Print edition for November 28, 2007

FLASHPOINT: It's hard to believe but a Reno Gazette-Journal poll has found that nearly 60 percent of Nevada voters say the Yucca Mountain issue will be important when they decide whom to vote for in the presidential election. What if other issues were offered up, too? I bet it wouldn't finish in the top five or even 10. More interesting was the one comment appended to the online version of the Gazette-Journal poll story from a reader who supported the project in part because if "something went wrong the very worst it could do is wipe out Vegas. Which would be ...

With rally, fans will show love of midcentury modern, Frazier Hall: By Kristen Peterson; Preservationists have wept openly as wrecking balls chipped away at Las Vegas history.

States look to casinos for cash fix: By Liz Benston; The teachers’ effort in Nevada to raise the top gaming tax from 6.75 percent to 9.75 percent is just one example of how the citizenry views casinos as a cash cow — and almost makes the Nevada tax hit look like chump change.

A timeline of major events in the O.J. Simpson case: AP; Aug. 21 - Memorabilia dealer Thomas Riccio tells FBI agents that Simpson wants to televise a confrontation with a collector he believes is peddling stolen Simpson memorabilia.

Jon Ralston explains why Jon Porter is avoiding The (Bush) Picture like the plague: By Jon Ralston; Later in 2006, The Picture was featured in many a Tessa Hafen spot to capitalize on the president's sagging popularity. Porter's 90 percent support (Hafen rounded up) of Bush backed up the Democratic contender's rhetoric, which almost cost the congressman his seat.

Cooking up a taste of Old Vegas: Marinara sauce flows through Bobby Capozzoli's veins.

Jeff Haney on poker pros' easy relationship with high-stakes golf and the added intrigue of the 'choke factor' on the course: Defined by Pearson, chokin' points are the betting limits at which "they begin to cut their own throats," or become so nervous about the money riding on the cash wager that their golf skills forsake them.

No energy experience, but qualified to work for Gibbons: David McGrath Schwartz and Cy Ryan; The state's energy secretary appoints someone with no energy experience to be her second in command.

Editorial: Building our schools: School officials are expected to ask voters next fall to approve a new bond issue - a $9.5 billion plan to build 73 schools and renovate dozens of others over the next decade. The cost is high because the Clark County School District has seen prices jump due to the cost of materials, which has dramatically increased because of China's ever-expanding economy, which has gobbled up steel, cement and other building supplies.

Letter: Where's my party, Commissioner?: As a resident in Commissioner Chip Maxfield's district, I want to know where my party is. Why isn't it in my commissioner's discretion to throw a bit of pork back at the citizenry?

Editorial: Open up, or go hungry: If the head of a household does not allow the unannounced investigators in to conduct searches, which include opening medicine cabinets and dresser drawers and poking around in bedroom closets, the application will be turned down.

Letter: At-risk students need volunteer mentors: In nonjudgmental ways we sit and talk about any subject the student would like to talk about. We work on projects that are interesting and fun to do together. Even schoolwork help can be provided if the adult is comfortable doing that.

Nevada looking at red ink, pink slips: David McGrath Schwartz; Unspoken so far in the discussion of state budget cuts is the L-word - "layoffs."

Letter: Weekly's spending deserves a 'Nice work!': Then, on Nov. 16, the commissioner himself - no fanfare, no name tag and no photographers - was in a parking lot handing out turkeys for much-needed Thanksgiving fare. I took a family to collect one of those turkeys, and if not for Commissioner Weekly they would not have had a holiday meal. I hope he continues spending.

For Love of the Game: Sam Morris, Las Vegas Sun; In the cacophony of a wrestling meet, the squeak of shoes and buzzers calling time, a flurry of activity arises in the Del Sol High School corner.

Editorial: Bribery in uniform: Army officers at the camp who awarded about $2.8 billion in contracts related to the war in Iraq allegedly took millions of dollars in bribes. There are 83 criminal investigations into alleged contract fraud stemming from those deals.

State wants a breather, a cap on new charter schools: By Emily Richmond; Facing a shortage of staff and resources, the Nevada Education Department wants a moratorium on sponsorship of new charter schools.