J. Patrick Coolican

Reporter/ GA/ Politics

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Recent Stories (view all stories)

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.
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.
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.
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.
Civil rights group’s leader fears direction of U.S. politics: Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009; Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, says he fears the state of American political discourse, as radical rhetoric races through the veins of the body politic.
Lessons Las Vegas can learn from the Rust Belt: As Detroit is to automobiles and Pittsburgh was to steel, Las Vegas is to tourism — a one-industry town. How Las Vegas can make like Pittsburgh and grow beyond its roots; Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009; There are too many hotel rooms, too much commercial real estate and too many empty houses, and economists say Las Vegas should learn to live with diminished expectations. We can no longer be sure that we are the city of the future.
Brookings economist: Industries need to bolster their images: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009; Anyone who thinks the Brookings Institution is a lefty think tank need only talk to Clifford Winston, a senior fellow in economic studies. Winston was in town this week to deliver a lecture at Brookings-partner UNLV. He argued that government intervention and regulation rarely make economic sense.
Analysts aboard for rail hub: Vegas the logical spot for such development, Brookings says; Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009; A study suggests Las Vegas is an ideal hub for a high-speed rail network and — because of heavy travel between McCarran International Airport and Southern California — is primed for a high-speed rail link connecting the regions.

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Recent Blog Entries (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: