Print edition for May 7, 2007

Editorial: Smokes with that lipstick?: In fact, it's hard to find anything decent about a scheme that involves luring young women to parties where they are pampered with free massages, free hairstyling, goody bags with makeup and jewelry and, of course, free samples of Camel No. 9 cigarettes.

FLASHPOINT for May 07, 2007: What is the definition of a tax increase? We are going to find out in the next few weeks what the governor's definition is. He's already equivocated on whether fees are tantamount to taxes, first saying they were, then saying he would veto any bills with them and now saying he might consider them. But what about toll roads? Is that a tax increase? What about if you change the depreciation schedule on cars to pay for roads? Isn't that a tax increase? And if you sign a bill that suspends tax breaks for companies that build environmentally sensitive structures, ...

Commentary: Mining Law of 1872 no longer applies to today's world: This Thursday marks the 135th anniversary of the Mining Law of 1872, providing an opportunity to reflect on the past, present and prospects for hard rock mining in America. As an industry, jewelry uses more than four of every five ounces of gold mined today, so we have a substantial stake in the Mining Law reform debate, which is beginning to take shape in the U.S. Congress.

Letter: What's happening to this great land?: And why is the Catholic church, led by Cardinal Roger Mahony, encouraging illegal immigration?

Bittersweet science: By Jeff Haney; After outpunching, outworking and outfoxing Oscar De La Hoya for 12 rounds, Floyd Mayweather Jr. had to stare down inquisitors who wanted know if the fight of the young century would fulfill an impossibly tall order.

Letter: Put premium on peace of mind: If General Motors would just include a five-year, 60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty with their new cars, they would fly off the lot. Peace of mind does mean a lot these days.

Editorial: Reinstating a public right: The measure, which the Senate Judiciary Committee passed unanimously Thursday, now heads to the full Senate. Similar legislation has been approved in the House. The Associated Press reports that Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, chief sponsor of the bill, had asked Senate committee members to join the House in "repealing the mistake" the Legislature made in 2005 when it created a law that prohibits residents from participating in various types of licensing hearings unless they have a direct financial stake in the hearing's outcome.

THE OPENING LINE: Five years ago, when he made his first trip to Panama to interview Roberto Duran for a book about the colorful boxing champion he hoped to write, Christian Giudice basically received the same treatment as Sugar Ray Leonard.

Letter: Congress must stand up to mulish president: We've had a lot of interesting language from this White House: Shock and Awe, Democracy in Iraq, Mission Accomplished. They're more focused on controlling rhetoric at home than actually being competent in a long list of situations, including but not limited to their war in Iraq. He refuses input or rationale from former generals, senators and the American people.

LOOKING IN ON: CLARK COUNTY: By Tony Cook; After a six-week break, a clash of titans resumed last Tuesday when Clark County commissioners again considered which of three companies deserve a shot at a multimillion-dollar airport concession contract.

From opposite sides of the court: Sam Skolnik; At first glance, the runoff race for the open Las Vegas Municipal Court seat between deputy public defender Lynn Avants and former prosecutor Martin Hastings is not terribly interesting.

Right turn poses environmental concerns, city says in FAA lawsuit: Most of the talk about the right turn issue at McCarran International Airport has centered on noise caused by planes that fly over Las Vegas' western neighborhoods.

John Katsilometes captures a moment at the Orleans when a figure from old Vegas gave up an E-string to save a band: The scene reminded of when Monty Hall used to ask contestants on "Let's Make a Deal" for odd items in exchange for cash: "Anyone with a plastic fork gets $50! Anyone carrying a pair of tweezers gets $75!" As the crowd chuckled, the Irish-tilted quintet's violinist, Adrienne Lefebvre (standing in for Lisa Viscuglia, who is also a member of the "Monty Python's Spamalot" orchestra) scrambled to find a replacement for the string she had just snapped.

UMC service could take brunt of cuts to fix budget: By Tony Cook; As University Medical Center's budget goes on the operating table, Clark County officials are considering amputation.

Letter: Truth is, polygraph is not an exact science: Although polygraph results are considered to be too unreliable to be admissible in most U.S. courts, law enforcement often exaggerates the accuracy of the polygraph or even falsifies results to elicit confessions. Ironically, a column in the same issue of the Sun noted that in one-fourth of the cases involving a convicted person exonerated by DNA evidence, a false confession had been obtained. Statistics show that many false confessions by innocent people follow "failed" polygraph tests.

Editorial: North of the Rio Grande: Despite what McAllen officials say were assurances to the contrary, the Bush administration is planning to build a fence and vehicle barriers along 153 miles of the Texas border, including the Rio Grande in and around McAllen. City officials say the Homeland Security Department had led them to believe there would be a "virtual" fence of surveillance cameras and border patrols because a real fence would cut off access to the river for wildlife, recreation or farmers who use the river to irrigate crops.