Print edition for January 24, 2007

Jeff Haney on the new schedule for World Poker Tour's sixth season, set to begin in May, with many events in Las Vegas: The World Poker Tour has released its schedule of events for its sixth season, and the lucrative, made-for-TV tournament poker circuit will again have a strong Las Vegas presence.

FLASHPOINT for Jan 24, 2007: The press release for the ages needs to be printed somewhere. Here are your tax dollars at work - this was released Tuesday by the governor's office: "First Lady Dawn Gibbons announced today that she will be wearing a Bordeaux velvet gown, designed by Giorgio Armani, to the Inaugural Balls in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada. The gown is strapless and has organza detail around the bust line with a matching velvet jacket highlighted in white silk satin and pleated collar. The First Lady purchased the gown at the Giorgio Armani-Bellagio boutique in Las Vegas." Few details about the governor's ...

Jon Ralston on Gibbons' State of the State address, replete with procrastinations to avoid tough decisions: It was ordinary.

In Edmonton, funds follow student needs: By Emily Richmond; Click here for a printable graphic.

Letter: Bush, Cheney should listen to their critics: Regarding the horrific Iraq debacle, and the decider's "plan" to send more troops to their deaths (that's right), I suggest that they consider listening, and maybe taking a lesson from, those local opinions.

Editorial: Not so fast, Governor: Marshall said one of her priorities as treasurer would be to make the division's Web site more user-friendly, to rid it of the technical barriers that, intentionally or not, confound people trying to track down their missing valuables.

Letter: Nevada could use a state lottery: The proceeds from the lottery sales could be used to build roads and more offices for the Department of Motor Vehicles, which are really needed.

UMC chief of staff's dual role as administrator questioned: By Marshall Allen; The chief of staff at University Medical Center is elected to stand up for doctors and patient care when administrators are thinking about the financial bottom line.

Letter: Congress needs to act on fuel efficiency: As alluring as they sound, alternative fuels will not be cheap and they will not be plentiful enough to replace a significant amount of the oil we import. Oil, coal and natural gas are very concentrated forms of energy that exist in nature. Anything that has to be manufactured will consume energy when it is made, and will cost more. The ethanol craze we are now seeing only exists because it is being subsidized by taxpayers. The real cost is higher and it is a less efficient automotive fuel than gasoline.

Gibbons' plan pays doctors but doesn't include hospitals: CARSON CITY - Gov. Jim Gibbons has recommended a 24 percent increase in the payments to doctors who treat poor patients, but hospitals that treat Medicaid patients would not receive extra money under the governor's proposed $6.8 billion, two-year budget.

Gibbons' energy proposals leave experts confused: By J. Patrick Coolican; Gov. Jim Gibbons announced a major energy initiative in his State of the State speech Monday, calling for the construction of a coal-to-liquids fuel plant in Nevada that would use rail lines to import coal, which would then be converted to diesel and jet fuel.

Editorial: Don't leave home without it: And as of January 2008, this passport requirement also will apply to people arriving in the United States by land or sea. The Sept. 11 Commission recommended the stepped-up requirements. Congress passed them in 2004. The objective is to limit the types of documents travelers may present when entering the United States.

Letter: Corporations are destroying the middle class: In most businesses, when someone is hired, there is a period of probation, after which a raise is given. But these corporate board members gave away too much up front.

Editorial: A weakened president: Bush talked about his ideas on education, health care and energy, but the reality is that the president's failed war in Iraq has consumed his presidency - and any other message he was trying to get out Monday. The reason for this is simple: The president is continuing his failed policies, and increasing the number of troops by more than 20,000 in Iraq is likely to worsen the situation there.