Print edition for April 10, 2007

Master of the mundane: What: "Kaz Oshiro: Paintings and Works on Paper 1999-2006"

FLASHPOINT for Apr 10, 2007: "We are at the top of every bad list and the bottom of every good list." I remember well then-gubernatorial contender Dina Titus repeating it last year to justify why the state needed to do something about a raft of problems. I also recall how her opponent, Jim Gibbons, used to say how Titus was so negative to describe Nevada in such terms. By contrast, Gibbons said, he was optimistic about the state's condition. How then to explain why he, or one of his mouthpieces, now use the Titus mantra to justify certain actions he has taken as governor. The ...

Editorial: A toxic environment: But too much of what is aired consists of mean-spirited remarks, name - calling and shouting matches by allegedly professional adults who never stop and listen to what the opposing guests have to say. Call it empty calories for the mind.

Mix-up in Mesquite: Who's on first?: By Mike Trask; A week after the City Council primary race in rural Mesquite it's still unclear who will be on the ballot for the June general election.

John Katsilometes talks to Hughes' right-hand man about the biography hoax perpetrated in the '70s: For 13 years Maheu, a former FBI agent, served as Howard Hughes' right-hand man and alter ego who held the reclusive billionaire's power of attorney. Maheu's affiliation with Hughes included the period from 1970 to 1972 when Clifford Irving (the James Frey of his time), with the assistance of friend and fellow author Richard Suskind, claimed he had collaborated with Hughes on a biography certain to send shock waves through the publishing world. Irving even provided what he claimed were Hughes' handwritten notes.

First lady doesn't waver on Sierra Nevada story: First lady Dawn Gibbons said Monday she was paid $2,500 plus expenses per month for nearly a year to do consulting work for Sierra Nevada Corp. under an oral, not written, contract.

Letter: An emphatic no vote to guns in classrooms: A number of proposals and bills are good ones that are beneficial to Nevadans, some of which are largely overdue. I have particularly been interested in the proposals of state Sen. Bob Beers. Many of his proposals are worthy of consideration and deserve attention.

Letter: We don't belong on toll roads, in oil war: Mr. Porter should look to Illinois, Indiana and Texas to see what countries own the toll roads. The politicians put them in and then dump them to foreign countries to make their profits. And as far as the oil war is concerned, the surge speaks for itself with eight more troops dead and another helicopter shot down.

Gibbons: Businesses should play by new rules: By J. Patrick Coolican; CARSON CITY - Gov. Jim Gibbons has asked the state Business and Industry Department to complete a top-down review of all business regulations, which could affect such areas as worker safety, consumer affairs, taxis, mortgage lending and real estate, although not gaming.

Defender out to right the wrongs done to convicts: Sam Skolnik; Rodney King changed everything for Lori Teicher.

Letter: Announcing deadline to leave Iraq is wrong: "Dear Sen . Reid and Rep. Pelosi,

Vegas upbringing shines through in Hollywood: Maybe someone should stake Michael Bunin to a seat in the World Series of Poker.

Goons live to fight another day: Hockey players don't forget their first fights.

Editorial: Conflicting accounts: But Sun reporter Christina Littlefield revealed last week that college records show Gilbert did indeed recommend three companies, which had done work on his home, for 13-month CCSN contracts. What's more, Gilbert was the CCSN official who awarded and managed those contracts.

Editorial: There's hope for Neonopolis: Certainly this is welcome news, because Neonopolis has been a major disappointment since it opened downtown five years ago as a retail and entertainment center.

Over the years, the mayor has been a man of many faces, but just one name: Oscar.: By Mark Hansel; He walks down Las Vegas Boulevard toward Fremont Street and people scream his name from open car windows or honk their horns and wave as if they are greeting an old friend - or a rock star.

Letter: Call Bush what he is - a liar: There were never any weapons of mass destruction. Osama bin Laden was not in Iraq. We should never have gone to war in Iraq. Neither Iraqis nor Americans should have been killed or wounded.