Print edition for April 14, 2007

Editorial: When the cats are away ...: The Justice Department responded by assigning at least 2,400 FBI agents to counterterrorism teams. But, as the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported this week, the priority shift resulted in dramatic decreases in federal investigations of white-collar crimes and civil rights violations because those agents weren't replaced. While fighting terrorism is a matter of national security, we cannot afford to turn our backs on the con artists and hate merchants who continue to prey on our society.

Rough and tumble: Emily Richmond, Las Vegas Sun; In November, after his daughter shattered her forearm during a high school cheerleading practice, Assemblyman Garn Mabey took a deep breath.

LOOKING IN ON: GAMING: By Liz Benston; The Transport Workers Union, which primarily represents workers in the airline and railroad industries, has petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for a secret-ballot election to represent Wynn Las Vegas dealers.

Running for office would be mighty sporting of Reid's picks: and Michael Mishak; WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has tried to persuade boxer Oscar De La Hoya to move to Nevada and run for Congress, and might do so again.

Letter: Duke players' accuser should be prosecuted: Arthur A. Ahr, Las Vegas

Editorial: Air safety threat: In an 11-page safety recommendation letter issued Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board said it "has long been concerned about the effects of fatigue" on transportation industry employees, including air traffic controllers.

TAKE FIVE: MARCOS BALLADARES: UNLV freshman Marcos Balladares idolizes Cristiano Ronaldo, the Manchester United star to whom Balladares bears a striking resemblance.

CORRECTIONS: In a story in Thursday's paper on plagiarism of an online comic strip, the Sun incorrectly reported that an altered image of Todd Goldman's painting appears on Wikipedia.com. The Wikipedia image shows another, unaltered painting by Goldman.

Letter: Has Bush ever done anything positive?: After all of these years as our country's leader, there must be at least one good thing he has done. So please, if there is, let us know.

Potential buyer says no thanks to Neonopolis deal: General Growth Properties, the Chicago-based retail giant that recently met with Las Vegas officials about purchasing Neonopolis, has decided not to get involved with the troubled downtown retail complex.

Strange bedfellows in politics: By J. Patrick Coolican; Next week Nevada Republicans will propose working with Democrats to stage their respective presidential primary caucuses in January. Proxies have already begun the discussion, according to sources familiar with the conversations.

FLASHPOINT for Apr 14, 2007: Rural Nevada will not be ignored! At least not by the Democratic presidential candidates. First we have New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson going to events in Douglas County. And then Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd went to Pahrump on Friday? I thought the Democrats in this state had agreed that rural Nevada would never vote for Democrats, that it was time to write off the cow counties as captive of the rabid right. Or was that my imagination? A Connecticut Yankee in xenophobic Pahrump's court? What is the world coming to here? And what's next? Hillary Clinton in Ely? Barrack Obama ...

Letter: Democrats prefer to shame our troops: If Harry and his ilk demand our warriors tuck their tails between their legs and bug out of Iraq before completing their mission, the pacifists will inflict a great deal of shame on our troops and themselves. Certainly the loved ones will be ecstatic to have them home. Certainly the troops will happily leave the lousy, dirty, dangerous, destructive job they have been doing their best to complete.

Letter: Nothing gained with McCain's trip to Iraq: Asserting that the capital of Iraq is now safe for shopping was unbelievable by anyone's standards. He was surrounded by armed soldiers, the head general in Iraq and most likely Blackwater personnel who are hired to protect the high and mighty who visit Iraq.

LOOKING IN ON: CCSN BASEBALL: Losing four games at the College of Southern Idaho three weeks ago still stings the Community College of Southern Nevada baseball players.

Editorial: Putin turning back the clock: But the disturbing actions by Russian President Vladimir Putin to silence the media in his country deserve a strong rebuke from the Bush administration.