Attorney general defends Krolicki case but admits it’s dead

From Krolicki's case to Tiger's jam, it's a good day to watch your step on the Boulevard:

KROLICKI'S CASE: Or is it Masto's mess? You make the call in the wake of this week's dismissal of felony charges against Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, who was indicted by Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto's office and accused of abusing his fiduciary duty while serving as state treasurer and promoting the Nevada College Savings Plan.

Masto held a news conference Thursday, then dropped by the Review-Journal for a lively editorial board meeting. She punched holes in the notion Krolicki was a victim of politics or happenstance, but she also was compelled to admit her office wouldn't appeal District Judge Valerie Adair's decision to dismiss charges on the grounds the indictment was vague.

From a perception perspective, husband Paul Masto's recent decision to hold a fundraiser for lieutenant governor hopeful Robert Randazzo was a killer for the AG.

TIGER'S JAM: While we're on the subject of Tiger Woods -- isn't everyone? -- I have been hearing from locals who have paid big bucks to contribute to the golfer's annual foundation fundraiser. Suffice to say they won't be paying another nickel to support Woods' charity arm.

More than one resident I've spoken with is tired of contributing to a foundation that doesn't focus its charitable efforts in Southern Nevada and rarely acknowledges that the bankroll for its good deeds is largely generated in Las Vegas.

According to the foundation's Web site, the 2008 Tiger Jam was a ringing success: "The eleventh annual fundraising event helped raise more than $1.5 million for the Tiger Woods Foundation and other Las Vegas based charities."

The site noted that 75 organizations received contributions from the foundation in 2008 and that since its inception in 1996, it had helped 10 million children. None of the organizations listed appeared to be based in Southern Nevada.

Maybe Woods has been too busy hustling hostesses and porn stars to notice the local need. Perhaps the next time he comes to town he'll allow us to enlighten him.

But while I'm on the subject, the next time Woods comes to Las Vegas on a gambling foray or a hunt for starlets, someone should remind him that it's impolite to use a limousine driver for several hours and then tip him only $10. That's the dollar amount one driver received, according to a reliable casino source.

BERNS OUT: For four years Dave Berns has brought listeners a constant variety of topics and characters as host of the popular "KNPR's State of Nevada" program. Citing creative differences, the former Review-Journal reporter left the show at midday Thursday.

ON THE BOULEVARD: I hear there's more trouble brewing between the warring factions inside Aspen Financial Services. If such is possible, I think it might soon get uglier. Aspen had 4,000 investors and about $480 million in hard-money loans when the real estate market tanked. Since then, owner Jeff Guinn, son of former Gov. Kenny Guinn, has been accused in litigation of everything from paying off favored customers to cooking up a deal with Metro officers to dig out potentially damaging background information on a rival.

BOULEVARD II: You may remember Steve Davidovici as one of the men behind the hugely popular Pure nightclub inside Caesars Palace. Although he's kept a low profile since the IRS began looking into business activity at Pure, Davidovici has been busy building momentum in recent months for the Sugar Factory sweet shops, which among other things sell "coutour lollipops" to celebrities and folks who want to look like them.

BOULEVARD III: Leave it to the good ladies of the Los Prados Women's Club to contribute $500 to Candlelighters for Childhood Cancer of Southern Nevada in daughter Amelia's name.

Royalties from our book "Amelia's Long Journey" benefit Candlelighters, Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, Make-A-Wish and the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.