Coolican Blog

On this, anyway, father and son agree: Turning schools into armed fortresses a bad idea: Friday, December 21, 2012; NEWTOWN MASSACRE:; By J. Patrick Coolican; My father and I don’t agree on much. One thing we do agree on, however, is that America’s obsession with security is destructive to our way of life.

Steve Wynn much better suited to casinos than politics: Thursday, November 15, 2012; J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; For years now, we’ve been hearing the rich baritone carnival bark of Steve Wynn, who never misses an opportunity to attack President Barack Obama for his economic policies. His passion on the subject is a little obscure.

Republicans nationally can learn from Nevada GOP ... at least in some respects: Thursday, November 8, 2012; J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; Tuesday was a disaster for the national Republican Party, as President Barack Obama won an election that secured a new governing majority and the Senate remained in Harry Reid’s hands. Elizabeth Warren, pot and gay marriage were just salt in the wounds. In Nevada, however, it wasn’t so bad.

Election results don't bode well for GOP, future local TV revenue: Wednesday, November 7, 2012; J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; Coolican offers his take on the election results.

Despite efforts to beat them blue with our shoes, bedbugs are winning: Friday, September 7, 2012; J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; My bedbug obsession began about a decade ago, when I read a story in The New York Times that I was certain was an April Fool’s joke.

Six questions I'd like to ask President Barack Obama: Wednesday, August 22, 2012; J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; Last time Mitt Romney was in town, I had six questions for him and promised I’d do the same for President Barack Obama, who will be in North Las Vegas today. So, here goes.

It's time local government stop asking the state for permission to act: Friday, July 27, 2012; J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; Clark County says the state of Nevada owes it $102.5 million and has sued to get its money. But state government, which took the money from county property taxes and sales taxes to solve its budget crisis, has all the leverage in this fight.

Governance is so bad, firefighters won't even live in North Las Vegas: Friday, July 13, 2012; J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; Off-duty North Las Vegas firefighters walked precincts this week, telling residents to pressure the city to reverse cuts in emergency services. The firefighters can’t rely on their own votes in upcoming elections. Very few of them live in North Las Vegas.

Nancy Williams Baker has been bringing color to Downtown for decades: Wednesday, June 20, 2012; Neon Eden:; By J. Patrick Coolican; The costume shop owner intended to stay in town for two weeks — she stayed a lifetime.

Finally buying into the Zappos hype: Wednesday, June 20, 2012; Tony Hsieh's dreams seem lofty, but they are worth pursuing; By J. Patrick Coolican; As a journalist, my job is to be skeptical, and given the incessant flimflammery in Las Vegas, I think I was entitled to be extra wary of the Tony Hsieh-Zappos-downtown craze. My outlook is deeply influenced by the “Simpsons” episode when the charismatic charlatan Lyle Lanley sells Springfield a rickety monorail (sound familiar?), so I always try to question what’s in that delicious Kool-Aid. For years I’ve been reading glowing profiles of Hsieh, the prodigy founder of an Internet company he sold to Microsoft for millions before becoming CEO of online retailer Zappos.

Board member's resignation shines light on region's unhealthy habits: Sunday, June 17, 2012; J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; Nancy Menzel, a professor of nursing at UNLV, is leaving the Southern Nevada District Board of Health in frustration after just one term. Menzel describes a dysfunctional board burdened by conflict with Clark County while public health problems fester. Menzel is supportive of the district but was scathing in her critique of its board.

City Council's decision further brands Las Vegas as kid-unfriendly: Wednesday, June 13, 2012; J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; Until they can score a fake ID, there’s not much for kids to do in this town. Las Vegas is like most American communities that way, but gambling and alcohol are central to life here, making the problem even worse.

Not so neighborly: Group essentially says, 'Schoolchildren: not in my backyard': Friday, June 8, 2012; J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; Sometimes it’s hard not to feel like we live in a ridiculous town. In the latest example, Clark County has put the squeeze on a Montessori school — a Montessori school! — to appease unhappy neighbors, so the school has decided to pack up and leave.

TVs, home goods, Gatorade and wisdom — all 99 cents at Henderson store: Friday, May 25, 2012; J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; Regina Burns got in line for Thursday’s grand opening of the 99¢ Only Store on Wednesday at 2:30 a.m. She spent 30 hours securing a spot as one of the first nine customers, each of whom had the chance to buy a 22-inch flat-screen TV for, yes, 99 cents.

Though religious group's efforts are noble, tackling issues won't come without making enemies: Thursday, May 24, 2012; J. Patrick Coolican:; By J. Patrick Coolican; As Cantor Mariana Gindlin sang “Eili, Eili,” the packed ballroom at UNLV hushed. Just moments before, they were boisterous and cheerful, singing “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” Now, though, the solemnity of the Hebrew song hit the crowd fiercely, and I felt a bit of a chill.