Print edition for March 28, 2007

Nevada governor tells agencies to cut $112 million from budgets: AP; CARSON CITY, Nev. - Saying he's concerned about weaker-than-projected tax revenues, Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons told state agencies Wednesday to chop nearly $112 million from their budget requests now being considered by legislators.

Editorial: Why withhold documents?: Normally the position of college construction boss does not garner much of a public profile. But today Gilbert finds himself the subject of allegations regarding college equipment and his personal dealings with college subcontractors.

LOOKING IN ON: CITY HALL: Las Vegas' fleet of alternative fuel vehicles is about to get two big additions.

FLASHPOINT for Mar 28, 2007: Love that report this week in the wrapping paper for the Sun that revealed a new study showing the governor's budget blows through the limits set by Bob Beers' Tax and Spending Control initiative. I should needle Beers for defending the governor and blaming the budget, with Jim Gibbons' name on it, on Kenny Guinn. That's just too easy. This epitomizes the problem Gibbons has now - he can't even please the right-wingers who make up his 29 percent approval rating. His chief of staff's use of the word "comfortable" to describe the governor's feeling about the spending won't help ...

Letter: It's difficult for Bush to get away with choices: As an American who reads and listens to a lot of current news, I believe my priorities are similar to most other Americans regarding priorities in Iraq:

Editorial: Protecting the environment: Assembly Bill 115, introduced by Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, calls for adding two new inspectors to the Nevada Environmental Protection Division. The additional staff will allow the agency to increase inspections - including unannounced visits - at mining operations to make certain that conditions are safe for workers and that the operations' reported mercury levels are accurate.

Editorial: Las Vegas City Council seat: Reese, a barber, has forged a respectable record in his three terms in office representing Ward 3, which includes eastern Las Vegas and much of downtown.

LOOKING IN ON: UNLV FOOTBALL: Quarterback Rocky Hinds, running back David Peeples and receiver Casey Flair accounted for the bulk of UNLV's offense last season. Kicker Sergio Aguayo was the Rebels' second-leading scorer.

Jeff Haney on the newly designed 'poker superstructure' and other improvements at this year's World Series of Poker: World Series of Poker commissioner Jeffrey Pollack detailed some of the new wrinkles for poker's biggest event - including a schedule moved up nearly a month - on a recent conference call.

Dealers stand little chance of keeping others' mitts off tips: CARSON CITY - How many casino dealers does it take to persuade Nevada lawmakers to protect their tips?

GOP: Oh, no, what if we do caucus early?: Michael J. Mishak; Conservative activist Chuck Muth has almost single-handedly persuaded Nevada Republicans to move their 2008 presidential caucus to the same day as the Democratic contest.

Looking back at a 'new' idea: By Emily Richmond; In the mid-1990s, when Brian Cram was superintendent, the Clark County School District was experimenting with "site-based management." Individual school principals were given more control over budgets, curriculum and staffing.

Letter: New McCarran flight path ruins a life: In my case, it has ruined my life. I'm fortunate enough to be right in the flight path of at least 50 to 60 flights a day and night, as they make a right turn right over my home. The flights are close enough I can read the carrier's name on the tail section of the planes. There goes Ted, Southwest and my quality of life.

Letter: Government should stay out of our lives: They also use misleading statistics to make the issue more credible, such as not taking into account the number of deaths that occur on the road by those not wearing seat belts who are drunk or otherwise incapacitated. However, the overall contention is true, but it's also false because, under certain circumstances, wearing a seat belt during an accident can kill.

Jon Ralston on the depressingly low number of people who are voting: It's not that you can't count that high, folks; it's that you can't count that low.

Pony up for libel, jury tells School District: By Emily Richmond; A District Court jury has ordered the Clark County School District to pay $161,024 in damages for libeling a software company that provides online classes to educators.