Print edition for August 22, 2007

From red state, a ray of blue: Michael J. Mishak; RENO - Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano has become the new hope for Democrats in the hinterlands of American politics: a Democrat in a deeply red state, reelected last year by a margin of nearly 30 percentage points.

LOOKING IN ON: EDUCATION: By Emily Richmond; Clark County School District Police recruits had to dig through racks of dirty, discarded uniforms to find appropriate attire for official portraits.

Editorial: Sleeping with the enemy: And, stunningly, city officials seem to have no problem with that.

You change it, they trace it: Abigail Goldman, Las Vegas Sun; Deep within the offices that make up Las Vegas city government, someone is wild for wrestling. Just as someone sitting at a computer connected to Nevada government server spends a lot of time thinking about the minutia e of Monty Python. And there's a computer at the Southern Nevada Water District that someone frequently uses to write factoids about the fraternity Zeta Phi Rho.

Insurers' merger in good hands: By Marshall Allen; A proposed $2.6 billion health insurance merger that would affect 630,000 Nevadans hangs in the balance, awaiting the decision of Nevada Insurance Commissioner Alice Molasky-Arman.

Boggs gets her say in court soon: Ten weeks after being charged with criminal campaign violations that could land her in prison, former Clark County Commissioner Lynette Boggs is getting a chance to respond in court.

Letter: Stolen, cut-up statues won't stop mission: The statues were stolen by someone who was after the little money they would bring as recycled metal. The statues were donated by Opportunity Village supporters in honor of a 25-year senior citizen volunteer, and to honor the will and spirit of the disabled people we serve at Opportunity Village.

World gives Coach K a higher education: By Rob Miech; If he's trying to earn his coaching doctorate, Mike Krzyzewski's first exam didn't go so well.

Letter: Smokers should just lick an ashtray: You like smoke and ashes? Try licking an ashtray. Why not ? It's the same stuff in your lungs.

Editorial: A poor remedy: According to a story by The New York Times on Sunday, the rules to be published next week say Medicare will not pay hospitals for treating "conditions that could reasonably have been prevented," such as pressure ulcers, bedsores, injuries from falls and infections that result from prolonged use of catheters.

Letter: Smoke causes cancer; cancer kills people: No, Mr. Cinotto, you and other smokers are the ones who don't get it. It has obviously escaped you that cigarettes cause cancer and cancer kills. If cooks, buspeople and other restaurant people lose their jobs, so be it. It's better than losing their lives.

Letter: We are taking wrong approach to recycling: When will it dawn on Nevada and especially Republic Services that you cannot let people throw away unrestricted and unlimited amounts of anything they want twice every week for one fee that covers all and expect to encourage recycling.

Jon Ralston on the silky smooth, almost human Mitt Romney: By Jon Ralston; Those are all good qualities to have in a president, and he seems as presidential as anyone I have interviewed. He also may be the scariest.

Letter: Porter's talk doesn't match his vote: Fortunately, the amendment failed. But it's beyond ironic that Rep. Porter, R-Nev., claims to be so concerned about abortion rates when he voted to restrict the very funds that will help women prevent unintended pregnancy and reduce the need for abortion - in fact, it's unconscionable.

Editorial: Mine safety an oxymoron: Digging to reach the site of the first collapse at the Crandall Canyon coal mine near Huntington in east-central Utah has been suspended indefinitely. Families of the miners who remain buried and coal industry experts say lax federal oversight is at least partly - if not significantly - to blame for the tragedy.

FLASHPOINT for Aug 22, 2007: Rudy Giuliani and John McCain haven't been to Nevada in a while. But the man they are seeking to replace has found our little state. President Bush is coming to Reno on Tuesday to speak to the annual American Legion Conference. That ought to be an interesting speech, coming as it is a couple of weeks before Gen. David Petraeus gives his report to Congress. After the speech, I am sure , the president will sit down with members of the media here for a meaningful discussion of issues ranging from children's health care to Yucca Mountain. Yes, I am ...