Print edition for July 26, 2007

Letter: Punish illegal fireworks traffickers, users: As dusk fell this Fourth of July, the sky lit up with fireworks. Regrettably, those fireworks were not safe and sane, nor professional pyrotechnic displays. In fact, the remnants of many of the dangerous illegal aerial displays and firecrackers were littered throughout the neighborhood.

Letter: Lives will be lost for the sake of big oil: This bill was written by men of conscience, who were equipped with knowledge and foresight. It was written to bring men and women home after years of risking their lives .

Letter: How many abuses at King George's hand?: "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty to throw off such government and to provide new guards for their future security."

Editorial: Technical foul: The lesson here is one becoming clear to NBA Commissioner David Stern, who has cited legal sports gambling in his opposition to putting a team here.

LOOKING IN ON: MOTOR SPORTS: It might have been easy for someone walking past Rod Fuller's pit two weeks ago at Bandimere Speedway near Denver to mistake the Top Fuel outfit for a Sportsman team.

Ecstatically, Tom Jones tribute artist breaks ground: By Jerry Fink; Elvis Presley performed regularly in Las Vegas for eight years , from 1969 until his death in 1977.

Halverson suspension seen as what works: Sam Skolnik; District Judge Elizabeth Halverson's suspension Wednesday may or may not prove that Nevada's system of electing judges is badly out of date.

Jeff Haney on why Nevada's betting industry and the big-time leagues are natural allies in maintaining the integrity of sports: By Jeff Haney; The link between Manteris and the league came to light after NBA Commissioner David Stern spoke to reporters about the federal investigation into allegations that referee Tim Donaghy bet on and fixed games in the past two seasons.

For schools, what does progress mean? Nevada has one idea, the feds another: By Emily Richmond; Click here for a printable graphic.

Editorial: More of the same: According to a story by the Associated Press on Tuesday, Gen. David Petraeus has crafted a plan that calls for establishing local security in some regions by summer 2008. But continued support from U.S. troops likely would be needed until 2009.

Editorial: No cooperation: USA Today reported Tuesday that the Department of Homeland Security has spent $380 million helping set up so-called fusion centers in an effort to detect potential terrorist activity. However, the Congressional Research Service studied 42 operating centers and found that in many cases federal authorities are reluctant to share information. As well, centers do not have enough trained analysts to help connect the dots. Col. Bart Johnson of the New York State Police, who heads a panel that advises the federal government on local law enforcement needs, said the centers need better links to federal databases and watch lists. He ...

Out to hurt builder, union takes aim at tenant instead: When Robert Bolick arrived at his law office one morning, he found himself changed into a monstrous rat.