Print edition for January 25, 2007

Schools plan is in search of backers: By Emily Richmond; Two days after Gov. Jim Gibbons proposed spending $60 million for "empowerment schools," his staff began promoting it Wednesday in a flurry of hastily scheduled meetings.

Letter: Corruption affects people of all races: However, the issue is not one of racial stereotyping or bias, but the realization that the players in these scams have been schooled in the fine art of corruption by the white political machines that preceded them. Simply put, now that minorities have attained political clout and street savvy, they feel entitled to participate in the gravy train as well.

Editorial: Hardly a bold stroke: The most notable - not to be mistaken for credible - part of the Republican governor's education plan was his surprise announcement that he would call for $60 million to be allocated to 100 schools to create an "empowerment" school program based on a similar one in Edmonton, Alberta.

Letter: War is necessary to defeat world evils: We are in a 40- to 50-year struggle to defeat radical Islam. It doesn't make any difference whether the president or Congress is Democratic or Republican.

N.M. governor seeks to own West: Michael J. Mishak; While the two Democratic front-runners in the race for the White House - Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama - are planning trips to Iowa and New Hampshire, at least one dark horse is staking out ground in that other early contest state: Nevada.

College of Urban Affairs to get new home: By Christina Littlefield; Efforts to marry UNLV's journalism program with 21st century technology advanced Wednesday with the groundbreaking of a new academic hall to house the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs.

Blood test not conclusive for Parkinson's, experts say: By J. Patrick Coolican; CARSON CITY - Gov. Jim Gibbons sought to allay concerns about his health last week by saying a blood test showed that his hand tremors are not a sign of Parkinson's disease, a degenerative brain disorder.

For skeptics, no topic is taboo - except Iraq: By Brendan Buhler; In a meeting of 800 skeptics and freethinkers at the Riviera, the taboo topics of polite American life, the stuff no one in their right mind brings up at the office or at a family dinner, were open for discussion.

Coal crashing party for clean energy sources: By Lisa Mascaro; Suddenly, coal - not nuclear power - looks like the more worrisome environmental threat to Nevada.

John Katsilometes notes the prehistoric turn of events at the Steve Wyrick Entertainment Complex: Vocalist Martin Nievera is still a listed headliner, with Tuesday listed as his debut.

Editorial: Removing obvious conflict: However, according to a story by the Las Vegas Sun's Marshall Allen on Wednesday, UMC's Dr. John Ellerton holds both positions, making it difficult to believe that both sets of interests can be fairly represented. After all, when Ellerton the chief of staff must argue on behalf of patient care, with whom does he negotiate - himself, as Ellerton the medical director?

FLASHPOINT for Jan 25, 2007: The analogy is fairly obvious and both chief executives started their speeches this week the same way. Gov. Jim Gibbons: "Please rise as I become the first Nevada governor to say these words: Madame Speaker." President Bush: "I have a high privilege and distinct honor of my own - as the first president to begin the State of the Union message with these words: Madame Speaker." So maybe Bush is the plagiarist here? Actually, the analogy goes further. It didn't take long for the olive branch to be snapped off in either capital. Speaker Nancy Pelosi was immediately after the ...

TAKE FIVE: LORIN MAAZEL: Kristen Peterson, Las Vegas Sun; What: Symphonica Toscanini

Letter: Iraq has become a bottomless pit: That distraction has grown into an unquenchable Hydra that devours our troops at will. Not until we stop pouring money into the bottomless pit that is Iraq, and stop feeding the Hydra, will we once again be able to focus on the war on terror.