Print edition for March 20, 2007

Henderson man's efforts pay off for Iwo Jima hero: A forgotten hero of Iwo Jima will finally get a Bronze Star this week thanks in part to the efforts of his skipper, 86-yea r-old Henderson resident Raymond Whalin.

Letter: Nation in need of a better plan for Iraq: Our defensive Army has been weakened to a dangerous state. The members of our "all volunteer" Army are tired and sick. They need a break and yet they stay and fight. Staying the course is not a viable solution.

John Katsilometes on the circuitous route one Hilarie took to the campaign of another Hillary: Naturally, that position led her to Las Vegas.

Editorial: Competitive Henderson races: Competing for that seat are Gerri Schroder, a member of the Henderson Planning Commission and a member of the staff of Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Don Griffie, who retired as a captain in 2005 after 35 years with the Henderson Fire Department.

Taking cash power out of the judiciary: By Sam Skolnik; Nevada District Court judges and Supreme Court justices are elected every six years in nonpartisan, open elections. A bill recently proposed by Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno, would dramatically change the way District Court judges and Supreme Court justices are selected. The bill, currently before the Senate Judiciary Committee, has garnered strong bipartisan support. Following are the differences between the current law, two other plans for change that have been floated in the past and Raggios proposal:

Q+A: Steven Bach: Someone recently said that appreciating Leni Riefenstahl's brilliant artistry is like appreciating the craftsmanship in the furniture that serial killer Ed Gein made from his victims.

Letter: Serving at president's pleasure invites trouble: President Bush really enjoys this phraseology because it fits right into the basic philosophy by which he lives.

Letter: So you wish Gore had won in 2000?: Al Gore may finally receive his phony (sorry, I meant honorary) Doctorate of Climatology from the University of Minnesota.

Piscopo shows audiences plenty of love at the Hilton: If there's anything negative to say about Joe Piscopo's new gig at the Las Vegas Hilton's Shimmer Cabaret it's that he's too gosh-darn nice, too danged eager to please, too doggone anxious to have fans like him.

Sun photographer wins fourth award: Sun photographer Sam Morris' picture of a mixed martial arts fighter comforting his two distressed young daughters at the end of a bloody bout is becoming something of an iconic sports photograph.

FLASHPOINT for Mar 20, 2007: One wag called it Joe Biden's secret plan to win Nevada in the presidential race. It also might have been a sign of just how low-key the most powerful Democrat in the country truly is. Or how Biden needs to get better known if he is to be a factor. Whatever the explanation, the paper of record (aka The New York Times) ran this priceless correction: "A picture caption with an article yesterday about antiwar legislation in Congress misidentified the Senate majority leader in some copies. He is Harry Reid of Nevada, second-from-left, not Joseph R. Biden of Delaware, left. ...

Jeff Simpson on looking out across a vibrant Las Vegas Strip that is constantly renewing itself: As impressive as the mammoth megaresorts that line Las Vegas Boulevard are, all will eventually be imploded - even the ultraluxurious new properties now being built.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW: Rob Miech, Las Vegas Sun; He said it when he first showed up on the UNLV campus in the summertime, and Rebels point guard Kevin Kruger reaffirmed his and his team's ambitious plans three weeks ago.

Gibbons stands firm on state spending cuts: CARSON CITY - Gov. Jim Gibbons intends to cut back on government spending rather than abandoning his plan to give tax breaks to business and banks.

Auditors start digging through college fund: Legislative auditors began an audit Monday into possible irregularities in the state's $3 billion Nevada College Savings Plan amid allegations raised by state Treasurer Kate Marshall that some of the fund's records are missing.

Human trafficking takes toll on victims: By Timothy Pratt; It was one thing when Lina Maria Carmona's would-be new husband told her she would have to get a job within days of unpacking her bags from Medellin, Colombia - and hand him her paycheck.

Letter: Heartfelt thanks to Nevadans who serve: The story in the Las Vegas Sun helped to make this war and the resulting casualties very personal - and the accompanying Todd Heisler photo makes me cry every time I look at it.

Editorial: Military officer shortage: The Individual Ready Reserve is a unit of former active-duty National Guard or Army Reserve soldiers who remain part of the Army but do not undergo routine drills or training. They are among the last called for active duty.

Editorial: Testimony from a terrorist: The military went to Afghanistan to fight al-Qaida and terrorists like Mohammed, who was reputed to be the third-ranking member of the group when he was captured four years ago in Pakistan.

Meet the guy who is second in line for governor: J. Patrick Coolican, Sun Capital Bureau; CARSON CITY - Sen. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, passed along a half-facetious tip Monday morning: Talk to Amodei.

Letter: It would be terrible to split School District: Obviously, proponents of the proposal are aware of the tremendous problems involved in such a plan.

Ron Kantowski on why the Rebels should be everyone's favorite underdogs: By Ron Kantowski; But a not-so-funny thing happened over the weekend. All of the double-digit seeds were eliminated. Even a worthy No. 9 capitulated under the pressure, because when the clock goes inside of two minutes and one of the top-seeded behemoths is in your face, that's what worthy No. 9 seeds usually do.