J. Patrick Coolican

Reporter/ GA/ Politics

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Call J. Patrick at 702-259-8814.

Recent Stories (view all stories)

Advice: 'There is no quick fix' for economy: Richard Bryan, Lobbyist for Lionel Sawyer & Collins; Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009; Richard Bryan has served Nevada as a deputy district attorney, public defender, legislator, attorney general, governor and senator.
Bidding on building’s demise: Construction industry bust idles millions worth of heavy equipment; Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009; Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world’s largest industrial auctioneer, is selling used front-end loaders, water wagons, scrapers, generators and everything else needed to build roads and sewers, strip malls and houses.
Advocating a little pain at pump: Scholar with logical but unpopular idea will give talk today; Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009; To conserve energy, we need a higher gas tax. But wait, before you get angry: We’ll offset it with a cut in your income or payroll taxes.
Nevada suffers as rest of U.S. recovers: Report: State’s economy worse off than any other; Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009; For so long Nevada was like the Globetrotters of the American economy — a fun, twirling circus act always winning the race in growth of employment, wages and property values. But now we’re the Washington Generals — hapless, winless and sad. And, that’s our indefinite future, according to a new report by Moody's Economy.com.
Morale of those with jobs a big issue amid cutbacks: Monday, Nov. 2, 2009; The bad economic news in Las Vegas has become like winter rain in the Pacific Northwest — sometime it comes in a torrent, other times a mist, but always there.
Government doesn’t do much for Wynn ... or does it?: Monday, Oct. 26, 2009; Las Vegas casino magnate Steve Wynn has lately been sounding a bit like his arch rival, Sheldon Adelson, the tough-talking owner of Las Vegas Sands who doubles as Republican fundraiser and conservative ideologue.
Obama’s way means ‘lights out’ for Vegas, Wynn says: Monday, Oct. 26, 2009; Steve Wynn continued his tough attacks on President Barack Obama in a wide ranging Sun interview last week.
Fraud could undermine housing tax credit: As Congress considers extending benefit for first-time buyers, troubling report emerges; Friday, Oct. 23, 2009; Nevadans have responded to the government’s offer of up to $8,000 in first-time homebuyer tax credits with gusto, filing more claims and receiving more in tax breaks per capita than anywhere else in the nation. Nevadans have claimed $146 million in tax breaks from the credit. But according to new federal reports released Thursday, the program nationwide is littered with potential fraud, threatening its future.
Wide open spaces, hint of optimism: At a once-thriving suburban ‘power center,’ there’s hope of new tenants and a pickup in customer traffic; Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009; The parking lot is so vast and so empty, neighborhood kids could play stickball here.
Why there’s hope for Reid: Nevada isn’t South Dakota: At least two pundits misread the majority leader’s challenge; Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009; Two normally savvy observers weighed in on Sen. Harry Reid’s electoral prospects, and both were, well, sort of wrong.

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Recent Blog Posts (view all entries)

Ensign's chief of staff leaving: Wednesday, July 22, 2009; John Lopez, Sen. John Ensign's chief of staff, is leaving the senator's employ, as first reported by Sun columnist Jon Ralston.
Lawmakers preparing for governor's speech: Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009
Governor's budget won't spread the pain equally: Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009; I just left an embargoed press briefing on the governor's budget. "Embargo" in the media world means we can't reveal what was said until an appointed time, in this case, 6 p.m., when the governor makes his State of the State speech.
Mood more somber ahead of governor's speech: Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009
Danny Glover stumps for Obama: Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008; Memo to Democrats: No one cares about Danny Glover.
GOP gives help to Al Franken's opponent: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008
State Democratic leader says he's staying: Monday, Oct. 27, 2008
Ensign pointing finger at McCain: Monday, Oct. 27, 2008; Sen. John Ensign, R-Nevada, head of the Senate Republican election effort, is blaming the McCain campaign for his unhappiness.
Report: McCain's troubles in the West: Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008
Palin on the powers of a VP: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008; Responding to a question from a third-grader today, here's Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin:

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