Print edition for September 17, 2007

LOOKING IN ON: HIGHER EDUCATION: By Christina Littlefield; Regents on the hunt for a new president for the College of Southern Nevada have established a search committee that is being faulted by faculty and staff for its makeup.

Ron Kantowski on the possibility, however remote, that the Beas Hamga circus is proof that the NCAA, just maybe, might have it in for UNLV: By Ron Kantowski; So in the final analysis, it could be that whatever passing grade in basket weaving or quantum physics that UNLV basketball recruit Beas Hamga needs to receive a high school diploma will check out, thus enabling him to enroll in school next month and start blocking every shot in sight as the Rebels continue to build on last season's unexpected success.

Jeff Haney examines parlay cards from various sports books around the state and recommends bettors wishing to engage in such wagers head downtown to the Plaza: 3-for-3 Plaza, Poker Palace 6-1

Tuberculosis strands man in LV, isolation: Ron Spruill was coughing up chunks of blood and phlegm every three minutes when he pulled his Toyota pickup truck into Las Vegas.

Editorial: Buyout looks even worse: We strongly oppose the planned $2.6 billion acquisition of Nevada's largest health insurance provider, Sierra Health Services, by the country's largest health insurance provider, UnitedHealth Group. This is because consumers would be at risk for paying higher premiums and health care providers could face lower reimbursements, affecting their decisions about staying in Nevada.

Editorial: A sickening situation: A story by the Associated Press last week says that regulations governing vegetable growers in California's central Salinas Valley region are patchwork at best, relying on government inspections only once every four years and voluntary actions on the part of growers. Basically, it is the same system that was in effect when bacteria from a cattle ranch contaminated spinach and lettuce and led to last year's deadly E. coli outbreak.

Letter: Iraq just a blame game to Republicans: If somehow the Democrats were able to force an end to the Iraq war before his term ends, there is high likelihood the Congress would turn to impeachment proceedings knowing they would no longer be considered as "not supporting the troops."

[End times] Apocalypse Vegas: With Resident Evil: Extinction (out this weekend) fictionally covering Vegas with sand dunes and some seriously miffed undead, we thought it best to get our data in order ...

Editorial: Teach our children well: During the year of study, it was the same in state after state: School board members, superintendents, principals, teachers, education consultants and state officials all weighed in with criticisms.

No respect for Kucinich, even though many agree with him: By J. Patrick Coolican; ILLUSTRATION BY CHRIS MORRIS

LOOKING IN ON: EDUCATION: Emily Richmond, Las Vegas Sun; Most days, Palo Verde High School soccer coach Kevin Hagood pauses by the stone benches in the southeast corner of the athletic field, a perfect vantage point for a view of the games or the sprawling city beyond.

About East Fremont Street: 'It's definitely going to happen here.': By Joe Schoenmann; When the millionaire owner of one of the most successful off-Strip casinos tells the owner of a downtown nightclub that he has guts to open up on Fremont Street, you've got to consider the guys' ages . Although the casino owner might have been only in his 40s, the "kids" investing millions in the once-dirty little secret of downtown Las Vegas are still 30-somethings.

Letter: Bin Laden is not our biggest problem: When will they accept the fact that what counts is not Osama's life but the foolhardiness and the arrogance of the myopic Bush administration?

So would you think I was kidding if I told you an invitation went out last week for a fundraiser at a high-end nightclub in Reno...: By Jon Ralston; So would you think I was kidding if I told you an invitation went out last week for a fundraiser at a high-end nightclub in Reno called 210 North and Gov. Jim Gibbons was the headliner? Forget for a moment the question of whether they really have high-end nightclubs in The Biggest Little City in the World. What is Gibbons doing on an invitation that screams: "STOP WAITING ON THE WORLD TO CHANGE. LET'S GET CONNECTED TO THE ELECTED!"? Turns out the event, to improve voter registration, was not approved by the governor's office, said office insists. So Gibbons asked ...

Letter: Administrators are holding teachers back: The School Board and administrators are floundering and unimaginative in their efforts to improve programs. In my opinion they don't have a clue as to what excellence in education really is, and their lockstep, by-the-book dictatorial micromanagement philosophy is a negative, counterproductive disaster for the future of teacher morale and creative initiative, as well as student achievement.