Print edition for January 22, 2007

A hit with the fans: Before Ricky Hatton's junior welterweight title fight Saturday night at Paris Las Vegas, England's Craig Gibson, a coordinator for Hatton's Web site, said the personable and charismatic Hatton could probably make a living as a stand-up comedian.

Jeff Haney on why the 'over' is actually a good bet when the Bears are playing: The Bears breezed past the New Orleans Saints 39-14 in Sunday's NFC title game, covering the point spread of 2 1/2 to 3 points in Las Vegas sports books. Chicago improved its record against the point spread to 10-8 in 16 regular-season games and two playoff games.

John Katsilometes reports that Arizona Charlie's Decatur plans to bring back the Palace Grand Theatre: By John Katsilometes; But in May 2000 the theater was turned into a 500-seat bingo hall. A sold-out performance by Bobby "Blue" Bland seemed to serve as the old theater's send-off. But last week General Manager Ron Lurie said he is in discussions for the design of the new ballroom and plans to turn the bingo center back into an entertainment and banquet facility. "We're talking to architects and drawing plans. We'd like to start relatively soon," Lurie said. "We'd like a flexible, multipurpose facility. We'd go back to chair seating, cocktail tables, and it would be for 500 to 600 people."

TAKE FIVE: PUBLIC ART: In her 12 years with the City of Las Vegas, Lisa Stemanis saw the city's public art evolve from murals in public schools to free-standing sculptures.

Editorial: Keeping government open: Over the years the state Legislature has failed to strengthen the laws governing public records and public meetings.

Letter: Leaders may be new, but same old war policy: Many of us felt a bit relieved that perhaps some new agenda would be in place now and we just might see some strategic and productive changes in ending Bush's failed war.

Letter: Administration has weakened our nation: It is this same group that is promoting the sending of 20,000 and more troops into Iraq, plus an assault on Iran and Syria. Their mouthpiece, our so-called president, must promote their self-interests in the Middle East. I do not believe this is necessary nor prudent.

Letter: Bush doesn't realize he is in over his head: Frank R. Kegan; In New Orleans, the president's plan was to rebuild the French Quarter for those with money to live on high ground. Forget that it is the creative poor who make the culture for the wealthy and tourists to enjoy.

Letter: Vegas drivers make roads dangerous: Tom Wagner; We have females who can't handle a car at 65 mph while talking on their cell phones passing us in their gas-guzzling SUVs at 85 mph! No fear in those ladies!

Editorial: Bringing democracy back: Voters are directly deciding complex policy matters because initiatives, largely driven by special interests, have overwhelmed the ballot. That is not the way the framers of the state Constitution envisioned things. They created a representative democracy, in which the people elect leaders to make the decisions in government. Initiatives were intended as an extraordinary means for the people to amend the Constitution or create a law.

Sports betting on the go: By Liz Benston; Like a brightly colored alien race descending for the Super Bowl, 8-foot-tall machines will be cropping up in casinos across Nevada, beckoning gamblers to make sports bets as quickly as withdrawing cash at an ATM or placing an order at a fast-food drive-through.

Ensign, others won't say why top federal prosecutors getting the ax: Sam Skolnik and Lisa Mascaro; The Justice Department briefed Nevada Republican Sen. John Ensign last month on plans to replace Nevada's top federal prosecutor, but Ensign has decided that whatever the reasons, the public need not know them.

Renters not welcome in NLV community: When North Las Vegas' newest master-planned community starts filling in 2008, it will resemble other developments, with its parks, schools and corner grocery stores.

Blocked at every turn: By Liz Benston; Three years ago Tomaz Zvipelj sat in a law office with a dramatic Strip view, contemplating the kind of business success unimaginable to his friends and family back in Slovenia.

Magnetic sling would zing packets into space: By Launce Rake; Southern Nevada has been on the frontier of a lot of things for a long time: gambling, prostitution, cheap thrills. Even nuclear testing and weapons development.