Feb
15 - 22, 2003 edition
- O P I N I O N -
LV R-J
The
bottom line is the bottom line
The latest edition of The
American Editor, the magazine of the American Society of Newspaper Editors,
reports on a phenomenal waste of breath, time and money.
Stanford journalism professor William Woo relates
his 16-month experiment in trying to instill ethical decision-making models
in the newsroom of the Las Vegas Sun. Woo writes, "From what I knew of
it, and what I was to observe, the Sun is a clean paper with high ethical
standards."
It is understandable why professor Woo might reach
such a conclusion if his observations were limited to the newsroom of the
Sun. After all, except for a couple of reporters occasionally getting too
cozy and cuddly with the folks they cover or applying for public relations
jobs with those they cover, and that whole thing about having news reporters
write opinion columns, the staff at the Sun is a relatively decent and
ethical collection of characters from what I'm told by those who survived
the experience and have gone on to legitimate publications.
The ethical problems at the Sun are not really in
the newsroom, but at the helm.
For decades the Greenspun family has used the paper
to slap down business and political competitors and to bolster its own
financial interests to the detriment of its readers and the profession of
journalism . . . more
LV R-J
Unions
doing
their lobbying
on taxpayers'
dime The Wendell Williams
double- dipping scandal is the gift that keeps on giving. Thanks to a tip from an
anonymous firefighter, Review- Journal columnist Jane Ann Morrison reported on a
long-standing Las Vegas city policy that allows firefighters to lobby the Legislature for
better pay and benefits ... all at taxpayer expense.
And there's more. The contract between the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police
Department and its union establishes four, full-time jobs at union headquarters for cops,
who aren't paid with union dues but instead earn tax-financed salaries and, presumably,
benefits under PERS ... more
|
Vin Suprynowicz
Dairy
farmers ask, 'Got free speech?'
On Jan. 12 in
Philadelphia, Institute for Justice attorney Steve Simpson argued the
case of dairy farmers Joseph and Brenda Cochran of Westfield, Pa. -- about a
mile from the New York state line -- before the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals.
The Cochrans are suing the federal government for
requiring them to participate in the dairy promotion program. You've seen
those ubiquitous "Got milk?" ads on TV and billboards? Well, the
Cochrans are asking, "Got free speech?"
The Cochrans say they're charged about $4,000 per
year -- which they can ill afford because they're already losing money --
for generic advertisements that actually obscure the distinctions between
their traditional farming methods and those of large-scale dairy producers.
more
Nevada State Carnage ...
er, College
The first edition of the Black &
Gold: A Publication For Friends of Nevada State College has been mailed out (at
taxpayer expense) and is now in the hands of movers and shakers throughout the Las Vegas
valley.
It seems incredible but evidently students will actually be graduating
from the college next spring. A front-page article of the Black & Gold entitled
"Gearing Up for Graduation" features Q and A's with three of the five students
who are graduating next spring.
Milissa Avila, a Teacher Preparation Program student said "[my
husband] jokes with me that if I head up the Nevada State College Alumni Association, I
will only have to call four other people for our reunions, at least for now."
I doubt taxpayers think it's a joke to spend millions of dollars to
graduate five students-three in the Teacher Preparation Program and two in psychology . .
. more
Boy Scouts - Guiding
youth
for 94 years
ONE OF OUR country’s greatest youth
organizations, The Boy Scouts of America, celebrates its 94th birthday,
today on Feb. 8th.
Virtually
every American is acquainted with the Boy Scouts. It is estimated that at
least 80 million boys have passed through its ranks since its inception in
1910. Between 4-5 million boys are currently enrolled in its program. It
would probably be difficult to over-estimate the positive impact that the
teachings of the Boy Scouts have had on our country.
For
most boys in scouting, "Boy Scouts" means enjoying the outdoors;
but being a "Boy Scout" is much more than this. As an
11-year-old, I memorized the Scout Oath: "On my honor, I will do my
best to do my duty to God and my Country; to obey the Scout Law; to help
other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally
awake, and morally straight."
[more]
LV R-J
Taking
(civil) liberties
By Steve Sebelius
A tough, principled campaigner came to Las Vegas at the tail end of last
week. He was here to talk about the issues, and to take the Bush
administration to task on a number of fronts. A veteran of Washington, D.C.,
politics, he knows he faces an uphill battle against a well-financed
incumbent president. But he knows that the more people hear the truth, the
more will come to his side.
That's why I relished the chance to sit down for a
few minutes with former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr, R-Ga. (Who did you think I was
talking about?)
Barr has been at the forefront of one of the oddest
confluences in American politics: The convergence of left and right in
opposition to the erosion of civil rights in the name of the war on terror.
Talk to Barr for even a few minutes, and you'll find things are far worse
than just the USA Patriot Act. [more]
|
|
Las
Vegas Sun
Transfer
of fuel
rods 'not necessary'
Officials say on-site storage
of waste safer than thought
WASHINGTON -- The risks of storing more used radioactive fuel rods from
nuclear power plants in onsite pools are less than previously thought
despite the new specter of terrorism, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
officials said Thursday.
SEPARATION
OF POWERS:
The double-dipping issue
Constitution is clear:
Public
employees shouldn't be in the Legislature
By Lynette Boggs McDonald
Las Vegas City Councilwoman
SPECIAL TO THE REVIEW-JOURNAL
At the City Council meeting
of Jan. 7, our city manager placed a discussion item on the agenda
as it relating to the formulation of a policy pertaining to city
employees serving in the Legislature and in other elected offices
throughout our state. Prior to November of last year, when what has
been dubbed "doubledipping-gate" erupted at Stewart
Avenue, I, like most citizens, didn't have a particularly strong
opinion about the subject. I had been a public employee in the past
myself, but had chosen to join the private sector after I became an
elected official.
As a policy-maker for the
fastest-growing city in America, the "doubledipping-gate"
incident forced me to dissect and analyze this policy question as if
I were preparing to defend a master's thesis. As such, my analysis
has brought me to the conclusion that city employees are members of
the executive branch of government and should resign their positions
upon being sworn into the legislative branch. Below I outline the
most salient arguments to support this policy position. [more]
|
Elko Daily Free Press
Enviro
mentals
target gold mines
ELKO - Environmental activists launched a "No Dirty Gold"
global campaign today that targets gold jewelry consumers to call
attention to the worldwide gold-mining industry. "This is not a
boycott of gold," said Radhika Sarin, campaign coordinator.
Las Vegas Sun
GOP
chief: Nevada
'ground zero' for '04
Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie went on the
offensive in Nevada on Thursday, saying that Democrats have made it clear
they plan to run one of the "dirtiest campaigns in modern
politics."
Elko Daily Free Press
Millennium
Scholars
face higher standards
ELKO - Next year's freshman class will be facing tougher requirements
to become eligible for Nevada's Millennium Scholarship. But, according to
Joe de Braga, director of curriculum and instruction for Elko schools, the
proposed changes still aren't as tough as the existing advanced diploma
requirements.
Nevada Appeal
Funding
sought for
wild horse roundup
RENO - Gov. Kenny Guinn is pressing Congress for funding to thin wild
horse herds in Nevada, saying their large numbers endanger the state's
wildlife and ranching.
Las Vegas Sun
Reid stirs up
Yucca dust
Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., plans to call and write letters to Labor
Secretary Elaine Chao and Environmental Protection Administrator Mike
Leavitt this week to air his concerns on dust dangers to workers at Yucca
Mountain.
Las Vegas Sun
But
state says
no such problem
CARSON CITY -- The state Division of Environmental Protection said
Friday an investigation at Yucca Mountain Thursday showed there were no
violations of blowing dust regulation.
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Moncrief:
'I'm innocent'
An upbeat Las Vegas City Councilwoman Janet Moncrief said Friday that
she hopes to put swiftly to rest allegations of wrongdoing in her campaign
for office last year.
Elko Daily Free Press
Free
Press owner
names publisher
ELKO - Rhonda Zuraff, a nationally honored circulation and marketing
manager for Lee Enterprises, has been appointed publisher of the Elko
Daily Free Press.
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Ex-Agassi
teachers,
activists complain
Teachers who've been fired or resigned from the Andre Agassi College
Preparatory Academy publicly question whether the school is operating
outside the laws addressing special education students, test security, and
the expenditure of federal grants.
| The Other Side of the Story THE DEMOTION of two high Community College of Southern Nevada (CCSN)
officials, President Ronald Remington and his 'counselor' John Cummings -- said by
many to actually have been running the college -- has touched off a firestorm of criticism
of the state higher education system's board of regents. There is much evidence, however,
that the regents have a far better case than media reporting has indicated. The deeper one
penetrates into the 1,026- page investigation report (which Electric Nevada has
obtained and is studying), the more it appears that the furor is scripted to defend a
long-standing community-college system of nepotism and political corruption.
Statement by Three Regents
Statement
by Topazia Briget Jones. |
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Regents
set to
discuss demotions
The university Board of Regents has scheduled a special open meeting
for later this month to discuss community college officials who were
demoted following a controversial closed meeting late last year.
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Arrested
investigator
got pardon in 1989
CARSON CITY -- A Clark County investigator arrested this week by the
FBI had supporters in high places when he received a full pardon in 1989
on his conviction in connection with an $8,000 casino theft
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Report:
Eight priests
accused in 45 years
Eight of 521 Catholic priests who worked in Nevada from 1950 to 1995
were accused of sexual abuse of a minor in connection with 13 victims
statewide, according to the Las Vegas Archdiocese.
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Dead
man's sons
file federal lawsuit
Three sons of a man who died during a February 2002 struggle with Las
Vegas police filed a wrongful death lawsuit Friday in federal court.
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Reno
judge okays
shafting taxpayers
RENO -- Rejecting a request by a group of Incline Village property
owners upset over soaring property taxes, a judge has ruled a Washoe
County board can continue to hold tax appeal hearings.
Valley
activists:
Leading the call
From varied backgrounds, government critics based in Southern Nevada
formulate methods to take on establishment
Knight
Allen prefers privacy
But he stands at forefront of
effort to
ban public employees from Legislature
Although he's become the man leading the movement to ban public
employees from the Legislature, Knight Allen doesn't relish the public
role.
Dan
Burdish is unrelenting
against government growth
Dan Burdish is difficult to label, a former executive director of the
Nevada Republican Party, he opposes most tax increases and the growing
government bureaucracy they finance.
George
Harris is
unwavering against taxes
George Harris was incredulous. His disbelief wasn't about the record
tax increase approved by the Legislature or the moderates in his
Republican Party who approved the levies.
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Nevada
banks hit
hard by payroll tax
Levy may be disaster for many small
businesses
The payroll tax that the Nevada Legislature enacted into law last year
is an annoyance to some big employers but a disaster for some small ones.
Las Vegas Sun
Building lease will
cost state millions
State Treasurer Krolicki
chairs firm that gets contract
CARSON CITY -- With its first lease-purchase of a new building, Nevada will wind up
paying $71.5 million, once the figures are adjusted for inflation, for the structure that
is expected to cost nearly $24 million to build.
Las Vegas
Review-Journal
Hard
numbers: Tax
hikes were unneeded
Critics of Guinn, , tax-and-spend politicians proven
correct
CARSON CITY -- Spending by Nevada
consumers and tourists greatly exceeded officials' expectations for the first four months
of the fiscal year, with sales tax revenue growth more than doubling what was projected
for the budget.
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Court tosses
bogus charges
Corrupt Las Vegas Metro police, state gaming agents help
casinos bully winning gamblers
A district judge threw out a conviction against an advantage gambler and professional
personal trainer who was convicted earlier this year of disorderly conduct for allegedly
resisting arrest while being detailed, handcuffed and roughed up at the El Cortez.
Associated Press
Supreme questions detaining gambler
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Execs knew of Mirage's lawbreaking
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Nevada Gaming
Control: Crooked
Gaming control officers, Metro cops help
Nevada casinos kidnap, intimidate players who win legally
Steve Bernier is terrified every time his doorbell rings and he has been
ever since Gaming Control Board agents interrogated and threatened him in his own home.
Money laundry rules reviewed
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