Print edition for December 12, 2007

Letter: Apathetic public to blame for problems: Sam Chinkes; We read about war, bloodshed, starvation, financial disasters, crime, corruption, pollution and the general decay of our civilization. We put the blame on various political, labor and business figures. We blame the time in which we live. We find fault with many things and display our own ability to analyze today's problems, whether local, nationwide or international. Well, folks, knock it off.

Letter: Immigrants should adopt American culture: Frank Musaraca; The bad seeds, people who do not come here to work and become Americans, are really the issue. They include vicious gangs that perform criminal acts, destroy property and instill fear in their own communities. We must convince the honest, hardworking illegal aliens, through our police programs and the media, that they can be safe in reporting gang activity as well as known criminals and criminal activity within their ranks.

Letter: Rules, red tape no fix for commission funds: Knight Allen; The Las Vegas Sun is to be congratulated for shining light on the $15,000 slush fund each Clark County commissioner has to play with every year.

Months of investigating, no end in sight: By Jeff German; Nine months after opening a criminal probe into the possible destruction of public documents at the Nevada treasurer's office, state investigators show no signs of wrapping up their work anytime soon.

The Organizers: Like a monk, for Edwards: By J. Patrick Coolican; Andres Mantilla played left tackle on his high school football team in Orange County, Calif., a 250-pound dexterous wall protecting the quarterback's blind side when he dropped back to pass. Football experts know the left tackle is the most important player on the field aside from the quarterback, though rarely seen or heard from by casual TV viewers. Mantilla is now playing the equivalent of the left tackle position in the Nevada presidential caucus, this time as a paid organizer for former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.

Editorial: Improving traffic safety: The mother of a young man who was not wearing a seat belt when he died in a vehicle crash this year says she will continue to champion a law that would allow police to stop vehicles if the occupants aren't wearing seat belts.

In race, downtown arena plan falls back: By Tony Cook, Joe Schoenmann; Anschutz Entertainment Group/Harrah's Entertainment: Developer with experience building arenas across U.S. and abroad says plans are on track for fall 2010 opening.

Jon Ralston finds teachers union pitch tame by default: By Jon Ralston; As they assess the ballot initiatives being circulated by rabble-rousing attorney Kermitt Waters, the gamers have to be worried that many of those accosted outside their local supermarket are bound to answer, "Where do I sign?" Once he fixes nagging legal, grammatical and technical questions, Waters is expected to file a series of petitions, the first as early as today. He had hoped to file his gaming tax petitions on Tuesday - yes, there are two - and his anti-corruption pieces in a few weeks.

From state fairs to stardom: By Jerry Fink; Terry Fator swelters in the midsummer sun, nothing more than a novelty act at a state fair, part of the entertainment and the rides on the midway - the two-headed snakes, the award-winning recipes for apple pie, and Future Farmers of America exhibits. He's a ventriloquist who not only seems to throw his voice but does it while singing impressions.

Letter: No cell? Demise of pay phones will hurt: Gail Munford; Regarding AT&T's announcement that it is getting out of the pay phone business: I think telephone companies doing away with all pay telephones is dangerous.

FLASHPOINT: Very few people in this state could earn certificates of appreciation from all of the state's major elected officials from both parties - and actually have them be sincere. Very few people could last at the same job working for a panoply of difficult bosses for 30 years - 30 years! And yet that is exactly what Irene Porter has done as executive director of the Southern Nevada Homebuilders Association, a milestone she celebrated at a luncheon Tuesday. Porter is one of the few people in the political world who has garnered nearly universal respect in an industry that has ...

Boggs' lawyer: What does 'residence' mean?: By Brian Eckhouse; The attorney for former County Commissioner Lynette Boggs, who has been charged with lying about where she lived, appears ready to pull out a legal dictionary to get the case dismissed.

Hard knocks to hardwood: By Rob Miech; Profile of UNLV basketball player, Corey Bailey.

Editorial: Curbing college costs: Universities are responding to pressure from Congress and parents about high tuition rates that are putting college students deep into debt.

TAKE FIVE: WORLD POKER TOUR AT THE BELLAGIO: Event: World Poker Tour's Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic

Editorial: Protect a great park: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is pushing to insert a provision into Congress' spending bill that would increase federal protection of Great Basin National Park's air quality and, as a result, thwart proposals to build new coal-fired power plants in eastern Nevada.