Print edition for May 2, 2007

Believe it or not: Ed Koch, Las Vegas Sun; Eighty-nine-year-old Bill Taylor waited a long time to tell his World War II story - and a remarkable one it is.

Questions, questions, questions commissioner's style ruffles ': Newly elected Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani ruffled feathers right from the start when she voted in January against giving a pay boost to Randy Walker, the powerful aviation director.

Richardson plays to union, Hispanics in Nevada push: Michael J. Mishak; Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson capped a long weekend in Nevada by speaking to Culinary Union members Tuesday - providing evidence of two truths.

Hundreds of apartments envisioned on 37 acres long vacant: By Mike Trask; One of the most noticeable vacant lots along Martin Luther King Boulevard in North Las Vegas may finally be filled.

Editorial: Creating a smoke screen: A neighborhood tavern in Las Vegas left ash trays on tables, which goes against the rules set by the Southern Nevada Health District to enforce the law. Health inspectors found people smoking in the bar and the owner was cited. The Health District says the bar owner was in "willful disobedience" and wants a District Court judge to fine the tavern's owner $200. The district also wants the judge to order the business to comply with state law.

Editorial: Impasse on climate change: In discussions that more often seem to change in venue rather than substance, Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, head of the EU, met on Monday in Washington where, according to Bush, the two leaders recognized that the world faces "a problem with greenhouse gases," Reuters news service reports. Merkel added that the meeting allowed Bush and the EU to "find a lot of common ground."

Letter: Taxes from South should stay in South: The biggest detriment to Clark County is Northern Nevada. Yes, the state is divided, we always have been and we always will be. Remember, state Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio and other Northerners like it that way.

Unruly rulings shelved again for more work: Amid complaints that a proposal to crack down on unruly gatherings is unenforceable and probably unconstitutional, a Las Vegas City Council committee Tuesday tabled the controversial plan - for now.

Letter: Airplane noise is the sound of success: The most interesting aspect of this situation is that the people who live in the northwest tend to make more money than the average Joe, which means they are benefiting the most from the local economy. There is an interesting disconnect here don't you think?

Jeff Haney tells why poker circuit pro Carlos Mortensen's recent feats at the table may stand alone for years to come: 1. Carlos Mortensen, Las Vegas, $3.97 million

Letter: Look to Bush for the face of defeatism: This reminds me of the comments by Ralph Bunche before the United Nations that "to suggest that war can prevent war is a base play on words and a despicable form of warmongering The world has ample evidence that war begets only conditions that beget further war."

Editorial: Leaving a wonderful legacy: She and her husband, Edward, who died in 1979, put scores of students through college. She also supported graduate fellowships and research projects, and was involved in the UNLV Foundation. She also was a benefactor of public television.

Letter: What if Reid is right and this war is lost?: Washington Post columnist David Broder called Reid an "embarrassment."

Bogden firing weighs on Gonzales' No. 2: WASHINGTON - A Justice Department official who had been uncomfortable about firing U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden now regrets he could not save the Nevadan's job when Justice purged eight prosecutors last year.

Jon Ralston explains why it's up to lawmakers to come up with real solutions to real problems: Four years ago the state passed the largest tax increase in history, just to keep up with growth. The result: Hundreds of millions in surplus dollars are discovered and a meaningless rebate is enacted.

FLASHPOINT for May 02, 2007: It's hard to put any utterance in the running for quote of the year, what with developer Bill Walters referring to Las Vegas Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian as being "dumber than a road lizard" in a national publication. But this gem from Hispanics in Politics Chairman Fernando Romero about why the group endorsed New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson for president is a close second: "While we are honored to support a strong Hispanic Presidential candidate, our endorsement of Governor Richardson is not about race." Not about race? Now that's a knee-slapper. A Hispanic group endorses the only Hispanic candidate for president ...

Tax breaks doled out without thought; now we pay: CARSON CITY - Nevada's state income is $110 million below expectations in part because the Legislature acted myopically two years ago, approving tax breaks for environmentally friendly companies without estimating the revenue loss to the state.