Print edition for February 15, 2007

Ron Kantowski on how now-bosom buddies Goodman, Stern are making strides on NBA: The second thing he did was turn down a martini.

Editorial: Keeping track of data: According to a story by USA Today, the Justice Department says that at least 10 of the laptops that the FBI lost between February 2002 and September 2005 contained classified or sensitive information. The FBI was not able to tell the Justice Department's inspector general what was on 51 of the missing computers - but seven of those laptops had been assigned to the FBI's counterintelligence or counterterrorism bureaus.

Animal shelter to do about-face on its policy on pet adoptions: The Lied Animal Shelter's practice of crowding as many dogs and cats as possible into the facility to try to save more lives was a mistake that backfired and is being corrected immediately, the chairwoman of the foundation operating the shelter said Wednesday.

Letter: A gifted man who is truly inspiring: My husband Dave and I met Hal back in the mid-1980s, when he was doing the administrative history at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico, where my husband was chief of administration. I remember at the time thinking how incredible it was that this man, who was younger than I, was so astounding and the word brilliant crossed my mind often.

Letter: Plan to leave Iraq filled with common sense: On Feb. 14 I read the commentary by columnist Nicholas Kristof ("It's time for a different kind of surge - of diplomacy") and found it to contain such common sense and pragmatism about what can and should be done to end the war in Iraq.

John Katsilometes on presidential candidate Hillary Clinton making her first campaign visit to Southern Nevada: The event is open exclusively to members of the Nevada State Education Association and instructors at Del Sol High, which is located at 3100 E. Patrick Lane near Pecos Road. Securing a seat will be quite a feat; the theater seats 500 and the Del Sol staff will snap up about 70 spots. Earlier in the day Clinton will attend a forum of Democratic candidates in Carson City.

Democratic process: By Mike Trask; Fueled by a few big-time issues, Boulder City's small-town politics are becoming as popular as tourists gawking at Lake Mead.

Forum a big draw in Northern Nevada: Michael J. Mishak; Democrats in Northern Nevada are clamoring for access to the presidential candidate forum in Carson City on Wednesday, a strong first indication of voter interest in the Silver State caucus next January.

Letter: Knowing identity is best compensation: The U.S. government financially compensated the Japanese Americans who were unjustly interned in concentration camps during World War II, and yet for the African-American people, who were brought to America against their will and robbed of their heritage, there is no compensation? I believe the best compensation one could have is the compensation of their heritage and personal identity.

Editorial: Ripple effect for solar: He was in his second term back then. Now he's in his 16th. Such seniority earns clout in the House, and the fact that he is chairman of the Transportation Committee doesn't hurt. This week the House passed Oberstar's bill to install a $30 million solar system at the Energy Department building.

Editorial: Using common sense: The latest attempt comes in the form of a bill by Sen. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, which gained a public hearing before the Senate Transportation Committee.

Cutting prison expenses could help education: CARSON CITY - Assembly Democrats, looking for more money for education, hope that changing the criminal sentencing laws and some state prison operations could provide it.

For casinos, Chinese New Year behind only Super Bowl: By Liz Benston; When Palace Station wanted to expand its Asian gambling pit, a consulting feng shui master said separating it into two sections would bring bad luck.

FLASHPOINT for Feb 15, 2007: As I listened to the sometimes compelling, sometimes annoying, often condescending testimony Wednesday in Carson City from the Nevada Policy Research Institute, I wondered why Nevada has only one think tank. NPRI, with its conservative bent, produces some good, provocative stuff. Yet where is the alternative viewpoint, but not from special interests such as teachers or labor? Where is the liberal think tank? Better yet, why don't some community-minded types start a think tank down here, making it a nonpartisan information source beneficial to the major debates of the day. All-day kindergarten. Health care. Energy. Road construction. It's time to ...

Jeff Haney talks to some experts about an NBA team coming to Las Vegas and what that would mean for betting: The grueling day-to-day pace of pro basketball's long regular season engenders a sense of randomness not seen in other sports, bedeviling bettors in their quest to make predictions against the point spread.