Nevada has felt the pinch of a $500 million shortfall but projections now push the Silver State’s budget deficit to around $900 million. That puts state agencies on edge as they wait to hear where the axe will fall.

Systems like the correctional facilities are saying they can’t handle any more cuts without putting safety on the line. The number crunching has been done and the cuts are going to hurt much more than first thought.

“The last several months have shown us a rather disturbing trend and it goes to show you that even the best laid plans can often go awry,” said Governor Jim Gibbons.

Gibbons says many state agencies will likely have to slash their budgets an additional 3-percent. That’s on top of the already announced 4.5-percent statewide cutbacks.

“Our state government cannot then turn to those people who are doing with less and suffering from the escalating cost of everything to reach deeper in their pocket and take more out so we don’t have to make those tough decisions,” said Gibbons.

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If you want to find something quick, you might turn to the Yellow Pages. Those massive books have pages and pages of ads connecting you with what you want. But one controversial business is being told they can’t advertise.

Talking to Bob Fisher, you get a sense he doesn’t like what he sees in the phone book, page upon page of ads for adult entertainment. Don’t be fooled, though. Fisher is no moral crusader, he’s the lawyer for the Chicken Ranch Brothel and he’s been doing it for more than 20 years.

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Harry Reid and President Bush are trying to help save people who are experiencing foreclosure issues. This new plan, Project Lifeline, may work for those of us in Nevada… or it might not. Do you think it will?

During the week of Feb. 11, Channel 8 Eyewitness News is taking a look into the future. No, we didn’t place any calls to Miss Cleo. Rather, several of our reporters interviewed leaders in different areas of the community to get an idea what Las Vegas will look like 25 years in the future. So what do you think Las Vegas will be like in 25 years?

Have you ever seen or met a president of the United States? If so, what was it like? I grew up inside the beltway but it wasn’t until my brief move to New York that I saw one. I was walking down the street and saw a very elegant older woman and thought to myself, “Wow, she looks a lot like Rosalynn Carter….maybe I should look at the man she’s with. Oh wow, that’s Jimmy! Yep, it’s them.” How about you?

Nevada’s budget is bleeding red ink. Late Friday afternoon, Governor Jim Gibbons announced that the deficit is getting bigger.

The budget hole now sits at $440 million. It’s growing because of falling tax revenue.

The governor has said certain areas of state government, including education, will not face cuts. But Friday, Gibbons changed his course. He now says more parts of the state budget will see cuts, including lower education.

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Some say it will be the most historic event governing the use of the Colorado River since 1922. Thursday, the Secretary of the Interior will be in Las Vegas to sign a plan which outlines what will happen to the river’s water if drought conditions worsen.

It been 85 years since the law that governs the river was adopted. In water circles, it is called the “law of the river.” Back then — the west was a far different place.

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It is the deadliest shooting rampage in U.S. history. The tragedy unfolded on the campus of Virginia Tech Monday morning before classes started when two people were killed.

Two hours later, in a different part of campus, the gunman opened fire in a full classroom. He killed at least 32 people and then the shooter took his own life. Dozens more are injured.

Post your condolences and thoughts.

As gas prices reach record highs, Nevada lawmakers may make your next fill up even more expensive. But the plan could help solve the state’s road crisis.

Some lawmakers believe a $.03 gas tax will actually help the $4 billion shortfall.

What’s your say on the gas tax and the escalating prices at the pump?

     The world has once again discovered Las Vegas.  Everyone from the History Channel, to the Public Broadcasting System, to the dozens of books that have been written about the history of our community are full of major mistakes.

    The mistakes get repeated over and over again because many of them start with the “official” history on government websites.

     Today we begin a review of these sites, and will point out those that should be eliminated from the history disinformation food chain.

     With a new Clark County Sheriff, we selected the Las Vegas Metropolitan police Department’s website for our first review.

    What I found was an official history that would flunk a polygraph test.

   Here’s the link to the metro site, http://www.lvmpd.com/about/history.html, before you check it out, please read the information linked here.

Submitted by: Robert Stoldal