Print edition for October 28, 2006

Gibbons keeps lead but support falling away: Michael J. Mishak and J. Patrick Coolican; Some Republicans have taken a deep breath and now think Rep. Jim Gibbons, their candidate for governor, can ride out accusations that he assaulted a woman and his campaign tried to conceal the incident.

Editorial: Experience, decisiveness are needed on the bench: Michael Douglas was appointed to the Nevada Supreme Court in March 2004 by Gov. Kenny Guinn, and won election to Seat F that following November. Before that he served two terms as a District Court judge, and earlier he worked within the civil division of the Clark County district attorney's office. Douglas' decisions are well-reasoned, as can be expected of a judge with his experience.

Stardust memories: Almost 1,000 people attended the annual Old-Timers' Day celebration last month at the Stardust. It's the last reunion that will be held at the aging landmark, which will close Wednesday and be razed early next year. Some of their memories:

Porter releases phone records, schedules: U.S. Rep. Jon Porter released phone records and copies of his daily schedule Friday that he claims disprove a former staffer's allegations that the congressman made illegal fundraising phone calls from his government offices in Henderson and Washington, D.C.

Letter: Parents must be more involved in education: How do we reverse the incompetence trend? Could we work within our entitlement-minded bureaucracy?

Ron Kantowski talks with author Josh Peter about Las Vegas and the year he spent on the professional bull riders' circuit: When: 6 p.m. today; 3 p.m. Sunday

Stardust's last days: During its heyday, the Stardust's restaurants, clubs and bars were among the most popular in town. "Lido de Paris" entertained millions. The gambling was fast and furious and, behind the scenes, millions of dollars were skimmed by mobsters until Boyd Gaming took over the property in 1983. The company plans to implode the hotel tower in early 2007, with Echelon construction scheduled to begin by June.

Editorial: Please leave a message: A report by the Treasury Department's inspector general showed that five of 50 phone messages left at the assistance center weren't returned within the two days required by IRS guidelines, while eight others weren't returned at all. The inspector general's staff also was able to schedule only five appointments out of 36 calls made involving the type of complex tax issues that typically must be resolved with the IRS in person.

Editorial: Home means Nevada: If mountain bluebird, sandstone and sagebrush didn't come to mind, then this weekend might be a good time to brush up on those official Nevada symbols and learn a bit more about the Silver State's history.

Mazzeo to take weekend to steel her resolve: Chrissy Mazzeo is taking the weekend to think about the ramifications of pressing charges in a new high-profile police investigation into her alleged Oct. 13 assault by Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Gibbons.

Librarians making noise over printing chief's speech distribution: WASHINGTON - It's not much in the big picture, the $28,000 the Government Printing Office spent to print up and mail a speech given by its boss, Nevadan Bruce James.

Close race makes history for Democrat: Michael J. Mishak; Jill Derby is making history.

Letter: Let's get out of Iraq before it's too late: Well, we kept telling the president to put our troops on the borders and he would not listen. Instead he decides to send them to Iraq. And our children are dying in droves over there in a big mess. Another Vietnam. Well, we gently got out of there.

Letter: Democrats might get their turn in control: The recent and continuous scandals linked to the Republicans have become their "Waterloo." They have also failed to bring about any type of closure to the war in Iraq, and have been unable to find a solution for many of the problems facing this country.