Print edition for December 6, 2007

Over protest, feds to stick with cuts for Nevada schools' English learners: By Emily Richmond; Over protest, feds to stick with cuts for Nevada schools' English learners

Letter: Administration fails to see biggest threat: They could not wait to go to war and beat up on the little guy and grab the oil. What has our nation got to show for it? Look at what has resulted: national debt through the roof, and all the dead and wounded, both Americans and Iraqis. Our military is at its lowest readiness for bigger conflicts.

Editorial: The city's bad deal: On a 4-3 vote, the council approved The Tapestry Group's plan to build 270 affordable apartment units on 15.25 acres of federal land near the Spaghetti Bowl. In return, the group will get to buy the land at 10 percent of its appraised value.

THIEVES INSIDE THE MACHINE: By Liz Benston; High-tech thieves have discovered a new way to rip off slot machines - stealing more than $1 million from the Orleans before management shut down their computer-assisted heist.

Editorial: Evolution controversy: Christine Comer, who taught science for 27 years before being hired nine years ago as the Texas Education Agency's director of science instruction, was reprimanded because she had forwarded an e-mail regarding an upcoming speech by a visiting professor to an online community message board.

Letter: Republican, religious values in conflict: This "I am not my brother's keeper" line of thinking is personified by the Republican Party's refusal to vote for any new taxes and to vote for tax cuts that benefit the very rich. With these tax cuts come cuts in programs that benefit the poor and the needy.

The people's poker pro: By Jeff Haney; His close friend Doyle Brunson said Reese was at the peak of his abilities when he died Tuesday at age 56.

LOOKING IN ON: CARSON CITY: CARSON CITY - The state has sold a $15.3 million bond to finance 180 affordable apartments in Las Vegas.

FLASHPOINT for Dec 06, 2007: So what to make of the Culinary's decision to wait until after New Year's to lend its union label to a presidential campaign? It's easy to say the union is afraid of the uncertainty in the race and doesn't want to endorse someone who might lose. It's easy to say that's putting pragmatism over principle - some will say the bosses are wimps. It's also easy to say the parent union is Edwards-centric but locals, especially the critical 226 here, want to wait to see if Edwards fades in Iowa. Then again, it's also easy to say the Culinary imprimatur ...

With zinger, Reid hits a sensitive spot: By Lisa Mascaro; WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid added another zinger to his repertoire this week: He called the 49 Senate Republicans "puppets" of the Bush administration.

Ron Kantowski explains it all, from 'arm jerker' to a rare 'zero': By Ron Kantowski; B is for buckle bunnies and their skin-tight Wranglers.

Letter: Yucca's benefits outweigh hazards: In the event of a train wreck or a terrorist attack, the most likely result would be a metal sarcophagus full of solid waste dumped on the tracks. It would have to be picked up by a specialized crew with a crane. In comparison, a railcar full of chlorine could kill thousands as the toxic cloud spreads across the city.

LYING IN WASTE: By Brian Eckhouse; Although county officials knew the Regional Justice Center was tight on space the day it opened, there is still no definitive plan to expand the complex - and the old courthouse two blocks away apparently isn't an option either. Save for occasional police or fire training, the old courthouse has been abandoned, rotting near the blight that has already dotted Las Vegas' downtown.

Slots for a new generation: By Liz Benston; Years from now, slot machine players may wander into a casino and wonder if they've landed in a game arcade.

Former operator accused of hindering strip club's sale: By Jeff German; The longtime restaurateur triggered a series of events last summer that forced his eviction as the strip club's operator and put the federal government in the unenviable position of selling a business that was closed and rapidly declining in value.

Editorial: Whose agenda matters most?: As noted in a recent story by the New York Times, there typically is increased activity in making changes to regulations during an administration's last months, but lobbyists for industry are being especially aggressive as President Bush's second term nears its end.