Print edition for January 7, 2007

Editorial: Faster than a speeding train: The tale of the 50-year-old construction worker's act in a New York City subway Tuesday morning already has reached epic proportions. But it is worth telling - and retelling - how Autrey jumped onto the tracks at the 137th Street station to save 20-year-old Cameron Hollopeter, who had lost his balance after suffering a seizure and had fallen into the path of an oncoming train.

FLASHPOINT for Jan 07, 2007: When news came of Rep. Jon Porter landing a seat on Ways and Means, the reaction was predictable. A coup for the congressman, who will join Rep. Shelley Berkley. The usual snide remarks that he can better represent the gaming industry. And he will be able to bring home even more bacon and campaign contributions from this prestigious seat. But I see something else for Porter. After years of a benign, even friendly relationship with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Porter and Reid no longer get along. Porter attacked Reid for taking tainted money and Reid responded by encouraging his ...

John Katsilometes reports that an able actor and dancer with a familiar face (and voice) is set to take the lead in 'Spamalot': Word around the Wynn Las Vegas production of "Monty Python's Spamalot" is that John O'Hurley will assume the role of King Arthur in the eagerly anticipated musical moving into the space once occupied by the wickedly funny "Avenue Q." Additional information about "Spamalot" is helpfully displayed on a sign placed in front of the recently renovated 1,499-seat Grail Theater: Previews begin March 8, and tickets go on sale on Jan. 16.

Jeff Simpson on how to fix the mess that allowed both Guinn and Gibbons to make appointments to the Gaming Control Board: Guinn and Gibbons were each elected with significant backing from the casino industry, and both understand the critical importance of the state's highly regarded gaming regulatory system.

Jon Ralston on the deceitful, conniving, hypocritical start to Gov. Jim Gibbons' term ... and that's just the first minute: One is a sad misdemeanor by an outgoing governor who is, to use a word he once reserved for the Gang of 63, irrelevant. The other is a scary series of felonies by a new governor whose administration is only a week old.

LOOKING IN ON: WASHINGTON: WASHINGTON - After playing supporting roles for years in the minority party, Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley emerged as the woman to know on the morning of the opening of the 110th Congress.

Teen prostitution scourge grows: Sam Skolnik, Las Vegas Sun; Last Wednesday, one 15-year-old came into court pregnant. Another teen, a recovering alcoholic, had just gotten out of drug rehab. Almost every girl there had suffered through physical and sexual abuse at some point in her life.

CHATS THAT RING OF DANGER: Abigail Goldman, Las Vegas Sun; Aubrey Jones has run away 10 times in two years. She's a "frequent flier." Jessica Mireles was last seen in April wearing a low-cut top and blue jeans. She has jumped out of second-story windows to escape grounding.

Editorial: Lake Mead under siege: Human use of its water is the reason why. So much water is diverted from the river for irrigation and municipal use that it just ends miles before reaching its natural destination.

Letter: Bloomberg would do Republicans proud: Now as 2008 approaches, and we look over the field of candidates for the Republican nomination, there is none so far that doesn't have some flaws. Sen. McCain will be 72 in 2008, Sen. Sam Brownback is too conservative, and Gov. Mitt Romney has flip-flopped on issues near and dear to the Christian right.

Editorial: Fast action on ethics: Little in the way of real reform was ever passed. And because what did pass was so weak, no agreement could be reached with the Senate, and the opportunity for reform became lost.

Letter: Bush lacks traits needed in president: Now we all know that his agenda wasn't based on any information or intelligence given him; his agenda was completely predetermined and he was going to do exactly what he has done. Nothing right and everything wrong.

Behind the smiles, a rough start for the new governor: By J. Patrick Coolican; With so many options, it is hard to choose the most eccentric episode of Gov. Jim Gibbons' first week in office. There was the midnight swearing-in amid dark broodings about terrorist attacks. There was the governor's all-nighter after unknowingly consuming a caffeinated energy drink. There was the ban on alcohol in the Governor's Mansion, the surprise medical condition and the attempt to undo an appointment made by his predecessor that will likely lead to a legal battle.

Letter: Basic tenets of war escaped Rumsfeld: Lessons included such items as the attack upon Pearl Harbor, ground battles of the Axis with Russia and General Rommel in Africa, plus the breach of the Maginot Line. Resulting axioms included: avoid entry into a ground war with heavily populated countries, hit the enemy hard with a superior and sustained force until completion of all action, diversify our military and its infrastructure to guarantee its survival, and fully maintain the superiority of American troops for instant mechanized battle.

Letter: Importance of bomb test outweighs 'risk': Do we really want to get involved in another Iraq-style war when we could otherwise take out the Iranian or North Korean nuclear weapons if we had a suitable bomb?

Keeping the faith in neighborhood: By Mike Trask; No tourist will ever pose, drinks in hand with a goofy smile, next to a photo of James Washington Jr. But in a city where the scenery seems to change faster than traffic lights, Washington is a rock. He has been here longer than the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign or any casino in that famous skyline.

One wild and crazy guy: By Lisa Mascaro; WASHINGTON - Who knew Harry Reid was such a hipster?But there he was, plugging in his iPod for a USA Today reporter. Telling The New York Times about Britney getting her "mojo" back. Making a "Brokeback Mountain" quip. Professing his love for People magazine.

Lee Canyon, Deer Creek residents seek voice: Developers have looked at the alpine environment of Lee Canyon as a great place for commercial development, much to the horror of the few hundred residents of the tree-lined side of Mount Charleston. Now those residents will get a formal voice in Clark County land-use decisions affecting the mountain.

New Sling Media device will send Web videos from PC to TV: AP; Sling Media Inc. will unveil its upcoming SlingCatcher product at the International Consumer Electronics Show, joining a growing group of companies that aim to bring Web content into the living room.