JOHN L. SMITH e-mail: smith@reviewjournal.com

John writes four times a week on topics from human interest stories to political issues. He also writes Las Vegas Boulevard, a special column which appears in the Friday edition of the newspaper.

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Columns - 2007

Jul 24: NBA scandal prompts the usual media hand-wringing about Las Vegas
Jul 22: Will 30 months in prison improve Erin Kenny's memory?
Jul 20: Hollywood producer Russo raising funds for medical expenses
Jul 18: Davidson verdict shows jury doubted Kenny's truthfulness as a witness
Jul 17: Mobster-turned-witness Cullotta getting the chance to have the last word
Jul 15: Knife-attack victim faces hopeful future while courts hold her back
Jul 13: A cooperative 'Pacman' Jones could serve justice, save an NFL career
Jul 11: Nasty duel between DA, defense attorneys might bring Mack trial here
Jul 10: Despite competition, Kenny is likely the most hated former commissioner
Jul 08: Sorry Kenny seems to be sorry that she has to testify that she's sorry
Jul 06: Las Vegas has no need for more people who lack personal integrity
Jul 04: Media watchdogs can help ensure our independence and trust
Jul 03: Crazy thing about Crazy Horse Too is that it was once a G-string gold mine
Jul 01: Kenny may be disgraced, but she can still make a fine living doing nothing
Jun 29: It's good to know Kenny's getting by, despite drying up of bribe income
Jun 27: Augustine's daughter waits for justice, no matter how long it takes
Jun 26: Overdue move to lower flags as gesture for war dead the right choice
Jun 24: 'Bugsy' Siegel deserves Las Vegans' thanks that he got what he deserved
Jun 22: Politicians, the Buffalo, Child Haven youngsters all score big
Jun 20: Poll numbers show Gibbons climbing out of credibility hole
Jun 17: Decade later, callousness of what killer did to 7-year-old hasn't faded
Jun 15: Study increases scrutiny of Child Havens role in social service system
Jun 12: Report on Clark County child welfare system innovative but unworkable
Jun 12: A casino parking garage is the only stage this gifted singer needs
Jun 10: Casino customer's threat 'to blow this place down' sounds serious
Jun 08: Las Vegas Monorail delivers riders to Make-A-Wish's Destination Joy
Jun 06: Perhaps we will have Boggs to thank for end of slippery traditions
Jun 05: After keeping his promise, governor can declare a victory for his Nevada
Jun 03: Time and federal patience has run out for Crazy Horse Too owner
Jun 01: Team Clinton continues to add Nevada notables to lineup
May 30: As justice center rumbles, the case for appointing judges grows by the day
May 27: Grieving daughter confronts speculation, sensation of Augustine case
May 25: Drug use a dark chapter of Elvis' life, even on pages penned by old friend
May 23: Successful lawyer Gage faces heavy-duty fraud case against him
May 22: All these courthouse favors must stop ... at least until I get mine
May 20: Banning every incompetent judge just might empty courthouse
May 16: Baseball gives you time to enjoy the day and visit with your neighbors
May 15: Wynn shoots himself in the foot with bid to redistribute dealers' tips
May 13: The Halverson-Hardcastle harangue cries out for a change of venue
May 11: Downtown workers may be safe, but will Paris burn in 'hot' jail?
May 09: Neonopolis by any other name still has smell of disaster
May 08: For a concerned citizen and police chief, Perkins goes to a lot of trouble
May 06: Huge advertising budget shows struggling UMC's priorities out of whack
May 04: Girl with sickle cell anemia to be model of inspiration at Fashion Show
May 02: Malone comes to defense of friend claiming vindictive prosecution
May 01: Bookmaking bust might bring big bucks to boys in blue
Apr 29: California sheriff's massage explanation has nice touch, as alibis go
Apr 27: For Reid's straight talk about Iraq, Democrats rally behind their leader
Apr 25: Nevada Cancer Institute gives state the kind of credibility money can't buy
Apr 24: It's gut check time for strip club worker seeking key employee status
Apr 22: Chicago conspiracy trial makes Las Vegas' bad old days seem like yesterday
Apr 20: Fired U. S. attorney pops quiz on Gonzales in wake of snap judgements
Apr 18: Re-election of Atkinson Gates illustrates key principles of relativity
Apr 17: Politicians suddenly recall how strongly they feel about genocide in Darfur
Apr 15: Long-overdue salute for the Tuskegee Airmen followed by a slap
Apr 13: Gambler banking on late friend's pledge to walk beloved dog in hereafter
Apr 11: If nothing else, volunteer firefighter earned respect for lifetime of service
Apr 10: Upcoming book should shed new light on old gangland tales
Apr 08: Volunteer firefighter says state insurance coverage needs to come of age
Apr 04: Explanations about Dawn Gibbons' side deal less than satisfactory
Apr 01: Governor's chief of staff has joined us so we won't feel alone in dark
Mar 30: Late LV police officer Pigford exemplified what it means to be a cop
Mar 28: Approaching 90, sister continues slefless service in the other Las Vegas
Mar 27: The state GOP chief and a brothel owner make perfect bedfellows
Mar 25: Acting head of state GOP defends friendship with indicted brothel owner
Mar 23: Decades separate brothers from Rebel days, but thrill is far from gone
Mar 21: Political juice flows at multimillion-dollar airport concession hearing
Mar 20: Odds look good on U.S. attorney general joining unemployment line
Mar 18: Las Vegas lets regular guy keep dream alive while dealing blackjack
Mar 16: Mortgage investment scandals may be too big a monster for lending division
Mar 11: Thanks to Joe Pistone, mobsters have left lots of business unfinished
Mar 09: Young cancer victim's family joining St. Baldrick's parade to fight disease
Mar 07: To the late Hal Rothman, for the fullest of lives, lived for the right reasons
Mar 06: Starbucks chief's soul-searching a cause for universal head scratching
Mar 04: Patriot Act lets politics trump professionalism with U.S. attorney's firing
Mar 02: Legislature could prescribe bitter pill as cure for UMC's problems
Feb 28: Let's hope U.S. attorney toasts few more indictments for road
Feb 27: Longtime dancers find retirement dream vanished in business scandal
Feb 25: Democrats' hopes of carrying West depend on winning over skeptics
Feb 23: Democratic forum produces a nod to Dodd, curiosity about Kucinich
Feb 21: Presidential contender deserves better look than he's getting
Feb 20: Stern's rebuke of Thomas & Mack shouldn't be taken at face value
Feb 18: Full disclosure is best course not only for Gibbons, but for state
Feb 16: With Malone heading to prison, will the rat be rearing its head?
Feb 14: Crazy Horse Too thug D'Apice apologizes to everyone but his victim
Feb 13: Bill another long shot aimed at eliminating bureaucratic overlap
Feb 11: Late big-league pitcher found better zone through love of kids on his bus
Feb 09: Late Ed Becker shared vast knowledge of mob, Las Vegas history
Feb 07: At 40, state's largest law firm thrives thanks to its understated founder
Feb 06: Questions surround Goodyear's decision to press case in fatal crash
Feb 04: Need for more statewide funding for child welfare caseworkers is obvious
Feb 02: Desert girl who blew in like a sandstorm had it all and knew it
Jan 31: Small-town feel makes Ely home, sweet home
Jan 30: Nothing illustrates the value of water like the Ely Ice Fishing Derby
Jan 28: Angel's nearing the end of the game, but he's beaten the odds before
Jan 26: Selection of Atkinson Gates successor losing all semblance of simplicity
Jan 24: The late blond bombshell Liz Renay wrote the book on second acts
Jan 23: Distant road in today's Las Vegas stretches from Strip pioneer's legacy
Jan 21: Style must give way to substance in Gibbons' first State of the State speech
Jan 19: Las Vegas-style auditing able to see through Chicago-style accounting
Jan 17: UMC's red ink shouldn't surprise anyone; incompetence, lies should
Jan 16: St. Jude's Ranch for Children getting much-needed makeover
Jan 14: Disgraced appraiser aims to take others down as he raises himself up
Jan 12: Internet bookmaker dumps U.S. market before FBI heat gets too intense
Jan 10: Gibbons vs. Guinn spat aside, one of the appointees really is better
Jan 09: Watch for the massacre when dream of ethics reforms hits Legislature
Jan 07: IRS agent 'Laughing' Larry put crooks in prison, kept others in stitches
Jan 05: Mabey takes heat for attending his patients instead of inauguration
Jan 03: Bookstore owner would go all in if somebody deals him the perfect hand
Jan 02: Governor might take some cues from plain old Kenny