Print edition for March 7, 2007

Conservatives plan meeting: Michael J. Mishak; Democrats who thought they would have the Silver State to themselves this election cycle are mistaken.

Editorial: Another push for Yucca: Last year's push to regain congressional interest in this dormant project 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas went nowhere. We believe the new push, announced Tuesday by Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, will meet the same fate.

Editorial: Gibbons above the rules?: Gov. Jim Gibbons set up a legal defense fund in November, when he was still a member of the House. And he did so without complying with House rules.

Richmond wins reporting award: Las Vegas Sun reporter Emily Richmond was awarded a special citation for education reporting last week for a story she wrote about the travails of a recruiter for the Clark County School District.

Editorial: Tapestry of deceit: It was there that I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was found guilty of two counts of perjury, one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction of justice for lying to federal investigators about his role in the leak that led to the disclosure of a CIA operative's identity.

Letter: Exposing evil of atheist rule: It cannot be denied that religious conflicts have killed millions. The Crusades, wars centered on the conflict between Christians and Muslims, began in the 11th century and arguably continue to this day. According to Paul Tobin, who runs an atheist Web site, the casualty estimate for this nearly 1,000-year-old conflict is about 9 million dead.

Letter: Beware of polls with loaded questions: How you phrase a question will determine the answer. I suspect that if the question were, "Which would you prefer, the current system or a universal health care system modeled on the way our good and caring government takes care of its veterans? This would of course come complete with mold on the wall, and your bed covered with your feces. Unless of course you were a senior-level government bureaucrat. Oh, and when, not if, but when an error is made and you get really sick or lose a limb, there will be no option to get compensation from the ...

Neonopolis chief disputes documents: The man running the Neonopolis project downtown misrepresented his relationship with a Hong Kong billionaire, according to documents to be presented at today's Las Vegas City Council meeting.

Letter: More development would worsen problems: There is nothing in the article that even hints that he understands that water might be relevant to development. Perhaps the increase in taxes for more schools, sewers, roads, police, fire, etc., might be ignored so developers can keep making millions. But the reality is that we do not have enough water for our current available development.

Letter: Rowdy fans flock to boring sports: But two weeks ago we were "treated" to the NBA All-Star Game, where we were abused by many pot-smoking rowdies whose only interest was seeing (when they were able) some very tall guys "dribbling" up and down a court doing slam dunks. This weekend we will be subjected to many beer-chugging NASCAR rowdies, whose only reason for being here is to hope to see (if they are able) flaming car wrecks.

Gibbons' legal, political troubles adding up: By J. Patrick Coolican; Gov. Jim Gibbons' political and legal adversity has entered a new phase: a high-profile Washington lawyer, a legal defense fund to pay for him, and now, a potential recall battle.

Letter: Hoping Canada's ban inspires Nevada: Being a nonsmoker myself (I quit 23 years ago), it really bothers me and I found that the people who smoke seem to think that they have the right to pollute the air all over the casino with no consideration for the harmful effects that their smoking may be having on their health and that of others around them. I think that most people would agree that no one has the right to drink and drive. Why then do smokers think that they have the right to fill the air with smoke, which just as surely could cause someone's cancer, ...

Trepp may have had more contracts: Jeff German and J. Patrick Coolican; Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons, while serving in the U.S. House, helped longtime friend Warren Trepp secure a secret $100 million defense contract, according to court documents filed this week by Trepp's former business partner.

GOP scrambling to move up caucus: Michael J. Mishak; Nevada Republicans are moving their presidential caucus ahead on the 2008 calendar for reasons that go well beyond helping their party choose a nominee.

Jeff Haney on how Paul Wasicka got his groove back in time to capture the top prize in the heads-up tournament: By Jeff Haney; 1. Paul Wasicka, Las Vegas, $500,000

Jon Ralston on how a planned nuke dump will affect the presidential wannabes: Or so it would seem from this week's developments, with the Department of Energy announcing new legislation designed to revivify the nuclear waste dump and the congressional delegation essentially responding that the DOE is propping up a corpse. So is this the administration's version of "Weekend With Bernie" or should the delegation be worried that this sequel, like the "Friday the 13th" series, is far from the last?

FLASHPOINT for Mar 07, 2007: After a paper that provides a nice cover page for the Sun finally reported that Commissioner Rory Reid might run against Rep. Jon Porter - months after yours truly had reported Reid's interest - Roll Call in D.C. picked up on the story. What is especially humorous about this tardiness is how much the story has changed since it was first reported (did I mention by whom?) Reid the Younger has an interest in Porter's seat. And surely Reid the Elder wants Porter gone so the congressman doesn't get ideas come 2010. But after Reid the Younger took the helm ...

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