Print edition for March 2, 2007

Ron Kantowski braces for the inevitable suitors who are bound to show interest in UNLV coach Lon Kruger after this improbable season: He said something about sitting down after the season to discuss the nonconference schedule.

Editorial: The war within: A task force created by the American Psychological Association, the nation's largest organization of mental health professionals, issued a report Sunday that says the 700,000 American children who have at least one parent deployed overseas are especially at risk of not receiving the mental health care they need. More than 2,700 children have had a parent killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Editorial: Solidifying a public right: It was, apparently, a legislative oversight. Someone forgot about the First Amendment.

Jeff Haney gets tutored by two famous MIT alumni on the inexact science of card counting: By Jeff Haney; The lack of gaming on site was a significant consideration for Michael Aponte and David Irvine as they were planning the first public seminar linked to their fledgling business.

Jon Ralston on a glimpse again of the real Goodman: After years of pointing out his "all for me and one for me" attitude, his serial dissembling and his ever-spinning ethical compass, I've grown weary of His Honor as he has grown more irrelevant. Others have picked up the Oscar decoder to translate his rhetoric into reality, and he has done enough to expose himself as the unserious person he is.

FLASHPOINT for Mar 02, 2007: In the wake of the need for money to fund transportation improvements, an AP story has detailed supplemental and one-shot appropriations - some not in the executive budget - being introduced in Carson City. Some may be justified: A $30 million appropriation for modular units to alleviate prison overcrowding, $10.6 million to improve higher ed computers and $7.6 million to amplify a state radio system. And then there are these: $8.4 million sought by North Las Vegas for restoration of the historic Kiel Ranch and $20 million sought by Sen. Bernice Mathews, D-Sparks, to pay for renovation of the Reno-Sparks ...

At 5 a.m. the day after the NBA all-star game George Petraski found himself at Ground Zero: By Joe Schoenmann; The crack of 9 mm bullets that mangled his friend's spine keeps George Petraski awake at night. When asked to, he will relive it. But he stops often, squeezing his lips, fighting tears.

Bogden suspects politics as reason for his ouster: Sam Skolnik, Las Vegas Sun; Ousted U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said Thursday that he suspects he was fired for political reasons.

Letter: Deceptive Bush hides behind U.S. soldiers: Now we have a cowardly leader in President Bush using the same technique. He is hiding behind his own soldiers to send more money and bodies to Iraq, trying to make it look like Congress, not the president, would be responsible for the loss of more American lives if they were to cut off additional funds.

Letter: 'Faith' not needed to care about people: The only legitimate statement by Campos is that "the human race has existed for an eye-blink of cosmological time and will certainly cease to exist in another eye-blink or two."

Gibbons called 'fiscally irresponsible' after he yanks fee plan: CARSON CITY - Adhering to his campaign promise not to raise taxes or fees, Gov. Jim Gibbons has withdrawn a budget plan that would have charged hospitals, restaurants and other businesses nearly $7 million more to offset the state's cost of regulating them.

Letter: Nonsmokers can also affect the bottom line: But Gatchis also admits he doesn't really enforce the law, and in fact his smoking customers openly flout it.

A new idea of beauty: By Kristen Peterson; Todd VonBastiaans steps onto a chair in the middle of his new gallery/boutique to announce the evening's entertainment.

John Katsilometes on the curious bookings being scheduled at the Revolution Lounge, including celebrity DJ Kevin Federline: We dig into the Beatles' vault in an attempt to inoculate ourselves from Kevin Federline's scheduled appearance Saturday as a celebrity DJ at Revolution Lounge at the Mirage. Federline's gig is part of the club's "Let It Be" series, and the former Mr. Spears will be manning the turntables for a night of hip-hop and R&B samplings.

Can King of Pop become King of the Strip?: Michael Jackson raises plenty of questions: When is he going to have another hit? Are kids safe around him? Does Bubbles ever write?

Editorial: Welcome to America: But according to a recent story by The New York Times, foreigners who work in the United States as guests routinely are paid less than promised - or not at all - for jobs that don't always last as long as recruiters said they would.

Letter: U.S. has health care priorities out of order: I had no idea that Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary were "wealthy nations," but that being said, they're ahead of the United States in caring for the welfare of their children. How embarrassing.

Letter: Don't blame unions for overtime issues: This statement implies that the union is responsible for setting these staffing levels and, therefore, is responsible for the overtime generated by the staffing requirements contained in the contract. The fact is that the staffing levels contained in the union contract are based on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard 1710 and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard 1910.134(g) (3) and (4).

Rogers again alienates regents by publicly backing appointed board: University system Chancellor Jim Rogers, risking his recently repaired relationship with regents, is telling state lawmakers he would support a state constitutional amendment to have his bosses appointed instead of elected.