Debt burdens
Who gets to put
you in hock?

Pols have a new way to circumvent Nevada's constitutional debt limit

By Steven Miller
BusinessNevada

Few Nevadans realize it, but behind the seemingly dust-dry public debt provisions in our state constitution is a history of human tragedy, corruption and crisis that at one time threatened war with Britain and ended up redefining American self-government. 

It's a relevant story right now because Nevada and other states are currently on the cusp of one of America's recurring cycles of reduced control by citizens over their own debt. 

Indeed, much of the history of state and local government in America deals with the recurring struggle between citizens and government officials over the question, "Who gets to put the people into hock? Who gets to decide whether you and your kids will bear a long-term debt burden?"

[continued]

Nevada's unfunded liabilities
State, local governments
face heavy health-care tab

By Deborah Solomon
Wall Street Journal

A looming accounting change is forcing state and local governments to fess up to something that's been lurking on their books for years: Many have made costly retirement health-care promises without planning how to pay for them. 

Under a new accounting rule, governments soon must start recognizing their long-term obligations to pay for retirees' health benefits -- and, for the first time, publicly disclose what it would cost each year to fund that liability.

[continued] This article will be available to non-subscribers of the Online Journal for up to seven days after it is e-mailed.

Schools
Nevada teacher harassed 
for teaching too much

By Jay Mathews
Washington Post

Joe Enge, an 11th grade U.S. history teacher at Carson High School in Carson City, Nev., says his district is trying to get rid of him because he disobeyed orders to stop teaching most of what happened in his country before 1865.

Mary Pierczynski, superintendent of the Carson City schools, says that is nonsense. She says she is treating Enge as she would any teacher with a series of unsatisfactory classroom evaluations. She says her district prefers a relatively quick review of America through the Civil War at the beginning of 11th grade, and it covers that period more extensively in the eighth, 10th and 12th grades.  [continued]

Carson teacher 
says district off track

By Maggie O'Neill
Nevada Appeal

Teacher Joe Enge's allegation that pre-Civil War history was not being taught as part of Carson City School District's 11th-grade U.S. History curriculum has become a cause for education-reform advocates.  [continued]

Retooling
Internet impacting convention industry

By Richard N. Velotta
InBusiness Las Vegas

Just as the Internet has helped travelers become more savvy about booking flights and hotel rooms, it also is helping conventioneers get better prepared for trade shows and meetings, producing a more sophisticated customer.

[continued]

Reaganism
A not-so-mellow skeptic 
sees an unfocused GOP

By Ralph Z. Hallow
The Washington Times

Lyn Nofziger, at 81, is almost who he was at 41 -- a plain-talking, slightly disheveled California skeptic. He's a newspaperman who became the plain-talking, slightly disheveled top aide to Ronald Reagan, from the Gipper's 1966 campaign for California governor through his first year in the White House 15 years later. 

With shirt collar still unbuttoned and tie still loosened, the goateed Mr. Nofziger has been lobbying for a living and, on the side, writing opinion columns and authoring Western novels. 

He has opinions aplenty, but they are not likely to be confused with Republican or conservative talking points. He is a Reaganite but not a Reagan worshipper, a Republican but not a party apologist, a conservative who thinks the word is largely meaningless.

[continued]

Thanksgiving
One for 'The Birds'

Wild turkeys attack 
humans in suburbia

By William M. Bulkeley
Wall Street Journal

In April, Will Millington was riding his dirt bike down a narrow trail in Norman, Okla., when he stopped before a flock of wild turkeys. The hens scattered, but two toms flared their feathers and stalked toward him. Then they suddenly leapt in the air, beat Mr. Millington with their wings and tried to scratch him with the sharp spurs on the backs of their legs. 

Mr. Millington frantically revved his bike's motor. Thirty yards down the trail he looked back. "They were running after me," says the 46-year-old property manager. "That was kind of spooky."

[continued] This article will be available to non-subscribers of the Online Journal for up to seven days after it is e-mailed.

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