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Nevada's Online State News Journal
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December 2004-June 2005; July-September 2005; October-December 2005; June 2006; July 2006; August 2006, September 2006; October 2006; November 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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December 1-2, 2006
[5:45 PM]
The new issue of The Nevada Observer is out -- check our middle column for stories, articles and columns.
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Nevada Government
State Government
Office Of The Governor
Gibbons takes oath on Jan. 1: Swearing-in next day during inauguration will be 'ceremonial act' (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Office Of The Attorney General
More on Walters land deal: Developer makes allegation against attorney general (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
BILL WALTERS' DEALS: FBI urged to take probe -- Attorney general says continuing investigation would be conflict of interest (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Nevada attorney general wants FBI probe (Associated Press article)
National Methamphetamine Awareness Day
Nevada Attorney General's Office Recognizes November 30, 2006 As National Methamphetamine Awareness Day (Attorney General Press Release)
National Methamphetamine Awareness Day: Help from a higher power (Elko Free Press article)
Collaboration goes beyond 'just say no' (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
State Budget
2007-09 BUDGET PERIOD: Revenues projected -- $700 million more forecast (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Forum reduces total revenues for budget: $80 million has to be cut from governor's spending list (Nevada Appeal article)
Panel projects state revenues for Nevada lawmakers (Associated Press article)
The Nevada Legislature
Regulation Of Low-Down, Sleazy, Exploitive Payday Loan Operations
Payday Loan Scams Perpetuated By State Agency: Barbara Buckley -- Attorney General Launches Education Campaign In Clark County (Nevada Observer article)
Washington looking at payday loan rules (Ian Mylchreest column, Las Vegas Business Press)
Xenophobic Affirmation
Speaking More Than One Language Should Be Against The Law? Sharron Angle Wants An English Only State To Prevail In Nevada (Nevada Observer article)
Oh Really?
Assemblyman doesn’t expect any major issues in ‘07 Legislative session (Mason Valley News article)
State Judiciary
Article 6 Commission
Judiciary Review Committee Made Up Of Some Considered Ethically Challenged: Comes On Heels Of L.A. Times Investigative Reports, Federal Court Rebuke (Nevada Observer article)
Clark County District Courts Reorganization Plan
"Parraguirre, who took office in 1999, said she has refused more than once to allow a judge to alter the court minutes in a case."
Court clerk proposal proceeds: Parraguirre opposes Hardcastle's plan (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Process started to fill judicial vacancies (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Wide Of The Mark: An Ill-Conceived Attack On One Of Washoe's Finest Jurists
Nevada’s Hug-a-Thug Judge (Chuck Muth column, Battleborn Opinion News)
Electoral Canvass
Nevada Supreme Court canvasses Nov. 7 vote (Ely Times article)
Minimum Wage Initiative
Minimum Wage Law Begs Answers --- Many Confused: Federal Mandates Could Push Minimum Wage To $8.25 Soon (Nevada Observer article)
National Identification
National Identification Coming By Way Of Nevada DMV: Possible Chaos At Driver License Renewal Time --- 2008 (Nevada Observer article)
Closed Door Meetings On Corporate Taxes
Department Of Taxation Wants Closed, Secret Meetings: Changes To Open Meeting Law To Be Discussed At December Hearing (Nevada Observer article)
Ranching In Nevada
Water and weeds top concern for Nevada farmers, ranchers (Ely Times article)
Western Alfalfa & Forage Conference set Dec. 11-13 (Mason Valley News article)
Veterans Affairs
Hang Him
Veterans cemetery vandalized (Lahontan Valley News article)
Nevada's Burning Hills
BLM seeks seasonal firefighters (Ely Times article)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
Incoming Carson City district attorney names top assistant (Associated Press article)
Churchill County
Grimes named chamber of commerce director (Lahontan Valley News article)
Clark County
Waiting For Ivanpah
"Researchers at the investment firm Deutsche Bank say that if hotel development continues at its current pace, Las Vegas resorts could face a shortfall of up to 7 million visitors annually by 2017, the soonest a new airport could be up and running."
Study: Airport can't deliver on tourism demands (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
County looks to increase Walker's pay: Aviation director to resign Jan. 30 to become VP at engineering firm (Las Vegas Sun article)
Growing By Leaps And Bounds
2 million people in Clark County projected in 2007: NLV Southern Nevada's fastest-growing city (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
The Police And Demonstrators
Public versus private: Metro's handling of protests on the Strip has improved -- but not enough for the ACLU of Nevada (Las Vegas CityLife article)
City Of Henderson: Elderly Volunteers Recruited To Help Swell City Revenue
Cruising for parking violators: Senior volunteers help Henderson shoppers stay honest by issuing tickets (Las Vegas Sun article)
Drinking And Driving
Drinking and Driving in Vegas: A Brief Analysis -- Assessing our dangerous behavior in a city known for boozing (Las Vegas Weekly article)
Plight Of The Homeless
Federal Judge OKs Feeding Of The Bums In Parks: Las Vegas Ordinance Too Narrow In Its Focus: Judge Robert Jones (Nevada Observer article)
Douglas County
County seeking volunteers for various board positions (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
Lake Tahoe Basin
Legislators meet with locals, talk about Northern Nevada (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Emergency Services
Search and Rescue: Do you have what it takes? (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Medics converge to learn at Cal-Neva (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
County Separatist Movement
The big picture (Andrew Pridgen column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
Shorezone is here in all its glory (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Lyon County
Mason Valley And The Internet
Antenna not likely to be netted quickly (Mason Valley News article)
City Of Yerington
City Council proposes parking, inoperable vehicle ordinances (Mason Valley News article)
Nye County
Anti-Immigrant Ordinance
Don't Celebrate St. Patrick's Day In Good Old Pahrump, Nevada: Polish Nationalism Will Not Be Tolerated Nor Will Español (Nevada Observer editorial)
Washoe County
Urban Renewal In The City Of Reno
City gets ideas on projects for former railroad land along downtown trench (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Western Nevada
Target2010 Just The Beginning --- Called "A Model For Nevada": Five Major Areas To Be Explored For Six-County Economic Development (Nevada Observer article)
Target2010: A planning aid (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Leaders embark on new plan to lure industry to northern Nevada (Associated Press article)
White Pine County
For new county finance chief, Ely is centrally located (Ely Times article)
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Nevada Politics
Infantile Antics
Gibbons Facing Nasty Transition From Hateful Lame Duck Guv: Guinn And Wife Acting Like Children --- Better Check To Make Sure Mansion Is Safe (Nevada Observer article)
A Capitol offense: Lt. Gov.-elect Krolicki should drop his childish desire to literally hold office (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Nothing There
Metro recommends no charges against Gibbons; DA sets no time on decision (Las Vegas Sun article)
MAZZEO ALLEGATIONS: Police close Gibbons inquiry -- Probe finds no evidence of assault (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
The Campaign Advertising Industry
Millions spent as Nevada campaign ads go negative (Associated Press article)
Tobacco Prohibition And Prohibitionists
Professor says new law won't hurt gaming industry: State smoking ban might encourage more gambling, he theorizes (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
No Smoking ... Except, Where? Effective December 8: Here Are Some Unofficial Guidelines From Nevada Taxpayers Association (Nevada Observer article)
General Political Commentary
Those unintended consequences (Kent Harper column, Ely Times)
Elections give glimpse into a community (Jim Clark column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
State Democratic Party
Every vote still counts: Writing off any voter, including rural Nevadans, is the wrong approach for a political party (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
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Nevada Education Matters
Jon Ralston dares lawmakers of both parties to give the rhetoric a rest and put their energy into developing ideas for education (Las Vegas Sun column)
Higher Education
Athletics And Education
Regents want to see sports' pluses, minuses (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Millennial Proposal
MILLENNIUM SCHOLARSHIP : Regents speed up requirements -- Fourth year of mathematics by 2009 raises concerns (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Financial Accountability
Regents demand receipts with details: Tighter rules called for on foundations' expense reports (Las Vegas Sun article)
Massive PC Problems
Looking In On Higher Education: Millions needed for upgrades in computers (Las Vegas Sun article)
Sierra Nevada College
SNC moves forward with merger (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Truckee Meadows Community College
Hispanic high school students get feel for TMCC (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
UNR
UNR president pledges to address problems in audit (Associated Press article)
Public Schools
Derailing the “More Money” Chant (Joe Enge column, Battleborn Opinion News)
Clark County School District
Some Clark County schools to allow open enrollment (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Lyon County School District
LCSD looks at increasing long-term substitute pay (Mason Valley News article)
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Nevada Water Matters
SNWA's Suction Scheme
Commission balks at supporting lands bill (Ely Times article)
Put the water pipeline to a vote (George Knapp column, Las Vegas CityLife)
The Walker River
Walker litigation status hearing set for Dec. 8: Explanation to judge about mediation failure expected (Mason Valley News article)
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Nevada Health Matters
Labor Unions And Health Care
Patient care in jeopardy: Hospitals' managers should work long hours to ward off nurses strike set for Monday (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Mental Health
Beyond Drugs: Transforming the Mental Health System (Bob Bennett column, Nevada Observer)
Fallon Cancer Clusters
Reid Statement Regarding CDC Fallon Cancer Cluster Study (Sen. Reid Press Release)
Medicare
Berkley Warns Time is Running Out to Stop Cuts in Medicare Payments to Nevada Doctors (Rep. Berkley Press Release)
Medicare: Payment for Ambulatory Surgical Centers Should Be Based on the Hospital Outpatient Payment System GAO-07-86, November 30, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Physician Shortage
Foreign Physicians: Data on Use of J-1 Visa Waivers Needed to Better Address Physician Shortages GAO-07-52, November 30, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Sex Plagues
Reid: We Must Recommit Ourselves To The Fight Against HIV/AIDS (Sen. Reid Press Release)
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Nevada Utilities
Upstate utility aims to cut rates (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
McGill/Ruth water users complain about fee hike (Ely Times article)
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Nevada's Environment
Tales Told By The Earth
New soil map aids planners in finding hidden hazards (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Over Fast
Mortality rate high for Nevada's urban bears (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
How Did They Rate?
Environmentalists issue annual rating of Sierra ski resorts (Associated Press article)
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Nevada Culture
Death Of A Legend
Deux Gros Nez says adieu (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Festival Of Trees
Come Celebrate the Season (Ely Times article)
The Dark Side
Dark side of gang involvement focus of play (Nevada Appeal article)
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Federal Nevada
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
Yucca Transportation Plan Discussed At Reno Meeting: DOE Withdraws More Land For Caliente/Mina Rail Corridors (Nevada Observer article)
Impacted residents not likely to have say in Yucca traffic: Agenda item to gauge County Commission’s reaction slated for Dec. 7 regular meeting (Mason Valley News article)
Government-Subsidized Toxic Waste Producers Get Self-Righteous About Alleged Abuse Of The System
Yucca coalition presses Reid on 'abusing' powers: Project supporters challenge senator to schedule votes (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Nevada Test Site
Explosive issue pits future jobs against nukes: Critics question need for a plutonium center at Test Site (Las Vegas Sun article)
Transportation Safety
National Transportation Safety Board: Progress Made, Yet Management Practices, Investigation Priorities, and Training Center Use Should Be Improved GAO-07-118, November 22, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
From The US Congress
Ensign Announces Workshop For Low-Income Area Investment Opportunities (Sen. Ensign Press Release)
Susan McCue, Reid Majority Leader Chief Of Staff, To Join ONE As President And CEO: Myrick to Succeed McCue as Chief of Staff (Sen. Reid Press Release)
Waste And Mismanagement
Depot Maintenance: Actions Needed to Provide More Consistent Funding Allocation Data to Congress GAO-07-126, November 30, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Defense Acquisitions: Challenges Remain in Developing Capabilities for Naval Surface Fire Support GAO-07-115, November 30, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Your Life Savings
Private Pensions: Changes Needed to Provide 401(k) Plan Participants and the Department of Labor Better Information on Fees GAO-07-21, November 16, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Credit Unions: Greater Transparency Needed on Who Credit Unions Serve and on Senior Executive Compensation Arrangements GAO-07-29, November 30, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Corporate Governance: NCUA's Controls and Related Procedures for Board Independence and Objectivity Are Similar to Other Financial Regulators, but Opportunities Exist to Enhance Its Governance Structure GAO-07-72R, November 30, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Flight From The Dollar
Gold may top $700 an ounce, analysts say (Elko Free Press article)
Alternative Energy
The FREE Act: Freedom through Renewable Energy Expansion (Rep. Berkley website)
Here comes the sun (Meredith McGhan column, Las Vegas CityLife)
Intelligence Matters
Rep. Reyes: 1st Hispanic Intel. Chairman (Associated Press article)
Universal Conscription
"Greetings. The Country Requests Your Service": There Is Much To Be Said For A Universal And Sex Neutral Draft (Nevada Observer editorial)
Eminent Domain
Eminent Domain: Information about Its Uses and Effect on Property Owners and Communities Is Limited GAO-07-28, November 30, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Forked Tongues
More government election bafflegab for you to ponder (Jeff Quinn column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Unwarranted Surveillance
U.S. Rates Travelers for Terror Risk: Millions of American, Foreign Travelers Assigned Terrorist Risk Ratings by U.S. Government (Associated Press article)
U.S. Gov't Terror Ratings Draw Outrage (Associated Press article)
Automated Targeting System Program Summary (Federal Register)
Travel Restrictions
New Document Requirements for Air Travel (US Department of Homeland Security website)
Security Improvements Proposed for Visa Waiver Program (US Department of Homeland Security website)
DHS Proposes to Expand the Use of Vicinity RFID in Implementing Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (US Department of Homeland Security website)
Treatment Of Persons Detained By US Authorities
"Above all, the American people deserve to know why and how the U.S. government can detain people in foreign prisons - places where torture and mistreatment are allowed - without due process of law."
Bucking president's secrecy: Federal courts demanding to know more about President Bush's anti-terrorism schemes (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Foreign Affairs
Continuing Occupation Of Iraq
Iraq war critics vindicated: Congressionally chartered study group agrees that major troop withdrawal is warranted (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Press Briefing by the National Security Advisor, Steve Hadley, on the President's Meeting with Prime Minister Maliki (White House website)
Bush Acknowledges Public Anxiety on Iraq (Associated Press article)
U.S. Rethinking Iraqi Unification Goal (Associated Press article)
Rice Says U.S. Has Made Mistakes in Iraq (Associated Press article)
Iraq Panel Co-Chairmen Face Uphill Task (Associated Press article)
U.S. Commander: Iraq Transfer Under Way (Associated Press article)
Iraq Spending Bill to Test Democrats (Associated Press article)
91 Die in Triple Car Bombings in Baghdad (Associated Press article)
Troubled Mexico
Chaos reigns for Mexican inauguration: Felipe Calderon is sworn in amid battles in the legislative palace. He promises to reach out to mend rifts (Los Angeles Times article)
Mexico Today: December 1 (The Narcosphere article)
The Coup d’Etat in Mexico: As a New Regime Prepares to Seize Control December 1, Promising a New Wave of Repression, the Antidote Is Being Born from Below (NarcoNews article)
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Nevada's Past
They Came From The Cretaceous
Dinosaur calling card: Fossil found northeast of Las Vegas Valley shows evidence of prehistoric inhabitants (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
The Ways Of The Ancestors
Thocmetony Danced Among The Flowers Of Nevada: Writer, Philosopher, Politician, Sarah Winnemucca Is Nevadan (Nevada Observer article)
Dayton Museum
American Indian heritage on display (Nevada Appeal article)
Northern Nevada Railway
At the Throttle -- If the shop could talk (Marty Westland column, Ely Times)
Historic Preservation
"Because while dollars and effort are flowing into a campaign to salvage the lobby of La Concha, a motel built on the Las Vegas Strip in 1961, Kiel Ranch in North Las Vegas, a homestead settled in the mid-1800s, sits decaying, used mainly for high school beerfests."
State has more history than funds to save it (Las Vegas Sun article)
The Last Days Of A Nevada Governor
Dying To Know The Truth: Governor John Sparks (Guy Rocha column, Nevada Observer)
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Journalism
We Are Gathered Here Today to Say Our Last Farewells to the Blogosphere ...: A eulogy of sorts, with explanations (Geoff Carter column, Las Vegas Weekly)
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December 3, 2006
[4:00 PM]
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Nevada Politics
Proposal To Reform Nevada's Wretched Ethics Laws
FLASHPOINT for Dec 03, 2006 (Jon Ralston feature, Las Vegas Sun)
This oughta make them behave! (Vegas Pundit website)
Lobbying And Lobbyists
Mega-law firms to join forces: Local powerhouse teaming with Denver firm result of huge Las Vegas deals (Las Vegas Sun article)
State Democratic Party
Cheering on Tom: If Iowa governor and presidential hopeful Tom Vilsack runs strong, the Nevada Democratic caucus gets a lot more interesting (Las Vegas Sun article)
General Political Articles And Commentary
To Reid: Nevadans like their meat, serve it up (Lahontan Valley News editorial)
Still skeptical even though West has leadership in Congress (Guy W. Farmer column, Nevada Appeal)
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Nevada Government
State Government
The Nevada Legislature
Buckley's rise to power speaks for itself (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
"Lawmakers can't have it all next year. They can't offer full-day kindergarten to every child in the state, expand Medicaid enrollment, lavish hundreds of millions of dollars on the university system for new buildings, maintain the golden parachutes they offer retired state workers and expect Nevadans to support massive tax increases for highways that should have been built by now."
Making highways a higher priority: Task force recommendations are reasonable (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Office Of The Attorney General
Jon Ralston on what has happened, and what could still happen, when Bill Walters and George Chanos butt heads (Las Vegas Sun column)
The Royal Links Report (Attorney General's website)
Methamphetamine Awareness
Two Carson teens continue the recovery process (Nevada Appeal article)
Raquel's escape -- Part I: Running away (Nevada Appeal article)
Through my eyes (Cassandra Gonzales column, Nevada Appeal)
Movie documents Carson High School girl's drug battle (Nevada Appeal article)
Inadequate State Regulation Of Mortgage Lenders
JOHN L. SMITH: Retired mob associate among victims of USA Capital's goodfellas (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
Local Government
Clark County
Waiting For Ivanpah
McCarran traffic jam looming (Ian Mylchreest column, Las Vegas Business Press)
The State's Richest Quasi-Government
Time to evaluate room tax: Proposals to pare down the LVCVA's share and add other recipients are worthy of discussion (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Recycling
Failing the smell test: Recycling plan is trashy no matter how many ways it is repackaged and presented (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Plight Of The Homeless
ERIN NEFF: City keeps trying to get around Constitution (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
GEOFF SCHUMACHER: Park closure won't make homeless vanish (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
Douglas County
Proposed trial period would test airport traffic (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
Elko County
Annexation back on city plan agenda (Elko Free Press article)
Lake Tahoe Basin
Incline Village General Improvement District
Special meeting for board replacement (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Squaw Valley
Squaw Valley requests approval for development (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Western Nevada
Target2010 Economic Reports
Report One: Comprehensive Assessment
Report Two: Target Industry Analysis
Report Three: Entrepreneurship & Technology Assessment
Report Four: Strategic Recommendations
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Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education
Does college tuition keep rising? (Larry Large column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
UN Regents
We Heartily Agree
Demanding more detail: University system's foundations must provide better accounting of how they spend money (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Public Schools
Clark County School District
Open enrollment (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Lake Tahoe Basin
Many roads lead from Incline (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
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Nevada Health Matters
Fallon Leukemia Clusters
Same gene variant found in Arizona cluster (Lahontan Valley News article)
The Studies
An Update on Cancer Cluster Activities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Environmental Health Perspectives website)
Investigating Childhood Leukemia in Churchill County, Nevada (Environmental Health Perspectives website)
Biosampling Case Children with Leukemia (Acute Lymphocytic and Myelocytic Leukemia) and a Reference Population in Sierra Vista, Arizona (Centers for Disease Control website)
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Nevada's Environment
Alternative Energy
Looking In on City Hall: Clean-air advocates looking for political support (Las Vegas Sun article)
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Federal Nevada
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
Yucca Mountain Route County worried about nuke waste transport (Elko Free Press article)
Reid's rise to power may be bad news for Yucca backers (Las Vegas Sun article)
Feeding At The Trough
Guerrilla tech changes face of modern warfare (Kirk Caraway column, Nevada Appeal)
A Federal Reader
RS22537 - November 22, 2006 Iraqi Civilian Deaths Estimates (Congressional Research Service Report)
RL33733 - November 21, 2006 Intelligence Estimates: How Useful to Congress? (Congressional Research Service Report)
RL33729 - November 15, 2006 Federal Emergency Management Policy Changes After Hurricane Katrina: A Summary of Statutory Provisions (Congressional Research Service Report)
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From The Neon Empire
Tribal Casino Operations
Sierra casino tribe's boon, Tahoe's bane (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Lake Tahoe casinos anticipate competition (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
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Journalism
Government's Badly Skewed Priorities
THOMAS MITCHELL: Dissing authority, not crime, gets you time (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
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December 4, 2006
[7:50 PM]
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Breaking News:
Governor-Elect Jim Gibbons Names Budget and Education Transition Working Groups: Multiple Working Groups Will Make Up Gibbons Transition Team (Governor-Elect Press Release)
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Nevada Government
State Government
The Governor-Elect
Ex-Nevada budget chief on incoming governor's transition team (Associated Press article)
A Glittering Start
Governor-elect plans two inaugural bashes: Privately funded balls to be in Las Vegas, Reno (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
The Nevada Legislature
Senate split forces compromise (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Secret Tax Policy
Nevada tax panel rule would permit closed-door proceedings (Associated Press article)
Working The Escheat
Unclaimed property feeds state coffers at growing rate: $38.9 million fails to find its way to rightful owners (Las Vegas Sun article)
The Internet World
Watch your wireless: Networks remain vulnerable despite security protocols (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Department Of Wildlife
Three state officials pull applications (Associated Press article)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
City faces budget crunch: Supervisors meet to find solutions to Carson's financial shortfalls (Nevada Appeal article)
New children's home needs new furnishings (Nevada Appeal article)
Clark County
Strip Developments
New Strip development is really going vertical (Las Vegas Business Press article)
The New Eldorado
Boulder City voters may get new shot at making millions (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
You're Fired
Rainmaking in the desert or networking in Las Vegas (Mark Wayman column, Las Vegas Business Press)
Plight Of The Homeless
Crime hasn't closed other parks (Las Vegas Sun article)
Elko County
Group to assess local workforce (Elko Free Press article)
Emergency horse roundup (Elko Free Press article)
Lyon County
Study: Slaughterhouse should be in Silver Springs (Lahontan Valley News article)
Study: USDA-certified slaughterhouse should be in Silver Springs (Associated Press article)
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Corruption? In Nevada?
The Clark County Commission Corruption Cases
JANE ANN MORRISON: Women's letters praise Malone as family man, ignore skills as bagman (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
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Nevada Politics
Death Of The Libertarian Ideal
Goodbye to Old Nevada? (Michael Green column, Las Vegas Business Press)
State Democratic Party
Vilsack woos Democratic voters at UNLV: Candidate discusses alternative energy, Iraq, his upbringing (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
The Road Ahead for Nye County Democrats (Jack Wood column, Nye - Gateway To Nevada's Rurals)
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Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education
UNLV
UNLV struggles to pay for growth: University must compete with prisons for building funds (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Current UNLV Construction Projects (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Public Schools
Board reappoints Rheault as Nevada schools chief (Associated Press article)
Looking in on education: Students get taste of tougher requirements (Las Vegas Sun article)
Clark County School District
CANYON SPRINGS: Security concerns principal -- School metal detectors sought (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Private Schools
Crossing the digital divide: Private schools going with pricey technology (Las Vegas Business Press article)
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Nevada Health Matters
Labor Unions And Health Care
LABOR CONTRACT: Lockout of nurses nears -- Valley Health rejects last-minute call for 'cooling-off' period in dispute (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Nurses picket two Las Vegas hospitals in labor dispute (Associated Press article)
Fallon Leukemia Clusters
Cluster families hope for more research after CDC study results (Lahontan Valley News article)
Mental Health
Road to recovery: Cafe provides work experience for mentally ill clients (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
__________
Native Nevadans
'Our Story' calendar displays state's American Indian heritage (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
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Nevada's Environment
Ancient Legacy
Protector of the wash: Recent valley transplant vows to fight proposed development of ancient site (Las Vegas Sun article)
In Searchlight
Volunteer group puts fence around abandoned mines (Associated Press article)
Hard To Bear
Bear deaths on rise at Lake Tahoe (Associated Press article)
__________
Federal Nevada
From The US Congress
Sen. Reid
Reid's hardscrabble roots define his style as senator (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Taxes
Sales tax deduction (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Delay on Tax Breaks Affects Millions (Associated Press article)
Congress Taxes Glance (Associated Press article)
To Be A Citizen Of The United States
Questions for citizenship test have some perplexed (Las Vegas Sun article)
Our Nation's Environment
EPA asleep at the wheel: Agency has an obligation to oversee new-vehicle emissions in fight against global warming (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Protections still needed: Revisions to federal inventory of oil and gas deposits could leave wildlife in the lurch (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
GM finally looking ahead: Company commits itself to a bold move, producing the next-generation hybrid vehicle (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Loosening Corporate Regulation
Unintended consequences: Congress may relax federal financial regulations (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
From The White House
Press Briefing by Tony Snow (White House website)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Travel Restrictions
Just keep lines moving (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Treatment Of Persons Detained By US Authorities
Images Show Padilla in Chains, Goggles (Associated Press article)
A Federal Reader
Changes in Low-Wage Labor Markets Between 1979 and 2005, December 2006 (Congressional Budget Office Report)
RL32167 - November 27, 2006 Drug Trafficking and North Korea: Issues for U.S. Policy (Congressional Research Service Report)
Financial Literacy and Education Commission: Further Progress Needed to Ensure an Effective National Strategy GAO-07-100, December 4, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
VA Health Care: Spending for Mental Health Strategic Plan Initiatives Was Substantially Less Than Planned GAO-07-66, November 21, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
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From The Neon Empire
Acquisitions
Station gets management buyout offer (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Station Casinos gets $4.7B buyout offer from management, Colony (Associated Press article)
Kerkorian's firm makes formal tender offer for MGM Mirage shares (Associated Press article)
Internet Gambling
Looking in on Washington: New Congress will be asked to deal with online poker ban (Las Vegas Sun article)
==========================================
December 5, 2006
[9:20 PM]
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Nevada Government
State Government
The Governor-Elect
Gibbons forms budget, education groups: Governor-elect begins to organize transition (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Gibbons names budget, education transition teams (Nevada Appeal article)
Inadequate State Regulation Of Taxi Operations
Looking In on Tourism: Taxi authority backs away from cab-camera issue (Las Vegas Sun article)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
Affordable Housing
Rents up as much as 20 percent in five years (Nevada Appeal article)
Churchill County
Former employee charged with embezzling chamber (Lahontan Valley News article)
An Ancient Approach To A Modern Problem
Banishment - an appropriate punishment for drug peddlers? (Lahontan Valley News editorial)
Clark County
Public Subsidies For Private Enterprise
Public or private: Debate over arena financing intensifies -- MGM Mirage against using taxpayer money (Las Vegas Sun article)
Welcome To Nevada. You Can Smoke Outside, About 1/2 Mile Down The Hall To The Left And Through The Door.
McCarran to clear the air: Airport will snuff out all smoking by Friday (Las Vegas Sun article)
City Of Henderson: Elderly Volunteers Recruited To Help Swell City Revenue
Program is just the ticket: Faced with a shortage of officers, Henderson uses volunteers to curb errant parking practices (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Plight Of The Homeless
Arrests prompt activists' outcry: Nonexistent law used to bust homeless (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING: Police, LV officials reassure residents -- Closure of park becomes center of attention (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Lyon County
Troubled Silver Springs General Improvement District
Silver Springs GID employee cries foul (Nevada Appeal article)
Washoe County
Equality Under The Law: Assessor's $370 Million Write-Off Of Casino Property Leaves Agency $35.6 Million In Debt
"Unlike individual homeowners, state law allows businesses to be valued based on their income-producing potential."
Redevelopment board OKs deal for refinancing (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Urban Renewal
National League of Cities convention begins in Reno today (Nevada Appeal article)
Reno spruces up downtown to welcome nation's cities (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Council wants to dress 'big box' stores (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Reno council postpones vote on downtown plaza (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Right plan eases need for parking (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
__________
Nevada Health Matters
State Ranked Low Again
Nevada's state of health shows no improvement: Ranks 37th out of 50 in national survey, same as in 2004 (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Labor Unions and Health Care
HEALTH CARE LABOR DISPUTE: Nurses locked out -- Gibbons, Buckley, Reid press sides for 'cooling-off' period (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Picketing nurse worries about effect on patients: Hopes for compromise on staffing issue dashed (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Are profits the problem? Nurses' nifty signs aren't honest -- or miss the point entirely (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Obstinacy leads to pickets: Hospitals should have embraced calls by political leaders for renewed negotiations (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Fallon Leukemia Clusters
Seventeenth child in Fallon's leukemia cluster in remission, but risks still remain (Lahontan Valley News article)
Mental Health
Beds ready but doctor shortage prevents use: Addition to hospital lacks psychiatrists (Las Vegas Sun article)
_________
Nevada Water Matters
Praise For The Water Moloch
EPA honors water authority: Turf rebate program cited as reason for award (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
The Carson River
Carson City might partner with business to develop water resources (Nevada Appeal article)
__________
Nevada Law Enforcement
Gang Suppression Methods
Pair files suit over anti-gang tactics (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Strange And Disturbing
PAHRUMP VALLEY: Emergency personnel charged -- Sheriff alleges men failed to provide aid to gunshot victim (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
__________
Nevada's Environment
Nevada Bruins
Bear deaths hit record on Lake Tahoe's Nevada side (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Federal Nevada
Affirmative Action: Affirms The Same Wrong It Was Meant To Remedy
Race-based school placement (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Justices Question School Diversity Plans (Associated Press article)
Oral Arguments in Meredith v. Jefferson County Bd. of Ed. (US Supreme Court website)
Voting 2008
U.S. Election Assistance Commission Panel Deadlocks
Extra Checks on Voting Machines Rejected (Associated Press article)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Treatment Of Persons Detained By US Authorities
Italy Aims Indictments at CIA Agents (Associated Press article)
23 CIAs Charged by Armando Spataro--What Berlusconi Hides (Independent Media Center article)
Foreign Policy
Social Democracy In Latin America: A Reaction Against Supra-National Corporations
To the south, left's rising (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Continuing Occupation Of Afghanistan
When The Government's Dirty, What Do You Expect?
Failures in Afghanistan: Deals are being made with our enemy, the Taliban, and Afghan police are ineffective (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Troubled Mexico
Leader of Oaxaca Protests Arrested (Associated Press article)
2 Arrested in Mexican Journalist's Death (Associated Press article)
The Shadowy World Of Espionage
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Russia: No Extraditions in Spy Death (Associated Press article)
Ex-Russian PM's Illness Still a Mystery (Associated Press article)
__________
From The Neon Empire
Station Casinos
Offer could make Station Casinos private (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Harrah's World
Looking In on Gaming: Harrah's keeps plans grand, but quiet (Las Vegas Sun article)
==========================================
December 6, 2006
[4:58 PM]
_____
Nevada Government
State Government
The Governor-Elect
Just Joshing
Jon Ralston's take on the first meeting of Gibbons' team (Las Vegas Sun column)
Tobacco Prohibition And Prohibitionists
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So It's Your Own Property -- So What?
Bars and slot operators sue to kill smoking ban (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Legal challenge targets smoking ban: Businesses go to court to snuff voter-approved law (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Airport not blowing smoke: Smokers who fly into and out of McCarran soon will have to go outside to light up (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Group sues to toss out smoking restrictions (Nevada Appeal article)
Don't take our smoking rights away! (Vegas Pundit website)
State Judiciary
The Nevada Supreme Court
Nevada high court to debate judicial ethics: Proposed rules include banning jurists from personally soliciting campaign funds. Free speech may be an issue (Los Angeles Times article, via Reno and Its Discontents)
Plan to limit judicial fundraising dies: Court rejects plan for election contributions (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
High court rejects plan to restrict fundraising by judges (Associated Press article)
Republican Party of Minnesota v. White
Clark County District Courts
Control of Eighth Judicial District Court transferred (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Nevada Highways
God Damn This Traffic Jam
TRANSPORTATION BOARD: Panel backs roadwork tax, fee plan -- Proposed projects short $3.8 billion (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Lawmakers to hear highway funding proposal (Nevada Appeal article)
Take Me Home, Country Roads
Intersection along St. Clair Road to close for bridge replacement (Lahontan Valley News article)
Tribal Elections
Fallon tribe will hold its general election Dec. 16 (Lahontan Valley News article)
Inadequate State Regulation Of Mortgage Lenders
Tempers flare at USA Capital session (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Subprimes are hitting the skids (surprise! surprise!) (Ian Mylchreest column, Las Vegas Business Press)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
New approaches needed to solve financial problems (Nevada Appeal editorial)
Shared-parking agreement for Fuji Park moves forward (Nevada Appeal article)
Churchill County
Churchill Economic Development Authority
Workshop aims to direct local economic growth (Lahontan Valley News article)
Fallon Chamber Of Commerce
A new beginning for the Fallon chamber (Lahontan Valley News editorial)
Clark County
Public Subsidies Of Private Enterprise
County balks at pro sports price tag (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Boulder City
Boulder City gadfly buzzes about The Man (Las Vegas Sun article)
McCarran International Airport
"For the third straight year, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine found the Las Vegas airport is dead last in quality of food among the nation's 13 busiest airports."
FLASHPOINT for Dec 06, 2006 (Jon Ralston feature, Las Vegas Sun)
Plight Of The Homeless
Breath tests for the homeless? Should tax-funded charities be allowed to discriminate? (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Douglas County
Public Subsidies Of Private Enterprise
"As a matter of principal, we oppose more redevelopment in north Douglas County. We believe government's place is to provide a level playing field for business to compete, not to step in and help one business over another."
But what if it works? (Gardnerville Record-Courier editorial)
We've Got To Stop Meeting Like This
Work begins on Stephanie traffic light (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
Elko County
W. Wendover wants to lease public lands (Elko Free Press article)
Sewer rates back up for review (Elko Free Press article)
Profile of a public servant: Andreozzi sees promotion as chance to give back (Elko Free Press article)
Lake Tahoe Basin
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
Shorezone not cutting it for some (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Incline Village General Improvement District
The government you deserve (Ed Gurowitz column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
Police Services
Sheriffs lobby for replacement of substation (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Washoe County
National League of Cities Convention
A time for Reno to shine (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Public Schools
Gibbons: How to have an education panel without teachers (Desert Beacon column, Blue Sage Views)
Washoe County School District
School officials say group has circulated misleading information (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Health Matters
Labor Unions And Health Care
HEALTH CARE LABOR RIFT: Nurses to return to work -- Meeting with officials spurs resumption of talks (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Governor-elect elated at revival of negotiations (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Some say temporary nurses a concern: Teamwork, communication with patients, doctors might be disrupted (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
JOHN L. SMITH: Nurses winning the PR fight, but can union win the war? (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
The nurses have the numbers (Desert Beacon column, Blue Sage Views)
Maybe they are right? (SeanS column, Battleborn Opinion News)
Nevada's Low National Health Care Rankings
Measuring health care: Numbers tell only part of the story, experts say (Las Vegas Sun article)
__________
Nevada Water Matters
Going Up
Commission OKs water rate increase (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
__________
Nevada's Environment
Endangered Species? Not For Now
Agency rejects listing of sharp-tailed grouse (Elko Free Press article)
USFW says blackbird doesn't need endangered label (Nevada Appeal article)
__________
Nevada Culture
That Old 4th Ward School
25 days and $12,845 to go for Fourth Ward fundraiser: VC museum must hit $50,000 raised by Dec. 31, or lose another $50,000 donation (Nevada Appeal article)
The Pride and the Glory: Virginia City's 4th Ward School (Desert Beacon column, Blue Sage Views)
4th Ward School website (via Desert Beacon)
Carson Valley Arts Council
Free concert presents performing arts center to the community (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
Holland Project
Show benefits new youth center in downtown Reno (Reno Gazette-Journal article, via Reno and Its Discontents)
__________
Federal Nevada
Taxes
Trying to catch a break: Fate of tax relief for parents, teachers in the hands of Congress during its final days this year (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
From The US Supreme Court
Immigrant Wins in Drug Deportation Case (Associated Press article)
Lopez v. Gonzales (US Supreme Court website)
Republican Party Identity Crisis
A Split in the GOP Tent Could Libertarians Join With Liberals? (Sebastian Mallaby column, Washington Post, via Reno and Its Discontents)
Medicare
End-Stage Renal Disease: Bundling Medicare's Payment for Drugs with Payment for All ESRD Services Would Promote Efficiency and Clinical Flexibility GAO-07-77, November 13, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
End-Stage Renal Disease: Medicare Payments for All ESRD Services, Including Injectable Drugs, Should Be Bundled GAO-07-266T, December 6, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Fraud, Waste And Mismanagement
Audit Says FEMA Squandering Katrina Aid (Associated Press article)
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Disaster Relief: Continued Findings of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse GAO-07-252T, December 6, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
From The President Of The United States
Press Briefing by Tony Snow (White House website)
The War Against Terrorists
Treasury Targets Hizballah Fundraising Network in the Triple Frontier of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay (US Treasury Department Press Release)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Breaking Oaths, Ignoring Duties (Desert Beacon)
Fine Print in Defense Bill Opens Door to Martial Law (Jeff Stein column, CQ.com; via Desert Beacon website)
Unwarranted Surveillance
Senators Rap FBI Over Domestic Spying (Associated Press article)
Treatment Of Persons Detained By US Authorities
Congress Votes to Save Internment Camps (Associated Press article)
From Our Nation's Armed Forces
CENTCOM Weekly Newsletter for December 4, 2006 (US Defense Department website)
Foreign Affairs
Continuing Occupation Of Iraq
Winds of change for Iraq? Defense secretary nominee says he is open-minded, but will this quality rub off on Bush? (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Iraq isn't just a Pentagon problem (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
"To declare the conflict in Iraq a civil war is to acknowledge that the primary role of U.S. troops in the country is not to combat terrorists but rather to take sides in the power squabble."
President puts wrong label on Iraq war (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
President Bush Receives Report from the Iraq Study Group (White House website)
Panel: Bush Iraq Policy 'Not Working' (Associated Press article)
Excerpts of Iraq Study Group Report (Associated Press article)
Text of Letter From Iraq Panel Co-Chairs (Associated Press article)
Gen. Abizaid On Stabilizing Iraq: U.S. Commander Talks To Lara Logan About Iraq, Iran And Stability In The Middle East (CBS News interview)
Timeline of U.S. Military in Iraq (Associated Press article)
Mortar Attack Kills 8 at Baghdad Market (Associated Press article)
__________
From The Neon Empire
Gambling Regulation: Opening The Door To Hidden Ownership
Casinos see private funds as a way to go (Las Vegas Sun article)
Tip Pooling
Court dismisses dealers' suit (Las Vegas Business Press article)
__________
Nevada's Past
Black History
Visiting officials learn region's black history (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
==========================================
December 7, 2006
[5:00 PM]
Pearl Harbor Day
Reid Honors Pearl Harbor Veterans (Sen. Reid Press Release)
Remembering Pearl Harbor (Rep. Berkley Press Release)
Heroes reflect on wars past, current (Nevada Appeal article)
65th Pearl Harbor anniversary sparks memories (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
'Day of Infamy' lives on (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Pearl Harbor: Another Day, Another Time (Desert Beacon)
_____
Nevada Government
State Government
The Governor-Elect
New Transition Teams
Now there's a big surprise (Steve Sebelius column, Las Vegas CityLife)
State Administration
Department heads to remain in posts (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Four Guinn Cabinet members to stay on with Gibbons (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
State wildlife commission interviews six candidates (Nevada Appeal article)
Nevada's Clandestine Tax Commission
Tax Commission secrecy (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Tobacco Prohibition And Prohibitionists
Smoking ban gets 15-day reprieve (Associated Press article)
Smoking ban set for day in court: Judge to hear request to halt restrictions (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Smoking ban changes face of business (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
"Although the study indicates from 17 to 23 percent of gamblers in Reno-Sparks, Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe casinos are smokers, the percentage is 36.5 percent of gamblers in rural casinos and 42 percent of gamblers in local grocery, drug and convenience stores."
Study: 4 out of 5 gamblers don't smoke (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
State Judiciary
From The Nevada Supreme Court
Latest Decisions
MINING: High court reverses water ruling -- Panel says Newmont didn't break rules for water quality at mine near Carlin (Associated Press article)
Sorry, TNO Readers, There's nothing on the Nevada Supreme Court website about this story, or yesterday's Order rejecting limits on campaign contributions to judges.
Can't Bring A Second Lawsuit If The First Was Dismissed For Cause
Brent G. Theobald Constr. v. Richardson Constr. (Nevada Supreme Court website)
Slow Driving Alone Not Reasonable Suspicion Of Crime
State v. Rincon (Nevada Supreme Court website)
Nevada Legislature
Drinking from a fire hose (State Assemblyman David Bobzien blog)
The Fortunate Mr. Walters And His Lucky Las Vegas Land Deal
Billy Walters declares war (George Knapp column, Las Vegas CityLife)
Nevada Highways
God Damn This Traffic Jam
Something must be done! (Las Vegas CityLife editorial)
Local Government
Clark County
Exploitation Of Office?
JANE ANN MORRISON: Atkinson Gates wins battle on utility issue, but some call it a power play (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
The Las Vegas Monorail
COUNTY COMMISSION: Monorail extension gets OK -- Next step for company: Seek investors (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Public Subsidies For Private Enterprise
Goodman sees county's stance on sports arena as 'silliness' (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
West Las Vegas
Raising Cain Rev. Robert Fowler says change is needed in historic West Las Vegas (Las Vegas CityLife article)
Plight Of The Homeless
Out in the cold: Many of downtown's homeless are choosing the sidewalks over the shelters (Las Vegas CityLife article)
Nye County
Anti-Immigrant Ordinance
Nye sheriff meets with Hispanics: He says Pahrump's English-only rule hasn't affected lives (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Growing pains in Pahrump: Language ordinance spurs misunderstandings, efforts by Hispanics to organize (Las Vegas Sun article)
Amargosa Valley Town Board
Two Incumbents Fall: Amargosa residents elect board members (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Washoe County
National League Of Cities Convention
Notes from NLC convention (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
In Search Of Reno
A Walk down Wells: Looking for Reno? Take a walk down Wells (Reno News & Review article)
Plight Of The Homeless
Washoe to open emergency shelter (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Aiding and abetting the fringe: The chronically homeless live as cryptozoics in our shared world, often hidden from plain sight, surviving on the things that the rest of us throw away (Deidre Pike column, Reno News & Review)
__________
Nevada Politics
Taxes
High taxes hurt jobs and the little guy: The Democrats’ policies have sent millions of jobs overseas (Michael Lafferty column, Reno News & Review)
State Democratic Party
The parade begins: Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack Sunday became the first active Democratic presidential candidate to campaign in Nevada (Reno News & Review article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Public Schools
No Child Left Behind Act: Education's Data Improvement Efforts Could Strengthen the Basis for Distributing Title III Funds GAO-07-140, December 7, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Clark County School District
Animal farm (Chip Mosher column, Las Vegas CityLife)
Churchill County School District
Alternative high school reaches capacity one year after opening (Lahontan Valley News article)
__________
Nevada Health Matters
Labor Unions And Health Care
Reid Statement On Continuation Of Negotiations Between Universal Health Services And Local Nurses (Sen. Reid Press Release)
How politicians resolved impasse: Hospital management learned a lesson in dealing with top Nevada officials (Las Vegas Sun article)
Back to the bargaining table: Government officials broker a deal that halts picketing and restarts nurses' contract talks (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Fallon Leukemia Cluster
More than $700,000 secured for leukemia studies (Lahontan Valley News article)
Leukemia-cluster scientists to receive research money (Nevada Appeal article)
Fallon leukemia cluster research to continue (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Nevada Cancer Institute
Delegation Pursuing Federal Land Transfer For Nevada Cancer Institute Las Vegas Facility (Sen. Ensign Press Release)
Delegation Pursuing Federal Land Transfer For Nevada Cancer Institute Las Vegas Facility (Sen. Reid Press Release)
Medicare Cuts
Berkley Takes to House Floor in Support of Legislation to Stop Cuts in Medicare Payments to Nevada Doctors (Rep. Berkley Press Release)
__________
Nevada's Environment
Sportsmen Unite To Donate $75,000 To Wildfire Rehabilitation Fund (Gov. Guinn Press Release)
__________
Nevada Utilities
Now There's Something You Don't See Every Day
Valley Electrical Association
VEA announces return of $2.5 million to members (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Alternative Energy
Less than zero Solar-energy experiment produces some interesting results (Las Vegas CityLife article)
__________
Nevada Law Enforcement
Nye County Commission Corruption Case
WIRE FRAUD CHARGES: Nye brothel owner trial postponed -- Fleiss expects to be called as witness in alleged bribery case (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Shootout At Schurz
Tribal officers shot in Schurz (Lahontan Valley News article)
Two tribal police officers shot: Wounded while trying to serve a warrant (Nevada Appeal article)
Tribal chief, officer shot on Walker River Paiute Reservation (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Hang Them
Second thoughts: People with murder experiences try to get people to take another look at the ultimate punishment (Reno News & Review article)
Motorcycle Gang Members Arraigned
Mongols club members arraigned in deadly 2002 brawl in Nevada (Associated Press article)
Arrest Of Emergency Medical Technicians
Suicide leads to neglect charges (Pahrump Valley Times article)
The frustrated academic
The frustrated academic (Randall Shelden column, Las Vegas CityLife)
Trailer Scam
Attorney General Announces Las Vegas Man Sentenced In Connection With Custom Trailer Scam (Attorney General Press Release)
__________
Nevada Mining
Flight From The Dollar
Mining leader: Gold boom probably only half way through (Associated Press article)
__________
Hispanic Nevada
National Council of La Raza
Council's chief fights perceptions (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
__________
Federal Nevada
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
Senator vows to pursue Yucca: Republican says Reid can't make repository proposal 'go away' (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Nevada Test Site
Nevada Test Site could generate 1,000 new jobs: Site Considered For Plutonium Center (Pahrump Valley Times article)
From The US Congress
"As the Republican-led Congress prepares to wrap up for the year, it has a record of working fewer days than any Congress in recent history. Now the Senate will work five-day workweeks - the kind most people put in."
Reid puts lawmakers back on the clock: Leader vows to make do-nothing Congress a thing of the past (Las Vegas Sun article)
Our Nation's Economy
Comparing Budget and Accounting Measures of the Federal Government’s Fiscal Condition, December 2006 (Congressional Budget Office Report)
National Health
Nonprofit Hospitals and the Provision of Community Benefits, December 2006 (Congressional Budget Office Report)
Nonprofit Hospitals and Tax Arbitrage, December 6, 2006 (Congressional Budget Office Report)
Voting
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
Panel OKs Revised Electronic Voting Plan (Associated Press article)
Our Nation's Armed Forces
Gates Confirmed As Secretary of Defense (Associated Press article)
Reid: Gates Should Be An Agent Of Change In The Bush Administration (Sen. Reid Press Release)
Reid gives Gates a tall order (Desert Beacon)
The War On Terrorists
Death toll: Half of the space on the downtown Reno marker memorializing Nevadans who have died in the “war on terror” has been used up (Reno News & Review article)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Treatment Of Persons Detained By US Authorities
U.S.: Padilla's Time in Brig Irrelevant Associated Press article)
Guantanamo Detainees Going to New Prison (Associated Press article)
Gitmo Interrogators Seeking Rapport (Associated Press article)
From The President Of The United States
Press Briefing by Tony Snow (White House website)
Foreign Policy
Continuing Occupation Of Afghanistan
Public Optimism Fades in Afghanistan (Associated Press article)
NATO Convoy Bombed in South Afghanistan (Associated Press article)
Continuing Occupation Of Iraq
The Report
The Reaction
Iraq report provides suggestions for victory (Lahontan Valley News editorial)
Vets agree on Iraq report (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
True state of Iraq exposed by study group's report: Panel's findings reveal that the situation is nowhere near what Bush has been maintaining (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Baker Report Leaves Iraqis Cold (Jack Wood column, Nye - Gateway To Nevada's Rurals)
Bush: to Win in Iraq, Beat Extremists (Associated Press article)
Bush, Blair Discuss Iraq Options (Associated Press article)
Senators Question Iraq Panel's Blueprint (Associated Press article)
Brownback Tells AP Iraq Should Be Split (Associated Press article)
Iraq Panel Concerned Over Al-Sadr's Army (Associated Press article)
Iraqis Say Report Offers Little Hope (Associated Press article)
Congress to Keep Alive Iraq IG Office (Associated Press article)
11 U.S. Troops Killed in Iraq (Associated Press article)
2 Professors Among 23 Killed in Iraq (Associated Press article)
Saudis Reportedly Funding Iraqi Sunnis (Associated Press article)
Israel
Olmert Disagrees With U.S. Iraq Group (Associated Press article)
Israel Stands by Vague Nuclear Policy (Associated Press article)
Troubled Mexico
New Mexico Governor Decries Border Fence (Associated Press article)
Mexico Leader to Help 100 Poorest Towns (Associated Press article)
From The Shadowy World Of Espionage
Russia Opens Probe Into Ex-Spy's Death (Associated Press article)
Ex-Spy's Death to Be Treated As Murder (Associated Press article)
Foreign Trade
Congress Close to Reaching Trade Deal (Associated Press article)
__________
From The Neon Empire
Regulation Of Gambling
New casino operators endorsed by Nevada regulators (Associated Press article)
Hard Rock Sale
Hard Rock sold (Ian Mylchreest column, Las Vegas Business Press)
Sahara Future
Sahara says casino ownership to stay in family (Associated Press article)
What's next for the Sahara? (David McKee column, Las Vegas Business Press)
==========================================
December 8, 2006
[12:45 PM]
_____
Nevada Government
State Government
The Governor-Elect
Getting Good Advice
Gibbons fills panels of advisers (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Gibbons names two more transition committees (Nevada Appeal article)
Doesn't Like Him
ERIN NEFF: Where's Gibbo? (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
The Nevada Legislature
Nevada lawmakers prepare (Jim Clark column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
Dead Kids
"'The problem is so overwhelming,' said committee chairwoman and Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno. 'There are so many needs in so many areas.'"
Protections sought for children in government care: Legislators finalize agenda of bill drafts (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Homeowners' Associations
HOA program improved, official testifies: Complaint office 'turned the corner' (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Tobacco Prohibition And Prohibitionists
Smoking ban delayed in Southern Nevada (Associated Press article)
Judge delays Question 5 enforcement: Smoking OK until Dec. 19 (Las Vegas Business Press article)
TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER: Smoking ban delayed -- Judge says more time needed to consider issues (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Tavern regulars breathe easy: Customers cheer judge's decision to delay enactment of smoking ban (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Residents get prepared for last puff before ban (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Curse You, Californians! Question 5 is just the latest excuse for many Las Vegans to indulge their loathing of our neighbors to the west (Las Vegas Weekly article)
Crossing out the 'no': Judge issues disappointing decision that businesses have reasonable argument in opposing smoking ban (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Jon Ralston on Politics: Too clever by half (a pack) (In Business Las Vegas column)
State Judiciary
Judge Herndon thrust into the spotlight (Las Vegas Sun article)
State Agencies
In Business Q and A: Terry Johnson, Director of the Department of Employment, Rehabilitation and Training (In Business Las Vegas interview)
Nevada Highway Patrol
Top female NHP trooper sues for sexual harassment (Associated Press article)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
Two private partnership agreements OK'd by supervisors (Nevada Appeal article)
Clark County
Las Vegas And Its Mayor
"Dismissing complaints, the Nevada Commission on Ethics has found that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman did not break state law when he voted on items concerning his friend and former client Bill Walters."
Ethics complaint against Goodman is dismissed (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
"Goodman cut her off and declared, 'You know, I really don't like people who question me.'"
Jon Ralston on how Las Vegas Mayor Goodman knows what's best for his own city - at least in his own mind (Las Vegas Sun column)
Land Use Litigation
Real Estate and Development: Abundance of land-use cases worth following (In Business Las Vegas article)
City Of Henderson
Suburb bullish on land transfer: Henderson hopes new Congress releases BLM tracts for business park (In Business Las Vegas article)
A Bustling Airport
McCarran numbers climb in October (Las Vegas Business Press article)
The Business Outlook
Housing slump fails to dampen 2007 outlook (In Business Las Vegas article)
Douglas County
County Affairs
Master plan won't make everyone happy (Margaret Pross column, Gardnerville Record-Courier)
Gardnerville Ranchos General Improvement District
E-mail prompts Ranchos protest (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
Elko County
County rejects billboard planned in Spring Creek (Elko Free Press article)
Lake Tahoe Basin
League of cities descends on basin (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Putting the brakes on DUIs (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Chemical fire at IVGID facility closes Highway 28 (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Lyon County
Settlement in ASG suit ends long legal tussle: Company to receive $4.75 million (Nevada Appeal article)
Krueger named chief deputy DA in Lyon County (Nevada Appeal article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
UNLV
Who Has A Voice on Campus? UNLV's student government funding of events raises questions about which groups can have a forum for their ideas (Las Vegas Weekly article)
__________
Nevada Water Matters
SNWA The Water Moloch: The More It Takes, The More It Needs
Water authority buys more ranchland: 9,925 acres bought in Spring Valley (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Health Matters
Labor Unions And Health Care
Union design unfolds: Labor approached negotiation with hospitals strategically (Las Vegas Sun article)
University Medical Center: Administrators Asleep At The Wheel
"Only two months after being faulted for not having an adequate termination clause in a major hospital contract, University Medical Center administrators were prepared to move ahead last month with a $1.8 million contract that also lacked such standard business deal language."
Again, hospital lacks out clause (Las Vegas Sun article)
Nevada's Doctor Shortage
A long wait for the doctor: State Board of Medical Examiners needs to do its part to help recruit physicians to Nevada (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Nevada's Poor Health Care Rankings
Health Care and Workplace: Several factors cited in state's poor health-plan ranks (In Business Las Vegas article)
Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital
Hospital’s patient numbers increase (Elko Free Press article)
__________
Nevada Mining
Gold mines see boom continuing (Elko Free Press article)
__________
Native Nevadans
From the Chairman of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California
Washoe Tribe looks forward (Waldo Walker column, Gardnerville Record-Courier)
__________
Black Nevadans
Make area's black history real (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Conspiracy Theory at Church: Vegas pastor claims forces bent on destroying black boys (Las Vegas Weekly article)
__________
Nevada Culture
Fallon Library
Fallon library marks 25 years in state system (Nevada Appeal article)
Carson Valley Days Eve
Controlling the annual fracas (Gardnerville Record-Courier editorial)
__________
Federal Nevada
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
Aide says Reid won't yield in opposing Yucca project (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Yucca quality assurance targeted: DOE officials say steps being taken (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
From The US Congress
Cities can't count on Congress for housing money (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Treatment Of Persons Detained By US Authorities
Rumsfeld Wants Torture Case Dismissed (Associated Press article)
Foreign Affairs
The Continuing Occupation Of Iraq
War policy cannot linger: President Bush must not procrastinate in responding to recommendations for major change (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Turning a corner on Iraq (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
__________
From The Neon Empire
Station Casinos
Station on track for private ownership (In Business Las Vegas article)
Tip Pooling
Wynn: Dealers bedazzled by "ambulance chasers" (David McKee column, Las Vegas Business Press)
The Menace Of Cruise Ships
Tourism and Gaming: Cruise ships could take business aweigh from Vegas (In Business Las Vegas article)
Perils Of Private Equity Funding
Federal cases could affect private equity deals (Ian Mylchreest column, Las Vegas Business Press)
__________
Nevada's Past
That 100 Year Old Centerville Tavern
County OKs plan amendment (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
Close Call For A Constellation
Airliner crash at NAS Fallon could have been a disaster (David C. Henley column, Lahontan Valley News)
Nevada's State Archivist: A Living Reference
When in doubt, seek Rocha out (Nevada Appeal article)
==========================================
Update for December 8, 2006
[4:40 PM]
_____
Nevada Government
State Government
Tobacco Prohibition And Prohibitionists
Effects of smoking ban uncertain in Ely? (Ely Times article)
Proponents ‘dumbfounded' by judge's ruling (Ely Times article)
State Department Of Wildlife
Gibbons to appoint new Nevada wildlife chief (Associated Press article)
__________
Nevada's Environment
Wildlife groups donate $50,000 to state wildfire rehabilitation fund (Ely Times article)
___________
Nevada Mining
Western miners told that gold prices will top $1,000 an ounce (Associated Press article)
Mining industry worried about Democrat-controlled Congress (Associated Press article)
__________
A Nevada Miscellany
Changing the world begins with Northern Nevada (Barry Ginter column, Nevada Appeal)
Law and Small Business -- An invaluable resource for advice: networking (In Business Las Vegas article)
Banking and Marketing: Banks likely to increase online security features (In Business Las Vegas article)
Time for tax planning is indeed growing short, are you ready? (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
You May Already Be A Winner
New dawn begins for the filthy rich (Rick Swart column, Lahontan Valley News)
__________
Federal Nevada
Medicare Reform
Reid: Congress Must Improve Medicare Part D (Sen. Reid Press Release)
Designing a Premium Support System for Medicare, December 2006 (Congressional Budget Office Report)
Nevada's Public Lands
New Ely BLM manager no stranger to Nevada (Ely Times article)
BLM to round up starving horses (Ely Times article)
Endorse the lands bill! (Ely Times editorial)
A Federal Reader
Opening Remarks at the Director's Conference on Long-Term Budget Challenges, December 8, 2006 (Congressional Budget Office Report)
RS22542 - November 29, 2006 Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing: U.S. Policy Development (Congressional Research Service Report)
RL33741 - November 30, 2006 Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Oversight Issues and Options for Congress (Congressional Research Service Report)
RL33742 - December 04, 2006 9/11 Commission Recommendations: Implementation Status (Congressional Research Service Report)
RS22163 - November 21, 2006 The United States and Europe: Current Issues (Congressional Research Service Report)
Intellectual Property: Strategy for Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP) Requires Changes for Long-Term Success GAO-07-74, November 8, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Information Technology: DOD Needs to Ensure That Navy Marine Corps Intranet Program Is Meeting Goals and Satisfying Customers GAO-07-51, December 8, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
GSA Fleet: Information on the Effect of Donating Cars to YouthBuild USA and Potential Benefits to Rural Youthbuild Participants GAO-07-153, December 8, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Corruption, Waste And Inefficiency
FEMA Ordered to Restart Katrina Payments (Associated Press article)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Treatment Of Persons Detained By US Authorities
Judge Weighs Torture Claim Vs. Rumsfeld (Associated Press article)
In Torture Case Against Rumsfeld, Lawyers Cite 'Widespread Pattern' of Abuse, Need for Accountability: Federal court to rule whether top U.S. officials can be held legally accountable for the torture scandal in Iraq and Afghanistan (Human Rights First Press Release)
Rumsfeld Reply Brief on Motion To Dismiss in Ali v. Pappas
Friend of the Court Brief of J. Herman Burgers and Theo Van Boven in Ali v. Pappas
Rumsfeld Lawsuit Page (Human Rights First website)
US Government Torture Documents (ACLU website)
From The President Of The United States
Press Briefing by Tony Snow - December 8, 2006 (White House website)
Foreign Affairs
The Continuing Occupation Of Iraq
Bush Quickens Search for New War Plan (Associated Press article)
Bush Vows to Weigh Congress' Iraq Ideas (Associated Press article)
Paying for Iraq's Reconstruction: An Update, December 8, 2006 (Congressional Budget Office Report)
1,000 troops seize terror suspects (London Times Online article)
Coalition Forces Kill 20 Iraq Insurgents (Associated Press article)
From The Shadowy World Of Espionage
London Bar Focus of Ex-Spy Death Probe (Associated Press article)
__________
Nevada's Past
The Northern Nevada Railway
At the Throttle -- Do you know the McGill Depot? (Natasha Bettis column, Ely Times)
==========================================
December 9, 2006
[5:30 PM]
_____
Nevada Government
State Government
9th Circuit: Nevada Law Restricting Right of Petition Is Unconstitutional
Petition law unconstitutional (Nevada Appeal article)
ACLU of Nevada v. Heller (US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals website)
Tobacco Prohibition And Prohibitionists
Local business owners have mixed feelings on first day of smoking ban (Lahontan Valley News article)
Confusion persists over new smoking ban (Lahontan Valley News article)
Smoking ban bewilderment (Nevada Appeal article)
Smoke ban lacks teeth in Washoe (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
The New Minimum Wage Law
Temporary regulations taking shape amid minimum wage confusion (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Labor official on hand for wage debate: Clarifications on health insurance sought (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Devastating To Charities
Programs get dire news on minimum wage law (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
State Unemployment
Unemployment holds steady (Las Vegas Business Press article)
The Methamphetamine Problem
National League of Cities takes on meth concerns (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
State Contractors Board
License of contractor involved in fatal trench collapse revoked (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Local Government
Churchill County
Guerrero selected as new county parks and rec director (Lahontan Valley News article)
Clark County
UPAY4ME: Public Subsidies For Private Enterprise
An Excellent Question
Downtown arena: Why are taxpayer subsidies a foregone conclusion? (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Waiting For Ivanpah
JANE ANN MORRISON: Bill draft on airport oversight has potential to send fur flying in Legislature (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
Think Grandiose
"Southern Nevada has long been a place where architectural imagination runs wild (think volcano, pyramid and New York skyline), where would-be developers ignore the constraints of reality and hope their spectacular - if not fantasy-based - visions will take root and become tomorrow's icons."
OF COURSE. IT'S VEGAS. -- Sky-high resort would tower over — everything (Las Vegas Sun article)
"Henry is reluctant to talk about her background or the source of the funding for the land purchase."
Art mingles with utopia in concept for futuristic town (Las Vegas Sun article)
Car Theft Ring Cracked
"Warren Donaldson, a senior special agent for the NICB in Las Vegas, said the auto-theft ring consisted of a group of men and women working together to steal "high-end cars," quite possibly making a "tremendous" amount of money in the process."
Car thieves get snakebit: Police VIPER units able to focus quickly on major operations (Las Vegas Sun article)
City Hall Politics
At City Hall, it's the little things that matter: Council members tend to neighborhood concerns (Las Vegas Sun article)
Elko County
County Affairs
Spring Creek director joins county planners (Elko Free Press article)
Winter In Elko: New Stove, Cold Comfort
“There are no pellets in this town,” Allen said.
Stove Fuel Shortage: Wanted: Wood Pellets (Elko Free Press article)
Lyon County
Paying For Growth
Most Lyon property owners to see hikes in assessed valuation: Property tax cap will limit increase in tax bills; some areas had to be reappraised to stay within tolerances on setting assessed valuation (Mason Valley News article)
County Affairs
Lyon Commissioners to consider ASG settlement agreement (Mason Valley News article)
No decision made yet on location for new jail (Mason Valley News article)
Rye resigns as Chief Deputy DA (Mason Valley News article)
Town Of Dayton
Approval of grant for old-town boardwalks, lighting, on agenda (Mason Valley News article)
Silver Springs General Improvement District
Silver Springs GID seeks removal of risers (Mason Valley News article)
City Of Yerington
City may consider route from Bridge Street to Mason Road (Mason Valley News article)
Nye County
County Affairs
Gas tax feud is put to bed (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Williams may be appointed permanent county manager (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Town Board Appointments
County appoints members to Beatty, Gabbs boards (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Flood Control
Cox says flood prevention plan is creeping at a snail's pace (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Government-Chartered Monopolies
Garbage hauler to produce records (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Focus Property Group
Ban on waivers won't fly on commission vote (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Town Of Pahrump
The Bayonets of a New Dawn
Town again invites controversy (Las Vegas Sun article)
"A new ordinance requiring the registration of "undocumented foreign nationals" is scheduled to have its first reading at the Pahrump Town Board meeting Tuesday, Dec. 12."
New plan calls for registration (Pahrump Valley Times article)
'Flag' rules face removal (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Pahrump's Miraglia: Tilting at Windmills (Jack Wood column, Nye - Gateway to Nevada's Rurals)
__________
Corruption? In Nevada?
Clark County Commission Corruption Cases
"Perhaps most damaging for Malone is he is accused of corrupting six elected official in his attempts to bribe politicians in exchange for votes favorable to Galardi."
Attorney says Malone to get 41-month term: Bagman for strip club owner faces Dec. 18 sentencing (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education
The Problem Of Athletics And Education
"A week after issuing a report showing that the UNLV football team turned a profit in the latest fiscal year, officials this week issued a revised copy showing that the program actually lost money, even after taking in more than $2.3 million in state funding."
UNLV reverses field on football financial report (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Public Schools
Full Time Kindergarten Proposal
The Blob that Ate the Budget (Chuck Muth column, Battleborn Opinion News)
Three Kindergarten Monty (Chuck Muth column, Battleborn Opinion News)
Nye County School District
Roberts will have Gibbons' ear (Pahrump Valley Times article)
__________
Nevada Water Matters
The Walker River
Walker River litigation status hearing set today (Mason Valley News article)
DAWG questions current USGS study of Walker Basin: Charges change in project website shows uncertainty with position (Mason Valley News article)
Prior study looks at attitudes, thoughts on selling water rights: Buying of water rights from ‘willing sellers’ now closer thanks to funding to university (Mason Valley News article)
__________
Nevada Health Matters
Labor Unions And Health Care
Hospital, union officials working to begin talks (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
A Medical Future
UNR nursing student eyes future in the OR (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Silver Springs Stagecoach Hospital District
Hospital District still considering legal counsel (Mason Valley News article)
__________
Nevada Mining
Northwest Mining Association
‘Sustaining the Boom’: Newmont studies impact on community (Elko Free Press article)
A Different View
Arsenic and Old Arguments (Desert Beacon column, Blue Sage Views)
__________
Nevada Culture
Snowflake Festival (Elko Free Press article)
__________
Federal Nevada
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
Gratitude is not enough: Probe shows government may have tried to shortchange nuclear weapons workers (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Yucca-tics (Chuck Muth column, Battleborn Opinion News)
Nevada Test Site
Security contract awarded at NTS (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Public Lands
NEW WILDERNESS AREAS ENVISIONED: White Pine County land bill advances --House sends measure to Senate for consideration before adjournment (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Federal Income Taxes
NEVADA BENEFIT: Sales tax deduction approved -- House, Senate OK coveted law affecting federal income tax returns (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Alternative Energy
Assess renewable energy's feasibility, governors advised: Staffer suggests tax breaks for clean energy (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Corruption, Waste And Mismanagement
FEMA still a disaster: Federal report shows emergency agency continues to make erroneous aid payments (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
From The US Congress
Last-Minute Legislation At-a-Glance (Associated Press article)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Animal Surveillance
Audience skeptical of animal ID system (Pahrump Valley Times article)
___________
From The Neon Empire
Home Means Nevada
It's Genting (rhymes with "cha-ching!") (David McKee column, Las Vegas Business Press)
__________
Nevada's Past
That Old Tombstone
Family claims tombstone found under Sparks Street (Nevada Appeal article)
__________
Nevada Journalism
Welcome Back, Eric!
Helloooooo Nevada!!! (Eric Odom column, Battleborn Opinion News)
==========================================
December 10, 2006
[5:50 PM]
_____
Nevada Government
State Government
The Governor-Elect
Nevada AG-elect, husband named to Jim Gibbons' transition team (Associated Press article)
The Outgoing Governor's Heritage
GUINN LEGACY: Governor looks back at tenure -- He highlights Millennium Scholarship; others say tax increase will define him (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Minimum Wage Law
Minimum-wage law has 'gray areas': Many employers at workshop take issue with 'qualified health plan' exception (Nevada Appeal article)
Tobacco Prohibition And Prohibitionists
A Classic Nevada Law: Its Exceptions Strengthen The Strong, Burden The Weak.
Equal Protection - You've Got To Be Kidding!
"Neither in the United States nor in Nevada -- which is guaranteed a "republican" form of government -- is the majority free to strip constitutional rights from the minority, or to violate guarantees of due process and equal protection under the law, even by a vote of 99 to 1."
Smoking ban challenge: Don't hold your breath -- Not even permanent injunction can stave off Californication (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
"To clumsily carve out these exemptions and then employ the cheap tactic of saying it is all about children - kids are always used for emotional impact whether the battle is over smoking or teacher raises - banishes the Question 5 folks from any moral high ground."
Jon Ralston on how ambiguities in the Clean Indoor Air Act have both sides blowing smoke about its constitutionality (Las Vegas Sun column)
"But what Perkins and other bar owners I've talked to are most struck by is the inherent lack of fairness in a law that excludes the biggest operators and focuses on so many small-business owners. That wasn't the unspoken purpose of Question 5, was it? "If they want to make it nonsmoking, make it the same across the state," he says."
JOHN L. SMITH: Small business bears brunt of anti-smoking law's inherent lack of fairness (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
God Damn This Traffic Jam
Why Not Try Impact Fees And Sensible Growth Policies
Driving into gridlock: Legislature needs to find a way to fund highway construction projects beyond short term (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Nevada Voting
ERIN NEFF: 'Have we outsourced' our elections? (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
State Finances
LONG-DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP: Retiring finance deputy Adkins balanced Nevada's books from Kansas for five years (Las Vegas Sun article)
Local Government
Clark County
Public Subsidies For Private Enterprise
LOOKING IN ON: CLARK COUNTY -- Haggling over arena doesn't do trick for mayor (Las Vegas Sun article)
Waiting For Ivanpah
A new way to airport: Proposal to build a monorail line makes sense, but there are many hurdles ahead (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Domestic Violence
Battling domestic violence: Authorities try to increase efforts to stem growing tide of victims in valley (Las Vegas Sun article)
City Of Henderson
LOOKING IN ON: THE SUBURBS -- Convenient election centers get the vote in Henderson (Las Vegas Sun article)
Douglas County
Commission takes on weight issue at airport (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
Genoa turns management over to county (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
Community backs Fish Springs master plan (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
Elko County
City Of Elko
Annexation, rezoning stirring up controversy (Elko Free Press article)
Lake Tahoe Basin
Changing the drinking dynamic (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
IVGID: back to basics (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Washoe County
National League Of Cities Convention
League of cities adopts stands on several issues (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Mayor pledges focus on media violence at Nevada convention (Associated Press article)
Nagin closes gathering of cities (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Plight Of The Homeless
Thank county workers for extra mile (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
__________
Nevada Health Matters
Labor Unions And Health Care
Nurses return to work after five-day lockout: Off-duty colleagues gather for unity demonstration (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
New face of labor has heart, drive: Nurses union leader wants to help make the world better (Las Vegas Sun article)
A Less Perfect Union (Chuck Muth column, Battleborn Opinion News)
Mental Health
Mental health court seen as example for state (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Questions and Answers about Washoe County mental health services (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Police gain new views on dealing with mentally ill (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Repeat arrests can get expensive (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada's Environment
Our Fire-Ravaged Lands
Rehab workshop slated Thursday (Elko Free Press article)
Forest Service uses tree cutting to keep Tahoe green (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Ecological Construction
Green building buds in Reno (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada's Workers
Labor sees new day in Southern Nevada: Recent orchestration of hospital deal shows unions very much alive (Las Vegas Sun article)
__________
Federal Nevada
From The US Congress
So long to the do-nothings: Congress under Democratic leadership will get reeducated about the work ethic (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Congress sends White Pine County land bill to Bush (Associated Press article)
Veterans Affairs
Post Iraq Depletion Syndrome? (Desert Beacon website)
Our Nation's Armed Forces
Generals say plans won't work in field (The Telegraph [UK] article)
By land and by sea (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Life on a carrier's flight deck: It's Often crazy, but always under control (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Feel the rush as you're catapulted from the flight deck (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Landing at night in the middle of the ocean: It's not only surreal, it's a little scary (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
From The Neon Empire
Being Decisive
Jeff Simpson on why casino chief Steve Wynn reserves the right to change his mind (Las Vegas Sun column)
Hard Rock Sale
Tribe's purchase is big deal (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
==========================================
December 11, 2006
[4:30 PM]
_____
Another Nevada Serviceman Killed In Combat Overseas
1st Lt. Nathan Krissoff, USMC
Reno Marine lieutenant killed in Iraq (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Government
State Government
The Governor-Elect
Cortez Masto is transition team pick: Incoming attorney general part of 14-member group (Associated Press article)
The Nevada Legislature
Our State's Wretched Campaign Finance And Ethics Laws
"It's real easy to understand: Legislators kill or gut those efforts that make it easier to track their potential conflicts of interests because most of them just don't want to abide by tougher ethics laws."
JANE ANN MORRISON: Don't expect ethics laws to shed any light on lobbyists, legislators (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
Apartments For Las Vegas
LOOKING IN ON: CARSON CITY -- Apartment project to provide affordable housing in LV (Las Vegas Sun article)
Secret Tax Deals
"Without specifics, who's to know whether someone gained an unfair advantage or won a concession that others should have as well? Shouldn't the public know that?"
A taxing lapse of logic: State Tax Commission's disingenuous attempt to be open actually locks public out (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
The Escheating Game
"The state's unclaimed property Web site is riddled with flaws that, as one expert told Sun reporter Michael Mishak, effectively hides about 40 percent of the money being held by the state. In a procedure that seems like more of a wall than a search process, the database often uses codes identifying the type of property, rather than listing the owner's name. And there is no explanation for the codes on the site. The site also limits searches to only 25 results."
Following the money: State's unclaimed property remains largely hidden from view while the state spends it (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Unresponsive Officials
Reader frustrated with no responses about highway litter (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
The Problem Of Identity Theft
STEALING YOUR CHILD'S CREDIT (Las Vegas Sun article)
Tobacco Prohibition And Prohibitionists
Smoke on this! (Steve Sebelius column, Las Vegas CityLife)
Nevada Commission on Economic Development
Feds outsource; Nevada benefits: Small businesses reap millions in government contracts, millions more on table (Las Vegas Business Press)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
Autumn Village senior housing given 18 months to pay fees (Nevada Appeal article)
Churchill County
Group compiles steps to preserve agriculture (Lahontan Valley News article)
Mosquito board clears directors of misconduct (Lahontan Valley News article)
Clark County
Fast-Track Finagling
LOOKING IN ON: CITY HALL -- Residents to be kept in the loop on zoning changes (Las Vegas Sun article)
Washoe County
A Troubled City Attorney's Office
Sparks to hear answer on Adams (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Politics
Government And The Mormon Church
Reid represents growing clout of LDS politicians (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
The Constitution And The Law
Justice admits he ignores Constitution: Document sometimes an inconvenience to liberal Breyer (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Democratic Party Identity Crisis
"This is the No. 1 complaint I hear about liberals and Democrats: that they don't stand for anything. The true definition of liberalism is like a secret locked away in a vault, its combination lost, leaving adherents to wander around guessing at what it means."
The missing secret of American liberalism (Kirk Caraway column, Lahontan Valley News)
Merry Christmas: One Columnist's List Of Punitive Suggestions For The Governor-Elect
An open letter to Governor-elect Jim Gibbons (Guy Farmer column, Nevada Appeal)
Joint Fundraisers: A Rising Trend?
POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Pair join fundraising forces -- Commissioner, councilman hold joint event (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education
NOV. 29 DEDICATION: Ousted judge not forgotten -- $250,000 lands Whitehead's name on law school room (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Public Schools
EdWatch Nevada Update (Joe Enge column, Battleborn Opinion News)
Carson City School District
A pledge worthy of airplay (Nevada Appeal article)
Some answers to Dan Mooney's 'lingering questions' (Ron Knecht column, Nevada Appeal)
Churchill County School District
School employees want to negotiate drug testing policy (Lahontan Valley News article)
__________
Nevada Water Matters
Another Suction Scheme
Arizonans draw line on water pipeline: Isolated area wants state to stop water sale to Mesquite (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
The Original Suction Scheme
Back to the water future (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
__________
Nevada Health Matters
Labor Union And Nevada Health Care
General Hospital Politics (Chuck Muth column, Battleborn Opinion News)
Carve A New Look
Nip and tuck - not just for women anymore: More men seeking medical help to look and feel better about their appearance (Las Vegas Sun article)
__________
Federal Nevada
From The US Congress
Reid, Ensign Announce Middle-Class Tax Relief (Sen. Reid Press Release)
Public Lands
Mining laws dating to 1872 may be in for big changes (Las Vegas Sun article)
Northern Nevada: White Pine County Lands Bill Passes With Broad Support (Sen. Ensign Press Release)
Southern Nevada: White Pine County Lands Bill Passes With Broad Support (Sen. Ensign Press Release)
White Pine County Lands Bill Passes With Broad Support (Sen. Reid Press Release)
Horse forum an opportunity to find permanent solutions (Nevada Appeal editorial)
Organized Crime
The mob meets Adam Smith (Ian Mylchreest column, Las Vegas Business Press)
Veterans Affairs
Ensign, Reid Win Victory For Nevada Hospice (Sen. Ensign Press Release)
Ensign, Reid Win Victory For Nevada Hospice (Sen. Reid Press Release)
Our Nation's Armed Forces
A return two years in the making (Nevada Appeal article)
Air wing squadron a close-knit team (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
The baker keeps crews happy (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Next year's Stennis fliers are now training in Fallon (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
From The Office Of The President Of The United States
Dec. 11, 2006 Press Briefing by Tony Snow (White House website)
__________
From The Neon Empire
Nevada Casino Tax Haul
Casinos show slight gain statewide (Associated Press article)
October 2006 - Gaming Revenues and Collections (Gov. Guinn Press Release)
Men In Black
Mandalay Bay sued in 2004 incident (Las Vegas Sun article)
==========================================
Update for December 11, 2006
[10:40 PM]
_____
Nevada Government
Office Of The Governor
Outgoing, incoming Nevada governors meet (Associated Press article)
Office Of The Lieutenant Governor
Nevada Lt. Gov.-elect Krolicki gets new office (Associated Press article)
__________
Nevada Politics
State Democratic Party
Nevada Democrats tap outside experts for caucus help (Associated Press article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
UNR launches Latino-studies journal (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Mining
Big mining convention likely back in Sparks-Reno area in 2008 (Associated Press article)
__________
From The Neon Empire
Harrah's board to meet Wednesday on buyout offers (Associated Press article)
__________
Federal Nevada
Our National Economy
RL30329 - November 22, 2006 Current Economic Conditions and Selected Forecasts - Updated (Congressional Research Service Report)
RL30354 - November 22, 2006 Monetary Policy: Current Policy and Conditions - Updated (Congressional Research Service Report)
RS22204 - November 14, 2006 U.S. Trade Deficit and the Impact of Rising Oil Prices - Updated (Congressional Research Service Report)
Understanding Similarities and Differences Between Accrual and Cash Deficits GAO-07-117SP, December 1, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
From The US Supreme Court
High Court Rules on Oil, Gas Royalties (Associated Press article)
BP America Production Co. v. Burton (US Supreme Court website)
Immigration Reform
RL33125 - December 07, 2006 Immigration Legislation and Issues in the 109th Congress - Updated (Congressional Research Service Report)
Homeland Security
RL33742 - December 04, 2006 9/11 Commission Recommendations: Implementation Status (Congressional Research Service Report)
RL32891 - November 21, 2006 The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center: Issues for Congress - Updated (Congressional Research Service Report)
RS21322 - November 16, 2006 Homeland Security: Evolving Roles and Missions for United States Northern Command - Updated (Congressional Research Service Report)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Departing Annan attacks Bush's 'war on terror' (The Independent [UK] article)
Foreign Affairs
International Trade
RL33577 - November 22, 2006 U.S. International Trade: Trends and Forecasts - Updated (Congressional Research Service Report)
RS22547 - December 06, 2006 Europe's New Trade Agenda (Congressional Research Service Report)
The Continuing Occupation Of Afghanistan
Report: Taliban Regrouping in Pakistan (Associated Press article)
A Happy Ending for Afghanistan's Gold (Associated Press article)
The Exhibit Of Artifacts
Afghanistan, les trésors retrouvés: Collections nationales du musée de Kaboul (Musée Guimet website)
Africa
RL33584 - November 24, 2006 AIDS in Africa - Updated (Congressional Research Service Report)
Iran
RL32048 - December 04, 2006 Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses -- Updated (Congressional Research Service Report)
The Continuing Occupation Of Iraq
Bush Reviews Options on Iraq Policy (Associated Press article)
Statement of Honorable James A. Baker III and Lee H. Hamilton, Co-Chairs, Iraq Study Group to Senate Armed Services Committee - December 7, 2006 (Senate Armed Services Committee website)
DoD Press Briefing with Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli from the Pentagon (Department of Defense website)
Town Hall Meeting with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace (Department of Defense website)
RL31339 - December 06, 2006 Iraq: Post-Saddam Governance and Security - Updated (Congressional Research Service Report)
Israel
In a Slip, Israel’s Leader Seems to Confirm Its Nuclear Arsenal (New York Times article)
Troubled Mexico
Sudan
Darfur Crisis: Death Estimates Demonstrates Severity of Crisis, but Their Accuracy and Credibility Could Be Enhanced GAO-07-24, November 9, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Darfur Crisis: Progress in Aid and Peace Monitoring Threatened by Ongoing Violence and Operational Challenges GAO-07-9, November 9, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
From The Shadowy World Of Espionage
More tested for exposure as poisoning probe narrows (Los Angeles Times article)
'Walking Dirty Bomb' Tells of London Meetings (Der Spiegel article)
==========================================
December 12, 2006
[5:00 PM]
_____
Nevada Government
State Government
The Governor-Elect
Two are named to head Gibbons transition teams: Ex-assemblyman, institute president tapped (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Guinn, Gibbons meet to talk budget and transition (Nevada Appeal article)
Tobacco Prohibition And Prohibitionists
A Classic Nevada Law: Its Exceptions Strengthen The Strong, Burden The Weak.
Equal Protection - You've Got To Be Kidding!
"Do they actively decide that this was rational business regulation when everyone can see that it was a political tactic to get a partial ban on smoking. or do they actively decide that companies in the same business -- drinking and gambling -- have to be treated equally? If equal protection means anything, Question 5 has to be unconstitutional."
Courts have to kill Question 5 (Ian Mylchreest column, Las Vegas Business Press)
Anti-smoking law's foes target enforcement flaws (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
JOHN L. SMITH: Compromise smoking regulation could prevent a deluge of litigation (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
Smoking suit may show initiative process' problems (Nevada Appeal editorial)
Gammick: smoke ban is in force (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Leadership needed on smoke ban (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
The Nevada Legislature
Nice. Now What About Parasitic Corporations And Crooked Politicians?
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: Bill would deny state benefits -- Assemblyman wants proof of legal residency (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
A Serious Problem Which Needs Fixing
"Aside from the sheer volume of evidence in this case, one other reason police are not finished collecting all of it may be because Nevada employs only one forensic computer analyst for the whole state."
State seeks cyber sleuths: Attorney General to ask for five new computer forensic examiners, up from one (Las Vegas Business Press article)
The State Judiciary
Judiciary Reform
"This is, after all, Nevada. And if we do one thing really well here in this small-town state, it's getting our friends' friends into good positions -- and their enemies shut out of them."
ERIN NEFF: Judges' jury (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
State Agencies
Secret Multi-Million Dollar Refunds To Out-Of-State Corporations
LOOKING IN ON: CARSON CITY: Interest adds up on disputed California utility company refund (Las Vegas Sun article)
Inadequate State Regulation Of Mortgage Lenders
N.Y. lender wins USA Capital bid for $67 million: Compass Partners beats two others in auction (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
State Department Of Motor Vehicles
Dealing with DMV after accident can really wreck your month (Las Vegas Sun article)
Plain Speaking
Improving government access: Simply put, government business done in plain language is better for everyone (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Changing Times
Transportation director to head association of counties (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Fontaine leaving NDOT for counties association (Nevada Appeal article)
Bilbray joins Postal Service governors (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
Santa Maria horses to be removed today: Forum-goers agree fencing is the solution to keep wild horses off properties (Nevada Appeal article)
Clark County
Developing Stories
Extreme makeover: Developer pitches casino-hotel-hospital reinvention of Neonopolis (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Plise nears completion of Rainbow Sunset Pavilion: Boyd Gaming among initial tenants at $120 million plaza (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Territory plans $60 million North Las Vegas retail center (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Home Means Nevada
"The East Village has never looked worse. The area is seedy, neglected and populated with homeless people. And we're not talking about New York."
Rotten Apple: East Village project off to slow start, while developer pursues Singapore (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Can't Get No Respect
Unwanted, dead or alive: Las Vegas bail agents lament lack of respect (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Elko County
City Of Elko
Last chance to request grant funds (Elko Free Press article)
Lyon County
Aspen Creek developer says they will respect ranch's history: Plans include spot for second bridge over the Carson River (Nevada Appeal article)
Six Mile project gets approval after resolving drainage problems: 135 lots on 54.33 acres to be developed (Nevada Appeal article)
The Price Of Development
Utility fee increase approved in Lyon (Nevada Appeal article)
Nye County
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS: Pahrump to re-enter fray -- Proposed ordinance would require undocumented workers to register (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Washoe County
City Of Sparks
Extra-Judicial Punishment
Sparks plans to pursue discipline in Adams case (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
UPAY4ME: Public Subsidies For Private Enterprise
"The finding, pending endorsement by Gov. Kenny Guinn and final Sparks City Council approval, paves the way to use Sales Tax Anticipated Revenue Bonds for the Legends at Sparks Marina development."
State tourism panel aids Sparks marina project (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Sparks council changes zoning for Legends project (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Council OKs $12.5 million project (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Politics
Sen. Reid And Nevada
Ethics panel clears Reid: Dismisses complaint over ringside seats (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Reid a tenacious force in Senate (USA Today article)
Get Cracking
Dems must get to work (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education
Ron Kantowski on Chancellor Jim Rogers' latest letter on athletics at UNLV (Las Vegas Sun column)
LOOKING IN ON: HIGHER EDUCATION: CCSN leaps 10 years ahead in accreditation (Las Vegas Sun article)
Public Schools
More money for education is only a recipe for mediocrity (Chuck Muth column, Las Vegas Business Press)
For safer schools, instill sense of purpose (Ron Kendall column, Reno Gazette-Journal)
Elko County School District
School Board to discuss reading program (Elko Free Press article)
__________
Nevada Water Matters
Corporate Water Speculators
"The Aqua Trac project, proposed by Thomas Gallagher of Summit Engineering, plans to transfer more than 100,000 acre-feet of water from areas east of Pyramid Lake to Fernley, Wadsworth, Sutcliffe, Nixon and Spanish Springs Valley."
County protesting water applications (Lahontan Valley News article)
__________
Nevada Health Matters
You Do The Math -- They Won't
University Medical Center
A hospital in denial: County Commissioners should look more closely at UMC's business, demand openness (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Newest Nevada Health Rankings
The State of Your Health: Nevada (Trust for America's Health website)
Nevada in Middle Rank of Bioterror Preparedness for 2006
Report Finds U.S. Bioterror, Bird Flu, and Health Disaster Preparedness Inadequate; Half of States Score 6 or Less Out of 10 Key Indicators - December 12, 2006 (Trust for America's Health website)
__________
Nevada Culture
Parade lights up Snowflake Festival (Elko Free Press article)
Hispanic Nevada
The Virgin Of Guadalupe, Queen Of Mexico And Empress Of The Americas
Catholic feast day celebrated by many (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Black Nevada
Sparks City Council gives to multicultural alliance (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Federal Nevada
From The US Congress
TAX BREAKS: Alternative energy gets lift: Bill benefits geothermal, wind power firms (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
House Ways And Means Committee
Rep. Berkley named to top committee (Associated Press article)
Corruption, Waste And Mismanagement
Thomas Nast, Ex Spolia Optima [click on image to enlarge]
Got price-fixed milk? Free enterprise? Not in the dairy business (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
"A maverick dairyman named Hein Hettinga started bottling his own milk and selling it for as much as 20 cents a gallon less than the competition, exercising his right to work outside the rigid system that has controlled U.S. milk production for almost 70 years. Soon the effects were rippling through the state, helping to hold down retail prices at supermarkets and warehouse stores."
Dairy Industry Crushed Innovator Who Bested Price-Control System (Washington Post article)
Feds Ease Tactics on Corporate Scandals (Associated Press article)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Terror Case Shows Bush, Libertarian Rift (Associated Press article)
__________
From The Neon Empire
October's Gambling Haul
Casino win up slightly in October: State’s share misses forecasts again (Las Vegas Business Press article)
STATE GAMING WIN: Casinos bailed out by locals -- Gaming revenue increase makes up for Strip (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Record October gaming win despite high baccarat losses (Nevada Appeal article)
Station Situation
Growing at own pace: Going private would give Station Casinos more leeway in announcing a timeline to build resorts on land it controls (Las Vegas Sun article)
Rivera Buy-Out
Would-be Riviera buyers playing it cool: Eichner, Shaw twosome keeping cards close to its vest (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Legalized Gambling
Las Vegas should be thankful for 75 years of AB 98 (David G. Schwartz column, Las Vegas Business Press)
==========================================
December 13, 2006
[2:40 PM]
_____
Nevada Government
State Government
The Governor-Elect
So What? Nevada Comes First
LOOKING IN ON: WASHINGTON - Gibbons' absence criticized (Las Vegas Sun article)
The Outgoing Governor
Darkness, Darkness, Be My Pillow
"Against those memories, it's little wonder there's a minor uprising in west Carson City over the dark mansion. It's an important symbol of Carson City and the state, and the Guinns are technically still its occupants. It should be decorated for Christmas."
A dark mansion is a dark day in Carson City (Nevada Appeal editorial)
Office Of The Lieutenant Governor
Krolicki has Olympian vision for state tourism: Businessman: Carson needs more than a train to attract tourists (Nevada Appeal article)
The Nevada Legislature
Nice. Now What About Parasitic Corporations And Crooked Politicians?
Illegal benefits (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Cobb-ling Together a Common Sense Bill (Chuck Muth column, Battleborn Opinion News)
The New Minimum Wage Law
Minimum-wage increase affects some local small business owners (Lahontan Valley News article)
Increase has minimal effect on county coffers (Lahontan Valley News article)
Tobacco Prohibition And Prohibitionists
More docs in lawsuit to undo smoking ban (Vegas Pundit website)
State Agencies
Dead Kids
"The county social services department was audited in 1996 after a grand jury report on 11 child abuse or neglect deaths by parents or step-parents in 1992-95 showed nine of the children or their siblings were the subjects of department cases."
Panel to release study of child deaths (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Economic Diversification: Stepping Away From Our Banana Republic Economy
"Recent economic reports released by the Northern Nevada Development Authority and the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada have drawn attention to the needs that many business owners and managers have known for years: An educated and experienced worker is hard to find".
The Wall Street Journal gets it, do you? (Nevada Appeal article)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
Horse Sense
Santa Maria horses avoid trap: State's fence-out law must be enforced by county officials (Nevada Appeal article)
Clark County
Love To Love You, Vegas
October was a bumper month for visitors (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Las Vegas draws record visitor count in October: Convention attendance up 55 percent for month from year earlier, authority data show (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Safe airport vs. tall obelisk: Strip tower 739 feet taller than the Stratosphere would pose a threat to airport safety (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
The Fate Of An Honest Politician In Las Vegas
"Unlike some of her colleagues, Tarkanian does not simply follow the mayoral pied piper on deals he is pushing. If she had not asked for and then raised questions about the environmental report on Walters' Royal Links residential conversion project, the developer might be starting to build houses there today. It is not a stretch to say that Tarkanian not only unraveled a done deal but also started a chain of events that resulted in a devastating documentation of city dealings contained in a landmark report prepared by the attorney general's office."
Jon Ralston on Lois Tarkanian and the challenge she faces (Las Vegas Sun column)
The Royal Links Report (Attorney General's website)
Domestic Violence
Fighting violence at home: Stepped-up efforts to curtail domestic violence may need even more of a push (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Lo-Cal Vegas
Fats on Vegas' back burner: Las Vegas, the land of mile-long buffets and star chefs, may be slow to follow New York's lead of phasing out trans fats (Las Vegas Sun article)
Douglas County
Douglas Developments
The Master Plan
"Douglas County residents presented the flaws as they saw them, including the increase of residential densities in urban service areas from five to 17 dwelling units per acre to promote infill and the development of underutilized parcels. The previous master plan recommended a maximum of six dwelling units per acre."
County panel recommends approval of master plan update (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
"The Nevada Supreme Court threw out the county ordinance that required a supermajority of county commissioners to approve a master plan amendment in the 2000 case of Falcke v. Douglas County."
What's great about a supermajority? (Gardnerville Record-Courier editorial)
What About Our Water?
"The diversion is required because developer Peter Beekof purchased water from Minden for his Old Sawmill Industrial Park."
Water diversion alarms Ruhenstroth (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
Hispanic Services
Former teacher named Hispanic coordinator (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
Lake Tahoe Basin
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
"The plan has already been bombarded with criticisms during its six-plus iterations. Environmental groups and property owner groups have also made veiled allusions to legal action over the plan."
Shorezone plan goes public today (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Shorezone is here (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza editorial)
Incline Village General Improvement District
First resignation letter from Mapps (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Audit gives IVGID a good rating (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
An Ounce Of Prevention
Successful winter burning near Incline (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Love Those Social Engineering Laws
Captain Harry Love, California State Rangers (New York Historical Society) [click image to enlarge]
Getting control of drunk driving problem (Andy Whyman column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
Lyon County
County Affairs
The Price Of Development: Take This And Pass It On
Ordinance approved to increase public utility license fees: By 1/2% annually up to 5% of gross revenue (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
Silver Springs And The Proposed New Jail
“The majority of the people believe the jail needs to be centralized. By centralized, I don’t mean not geographically because actually, Yerington and Wabuska, that area is the geographical center of the county, but more so center of the population, North Lyon County and Central Lyon County, as their population base."
SS residents concerned new jail may not be built there (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
Fire Protection
Insurance Service Organization Downgrades North Lyon County Fire Protection District
Fire District earns ISO rating of 4 (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
City Of Fernley
Welcome To The 20th Century
"Following a heated and emotional debate involving the merits of holding primary elections, the Council voted 3-2 in favor of introducing Bill #81 to establish city primaries."
City Council votes to establish Primary Elections (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
Controversial Vonnie Lane Development
City Council continues action on Bar-D development (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
Nye County
Anti-Immigrant Ordinances: Reason Prevails In Pahrump
"Do we plan to change the name of the town of Pahrump?" Rust asked. "Because it's not English; it's Paiute."
Pahrump punts on proposal: Board refuses to consider requiring illegal immigrants to register, pay $200 fee (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Washoe County
County Affairs
I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends
Commission approves shopping center zoning (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
"Affordable Housing" -- At $235,000-$240,000 Per Unit
Washoe OKs $5.4 million aid package (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Growing Government
Washoe to purchase Edison Way buildings (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Nuisances
Nuisance ordinance slated for release this summer (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
A Thought For The Public
County to allow parking on lot near courthouse (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
City Of Sparks
Sparks City Attorney's Office
"If the investigation proves that the allegations, including lying in a previous investigation, are true, the City Council has the right to take action against him -- at the very minimum, censure would be appropriate -- and, to show its employees that it is committed to protecting them, it must."
City can discipline lawyer (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
_______
Nevada Politics
Republican Party Identity Crisis
Clarity Of Thought: The Problem Of Defining Terms
"Conservative" . . . Of What?
Oh Give Me a Home, Where the RINOs Roam… (Chuck Muth column, Battleborn Opinion News)
__________
Corruption? In Nevada?
The Clark County Commission Corruption Cases
Three get to stay home for the holidays: Sentencing delayed for Rizzolo, Galardi and Malone (Las Vegas Sun article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education
Improper recognition: Law school honors disgraced ex-judge (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Public Schools
Churchill County School District
New program will track truants (Lahontan Valley News article)
Clark County School District
Residents say plan to build school next to pig farm smells (Las Vegas Sun article)
Washoe County School District
Bussing's Back
"Elementary schools in south Washoe County are in the early stages of being rezoned to relieve crowding at some sites and to fill others that are under capacity."
Committee to address school rezoning concerns (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Private Schools
Bishop Manogue administration transferred during audit (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Regional Schools
Teacher strike threat looms in South Shore (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
_______
Nevada Water Matters
SNWA The Water Moloch: The More It Takes, The More It Needs
"Tucked inside a tax bill is language directing the federal government to build a reservoir to capture Colorado River water that otherwise flows unclaimed into the Sea of Cortez."
Southern Nevada secures water - for now (Las Vegas Sun article)
The Truckee River
Budget reform plans could cut funding for Truckee flood control (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Health Matters
Bioterror Preparedness
TRUST FOR AMERICANS: Nevada not ready for crisis -- Report finds state unprepared for bioterror, health emergency (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Labor Unions And Health Care
Horrible and Cynical (Chuck Muth column, Battleborn Opinion News)
__________
Our Beautiful Region
Instant Loneliness
At Death Valley, all you hear is ... the silence (Las Vegas Sun article)
__________
Nevada Law Enforcement
Another Southern Nevada Fraud Case
Three indicted in fraud case: Men sold fake business opportunities, federal complaint says (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
__________
Federal Nevada
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
"Although the track runs through Fernley, Silver Springs and Wabuska, sessions were not held in Lyon County. Page noted one official at the Reno session was not aware the track runs through Lyon."
County votes to send complaint letter to DOE Regarding Yucca route issue (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
From The US Congress
POWERFUL COMMITTEE: Berkley lands important appointment -- Nevadan on Ways and Means (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Our National Economy
"With median real wages stagnant for much of the last 30 years, and with the outsourcing of U.S. jobs to overseas markets on the rise, Americans feel their economic futures are in peril."
Ex-Treasury chief says changes hamper forecasts (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Wild Horses
American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act: What is the issue? (Jennifer Williamson column, Lahontan Valley News)
The Internal Revenue Service
"Taxpayers already are cynical about the system. They've heard the tales of millionaires who get away with paying little or no income taxes while middle-income filers are pursued relentlessly. (Think of tip earners in Nevada.) They've struggled with the complicated forms necessary for a system designed by Congress to reward favored Americans at the expense of others."
IRS can't afford to let cheaters win (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Corruption, Waste And Mismanagement
Waxman Has Bush Administration in Sights (Associated Press article)
The War On Terrorists
Clarity Of Thought: The Problem Of Defining Terms
"We desperately need a national leader with the guts and the audacity to forthrightly affirm that in the context of the current hostilities, the enemy is radical Islam."
Know your enemy (Ed Iverson column, Lahontan Valley News)
Foreign Affairs
The Continuing Occupation Of Iraq
ISG Didn't Talk to the Grunts (Jack Wood column, Nye - Gateway to Nevada's Rurals)
__________
From The Neon Empire
The Harrah's Acquisition
Deal or no deal? (Ian Mylchreest column, Las Vegas Business Press)
__________
From Nevada's Past
Pioneer Saloon
Belly up to the bar: New owner of historic saloon has an affinity for preserving the Old West (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
==========================================
December 14, 2006
[5:20 PM]
_____
Nevada Government
State Government
The Governor-Elect
So What? Nevada Comes First
Gibbons goes AWOL: Rep. James Gibbons has missed every voted in the House since the election (Reno News & Review article)
The Outgoing Governor
Hats Off To Dema
Mansion decorated by first lady, volunteers (Nevada Appeal article)
A gesture that will brighten Carson for a long time (Nevada Appeal editorial)
The Nevada Legislature
Republican leader allots committee assignments: Raggio sets schedules to ensure GOP majority on all panels (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Nevada's Economy
A Grinch's Eye View of Nevada's Economy (Desert Beacon website)
Nevada And Tourism
Nevada tourism officials say U.S. uninviting to foreigners: Airport security lines, customs hassles cited as main culprits (Associated Press article)
"The state's outgoing tourism chief on Wednesday encouraged Nevada's industry to fight for its state funding, emphasizing that every dollar spent on tourism advertising returns $230 to the state."
Outgoing tourism boss focuses on state funding (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
The Nevada National Guard
"I can't support reducing the authority of the nation's governors over the Army National Guard," Gibbons said. "If the Pentagon wants to increase troop strength, it should increase the size of the standing force. Troops should be at the ready to handle stateside emergencies."
Army seeks more Guard deployment (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Tobacco Prohibition And Prohibitionists
LOOKING IN ON: CARSON CITY -- Experts divided over effect of ban on smoking (Las Vegas Sun article)
Minimum Wage Law
Wage issues clarified: Emergency regulations take effect immediately (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Local Government
Churchill County
County developing a public guardian policy (Lahontan Valley News article)
Clark County
Urban Renewal
Downtown project still in bad shape: Optimism hasn't turned into profits at Neonopolis (Las Vegas Sun article)
On Your Face! Now!!!
"In police jargon, these surprise entrances are "dynamic entries" that "overwhelm a room." Strategic arrivals catch criminals off-guard in their homes, sort of like a debutante's stunning stop-you-in-your-tracks dance floor debut - but with weapons. More specifically, with blue plastic machine guns that, as one police instructor put it during a seminar on dynamic entry Tuesday, "make everything sexier."
Law enforcement officers learn fine art of making a forceful entry (Las Vegas Sun article)
Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge
LOOKING IN ON: CLARK COUNTY -- Ruling for concrete firm shuts out commissioners (Las Vegas Sun article)
Mystery Blast
Explosions stump investigators: Fires from July propane tank blasts closed I-15, caused millions in damages (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Plight Of The Homeless
Valley set for homeless count: Population growth, low-cost housing shortage expected to swell numbers (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Nye County
Pahrump's Return To Reason
Hispanic-rights group picks Pahrump to set up shop (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Democracy in action: Packed meeting hall was a turning point in Pahrump's history, some say (Las Vegas Sun article)
Pahrump comes to its senses: Town Board dismisses the odious idea of forcing undocumented people to register (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Washoe County
City Of Reno
$25 Million Project
Events Center ballroom approved (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Council delays vote on train trench plaza (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Reno City Council agrees to talk with company about fire house (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Downtown Drug Dealers
"One of the deals actually involved a baby carriage complete with a baby."
The son also falls: Let’s move the drug dealers out of downtown (Reno News & Review editorial)
Reality And Illusion
"Our argument is not with creating a little Potemkin village for visiting officials to see. What we worry about is that Reno officials are also isolated from the city's reality, and that they are too willing to impress visitors instead of residents."
Sanitary Potemkin (Reno News & Review editorial)
Age Discrimination
Former RTC employee sues for discrimination (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Politics
An Easy Sell
"Liberals and conservatives alike said affirmative action has never aroused the controversy in Nevada that it has in other states, chiefly because the public sector in Nevada apparently does not use race as a factor in hiring or admissions."
Nevada in anti-affirmative action sights: Coalition considers ballot initiatives for 'race-free zone' (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
State Democratic Party
ERIN NEFF: Caucus could be rife with conflicts (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
__________
Corruption? In Nevada?
The Clark County Commission Corruption Cases
Herrera seeks delay in sentence (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Public Schools
Classroom Violence: The .45 Caliber Solution
Beers proposes allowing armed teachers in class (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Churchill County School District
Drug testing, audit on school agenda (Lahontan Valley News article)
Clark County School District
School plan fails smell test: North Las Vegas leaders should reject a proposal to put an elementary school near a pig farm (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Elko County School District
Spring Creek changes school dance policy (Elko Free Press article)
__________
Nevada Health Matters
Labor Unions And Health Care
HEALTH CARE LABOR DISPUTE: New talks looming -- Staffing, access, overtime, retirement remain unresolved (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Observers hopeful about new talks: Federal mediator to take part in new bargaining (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Mental Health
RAWSON-NEAL PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL: License issues delay opening of 40 beds -- Several psychiatrists yet to receive Nevada medical licenses (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
A Pox On It
Diagnosis of measles prompts warning (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
Dr. Lawyer (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
__________
Nevada Utilities
9 Percent Interest
"Nevada Power Co. has long told consumers that its deferred energy rate increase cases don't include any profit for the utility, just reimbursement for past fuel and purchased power expenses. But that's not true, according to the attorney general's Bureau of Consumer Protection."
Advocate calls rate charge unfair (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Carson City Rates To Climb
"Two 14 percent hikes are being proposed: One would begin in February and the other in July - for a total of 28 percent."
Substantial water-rate increase being sought (Nevada Appeal article)
__________
Nevada Mining
"Nevada has led the nation in addressing abandoned sites, those that cause a safety hazard on public lands," Fields said. "Everyone that has a mining claim helps fund that through their registration fees with the state and county. We support that."
Jump in mining claims on federal lands in the West: Nevada has 90,000 new claims, more than any other state (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Who Owns The West? US Mining Database (Environmental Working Group website)
Nevada Mines Map (Environmental Working Group website)
Golddiggers rule the roost: Newmont Mining Corp. was freed last week from its responsibilities to the Clean Water Act and to Nevada’s H2O aficionados. Might be time to demand accountability from our elected officials (Deidre Pike column, Reno News & Review)
__________
Nevada's Environment
The Wilderness
New Nevada wilderness: Congress has approved another half million acres for wilderness designation in Nevada (Reno News & Review article)
Spawn Of The Devil
JANE ANN MORRISON: Devil's Hole pupfish show it takes more than love to ensure survival (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
__________
Federal Nevada
The National Budget
Controlling the budget (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Every Allergy Sufferer Is A Potential Methamphetamine Manufacturer
"Hiding a simple ingredient behind the counter won't end the epidemic."
Laws alone can't end meth epidemic (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Unwarranted Surveillance
Leahy threatens to subpoena Bush officials: The incoming Senate judiciary chair says he'll use the oversight tool if they refuse requests for papers and testimony (Los Angeles Times article)
Treatment Of Person Detained By US Authorities
Guantanamo inmates may not appeal, judge rules: Congress' tribunal law, however, cannot deny that right to legal immigrants in the U.S., the federal jurist says (Los Angeles Times article)
Federal judge invokes Military Commissions Act to reject Gitmo habeas petition (Jurist article)
Foreign Policy
Iran
Appalling beyond belief: Iran conference for Holocaust deniers is a sick sideshow for dangerous lunatics (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
The Continuing Occupation Of Iraq
Turning point? Local activists hope the Iraq Study Group’s report is the way out of a hated war (Reno News & Review article)
__________
From The Neon Empire
Harrah's Buyout
Harrah's board considers options for its future: To sell or not to sell? Go private or not? (Las Vegas Sun article)
Home Means Nevada
MGM Mirage eyes deals in China (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
__________
Nevada's Past
The Mizpah Hotel
Panel to consider Mizpah demolition (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Journalism
"Ten years ago, I predicted that the Internet meant the death of daily newspapers. Although it appears that prediction is becoming a reality, I see cause for optimism."
Greed: Ten years after our publisher wrote a controversial prediction regarding daily newspapers, he’s been proven correct on many particulars. What now? (Reno News & Review article)
Déjà vu: The alternative press is more important to democracy than ever (Reno News & Review article)
==========================================
December 15, 2006
[2:30 PM]
The new issue of The Nevada Observer is out -- take a look at the middle column for our new stories, articles and features.
Bill Of Rights Day
Cherishing our freedoms: On Bill of Rights Day, citizens have the freedom to celebrate - or not - as they choose (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
_____
Nevada Government
State Government
The Governor-Elect
Gibbons names final transition team (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Two state agency heads to stay on for Gibbons: DMV, personnel directors to keep positions (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
The Outgoing Governor
A fond farewell to Kenny Guinn (Jim Clark column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
The Nevada Legislature
Green builders targeted for tax breaks: Lawmaker aims to reward environmentally sensitive housing (In Business Las Vegas article)
Jon Ralston on Politics: Policymaking by anecdote (In Business Las Vegas column)
Gaming the System: Raggio and the State Senate Committees (Desert Beacon column, Blue Sage Views)
The Loophole State? (Desert Beacon column, Blue Sage Views)
Judicial Reform
Law and Small Business: Judges hold on to firsthand role in fundraising (In Business Las Vegas article)
Tobacco Prohibition And Prohibitionists
NO SMOKING: Many locals already comply with new law (Elko Free Press article)
State Agencies
Board of Homeopathic Medical Examiners
STATE BOARD: Audit uncovers expenditure problems -- Cause lack of awareness, official tells legislators (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Inadequate State Regulation Of Mortgage Lenders
Source: Reorganization plan for USA Capital up to judge (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Nevada Highway Patrol
Troopers will be on alert for DUIs before Christmas (Lahontan Valley News article)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
Going Up?
Carson City to consider raising water prices 28 percent (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Light Pollution
Let there be darkness, say local astronomy buffs (Barry Ginter column, Nevada Appeal)
Clark County
Local Traffic
VALLEY ROADS: Study: LV traffic better -- Goodman doubts effectiveness of stoplight retiming (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Developing News
"Goodman, City Manager Doug Selby and other top staff recently met in New York City with seven of the top investment houses in the U.S. in response to articles claiming that investors are becoming concerned about Las Vegas."
Real Estate and Development: City officials work to calm investors' concerns (In Business Las Vegas article)
Northpoint Business Center sells for $33 million (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Accountability And The Quasi-Government
Slogan stays in Vegas, money leaves: LVCVA spends thousands protecting popular catchphrase it sold to advertising firm for a buck (Las Vegas Sun article)
Marketing Problem
"Instead of an average man, there is the top 10 percent of men and then all the rest. This is caused in part, Granger said, by the shrinking of the middle class and an increasing wealth gap between the highest wage earners and the rest of the pack."
Banking and Marketing: Marketing demographic caught in no man's land (In Business Las Vegas article)
The Las Vegas Monorail
Unanswered questions: County gives monorail airport access. But why? (Las Vegas CityLife article)
Monorail's 'secret plan' unveiled (George Knapp column, Las Vegas CityLife)
A Failure To Communicate
RUKIDDN: License-plate mix-up causes a scene at Decatur Crossing shopping center (Las Vegas CityLife article)
Justice Is A Human Institution
"Three municipal ordinances, each drafted by the attorneys who represent the city of Las Vegas and each consecrated into law by the city council, have come under attack for the same reason—the controvertible language of which they're composed."
The Art of Drafting: Roomy Laws In Which To Wiggle (Las Vegas Weekly article)
Plight Of The Homeless
Gift of caring gets man off streets (Las Vegas Sun article)
Douglas County
Short Shrift
"The $40 million of Bureau of Land Management funding that county officials claim was to be set aside for conservation easements in Douglas County could be used for projects in Washoe County."
Feds pass over Douglas easement requests (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
A Critique Of Taxpayer-Subsidized Development
What's the 20-year goal for Douglas County? (Ralph Elvik column, Gardnerville Record-Courier)
Another Developing Problem
Where will all the traffic go? (Gardnerville Record-Courier editorial)
Elko County
State office buildings under construction (Elko Free Press article)
Lake Tahoe Basin
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
First public presentation of Shorezone (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
The Shorezone prom (Andrew Pridgen column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
Incline Village General Improvement District
Candidate search continues at IVGID (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Incline Justice Of The Peace
Changing of the guard: Tiras prepares to take over (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Town Of Truckee
Truckee utility officials reject wholesale power deal (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Lyon County
County Affairs
Auer names new Chief Deputy DA: Mark Krueger has worked over five years in AG’s Office (Mason Valley News article)
Central Lyon fire chief says slower speed limit saves lives on stretch of Highway 50: 55 mph speed limit to remain in effect for now (Nevada Appeal article)
City Of Yerington
Emergency Management plan aims to coordinate City, County during crisis (Mason Valley News article)
Littell Street paving, Bridge Street widening are City CDBG priorities (Mason Valley News article)
Mineral County
Hawthorne man honored as longest serving defense employee (Nevada Appeal article)
Nye County
Pahrump And The Anti-Immigration Ordinances
"Congressional representatives must not let the failure of too many previous administrations also become their failure. Immediately after convening next year, a comprehensive and workable plan for immigration reform must be among their priorities."
Town plans aren't solution (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Pahrump: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Desert Beacon)
Democracy Comes to Pahrump (Jack Wood column, Nye - Gateway to Nevada's Rurals)
Washoe County
Dead Kids
Report urges better communication, training in Washoe child abuse cases (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
National Center for Child Death Review
National Center for Child Death Review Nevada Page
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education
CCSN hit with complaints: Former diversity chief Lopez alleges she was discriminated against, fired for doing her job (Las Vegas Sun article)
Public Schools
Clark County School District
Board endorses $1 billion boost in school funds: iNVest includes full-day kindergarten (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Water Matters
The Walker River
Judge says Walker River mediation over, lifts stay (Mason Valley News article)
Snowpack well below average: But recent above-average years leave reservoirs in decent shape (Mason Valley News article)
__________
Nevada Health Matters
Labor Unions And Health Care
Valley Health Services
VHS: No deals on nurse numbers (In Business Las Vegas article)
Health Care Programs
Health Care and Workplace: Companies have healthier outlook toward employees (In Business Las Vegas article)
Looking at Bush's new health care act (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Prescription Drugs: Improvements Needed in FDA's Oversight of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising GAO-07-54, November 16, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
__________
Nevada Mining
Mining preparation work underway at Pumpkin Hollow site (Mason Valley News article)
Mercury emission investigation urged: Groups push for fish consumption advisory (Associated Press article)
__________
Nevada Culture
Native Nevadans
Fair to offer American Indian crafts (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Hispanic Nevada
Immigrants finding Nevada a great place for new start (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Community celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
Hispanic community celebrates Novena (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
The Fires Of Churchill
Bonfire to return during New Year's Eve celebration (Lahontan Valley News article)
Las Vegas And The Arts
A Little Complaint About the Arts District: Iceberg Slick picks a fight—a First Friday fight! (Las Vegas Weekly article)
Drinking and Striving: Networking with the Feminist Drinking Club, the Valley's tippling source for activism (Las Vegas Weekly article)
__________
Federal Nevada
From The US Congress
Reid says Senate changeover on track: Ill South Dakotan 'looks good,' he reports (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Prediction by Reid returns to haunt: Johnson's illness puts Senate lead in danger (Las Vegas Sun article)
Ensign Announces Committee Assignments (Sen. Ensign Press Release)
Ensign passed over for spot on finance panel (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Our National Budget
97-684 - December 08, 2006 The Congressional Appropriations Process: An Introduction (Congressional Research Service Report)
Comparing Budget and Accounting Measures of the Federal Government’s Fiscal Condition, December 2006 (Congressional Budget Office Report)
The Social Security Program
Is Social Security Progressive? - December 15, 2006 (Congressional Budget Office Report)
An Island Empire
U.S. Insular Areas: Economic, Fiscal, and Financial Accountability Challenges GAO-07-119, December 12, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Organized Crime
H.Doc.109-13 Report Relating To The Interdiction Of Aircraft Engaged In Illicit Drug Trafficking
U.N. Panel to Probe Guatemala Mob Crime (Associated Press article)
Transportation
Next Generation Air Transportation System: Progress and Challenges Associated with the Transformation of the National Airspace System GAO-07-25, November 13, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Intercity Passenger Rail: National Policy and Strategies Needed to Maximize Public Benefits from Federal Expenditures GAO-07-15, November 13, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Our Nation's Environment
USDA Conservation Programs: Stakeholder Views on Participation and Coordination to Benefit Threatened and Endangered Species and Their Habitats GAO-07-35, November 15, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Homeland Security
Border Security: US-VISIT Program Faces Strategic, Operational, and Technological Challenges at Land Ports of Entry GAO-07-248, December 6, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Homeland Security: Agriculture Specialists' Views of Their Work Experiences After Transfer to DHS GAO-07-209R, November 14, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Our Nation's Armed Forces
Rethink use of National Guard (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Vital contract a nightmare: Negligence in monitoring private companies sets Coast Guard behind in its mission (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Foreign Affairs
The Continuing Occupation Of Iraq
Will he ever learn? (Las Vegas CityLife editorial)
Where's John? (Desert Beacon)
__________
From The Neon Empire
Acquisitions
Hard Rock
LOOKING IN ON: GAMING -- Deadline approaching on Hard Rock deal (Las Vegas Sun article)
Harrah's
No deal yet … (Ian Mylchreest column, Las Vegas Business Press)
Riviera
Riviera bid fizzles (David McKee column, Las Vegas Business Press)
__________
Nevada's Past
Pioneer Legacy
Legacy of hope left by Dayton pioneers (Nevada Appeal article)
The Historic Mizpah
Remains of Mizpah to be demolished (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Journalism
The 86 Treatment
"What crimes are so shocking to the conscience, peace, dignity and morals of Las Vegas that they require banishment?"
Get out of Town (Las Vegas CityLife article)
"IN HONOR of CityLife's "Get Out Of Town!" issue, I came up with a few of my own things we would all be better off without."
You're outed (of town)! (Lee Plotkin column, Las Vegas CityLife)
==========================================
December 16, 2006
[10:35 AM]
_____
Nevada Government
State Government
The Governor-Elect
"I see it as an opportunity to hear from whose who often are on the sidelines, but should have their voices heard. Hopefully, it is going to help me to be a better governor, and the state will be a better place for the people who live in it."
Gibbons wins high marks for team approach: Diverse groups help with transition (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Minimum Wage Law
Job centers for the disabled can 'skirt' new minimum wage law (Nevada Appeal article)
State Judiciary
Judge Papez named to high court's Article 6 Commission (Ely Times article)
Nevada Highways
Must Have Blood To Build
Traffic signal approved after 2 deaths (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Homestead Road signal could be a year away (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Our Burning Hills
Johnnie fire: Kulkin applauds firefighters, criticizes resources (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Federal funds help firefighters breathe easier (Sierra Sun article)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
Agents predict rising profits in commercial properties: Commercial rents expected to increase in the new year (Nevada Appeal article)
Churchill County
Planning board splits on zoning change (Lahontan Valley News article)
Construction begins in New River Business Park (Lahontan Valley News article)
Clark County
Waiting For Ivanpah
City looks at fighting changes in flight path (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Nevada's Richest Quasi-Government
Convention authority changing grant process (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Developing Stories
Elko County
Elko gas prices continue to decline (Elko Free Press article)
Nye County
County Affairs
Malls, condos have mixed luck before RPC (Pahrump Valley Times article)
The Town Of Pahrump
Much applause: Board tosses plan to register illegals (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Sheriff saw unintended consequences (Pahrump Valley Times article)
'English' resolution fails with 2-2 vote (Pahrump Valley Times article)
'English' ordinance one piece of kaleidoscope (Mark Smith column, Pahrump Valley Times)
Governor washes hands of Miraglia (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Storey County
'Mustang Ranch' name rights dispute settled after 4 years (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
White Pine County
County Affairs
County commission says senior council violated Open Meeting Law (Ely Times article)
_________
Nevada Politics
Leadership
What kind of leader are you? (Lucy A. Ivins column, Pahrump Valley Times)
__________
Corruption? In Nevada?
No-Bid Contracts
"Whether it's 1997's Airportgate, when commissioners slipped friends and cronies onto a preferred list of contract winners for airport concessions, or a multimillion-dollar hospital contract awarded to a firm that didn't submit the lowest bid, when big bucks are at stake, allegations of favoritism often follow."
Lowest bid not always the best (Las Vegas Sun article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Public Schools
School overhaul? National panel proposes radical reforms (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce
Tough Choices or Tough Times (Executive Summary)
Lyon County School District
Lyon construction tax funds going mostly to school maintenance (Nevada Appeal article)
Washoe County School District
School district investigating director of transportation (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
White Pine County School District
Bob Dolezal named 2006 Schools Superintendent of the Year (Ely Times article)
__________
Nevada Water Matters
The Colorado River
Two water projects still on track: Interior secretary tells river users government pursuing canal repair, reservoir plans (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
SNWA The Water Moloch: The More It Takes, The More It Needs
SNWA buys more Spring Valley land (Ely Times article)
__________
Nevada Utilities
White Pine County Coal-Burning Power Plant
SPR touts Ely Energy Center as new benchmark (Ely Times article)
Ely Energy Center (Sierra Pacific Resources website)
__________
Nevada Mining
Mining claims on public lands in Nevada grew 50% in past four years (Ely Times article)
__________
Federal Nevada
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
Tech Review Board to meet in Las Vegas (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Public Lands
White Pine County Lands Bill
Congress passes White Pine lands bill before recess: President Bush still must sign measure before it becomes law (Ely Times article)
Landscape Coalition praises Reid and Ensign for lands bill (Ely Times article)
Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition
The Roar Of The Wilderness
Group says too much forest terrain is open for snowmobiling (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Winter Recreation on Western National Forest Lands (Winter Wildlands Alliance website)
__________
Nevada's Past
"Our railroad heritage is facing a very serious threat; it is disappearing, leaving nothing for the future. The skills and the know-how to keep the steamers steaming is in danger of becoming extinct. If we do not address the problem now, we will lose that heritage forever."
At the Throttle: Continuing America's railroad heritage (Mark Bassett column, Ely Times)
==========================================
Update for December 16, 2006
[5:20 PM]
_____
The Problem Of Methamphetamine
Meth Problems Are Priorities Across The Nation, In Nevada: Governor-elect Gibbons Facing Problems Up Front As Is League Of Cities (Nevada Observer article)
TNO was surprised how little information was available on this subject from State and local government websites, so we put together this Reader as a public service for concerned citizens and agencies.
A Methamphetamine Reader
Selected Reports and Hearings from the 109th Congress
Methamphetamine Abuse (US Senate Appropriations Committee Hearings)
Comprehensively Combating Methamphetamines: Impacts on Health and the Environment (House Committee on Energy and Commerce Hearings)
Fighting Meth in America's Heartland: Assessing the Impact on Local Law Enforcement and Child Welfare Agencies (House Committee on Government Reform Hearings)
The Problem of Methamphetamine in Indian Country (Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Hearings)
Appalachian Ice: The Methamphetamine Epidemic in Western North Carolina (House Committee on Government Reform Hearings)
Subversion of Drug Testing Programs (House Committee on Energy and Commerce Hearings)
Fighting Meth in America's Heartland: Assessing Federal State and Local Efforts (House Committee on Government Reform Hearings)
Law Enforcement and the Fight Against Methamphetamine: Improving Federal, State and Local Efforts (House Committee on Government Reform Hearings)
H.Rpt.109-352 The Methamphetamine Epidemic: The International Roots of the Problem (US House of Representatives Report)
Alien Gang Removal Act of 2005 (House Committee on the Judiciary Hearings)
Immigration and the Alien Gang Epidemic: Problems and Solutions (House Committee on the Judiciary Hearings)
Methamphetamine Epidemic Elimination Act (House Judiciary Committee Hearings)
H.Rpt.109-299, Pt.1 Methamphetamine Epidemic Elimination Act (US House of Representatives Report)
H.Rpt.109-299, Pt.2 Methamphetamine Epidemic Elimination Act (US House of Representatives Report)
Combating Methamphetamines Through Prevention and Education (House Committee on Education and the Workforce Hearings)
Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2005 (House Committee on Science Hearings)
Other Resources
National Clandestine Laboratory Register -- Nevada (US Drug Enforcement Agency website)
Guidelines for Law Enforcement for the Cleanup of Clandestine Drug Laboratories - 2005 Edition (US Drug Enforcement Agency website)
Online Information About Methamphetamine: 1390 Articles (US Drug Enforcement Agency website)
==========================================
December 17, 2006
[2:20 PM]
[Updated 6:30 PM for National and International News]
_____
Nevada Politics
State Government
Goodbye, Governor
Jon Ralston tips his hat to Gov. Kenny Guinn for standing his ground for the good of Nevada (Las Vegas Sun column)
After 8 years as governor, Guinn ready for quiet life (Associated Press article)
The Nevada Legislature
"Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, said he plans to introduce legislation in the 2007 Legislature that would give home buyers property tax breaks if they purchase so-called "green" homes."
Tax break could save green for home buyers who go green (Las Vegas Sun article)
The State Judiciary
Concern For Court Records
Parraguirre: Case demonstrates need for independent clerk -- She says her refusal to do their bidding has alienated some judges (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
"Allowing Clark County's district judges to take over the court clerk's duties is like letting the fox guard the henhouse, critics of the plan say."
Judges' takeover of clerk's duties concerns critics: Plan supported by 27 of 33 district judges (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Tobacco Prohibition And Prohibitionists
Anti-smoking law clouds economics: Economic Forum can’t say whether restrictions good or bad for Nevada (Associated Press article)
Equal Protection? You've Got To Be Kidding!
"That they're jumping in now will only give credence to the rumors that Question 5 was really inspired by the casinos to kill off the small, local operators."
New twist on Question 5 hearing (Ian Mylchreest column, Las Vegas Business Press)
The Nevada Resort Association's Motion To Intervene
Gamers care about kids, too? (Vegas Pundit)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
Wild Horses
Wild horses in the way of landscaper's work (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Clark County
Traffic Lights
Mayor tells it like it is (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
RTC great, RTC study says! (Steve Sebelius column, Las Vegas CityLife)
Elko County
Pellet Problems
Got Wood? Expert offers some tips on wood pellets (Elko Free Press article)
Nye County
Pahrump Anti-Immigrant Ordinances
VIN SUPRYNOWICZ: Sheriff opposes registration. Really? (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
GEOFF SCHUMACHER: More from the anti-immigration front (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
Storey County
The Brothel Business
Mustang Ranch sign goes up on I-80 (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Washoe County
Inequitable Taxes
"The group has long accused out-going Washoe County Assessor Robert McGowan and his office of arbitrarily assigning high values to homes with views of Lake Tahoe, as well as general inconsistency in the office's appraisal process."
Tax revolt group still at it (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Public Schools
Pre-Schools Offer "Lord Of The Flies" Socialization Experience
FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN : No academic benefit at considerable expense -- Contrary to what educators think, most youngsters are better off in care of parents (Steven Miller column, Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Motivation And Morale
Time To Make A Difference: Teach for America asks top college graduates to reach out to students in hard-luck schools (Las Vegas Sun article)
Pistol-Packing Pedagogue Proposal
Arming Teachers, Protecting Students (Chuck Muth column, Battleborn Opinion News)
O.K. Corral Elementary? A proposal to arm teachers and school staff in the name of safety should be shot down (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Beers' school safety proposal off target (Nevada Appeal editorial)
School Funding
Thoroughly Inadequate: The 'School Funding Adequacy Evasion' (Nevada Policy Research Institute)
Civic Education
Season over for We the People (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Innovation And Education
What real innovation in education looks like: Davidson Academy and ACE Charter School break Nevada’s rigid mold (Joe Enge essay, Nevada Policy Research Institute)
__________
Nevada Health Matters
Nevada's Doctor Shortage
More doctors tend to vanity, not illness (Las Vegas Sun article)
Chronic Fatigue
Fatigue syndrome all too real: Researchers are discovering that sufferers' claims are valid, despite widespread cynicism (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Health Care And Health Insurance
Who's having the crisis? (Desert Beacon)
__________
Nevada Law Enforcement
The Strange Death Of Kathy Augustine
Two different people who came from similar backgrounds: How did they wind up together, and how did they end up with one dead and the other accused of killing her? (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Timeline from controller's ethics violations to husband's arraignment (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Highly publicized case leads to changes in drug's accessibility (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Banking And Commerce
Banks log busy year (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Having a Merry Christmas on borrowed money (Kirk Caraway column, Nevada Appeal)
Wrap up your '06 year-end wealth planning (Nevada Appeal article)
"The Better Business Bureau processed 22 complaints about Gold's Gym in Reno in the last 36 months. Twenty of those complaints were reported resolved."
A New Year's resolution: Caveat emptor (Nevada Appeal article)
__________
Nevada Culture
Daughters of Norway celebrate customs (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
__________
Our Beautiful Region
A walk in a Markleeville meadow revisited (Dick Edwards column, Gardnerville Record-Courier)
Officials tout Mill Creek restoration as success (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
__________
Federal Nevada
From The US Congress
Senators to bare souls -- in secret: Hammer out differences in public, not behind closed doors (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
RS20145 - November 03, 2005 Secret Sessions of Congress: A Brief Historical Overview (Congressional Research Service Report)
98-718 - November 03, 2005 Secret Sessions of the House and Senate (Congressional Research Service Report)
Bush Seeks to Halt Congress Pet Projects (Associated Press article)
Our Nation's Environment
"The U.S. Forest Service no longer will assess environmental impacts in its long-term forest plans, which means whole areas could be marked for logging and other uses before it is known whether such projects will damage watersheds or animal habitat."
Process lacks protections: New Forest Service rule leaves little room for halting activities that damage environment (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Political Science
Meddling with research: Government geologists criticize new reviews that they fear are peppered with politics (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Government-Chartered Monopolies
FCC to Vote on Cable Competition Measure (Associated Press article)
Identity Theft
Universities Vulnerable to ID Thieves (Associated Press article)
S.Rpt.109-203 Identity Theft Protection Act (US Senate Report)
Homeland Security
New Railroad Security Plan Announced (Associated Press article)
DHS Targets High Risk Hazardous Materials in Transit - New Freight Rail Security Regulations Will Protect High Threat Urban Areas (US Department of Homeland Security website)
Chertoff Defends Security Program Delay (Associated Press article)
High-Rise Security Is 'Balancing Act' (Associated Press article)
National Flood Insurance Program: New Processes Aided Hurricane Katrina Claims Handling, but FEMA's Oversight Should Be Improved GAO-07-169, December 15, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Travel Restrictions
"It's a difficult balance for a country that has always been so open to foreigners. It would be unfortunate if, because of our fear of our enemies, we were to shut the doors to our friends, too."
Shutting doors to visitors (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Treatment Of Persons Detained By US Authorities
Night And Fog Jobs: Extrajudicial Abductions Formerly Associated Only With Nazi and Communist Regimes
Testimony Helps Detail CIA's Post-9/11 Reach: Europeans Told of Plans for Abductions (Washington Post article)
Sold Like A Bullock, Hoof And Hide
7 Afghans return home after imprisonment (Associated Press article)
Information-Gathering Practices
Bank Secrecy Act: FinCEN and IRS Need to Improve and Better Coordinate Compliance and Data Management Efforts GAO-07-212, December 15, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Federal Information Collection: A Reexamination of the Portfolio of Major Federal Household Surveys Is Needed GAO-07-62, November 15, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Information Technology: Status and Challenges of Employee Exchange Program GAO-07-216, December 15, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Our Nation's Armed Forces
Heads Up Clips (Desert Beacon)
US CENTCOM Weekly Newsletter for December 19, 2006 (US Department of Defense website)
Reserves, National Guard feel the strain: A half-million called up since the 9/11 attacks (Boston Globe article)
U.S. Mulls Increasing Aid to Lebanese Army (Associated Press article)
Pentagon to Move Troops Into Kuwait (Associated Press article)
Defense Infrastructure: Continuing Challenges in Managing DOD Lodging Programs as Army Moves to Privatize Its Program GAO-07-164, December 15, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Adios
Rumsfeld Gets Big Pentagon Sendoff (Associated Press article)
New Fighter Aircraft
F-35 Test Flight Deemed a Success (Associated Press article)
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (Milavia website)
Foreign Affairs
The Continuing Occupation Of Afghanistan
Afghanistan not handled correctly thus far (Norm Rosenberg column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
France to Pull Troops From Afghanistan (Associated Press article)
The Continuing Occupation Of Iraq
Visions of a wider war: Saudi threat and reports of troop buildup carry prospect of war leaping Iraq's boundaries (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Baker/Hamilton: A plea for a truce in the war at home (Guy Farmer column, Nevada Appeal)
History holds the real answers to the Iraq conflict (Sam Baumann column, Nevada Appeal)
Powell: We Are Losing In Iraq -- Exclusive: Former Secretary Of State Says More Troops Isn't The Answer (CBS News interview)
Bush Rejects Most Dramatic Iraq Options (Associated Press article)
Brief Troop Surge OK in Iraq, Reid Says (Associated Press article)
Outgoing Commander Stresses Importance of Economic Progress in Iraq (American Forces Press Service)
Blair Makes Surprise Visit to Baghdad (Associated Press article)
28 Kidnapped From Aid Office in Baghdad (Associated Press article)
Rebuilding Iraq--Status of DOD's Reconstruction Program GAO-07-30R, December 15, 2006 (Government Accountability Office Report)
Troubled Mexico
Drug cartel leader arrested, Mexico says (Associated Press article)
Mexican Federal Forces Exit Oaxaca Plaza (Associated Press article)
Mexico’s Rebel Region (Agence Global article)
__________
From The Neon Empire
Gambling Regulation
Q+A: Bobby Siller -- Insistence on full disclosure (Las Vegas Sun interview)
Untouched By Scandal So Far
INSIDE GAMING: Amid wave of scandal, gaming execs untainted (Rod Smith column, Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Casinos And Their Neighbors
"Atwell said a developer's plan to build or enlarge a project generally plays out in three stages: He, or his agent using a different name to disguise the plans, tries to buy sufficient land early without revealing what's up. Once that cat is out of the bag, the developer hopes for reasonable negotiations. And then, you have to deal with the hardball holdouts."
Landowners stand in way of 'the gorilla' (Las Vegas Sun article)
__________
Nevada's Past
More Than The Mizpah
Historic sites need to be protected (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
__________
Nevada Journalism
Comma Comments
THOMAS MITCHELL: A comma is a terrible thing to misplace (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
==========================================
December 18, 2006
[11:55 AM]
_____
Nevada Government
State Government
The Governor-Elect
Gibbons scores a public relations coup: Large transition team seen as broad coalition-building move (Las Vegas Sun article)
The Nevada Legislature
2007 LEGISLATURE: Demands on dollars extensive -- Lawmakers face challenge to meet state's funding needs (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
LOOKING IN ON: CARSON CITY -- No gasoline tax hike to fund new highways (Las Vegas Sun article)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
Don't Fence Me In
New open-space employee proposed (Nevada Appeal article)
Churchill County
Alternative Fuel Plant
New biodiesel manufacturing plant in Hazen approved (Lahontan Valley News article)
Clark County
Urban Village Plan
Realm of possibility: New mixed-use project ahead -- 266,000-square-foot development will occupy city block (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
The Plight Of The Homeless
Critics question park closing: Metro cites crime as reason, but some say homeless issue was behind the decision (Las Vegas Sun article)
Washoe County
Another Developing Bill For The Public To Pay
Packed on Pyramid (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Public Schools
Pistol-Packing Pedagogues Proposal
JANE ANN MORRISON: Teachers, if you want to bring a gun to class, please drop me a line (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
Teacher Education
Critics claim classes profit union more than teachers (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Clark County School District
Teachers, judges in same boat: Call goes out for raising salaries of federal judges, and the same logic applies to teachers (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
__________
Federal Nevada
From The US Census Bureau
Take A Look At Ourselves And See How We've Changed
Nearly Half of our Lives Spent with TV, Radio, Internet, Newspapers, According to Census Bureau Publication (US Census Bureau Press Release)
Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2007 (US Census Bureau website)
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
Department of Energy held no Yucca rail line meetings in Lyon County: 'Scoping' meeting not held in affected communities (Nevada Appeal article)
Rail line to Yucca divides small towns: Proposed route would pass by Silver Springs (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
From The US Congress
Not Taking Leftovers
Hoping for a clean slate: Congressional Democrats refuse to allow Republicans' leftovers to set the agenda for '07 (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Fund Programs Properly Or Don't Fund Them At All
Slashing earmarks could hurt innocents: Anti-corruption effort puts funds on hold (Las Vegas Sun article)
Public Subsidies For Private Enterprise
Steel tariffs on scrap heap (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Celebrity Lobbyists
Democrats leave Bono disappointed: Anti-poverty activist gets no promise of funds (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Environmental Protection Agency
Finally, a good estimate: EPA's new rules will give consumers a more accurate picture of what gas costs will be (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Foreign Affairs
The Continuing Occupation Of Iraq
McAdoo - Straight Talk (Guy McAdoo column, Lahontan Valley News)
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From The Neon Empire
Internet Gambling
Gamblers Paying Through Their "Beards"
Net gaming rules shake industry, not gamblers (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
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From Nevada's Past
The McKeen Motor Car
Out of the shadows: After a decade in the shop, restoration of nearly 100-year-old railroad icon should be completed in 2008 (Nevada Appeal article)
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December 19, 2006
[12:15 PM]
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Nevada Government
State Government
The Governor-Elect
Gibbons names tourism chief (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Gibbons names tourism director; Hunt will serve as commissioner (Nevada Appeal article)
Tobacco Prohibition And Prohibitionists
Casinos Want The Smoking Customers For Themselves
Casinos join smoking battle: Resorts' group takes side of ban supporters in case (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
No Smoking In Prison
Department to ban smoking in Nevada prisons (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Smoking ban applies to state prisons (Nevada Appeal article)
Local Government
Churchill County
Groups tussle over lease for Fernley motocross track (Lahontan Valley News article)
Clark County
When Developers Don't Pay Their Share: Retro-Government Toll Road Proposal
Looking at 'Lexus Lanes': Carpool lanes doubling as toll roads an option to make up state funding deficit (Las Vegas Sun article)
"What Happens Here" Costs A Lot Of Money
Learning the hard way: Convention authority official's poor decision costs taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Government-Chartered Monopolies
Republic to refund overflow charges: County likely to allow fees in the future (Las Vegas Sun article)
Plight Of The Homeless
Shopping carts taken from homeless: They say they were denied chance to keep belongings (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Activist pitches park plan: City officials back proposal to turn Circle Park into veterans memorial (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Nye County
Pahrump's Anti-Immigrant Ordinances
Pahrump sheriff aces his civics test (Ian Mylchreest column, Las Vegas Business Press)
Washoe County
City Of Sparks
Sparks hires Californian to investigate allegations against city attorney (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Shopping centers to be full by summer (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
County Pollution Order
New air quality rules improves public's health (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
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Nevada Politics
National Politics
Democratic Party Primaries
Will Nev. Set the Course for 2008 Pick? (Associated Press article)
State Politics
Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Indian Elections
Banishment Measure Fails
Tribal election results not challenged (Lahontan Valley News article)
Tribal Election Results (Lahontan Valley News article)
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Corruption? In Nevada?
Government No-Bid Contracts
"When decisions on how to spend taxpayer dollars are made out of the public view, giving short shrift to accountability, people rightfully become skeptical because they have no idea if the decisions being made are the best."
Open the bidding: While legal, no-bid contracts are not the best way to conduct the public's business (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
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Nevada Education Matters
Public Schools
Pistol-Pacing Pedagogues Proposal
Arming teachers increases likelihood of school violence (Lahontan Valley News editorial)
Arming Teachers To Reduce School Violence: A Truly Foolish Proposal (Myrna the Minx column, Reno and Its Discontents)
Churchill County School District
Revised drug policy likely to be accepted by school employees (Lahontan Valley News article)
Clark County School District
CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT: Rulffes: No inquiry planned -- Former employer makes allegations (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
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Nevada Health Matters
University Medical Center Wants More Money
UMC to seek county's approval to raise prices (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Nurse Shortage
Nursing shortage strains local health care (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Cancer Society Embezzlement
DISTRICT COURT: Former cancer society director pleads guilty -- Ballard indicted for stealing donations from nonprofit (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
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Nevada Law Enforcement
Nevada Crime Statistics
FBI: Violent Crime Still on Rise in 2006 (Associated Press article)
FBI Releases Preliminary Crime Statistics for January-June 2006 (FBI Press Release)
Crime in the United States 2006 (FBI Report)
Nevada Crime Statistics 2006 (FBI website)
The Real Estate Market And Money Laundering
Feds: Real estate boom fuels criminal activity: Parallels seen in mortgage fraud and commercial money-laundering studies (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Money Laundering in the Commercial Real Estate Industry: An Assessment Based Upon Suspicious Activity Reporting Filing Analysis (December 2006) (US Department of the Treasury website)
The Role of Domestic Shell Companies in Financial Crime and Money Laundering: Limited Liability Companies (November 2006) (US Department of the Treasury website)
Banking Practices And Nevada's Bad Check Law
Bad Check Unit now running a tighter ship: Banking changes hurt prosecutor's finances (Las Vegas Business Press article)
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Nevada Culture
Elko's Winterfest
Thrills & Chills at Winterfest (Elko Free Press article)
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Federal Nevada
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Dump Project
Lyon County smart to demand a voice on Yucca (Nevada Appeal editorial)
From The US Congress
Sen. Reid And Nevada
Sen. Harry Reid talks about top issues in Nevada (Nevada Appeal interview)
ERIN NEFF: A less-rowdy Reid (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
Federal Elections In Florida
Overturning an election: Democrats still fighting over congressional race in Florida (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Federal Aviation Administration
Fewer air controllers make skies less safe, union says (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Controllers say stress of the job makes long days harder (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Freedom Of Speech And The Public Airwaves
Indecency fines (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Unwarranted Surveillance
Radio tags have a big future, says U.S. official: McCarran already using technology for baggage (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Treatment Of Persons Detained By US Authorities
Senator Seeks Detainee Abuse Case Update (Associated Press article)
U.S. Military Rehearses Terror Hearings (Associated Press article)
Foreign Affairs
Iran
Pentagon Mulling Show of Force to Iran (Associated Press article)
The Continuing Occupation Of Iraq
Ensign backs idea of setting up Iraq 'oil trust' to share wealth (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Ensign-Clinton Proposal: Right Answer to the Wrong Question? (Desert Beacon)
Gates: Failure in Iraq Will Haunt U.S. (Associated Press article)
White House: No Fight With Joint Chiefs (Associated Press article)
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From The Neon Empire
Gambling Regulation
$2.6 Million Tax Refund
Casinos get Christmas bonus (Las Vegas Business Press article)
What Ever Happened To Anti-Trust Laws?
"Today, the casino industry has evolved into an oligopoly, in which the industry is dominated by a small group of operators. 'You can compare it to the automobile industry,' Moehring said. 'General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have taken over an industry that had dozens of companies in the Thirties.'"
Corporate fugitive: Michael Gaughan is only too happy to be out of the Boyd boardroom (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Harrah's Acquisition
Harrah's accepts buyout bid (Associated Press article)
This just in: Deal! (Ian Mylchreest column, Las Vegas Business Press)
Sale could cut Harrah's plans short: Private equity firms buying company may not see project through (Las Vegas Sun article)
Station Casinos Acquisition
Stunted Station? Management-led buyout could sharply constrict Station Casinos' growth (Las Vegas Business Press article)
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Nevada's Past
True West
Magazine ranks Carson City a top Western town (Nevada Appeal article)
Civic Service
These pioneers did much to build a better Nevada (Michael Green column, Las Vegas Business Press)
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December 20, 2006
[11:25 AM]
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Nevada Government
State Government
The Governor-Elect
Nevada Highways
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING: Gibbons veers from Guinn road -- Governor-elect rejects ideas from current governor's task force (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
