Sunny Sun reports Nevada No. 1 in joblessness — 30 days late

A funny thing happened last month when Nevada became No. 1 in the nation for unemployment -- the Las Vegas Sun "newspaper" (also called the Harry Reid Newsletter) never reported it.

I called them out on it in light of the newspaper's blatant pro-Reid stance in both its editorial pages and its news pages. You can read more about how the newspaper shamelessly pulls news punches for Reid on Page One in this L.A. Times blog item ("Double Thank You, Mr. Reid").

Monday the new monthly jobless figures came out and Nevada got worse, moving from 14.1% to 14.2%. Still No. 1 in the nation in that miserable stat.

This time, the Las Vegas Sun did write a story about the jobless numbers. Sorta. It came in a story about how the jobless numbers will be used against Sen. Reid politically.

The Sun said: "Unfortunately for Reid, Republicans will likely have ample opportunity between now and November to use the dreary economic indicator against him."

Awehhhh. That is truly unfortunate for Reid ... and for Sun reporters who apparently are forced under the threat of being jobless themselves to find creative ways of spinning Southern Nevada's economic woe into a positive for Sen. Reid. Maybe next month the unemployment rate will hold steady or maybe even (hope against hope) drop back to 13%. Then the Sun can resurrect the "Double Thank You, Mr. Reid" headline and write a story about how Harry has us moving in the right direction.

But, hey, let's not prejudge that journalistic bridge before we come to it. For now, let me compliment the Las Vegas Sun for reporting Nevada's jobless rate, even it is in an ever-so-round-about-way. Baby steps.