March 1, 2008

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The new issue of The Nevada Observer is now up and ready for your reading pleasure (check the middle column for our current articles, features and columns).

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Nevada Government

State Government

Disaster Management

Southern Nevada Hepatitis Alert

POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO HEPATITIS, HIV: Endoscopy clinic shut down -- City serves suspension order, locks center's doors (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

CDC tries to allay fears: Consider 'risk seriously but not hysterically,' official says (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

City shuts clinic, with harsh words for owners -- Official: Staff told to reuse vials, syringes to save money (Las Vegas Sun article)

Labs offer reduced, no cost testing: Demand might affect wait times for results (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Clinic sued by patients who contracted virus: Five hepatitis C victims weren't initially ID'd by the health district (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Tourists at no risk of hepatitis B or C, health officials say: Cited diseases blood-borne, not food-borne (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

HIV/Hepatitis Scare May Involve 40,000 (Nevada Observer editorial)

Ricin Discovery

Guns, anarchy text found in room with ricin: LV police say terrorism not motive despite discovery (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

National Guard Team Plays Key Role in Ricin Response (American Forces Press Service article)

Nevada's Economy

State's taxable sales dip 1 percent in December (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Rebound Not Evident In State’s Economy (Nevada Observer article)

Taxable sales drop in Dec. (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Nevada Taxes

Former state official submits two petitions for room tax allocation (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Hidden Taxes Siphon Greater Amounts (Nevada Observer article)

The State Judiciary

Judge Del Vecchio

Judge tries his hand at one-liners, quips: Despite accusations, Del Vecchio campaigns for seat (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Judge Halverson

Halverson's lawyer wants to drop case: Lawsuit cites lack of payment, cooperation (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Nevada Highways

Road work expected the next six months on Highway 50 East (Nevada Appeal article)

Wells Earthquake

"FEMA may not be helping out in Wells, but that doesn't mean no one from the federal government will render aid to those affected by the Feb. 21 earthquake."

SBA offers assistance to victims (Elko Free Press article)

Shake, Rattle, And Wells As 6.0 Temblor Rolls Through (Nevada Observer article)

Local Government

Clark County

"Liberty Curtis was just seeking the American Dream. What she got, she says, is more like a nightmare."

Village Square tenants fight back (In Business Las Vegas article)

Building homes to be rented (In Business Las Vegas article)

Builders will look at stockpiling lots soon (In Business Las Vegas article)

Lake Tahoe Basin

Company fined $30,000 for illegal tree cutting at Lake Tahoe (Associated Press article)

Washoe County

Jan. foreclosures double in county (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Reno Revitalization Includes Baseball (Nevada Observer editorial)

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Nevada Politics

2008 Presidential Races

Carey Likes Clinton, Too, but Backs Obama (New York Times article)

How did Hillary Clinton fall so far? (Reuters article)

As Developer Heads to Trial, Questions Linger Over a Deal With Obama (New York Times article)

Local Elections

Election 2008 Getting Warmer By The Caucus (Nevada Observer article)

Kristaponis kicks off campaign: Former Lyon County manager announces bid for commission seat (Nevada Appeal article)

State Democratic Party

Democratic Party Papers Do Not Show Current Debt (Nevada Observer article)

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Nevada Education Matters

Higher Education

TMCC narrows in on presidential choice (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Public Schools

Churchill County School District

An Education In Police State Practices

"In a four-page letter to the school board, Rowland wrote that schools across the country have tried and failed in the courts on passing random drug searches with no suspicion."

ACLU cautions Churchill school board about drug-sniffing policy (Nevada Appeal article)

Clark County School District

Breaking up is hard to do: Big district, big schools, big problems (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)

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Nevada Health Matters

Whatever Happened To The Anti-Trust Laws?

UnitedHealth Group Merger Goes Through (Nevada Observer article)

The Fight Against Cancer

JANE ANN MORRISON: If only people knew what the Nevada Cancer Institute does (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)

Mental Health

Mental Health And Buddhism (Bob Bennett column, Nevada Observer)

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Nevada's Environment

Nevada Water Matters

SNWA's Suction Scheme

Jon Ralston on Politics: Water wars (In Business Las Vegas column)

Harvey's Well

Coyote Springs Water Project Continues (Nevada Observer article)

Putting It To A Vote

Water Wars May Rewrite Water Law (Nevada Observer article)

Alternative Energy

The Future Of Energy In Nevada (Nevada Observer article)

Nevada Utilities

Electric rate dip foreseen by utility: Monthly bill could decrease by $6.71 (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Sierra Pacific advises utility rate decrease (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

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Nevada Law Enforcement

Catch This Creep

Reno Police Department sketch of suspect, via Lahontan Valley News (click on image to enlarge).

'America's Most Wanted' to air Denison segment (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Remember this face? Computerized caricatures might jog witnesses’ memories better than sketches (Las Vegas Sun article)

UNR Professor's Murder

Witnesses testify against accused killer of UNR professor (Associated Press article)

State Prisons And Prisoners

PAROLE AND PROBATION: Public's safety at risk: audit -- Senator points to problems; agency chief blames staffing (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Audit: Sex offender monitoring inadequate (Nevada Appeal article)

Corruption Cases

Ex-UMC executive gets bail lowered (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

All That Cash

Clubs’ cash flow probed at top: In raid of nightclub mogul’s home, IRS looked for trail to velvet rope (Las Vegas Sun article)

Spot check: No palm greasing needed -- IRS-scrutinized tipping system not glimpsed at nightclub (Las Vegas Sun article)

The Strange Case Of Joe Francis

Judge delays "Girls Gone Wild" trial; considers bail release (Associated Press article)

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From The Neon Empire

When Will The Gambling Cartels Start To Pay Their Fair Share Of State Taxes?

GAMBLING REVENUE: Downtown snaps long slide -- Area's win 0.4 percent higher in '07 than '06, ending three-year string of declines (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Gaming sector caught in market skid: Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts only companies to see shares rise (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Union’s plan: Win dealers’ gratitude, then their votes (Las Vegas Sun article)

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Nevada's Past

The "Trestle" On The State Seal (Guy Rocha column, Nevada Observer)

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Nevada Journalism

Daylight Savings Time (Hal Swift column, Nevada Observer)

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Federal Nevada

Nevada's Congressional Delegation

Reid, In Letter, Urges The White House To Work With Democrats On Nominations (Sen. Reid press release)

Reid: Bush Republicans Again Reject Extension of Surveillance Law (Sen. Reid press release)

Upcoming book is Reid revealed: Tales of past, present paint colorful character (Las Vegas Sun article)

ENSIGN: WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS IN IRAQ (Sen. Ensign press release)

ENSIGN MOURNS HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPER (Sen. Ensign press release)

The DNA Database Backlog: Heller calls for funding, more questions need to be raised (Desert Beacon)

In The US Congress

Congress playing hardball: Law governing drug enforcement in sports is threatened, but not needed — for now (Las Vegas Sun editorial)

RL34388 Child Welfare Issues in the 110th Congress February 26, 2008 (Congressional Research Service report)

The National Economy

Recession talk: is it self-fulfilling? (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Activists bare teeth over foreclosures (Associated Press article)

Credit crisis throws AIG into "uncharted waters" (Reuters article)

"Rising consumer indebtedness and increased reliance on credit cards over the last two decades have generated concerns in Congress and among the general public that cardholders may be paying excessive credit card rates and fees. Specifically, some borrowers have reportedly been unaware of assessed penalty fees and interest rate increases that follow after a delinquency episode."

RL34393 The Credit Card Market: Recent Trends, Funding Cost Issues, and Repricing Practices February 27, 2008 (Congressional Research Service report)

RL34259 A Predatory Lending Primer: The Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act January 07, 2008 (Congressional Research Service report)

RL33305 The Crude Oil Windfall Profit Tax of the 1980s: Implications for Current Energy Policy March 09, 2006 (Congressional Research Service report)

Foreign Investment: Laws and Policies Regulating Foreign Investment in 10 Countries GAO-08-320, February 28, 2008 (Government Accountability Office report)

National Health Matters

Taxes and Health Insurance February 2008 (Congressional Budget Office report)

RS22821 Consumer Product Safety Commission: Current Issues February 27, 2008 (Congressional Research Service report)

RS22819 USDA Meat Inspection and the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act February 26, 2008 (Congressional Research Service report)

Our Environment

RS22817 The D.C. Circuit Rejects EPA's Mercury Rules: New Jersey v. EPA February 28, 2008 (Congressional Research Service report)

Federal Law Enforcement

Department of the Army Official and Alabama-based Private Contractor Sentenced in Public Corruption Case (US Justice Department article)

Two Virgin Islands Commissioners Convicted in $1.4 Million Bribery and Kickback Scheme (US Justice Department article)

Freedom And The Federal Government

Freedom Of Speech

Judge Reverses His Order Disabling Web Site (New York Times article)

The Right To Know What You're Paying For

Mukasey won't pursue contempt probe of Bush aides (Reuters article)

Homeland Security And Disaster Management

RL34390 Aviation Security: Background and Policy Options for Screening and Securing Air Cargo February 25, 2008 (Congressional Research Service report)

Catastrophic Disasters: Federal Efforts Help States Prepare for and Respond to Psychological Consequences, but FEMA's Crisis Counseling Program Needs Improvements GAO-08-22, February 29, 2008 (Government Accountability Office report)

Visa Waiver Program: Limitations with Department of Homeland Security's Plan to Verify Departure of Foreign Nationals GAO-08-458T, February 28, 2008 (Government Accountability Office report)

Our Nation's Armed Forces

Mullen Says Military Must Adopt Wartime Attitude (American Forces Press Service article)

“The commandant wore it during a trip over there for Thanksgiving, and he absolutely did not like it,” Johnson said. “He made the call to not buy more until perhaps they find a way to mitigate the issues the troops are raising. That’s typical of our commandant. He listens to the Marines, and where it makes sense, he executes based on their feedback.”

Marine Commandant Halts Purchase of New Tactical Vests (American Forces Press Service article)

Intelligence Reform: GAO Can Assist the Congress and the Intelligence Community on Management Reform Initiatives GAO-08-413T, February 29, 2008 (Government Accountability Office report)

RL34391 Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress February 26, 2008 (Congressional Research Service report)

Healing Walter Reed: Federal auditors say care of wounded soldiers has improved but still needs work (Las Vegas Sun editorial)

RS22666 Veterans Benefits: Federal Employment Assistance January 14, 2008 (Congressional Research Service report)

Foreign Affairs

RL34394 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty: Issues and Arguments February 28, 2008 (Congressional Research Service report)

The Continuing Occupation Of Afghanistan

U.S. drug report cites Afghan rebel-opium poppy link (Reuters article)

Afghan, Coalition Forces Visit Nangarhar Province Villagers (American Forces Press Service article)

Armenia

Armenia declares state of emergency (Associated Press article)

The Continuing Occupation Of Iraq

US: Iraqi women bomber trainer caught (Associated Press article)

Mullen Says Rapid Withdrawal From Iraq Would Negate Security Gains (American Forces Press Service article)

Troops in Iraq Kill Five, Detain 23, Seize Weapons (American Forces Press Service article)

Soldiers Patrol With Iraqi Police, Build Goodwill (American Forces Press Service article)

RL34387 Operation Iraqi Freedom: Strategies, Approaches, Results, and Issues for Congress February 22, 2008 (Congressional Research Service report)

Israel

Israel threatens to unleash 'holocaust' in Gaza (London Times Online [UK] article)

Latin America

RL33828 Latin America and the Caribbean: Issues for the 110th Congress August 31, 2007 (Congressional Research Service report)

Russia

Russia votes for Putin's successor (Associated Press article)

Putin era: Moving forward, falling back (Associated Press article)

Russia's economy stabilized under Putin (Associated Press article)

RL34392 Russia's 2008 Presidential Succession February 26, 2008 (Congressional Research Service report)

A Federal Reader

RS22010 Social Security: "Transition Costs" July 25, 2007 (Congressional Research Service report)

RS22818 National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Overview, FY2009 Budget, and Issues for Congress February 26, 2008 (Congressional Research Service report)

RS22813 The U.S. Postal Service's Use of Contractors to Deliver Mail February 20, 2008 (Congressional Research Service report)

Postal Reform Law: Early Transition Is Promising, but Challenges to Successful Implementation Remain GAO-08-503T, February 28, 2008 (Government Accountability Office report)

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March 2, 2008

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Nevada Government

State Government

Disaster Management

Southern Nevada Hepatitis Alert

'They've almost given me a death sentence' (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

BLOOD-BORNE DISEASES: Patients on clinic's bottom line -- Investigators look at two dates in cluster of hepatitis C cases (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

How hepatitis probe led to clinic: Old-fashioned legwork yielded clues that came together (Las Vegas Sun article)

Medical malpractice: Practices of local clinic verge on the criminal (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)

Ricin Discovery

Woman: Man in ricin case 'a loner' -- FBI wants to search Utah home where 57-year-old had lived (Associated Press article)

Nevada's Economy

HEY, BUYERS: ALL ABOARD!: Foreclosure Express buses customers through areas where houses can be had at a bargain price (Las Vegas Sun article)

NEVADA ECONOMY: Strip boom, job seeker's boon -- New resorts expected to stoke state employment growth (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Nevada Taxes

Gamers back to court (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)

Taxing The Other Guy (Beers for Nevada)

Nevada's Budget

"Those 43 projects outside the state budget that are derisively referred to as "legislative pork" didn't lose a dime."

'Pork' projects escape cuts (Nevada Appeal article)

Wells Earthquake

Earthquake in Wells: Progress in a shaken city (Elko Free Press article)

Work party in Wells today (Elko Free Press article)

County commissioners to hear quake update (Elko Free Press article)

The State Judiciary

Judiciary is critical to American values (Judge Patrick Flanagan column, Reno Gazette-Journal)

The Governor Of Nevada

Of News, Newsworthiness, And Domestic Difficulties

ERIN NEFF: Private affairs, public scrutiny (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)

Jon Ralston wrestles with the idea of journalists reporting on the private lives of public figures (Las Vegas Sun column)

A few words on the Gibbons story (Inside Nevada Politics)

About the Gibbons story (Beryl Love, editor's blog, Reno Gazette-Journal)

When Is A Story A Story? (Reno and Its Discontents)

Local Government

City And County Of Carson

City should seek maximum return for V&T investment (Nevada Appeal editorial)

Theater had good reasons for new policy, but changes may be coming (Mayor Marv Teixeira column, Nevada Appeal)

Elko County

Board says gas tax increase not enough: Roads Advisory Committee urges immediate 2.5-cent hike (Elko Free Press article)

Lake Tahoe Basin

Agency prepares for possibility of budget cuts: TRPA Governing Board holds retreat at The Fresh Ketch (Tahoe Tribune article)

Tahoe-area officials hear about the pressing need for affordable housing: Nonprofits, developers chartered bus to take Latino community to TRPA meeting (Nevada Appeal article)

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Nevada Politics

2008 Presidential Races

Clinton trails in Texas, deadlocked in Ohio (Reuters article)

Drift away from Clinton frustrates many women (Los Angeles Times article)

Separating Gender and Political Identity in Clinton Story (New York Times article)

Hillary's National Security Cred (Blue Lyon)

"Equally troubling is the fact that three years after Senator Clinton said all the records in the Clinton library would be available, less than 300,000 of the 78 million documents have been released."

Clinton dragging her feet on releasing tax returns (Nye – Gateway to Nevada's Rurals)

Nevada Voting And Voters

Shirking a voting law: Requirement to help low-income people register is being neglected (Las Vegas Sun editorial)

State Democratic Party

NEVADA VIEWS: DEMOCRATIC 'BOSSES' TRIED TO STEAL COUNTY CONVENTION: REPLACING CAUCUSES WITH STATE-SANCTIONED PRIMARY WOULD PREVENT REPEAT OF FIASCO (Mike Zahara column, Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Democratic Party Papers Do Not Show Current Debt (Nevada Observer article)

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Nevada Education Matters

Higher Education

JOHN L. SMITH: CSN professor threatens essential fabric of Southern Nevada society (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)

Public Education

THOMAS MITCHELL: Ignorant barbarians (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)

VIN SUPRYNOWICZ: 'The article has deeply demented me' (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)

Carson City School District

"If citizens don't like their decisions, vote them out of office."

Those calling for wider superintendent search don't represent most patrons (Dan Mooney column, Nevada Appeal)

Esmeralda County School District

School bus not the place to enforce English-only rules (Guy W. Framer column, Nevada Appeal)

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Nevada's Environment

Alternative Energy

Prison biomass plant choked by supply costs (Nevada Appeal article)

State Utilities

Water meters a hit, but do miss: Customers complain about remote readers (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

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Our Beautiful Region

TRIP OF THE WEEK: Titus Canyon offers expansive views of desert, mountains (Margo Bartlett Pesek column, Las Vegas Review-Journal)

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Nevada Law Enforcement

State Prisons And Prisoners

Families incarcerated together--stay together (Nye – Gateway to Nevada's Rurals)

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Nevada Culture

$8.9 million sought by groups this year from the state cultural affairs commission (Nevada Appeal article)

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Nevada's Past

National Women's History Month

A Beautiful Poem

Five generations (Blue Lyon)

Texts And Links From TNO's Reading Room

Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins, Life Among The Piutes: Their Wrongs and Claims (1883)

• Chapter I First Meeting of Piutes and Whites

• Chapter II Domestic and Social Moralities

• Chapter III Wars and Their Causes

• Chapter IV Captain Truckee's Death

• Chapter V Reservation of Pyramid and Muddy Lakes 

• Chapter VI The Malheur Agency

• Chapter VII The Bannock War

• Chapter VIII The Yakima Affair

• Appendix

Eliza Poor Donner Houghton, The Expedition of the Donner Party and its Tragic Fate (1911)

The Overland Journal of "Nonsensical Nellie" Phelps (1859)

Mrs. Orsemus Bronson Boyd, A Cavalry Wife in Nevada 1868, An extract from Cavalry Life in Tent and Field (1894)

Jane Addams, The clash in Nevada; a history of woman's fight for enfranchisement. The Nevada suffrage fight (1914)

Mary Hunter Austin, Suffrage and government ; the modern idea of government by consent and woman's place in it, with special reference to Nevada and other western states (1914)

The winning of Nevada for woman suffrage, including oration of Hon. Curtis J. Hillyer, delivered before a joint session of the Nevada Legislature in 1869. An unanswerable argument for the suffrage cause (c. 1916)

Statement of Miss Anne Martin of Nevada (1916)

There are a number of general histories, written by women but not specifically about women, in the Reading Room as well. 

The Gangster Years

The booth was big enough for both of ’em: Jack Sheehan on a meeting between two of Las Vegas’ most notorious criminals (Las Vegas Sun column)

Historic Preservation

Saving the past: Demolition of historic movie theater is no way to respect Las Vegas’ history (Las Vegas Sun editorial)

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Federal Nevada

Nevada's Congressional Delegation

Helping our seniors: A bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid would address senior suicides (Las Vegas Sun editorial)

In The US Congress

House measure targets tax breaks for Big Oil: House votes for alternative energy sources (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Gridlock may sink foreclosure relief package (Las Vegas Sun article)

Roger Clemens gets a taste of Bush-league justice (Kirk Caraway column, Nevada Appeal)

Members of Congress paying relatives with campaign donations (Nye – Gateway to Nevada's Rurals)

The National Economy

The SuperCorridor and NAFTA Highway (Nye – Gateway to Nevada's Rurals)

National Health Matters

We Gotcher Waste & Fraud (Beers for Nevada)

Audits sting hospitals, physicians (Associated Press article)

CDC to destroy oldest smallpox vaccine (Associated Press article)

Freedom And The Federal Government

Sweet Land of What Liberty? Bush guts PIAB, PCLOB, and wants retroactive immunity (Desert Beacon)

Homeland Security

Control of the Mexican Border and Incompetent Government (Nye – Gateway to Nevada's Rurals)

Our Nation's Armed Forces

Northrop, EADS win $35B Air Force deal (Associated Press article)

Foreign Affairs

The Continuing Occupation Of Afghanistan

Gunmen destroy mobile phone tower in Afghan south (Reuters article)

China

China parliament to approve reshuffle, streamlining (Reuters article)

Cuba

LOOKING BACK AT CUBA: Expatriates expect homeland to change little after Castro (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

The Continuing Occupation Of Iraq

US: Major al-Qaida figure killed (Associated Press article)

U.S. troop decision in Iraq late summer: official (Reuters article)

"The nearly 5-year-old war, once billed as virtually paying for itself through increased Iraqi oil exports, has cost the U.S. Treasury $845 billion directly."

Iraq war hits U.S. economy: Nobel winner (Reuters article)

Mexico

Mexico's revised justice system targets drug cartels: Bill to overhaul trials, sentences — but not for mafia (Houston Chronicle article)

Mexico's Narco-war (National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers)

Merida Initiative Will It Work? (BorderFire article)

Dangerous Mexican Cartel Gangs (BorderFire article)

Nine bodies found in Mexican mass grave (Reuters article)

New Killing Fields Discovered In Ciudad Juarez Mexico (BorderFire article)

Pakistan

Suicide bomber kills 30 in Pakistan, scores hurt (Reuters article)

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March 3-5, 2008

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Nevada Government

State Government

Nevada's Economy

TRAVEL AND TOURISM: Monthly airport traffic decreases -- Several major carriers see January passenger count drop (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Airports facing rising costs see no relief ahead: Lack of federal funding leaves industry strapped (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

New record-high gas prices to hit Tahoe: Fuel cost trends show no sign of easing up (Nevada Appeal article)

Vox Populi - State Ballot Initiatives

Lawyer files petitions aimed at petition law (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Attorney may be right about the bath water: But let's save the 'single subject' baby (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)

Nevada's Wretched Campaign Finance Laws

Nev. state Senate candidate faces big fine (Associated Press article)

The State Judiciary

Latest Supreme Court Decisions

MURPHY, TABISH APPEAL: Convictions upheld -- Justices find ample evidence ex-lovers conspired in theft (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Judge Halverson

Halverson hearing scheduled for April: High court yet to rule on judge's request to end proceedings (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Clark County Courts

Swift justice, so long as you’re not waiting for the elevator: Notoriously unreliable lifts find a new way to frustrate (Las Vegas Sun article)

State Agencies

State gets a C+ in managing assets (Elko Free Press article)

Department Of Agriculture

Rancher, activist takes agency post (Associated Press article)

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Agriculture director in Shovel Brigade -- Lesperance helped group battle feds (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

'Alarmist and extreme' (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)

Department Of Parole And Probation

Gibbons, new chief pledge to fix agency: Parole and Probation received scathing audit (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Don't pinch pennies when it comes to public safety (Nevada Appeal editorial)

Department Of Public Safety

Highway Patrol having trouble tracking its things, audit finds (Las Vegas Sun article)

Personal data lost by firm: 109 had applied to public safety agency (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

The Wells Earthquake

Furor over Front Street: Rep. Heller clarifies comments; resident says demolition never considered (Elko Free Press article)

Heller: No decision on Wells buildings (Associated Press article)

The Governor Of Nevada

Gibbonses mum on marital problems (Associated Press article)

Local Government

City And County Of Carson

V&T commission OKs mayor's $10M plan (Nevada Appeal article)

Clark County

Like sewer rate plan? Depends: Proposal to raise rates in valley to pay for rural improvements would benefit some, hurt others (Las Vegas Sun article)

Monorail tax break renewed: Extension would go to McCarran (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

New rules drafted for short-term house rental: LV City Council to weigh proposal (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Beltway business boom: Gaming companies move offices southwest for convenience, space (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Douglas County

Business opposes license taxation (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)

The trouble with little taxes is they add up (Don Rogers column, Gardnerville-Record-Courier)

License maybe, but not a tax (Gardnerville Record-Courier editorial)

Lake Tahoe Basin

Deadline looms for Tahoe fire advisers (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Lyon County

Mound House residents want county to address decades of poor planning (Dayton Courier article)

Washoe County

More trees being cut along the river (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Ballroom makes grand debut (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Panel urges city to abandon Moana Pool, focus on others (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

City conservation plan is historic (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)

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Nevada Politics

2008 Presidential Races

The Results Of Super Tuesday

Big Wins for Clinton in Texas and Ohio; McCain Is In as G.O.P. Choice (New York Times article)

Clinton bounces back with key wins; race stretches on (CNN report)

CNN Projects Sen. Clinton The Winner In Ohio Democratic Primary; Texas Too Close To Call (CNN report)

CNN projects Clinton wins Rhode Island Democratic primary (CNN report)

Huckabee drops out of presidential race (Associated Press article)

Highlights of early exit poll results  (Associated Press article)

McCain clinches GOP nomination, CNN projects (CNN report)

Exit polling projects Obama the winner of Vermont primary (CNN report)

The Most Recent Polls

Ohio: Clinton 50% Obama 44% (Rasmussen Reports poll)

Texas: Obama 48% Clinton 47% (Rasmussen Reports poll)

Local Reactions

Clinton backers in Nevada have reason to rejoice (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

State Democratic Party

Convention details due today: Democratic Party do-over will be held April 12, sources say (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

State Republican Party

Nevada GOP seeks McCain unity, state Democrats still divided (Associated Press article)

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Nevada Education Matters

Higher Education

New TMCC president comes out of retirement (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Public Schools

Carson City School District

Carson City school board moving forward with Stokes hiring (Nevada Appeal article)

Douglas County School District

Valley elementary schools host competitions (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)

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Nevada Health Matters

Southern Nevada Hepatitis/HIV Alert

The Reactions

OK, now I’ll ask the questions: State urges us not to take safe medical procedures for granted (Las Vegas Sun article)

CDC chief: 'This should never happen' -- Clinic's reuse of syringes and vials may be 'tip of the iceberg' (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Unsafe cost cuts 'common practice' (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Outbreak an aberration, doctors say (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Questions on everyone’s mind: Hepatitis scandal raises many issues without ready answers (Las Vegas Sun article)

Husband, wife suspect clinic source of infection (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Scare brings back memories: Nebraska patients experienced similar ordeal (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Take a grain of salt and read this: Clinic owner defends practices in ad (Las Vegas Sun article)

Disease scare adds to glut of lawyer ads on local TV (Las Vegas Sun article)

The Investigations

PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS: Criminal inquiry starts -- Prosecutors, police take preliminary look at clinic (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Knowledge is power: Filling in the gaps (Las Vegas Sun article)

The Public Health Closures

Five of six centers now closed by local entities (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

More clinic offices closed: NLV, Henderson officials take steps against medical group in health crisis (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Deficiencies bring fines against clinic (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Related clinics closed: City rules against Shadow Lane facility's appeal (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

City of Henderson suspends license of clinic (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

The Commentary

Aggressive response: Local health scare announced a week ago has triggered multiple investigations (Las Vegas Sun editorial)

JANE ANN MORRISON: Endoscopy Center scandal goes far beyond a matter of negligence (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)

ERIN NEFF: All just to save a few bucks? (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)

Questions about the hepatitis scare (Jon Ralston column, Las Vegas Sun)

JOHN L. SMITH: With every step, clinic's boss fails to demonstrate any professionalism (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)

Ricin Discovery

Meet the mysterious Roger Von Bergendorff: He filed for bankruptcy, had a history of health problems and kept a vial of ricin (Las Vegas Sun article)

Hotel residents fear ricin tie: Man at center of inquiry might have lived on Boulder Highway (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Man hospitalized in ricin case has past of financial troubles (Associated Press article)

Utah home with ties to ricin case searched: FBI trying to determine why man would have poison (Associated Press article)

Q Fever

State says Fallon men didn't die of the rare bacterial disease Q fever (Nevada Appeal article)

Q fever hits rural Churchill: Illness strikes near a leukemia cluster area (Associated Press article)

Mental Health

County closes group home: Neighbors call patients unruly; lawyer to appeal (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Rural Health Care

Tribes hope new bill eases medical woes (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Urban Health Care

Struggling Boulder City Hospital to seek tax district status — and funding: Official says money is needed for emergency room upgrade, technology (Las Vegas Sun article)

HEALTH CARE AND BUSINESS: Plenty of bones about it -- Institute emphasizes preventive health care (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Doctor Shortage

Where are all the doctors? As we inch toward national health care, the profession is suffering (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)

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Nevada's Environment

Nevada Water Matters

Average snowpack season expected (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Carson-Lyon intertie water project receives final approval (Dayton Courier article)

Rate hikes would hit big users (Nevada Appeal article)

Nevada Utilities

Earnings decline for gas company (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Conservation

Mayor wants city to adopt new policy on plastic bags (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Wild Beasts

Grouse reconsidered for endangered species list (Gardnerville Record-Courier article)

Boaters finding mussels big pain: Pest thrives in warm waters of Southwest (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

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Our Beautiful Region

DEATH VALLEY ALIVE: Desert's wildflower crop this year 'really showy' (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Waiting game irks park users: County stretches limited amount of money long way (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

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Nevada Law Enforcement

Catch This Creep

Police to release new evidence in inquiry (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Police correction: Panties found near Denison body not linked to her killer (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Panties found with Denison's body did not have DNA belonging to suspect (Associated Press article)

Brianna Denison Webpage (Reno Police Department website)

Doctors And Lawyers Conspiracy Trial

Doctor's wife testifies against attorney Gage: Says threat was made: 'We can ruin your husband' (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

CONSPIRACY, FRAUD TRIAL: Surgeon tells of 'stupidity, greed' -- Witness says Noel Gage was involved in kickback scheme (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

JOHN L. SMITH: Immunity deal keeps Venger safe from prison, but it can't save his reputation (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)

UMC Corruption Case

Friends vouch for ousted UMC boss: Public officials among writers who plead for reduced bail for Thomas (Las Vegas Sun article)

A Fallen Trooper

Trooper's funeral to draw thousands (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Hundreds watch NHP trooper's procession (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Thousands mourn death of Nevada trooper (Associated Press article)

Courthouse Shooting Case

Judge to hear lawyer's request to withdraw Mack's guilty plea again (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

===================================

March 6, 2008

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Nevada Government

State Government

Nevada's Economy

Economist: Home prices unrealistic (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Vox Populi: Nevada's Ballot Initiative System

"The single-subject law has been interpreted in a way that makes circulating all but the most basic initiatives impossible. It’s a choke point for democracy, and, let’s be honest, it was intended to be. The voters have shown they can root out the good from the bad, and aren’t likely to be dissuaded by shiny trinkets. It’s time to get rid of the single-subject law."

Kill the single-subject rule! (Steve Sebelius column, Las Vegas CityLife)

Nevada Taxes

PETITION FILED: Ballot question rules targeted -- Effort would require two-thirds approval by public on tax issues (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Listen up, voters already rejected tax increases at the polls (Chuck Muth column, Las Vegas Business Press)

Shades of Jim Gibbons! (Steve Sebelius column, Las Vegas CityLife)

State Agencies

Unimpressive grade: Report card shows state government tied for 32nd place in terms of effectiveness (Las Vegas Sun editorial)

Grading the States 2008: Pew’s 50-State Report Card Evaluates How States Manage Public Resources (Pew Center on the States press release, with link to the report; for Nevada's C+ grade, see p. 69)

State, feds pummel programs for poor (Las Vegas Sun article)

Fire departments complain about NDF slowness (Ely Times article)

Legislative Audit of Department of Public Safety, Division of Parole and Probation (LA08-12)

Legislative Audit of Department of Public Safety, Nevada Highway Patrol (LA08-09)

Nevada's Wretched, Toothless Ethics Laws

Legislator hit with ethics complaint (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

“If what I have done is an ethics violation then every member of the Legislature is guilty.”

Legislator hit with ethics complaint for not adequately disclosing his construction industry role (Las Vegas Sun article)

Local Government

City And County Of Carson

Operating option for V&T sparks controversy (Nevada Appeal article)

JAC route change starts Saturday (Nevada Appeal article)

Clark County

New rules for pay-day lenders delayed (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Las Vegas moves against 'party houses': Regulations placed on short-term rentals (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Ousted NLV official loses appeal (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Las Vegas Monorail

Um, excuse us, but no (Steve Sebelius column, Las Vegas CityLife)

Developing Stories

Suburb growth, infrastructure drive retail development: Investors flock to fast-growing communities in need of better shopping options (Las Vegas Business Press article)

Market drives Desert Capital to halt sales, cut its dividend: Real estate investment trust insists it is scaling back, not going broke (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Elko County

Lowe's coming to Elko: Plans for 54-acre shopping plaza announced at Elko City Planning Commission meeting (Elko Free Press article)

Lake Tahoe Basin

TRPA has faced controversy since the agency's beginning (Tahoe Tribune article)

Lyon County

Fernley council seat vacant (Nevada Appeal article)

Nye County

Town audit is clean (Pahrump Valley Times article)

Tax used for promotion (Pahrump Valley Times article)

Washoe County

Reno City Council annexes 752 acres, delays 96 acres that include gravel pit (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Wildlife concerns prompt discussion on housing development (Reno Gazette-Journal article)

Fighting city hall: A lack of parking spaces may close down a Reno restaurant (Reno News & Review article)

White Pine County

NDI probes WP County '07 finances (Ely Times article)

New Gianoli Substation gets city's conditional OK (Ely Times article)

Council rejects request for metal detector at meetings (Ely Times article)

Yelland Field on holding pattern between conflicting bills (Ely Times article)

Security screeners needed at airport (Ely Times article)

USDA sets March 19 workshop in Ely for business development grants (Ely Times article)

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Nevada Politics

Local Elections

Recall effort takes aim at newcomers: Boulder City Council mavericks targeted (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

State Democratic Party

Democratic delegate vote rescheduled for April 12 (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Dems regroup for county convention, Take Two (Las Vegas Sun article)

Everything is totally under control now (Steve Sebelius column, Las Vegas CityLife)

State Republican Party

Sue Lowden may be crazy (Steve Sebelius column, Las Vegas CityLife)

Campaign Practices

ERIN NEFF: That dreaded ringing phone (Las Vegas Review-Journal column)

General Political Commentary

As We See It: Change, change, change (Ely Times editorial)

And the super-fun campaign goes on (Steve Sebelius column, Las Vegas CityLife)

Back when decency was part of discourse (Dennis Myers column, Pahrump Valley Times)

Agreement beneath the squabble: The environment is one thing Clinton and Obama agree about (Reno News & Review article)

A Democratic win may not be a win: Winning November’s presidential election may be worse than losing (Cory Farley column, Reno News & Review)

Affirmative action in the Oval Office: Let’s vote for the person with experience, not because of gender or race (Amanda Williams column, Reno News & Review)

Racism and Planned Parenthood (Ed Iverson column, Lahontan Valley News)

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Nevada Education Matters

Higher Education

UNLV seeks United Arab Emirates campus: Second foreign endeavor would include hotel management and hospitality curriculum (Las Vegas Business Press article)

Public Schools

Churchill County School District

School district pursuing rollover bond (Lahontan Valley News article)

Clark County School District

School District has one bear of a computer system, but it’s hibernating: $35 million and counting, it’s only partly done, and money to complete it has run out (Las Vegas Sun article)

Nye County School District

Start, ending dates for '08-'09 (Pahrump Valley Times article)

Washoe County School District

WCSD relying on group's persistence (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)

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Nevada Health Matters

Southern Nevada Hepatitis Alert

Derelict State Agencies

Legislative health panel meeting set: 'Our focus is on solutions,' chairwoman says (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)

Health official testifies on hepatitis C outbreak in Las Vegas (Associated Press article)

State failed to inspect clinic for seven years (Las Vegas Sun article)

"Are these boards really nothing more than protection rackets?"

Impotent oversight: If medical boards won't act now, why do they exist? (Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial)

Restoring public trust: Endoscopy scandal should result in patients having more access to medical information (Las Vegas Sun editorial)

Patients shouldn't have to worry about safe, sanitary procedures (Reno Gazette-Journal editorial)

Feel safe? You shouldn’t. (Steve Sebelius column, Las Vegas CityLife)

Other Stories

Get ready for a royal runaround: Uninsured who need blood tests also need lots of patience (Las Vegas Sun article)

Tests may find existing cases, not clinic victims: Many have hepatitis C, don’t know it (Las Vegas Sun article)

Reid, Ensign Announce Grant Funding For HIV Emergency Relief Project (Sen. Reid press release)

PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS: LV patient feels at fault -- Hepatitis C carrier says he was at clinic on key date (Las Vegas Review-Journal article)