle class will rise up and defeat GOP: It was not because he had any compassion for the good of the American people. It was, however, a greater plan, a vision! A vision to overhaul the core structure of the United States of America. He would create a new ruling class. A class with powers never before legally attainable in the United States. One posing great riches and incontestable leadership.

John Katsilometes on an impending visit from two stars of Fox News Network, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary at Caesars Palace: Oh, wait. We mean the network.

Little sister follows in footsteps of her biggest fan: Hometown: Parker, Colo.

Ron Kantowski catches up with Oakland A's radio voice Ken Korach, who talks about the deaths of the A's season, Cory Lidle and his good friend Bill King: Korach sounded as if he were talking in a submarine, which is what happens when your team is swept out of the American League Championship Series in Ron Cey weather. You know, suited for a penguin.

FLASHPOINT for Oct 19, 2006: The problem with Tuesday's gubernatorial debate was the problem with almost all such events - it really wasn't a debate. A debate is when candidates have a spirited to and fro, exposing different stands on issues, different levels of alacrity and different levels of gravitas. There is little to and fro when organizations or candidates set strictures. The media must take charge of all this or the spinmeisters and the poll leaders will win. A debate is when a moderator merely guides a discussion between the candidates, with no set time limits and they argue, rebut and engage. That has ...

Editorial: White House spaces out: T he Bush administration is taking us where no man has gone before, except for maybe Buck Rogers or Han Solo.

Editorial: PISTOL's costly side effect: That's what the initiative will cost Nevada taxpayers in increased highway construction costs, traffic congestion and lost federal highway funds over 25 years if it passes, according to a report by the respected Las Vegas firm Applied Analysis.

Differing accounts: J. Patrick Coolican, Jeff German and Sam Skolnik; Click here for a printable graphic.

More questions emerge as stories come out: Barry M. Horstman; Two odd coincidences and a non-recantation appear in the 911 tapes, Metro officers' investigative reports and the transcripts of police interviews with Rep. Jim Gibbons and the woman who alleged that he assaulted her: