Print edition for August 2, 2007

Letter: Putting into perspective brutality of sports: There is no question that boxing is brutal. But other activities are also, and I wonder if Mr. Dombek has considered them.

Q+A: Robert Frey: By Liz Benston; But then he watched the 2000 movie "Coyote Ugly" and saw what could happen when you combine appealing women, impromptu dancing and vodka shots.

Letter: Bush fares worse than Democrats: First, Mr. Molina states that "the approval ratings of the Democratic Party are sinking so low." It's the ratings of Congress that are low, mainly because the Senate Republicans are able to filibuster (49 times so far this year) and the president has vetoed or threaten to veto legislation.

CONVENTION CRASHING: INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE: By Brendan Buhler; Finally, it would be told. Perhaps:

Ensign's insurance strictly private: The Nevada Republican believes the proposal is a step toward socialized medicine when the country should be going in the opposite direction by offering tax incentives to put more children and families into private insurance policies.

Letter: Coal-fired plants would harm parks: More than 150 new coal-fired power plants are proposed across the country. If built, they will massively increase global warming emissions and air pollution in the parks. Air pollution degrades the health, habitat, horizons and heritage protected by national parks.

Ron Kantowski explains how time helps determine the players we admire most: But my dad thought Ted Williams was the greatest ballplayer who ever lived.

UNLV programs getting it 'write': By Christina Littlefield; Move over, Runnin' Rebels; hello, Writing Rebels.

Editorial: Clear and present conflict: And so today City Councilman Steve Ross, by virtue of winning a union election, also serves as secretary-treasurer of the Southern Nevada Building and Construction Trades Council.

At night, the music plays, the jokes get racy, but clothes stay on: When: 11 p.m. Sundays through Fridays

Chasing the blues: Two comedy shows - one magic, one hypnotic - have taken up residence in the House of Blues, better known for concerts by top blues, jazz and rock artists.

LOOKING IN ON: MOTOR SPORTS: Carpentier, a Las Vegas resident, has been racing sports cars this season after spending the previous nine years in open-wheel racing. He said he hopes to further his career in NASCAR with a strong showing in the inaugural Busch Series race Saturday at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course in his native Montreal.

Afternoon show's safe but fun for families: When: 3 p.m. Saturdays through Thursdays

Country singer's stuff takes a wrong turn: Tanya Tucker's latest sad country song may be her own.

War in Congress not changing war in Iraq: WASHINGTON After a triumphant victory in the 2006 midterm elections, Democrats prepare to return home for the August recess much less popular - in large part because of the war in Iraq.

Editorial: Murdoch's new newspaper: Australian tabloid magnate Rupert Murdoch has agreed to buy Dow Jones & Co., the newspaper's parent company, for $5 billion. The deal was approved by Dow Jones' board of directors and the Bancroft family, which owns the controlling interest of stock.

Editorial: Distorting the truth: Richard Carmona, who was U.S. surgeon general from 2001 through 2006, wrote the unpublished report, which was obtained by The Washington Post and detailed in a story on Monday. The document shows links between poor health and poverty and says that U.S. foreign policy should include efforts to fight widespread disease. It also called on corporations to improve health conditions in the foreign countries in which they operate, the Post reports.