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Nevada's Online State News Journal
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December 2004-June 2005; July-September 2005; October-December 2005; January-March 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
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April 1, 2006
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[9:50 AM]
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"Titus catalogued 14 instances in which Gibson took a contribution from a corporation shortly before it had business before the Henderson City Council. In each case, Gibson voted in favor of what the corporation wanted, in actions that included sales of city lands, zoning changes, development approvals and appointments."
"Secretary of State Dean Heller says he wants more than $1 million returned from a company that failed to produce a new voter registration system to comply with federal law."
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"Assuage your guilt by not paying attention to the grimy little details of taking cash. Adopt a 'don't ask, don't tell' approach to payoffs, taking money without asking what you might be expected to do in return. And delude yourself into thinking you are working just as hard for the guys paying you hundreds of thousands of dollars as you are for the little people."
"In November 2000, the city's Ethics Review Board found that McDonald had worked actively to thwart a strip club from going up near the Crazy Horse Too on property owned by political consultant Sig Rogich. The board also determined that McDonald had acted improperly by trying to get the city to buy a financially struggling sportspark owned by his former boss, Larry Scheffler."
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"Metro Police's Internal Affairs detail is investigating three officers for allegedly violating Metro policy by helping out family or friends in custody-related disputes while on the job."
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Clark County School District
"District officials deserve credit for implementing programs designed to ensure more students acquire the rudimentary skills necessary to pass the test. The next question, then: Why do many who pass the test still need remedial math and English after they enroll in college?"
Washoe County School District
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"The company wants to increase Spring Creek’s water rates by up to 58 percent and sewer rates by 4,175 percent."
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"The consortium consists of 96 universities in 29 states, including the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; the University of Nevada, Reno; and the Nevada-based Desert Research Institute. The group manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, a Department of Energy facility."
"Spray-on metal coatings that could resist corrosion for half the cost of expensive alloys. Timesaving electron beam welding that could seal canisters in a single pass. Longer lasting disc blades that might be able to cut through 2,000 feet of rock before wearing out."
Demonstrations Continue
Illegal Immigrants
"Nearly 10 percent of Nevada's laborers are unauthorized workers - the second-highest ranking in the nation - according to a survey by a national research center."
Opinion
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[10:50 AM]
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Immigration Reform And The 2006 Congressional Races
"With the country's focus squarely on immigration this close to Election Day, Muth, the Republican strategist, said it's an issue that could stand between victory and defeat at the polls. 'This issue does resonate with an awful lot of voters,' he said. 'It is very much the kind of issue that could tip the balance of an election.'"
"Every student with unexcused absences should be suspended and required to wait in line -- with their parents -- to discuss their priorities with school officials. If the school district doesn't do something right now to discourage disruptive walkouts, how frequently will they occur when Congress actually makes progress on reform legislation?"
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Angle Property Tax Restraint Initiative
Angle Property Tax Restraint Initiative
The Problem With The Present Law
"'In the past 10 years, the 10 years I've been in Washington, state government right here grew by approximately 100.5 percent,' Gibbons said."
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"All politicians, like most people, have two sides: the public and the private. It's hard to believe Kenny has been the only one in Southern Nevada so expertly using a populist public persona to mask a darker avaricious side. She can't be the only one with the chutzpah to talk publicly about being ethically pristine, yet privately be anything but.
But who are they? Who else among the elected elite is so remarkably effective at getting what he wants, so ready with the quote to charm an eager public, and yet privately cares only about the greedy pursuit of self-aggrandizement?
I wonder."
"Anyone who watches bills make their way through the Legislature or sees developers get their way time and again before local elected boards has to wonder these days how many other Kennys are out there.
Imagine what wiretaps on the 63 legislators might reveal, beyond the acceptance of Rolling Stones tickets and discounts on cruises.
Imagine if someone could intercept the real banking records of county commissioners who can afford to build mansions on their $50,000-a-year job.
What if someone with a badge could poke through the pulpy juice of real estate deals numerous elected officials make?"
"Re-zoning prime parcel for a CVS or other similar store: $200,000 in untraceable cash. Making sure county ordinances allow lap dances in strip clubs? $30,000. Approving a neighborhood casino? $3,000 per month, for years."
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$3.33 For Regular Unleaded Gas
"Although I've never been one to air dirty laundry and I do not usually openly criticize the actions of judges, in this instance the actions of persons sitting on the bench on Pahrump Justice Court must be brought to light."
"This weekend 6,000 runners representing law enforcement agencies from the U.S., England, Germany, Australia and Canada are expected to participate in 22nd annual Baker to Vegas Challenge."
Incline Lake
Child Abuse
Firefighting Grant
"We believe the city taxpayers are being asked to subsidize the county sheriff's office. Our elected city officials are not being allowed to determine the level of city law enforcement."
"The City of Ely thinks it holds all the cards in service agreement negotiations with White Pine County."
"A court decision last Thursday obligates Ely Mayor George Chachas to pay the city $4,943. And it could put an early end to his term as mayor."
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[10:30 AM]
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The Franking Privilege
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"Churchill County has gained a reputation as conservative regarding expenses and property tax increases, Goetsch said. The county's intent, through impact fees, has been for to shoulder the burden for more services upon residents moving to the area and building new homes, he said. However, a property tax increase is still possible."
"Despite projections that Big League Dreams will cost 40 percent more than the city expected when it unanimously approved the deal late last year, officials are pushing forward with plans to build the facility out at Freedom Park. 'There's no need to panic now,' Councilman Larry Brown said."
"The council is attempting to figure out next fiscal year’s $13.7 million general fund budget. The biggest headache for councilmen may be trying to find an additional $900,739 for the Elko Regional Airport."
"City leaders, businesses and residents uniformly agree the park has been a major success and a centerpiece for a promising turnaround in the downtown area."
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"Regional Gang Unit members are monitoring school-aged gang members who might use student walk-outs in support of immigration and Hispanic pride-related events as a platform for potential violence."
"Meanwhile, the debate and the demonstrations can be the centerpiece for a wide range of lessons, not the least of which includes the legislative process, the rule of law, citizenship, civic responsibility and the First Amendment."
"Alternative schools fill an important niche. It is clear that many need help to get off the ground and operate efficiently. Their failures should never be so extreme that a judge must decide whether they remain open. It is time for the Legislature to re-evaluate the charter system and determine how it can support the schools and keep the Halima fiasco from recurring."
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"A report recently released by the U.S. Geological Survey indicates that groundwater withdrawals from mining and agricultural uses has had minimal effects on the flow of the Humboldt River."
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"Sempra's move supports the notion that next to renewable solar, wind and geothermal sources, natural gas should be the industry's next best project."
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Las Vegas Chamber Of Commerce On Employing Illegal Immigrants
"The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce believes that the need for immigration reform is necessary in order to find a legal way for foreign workers to participate in the economy in a manner than enables the government to know who is in the country. An estimated 10-12 million unauthorized immigrants currently live in the United States, and provide roughly 5% of the labor force. Nevada alone has an estimated 200,000 illegal immigrants in the state, many of whom fill vital jobs such as construction, gaming, and hospitality."
"U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced Friday the agency is ready to finalize proposed updated grazing regulations, after answering critics and extra analysis of the proposed revisions."
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[6:15 PM]
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No Means Of Verification, No Criminal Penalties, No Enforcement
Bob Beers' April Fool Joke
Sparks Municipal Court
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"Gov. Kenny Guinn announced today the formation of a collaborative effort by multiple state and local government agencies designed to increase the ability to continue operating vital computer systems in the event of an emergency. The Nevada Shared Information Technologies Services project (NSITS) is one of the first of its kind in the nation, and could become a model for other projects across the United States."
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[10:00 AM]
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"Three weeks after their incumbent attorney general declared he wouldn't run in November's election, the state's Republicans still don't have a candidate for the post."
"Tiffany, who is running for a second state Senate term, has come under fire for allegations she used her position in the Legislature to gain advantages for her online auction business. Last month, the state Ethics Commission announced it would hold a hearing on the charges, which Tiffany has denied."
HAVA Debacle
In Nevada, It's Every County For Itself
___________
"Aside from that, corruption tends to warp economic growth, moving it away from the most productive and toward those who rig the game, said Emilio Viano, a professor at American University who studies the effects of corruption on societies.
'There is a cost to corruption. There, you had the violation of urban planning with consequences for housing, quality of life, neighborhoods. It undermines the quality of life by imposing a system to the advantage of a few people,' he said."
__________
"What it has done, they complain, is prevent people with legitimate claims from being fairly compensated while making it difficult for some to even pursue litigation. They also point out that malpractice insurance rates have yet to decrease."
"The difficulties the state is having in completing a network of radio relay towers could be putting Highway Patrol troopers in danger. And the blame seems to fall primarily on a bloated federal bureaucracy in which common sense has long been buried under mountains of regulations."
"Currently there are no legal requirements for local governments to have internal audits, and for a long time there was no such function in the City of Reno."
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"UNLV's Boyd School of Law found itself kicked off the U.S. News & World Report list of the top 100 law schools in the nation Monday."
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"This year's second-in-a-row wet winter has dealt a final blow to the five-year drought that had strained water supplies in the Truckee Meadows."
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[7:25 PM]
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“In order to expand our nuclear generating capacity, we need a safe, permanent, geologic repository for spent nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain. This proposed legislation will help provide stability, clarity, and predictability to the Yucca Mountain Project and will help lay a solid foundation for America’s future energy security.”
"The Bush administration wants to bury tens of thousands of tons more nuclear waste at the Yucca Mountain dump in Nevada than now allowed - part of a package of new proposals meant to spur development of the controversial and long-delayed dump."
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Congressional District 3
__________
"Such bonds, according to the agenda summary for this item, don’t count against the county’s debt limit. The bondholders are limited to the value of the property in the event of a default."
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[9:50 AM]
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"Gibson cited seven cases in which Titus, his rival for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, took money from attorneys, a liquor distributor and a business services company either before or after she supported that group's interests in the Legislature."
"I have been saying for years that what the ex-commissioners are accused of is just a shade different from the legalized bribery that the campaign financing system has become. Whether or not Gibson, who has taken large amounts of money from developers who do business in Henderson, is an especially egregious violator will play out during the campaign."
"'I know, as a criminal prosecutor, that we must strengthen the laws,' Miller said at a news conference announcing the proposed changes. 'There is a lack of integrity in the process.'"
__________
"Prosecutors showed that Emily Herrera often paid Lamuraglia with checks, but Dario Herrera delivered cash through Kelvin Atkinson, who served as Herrera's community liaison at the county. Atkinson is now a state assemblyman."
"The prosecution wants jurors to read the state's ethics laws and understand the money Kincaid-Chauncey admitted receiving from Galardi and the money and other services Herrera enjoyed were at the very least gifts that should have been disclosed. For the record, they weren't."
"Galardi will be the second of the government's high-profile witnesses to take the stand this week in the political corruption trial of Dario Herrera and Mary Kincaid-Chauncey, the former Clark County commissioners accused of taking bribes from the strip club owner in exchange for favorable votes."
"This week, Municipal Judge Toy Gregory, District Judge Donald Mosley and District Judge Nancy Saitta received subpoenas to appear in court on dates that have not yet been finalized."
__________
"Prosecutors say the Nevada Supreme Court's ruling last week in the 2003 Laughlin motorcycle melee case 'changed 140 years of practice in the way we hold people accountable for crime.'"
Regas v. District Court (Nevada Supreme Court website - pdf format)
__________
"The Nevada State Board of Education would be wise to reconsider Halima’s charter revocation in light of the testimony and evidence given in court for the stay. It is better for a deliberating board to be viewed as thoughtful and fair minded rather than as selective, arbitrary and capricious. Let us all hope the former will be the case and prevail in the true best interests of the students."
__________
"The federal agency's lawyer, Steve Palmer, said the withdrawal was in response to concessions by Whittemore that should ensure the endangered Moapa dace fish is not harmed by Whittemore's golf community, which is expected to eventually include as many as 85,000 homes and 16 golf courses straddling the border between Lincoln and Clark counties."
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[7:30 PM]
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[Sorry, TNO readers. Ms. Titus's handlers haven't gotten around to putting this important proposal on her campaign website yet.]
"This proven super-majority concept would allow elected officials in our representative democracy to do the jobs they were elected to do, while simultaneously accomplishing the intent of limiting government spending without littering the state's constitution with 3,994 words of legislative legalese."
__________
"Former strip club owner Mike Galardi says that then County Commissioner Lance Malone told him there were four other county commissioners that he could bribe: Bruce Woodberry, Dario Herrera, Mary Kincaid-Chauncey and Yvonne Atkinson-Gates."
__________
"A regional survey found that the number of people who believe this is a bad time to buy a home is at its highest point in 15 years."
"Nye County's biggest headache just now may be starting to make its throbbing pain noticed."
"The Reno City Council today rezoned all of downtown to mixed-use zoning to rebuild the central city as an area where people can live, work and play."
__________
__________
"What should bother us most is this: If we don't change our ways, the little people in our lives will live very different lives than we have."
__________
"This legislation is a desperate attempt by DOE officials to move the Project forward before more problems can be uncovered."
Only Two Entries For Nevada
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[9:20 AM]
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"This is an age when it's hard enough to get straight, unbiased information on candidates. Even in legitimate appearances and press releases, candidates are misstating the views and records of their opponents. Beers' fake press release only added to that troubling trend, and that's not funny."
__________
"Galardi said he quickly learned that in the Las Vegas Valley, the most effective way to navigate through government bureaucracy was to shower elected officials with thousands of dollars in cash. It was a tactic he used for years."
"Prosecutors argued that the tawdry testimony suggesting a sexually voracious Herrera was necessary to show that he was being paid with sexual favors and that money wasn't the only 'currency of corruption.' The defense contended that the testimony was meant to make jurors despise Herrera."
__________
"While the city and county have, to their credit, formulated master development plans, they have yet to effectively articulate a clear vision to the community of where we're going and how we're going to get there."
"The city gained control of a vast swath of the Eldorado Valley in 1995, when the federal government relinquished control of 200 square miles of empty desert south and west of the Boulder City Airport, selling the entire 107,500 acres to the city for about $12 an acre."
"Investors, most of whom are retired and many of whom are on fixed or limited incomes, bought $1,000 shares from Barbara Orcutt in the mid-1990s. Most investors bought just a few shares, but collectively they raised $2 million for the project. The only return on their investment, numerous shareholders have said, was one check about five years ago - which bounced."
"Council members Tuesday approved increasing the landing fees by 3.8 percent, the terminal rent by 25 percent and the parking fees by 20 percent."
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"Susan Joseph-Taylor raised concerns during a hearing that selling the water rights would conflict with state law and that water applicants must themselves use the water."
__________
"The bill contains provisions that would streamline repository development and shorten a final license review that is required before nuclear waste could be moved to the site, 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas."
State Emergency Radio System
"This situation is further evidence that public lands are not really public at all -- and that the sooner the federal government transfers more of its vast real estate portfolio to the private sector, the better."
Nevada's Fire Festival
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[7:20 PM]
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“The DOE is following the same road that has led them to countless health, safety, and scientific violations. This bill has no future; it’s dead when it gets here. We need to move away from these failed policies and towards on-site dry cask storage of nuclear waste. Dry cask storage would save our country billions of dollars and keep us safer. It’s already being used successfully at 34 nuclear sites.”
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[12:15 PM]
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"More than just candidates vying for position, the skirmishes reflect the ongoing battle simply to grab the voters' attention in the early days of a campaign that is expected to be expensive and vicious."
"'This is another attempt by Bob Beers to get under Jim Gibbons' skin,' Damore said. 'If he has taken Beers' bait, that's good for Beers. It's allowing Beers to effectively control the agenda.'"
"Former topless dancer Barbara Scott has decided to make another run for the Democratic nomination for governor."
__________
"Galardi testified that so many politicians' hands were out for money that he felt like he was being extorted. He was concerned that if he stopped making payments, elected officials would introduce legislation harmful to the adult-use industry."
__________
"The hearing offered a rare window into the Indian community, where some leaders speak of losing entire generations to the drug."
Rehab Ranch: A Related Story
"State prison officials fired a vocational program director Thursday, a day after she led an assemblyman on a tour of the women's prison in North Las Vegas to view what she and others are calling horrible conditions."
"The commission's vote overturns a decision by the planning commission in February, where a special use permit was approved by a vote of 6-1 with Myles Vangorder the only commissioner opposed."
"It appears some members of a California-based off-roading group, Friends of Sand Mountain, are unhappy with the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe's participation in the discussions over recreational use at Sand Mountain."
"This week. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency officials announced a 60-day, extended public- comment period will ostensibly delay the release of the shorezone plan and ensuing ordinances until May."
"A citizens group will present an alternative plan next week for the Truckee Meadows that would stop growth in more distant hills and valleys until the region decides which areas should be protected first."
"The Reno City Council on Wednesday approved a plan to generate up to $27 million to put a plaza over the heart of the downtown railroad trench and another $15 million for other downtown projects."
"A mutual aid agreement that allows officers of the Reno Police Department, the Washoe County Sheriff's Department and the Truckee Meadows Community College Department of Public Safety to assist one another has gotten an OK from Reno City Council."
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"To many Nevadans, the mushroom cloud is a haunting icon that has come to symbolize the government's disregard for the health and safety of citizens during Cold War atmospheric nuclear testing."
"If anybody still believes "campaign finance reform" is really about good government, consider the hypocrisy oozing from both sides of the aisle during a House debate this week on limiting donations."
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Dina Titus And Jim Gibson
That April Fool Joke
New Blog
Those Latest Poll Figures
Clark County
Lyon County
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Nye County Bribery Case
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State Emergency Radio System
Nye County
County Affairs
Pahrump Town
Washoe County
"The Regional Planning Commission wants people to know they must have a Home Occupation Permit for any business they conduct in their home."
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Who Watches Over These Projects For The Taxpayers' Protection?
"He plans to fund the construction with the Nevada System of Higher Education's revenue bonds. He would pay those off by sharing the campus with commercial entities and collecting rent checks. So a Starbucks or a Border's bookstore or a fast-food restaurant will be next to classrooms and faculty offices, he said."
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Walker River
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_____
"Admittedly, candidates often take themselves too seriously. But an election is serious business and a certain decorum is required when running for the state's top job. It is no time for misrepresentation."
"Nevada voters care most about K-12 education, and the political hopefuls who meaningfully can tap into that issue, along with concerns about affordable health care, will do well come November."
__________
"Galardi made more money in 2002 through just one of his many strip clubs in Las Vegas and San Diego than MGM Mirage chief Terry Lanni makes in salary today for running the world's second-largest gaming company."
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Judicial Ethics Complaints
"But it's also important to ensure that a hard and fast deadline not become an excuse for investigators to run out the clock to protect an accused judge. And one way to accomplish that -- while improving public confidence in the system -- is to insist that any judicial discipline reform efforts emphasize increased openness."
"Everyone would benefit from quicker resolutions."
"In 1994, the Legislature created the Fund to Stabilize the Operation of State Government, which is more popularly known as the "Rainy Day Fund." Created to act as a safety net in the event of an economic crisis, the Rainy Day Fund has only been used once since its creation."
"Visitors and locals identify Carson City as a historic area with lots of gambling and government. It's the Old West and the gateway to Reno and Tahoe. A national tourism expert said this marketing message needs to change if the community wants to attract more visitors."
"The best relationship between government and the community is one in which officials recognize responsibilities to, as well as for, the public they serve. The responsibility to educate, for instance (explain things and cultivate an atmosphere of transparency), and to listen (local people often know more than officials might think)."
__________
"Despite its failed coup d'etat in the hiring process, the Council for a Better Nevada, showing the trademark tenacity of the arrogant elite, is now serving as the proverbial thorn in Rulffes' side. The council has created a subgroup called CARE (Community Alliance to Reform Education) that wants to tell Rulffes how to do his job."
__________
"Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the desert, Yucca Mountain rears its convoluted, ugly head."
Opinion
"Voters seem to be split into three different camps on the big picture question, and a good chunk didn't know if they fell into any of them."
"So, since we are guilty of harboring, hiring and benefiting from the labor of this illegal underclass, where do we get off taking a holier-than-thou stance that says they have no right to be here. We have, by our tacit activity, invited and accepted them on this side of the border."
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"The idea for the contest came from the Sazarac Lying Club, a group of Old West fibbers in Austin, Lander County which told their tales in a saloon on Main Street in the 1870s."
Fred Hart, The Sazerac Lying Club (1878) [pdf] Part 1; Part 2
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[9:40 AM]
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Congressional District 2
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"The overall issue, though, is that the system will almost certainly not be reformed from within. Only if those outside the elected realm can really ensure that real changes are made to a system that the public thinks is broken and corrupt and that national and local events give voters every reason to believe they are right in that assumption."
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"A little better showing by consumers — sure to be outraged when their bills arrive in the mail — would help make the case that such costs are worth the effort."
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"CAGW defines "pork" as allocations that meet at least one of seven criteria, though most meet at least two. Pork spending tends to be requested by only one member of Congress, the group explains; to serve only a local or special interest; to be awarded without competitive bidding; to be absent from the president's budget proposal; and to be slipped in without benefit of public hearings."
Citizens Against Government Waste Annual Pig Book (Searchable by State)
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Transportation of Lumber by Water (1881)
Sam P. Davis, Square Sets of Timbering and V-Flume (1912)
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[6:20 PM]
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LVR-J Poll
That April Fool Joke
Congressional District 2
Lost Opportunities
Republican Assembly Candidate Drops Out
Tax And Spending Control (TASC) Initiative
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Economic Consequences Of The No Child Left Behind Act
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[10:05 AM]
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"Jim Gibson did not receive $248,500 in campaign contributions between October and December 2005, and then, within weeks of the contributions, act favorably on 14 projects proposed by those contributors. It was only $247,500. And it was only 13 projects."
Corrupt Practices
Minimum Wage
Education First
No Smoking Tobacco
No Smoking Marijuana
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"Former strip club owner Michael Galardi rattled off a list of public officials Monday to whom he said he made cash payments and confirmed that he had several sexual encounters with former Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny."
"On Monday in U.S. District Court, former Cheetah's topless bar owner Michael Galardi implicated ex-County Business Licensing Director Ardel Jorgensen and current County Manager Thom Reilly in his increasingly elaborate web of political payoffs."
"'I've heard people expressing absolute outrage,' said Craig Walton, a professor emeritus at UNLV and the president of the Nevada Center for Public Ethics. 'The problem with outrage is that it can tar the good guy with the bad guy.'"
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Medical Malpractice Reform
Nevada Supreme Court
Churchill County
Go Somewhere Else
"As County Commissioner Lynn Pearce, the lone commissioner who didn't vote against the permit, pointed out, 'It's always going to be next door to somebody.'"
Clark County
Rural Housing Subsidies
Elko County
Hiking A Favorite This Year
Washoe County
Citizens v. Assessor
"Incline residents Les Barta and Maryanne Ingemanson told the judge that McGowan's office did not follow new state land-appraisal rules that apply to Lake Tahoe."
Ballardini Ranch Plans
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More Money Needed
Funding And Accountability Go Together
"Certainly, the project might be made easier if school districts and the state education department would demonstrate their own commitment to better management of the funds schools do receive."
Carson City School District
Churchill County School District
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Humboldt River
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"No political issue in recent memory has stirred Nevadans to action in the same way as the immigration debate, surprising many longtime local politicians."
Nevada Test Site
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[10:45 AM]
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Congressional District 3
"With the primaries about four months off and the election not until November, you wouldn't expect things to be heating up in the state races quite yet, but you'd be wrong."
"The problem is, the party in general is CLUELESS on how to get more people involved. It’s the same crowd at EVERY county convention complaining about the same old things every time."
__________
"Our tourism industry encourages self-indulgence, greed and personal gain without shame or consequences. That's fine for visitors seeking a little make-believe. But it has no place in the real world, and the testimony heard the past month shows us that, somehow, it has ended up there."
__________
"Meth is an insidious drug. It wreaks havoc on individuals, families, children and to some extent communities, which must deal with the criminal activities of meth users and pay the bill for incarceration, courts, welfare and more."
Airport Concessions
"There is no functioning system in place to identify concessionaires who have failed to submit the required annual financial statements to the Department of Aviation."
"The system could cost $1.1 billion to build as a light rail line or $713 million as an express bus system that uses bus-only lanes and makes infrequent stops, officials have said. But that price tag is in 2006 dollars; inflation is expected to drive those costs up by 35 percent."
"A year after homeowner opposition scuttled plans for a mass transit center in Henderson, the Regional Transportation Commission wants to pay the city $4.4 million for an 18-acre site officials hope escapes public criticism this time."
Reference Sites
Proposed Regional Fixed Guideway Web Site
Stop The Regional Fixed Guideway In Henderson Web Site
Boulder City And Gated Communities
"Signs need to capture the ambiance of the area and "tell the story" of your community, said Roger Brooks, from Destination Development of Olympia, Wash., who was hired to study tourism in the Carson Valley."
South Canyon Road Settlement Agreement
Citizens v. Tax Assessor
Ballardini Ranch Park Proposal
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Clark County School District
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Water Moloch Angst
"Elko County is applying for municipal water rights 'to invest in the future,' Elko County Commission Chairman Warren Russell said."
Northern Nevada
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Use It Up
Federation of American Scientists Project On Government Secrecy
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[7:35 PM]
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EDAWN Gathering
State Sen. Titus And Mayor Gibson
State Sen. Beers
Congressional District 2
Angle Requests State's Full Participation of ICE Training Program: ICE federal partnership empowers local officers to detain violators of federal immigration law (Angle Campaign Press Release)
Assembly District 36
"Curiously, in an age of diminished expectations, from politicians as well as practically all other sources of assistance, this local state assembly race is shaping up to be about who really represents what is most rural about rural Nevada - not just in the past, but for Nevada's future."
Douglas County
Some Thoughts From A Nye County Candidate
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Prosecution Rests; Defense Begins
Background Reports
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Ethics Commission
Trummell cleared: Ethics commission dismisses charge against commissioner based on procedural rule (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Background (From Ethics Commission website)
Complaint 5-17
Executive Director Report & Recommendations
Complaint 5-18
Executive Director Report & Recommendations
Executive Director Supplemental Recommendation To Panel
Nye County
Town Of Pahrump
"While growth for growth's sake may be debatable, it is recognized by most residents in Pahrump that unless more businesses move to town, homeowners will be burdened with taxes for infrastructure that rival or possibly surpass those paid in California."
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Nevada State College
"Two pledges were instrumental in winning legislative support for the college's creation. The first stipulated that eager donors would cover much of the construction costs for the college's first building. The second held that the college would keep its costs down by offering only four-year degrees and leaving graduate studies to the state's two public universities."
Nye County School District
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Going Up
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Nevada Blasts Proposed Yucca Legislation
The Proposed Legislation
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Gaming And Gambling
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The Old Spanish Trail
Background
Gov. James G. Scrugham, The Exploration and Development of Southeastern Nevada (1935) (Nevada Observer history feature)
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[10:50 AM]
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Spending The People's Money
"At issue is whether to slash taxes in the face of record-breaking revenue growth, repeat Gov. Kenny Guinn's $300 million tax rebate of 2005 or invest the extra money in infrastructure to keep up with the state's exploding population."
State Sen. Beers
Dema Backs Lorraine
Assembly District 21
__________
"After testifying Wednesday, Buonotony said Galardi told the truth when he told prosecutors of all the Las Vegas Valley lawyers, elected officials and police officers to whom he made payments and to whom he provided free lap dances and sexual favors."
"Disinformation and lies are legal crime-fighting devices. The U.S. Supreme Court says so. But it still leaves a bad taste."
"Club owners and strippers themselves have gone before elected boards and denied that their industry fronts prostitution. Yet Galardi himself admits that at all hours of the day, he has "dancers" willing to do just about anything for the right price."
"Reilly said his situation and Deane's weren't as similar as the attacks would suggest. 'Fran Deane has an active investigation with the police and the district attorney's office. I have no investigation. The allegation isn't substantiated.'"
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The Politics Of Abortion
“'Not only are we paying anywhere from 13 to 30 cents more than we did a month ago but we’re still more than a month away from the Memorial Day weekend, which signals the start of the summer travel period,' he said."
One Man, One Vote
Churchill County
"Sherman Rattner strode into Boulder City Hall a few minutes before closing time Wednesday and officially launched his campaign to turn everyone in town into a millionaire."
The Convention Business
Condo Craze
What Happened To The Money?
Steady Developments
"'We filed this lawsuit to force them to comply with the law and to get them to stop playing games with the planning commission and the people of this valley,' said Bob Fulkerson, spokesman for the citizen groups."
"Twice now the Washoe County Commission has put off a vote to sell $35 million in bonds to fund the purchase despite a clear majority on the board in favor of buying the ranch. The two sides should make good use of the delay and find a way to get a deal done. For the future of this area, it's the right thing to do."
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"Frances Arnold is looking forward relaxing in a new $63 million student union when it opens next year at the University of Nevada, Reno."
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"'The problem is we don't need three or four nuclear plants in my judgment. We need 14 or 24. We need a large number. And that's the driver behind Yucca Mountain,' Bodman said."
"The Bush administration's ambitious plans to reprocess nuclear waste may be tied in part to dissatisfaction over the lagging repository project at Yucca Mountain, a leading scientist and former Energy Department executive said Wednesday."
"If you think the immigration law has nothing to do with you, think again. The bill being debated in Congress includes a provision that would create a national system to verify every worker's legal status."
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Home Means Nevada
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Publicity And Las Vegas
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[6:50 PM]
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Congressional Districts 2 and 3
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Adjourned 'Til Monday
G-Sting: New Battle Begins Over Nine Witnesses (Brian Allen report, KLAS-TV)
__________
Judicial Discipline Commission
RTC approves mass transit system (KVBC-TV report)
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Truckee Meadows Community College
Washoe County School District
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Toxic pollutants in Nevada down 33 percent, EPA says (Nevada AP article)
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Stop the madness, Sen. Reid! (Steve Sebelius column, Las Vegas CityLife)
Nevada Test Site
Immigration Reform
Rural Grants
$20 Million In USDA Grants For Distance Learning and Tele-Medicine Now Available For Rural Communities
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[10:00 AM]
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Congressional District 1
2006 Legislative Elections
Assembly District 30
Douglas County
__________
"And it's a reminder to the rest of us that the sexy, freedom-embracing image of Las Vegas sometimes covers a seedy reality, where elected officials are corrupted by money and sex, and citizens are screwed in the process."
"What is already clear is that strip club money---bribes, honest campaign contributions, consulting fees, whatever you want to call it--- bought way too much attention and time from the County Commission."
"One of the legal yet dubious practices that is common in the Las Vegas area is that elected officials frequently become paid consultants for local businesses (in areas, of course, they had no expertise worth consulting on before their election)."
Strip Club Owner Galardi Claims to be a Gigolo (Richard Abowitz column, Los Angeles Times)
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Judicial Discipline Commission
Nevada State Prison: Another Lockdown
"Inmates at the state women's prison in North Las Vegas were placed in lockdown Thursday after a report that staff members had encouraged prisoners to contact the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada."
Churchill County
"Members of a newly-formed Meth Task Force plan to educate as many people in the Lahontan Valley as possible about the dangers and prevalence of methamphetamine abuse."
"The failing Economic Opportunity Board suffered another financial blow this week when directors decided voluntarily to relinquish the organization's status as the state's largest community action agency."
"Judging by the names of Las Vegas communities, we live in Italian villas, or in the hills of Scotland, or in homes overlooking meadows, forests or the Pacific Ocean."
Douglas County
The Circle Game
Sign Up Now
Good signs draw many customers (Gardnerville Record-Courier* editorial)
Lyon County
Think Counterintuitive
"In order to prevent a tax increase, Lyon County Commissioners will have to request one."
Washoe County
Citizens v. Assessor
League representative Maryanne Ingemanson said the reason Tuesday's dismissal 'had to happen' was because the court 'determined the burden of proof was the same as if it were a murder trial."
Domestic Violence
Fire-Fighting
__________
Loyalty Oaths
Educational Expansion
Student Demonstrations
Washoe County School District
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The More It Takes, The More It Needs: SNWA Water Moloch Makes Rural Nevadans Edgy
"The gap analysis is one segment of a project to protect water rights and water resources in the basin, especially in light of southern Nevada’s interest in new water resources."
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Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
Glowing Praise
Public Opposition
Public Citizen Yucca Mountain Page
Looking For Scapegoats
"If 12 million people disobeying the law can win instant amnesty, we await the declaration that because more than 12 million Americans use cocaine or marijuana, all our drug laws are therefore repealed because 'Nobody could possibly round 'em all up.'"
Needs Study
"Only through a legitimate review of immigration and its effects will we learn what is the right course for future legislation. Until we do that, it is premature to craft a comprehensive border policy, especially if it is based purely on politics."
Needs A Humane Approach
"In all the years I have been active with the GOP Republicans from Incline /Crystal Bay have been "Wall Street Journal" Republicans ... fiercely supportive of entrepreneurial free enterprise, low taxes and minimal regulation but libertarian and non-judgmental when it comes to social issues. I'm proud of you folks!"
Demonstrations Continue
2 Legit 2 Quit
"The federal income tax is complicated because every provision that appears on the 66,000 pages of rules and regulations has its own constituency, its own beneficiaries. What member of Congress wants to deal with the army of lobbyists who would descend on his or her office should changes be proposed?"
Never Mind You, What About My Vacation?
"Never mind that more than a few weighty matters confront them--not the least of which is some attention to the long-pending tax legislation which has been the subject of much blathering, but no action."
"A House committee has unanimously approved a measure that would, among other things, eliminate the "sensitive but unclassified" designation the Bush administration uses to restrict access to public documents."
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Historic Preservation
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April 15, 2006
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[1:50 PM]
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Congressional District 3
Angle Property Tax Restraint Initiative
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Clark County Commission Corruption Trial
'Oh For Heaven's Sake'
The Weekly would just like to take this moment to underscore the most astute comment ever made about Vegas politics, the G-Sting trial and former Commissioner Erin Kenny's practice of blowing bribester Michael Galardi, uttered by an unknown woman in the G-Sting courtroom and quoted by the R-J's Adrienne Packer. That pretty much sums it up. Kudos.
"District Judge Nancy Saitta said the allegations of former strip club owner Michael Galardi against her won't have a bearing on her decision to run for the state Supreme Court."
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Rising Gas Prices
Economic Development Commission
City And County Of Carson
Freeway Bypass
Everybody Stand Back
Mesquite set for explosive growth (In Business Las Vegas article)
Real Estate Values
Henderson Constable
"The Henderson constable collects about $160,000 in fees, according to county records, and Mitchell says he gives about two-thirds of the money to his four deputies and also pays for uniforms and training. He wouldn't say exactly how much and said he didn't have to turn over that information."
Nye County
Anti-Meth Movement
"Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid used the Nye County Sheriff's Office to speak on how the nation's war on drugs needs refocusing on rural areas where methamphetamine use by young people has exploded in recent years."
'Refocus on war against drugs' (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Troubled Youth
Positive Action program brings successful results: Help for troubled kids to find their way (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Right Decisions
White Pine County
City-Count Disagreement Over Police Costs
"White Pine County experienced some heartache over the Nevada Department of Taxation's decision regarding the police protection, fire protection and animal control interlocal agreements."
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Professorial Evaluations
Searching For A President
A Guide to the Clark County School Board: The Clark County School Board has more control over your life than you thought. We scope out just how much. (Las Vegas Weekly article)
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Endangered Species
Beware The Leviathan
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SNWA's Suction Scheme
__________
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Western States Governors Protest Proposed Yucca Mountain Legislation
Nuclear Waste Reprocessing Program
Radioactive Railroad
Welcome To The Machine
'The Machine' is highlight of Yucca Mountain tour (Nevada AP article)
"You let all these Mexicans in, they're going to take all those fruit-picking jobs I've dreamed of all my life. Working outdoors, sleeping in my car, fighting with dogs for food. Just like camping, only different."
US Air Force Fly-Overs
Appeals Court Dismisses Sex Discrimination Case
"A federal appeals court on Friday threw out a sexual-discrimination lawsuit filed by a former Harrah's casino bartender who was fired for refusing to conform to a newly implemented grooming policy that required women to wear makeup."
Duck Creek Basin
Silver State Trail
"The Silver State Trail, designated for off-highway vehicle use, brought about $2 million in federal funding into Lincoln County. Designating an expansion of the trail could do the same in White Pine County, as well as limit the impact of off-highway vehicle use."
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Stations' Secrets
Casino Sales
Gaming: Strip land values drive casino sales (In Business Las Vegas article)
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V&TRR
[1:10 PM]
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Rep. Gibbons
Rogers reverses opposition to Nev. congressman's bid (Nevada AP article)
Lt. Gov. Hunt, State Sen. Titus, Mayor Gibson Speak At Forum
"The audience that heard three gubernatorial candidates speak on Saturday may have wondered why they needed to vote at all, considering that the three took nearly identical positions on every issue."
Governor hopefuls take similar stands at candidate forum: Weapons tests, reproductive rights among issues (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Term Limits
A Bad Idea Is Looking Worse
"In 1996, voters amended the constitution to limit state lawmakers to 12 years in both the Senate and the Assembly."
State senators come to terms with term limits (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
The Irascible One (Nevada Observer Blog)
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The Real Questions: How Much More Remains, And How To Clean It Up
BRIBERY TRIAL RECAP (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Everybody Does It In The City Of Favors
"'If this is a day when certain deputy district attorneys show up for people they consider family and friends, it's just unacceptable,' Walton said."
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State Government
State Prison Problems
"A spokesman for Gov. Kenny Guinn told the Sun that state prison officials will begin investigating the prison's medical system next week. We hope they broaden their scope, as recent events suggest that problems may extend beyond the delivery of medical care. Prison staff and inmates who have legitimate questions about whether the facility is meeting standards for basic human rights and medical care should be allowed to raise those concerns without retribution."
Health Care Costs
NNRH financial reporting questioned (Elko Free Press article)
State Tourism
EDAWN And Target2010
Economic Stability Coupled With Favorable Lifestyle Goal Of Program (Nevada Observer article)
State Emergency Radio System
SNEA
"The fight between the State of Nevada Employees Association director and its board is giving the labor movement a black eye and could result in a step back for state employees."
For good of state workers, association has to cleanup its act quickly (Nevada Appeal* editorial)
Clark County
Vote no on risky proposal: An industrial site that is home to chemical plants is not safe for a retail development (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Elko County
ECVA marketing makes difference, says Newman (Elko Free Press article)
State’s counter likes Elko numbers (Elko Free Press article)
Lyon County
Tax increase considered in Lyon County (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Washoe County
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education
Wants More Money
Public Schools
Lyon County School District
School rezoning sparks emotional debate (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
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Water Outlook Good For Nevada But Developers Still Want More (Nevada Observer article)
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Immigration Reform
"For me, the bottom line is the defense of and respect for our Constitution and its fundamental principles outlining rights of individual citizens under the law. The best way to protect that is not to cow to marchers with picket signs but to rationally and logically debate the pros and cons and grounds for compromise."
I'm an immigrant and America needs me (Hector Gonzalez column, Nevada Appeal*)
"What has become crystal clear in the past couple of weeks is that there won't be a serious attempt by Congress to "solve" the illegal immigration "problem" as long as there is an election just a few months down the road."
Election is the real issue (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Retired Generals Call For Resignation Of Secretary of Defense
"On Thursday, retired Army Maj. Gen. John Riggs and retired Gen. Charles Swannack joined Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold, Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton and Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste, all retired, in calling for Rumsfeld's resignation."
More Retired Generals Call for Rumsfeld's Resignation (New York Times article)
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Raking It In
Insidious Spread of Minicasinos
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Those Old Blue Jeans
Levi's 501 Jeans: A Riveting Story in Early Reno (Guy Rocha column, Nevada Observer)
Piper's Opera House
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[10:00 AM]
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2006 Congressional Races
2006 Secretary of State's Race
2006 State Supreme Court Races
Immigration Reform
Health Care Costs
"Everybody in Nevada wants somebody else to pick up the tab," the Reno Democrat said. "Problems don't get solved here until it's a crisis of epidemic proportions."
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Corruption? In Nevada?
__________
Nevada Government
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
Love That Dirty Water
Clark County
Cast A Giant Shadow
Breathe Deep
Toxic releases increase in Clark County (Las Vegas Sun article)
Densely-Packed Casinotown Planned For North Las Vegas
"A development company that paid a record $639 million for 2,675 acres of federal land in North Las Vegas plans to build more than 16,000 homes and a proposed casino anchoring the development."
New NLV community, casino are raising questions (Las Vegas Sun article)
Move To Upgrade Traffic Ticket Collection System
Traffic ticketing to get 'smart': Changes to reduce hassle of paying fines (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Lyon County
When The Exceptions Swallow The Rule
Code change would limit chances to amend Lyon master plan -- Chief planner: Change would allow more efficient work on plan due in '08 (Nevada Appeal* article)
Nye County
Defamation Suit Settled
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Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education
Unanticipated Problems
"Augustus Society Chairman George Gingerelli said the lure of the $10,000 Millennium Scholarship, awarded to Nevada students with B averages and above, has kept students from seeking out private scholarships."
Public Schools
Washoe County School District
__________
Tom Gorman on separating the emotion from substance in the debate over immigration (Las Vegas Sun column)
Income Tax Reform
Amen.
"It's time to demand a simple, clear system that explains who owes any excises, and who owes any direct taxes, with single rates designed to pay legitimate government bills, not to redistribute income or effect other 'social goals.'"
Federal Lands
9th Circuit Court Of Appeals
Jesperson v. Harrah's (US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals website - pdf format)
Prosecutor's Murder Still Unsolved
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[9:55 PM]
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Nevada Politics
2006 Congressional Races
Incumbents winning money race in U.S. House, Senate contests (Nevada AP article)
The money race (Anjeanette Damon column, Reno Gazette-Journal)
Congressional District 2
Angle Campaign Expands With New Fundraising Numbers - Outpacing Both GOP Primary Opponents for the Quarter (Angle Campaign Press Release)
Derby Fundraising Momentum Continues: Nearly $190,000 Raised in Q1, over $350,000 Cash on Hand (Derby Campaign Press Release)
2006 Governor's Race
Beers criticizes opponent's support for minimum wage increase (Nevada AP article)
__________
Corruption? In Nevada?
Clark County Commission Corruption Trial
G-Sting: Kincaid-Chauncey Tells Her Side of The Story (Brian Allen report, KLAS-TV)
Mary Kincaid-Chauncey takes the G-Sting stand (KVBC-TV report)
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Federal Nevada
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
State of Nevada's Letter to Sen. Domenici RE: Recent public discussions between the Energy Department’s scientists and the NRC Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects website, pdf format-118k)
Immigration Reform
Reid Spokesman: Republicans Can't Hide Trying To Make Immigrants Felons (Sen. Reid Press Release)
Illegal Immigration Perspective from an American Latina (Rosa Villanueva-White/ Richard Disney column, Battle Born News)
Homeland Security
Reid meets with first responders to discuss security in Nevada (Nevada AP article)
Generals' Call For Rumsfeld Resignation
Reid says recent calls for Rumsfeld's ouster aimed at Bush (Nevada AP article)
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From The Neon Empire
Aztar Acquisition
Battle of the parent companies: Caesars owner outbids Boomtown owner for casino sites (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Bidding war heats up as fourth suitor emerges for Aztar Corp. (Nevada AP article)
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[11:45 AM]
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2006 Governor's Race
Gubernatorial hopefuls take on immigration: Candidates agree policy is a federal issue, largely skirt what can be done at state level (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
2006 Congressional Races
Democrat top fundraiser in race to succeed Gibbons (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Show me the money! (Eric Odom column, Battle Born News)
__________
Corruption? In Nevada?
Clark County Commission Corruption Trial
Defendant Denies Charges
Oral Suasions
ERIN NEFF: Public media's Brave New World (Las Vegas Review-Journal* column)
The Spreading Taint Of $kindustry Corruption
"Just when it seems that the stories can't get any worse in the federal corruption trial involving four former Clark County commissioners and a Las Vegas strip club owner, internal Justice Department documents have revealed that local FBI agents were among those who received drinks, lap dances and other freebies from Cheetahs owner Michael Galardi."
More troubling revelations: FBI agent's admission that he accepted favors and gifts from a strip-club owner, who is a key witness in a political corruption trial, casts a shadow on the agency (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Special Favors In Las Vegas Traffic Court: We've Always Done It This Way
Tiffany ticketed; matter reduced to parking violation (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
"Isn't there anyone who remembers that justice is supposed to be the same for everyone?"
'Friends and family calendar' a travesty: Preferential treatment on traffic tickets? (Las Vegas Review-Journal* editorial)
__________
Nevada Government
State Government
Ethics Commission
Allegations Against Assemblyman Scott Sibley
Commission lacks authority to consider complaint (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
State Courts
It's Not A Normal Case
Case of dead guinea pigs will go to court: Attorney's fee will be a dozen of the animals raised by woman fighting county fine (Las Vegas Sun article)
Local Government
Clark County
Plight Of The Homeless
"Las Vegas, like Los Angeles, is on the list of the 20 "meanest" cities to homeless in the United States, compiled by advocacy groups. City officials disagree with the characterization, and the City Council recently approved a 10-year plan aimed at ending homelessness in the city."
ACLU hails homeless ruling -- City officials: Decision in L.A. case has no effect on LV enforcement (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Appeals court ruling on homeless sparks local debate (Las Vegas Sun article)
Cameras, Cameras Everywhere: The Surveillance Scene
"While Las Vegas Boulevard is one of the world's security camera epicenters, the surveillance craze is spilling over into other areas, too, from libraries and taxicabs to interstates and elevators."
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Public Schools
Non-Reporting Of Minority Students' Scores
"'It's important to see who is being excluded because in the past that was a common way to hide the problems of underachieving ethnic groups,' Rheault said . 'The new federal law did expose that type of practice.'"
Nevada education chief wants closer look at reporting of minority test scores (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
States across nation taking advantage of loophole to boost numbers (Associated Press article)
Clark County School District
No Middle Path
"Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson's intervention in the dispute between the Clark County School District and some residents of a rural neighborhood appears to have been fruitless."
Gibson fails to sway plan for schools CCSD (Las Vegas Sun article)
Schools And Labor Unions
Teamsters optimistic in schools election (Las Vegas Sun article)
__________
Nevada Utilities
Seven Utilities And The Frontier Line
Utilities in Nv, west form partnership (Associated Press article)
__________
Federal Nevada
From The US Congress
Reid outlines platforms in Fallon (Lahontan Valley News* article)
"The current battle between President George Bush and Nevada Senator Harry Reid over immigration policy is a good example of how the people get short-changed when government leaders cannot manage their professional relationships."
Attack dog role taking toll on Reid (Lahontan Valley News* editorial)
Federal Lands
National parks facing crisis: President Bush's push for more budget cuts is forcing national parks to curtail services (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Sell it off, Burn it off, and Contract it out -- The Bush Administration Policy on Public Lands (Desert Beacon Blog)
Secrecy At The Department Of Energy
"The Department of Energy Office of Intelligence has reverted to a policy of budget secrecy that it rejected more than a decade ago."
DoE Intelligence Embraces Discredited Budget Secrecy Policy (Federation of American Scientists Secrecy News article)
Recent Sex Discrimination Case
Claims call for evidence (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Generals' Call For Rumsfeld Resignation
Top brass demand attention (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
New From The US Census Bureau
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[6:50 PM]
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Nevada Politics
2006 Governor's Race
New Poll Results
New poll: Also bad for Titus (Steve Sebelius column, Las Vegas CityLife)
The Race Generally
Good for Gibbons, bad for Titus (Steve Sebelius column, Las Vegas CityLife)
Rep. Jim Gibbons
Gibbons requests Anaconda cleanup as priority (Mason Valley News article)
Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt
Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt decides to engage (Anjeanette Damon column, Reno Gazette-Journal)
She's aliiive! (Hugh Jackson column, Las Vegas Gleaner)
2006 Legislative Races
Assembly District 24
Planning for the Future: Apple coming to Reno- but is it enough? (David Bobzien Campaign website)
__________
Corruption? In Nevada?
Clark County Commission Corruption Trial
Just Ask Them
Officials testify they got no bribes from Vegas strip club owner (Nevada AP article)
G-Sting: Atkinson-Gates Gives Surprise Testimony (Brian Allen report, KLAS-TV)
Allegations Against Clark County Recorder Frances Deane
The Teddy Bears Had Pockets
Second Search Warrant Served on Fran Deane's Home (George Knapp report, KLAS-TV)
__________
Nevada Government
State Government
Bridget Robb Peck and Wayne Pederson Appointed To District Judgeships
Governor Names Judicial Appointments (Gov. Guinn Press Release)
Local Government
Clark County
Allure Las Vegas
High-rise project uses innovative financing: Union finance and tax breaks needed to make the deal pencil out (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Lyon County
Lyon County Commissioners' Agenda For April 20 (Nancy Dallas column, NewsDesk)
"Lyon’s development community might have to adjust their planning schedules a bit if the Lyon County Board of Commissioners approves an ordinance to limit master plan amendment requests to only once per year."
Lyon PlanCom votes to funnel master plan amendments to annual meeting (Mason Valley News article)
New landscape ordinance heading to County Commission (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
Local Governments Raising Taxes, Fees To Cover Developing Costs
County
County to consider tax increase to gain access to discussion (Mason Valley News article)
County approves guidelines for special assessment districts: Dayton development looking at idea to fund improvements; county to also consider bond counsel (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
Dayton Conservation District
Conservation District gets OK to seek more Question 1 funds (Mason Valley News article)
Silver Springs General Improvement District
Residents protesting SSGID fee schedule (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
"ERGS, Inc., has passed another hurdle toward creating the largest development Silver Springs has ever seen following a 6-1 approval vote from the Lyon County Planning Commission (PlanCom) last Tuesday."
SS planned community plan earns PlanCom OK (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
Stagecoach General Improvement District
Stagecoach rate hearing draws full house: GID board tables septic system rates to work with homeowners (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
Yerington
City locks seat at tax increase hearing with 3¢ request: County follows suit, sets budget hearing for April 20 meeting (Mason Valley News article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Public Schools
Nevada Democrats propose merit pay for teachers (Nevada AP article)
__________
Nevada Health Matters
Sticking business with the doctor's bill (Chuck Muth column, Las Vegas Business Press)
Healthcare shortcomings in Incline (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
__________
Nevada Water Matters
Helping Out Harvey
"'You're kidding me,' said Bob Fulkerson, director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, whose group opposes the wells and pipelines proposed for the project."
Development wins EPA award (Las Vegas Sun article)
Can't make this stuff up (Hugh Jackson column, Las Vegas Gleaner)
Truckee River
City to discuss Truckee River Operating Agreement (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
Walker River
WRID awards bid on Topaz diversion project: Low bidder hadn’t been able to obtain performance bond thus far; other option was to re-bid project (Mason Valley News article)
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Federal Nevada
Nevada Test Site
Former Nevada Test Site workers helped by agency action (Nevada AP article)
Recent Sex Discrimination Case
Humpty Dumpty justice (Andy Barbano column, Barbwire)
Analysis of the Humpty Dumpty decision from Jespersen attorney Jenny Pizer (Jenny Pizer column, Barbwire)
Cruel And Unusual Punishment, And Laws Directed At The Homeless
Jones et al. v. City of Los Angeles (US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals website)
Extravagant Corporate Salaries
"Boards and executives should be made to behave if they don't have enough shame to do it themselves."
SEC has a great opportunity (Ian Mylchreest column, Las Vegas Business Press)
From The US Congress
Democrats Call For Action To Prevent Gas Price Gouging (Sen. Reid Press Release)
__________
From The Neon Empire
Aztar Acquisition
Columbia Sussex tosses hat into Aztar ring (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Las Vegas' Top Tourist Attractions
Jay Sarno's legacy stands tall on the Strip (David G. Schwartz column, Las Vegas Business Press)
__________
Nevada Journalism
Media: Don't blow your job (Steve Sebelius column, Las Vegas CityLife)
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[11:00 AM]
_____
Nevada Politics
2006 Governor's Race
Rep. Gibbons And Lt. Gov. Hunt
"Hunt said Tuesday the attack on Gibbons was prompted by her realization that 'I am up against two big, powerful, old-boy political machines, one on the Republican side and one on the Democratic side.'"
Hunt goes on attack against rival Gibbons (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
"I've heard more about China from Lorraine Hunt than I've heard about the education needs of Nevada's students."
Gibbons fires back at Hunt (Anjeanette Damon column, Reno Gazette-Journal)
No love song from Lorraine to Jim (Vegas Pundit website)
2006 Secretary Of State's Race
Candidate Scroggins wants business-friendly Nevada (Elko Free Press article)
State Democratic Party
Education Reform Proposal
Democrats have a plan (Vegas Pundit website)
"Incentive pay for teachers, full-day kindergarten and more options for high schoolers -- paid for in part by a state lottery -- are the main education proposals Nevada Democrats plan to back in the state Legislature next year."
Party unveils education agenda: Democrats back incentive pay for teachers (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
"My guess is many voters of both parties will like parts or most of this Democratic beginning. And even though it is merely a start, the question for the Republicans is a simple one: What's your plan?"
Jon Ralston says Democrats have started ball rolling on education; now it's time for GOP to say where it stands (Las Vegas Sun column)
NV Dems unveil education plan (Hugh Jackson column, Las Vegas Gleaner)
State Party Primaries
"Fairness demands distributing the power to choose a presidential nominee."
State needs early primary (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
__________
Corruption? In Nevada?
Clark County Commission Corruption Trial
Defense witnesses contradict Galardi's testimony (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
The Old Fixeroo
We've Always Done It That Way
"The most amazing revelations in the Strippergate trial continue to be the legal ones."
How to Fix a Ticket in Vegas (Richard Abowitz column, Los Angeles Times)
__________
Nevada Government
State Government
State ACLU Back To Defending Millionaires Again; $kindustry Exploiters Want To Stop Paying Entertainment Tax
"The owners of eight of the Las Vegas Valley's most well-known strip clubs want a federal judge to repeal the state's live entertainment tax and refund the millions of dollars it already has cost the clubs."
Strip club owners challenge entertainment tax (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
State Ethics Commission
Clark County Judge's Dismissal Of Charges To Be Appealed To State Supreme Court
Goodman ethics case to be pursued (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
State Judiciary
"District Judge Nancy Saitta, who is considering a run for state Supreme Court, had the most reversals in the state during that period: seven."
Nevada judges do well when cases are reviewed (Las Vegas Sun article)
Governor appoints Pederson to Third District judgeship (Lahontan Valley News* article)
Douglas, Humboldt, Nye And Washoe
Prescription drug card available in four Nevada counties (Nevada Appeal* article)
Black Businessmen
Black-owned business growth in Nevada outpaces nation (Reno Gazette-Journal* article)
Welfare Funding
"U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., sought to forge a partnership Tuesday between government and religious organizations in Northern Nevada to better serve the needy."
Summit helps connect faith-based groups, Reid says (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
Going For The Grants
Nonprofits to vie for city grants at supervisors meeting (Nevada Appeal* article)
Clark County
Metro Statements On Mob Attack at MGM Grand
A 'good-faith' cover-up? (Las Vegas Review-Journal* editorial)
What Happens in Vegas is None of Your Business (Richard Abowitz column, Los Angeles Times)
Taking Up The Slack
County to temporarily run some EOB programs (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
The New Eldorado
"The group has floated a plan to sell off some 200 square miles of vacant city land in the Eldorado Valley and share the proceeds among all Boulder City "residents-of-record" as of March 31, 2006."
Boulder City land sale proposal advances (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Zoned Out
Zoning may force homeless agency in West Las Vegas to find a new home (Las Vegas Sun article)
That Homeless Problem
Good law, bad attitude: City of Las Vegas' homelessness ordinance cited as a good example, but how it's actually enforced is the real test of its effectiveness, humaneness (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Elko County
Elko Convention And Visitors Authority
Hernandez not seeking re-election (Elko Free Press article)
Budget And Re-Budget
County continues working on budget this week (Elko Free Press article)
Carlin’s draft budget falls $200,465 short (Elko Free Press article)
Anti-Meth
Sheriff’s office plans drug forum (Elko Free Press article)
Washoe County
Rapacious Tax Cabal
"Every time we have attempted to seek justice, the Washoe County government network, including the county commission, District Attorney Gammick, McGowan, and the Washoe courts have orchestrated deliberate schemes to thwart our efforts."
Working to obtain justice in taxation until we prevail (Les Barta column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
Nuisance Ordinances Under Review
"Incline residents may finally get a chance to custom-tailor land-use and nuisance ordinances to the needs of the community, as Washoe County recently released a tentative plan for the Citizen's Advisory Board to review."
Nuisance ordinances could change (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education
Looking For Someone Presidential
UNR president finalists are solid, official says (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Public Schools
Clark County School District
Six principals apply for local-control program (Las Vegas Sun article)
Washoe County School District
"The chairwoman of the Assembly Education Committee said she was dismayed to learn that 38 percent of Washoe County ninth-graders received at least one F last semester, with almost 20 percent receiving two or more Fs."
9th-graders most at risk for failing (Reno Gazette-Journal* article)
__________
Nevada Utilities
Welcome To The Nineteenth Century
At what price clean? Proposed power grid losing steam due to primitive cleaning technology of coal-fired plants (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
__________
Nevada Water Matters
Lake Tahoe
Workshops help keep lake blue (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Carson River
Brunswick Reservoir
Wetland might ease wastewater problem (Nevada Appeal* article)
Flood Danger Seen
Officials monitor the river, weather to curb potential flooding in valley (Lahontan Valley News* article)
Local flood preparation shows agency cooperation (Lahontan Valley News* editorial)
Truckee River
Flood Control
"A coalition of local governments favors a "living river" flood control strategy to minimize the use of unsightly levees and flood walls and allow floodwaters to slow and spread on undeveloped floodplains and terraced portions of the riverbank."
Commissioners agree to $3.3 million flood control plan (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Federal Nevada
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
New DOE strategy won't help Yucca situation (Bob Loux column, Las Vegas Sun)
Homeland Security Funding
"The federal government relied on inaccurate data to help justify dropping Las Vegas from a list of cities eligible for special anti-terrorism funding, according to county officials who viewed the information last week."
HOMELAND SECURITY: U.S. data on LV challenged -- County officials point out errors in criteria for grant allocations (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Immigration Reform
Republican Slime Ad
GOP ad blames Democrats: Immigration fight taken to airwaves (Las Vegas Sun article)
Planned Boycott
"Immigrant advocates should think clearly about the advantages and disadvantages of boycotting jobs and classes, especially."
Great Boycott could backfire (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Federal Largesse
$522 million in government contracts granted to Nevada businesses last year (Nevada Appeal* article)
Confidence In US Dollar Slides
Gold at 25-year highs (Elko Free Press article)
Predatory Lending Practices
A return to Caveat Emptor? (Desert Beacon Blog)
From The US Congress
Poll: Reid's support slips (Nevada AP article)
__________
From The Neon Empire
Aztar Acquisition
Pinnacle raises offer for Aztar as bidding war escalates (Nevada AP article)
==========================================
[7:10 PM]
_____
Nevada Politics
2006 Governor's Race
Hunt keeps 'em coming (Anjeanette Damon column, Reno Gazette-Journal)
Hunt-ing for Jim Gibbons (Chuck Muth column, Battle Born News)
Term Limits
"It will take time and hard work for us to get back to a responsive and healthy political system. It can't be done with nostrums and quick fixes, and the first moves are up to the politicians."
We'll get kicked when term limits kick in (Dennis Myers column, Pahrump Valley Times)
__________
Corruption? In Nevada?
Clark County Commission Corruption Trial
Denies Taking Bribes; Says He Won Money Gambling
G-Sting: Dario Herrera Called to Witness Stand (Brian Allen report, KLAS-TV)
__________
Nevada Government
State Government
Yet Another Nevada Mortgage Broker Firm Goes Bankrupt, Leaving Investors Holding The Bag
Filing leaves people miffed: USA Capital investors facing big financial hit (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Local Government
Clark County
It's Fixed
Mayor touts recovery of downtown LV (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Airport Tunnel Project Planned
McCarran tunnel expansion planned: Airport allowed to negotiate contract (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Mystery Tapes Of Henderson
Judge rules 911 snafu not enough to dismiss case (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
It Happened There
Police Confirm MGM Assault (Richard Abowitz column, Los Angeles Times)
Nye County
The Cooperative Monopoly Of Nye
What are your thoughts on making VEA more efficient? (Calvin and Norma Morrison column, Pahrump Valley Times)
__________
Federal Nevada
DOE Secretary Bodman's Recent Visit To Yucca Mountain
It turns out Bush owes Porter a favor (Hugh Jackson column, Las Vegas Gleaner)
That Recent 9th Circuit Decision On The Homeless
'Cruel and unusual' punishment? Appeals court cites Eighth Amendment in homeless case (Las Vegas Review-Journal* editorial)
A Government Obsessed With Secrecy
How will we ever know? (Desert Beacon Blog)
__________
From The Neon Empire
Aztar Acquisition
Tropicana expenses bleed Aztar's first quarter (Las Vegas Business Press article)
==========================================
[10:30 AM]
_____
Nevada Politics
2006 US Senate Race
Oscar's Dance Of The Seven Veils Finally Ends
'I LOVE LAS VEGAS': Goodman rules out Senate bid -- Mayor lists several projects he wants to shepherd to the finish (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
2006 Congressional Races
Congressional District 2
Dean Heller Finally Gets A Website
2006 Supreme Court Races
"Becker was first elected to the high court in 1998. She is the only justice up for election this year who joined the controversial opinion invalidating the two-thirds requirement for the Legislature to raise taxes, a decision Saitta said she disagreed with."
Supreme Court race a tale of two Nancys: District judge vows to 'listen to the voice of the people' (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
State Democratic Party
Democratic Party to counter GOP ads: Views on immigration aired on radio stations (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
State Republican Party
Angst among Republicans: GOP consultants worry that Bush's woes might hurt House and Senate candidates (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
__________
Corruption? In Nevada?
Clark County Commission Corruption Trial
"'I have never received a payment from Mr. Galardi or Mr. Malone, anywhere,' Herrera said."
CORRUPTION TRIAL: Herrera fights back -- Ex-commissioner denies taking cash, admits indiscretions (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
"But perils remain for Herrera today, as Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Schiess goes to the heart of his cross-examination, revisiting the entire case and replaying wiretaps that allegedly link Herrera to Galardi's bribes."
Risky move could build sympathy -- ANALYSIS: DARIO HERRERA TAKES THE STAND (Jeff German article, Las Vegas Sun)
__________
Nevada Government
State Government
More Problems At The Nevada State Prison
Dangerous Conditions
"Cosgrove said many of the guards have kept quiet for fear of retaliation. He said he was willing to come forward because he's retiring soon."
Guards say state prison is unsafe (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Not That Funny
Firing of state prison lieutenant is upheld: He set up pepper spray 'prank' on officer (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Couldn't Find The Elephant: USA Capital And State Regulators
Audit of firm showed no woes: Many borrowers lapsed on payment schedules (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
That Lucky Las Vegas Land Deal
Walters land deal probe goes on: LV holding off on any votes on plan (Las Vegas Sun article)
Emergency Planning
"After California and Alaska, Nevada is the most seismically active state in the union."
Anniversary a grim reminder to prepare (Nevada Appeal* editorial)
Public Safety
Crime State Rankings 2006 Again Designates Nevada as the Nation’s Most Dangerous State (Morgan Quitno Press Release)
Local Government
Churchill County
That Mysterious Dune
Sand Mountain attendance grows as weather warms (Lahontan Valley News* article)
Clark County
Las Vegas
Public Doesn't Get To Vote On Massive Indebtedness Measure
"The city of Las Vegas plans to take on the largest amount of debt in its history to pay for parks and prepare a chunk of vacant downtown land for development."
City to use bonds to pay for parks, Union Park plans (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Go Somewhere Else
Hopes for moratorium dashed: Commission kills proposed land-use restrictions on mobile home parks (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
North Las Vegas
"The still unnamed community, being developed by the Olympia Group, would be constructed on 2,675 acres of former Bureau of Land Management land the company bought for $639 million in November. It would include more than 16,000 housing units, six school sites, a post office, library, and fire and police stations."
Developer's plan for NLV site is unveiled (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Land act dollars allocated for park (Las Vegas Review-Journal* article)
Elko County
City building permits soar in March (Elko Free Press article)
ECVA eyes creating event funding cycles (Elko Free Press article)
Washout near Jiggs (Elko Free Press article)
Washoe County
Regional Transportation Commission
RTC to ponder fare increases (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
ERIN NEFF: It's education, stupid (Las Vegas Review-Journal* column)
"Could it be that state Democrats have finally decided to jump down off the lap of the hidebound Nevada education establishment and run free?"
A 'new approach'? (Las Vegas Review-Journal* editorial)
Nevada Now The 47th Smartest State (Morgan Quitno website)
Will education act lead to segregation? The requirements placed on schools to demonstrate students in specific groups are succeeding may lead schools to resist efforts to diversify (Associated Press article)
How AP analyzed test scores under No Child Left Behind law (Associated Press article)
Public Schools
Washoe County School District
Basic Proficiency Push A Success (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Water Matters
Fernley Pipeline To Replace Leaking, Decrepit 100 Year-Old Truckee Canal
Likes It Leaky
"One of the myths frequently hurled around in debates about water is the most "efficient" way to move this life-sustaining commodity from place to place is by putting it in a pipeline."
'Efficiency' overrated in tribe's pipeline plan (Lahontan Valley News* editorial)
Fear The Leviathan
