Print edition for January 15, 2007

FLASHPOINT for Jan 15, 2007: By Jon Ralston; It's not a quality often talked about with first ladies, who are expected to be prim and proper and always smiling. But Dema Guinn has quite the sense of humor. I first saw the ex-first lady's humor in 1998 after I snidely referred to candidate Kenny Guinn's TV ad featuring his wife and kids as being as sugary as a hot fudge sundae. A few days later at a luncheon speech, a waitress presented me with said dessert, courtesy of the soon-to-be first lady. More recently, when I put my tongue in cheek and suggested I take Dema Guinn to ...

Editorial: A national security threat?: In short: Something has to be done to stop the nation's growing debt and it needs to be done quickly.

LOOKING IN ON: TOURISM: That's the tentative name given to former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian's training center - a 5,000-seat multipurpose arena and events center that is planned as part of the resort.

John Katsilometes checks in on a grass-roots political group with impressive credentials and lofty goals: By John Katsilometes; Thus, Bilbray-Kohn has taken action as the visionary and executive director of the fledgling political candidate training program whose mission is to groom women in the Democratic Party to run for office at all levels in the state of Nevada. The event, in the heart of the downtown arts district, was a meet-and-greet function for emergeNevada's 2007 candidate class (a pair of noteworthy guests: new Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto and Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian, who wrote the first $1,000 check to the organization). EmergeNevada's wide-ranging field of 16 prospects includes Kelly Benavidez, a City Council liaison to Councilman Lawrence Weekly; ...

Nevada minimum wage earners score: WASHINGTON - Nevada's minimum wage earners have reason to celebrate, even if two Republican members of the Nevada congressional delegation do not.

Letter: Vietnam should have taught Bush something: David Wheeless; Our current commander in chief sent 140,000 troops to free Iraq. He recently sent 10,000 of them to clean up Baghdad, but it did not work. Now, he wants to send 20,000 more. What next? Another 20,000 or 500,000 ?

LOOKING IN ON: CCSN BASEBALL: By Rob Miech; Eight players battle for spots in team's pitching rotation

Letter: Throwing money at a problem won't fix it: It began innocently enough, by stating that there was a "money vs. reform" debate, and that it doesn't have to be an either-or solution.

Harrah's employees ill at ease: By Liz Benston; The pending sale of Harrah's Entertainment is fueling great uncertainty among its employees. They are seeking reassurance that their jobs are safe, but as a look inside the company shows, that reassurance is impossible to give.

Letter: Insurgents' training going better than ours: Here is a unique suggestion: Let's find and hire the guys who are training the insurgents - they seem to be doing a hell of a job.

Serving two masters: By Mike Trask; Harry Shull wants to serve as both referee and fighter in the battle over development in North Las Vegas.

LOOKING IN ON: CLARK COUNTY: By Tony Cook; The state cleared appraiser Timothy Morse of any wrongdoing related to the controversy over McCarran International Airport land deals, and the impact of that decision could be big.

UMC falls millions of dollars into a financial hole: By Tony Cook; University Medical Center has fallen behind in paying many of the vendors who provide goods and services to the public hospital, in some cases owing millions of dollars for invoices stretching back as far as 17 months.

'Water for roads' idea is on the table: By Steve Kanigher; Members of Gov. Jim Gibbons' transportation transition team have come up with at least one novel idea aimed at avoiding both political and roadway gridlock: Have the Nevada Department of Transportation sell any excess water rights to raise money for road projects.

Ron Kantowski on Centennial High School star Italee Lucas taking her game to new heights: By Ron Kantowski; Cupping the ball with her left hand, she used her right to slap it, the way the playaz in the schoolyards back East do, when they're about to do something special. Even if they don't exactly know what that something special is going to be.