Politics - Las Vegas Sun

Divorce as political spectacle: Governor may have asked for privacy, but observers say his actions invite public scrutiny; Thu, May 8, 2008 (2 a.m.); By David McGrath Schwartz; When word of marital trouble in the Governor’s Mansion seeped out, Gov. Jim Gibbons’ allies hoped for as quiet a divorce as possible. That clearly is not how things have gone.

Nevada Republicans bolt party line, support housing package: By Lisa Mascaro; In a sign of how the mortgage crisis is rippling through Nevada and across the national political landscape, the state’s two Republican House members broke ranks with their party Thursday and defied President Bush’s veto threat to vote for the main provisions of a Democratic housing rescue package.

Council finds soft spot for needy: Group may share ‘special events’ funds with elderly poor; By Joe Schoenmann, Sam Skolnik; Las Vegas City Council members soon may trade in a fraction of their “special events” budgets, typically spent on parties, luncheons and gifts, for something arguably much more important: subsidized meals for thousands of the city’s poorest seniors.

Board chief fires back, backs off: Accused of hindering Desai probe, he blasts prosecutor, then backpedals; medical board to cooperate; Thursday, May 8, 2008; By Marshall Allen; The executive director of the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners unleashed a tirade against a county prosecutor before saying the board would turn over to investigators any complaints in its files about Dr. Dipak Desai.

Retired teachers’ health plan pact reached: The goal is to keep tenured educators on the job; Wednesday, May 7, 2008; By Emily Richmond; After months of haggling, the Clark County School District and the teachers union have a tentative agreement to offer health insurance to the district’s retired educators.

Medical board refuses to release Desai complaints: Group accused of protecting doctors, not public; Wednesday, May 7, 2008; By Marshall Allen; The criminal investigation into the conduct of Dr. Dipak Desai, the physician at the center of the nation’s biggest hepatitis C scare, has hit a roadblock: the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners.

Community champion shows with pluck, little guy can win: North Las Vegas man fights for cheaper switch from gas lamps, likely saving homeowners groups thousands yearly; Wednesday, May 7, 2008; By Mike Trask; Richard Cherchio didn’t win last year when he ran for a seat on the North Las Vegas City Council. But he hasn’t stopped fighting, becoming one of the city’s most recognizable activists.

Adelson won’t relinquish fight to block Palazzo club: Looking in on: Justice: Mogul moves to reverse order allowing partners to resume construction; Wednesday, May 7, 2008; By Jeff German; Nightclub operators Marc Packer and Richard Wolf have had less than a month to savor a hard-fought legal victory over their landlord, casino mogul Sheldon Adelson.

UMC thefts on overtime alleged: Police say workers helped bosses steal goods on company time; Wednesday, May 7, 2008; By Tony Cook; Not only did University Medical Center employees help their bosses steal from the public hospital — they also charged the hospital tens of thousands of dollars in overtime while doing it, according to police.

Obama changes tune on minister too late: Letter to the Editor:; Tuesday, May 6, 2008; Richard Rychtarik, Las Vegas; I must take umbrage with the letter by John Esperian in Monday’s Las Vegas Sun. Mr. Esperian laments that the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s views are inadvertently undermining the candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama.

The upside of anger: Neighbors meeting neighbors: Opposition to apartment projects serves as social cement; Tuesday, May 6, 2008; By Mike Trask; On the surface, there’s nothing special or unique about neighbors, with kids and dogs in tow, gathering in the sun. Yet within the ebb and flow of life in North Las Vegas, dozens of people getting together to eat ice cream sandwiches in the nation’s fastest-growing city took on significance.

Given $50,000, he decides to run: By law, hopefuls can withhold source of cash — and he does; Tuesday, May 6, 2008; By David McGrath Schwartz; Steve Nathan hadn’t thought about running for public office. Then some friends and business associates approached him about a state Senate seat and presented a war chest with $50,000.

Porter’s nudge greenward: The congressman, like other Republicans, is paying mind to environmental causes; Monday, May 5, 2008; By Lisa Mascaro; Going green has never been more popular. Shop at a department store, get a reusable tote bag. Channel surf and see celebrities greening their mansions. Take a summer vacation, make it energy efficient. But for politicians, greening their environmental record can be a trickier feat. Case in point: Republican Rep. Jon Porter wants to turn the nation’s rental car fleet green. Trade in every tourist Taurus for a Prius on the Strip and suddenly you’ve halved the amount of greenhouse gases emitted each year.

Mischief-making blockers are signature gatherers’ bane: They holler to dissuade potential backers of teachers union petition; Monday, May 5, 2008; By J. Patrick Coolican; Russ Stevens walks out of the North Las Vegas DMV office and is approached by a woman asking him to sign a petition in favor of raising casino taxes to benefit teachers and schools.

Ross’ green light has shades of gray: LOOKING IN ON: CITY HALL: Just-released opinion warns of potential conflicts; Monday, May 5, 2008; By Joe Schoenmann; Almost a year after Steven Ross was given the nod to work as a union lobbyist while serving on the Las Vegas City Council, the Nevada Ethics Commission has released a written version of that advisory opinion.

2008 Caucus Guide: For the first time, Nevada’s Democrats and Republicans will have a chance to play a stronger role in who the nominees will be for president. Our guide offers candidate biographies, issue overviews and an overview of the logistics of Jan. 19.

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