Print edition for April 3, 2007

FLASHPOINT for Apr 03, 2007: Did anyone catch the significance of that revelatory story Sunday by Sun reporters Marshall Allen and Tony Cook? Turns out that before she resigned from the Clark County Commission, Yvonne Atkinson Gates already was being investigated for paying her son more than $350,000 during her 2004 reelection campaign. I have seen many things in more than 20 years covering politics, but funneling that much money to a relative is astounding. Even though a large amount went to producing campaign materials, many people will be skeptical about paying your son with campaign funds. Criminal or not, it doesn't pass the smell ...

John Katsilometes takes in the first lunch at Rao's at Caesars Palace, where the pizza is in high demand: The atmosphere is indeed appetizing.

Entertainment is something to talk about: It's been 22 years since Neil Postman's book, "Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business," warned America about the demise of society via the spectacle of television and declared Las Vegas, a city devoted to entertainment, a symbol of our "national character and aspiration."

LOOKING IN ON: ENTERTAINMENT: The contrast could not have been more striking: Luxor President Felix Rappaport seated next to "Mind-freak" magician Criss Angel.

Letter: Gonzales, Bush are embarrassments: I would suggest that in the president's eyes Gonzales deserved to be elevated to the status of the highest law enforcement officer in the country for his 1996 success in having then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush excused from jury duty. This prevented Bush from having to fill out a questionnaire that would have required the disclosure of his 1976 arrest in Maine for misdemeanor drunken driving. Bush had pleaded guilty to that offense.

Editorial: Helping to safeguard kids: The bill, which has been introduced in the House and Senate, does not specify what type of technology is to be used. It merely asks Congress to enact a standard for all vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less, which encompasses most cars and light trucks.

Letter: No such thing as free freedom: Here I need to ask: Is there a collective advantage concerning junk food? The answer would appear to be yes, because eating such food can result in obesity. Extensive studies have shown that obesity causes problems with the cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular health issues require medical attention. The resulting visits to doctors' offices affect insurance rates.

Tip-pooling bill goes too far, gets pulled back to limit pain: By Liz Benston; A bill that would have ended - perhaps inadvertently - the long-honored practice of casino-supervised tip-pooling by dealers has been rewritten to simply address a controversy at Wynn Las Vegas, the bill's sponsor said Monday.

Editorial: Six-minute justice: There should be more time to hear the cases of children who are separated from their families and placed in the county's custody, but the caseload of Family Court judges is staggering.

Gibbons' tax breaks run smack into reality: CARSON CITY - The state's financial picture is worse than painted by Gov. Jim Gibbons, putting his proposal to give tax breaks to business and banks in jeopardy.

Spanish-language newspapers beef up quantity and quality: By Timothy Pratt; Click here for a printable graphic.

Other options for raising road money to arise in the capital: CARSON CITY - Garth Dull doesn't think much of toll roads.

Letter: Price of state photo ID to vote is only $6: I am 78 and no longer drive. So, I have an official Nevada ID card. It only costs $6 and never expires. Wow!

Editorial: The pet food scare: On Sunday San Francisco-based Del Monte Pet Products voluntarily recalled three of its products - two for dogs and one for cats - because they contain wheat gluten imported from China. The wheat gluten has been found to be contaminated by melamine, a chemical used in Asian fertilizers that has been linked to more than a dozen pet deaths.

Howard "Hecky" Heckethorn (1922 - 2007): In his prime he stood but 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighed just 135 pounds, but you would think twice before picking a fight with Howard "Hecky" Heckethorn.