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A Note from the Publisher: To help readers find individual issues in our growing archive, we've highlighted those published on the 15th of each month with a different colored background.
Nevada News Digest & Breaking News Archive
October-December 2005
December 2004-June 2005; July-September 2005; January-March 2006; Apr-May 2006; June 2006; July 2006; August 2006; September 2006; October 2006; November 2006; December 2006; January 2007; February 2007; March 2007; April 2007; May 2007; June 2007; July 2007; August 2007; September 2007; October 2007; November 2007; December 2007
December 15, 2005
Nevada News Digest
December 15, 2005
______
Nevada Politics
Tax And Spending Control (TASC) Ballot Initiative Petition
Action
Spending petition begins gathering signatures (Nevada Appeal* article)
Reaction
Placing limits on state spending -- State Sen. Bob Beers unveils his initiative (Las Vegas Review-Journal* editorial)
Pieces of the government-spending puzzle (Nevada Appeal* editorial)
Bob Beers. Now more than ever (Hugh Jackson column, Las Vegas Gleaner)
2006 Senatorial Race
Touring Rural Nevada
Ex-president's son mulling a run for U.S. Senate (Lahontan Valley Times* article)
A Droll Piece Of Writing
Columnist Jon Ralston: On items that are sorely missing from the city's centennial time capsule (Las Vegas Sun column)
__________
Nevada Government
State Government
State Workers Have Been Complaining About The Kinkead Building For 25 Years
A dangerous building, a treacherous stereotype (Dennis Myers column, Pahrump Valley Times)
Overcrowding Problem In Women's Prison
"With only three institutions to hold female convicts, Fritz Schlottman of the Nevada Department of Corrections says programs have become more important than ever."
Preventing a return to prison (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
V&TRR Operations
"The attorney for the Virginia & Truckee Railway commission will issue an opinion on whether it's ethical for a commissioner to operate a private luxury rail car business while acting on the state board entrusted with reconstructing the tourist line."
Attorney will give ethical opinion on V&T commissioner's business plan: To avoid conflict of interest, railway commissioner has asked for a legal opinion (Nevada Appeal* article)
Local Government
Clark County
City Of Henderson To Annex Polluted Parcels, Nixes Mini-storage Project For Now
City plans land acquisition: Henderson aims to annex parcels at industrial site (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Henderson ministorage plans put on hold (Las Vegas Sun article)
Douglas County
Dependent On Candy Dance Dollars
Genoa's problems aren't just Genoa's (Gardnerville Record-Courier* article)
One Answer For Isolated Communities
Emergency communication proves valuable: Antelope Valley Information system (Gardnerville Record-Courier* article)
Elko County
Going Up
Council OKs 1% hike in room tax (Elko Free Press article)
Nye County
Town Of Pahrump: More Bedrooms, . . .
Wang's Big Dream: 860-unit development planned (Pahrump Valley Times article)
More Red Tape.
Multiple yard, garage sales require a license (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Washoe County
South Shore Turns 40
South Lake Tahoe reflects on 40 years of success, challenges (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Incline Fire Department Short Of Cash
Finding funding to protect the village (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Public Schools
Churchill County School District
No One Watching The Bank Account
"Certified Public Accountant Jim Johnson told Churchill County School Board members recently it is imperative they get qualified help in the business office as soon as possible."
Auditor finds errors in school district's books (Lahontan Valley Times* article)
Ross devising plan to address deficiencies (Lahontan Valley Times* article)
Douglas County School District
School board names superintendent candidates (Gardnerville Record-Courier* article)
Elko County School District
Going Up
Higher teacher salaries adopted (Elko Free Press article)
Washoe County School District
District Administrators Forgot To Put Toilets, Sinks In Legislative Cost Estimates
Trustees OK funds to equip full-day kindergarten classes with bathrooms and sinks (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Going Up
Schools propose developer fee hike to offset building costs (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
We, The People
Incline High students rise to challenge of 'We the People' (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza Article)
__________
Federal Nevada
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
Senators offer Yucca alternative: Reid, Ensign to introduce legislation on nuclear waste (Las Vegas Sun article)
Mining Reform Legislation Withdrawn
Press Release
Gibbons Statement on Mining Law Reform Provisions and Budget Reconciliation Process (Rep. Gibbons Press Release)
Articles
Gibbons drops entire mining law reform package (Elko Free Press article)
FEDERAL LAND SALES: Gibbons withdraws mining bill -- Representative will work on full reform plan next year (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Opinion
Gibbons moves off mining proposal -- but not enough (Bret Birdsong column, Las Vegas Review-Journal*)
Man who would be governor strikes again (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza column)
Special Interests And Federal Tax Legislation
Pending presents for taxpayers (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza column)
=========================================
December 16, 2005
_____
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
Proposed Reid-Ensign Bill Would Block Shipments; Keep Waste At Nuclear Power Plants
"The Yucca Mountain project is never going to open," said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. "Storing nuclear waste on-site is the safest, most reasonable and most effective way of allowing nuclear power companies to continue operating."
Keep nuke waste on-site, senators urge: Lawmakers say feds should take control of storage at atomic plants (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Nevada, Utah lawmakers back plan for onsite nuclear waste storage (Nevada AP article)
Nuclear waste bills introduced (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
__________
Nevada Politics
Tax And Spending Control (TASC) Ballot Initiative Petition
Local Governments Voice Concern; Text To Be Adjusted
Reach of initiative examined: City, county officials raise concerns about Beers' TASC plan (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Beers to clarify wording in spending limit proposal (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
2006 Governor's Race
Gibson Making A Good Impression On Nevada Voters
Nevada Governor: Race Close at the Start (Rasmussen Poll)
__________
Nevada Water Matters
Conflict On The Colorado
States trying to avoid legal water war: Seven states open three-day conference in Las Vegas (Las Vegas Sun article)
Water managers expected to forgo small river surplus: State officials aim to help lakes Mead, Powell (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Northern Nevadans Apprehensive About Government And Corporate Water Grabs
"Private companies like Carson City-based Vidler Water Company, whose mission is to 'locate, aggregate, develop and convert water rights from highly fragmented markets to emerging municipal and industrial uses,' are bigger concerns to environmentalists than a public agency.
'Well, I don't think there's any room for making profits off of water - that's just really dangerous to get into,' Feldman said. 'To think that we should be able to make money off water and air is really frightening. Vidler, they're not looking for solutions, that's ridiculous.'"
Growth may cause water shortage (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Meadow Valley Wash Self-Help Measures
Wash diversion still studied: State, federal agencies consider what if any action to take (Las Vegas Sun article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education
Morale Problems
Regent Alden to resign committee spots: Board member cites fundraising, frustration (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Mediator suggested for UNR morale woes (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Government
State Government
Ever-Rising Utility Rates
Nevadans feel pinch of energy costs: Rising bills hurting some more than others (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Retired Top Officials In Nevada Criminal Records Agency Charged With Theft
Former state workers facing theft charges: Pair who resigned in February accused of taking fingerprint equipment (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Local Government
Clark County
Watching Sleazy Payday Loan Companies
Payday loan stores face checks, balances: Valley communities seek limits on companies (Las Vegas Sun article)
Fixing Mayor Goodman's Mistake
HUD suspends indicted developer (Las Vegas Sun article)
Deteriorating Neighborhoods
Guards back patrolling the projects: NLV Housing Authority reacts to increased danger in neighborhood (Las Vegas Sun article)
So How Do You Really Feel?
Get out of town! Our ninth annual list of the losers, liars, dickheads, jerks, asswipes, freaks, buttholes, slimeballs, mouth-breathers and straight-up punk-ass bitches Las Vegas would be better off without (Las Vegas City Life article)
__________
Federal Nevada
In The US Congress
Mining Reform Bill
Back to the drawing board: Controversial mining proposal, inserted into budget bill, withdrawn by Republican congressmen after a wide range of opponents questioned its impact on sensitive lands (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Patriot Act
Patriot Act stalled in 11th hour: Proposal would allow legislators time to develop better protection of civil liberties (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Citizenship And Illegal Immigrants
Quietly changing the Constitution: Plan to be considered by the House this week seeks to attack illegal immigration by denying children born on American soil their birthright of citizenship (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
=========================================
December 17, 2005
_____
Nevada Politics
Tax And Spending Control (TASC) Ballot Initiative Petition
Curb on government spending debated: Beers' initiative prompts 90 minutes of spirited exchanges (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
__________
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
Reid-Ensign Bill
Tide turning against Yucca: Nevada and Utah congressmen seek to leave nuclear waste on-site where it's generated (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Columnist Jeff German: Reid, Ensign turn tables on Yucca Mountain (Las Vegas Sun column)
__________
Nevada Health Matters
New Study: Nevada 7th Worst State For Huge Hospital Markups
The Report
New Study Shows U.S. Hospital Charges Continue to Rise Even After Changes in Medicare Payment Policy - Report Lists Nation’s 100 Most Expensive Hospitals, Top 10 by State (California Nurses Association Press Release)
IHSP Hospitals 200, 2003-2004 (Institute for Health & Socio-Economic Policy Report)
California Nurses Association
Report: Nevada's 10 Worst Health Profiteers (Total Charges As % Of Total Costs -- see p. 73)
-
Lake Meade Medical Center (Iasis Healthcare) 523.25%
-
Valley Hospital Medical Center (Universal Health Systems, Inc.) 496.19%
-
Summerlin Hospital Medical Center (Universal Health Systems, Inc.) 487.85%
-
Desert Springs Hospital (Universal Health Systems, Inc.) 459.17%
-
Sunrise Hospital (HCA) 447.74%
-
Mountainview Hospital (HCA) 443.70%
-
St. Rose Dominican - Siena (Catholic Healthcare West) 392.57%
-
Northern Nevada Medical Center (Universal Health Services, Inc.) 371.32%
-
St. Rose Dominican - Delima (Catholic Healthcare West) 361.50%
-
University Medical Center 331.45%
Related Stories
STUDY FAULTS SYSTEM: Nevada hospitals seventh in marking up bills over costs (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Nevada hospitals seventh in marking up bills over costs (Nevada AP article)
__________
Nevada Journalism
Perils Of Daring To Write About Nevada's Wealthy Casino-Owners
Venetian owner files suit: Adelson alleges libel by Las Vegas author (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
__________
Nevada Mining
Hitting The Mercury
Planned mercury rules 'weak,' environmentalists say (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Got merc? (Hugh Jackson column, Las Vegas Gleaner)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education Putting Its Best Foot Forward
Pushing back the clock on civilization: Archaeologist is one of the many researchers who is spreading UNLV reputations around the world (Las Vegas Sun article)
Education College is no ivory tower (Reno Gazette-Journal column)
=========================================
December 18, 2005
_____
Nevada Politics
Tax And Spending Control (TASC) Ballot Initiative Petition
Tax amendment needs a small repair (Nevada Appeal* article)
2006 Nevada Treasurer's Race
Impeached Controller Considers Running For Election
Augustine considering run for treasurer (Nevada Appeal* article)
Transcripts Of Impeachment Trial Of Kathy Augustine In The Nevada State Senate
Nov. 29, 2004; Dec. 1, 2004; Dec. 2, 2004; Dec. 3, 2004; Dec. 4, 2004
__________
Nevada Government
Local Government
Clark County
Transportation
Hoover bypass about to get off the ground: In 2006, the bridge will be built in sections across Black Canyon (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
MASS TRANSIT OPTIONS: Ridership estimates debated -- Steering committee told rail line or express bus line would serve 80,000 (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
"One: It's only with your money that the sleek and futuristic monorail is able to glide above Paradise Road. Monorail execs can deny it, but without public assistance, the monorail wouldn't exist.
Two: The same folks who pulled the wool over your eyes last time will be back soon to make another grab for your wallet. They'll call it something else, but they'll need to loot the public treasury -- again -- in order to make their $653 million failure work."
Monorail questions won't go away (George Knapp column, Las Vegas City Life)
Columnist Jon Ralston: How noisy jets are nothing compared to the cacophony of politicians (Las Vegas Sun column)
Growth
"'It's the combination of rising construction costs, rising land prices and the fact that the mid- and high-rise condo market (in Las Vegas) is still in its infancy,' said John Restrepo, principal of Restrepo Consulting Group."
LV condos toppling before they start: Ivana Las Vegas, Liberty Tower latest projects to fall apart (Las Vegas Sun article)
New firm in line for Union Park project (Las Vegas Sun article)
Boulder City seeks protection by annexing 6,400 acres (Las Vegas Sun article)
Spreading out (Las Vegas Review-Journal* editorial)
Elko County
Spring Creek/Lamoille: Planners recommend changes to master plan (Elko Free Press article)
Nye County
Travails Of The Troubled Town Of Pahrump
"Firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and others employed at the Pahrump Valley Fire-Rescue Service have not had a contract with the Town of Pahrump since the end of June - but the impasse is not for want of effort on both sides of the issue."
Union, town at impasse (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Senior center on agenda (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Town ignores seniors' plight (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Incorporation is how Pahrump will find its destiny (Pahrump Valley Times column)
White Pine County
Commissioners approve severe budget cuts, higher taxes (Ely Times article)
New commissioner sworn (Ely Times article)
City Of Ely
City council agrees to seek buyer for old BofA building; to rent it first (Ely Times article)
"The Ely City Council will discuss and possibly override four vetoes made by Mayor George Chachas at a meeting scheduled for Dec. 20."
Ely City Council to review vetoes (Ely Times article)
__________
From The Nevada Supreme Court
Class Actions Generally Inappropriate For Single-Residence Construction Defect Cases
Shuette v. Beazer Homes Holdings Corp.
Related Article
Justices nullify verdict: NLV construction defect award tossed (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
No Right To Jury Trial In Small Claims Cases
Cheung v. Dist. Ct.
Related Articles
High court splits over jury trial rights in small claims court (Nevada Appeal* article)
Right to jury trials limited -- Court: Panels not guaranteed in small claims (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Entrapment Defense Waived If Not Presented At Trial; Offer Of Proof Required To Challenge Judge's Admission Of Prior Bad Act Evidence
Warren v. State
Previous Holding Withdrawn -- Defendants Must Show Need To Assert Confrontation Rights Against Medical Experts In Misdemeanor DUI Trials
City of Las Vegas v. Walsh
Related Article
Justices reverse course on affidavits (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Vicarious Co-Conspirator Liability Rejected For Specific Intent Crimes
Bolden v. State
Other Court Business
Damage award must be reassessed, justices rule: High court hears case involving virus outbreak at Reno Hilton in '96 (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Supreme Court orders attorney to pay $500 (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
__________
Nevada Water Matters
Conflict On The Colorado
CALM BEFORE STORM?: No waves at water gathering -- But Colorado River users look for sparks to fly next time (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Colorado River users hope to dodge litigation (Nevada AP article)
Las Vegas share could be in jeopardy (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Lake Tahoe
Officials seek $700,000 fine for Lake Tahoe sewage spill (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education
Regent search committee: UNR professor has a conflict (Las Vegas Review-Journal* editorial)
Public Schools
Carson City School District
Attacks on school district turn personal (Nevada Appeal* article)
Anti-Enge campaign is really anti-education (Terresa Monroe-Hamilton column, Battle-Born News Blog)
Heard It On The Grapevine (Chuck Muth column, Battle-Born News Blog)
Clark County School District
No home sweet home: New teachers have trouble affording housing (Las Vegas Sun article)
Washoe County School District
Teachers, Washoe school district reach tentative deal (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Mining
Gold Mining Merger
"Barrick Gold Corp. announced Thursday it has received regulatory approvals for its proposed acquisition of Placer Dome Inc. for $9.2 billion and doesn't need to examine Placer Dome's books."
Barrick won't look at Placer's books (Elko Free Press article)
Mining Reform Bill
Jim Gibbons will change mining bill to quiet critics; still not a done deal (Ely Times article)
__________
Merry Christmas, You're Fired
Hawthorne Army site laying off 50 workers (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Columnist Jeff German: On the Lady Luck's lousy timing in showing 100-plus employees the door (Las Vegas Sun column)
===========================
December 19, 2005
_____
Nevada Politics
Tax And Spending Control (TASC) Ballot Initiative Petition
Columnist Jon Ralston: On how difficult it will be for Beers' political opponents to take him to TASC on his tax restraint message (Las Vegas Sun column)
__________
Nevada Government
State Government
HAVA Debacle
"According to county clerks, the state stumbled from the outset. It missed the act's original deadline of Jan. 1, 2004, and will not meet the extended deadline of Jan. 1, 2006. So what has the state been doing since the act passed in October 2002?"
Failure to communicate: Voter registration system delay strains the relationship between the secretary of state and county clerks (Las Vegas City Life article)
Local Government
Clark County
Scams, Cover-Ups, Delusions
Rigged Results, Bogus Hearings
The fix is in for light rail: What a big surprise! (Las Vegas Review-Journal* editorial)
Secret Favoritism, Secreted Blunders
THOMAS MITCHELL: Public officials should come clean (Las Vegas Review-Journal* column)
Dreaming Of A Perpetual Motion Machine
Columnist Hal Rothman: Explaining how runaway growth will keep demand high for workers in Las Vegas Valley (Las Vegas Sun column)
Washoe County
Municipal Imperialism: A "Developing" Relationship
Who Benefits?
"Washoe County will inherit the first water importation project to serve the Truckee Meadows if the Vidler Water Co. proceeds with its plans to build a $64 million project to bring Honey Lake Basin water to the North Valleys in 2007."
North Valleys might get water from Honey Lake Basin: Plan could pump 8,000 acre-feet a year (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
"The Reno City Council on Wednesday gave its initial approval to development standards for 1,550 homes planned for the Butler Ranch in southeast Reno."
Butler Ranch design book gets initial city approval (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Bureaucrats' Vision For One Hundred Years - Or Maybe Just Five Or Ten
"To stop scaring the public, a proposed regional planning map showing growth areas for Reno and Sparks for the next 100 years will be redrawn to remove environmentally sensitive lands and official recreation areas."
Proposed growth map to be redrawn; rec areas, sensitive lands cut out (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
The Annexation Map (Reno Gazette-Journal graphic)
'Smart Growth': What Does It Have To With Reno's Annexation Scheme Reaching 17 Miles North Of Cold Springs?
Reno officials embrace 'smart growth'; will developers? (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
SPECIAL REPORT: IS RENO GROWTH SMART? (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Secret Trilateral Agreement Now Up For Public View, Discussion
"Under the agreement, Reno would gain nearly 10,000 acres and Sparks would gain 16,000 acres to provide for growth through 2030."
Annexation details focus of public meeting today (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Reno delays decision on annexation plan (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
The Land Grab Figures Were Much Larger Just One Month Ago
"Under the latest proposal submitted to Hardesty last week, the cities said they'd need to annex 141,421 acres -- mostly federally owned mountains -- to get to the 23,983 developable acres they need for growth."
Deal could resolve annexation issues: Rural residents worried about development (Reno Gazette-Journal article, Nov. 15, 2005)
New Special Tax Districts Beckon
Southern downtown develops: New retail and apartments arriving near California Avenue (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Consider These Entertaining Distractions
An ambitious goal: Get Nevadans out of cars, on the bus (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Rapid transit a key part of the plan (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Federal Nevada
Who Watches The Watchmen?
WASHINGTON DIGEST: Senators block renewal of Patriot Act -- Critics say more time needed to examine law's provisions (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Spying on Americans at home: Secret document reveals investigations of Americans who participate in anti-war activity (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
The War On Drugs: A Different View
"Federal state and local governments have spent $47.7 billion on the drug war.
They've locked up 1.5 million people on drug charges."
Time to end the madness (Randall Shelden column, Las Vegas City Life)
Waiting For Relief
Congress waits to give Nevada tax break (Ely Times article)
Hands Off
Hands off state's land-sale money (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
Another restructuring of the Yucca Mountain Project? Call it “Back to the Future,” DOE style (Bob Loux column, Yucca Mountain Update)
=========================================
December 20, 2005
______
Nevada Politics
2006 Senatorial Race
Carter: Sen. Ensign Has Las Vegas Strip "Locked Up"
"He readily admitted that Ensign has 'locked up the Strip,' but still feels this is a fight he can win."
President's son speaks in Minden (Gardnerville Record-Courier* article)
Where Jack gets jack (Hugh Jackson column, Las Vegas Gleaner)
Tax And Spending Control (TASC) Ballot Initiative Petition
Wants Government Spending Reversed; Not Slowed
Spending Control For Dummies (Chuck Muth column, Battle Born News Blog)
2006 Assembly Races
Getting their act straight: Or, how the Democrats will yet again lose the North's AD 32. (Monday Morning Pundit column, Monday Morning Politicking Blog)
__________
Nevada Government
State Government
State Unemployment Rate at 4.1 Percent
Nevada's employment picture follows historic seasonal trend (Gov. Guinn Press Release)
That Lucky Las Vegas Land Deal
Stirring The Crock: Publisher Thinks AG Was Pushy In Investigation Of His Friend
"It is this mess involving my friend Bill Walters. I can't help wondering what happens next year if those very expensive lawyers that Attorney General George Chanos hired don't back his play as the "new sheriff" in town. After all, he ignored our own sheriff and district attorney to make his play on the basis that Walters got a sweetheart deal from Las Vegas."
Where I Stand -- Brian Greenspun: On how Bocelli and Lake Las Vegas made for a magical night (Las Vegas Sun column [scroll down])
More On The Friendship, And Another Lucky Land Deal
Best friends forever? (Steve Sebelius column, valleyblogs.com)
Local Government
Clark County
Forget About Any Grand Jury Probe. It Was Someone Else's Fault On Each Occasion And Now It's Fixed. End Of Story.
"Although Walker has consistently denied knowing there were concerns about the values placed on public land, on at least two occasions dating to 2001, he was warned the appraisals might be inaccurate."
AIRPORT APPRAISALS: Staff gets blame in land deals -- Director says audit cleared up questions (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
More On The Clark County Department Of Aviation
"For more than 10 years, Las Vegas attorney Kathy England has battled with the Clark County Department of Aviation on behalf of Michael Jordan, an airport employee who thought he had been discriminated against for two reasons: He was black, and he wasn't Mormon."
JANE ANN MORRISON: Airport discrimination case won't go away, and you're still footing the bill (Las Vegas Review-Journal* column)
Las Vegas Tennis Court Crackup
"Asphalt Products' attorney John Randall Jefferies sent a demand for arbitration on the matter to the city the day after the City Council went against staff recommendations and voted unanimously to allow Asphalt Products to bid on another project, the $34 million Centennial Hills Community Center. . . . During the meeting, the City Council declined to hear from construction defect expert Piotr Moncarz, a consulting professor at Stanford University and a principal engineer with Exponent. His travel to the meeting and study of the project cost the city about $20,000. The City Council voted before Moncarz could give his presentation."
Cracked courts cause dispute: City, contractor blame each other (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe Government Planning For Massive Debt Load
"The panel also unanimously opted to extend the city's bond debt limit from $50 million to $210 million and the amount of property tax allocated for redevelopment from $150 million to a potential $568 million. The move would allow the city to receive up to $15.4 million a year in property taxes. . . . 'You sometimes have to have faith in your public servants,' said board member Hal Cole. Earlier in the meeting he was appointed new mayor and chairman of the agency."
Next phase: City OKs financing scheme (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Lyon County
Offsetting School Costs
State panel gives OK to residential building tax (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Washoe County
Reno's Urban Plan In Need Of Serious Bum Abatement Measures To Move Past Daydream Stage
More people, fewer cars in Virginia Street's future (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Project to combine homes, stores (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Federal Nevada
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
Damages in store for nuke utilities: Industry sues over the government's failure to open Yucca (Las Vegas Sun article)
Reid, Ensign Introduce Nuclear Waste On-Site Storage Legislation (Sen. Reid Press Release)
From The US Congress
Another Joint Communiqué
Ensign, Reid Announce $1.5 Million For North Las Vegas Fire Program (Sen. Ensign Press Release)
Patriot Act
Ensign Disappointed In Outcome Of Patriot Act Vote (Sen. Ensign Press Release)
Border Security
Ensign Applauds Funding For Border Security (Sen. Ensign Press Release)
Gibbons Votes to Bolster Border Security: Legislation Addresses Weaknesses at America’s Borders (Rep. Gibbons Press Release)
Anti-Terrorist Insurance
Porter Supports Terrorism Insurance Extension (Rep. Porter Press Release)
Mining Reform Bill Post-Mortem
Basic premise doomed mining plan (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Federal Appeals Court Upholds Metro Search
United States v. Willis (US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals website)
__________
Nevada Water Matters
Trusting The Tap
Water's taste put to test: Panelists play big role in quality control (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Yerington won't meet federal arsenic standard (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
=========================================
December 21, 2005
_____
Nevada Politics
2006 Supreme Court Race
Cherry to run for high court: Retiring Justice Rose to finish term in '06 (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
2006 Nevada Treasurer's Race
Woes Of An Impeached Controller
"State Republican Chairman Paul Adams said he has asked Augustine not to run for office 'because of her admission to three willful ethics violations and because she was convicted on one impeachment charge.'"
POLITICAL FUTURE: Official says career harmed -- Controller: Impeachment cost me chance (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Spreading Campaign Contribution Scandals
"Amy Walter, who analyzes House races as senior editor for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, said the spate of scandals this year will hurt elected officials in a broad sense because they feed voter disgust with politicians in general."
Politicians caught in the rush to return donations: Scandals taint contributions (Las Vegas Sun article)
__________
Nevada Government
Local Government
Clark County
$kindustry Payoffs To Cab And Limo Drivers Resume; Local Government May Rouse Itself From Indifference Over Kickbacks
"Strip club owners contend they are extorted by cabdrivers who demand pricey payouts for delivering passengers to their businesses. Cabbies argue the escalation of payouts, which have reached $70 per passenger, is the result of club owners trying to one-up each other to pack their businesses."
Cabs vs. clubs comes commissioners' way (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Cabbies and kickbacks: Commission to take a look at restrictions (Las Vegas Sun article)
"Scores, the newest joint on the topless club scene, has found a clever way to get around the industry's self-imposed ban on paying kickbacks to cabbies and limousine drivers."
Columnist Jeff German: The issue of driver kickbacks and how one strip club has got it covered (Las Vegas Sun column)
North Las Vegas To Pay For Environmental Cleanup Costs Study
"By identifying those contaminants, we take out those question marks," Larry Bender, North Las Vegas' redevelopment manager, said. "Sometimes people put off coming downtown and assembling land because of the concern over contaminants. We are going to make it easier to attract developers downtown."
Assessing the damage: NLV to study downtown land (Las Vegas Sun article)
Washoe County
Reno Dreams Of Urban Redevelopment
City businesses envision Fourth Street renaissance (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Planners look to centers as way to combat sprawl (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Trying To Get A Handle On Water Prices
Officials meet to stabilize water rights market (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Grade Inflation
"The solution is not to rename middle school math classes that already exist. The solution is to end social promotions and keep students in elementary school until they are prepared for more challenging concepts."
EDITORIAL: Public schools failing math -- District must do a better job on basics before advancing students to algebra (Las Vegas Review-Journal* editorial)
Prepare students for all options (Mandy Campbell column, Reno Gazette-Journal)
__________
Federal Nevada
In The US Congress
Patriot Act
Blocking a rush to judgment: Patriot Act was passed in haste the first time -- all the more reason for a thorough review (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Call president on the carpet: Congress should conduct hearings into Bush's electronic eavesdropping and should compel him to explain how he justifies excluding the courts as required by federal law (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
There's a legal way to obtain wiretaps (Nevada Appeal* editorial)
Bill To Split US 9th Circuit Court Of Appeals
"Lawmakers killed legislation Monday that would have split the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and created a new judicial circuit with courtrooms in Las Vegas."
SENATE-HOUSE NEGOTIATIONS: Legislation to split court fails -- Nevada would have been part of new federal appeals circuit (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Plan to split court was unnecessary (Reno Gazette-Journal* editorial)
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December 22, 2005
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Nevada Politics
Tax And Spending Control (TASC) Ballot Initiative Petition
Beers files revised tax-and-spending-control petition (Nevada Appeal* article)
Revised Nevada spending limits proposal filed (Nevada AP article)
The TASC Revisions (Nevada Taxpayer's Association)
2006 Nevada Treasurer's Race
Kathy's world (Las Vegas Review-Journal* editorial)
Voting Early
Panel postpones decision on more early voting computers (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Term Limits
Term limit lawsuit rejected by Nevada Supreme Court justices (Nevada AP article)
2006 Local Races
Williams vs. Giunchigliani is a battle to watch (Michael Green column, Las Vegas Business Press)
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Nevada Law Enforcement Matters
Churchill County
Task force planned to combat meth scourge (Lahontan Valley News* article)
Clark County
Clark County Commission Won't Act On $kindustry Kickbacks
"Commissioners agreed that the issue is one that can be sorted out by the free market. If businesses want to pay the drivers, the government shouldn't interfere."
County backs away from cabby tipping law: To enforce ordinance would cost $650,000 a year (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
"In the Review-Journal today, Clark County Commissioner, Tom Collins (using the sort of logic that gave Vegas politics its wholesome reputation) says, of these kickbacks: 'It's the American way, It's the Nevada way, anyway.'"
Elected officials Plan to Take Stand between Taxis and Topless Bars (Richard Abowitz column, Los Angeles Times blog)
Victory for Cabbies (Richard Abowitz column, Los Angeles Times blog)
Metro Radios On Hold
Police committee delays approval of radio contract: Bidder said competitor had unfair advantage (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
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Nevada Water Matters
Study: Nevada's Drinking Water 8th Worst In The Nation
More than 140 contaminants with no enforceable safety limits found in the nation's drinking water (Environmental Working Group Press Release, With Links To Database)
Nevada Water By City And Town
Environmental Working Group Website
Related Story
Group criticizes Nevada's tap water quality; agency disagrees (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Corporate Water Speculators
Now Aqua Trac LLC Wants To Divert 100,000 Acre Feet
"The unbridled growth that we are now seeing in Fernley, Silver Springs, Dayton, Reno and elsewhere in Northern and Western Nevada is unparalleled and threatens to drain groundwater from large areas for development."
The great water reallocation is underway (Lahontan Valley News* editorial)
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Federal Nevada
Outrage Over Secret Government Surveillance Revelations
The Story
Eavesdropping could lead to hearings by U.S. Senate (AP article)
The Reaction
Hold hearings on secret wiretaps: Oversight needed on expanded presidential powers (Las Vegas Review-Journal* editorial)
Where's Congress been? (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
On listening and lies (Steve Sebelius column, valleyblogs.com)
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Nevada's Past
Goldfield Takes Its Rightful Place In History
Town, rail car deemed officially 'historic': State Register of Historic Places gets 2 new entries (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Underfunded Historical Site
Mormon fort falls to staff shortage (Las Vegas Sun article)
The Secret World Of Time Detectives
How do historians know what they know? (Pahrump Valley Times article)
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December 23, 2005
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Nevada Politics
2006 Governor's Race
Gibson pushes for stem cell research in Nevada (Nevada AP article)
Gibson Supports Aggressive Stem Cell Research Policy: Stem cell research would benefit School of Medicine, Cancer Institute and Alzheimer's Institute (Gibson 2006 Press Release)
Gibson takes sane stand on popular issue (Hugh Jackson column, Las Vegas Gleaner)
2006 Lieutenant Governor's Race
Hammargren may get back in race (Las Vegas Sun article)
Early Voting
Make early voting easier (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
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Nevada Government
State Government
Nevada prison population on upward spiral (Nevada AP article)
Guinn looks back on his time as Silver State's boss (Nevada AP article)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
Buzzy's Ranch Controversy
Some landowners envision no change in master plan (Nevada Appeal* article)
Save Buzzy's Ranch Website
Clark County
Two Views On Why $kindustry Kickbacks Aren't Really Consumer Fraud
Capital
Punting kickbacks (Las Vegas Review-Journal* editorial)
Labor
Columnist Jeff German: Will clubs remain united? (Las Vegas Sun column)
Developing Plans For:
Las Vegas . . .
City's 61-acre dream revived: Council to vote on consultants, infrastructure (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)\
Fool me once, fool me twice (Ian Mylchreest column, Las Vegas Business Press)
"For the second time in three months, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has snapped up an apartment complex on nearby Sierra Vista Drive for more than $10 million -- assuring a windfall profit for the owner who flipped the parcel, depleting the number of affordable rental units in the area."
Convention authority adds to its land portfolio: San Diego investor sees big return on flipped parcel (Las Vegas Business Press article)
And North Las Vegas.
NLV council approves projects: Capital improvement plan calls for $900 million in construction (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
No Developing Plans For Boulder City
Boulder City gets reprieve on land: County extends moratorium on development (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Lyon County
Another Layer Of Local Government, New Taxes
County eyes tax district to fund road maintenance (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
Ignoring Dayton Advisory Board
Commissioner’s DRAC appointments spark controversy (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
Dutch Treat
City, County agree on ‘shared’ street policy (Mason Valley News article)
Yerington Needs Time
City expects extension to meet federal arsenic standard: Deadline is next month (Mason Valley News article)
Nye County
Nye County Regional Transportation Commission
2006-07 Nye road projects approved (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Pahrump Regional Planning Commission -- Exceptions Have Swallowed The Rules
"The still broken Pahrump Valley master plan and delayed implementation of the town's zoning ordinance continue to cause heartburn for the RPC. And at times, it appeared the meltdown is imminent."
Pocket builders beware: Planners at odds over development (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Washoe County
Going Up
County water users face rate hike (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Reno Urban Redevelopment Project
There are solutions to Reno's sprawling problem (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Denver's 'wickedest street' gives hope to Reno (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Lessons learned in Denver, Boise are a blueprint for Reno developers: Denver, Boise grapple with similar problems, with variety of success (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
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From The US Census Bureau
Nevada's Current Population: 2,414,807; US Population: 296,410,404
Annual Estimation of the Population of the United States and States 2005 (US Census Bureau Population Estimates webpage)
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December 24, 2005
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Nevada Politics
2006 Ballot Initiatives
Initiative filed to ban unfunded local mandates: Nevada Association of Counties cites examples of actions costing taxpayers (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
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Nevada Government
State Government
You Can Pay Less Tomorrow
Oy, Canada: Antics over semantics holding up Nevada prescription drug program (Las Vegas Weekly article)
Retiring Judges
Justice Robert Rose
Rose looks at options after Supreme Court service (Las Vegas Sun article)
District Judge Peter Breen
A jurist's legacy of service (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Judge who helped start drug, mental health courts retiring (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
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Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education
BOARD OF REGENTS: UNR president search criticized -- Critics say committee has same members (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Taxpayers helped pay to spread chancellor's message (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Public Schools
Teacher grades (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
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Federal Nevada
Federal Budget Cuts
State officials fear cuts if budget passes (Las Vegas Sun article)
Warrantless Federal Wiretaps, The Patriot Act And Other National Security Practices
More Nevada Reactions
The limits of robustness (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Stretching the bounds of power: Vice president sets up false choice in suggesting that those who oppose administration's policies, including its stance on eavesdropping, are against the war on terrorism (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
The horror, the horror (Las Vegas City Life editorial)
Hail to the despot (Deidre Pike column, Reno News & Review)
The mystery of 'torture plane' N475LC (George Knapp column, Las Vegas City Life)
Am I a Terrorist? The FAA thinks so, quite inconveniently (Las Vegas Weekly column)
Anti-Meth Legislation
Anti-meth legislation on hold: Congressional fight over Patriot Act delays crackdown on cold medicines (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
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December 25, 2005
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Merry Christmas To Our Readers, from the folks at TNO!
Regular TNO Nevada News Digest Coverage Will Resume Tomorrow
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December 26, 2005
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Nevada Water Matters
Northern Nevada
Reno's water supplies: Can they meet growth? (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Southern Nevada
SNWA's Suction Scheme
WHITE PINE COUNTY: Bankruptcy filing considered -- Strategy aims to keep groundwater from being piped to Las Vegas (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Harvey's Suction Scheme
"Another step in developer Harvey Whittemore's plans for a giant project straddling the Clark and Lincoln counties line goes before state Engineer Hugh Ricci next year. Ricci has set April 4 to begin hearings on the applications of Lincoln County and the Vidler Water Co. to pump 14,000 acre-feet a year from Kane Valley to supply the Whittemore housing development. . . .
Whittemore plans 49,000 units in Clark County and 110,000 units in Lincoln County over 25 to 50 years. Not all of them are single-family homes."