Gibbons to give State of State speech as scheduled

CARSON CITY — Gov. Jim Gibbons will deliver his State of the State address to a televised statewide audience as scheduled at 6 p.m. Thursday.

His communications director, Daniel Burns, said today that the speech will be made at his scheduled time as long as President George W. Bush made his televised farewell speech to the nation at 5 p.m. on the same day.

Bush's speech is scheduled to last no more than 15 minutes.

Earlier today, Burns thought the time for Gibbons' speech might be changed because Bush could end up speaking at the same time. The Associated Press, however, reported later today that Bush will make his speech at 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

Gibbons speech Thursday will be followed by a Democratic response delivered by Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas.

At least four Las Vegas television stations will broadcast the governor's speech and Buckley's response.