Print edition for February 28, 2007

Jeff Haney on the personal format of the Heads-Up Poker Championship, set for this weekend at Caesars Palace: By Jeff Haney; A poker tournament based on a series of head-to-head matches carries a more intimate feel than a traditional event, along with a unique set of challenges.

CONVERSATION WITH ERIC IDLE: When: Times vary for preview performances March 8-29. Beginning April 8 showtimes will be 8 p.m. Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays; 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Jon Ralston recalls the brilliance of the UNLV history professor who wrote so wonderfully about what shaped this city: "It is hard to write a book about the town you live in with detachment and passion," was how Rothman, the UNLV history professor who died this week, began his brilliant book published five years ago.

Editorial: Urgency of global warming: The Associated Press reported that global warming in the West is an urgent issue because it is expected to worsen the drought and the fire danger in the region, so the governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington said they would set a regional goal to reduce greenhouse gases.

FLASHPOINT for Feb 28, 2007: Did you catch that pact some governors formed at their national meeting this week? Five Western chief executives agreed to set a regional cap on carbon dioxide emissions and "join forces in a market-based emissions trading program within 18 months," the L.A. Times reported. The participating states: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington. Yes, Nevada was not among this quintet of states for reasons best known to Gov. Jim Gibbons, whose revolutionary energy idea - a coal-to-liquids plant - would increase global warming. This may seem silly in a state with so much potential for solar and wind power. ...

County grapples with overtime: By Jeff German, Mike Trask; Top Clark County officials said Tuesday they are working to get a handle on how 65 percent of the county's firefighters earned more than $100,000 last year, many by taking advantage of millions of dollars in overtime.

At least one UMC contract is in good shape: Marshall Allen and Tony Cook; Former University Medical Center boss Lacy Thomas was unapologetic when criticized for how he recommended contracts at the public hospital to the Clark County Commission for approval.

Letter: Don't let politics stop scientific progress: The politics vs. science schism over global warming is matched by a similar and widening gap between religion and science, concerning such issues as evolution and its teaching in public schools, stem cell research and the origins of our ethics, among others. This is shameful.

Letter: Bush, Cheney have Iran in their sights: "I have not ordered the use of force. I hope the use of force will not become necessary. Yet, confronting the threat posed by Iraq is necessary, by whatever means that requires ... The Iraqi regime is a serious and growing threat to peace. On the commands of a dictator, the regime is armed with biological and chemical weapons, possesses ballistic missiles, promotes international terror and seeks nuclear weapons."

Hospital comparison list suggested for Nevada: CARSON CITY - A person buying a new car might read Consumer Reports to get a comparison on prices and performances of the various makes and models.

Letter: Dream world won't deal with this reality: My hats off and sincere admiration to Barbara Harris for her efforts to help addicts get their lives back on track. She should have a commendation from every community she has been in.

Letter: A great Democratic Party chairman: The Nevada Democratic Party bylaws and charter do not provide a structure for statewide caucuses, such as Abbinett's veterans caucus. The executive board of the party, based on the bylaws committee's recommendations and not Collins' unilateral action, chose to suspend these caucuses until a formal structure is authorized by the governing documents. I am happy to say that for the first time in years the Democratic Party in Nevada is following its own rules to the benefit of its entire membership.

Editorial: Spending in secret: A story by the Las Vegas Sun on Sunday noted that, while itemized expenditures of the black budget are not revealed, experts predict about $45 billion will be funneled into it in 2008 - three times the amount set aside in 2001. Bush's military spending has continued to grow since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and spending among the U.S. intelligence community's 16 agencies also has risen.

Editorial: Commission left in dark: The $5 million contract was awarded to Nevada Heart and Vascular, a group of cardiologists whose managing partner is Dr. William Resh. On Feb. 3, the day before the commissioners were to vote on the contract for a second time, Resh told UMC Interim Chief Executive Kathy Silver that a civil suit filed against him by the U.S. attorney's office nearly a year earlier was pending.

Judge: Enough evidence to hold suspect: Sam Skolnik; A District Court judge refused to release William Sites from prison Tuesday, ruling that although his wife's body has never been found, prosecutors introduced sufficient evidence to a grand jury that showed he may have murdered her.

Sun staff win recognition from peers for visual works: Two staff members of the Las Vegas Sun won awards from the Society for News Design, which conducts the largest annual journalism competition for newspaper design, photography, graphics and illustration.

Gibbons holds out: WASHINGTON - As governors of five Western states revealed plans this week to limit carbon emissions that contribute to global warming, Gov. Jim Gibbons announced that Nevada would conduct a study to determine whether global warming is harming this state.

Station Casinos learns lesson about neighbors: By Liz Benston; The last time Station Casinos broke ground, there was a big dust-up by neighbors complaining about the height, the traffic, the imposition. There goes the neighborhood, they said.

Labor defends Democrats' choice of Fox as host: Michael J. Mishak; Nevada labor leaders are defending the state Democratic Party against online activists who are unhappy that Fox News will host a Democratic presidential debate in Reno.