Print edition for August 28, 2007

Editorial: Get tough on contracts: The stories documenting this situation, written by Sun reporter Christina Littlefield, raised a question about whether Bob Gilbert, the construction director, was appropriately granting college contracts, particularly to those three companies. Did they agree to provide free or low-cost work at his private home in exchange for receiving the public contracts?

Editorial: Paying to skate: A story by the Las Vegas Sun on Friday reports that county parks officials say the fee is expected to generate about $100,000 annually, which would help pay for "skate guards" who provide supervision at the $3 million park.

Letter: Fewer pickups should mean lower bills: Kipp Altemara, Las Vegas

Letter: Doesn't Bush see his inconsistencies?: He has consistently, in the past, compared the Iraq war with that of World War II and the Korean War. Now 35 years later and 58,000 dead in a war that lasted 10 years, he says we should have stayed longer. Why?

Review: `Balls of Fury': AP; From 2004's "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" to this year's "Blades of Glory," comedies of unlikely sports are being churned out. But "Balls of Fury," the new pingpong romp, may signify the twilight of the trend.

Tigers Rout Yankees, Mussina 16-0: AP; Verlander shut down the New York Yankees with his best stuff since throwing a no-hitter while Detroit roughed up Mussina and a couple of relievers in a 16-0 win over New York on Monday night.

Court: New Sentence for Wal-Mart Exec: AP; If anything, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said, Coughlin's standing in his community made his crimes appear worse. It directed an Arkansas federal judge to resentence Coughlin - rejecting a term that included only home detention and probation.

Utley Lifts Phillies to Win: AP; Utley had three hits, including a solo homer, in his first game since having hand surgery one month ago, and the Phillies beat the New York Mets 9-2 on Monday night in the opener of a pivotal four-game series.

CORRECTIONS: In an Aug. 17 story about U.S. military deaths in Iraq, the Associated Press, relying on information from the Defense Department, erroneously reported the name and rank of a slain soldier. His name was legally changed from Willard M. Kerchief III to Willard M. Powell, and he was a corporal, not a private first class. The change lowers AP's count of U.S. military deaths in Iraq by one because both versions of his name were counted.

Arkady (Ariel) Bogoslavsky: 1955-2007: If you wanted to hear piano virtuoso Ariel play in Las Vegas, you had to filter out sounds of gabby tourists, the clanging of slot machines, the clinking of cocktail glasses and the striking of forks against plates of smoked salmon at a Strip eatery.

Democrats take to towns: Michael J. Mishak; Hillary Clinton in Pahrump?

Insurance deal sails by with 'big holes': By Marshall Allen; The conditions placed Monday on the proposed takeover of homegrown health insurance giant Sierra Health Services by national titan UnitedHealth Group were no surprise to the two companies. They practically wrote them themselves.

I'd given up on Gonzales leaving, Bogden says: By Lisa Mascaro; WASHINGTON - Former U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden climbed out of bed at 5 a.m. Monday for his morning run, clicked on the TV news and saw the improbable.

Recent Kidnappings in Afghanistan: AP; ---

Report: Average SAT Scores Dip Again: AP; Last spring's seniors scored on average 502 out of a possible 800 points on the critical reading section of the country's most popular college entrance exam, down from 503 for the class of 2006. Math scores fell three points from 518 to 515.

Home Buyers Look for Deals at Auctions: AP; Many of them clutch bright yellow paper signs showing a bidder number. They hope to walk away with a house, winning a good deal at an auction while sidestepping the typical six-month house hunt with a real estate agent.

U.S. Open Results: AP; Feliciano Lopez, Spain, def. Juan Carlos Ferrero (21), Spain, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Average SAT Scores Are Lowest Since 1999: AP; Last spring's graduating seniors scored on average 502, out of a possible 800 points, on the critical reading section of the country's most popular college entrance exam, down from 503 for the class of 2006. Math scores fell three points from 518 to 515.

Business Watercooler Stories: AP; As it turns out, life isn't so bad for Joe and Jane Lunchpail. Three in five Americans say they are "very happy" with their work, according to a nonscientific survey conducted by hourly job Web site SnagAJob.com.

U.S. Military Deaths in Iraq at 3,731: AP; The AP count is three higher than the Defense Department's tally, last updated Monday at 10 a.m. EDT.

Vick Submits Guilty Plea to Judge: AP; Looking somber and speaking without notes, Vick said Monday he was taking full responsibility for his actions after pleading guilty to a federal dogfighting charge in Richmond, Va.

Soda with that?: Medical clinics in the corner drugstore can bring faster relief, but are they safe?

Editorial: Good riddance: When Gonzales leaves next month his legacy will be one of failure. His tenure at the Justice Department has been marred by scandals, ineptitude and exceedingly low morale. Calls for his resignation came from both Democrats and Republicans months ago as Congress unraveled his inept handling of the firing of several U.S. attorneys.

Bush Defends Iraq War Effort: AP; HIGHLIGHTS: Bush hailed security gains, defended middling progress by Iraqi leaders and argued that the future of the Middle East depended on the outcome.

Van pulls up, bargain offered — buyer beware!: By Abigail Goldman; Over and over, scam artists hook buyers with ‘deal,’ reel them in with high pressure

Out of the bats of babes: Little Leaguers put on an exhibition of what is right and good with sports

Report: Documents Link Couch to Doping: AP; Couch, cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this month, told Yahoo.com he used HGH for about a week, under a doctor's care, in hopes it would help him recover from shoulder surgery. He denied using steroids or any other banned drugs and said he had never seen the documents.

What causes such violence toward innocent?: What causes such violence toward innocent?

A Venetian out to eclipse the one in Vegas: Thinner profits expected as competition increases in Asia’s Atlantic City

Review: `Nines' a Tough Number to Crack: AP; But it has more on its mind and in its ambitious sights than just exploring what happens when one decision leads to another leads to another leads to a fire in a Las Vegas hotel room and a shooting at a strip club.

Gary Sinise: He’s an actor, he’s a musician — it doesn’t matter, he’s playing vegas, PAGE 7: Gary Sinise: He’s an actor, he’s a musician — it doesn’t matter, he’s playing vegas, PAGE 7

Letter: Democrats, not Bush, deserving of blame: Madelyn Olds' letter was full of typical liberal talking points and should be taken as one large bumper sticker. She needs to get her facts straight and understand how the economy works.

Kung fu, pingpong meet in ‘balls of fury’: Kung fu, pingpong meet in ‘balls of fury’

It’s time to admit we’re wrong about Iraq: It’s time to admit we’re wrong about Iraq

Report: Documents Link Couch, Doping: AP; Couch, cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this month, told Yahoo.com he used HGH for about a week, under a doctor's care, in hopes it would help him recover from shoulder surgery. He denied using steroids or any other banned drugs and said he had never seen the documents.

Tech center to close, but that’s a sign of progress: By Emily Richmond; Vocational program a success, but students now have better options

Testing, testing ... Anyone out there?: By Mike Trask; Council meetings allow public comment, but the public doesn’t show

Quotes About Gonzales' Resignation: AP; ---

Mexico creates its elite, who are without peers: Mexico creates its elite, who are without peers

Prelude to an eclipse: Prelude to an eclipse

Bush fights uphill battle for war plan: By Michael Mishak; President tells American Legion in Reno that troop “surge” is working

Sorely in need of integrity: Sorely in need of integrity

Product Recalls: AP; About 9,500 logger boots, manufactured by Wolverine World Wide Inc. and made in China, because the boots could be incorrectly labeled as resistant to an electrical current. No injuries have been reported.

FLASHPOINT for Aug 28, 2007: I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried. The Clark County Young Republican Foundation is hosting a fashion show to boost its scholarship fund that is being co-hosted by ... first lady Dawn Gibbons. The invitation says there will be new apparel by designers such as Armani and a silent auction "to feature one of (a) kind exquisite items." I have to ask: Does that include the $10,000 Armani gown with the "organza detail around the bust line" and matching velvet jacket the administration touted in a news release just eight months ago? What's next? Jim Gibbons will host ...

Where’s the leadership?: New Orleans is emblematic of how many leaders today are failing to motivate and inspire

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A long time comin': A long time comin'

Product Could Heal Soil After Fires: AP; COST: U.S. Forest Service officials say three years of tests show the granules can decrease soil erosion and increase plant growth at half the cost of standard straw treatments.