Print edition for February 8, 2007

Female magic show misses big premiere: By Jerry Fink; Today was going to be the big day for "Enchanted," an all-female magic show that was to premiere at Palace Station.

Ron Kantowski on why it's better to wait before making judgments about new players: In the manner of Paris Hilton's fame or Mark Cuban's fortune, here's another thing that never ceases to amaze me. Every year at this time, college football coaches call news conferences to announce - make that confirm - the identity of their new recruits, and then segue into long, boring monologues about how great they are.

FLASHPOINT for Feb 08, 2007: No one is talking much about it, but it is the issue of the ses- sion. Everyone in Carson City is aware of the 1979 spending cap that first came into play this session and forced the governor to propose a budget that came very close to that ceiling. Fine. But that's not the question. The question is: What happens next session? With the additional roll-up costs for education, health care and infrastructure, Gov. Jim Gibbons will not be able to meet the needs without blowing through that cap. So what does he do? Even some of the most rabid ...

Ex-regents can now work for system: Former university system Regent Linda Howard and others who have left the board recently are no longer barred from applying for jobs with the system.

Interior's habitat restoration funds called diversions: WASHINGTON - Environmentalists are criticizing a centerpiece of the Bush administration's 2007 Interior Department budget, which offers $22 million for habitat restoration in Nevada and other Western states, as providing cover for damaging oil and gas drilling to continue in the West.

Letter: Remember that we have a Constitution: Ms. Schrick should also recognize that she is a citizen of a country whose Constitution has anticipated the potential for abuse of power by its chief executive. If President Bush is, indeed, guilty of "crimes against humanity," it is the responsibility of the House of Representatives to draw up the bill of particulars and impeach him so that he can be tried in the Senate.

John Katsilometes gets a preview tour of Pearl Theater at the Palms, which offers 18 luxury boxes: As he looked over the theater, which is cluttered with equipment and busy with construction crews working 20-hour shifts, Maloof assured me the concert hall will be ready for its opening performance by Tool on March 15-16.

Letter: Another reason why smoking ban is unfair: OK, let me get this straight. A small bar that has less than 15 slots cannot serve food if it allows smoking. However, a large casino that can allow smoking on the floor can now serve food to the slot and table players.

Editorial: Waste dump loses support: The planned nuclear waste dump 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas has been fatally flawed since the beginning, and McGaffigan says a major part of the problem is that the process to select the site was unfair.

Letter: Smoking soldiers set bad example for kids: Recently I saw several broadcast reports on TV news of our troops fighting battles, firing guns with cigarettes dangling from their mouths. This to me is deplorable.

Editorial: County owes explanation: Chief among them is: Why, precisely, was a new contract being sought? What's known, so far, is that officials and employees at the public hospital overseen by the County Commission expressed displeasure with the service provided by Nevada Heart Center under the old contract.

Letter: Celibacy for priests should be ended: Many religions have had the intelligence to not embrace this idiotic policy. It never made sense centuries ago and it still makes little sense today. If leaders of the church stopped and thought about how they were born, they might get their heads straight on this issue. You were not born by immaculate conception.

Letter: Poor decisions hamper monorail's potential: It is sad news about the monorail; it could have been a great attraction plus perform a desperate service as a people mover. Now it is hidden behind resort towers and is truly difficult to find; I wish my wife would hide my toolbox as effectively.

Leaving the glitz out: Michael J. Mishak and J. Patrick Coolican; The state Democratic Party is concerned that presidential candidates will avoid Nevada's caucus for fear that it is a bad photo-op waiting to happen - the candidate alongside a showgirl or a craps table or something dodgier.

Top doc might lose duties, keep pay: Marshall Allen and Tony Cook; Cancer specialist Dr. John Ellerton, criticized recently for his contradictory duties at University Medical Center, would be stripped of his administrative role under a proposed new contract - but would keep the salary.

A scourge, well seen: By J. Patrick Coolican; CARSON CITY - They came for the meth, they stayed for the first lady.

Patients may hear more sorrys from doctors: CARSON CITY - Doctors typically are afraid to admit to a patient that they made a mistake for fear that it will spark a medical malpractice suit.