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Nevada's Online State News Journal
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December 2004-June 2005; July-September 2005; October-December 2005; January-March 2006; April-May 2006; July 2006; August 2006; September 2006; October 2006; November 2006; December 2006; January 2007; February 2007; March 2007; April 2007; May 2007; June 2007; July 2007; August 2007; September 2007; October 2007; November 2007; December 2007
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January 1, 2007
New Year's Day
[6:00 PM]
The new TNO issue is up and ready for reading -- check the center column for stories, features and articles. Happy New Year from all of us at TNO!
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Nevada Government
State Government
The Early Swearing-In
Governor Gibbons Takes Office: Makes Two Immediate Appointments (Gov. Gibbons Press Release)
Nevada governor, other officials sworn in (Associated Press article)
Oath of office sets tone (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
First lady intends to tackle drug use, encourage reading (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Tuesday To Be Day Of Honoring And Remembrance Of President Ford (Gov. Gibbons Press Release)
The Departing Governor
Governor proud of work he's done for Nevada (Nevada Appeal article)
Guinn to skip inauguration ceremonies (Associated Press article)
The State Judiciary
The Idea Of Judicial Reform In Campaign Contributions Avoided: Judicial Commission’s First Meeting Primarily Informational (Nevada Observer article)
Dead Kids
Part One in a Week-long Series: Children in Peril — They can’t be helped if you don’t report it (Elko Free Press article)
"Ask any licensed social worker in the employ of the state Division of Child and Family Services what aspect of their job is most dangerous and the answer will likely be immediate and emphatic: parental use of the crude street drug methamphetamine."
Today’s social worker also must be part narcotics detective (Elko Free Press article)
Who is responsible for reporting child abuse? (Elko Free Press article)
The mission of Child Protective Services (Elko Free Press article)
Nevada’s Child Welfare System Under Fire And Scrutiny: Lawsuits Have Been Filed Dealing With Deaths In Clark, State (Nevada Observer article)
Nevada Highways
What About Those Roads? Developers Won’t Pay: Should Those That Create The Problem At Least Help Finance It? (Nevada Observer article)
Taxation
Tax Assessments Canned For Incline Village Residents: Assessment Methods Criticized, Order May Include Entire Community (Nevada Observer article)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
New campus location planned for rec center project (Nevada Appeal article)
Churchill County
Homes sales, prices take a dip in 2006 (Lahontan Valley News article)
Signals on Williams to undergo upgrades (Lahontan Valley News article)
Douglas County
Tax decision shouldn't hurt Douglas (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
Elko County
Condos on planning agenda (Elko Free Press article)
Lake Tahoe Basin
"'There hasn't been anything here under $6 an hour for years,' Diamond Peak Ski Resort general manager Ed Youmans said."
Business affected by wages (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Storey County
VC resident to head Storey Public Works (Nevada Appeal article)
Washoe County
Developing Fears
Residents fear costs of Reno's planned expansion (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
City Of Sparks
Sparks City Attorney Under Investigation: Allegations Of Lying To City Council At Issue (Nevada Observer article)
Adams recall effort is a failure (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
__________
Nevada Politics
POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Libertarians eye oddsmaker for top of ticket -- Root schedules meeting with party officials (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
JANE ANN MORRISON: Students return from Washington brimming with optimism and cheer (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
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Nevada Law Enforcement
The Problem Of Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine Awareness Spreads Slowly In Nevada: Police Agencies Have Backs To Walls While Citizens Ignorant (Nevada Observer article)
The End Of Denial
Druggie Radio Personality Headed To The Big House: Eddie Floyd Pleads Guilty To Drug And Money Laundering Charges (Nevada Observer article)
The Garage Tale
Gibbons incident not over: While battery charge against woman is dropped, DA investigates possible cover-up (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
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Nevada Health Matters
Health Care
HEALTH COVERAGE: Insurer, provider cut ties -- Sierra Health Services, Sunrise Health end 17-year relationship (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Mental Health
Psychiatric Problems (Bob Bennett column, Nevada Observer)
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Nevada Water Matters
The Carson River
Hearings to be held on Carson River plan (Associated Press article)
Lessons from 'Flood of the Century' relevant 10 years later (Nevada Appeal article)
Lake Tahoe And The Truckee River
More rain, snow is needed to ensure Lake Tahoe stays full (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Sold Ferrari Ranch keeping tradition (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
__________
Nevada's Environment
Our National Symbol
UPDATE: Number of bald eagles seen in Lake Mead Recreational Area on rise (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Avalanche!
Daily solution to avalanche danger (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Trouble On The Green
Solargenix Coming Under Fire From Unions, State Regulators: Company Being Challenged On Hiring Workers From Out Of Country (Nevada Observer article)
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Nevada Culture
Nevada State Museum
An Opportunity Knocks, Can You Hear It? You Can Help Preserve, Educate And Have Fun Too (Nevada Observer article)
Shakespeare Festival
2006 Shakespeare Festival sets new attendance record (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Pageantry And Hypocrisy
Second chance (Glen McAdoo column, Lahontan Valley News)
__________
Federal Nevada
Government Fraud, Corruption, Waste And Mismanagement
Kill The Messenger
Investigators become targeted: In 2006 the federal government's watchdogs found themselves under attack (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Fat Kids
Battling the bulge: Federal research shows our kids are losing the obesity fight, and society must help them win (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Foreign Affairs
The Continuing Occupation Of Iraq
The nation state (Jim Clark column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
State of the nation (Andy Whyman column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
U.S. Death Toll in Iraq Reaches 3,000 (Associated Press article)
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From The Neon Empire
Ameristar Administration
LEADERS: Carrying on a legacy -- Executive aims to keep Ameristar going forward as late founder had (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Historic Cal-Neva Lodge
Tahoe casino once owned by Frank Sinatra to undergo big facelift (Associated Press article)
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Nevada's Past
Nevada’s History Comes Alive: Nevada's "Silver" Capitol "Dome" (Guy Rocha column, Nevada Observer)
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Nevada Journalism
When Editors Dream
Happy New Year!! Our Wish List For All: Equal Representation Is Not A Dream --- It Can Be Reality (Nevada Observer article)
Welcome 2007! What Have You For Us? Common Sense? Wisdom? Or Political Posturing? (Nevada Observer editorial)
2006 Retrospectives
Remembering the year 2006 -- Let's put taggers in public stocks! (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
2006: THE YEAR IN REVIEW: The good, the bad -- From Frank Gehry to Michael Galardi, the Sun analyzes the Las Vegas Valley's high notes, low notes and a lot of notes in between (Las Vegas Sun article)
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January 2, 2007
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Nevada Government
State Government
Governor Gibbons, State Officers Sworn In
Former Governors List, Bryan And Miller Attend Inauguration
State's constitutional officers sworn in (Nevada Appeal article)
NEW GOVERNOR: Gibbons sworn in twice -- Takes oath minutes after midnight, then again with others (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Gibbons starts early as new Nevada governor (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
The Nevada Legislature
Administrative Overhead
State faces growing expenses without new taxes (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Dead Kids
Children in Peril — Part Two: Going to Court — Safety is top priority in child welfare cases (Elko Free Press article)
Caseload strains funds, nerves (Elko Free Press article)
Meth complicates state agency’s role (Elko Free Press article)
Identity Theft
Sensitive personal data tossed in the trash: Financial records found on busy street (Las Vegas Sun article)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
Carson City's newly elected officials Ready to go to work (Nevada Appeal article)
Churchill County
Fallon has a chance to blossom in 2007 (Lahontan Valley News editorial)
Clark County
The People's Money
Neonopolis
Developer has history of failed projects (Las Vegas Sun article)
Another Monorail Problem
Whoops (Steve Sebelius column, Las Vegas CityLife)
Elko County
Officials sworn in (Elko Free Press article)
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Nevada Politics
Anointment Nostalgia
Guinn book offers a record of his tenure (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
JOHN L. SMITH: Governor might take some cues from plain old Kenny (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
The Gift Of Prophecy
ERIN NEFF: The crystal ball (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
Don't Like Him
Gibbons repeats his oath in public (Anjeanette Damon and Ray Hagar column, Reno Gazette-Journal)
Nevada's new governor sneaks in a swearing in (Anjeanette Damon column, Reno Gazette-Journal)
Pseudo Live Blogging Gobvernor Jim Gibbons' Inaugural Speech (Reno and Its Discontents)
Gibbons' brush with historiography (Hugh Jackson column, Las Vegas Gleaner)
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Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education
UNR
Work to turn University Inn into student housing (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Public Schools
Clark County School District
LOOKING IN ON: EDUCATION -- Pay hike pays off for School Police's recruitment effort (Las Vegas Sun article)
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Nevada Health Matters
Not Reassuring: UMC Stopped Filing Financial Reports 8 Months Ago
10 MONTHS BEHIND: UMC skips insurance payments -- Hospital owes $14 million to county's self-funded plan (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
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Federal Nevada
From The US Congress
Sounds Like Nevada's Legislature
"It is well known that many congressional bills containing dozens, hundreds or even thousands of pages are often churned out in the hours or sometimes minutes before they are voted upon."
Voting with eyes open: Proposed change would allow House members time to actually read bills before voting (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Fraud, Corruption, Waste And Mismanagement
"Already, authorities have established that at least $1 billion in taxpayer money has been squandered on fraudulent disaster aid since the storm devastated the Gulf Coast in August 2005."
Sniffing out waste in Katrina relief: Federal auditors can't ignore role of judiciary in blowing aid (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Freedom from fear: The greatest gift (Andy Barbano column, Barbwire)
National Identification System
"'It is a very large step toward a national-identification, you-have-to-have-your-papers type of world,' said Melissa Ngo, staff counsel of the Electronic Privacy Information Center."
Where rubber meets the road in privacy debate: New federal requirements for driver's licenses rev up the arguments (MSNBC News article, via Desert Beacon)
Unwarranted Surveillance
Localities Operate Intelligence Centers To Pool Terror Data: 'Fusion' Facilities Raise Privacy Worries As Wide Range of Information Is Collected (Washington Post article, via Desert Beacon)
NSA Spying on Americans Is Illegal (ACLU Press Release, via Desert Beacon)
Treatment of Persons Detained By US Authorities
FBI Reports Duct-Taping, 'Baptizing' at Guantanamo (Washington Post article, via Desert Beacon)
Outsourcing Police Powers
The Private Arm of the Law: Some Question the Granting of Police Power to Security Firms (Washington Post article, via Desert Beacon)
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Nevada's Past
The 140 Year Old Tunnels Of The Comstock Lode
Q&A Tuesday: Mine tour guide says it's not really work (Nevada Appeal article)
==========================================
January 3, 2006
[1:15 PM]
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Nevada Government
State Government
The Inauguration Of Nevada's New Governor
Gibbons pledges cooperation: In inaugural address, governor stresses importance of bipartisanship (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Gibbons embraces bipartisan harmony (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Hundreds brave cold for greeting (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Inauguration scene (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
The Nevada Legislature
Identity Theft
Treating privacy like trash: State and federal authorities should investigate documents found in trash bin (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
The State Judiciary
State Supreme Court has two new members (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
River rec trail a natural fit for Carson's future (Nevada Appeal editorial)
Churchill County
"Fallon and Churchill County have been woefully lacking in attracting and/or growing their industrial base. Even at the modest rate of 1.8 percent per year, population growth has outstripped job growth by a 5:1 ratio ... a statistic that spells big trouble for the economy over the long haul."
Housing slump portends need for job creation (Lahontan Valley News editorial)
TCID renews Lions Club lease for one year (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
Clark County
County Affairs
Maverick gets commission off to 6-1 start: Giunchigliani casts sole vote against airport director's 35 percent pay raise (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Gillespie sworn in as sheriff: Former undersheriff thanks predecessor, Young, for being mentor (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
North Las Vegas
Council members face single-ward campaigns: North Las Vegas voters approved change for 2007 (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Douglas County
Dozen apply for 3 planning spots (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
Lake Tahoe Basin
New law: Plastic grocery bags must be recyclable (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Lyon County
County Affairs
Lyon commissioners cancel facilitator in county manager dispute (Nevada Appeal article)
"After running a milling operation on his gypsum mine in Mound House for the past 14 months, owner Art Wilson has to start all over from scratch."
Mound House gypsum mine turned down for special-use permit (Nevada Appeal article)
Town Of Dayton
New DRAC scheduled to meet tonight, elect officers: Two apply for vacant District 4 seat (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
Washoe County
Washoe County officials sworn in (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Unequal Taxation
Tax revolters plan next steps (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
What Now? (Nevada Property Tax Revolt website)
To the victors... (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza editorial)
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Nevada Politics
A Droll Piece
Jon Ralston conjures up a collection of events that he wishes had made it into the list of Top 10 stories of 2006 (Las Vegas Sun column)
A Call For Civility
Just Say No To Churls
A time to speak out... with civility (Ed Gurowitz column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
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Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education
Sierra Nevada College
Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences: Newest addition to SNC campus doing well since October opening (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Public Schools
The Problem Of Quality
Salaries make a difference: Just as it did for school police, higher pay for teachers would alleviate problem (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
All-Day Kindergartens
Gibbons, lawmakers differ over all-day kindergarten (Nevada Appeal article)
The Problem Of Violence
Pistol-packin' teachers ... imagine the possibilities (Marilee Swirczek column, Nevada Appeal)
__________
Nevada Water Matters
The Carson River
Rising Prices In Carson City
"Two 14 percent hikes are being sought: One would begin in February and the other in July."
Supervisors to consider water rate hike (Nevada Appeal article)
Silver Springs Spill
50,000 gallons of treated effluent spills near SSGID plant (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
The Truckee River
"Former Truckee-Carson Irrigation District Ditch Rider Ed Brush recalled having to drive from the ditch rider’s house eight miles in rainy weather to the Gilpin Spill to manually open the gates to allow a surge of flood waters to drain into the Truckee River."
TCID’s automated Gilpin Spill is dedicated (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
Lake Tahoe
"Though the unassuming pond at the southern end of Village Green looks like a neglected eyesore, it is actually a sophisticated, well-maintained and closely monitored filter designed to keep nutrients out of the local watershed, and help regenerate the nearby fields."
Incline Village's ugly little pond that could (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
__________
Nevada Health Matters
Labor Unions And Health Care
"For months, the local Service Employees International Union has tarred Universal Health Services, the Pennsylvania-based corporation that owns Valley and Desert Springs hospitals, as an evil entity that preys upon the misery of Nevadans to enrich East Coast executives."
Out-of-state evildoers (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Mental Health
Dayton Mental Health Center won’t be consolidated: To remain operating in Dayton (Fernley Leader-Courier article)
__________
Nevada's Environment
Mercury Emissions
Group calls for scrutiny of mercury emissions (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Ursine Marauders
Smarter than the average human (Gardnerville Record-Courier editorial)
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Nevada Culture
The Ancient Basques
Basque club seeks new members (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
From Ranch to Development
Rhoda Chichester: A life on the land (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)
Always A Gamble
JOHN L. SMITH: Bookstore owner would go all in if somebody deals him the perfect hand (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
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Federal Nevada
Nevada Test Site
Bomb test at NTS remains explosive: Divine Strake plans moving swiftly (Las Vegas Sun article)
Nevada's Representation In Congress
One More
Nevada in line for a seat: Growth could lead to more clout in House (Las Vegas Sun article)
Couldn't Make It
Nevada's congressional delegation not at Ford's funeral (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
From The US Congress
Ethics Reform
Nevada Has The Same Problem, But Worse
"Some Republicans and voters already are saying the new Democratic Congress, before it is even seated, is backing down on promises to reform ethics on Capitol Hill."
Be ready to fight for ethics reform (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
What One New Governor Is Doing About It
Spitzer Signs Series of Ethics Measures (Associated Press article)
Executive Order No. 2 Eliminating Politics From Government Decisionmaking (Office of the Governor of New York website)
Executive Order No. 3 Promotion Of Public Access To Government Decisionmaking (Office of the Governor of New York website)
Executive Order No. 4 Establishing Judicial Screening Committees To Ensure That Judicial Officer Appointments Are Of The Highest Quality (Office of the Governor of New York website)
The Principle Of Equal Protection
That no one is above the law: Four cases that highlight the strength of our justice system (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Lessons Of The Ford Administration
Lessons from the Accidental President (Kirk Caraway column, Lahontan Valley News)
From Our Nation's Armed Forces
CENTCOM Electronic Newsletter - Week of January 1, 2007 (US Department of Defense website)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Muslim couple's trip to California, Nevada turns into nightmare: Undefined security precautions send husband home via NLV jail (Las Vegas Sun article)
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Nevada's Past
In Historic Austin, Citizens Work To Preserve A Church
BILL ROBERTS: Historic church finds a few saviors (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
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January 4, 2007
[9:10 AM]
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Nevada Government
State Government
The New Administration
The Governor
Governor finds tremors annoying, not debilitating: Gibbons reveals he has neurological disorder (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
JANE ANN MORRISON: There's a personal, tragic reason behind the first lady's booze ban (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
Department Of Public Safety
Gibbons defends new director of public safety: Galeoto under fire for 1999 police probe (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Questions raised on Gibbons appointee (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Last-Minute Appointments Of Gov. Guinn
'CHANGES ARE POSSIBLE': Gibbons eyes Guinn picks -- Governor might oust gaming appointee (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
New Nevada governor reviewing former governor's picks (Associated Press article)
State Employees' Salaries
"While the total increase over the biennium still comes out to 6 percent, holding back that extra percent the first year saves the state about $31 million."
Gibbons changes proposed pay raises (Nevada Appeal article)
The Nevada Legislature
Bill Draft Requests
State legislature to address sales tax, 'perfusionists' (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Dead Kids
Children in Peril — Part Three: After the Rescue — The side of child services nobody hears about (Elko Free Press article)
Social work: Not just a job — it’s a calling (Elko Free Press article)
CADV assists in preventing child abuse (Elko Free Press article)
New Program Seeks Volunteers (Elko Free Press article)
Local Government
City And County Of Carson
Carson Parks and Recreation examines cost-cutting measures (Nevada Appeal article)
Churchill County
Lingenfelter takes over as county road supervisor (Lahontan Valley News article)
Clark County
Waiting For Ivanpah
Council taking battle over flight path to federal court (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Developing News
MIDTOWN UNLV: Project stirs worries -- Many fear development plan will lead to traffic congestion (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
North Las Vegas moves into world of Strip development (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Union Influence
FLASHPOINT for Jan 04, 2007 (Jon Ralston feature, Las Vegas Sun)
Elko County
John Ellison heads county commission (Elko Free Press article)
Lake Tahoe Basin
Quarry conundrum: Road improvement projects will place a big burden on local mining (Sierra Sun article)
Nye County
County Affairs
Commission defers truck request (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Town Of Pahrump
More Developments
Going Up: Pahrump building could accelerate (Pahrump Valley Times article)
Washoe County
Public Subsidies For Private Enterprise
Governor clears way for bonds for Legends at Sparks Marina (Associated Press article)
__________
Nevada Politics
State Democratic Party
Edwards not polling well in Nevada (Anjeanette Damon column, Reno Gazette-Journal)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Public Schools
Nevada Education At The Bottom Of The Barrel
Quality Counts 2007 Study
Nevada ranks 43rd in preparing students for success in school, careers (Associated Press article)
Nevada ranks at No. 44 in U.S. education survey (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Education in top states compared to Nevada (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Where does Nevada rank in K-12? (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Quality Counts 2007: From Cradle to Career Connecting American Education from Birth Through Adulthood (Education Week website)
Nevada 2007 Page (Education Week website)
Want More Money
"These are indicators that we have a dysfunctional education system," Beers said. "In order for us to change those rankings, we must change the way we educate. We can't continue doing what we've always been doing and expect better results. Unfortunately, we have a long history of that."
Educators have some studies for lawmakers: Low rankings might prove need for funds (Las Vegas Sun article)
Kindergarten plan fails: Nevada's new governor mistaken to drop proposal to expand full-day program (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Clark County School District
"Not since Lynette Boggs McDonald cast Las Vegas City Councilman Larry Brown into the fires of hell has a local elected body shown as much dysfunction as the Clark County School Board trustees did at their most recent meeting."
ERIN NEFF: Cat fights, not kids, on School Board agenda (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
Washoe County School District
No New Taxes Means No New Taxes (Chuck Muth column, Battleborn Opinion News)
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Nevada Water Matters
The Carson River
Carson River Nevada Regional Recreation Steering Committee (TravelVideo.TV Press Release)
Carson City Parks and Recreation Master Plan (Carson City website)
The Truckee River
TCID foregoing water diversions from Truckee (Lahontan Valley News article)
__________
Nevada Health Matters
Labor Unions And Health Care
Labor board accuses hospital of anti-union firing in Las Vegas (Associated Press article)
__________
Nevada's Environment
Mercury Emissions
Strong reasons to regulate emissions (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
__________
Nevada Law Enforcement
The Sheriff Of Clark
Q+A: SHERIFF DOUG GILLESPIE -- New top dog at Metro shows he has bite to go with his bark (Las Vegas Sun article)
Police Shootings And Coroner's Inquests
"The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada is accusing Clark County officials of spreading "inaccurate and misleading" information about efforts to reform the Clark County coroner's inquest process."
Inquest reform questioned (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Cold Case Files
Filling in blanks from 1979: Millionaire charged with murder; police dig for body (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
"Three women -- including Morgan's sister and sister-in-law -- told police David Morgan had confided to them he had killed Marie Morgan, according to court records."
Police believe missing woman killed (Las Vegas Sun, February 27, 2001)
North American Missing Persons Network - Diana L. Leone
Metro Report On The Garage Tale
Everything you wanted to know about Friday the 13th.... (Vegas Pundit website)
Stealing From The State
Former public safety officials get probation for stealing from state (Nevada Appeal article)
Clark County Commission Corruption Case
Judge rejects Herrera delay: Ex-commissioner must surrender on Jan. 12 (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
$200,000 Bail On Misdemeanor Charges
High graffiti bail is justified (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Police Union Land Swap
Police union swaps land with city: Appraisals show city got less-valuable property but may reap more in taxes (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
__________
Nevada Culture
Nice To See
Las Vegas Art Museum enters big leagues regarding donations (Las Vegas Sun article)
__________
Federal Nevada
Nevada Test Site
Test is a real bomb: Officials pushing for Test Site explosion trot out old data and take cover from the public (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
From The US Congress
Nevada's Delegation
Reid shifts course on troop 'surge': Senator slams door on possible support (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
The man who defies description: The unpolished but shrewd Reid becomes a quiet insider amid some unflattering portrayals (Las Vegas Sun article)
Rep. Porter Named To House Ways And Means Committee
Nevada beefs up presence on key House panel (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
It's Secret
More secrecy: Bipartisanship and openness turn out to be mutually exclusive, according to both parties (Reno News & Review article)
The President And The Congress
Bush Seeks Cooperation From New Congress (Associated Press article)
Bush: Congress Must Limit Pork Spending (Associated Press article)
Bush Wants Balance Budget by 2012 (Associated Press article)
Ethics Reform
Lawmaker to Repay Cost of Abramoff Trip (Associated Press article)
Fuel Prices
Gasoline price trend uncertain up for now trend (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
The Federal Bench
A constitutional crisis? Federal judges have their hands out (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
Department Of Homeland Security
Nevada Scores Well In Emergency Communications Systems
Emergency Communications Upgrade Promised (Associated Press article)
DHS Releases Nationwide Interoperable Communications Assessment (US Department of Homeland Security Press Release)
Tactical Interoperability Communication Scorecards Description (US Department of Homeland Security Press Release)
Tactical Interoperability Communication Scorecards Report (Las Vegas Urban Area Scores at pp. 78-79)
Department Of Justice
Audit: Crime-Fighting Funding Delayed (Associated Press article)
The Justice Department's Grant Closeout Process (US Department of Justice Inspector General's Report)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Protect liberty: Americans must fight to keep this country true to its founding principles (Gary Schmidt column, Reno News & Review)
Treatment Of Persons Detained By US Authorities
Comments Of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Incoming Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee On Department Of Justice’s Response To Request For Documents Relating To Bush Administration’s Interrogation Policies January 2, 2007 (Sen. Leahy Press Release)
FBI 2004 Guantanamo Bay Inquiry Documents (FBI website)
From Our Nation's Armed Forces
"Only 35 percent of the military members polled this year said they approve of the way President Bush is handling the war, while 42 percent said they disapproved."
Down on the war: The American military — once a staunch supporter of President Bush and the Iraq war — has grown increasingly pessimistic about chances for victory (Army Times feature)
The Poll Results
Iraq, Afghanistan and President Bush (Army Times feature)
Space Radar Systems Deployment
Alternatives for Military Space Radar - January 2007 (Congressional Budget Office Report - 5.45 MB pdf file)
__________
From The Neon Empire
Aztar Acquisition
Columbia completes acquisition of Aztar for $2.1 billion (Associated Press article)
Tip Pooling
NLRB files complaint against Wynn Las Vegas (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Nightclub Shills
Honest Advice for Britney (Richard Abbowitz column, Los Angeles Times)
__________
Nevada Journalism
A Memory Of President Ford
How to behave without the public's votes (Dennis Myers column, Pahrump Valley Times)
==========================================
Update for January 4, 2007
[8:00 PM]
_____
Nevada Government
State Government
Our New Governor
New Appointments
Governor Gibbons Appoints Director of Business and Industry (Gov. Gibbons Press Release)
Governor Gibbons Appoints Director of Department of Information and Technology (Gov. Gibbons Press Release)
Gov. Gibbons Dumps A Last-Minute Appointment Of Gov. Guinn
New Nevada governor cancels governor's picks (Associated Press article)
Attorney General's Opinion Requested By Gov. Guinn
AGO 2005-09 (pp. 47-53)
Inheriting Economic Problems
255 Percent Spike In Nevada Mortgage Foreclosures
Productivity in the real world? (Desert Beacon)
Don't Like Him
Take a chill pill, governor! (Las Vegas CityLife editorial)
At Least Three Other Governors Were Also Sworn In Immediately. So What?
New York
Spitzer takes oath of office: ''Day One has begun,'' governor declares (Albany Times-Union article)
New Mexico
Richardson takes oath of office (KOB-TV Report)
Idaho
Otter Takes Oath of Office (KMVT-TV Report)
The Nevada Legislature
Dead Kids
Kids, meth don’t mix: One parent’s nightmare journey through addiction (Elko Free Press article)
Schools play role in preventing child abuse (Elko Free Press article)
Child tragedies shared across state (Elko Free Press article)
State Contractors Board
Water Fight: It's pool builder vs. contractors board – but is it a fair match? (Las Vegas Weekly article)
Local Government
Clark County
City Of Henderson
Toxic Acres Is The Place To Be
Noxious neighbor (Las Vegas CityLife article)
__________
Nevada Education Matters
Higher Education
College Athletic Departments
Crime And Taxpayer Subsidies
'No UNLV scandal here ... move along please ...' (George Knapp column, Las Vegas CityLife)
Fear Factor: Are the chancellor's harsh words behind the Rebels' winning streak? (Las Vegas Weekly article)
Public Schools
Anointment Nostalgia
After 8 Years Of Having One Of The Worst Public Education Systems In The Nation
Guinn and bear it: Nevada's education governor leaves after 8 years (Las Vegas CityLife article)
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Nevada Health Matters
Labor Unions And Health Care
NLRB slaps Valley Hospital with complaint (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Drug Prices
Prescription Drug Pricing in the Private Sector - January 2007 (Congressional Budget Office Report)
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Nevada Law Enforcement
Police Shootings And Coroner's Inquests
The right to ask: Upcoming meetings on coroner's inquest promise lots of conflict and little compromise (Las Vegas CityLife article)
Autopsying the Inquest: Asking the public for input into a misunderstood cop-judging process might make matters more confusing (Las Vegas Weekly article)
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Nevada Culture
Pageantry And Hypocrisy
Can I Try Again? Partying Miss Nevada USA isn't the only one who sought a second chance (Las Vegas Weekly article)
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Federal Nevada
Nevada Test Site
Dismissed Over Security Breakdowns At Nuclear Weapons Facilities
Head of U.S. Nuclear Agency Leaving Post (Associated Press article)
From The US Congress
Ensign Will Continue To Fight For Nevadans In Second Term (Sen. Ensign Press Release)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Unwarranted Surveillance
Bush Signing May Change Mail Laws (Associated Press article)
A Government Of Spooks
Negroponte Stepping Aside As Top Spy (Associated Press article)
Bush to Name Retired Admiral As Top Spy (Associated Press article)
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From The Neon Empire
Another One Bites The Dust
Harrah's loses senior exec (Las Vegas Business Press article)
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January 5, 2007
[11:20 AM]
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Nevada Government
State Government
Office Of The Governor
The Problem Of The Budget
STATE BUDGET: Gibbons to try to cut liability -- Future pension, health care costs looming (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Gov. Guinn's Last-Minute Appointments
"Mr. Gibbons feels that moving forward with Keith Munro's politically motivated appointment would be undermining the tradition of the Gaming Control Board being apolitical," she said. "That would be moving back to the dark ages when politics and personal interests ruled the Gaming Control Board. This administration is not for sale."
Gibbons trumps Guinn's choice: Gaming board has two men for one seat (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
"'Guinn did something that you don't see every day, so it is not surprising that Gibbons tried to get that guy out of there,' Damore said."
Gibbons replaces Guinn appointee to the Nevada Gaming Control Board (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Homeland Security
TERRORIST TARGET LIST: LV again deemed high risk -- Area eligible for millions more in aid (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
The Governor's Call For Cooperation And Unity
Let's cross that bridge (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Taking a look at Gibbons during his first days (Ed Clark column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
No Press Honeymoon For Nevada's New Governor
Don't Like Him
It's a question of trust: New governor's disingenuous effort to oust Guinn appointee wrong (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Gibbons gone wild (David McKee column, Las Vegas Business Press article)
The Nevada Legislature
Couldn't Make It
JOHN L. SMITH: Mabey takes heat for attending his patients instead of the inauguration (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)
We'll Take Yours
"Check out his idea, to be memorialized, we hear, in a bill to soon be introduced in the Nevada legislature, which would tax unused/expired dollars left on all those gift cards you just bought for friends and family."
The latest, novel ... and very bad tax idea is dissected (Jeff Quinn column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
Tobacco Prohibition And Prohibitionists
Smoking ban is ignored by many: Enforcement becomes a confusing issue (Las Vegas Sun article)
Our State's Economy
State report predicts strong employment outlook (Las Vegas Business Press article)
Nevada's Burning Hills
"A lawsuit filed by a former Nevada Division of Forestry helicopter pilot claims that state and federal officials conspired to pull Nevada out of the business of fighting fires from the air."
Lawsuit challenges state's firefighting commitment (Gardnerville Record-Courier)
Douglas Fire Safe Councils receive $81,000 (Gardnerville Record-Courier)
Fire district's new board to convene; budget talks planned (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
What The Future Holds
Jon Ralston predicts what will happen on the political scene in Nevada (Las Vegas Sun article)
Local Government
Churchill County
Ecstasy use rising among Fallon kids (Lahontan Valley News article)
TCID seeks to recover range management costs (Lahontan Valley News article)
Clark County
An Obnoxious Citizen
Goodman nemesis was thorn in the side of Washoe officials (Las Vegas Sun article)
Douglas County
Coalition: Keep airport weight limit in place (Gardnerville Record-Courier)
Douglas grand jury deferred until summer (Gardnerville Record-Courier)
Lake Tahoe Basin
Shorezone, environment to be hot topics for '07 (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
New leader for Tahoe City business association (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
South Lake Tahoe Increases Revenue Harvest
City Council hikes parking fines (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Washoe County
Another Developing Story
"Dennis said the sewer plant will need more places to dispose of reclaimed water because of growth in the North Valleys. A pipeline is being built to import 8,000 acre-feet of water from the Honey Lake Valley basin, enough to build up to 16,000 homes."
Swan song might be imminent for lake's ecosystem (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
Inequitable Taxation
The $80,000 question is the answer (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
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Nevada Education Matters
Public Schools
"It is time for state leaders to agree that it is unacceptable for Nevada to rank so poorly and take the appropriate steps to educate our children."
State schools in a deep hole: Another study shows why education needs to be a priority for Nevada (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Carson City School District
Carson school board members prepare for first meeting (Reno Gazette-Journal article)
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Nevada Health Matters
Not Reassuring
More bad news at the county hospital: UMC way behind on insurance payments (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
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Nevada's Environment
When The Earth Moves
Earthquake threat cause for concern in Incline (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
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Nevada Law Enforcement
Auditioning For The Thin Blue Line
Poise of an officer: Police wannabes learn about what it takes to get hired (Las Vegas Sun article)
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Nevada Culture
Getting Better
A New Year's resolution to use your local library system (Amy Levy column, North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
Wild Horse Children's Theater
New company takes the stage (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza article)
Saying Goodbye To Broadway
What plays in Las Vegas, doesn't stay in Las Vegas: 'Mamma Mia!' and Celine Dion's show to close (Las Vegas Sun article)
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Federal Nevada
Nevada Test Site
Downwinders call for more Divine Strake public hearings: Meetings criticized as 'dog and pony show' (Associated Press article)
Public Lands
"Conservationists and lawmakers are concerned that a federal plan to overhaul how the government manages its premier wild West real estate could spell trouble for the 27 million-acre system that includes the Red Rock National Conservation Area."
Overhaul of management of federal land criticized (Las Vegas Sun article)
From The US Congress
Senate gavel goes to Reid: Despite his pledges, partisanship arises (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Reid goal: government, not politics (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)
Showing a stubborn streak: President Bush promises cooperation but doesn't seem willing to yield on taxes or war (Las Vegas Sun editorial)
Fuel Prices
Bills trail natural gas price drops (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)
Minimum Wage
Wages should provide more than poverty (Unsigned column, Reno Gazette-Journal)
Freedom And The Federal Government
Treatment Of Persons Detained By US Authorities
Writes, But Apparently Doesn't Read Much
"On Tuesday, for instance, The Washington Post breathlessly reported that newly released documents reveal, "FBI agents witnessed possible mistreatment of the Quran at the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, including at least one instance in which an interrogator squatted over Islam's holy text in an apparent attempt to offend a captive." Oh my!"
Prisoner abuse (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)
"on several occasions, witness ("W") saw detainees ("ds") in interrogation rooms chained hand and foot in fetal position to floor w/no chair/ food/water; most urinated or defecated on selves, and were left there 18, 24 hrs or more. Once, the air conditioning was so low that the barefoot d was shaking with cold. Another time, it was off so the unventilated room was over 100 degrees, d was almost unconscious on floor with a pile of hair next to him (he had apparently been pulling it out throughout the night). Another time, it was sweltering hot and loud rap music played - d's hand and foot was chained and he was in a fetal position on the floor. Upon inquiry, W was told that interrogators [military contractors] ordered this treatment. Took place in Delta Camp
d was kept in darkened cell in Naval Brig at GTMO, then transferred to Camp Delta where he gave no info. Then taken to Camp X-Ray and put in plywood hut. Interrogators yelled and screamed at him. One interrogator squatted over the Koran. Another day a German Shepherd was commended to growl, bark and show his teeth to the prisoner. Subsequently someone laughingly told the W "you have to see this" and took him to an interrogation room where W saw a d with a full beard whose head was wrapped in duct tape.
civilian contractor asked W (an FBI SA) to come see something. There was an unknown bearded longhaired d gagged w/duct tape that covered much of his head. SA asked if he had spit at interrogators, and the contractor laughingly replied that d had been chanting the Koran nonstop. No answer to how they planned to remove the duct tape."
FBI incident synopsis (1st t
