Print edition for September 29, 2006

ARTS NOTES: Judging by the billboards and nightclub ads, Las Vegas likes its women naked, chesty and, more important, submissive.

Jeff Haney on the reasons why the Mets look a lot less likely than the Yankees to win their league: Yet whereas the Yankees deserve to command such a short price on the betting board, some glaring vulnerabilities on the Mets' side of the equation could derail a potential Subway Series.

Security institute controls pledged: On the heels of a critical internal audit, UNLV President David Ashley pledged Thursday to bring accountability to the troubled Institute for Security Studies and steer it back on an academic course.

Doctor's not in: By Marshall Allen; One of only two physicians in the Las Vegas Valley who specialize in treating children for diabetes has retired, leaving his young patients facing longer waits between appointments with a nurse practitioner or leaving the state for routine doctor checkups.

Letter: Surely, Democrats can't be worse than GOP: The war in Iraq is raging out of control while this do-nothing Congress is more concerned about gay marriages and flag burning. This Congress takes the summer off without accomplishing anything. They get full-time pay for part-time work. They work about six days a month (about 76 days in a year). The lowest paid congressman makes $165,000 a year.

FLASHPOINT for Sep 29, 2006: In the credit where credit is due department, the Democratic candidate for state treasurer, Kate Marshall, has a plan for the statewide office no one really cares about. She is running against consultant Mark DeStefano, who may have baggage, but he has a financial background - unlike Marshall. He also has a bankruptcy, unlike Marshall. But that's another story. The problem with the Marshall Plan - you knew that was coming - is that it is heavy on platitudes - "Involve all parties to find new ways to fund the Millennium Scholarship Fund" and "Actively manage Nevada's acquired asset portfolio." ...

Editorial: Domenici as Jekyll & Hyde: In June Reid and Domenici held a joint press conference to announce a stunning agreement. They said they had been working secretly for a year on a plan that would send high-level nuclear waste to federally operated interim storage sites within states that have nuclear power plants.

Letter: Political spending in need of consent: That said, the ancillary issue also has compelling merit. Namely, public entities/corporations should also be required to obtain the specific approval of individual stockholders prior to the expenditure of monies for political purposes (including lobbying).

Jon Ralston on why not every poll should be trusted: In the Orwellian world of politics, where taxers and spenders boast of being fiscal conservatives and everyone hates illegal immigrants except when speaking to Hispanic groups, it's hardly surprising that measuring public opinion has become less science and more salesmanship.

Bending art until you say 'ouch': There were a lot of folks bent out of shape at Sam's Town this week.

UNR rivalry ranks among favorites: Mike Sanford knows a thing or two about rivalries.

Q+A: Jim Belushi: Jerry Fink, Las Vegas Sun; What: Jim Belushi & the Sacred Hearts

Editorial: Of particulate concern: EPA administrator Stephen Johnson cut the short-term daily standard, which controls exposure to soot particles on an acute level, by half. But he left the long-term annual standard of allowable soot particles, which affects chronic exposure to the pollutant, at its 1997 level.

Deployed workers keep pay, benefits: Cristina Rodriguez; Catching up with his wife's daily letters after a month in Iraq, Marine Staff Sgt. Ken Duffy came across a letter from his employer back home.

Letter: We need to unite to defeat our enemies: Democrats have gone from enthusiastic support for the war in Iraq to saying it's a disaster, the wrong war at the wrong time, we're only there for oil and we're torturing prisoners.They are also calling our leader a liar, a loser, a dictator and a lawbreaker.

John Katsilometes on the eclectic mix of comedians slated to perform at the second Comedy Festival: Dane Cook brings a special presentation of his "Tourgasm" show to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Nov. 17. Joining him will be Gary Gulman, Robert Kelly and Jay Davis.

Editorial: Reconstruction a nightmare: A 21-page report produced by the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, an office created by Congress, has concluded that the police college is a "disaster."

County thinking think tank for its future: Hoping to avoid a future of topsy-turvy growth and deteriorating quality of life - and to avoid repeating past missteps - a mix of town-and-gown leaders are mulling the creation of a visionary think tank to help guide Clark County into the future.