​By: Rana Goodman/Political Editor
 
In the last state legislative session, a bill to legalize “Death with Dignity” - a physician assisted procedure of taking one’s own life when terminally ill, never came to the floor for discussion. 

Under several different names, this type of bill has seen much controversy. It has however, now become legal in California (but subject to court challenges), in Oregon and is slowly gaining acceptance across the country.
 
How many of you have had to care for a loved one with a terminal illness? Or perhaps watch them waste away knowing there was nothing you or the medical community could do to help them.

​My father had cancer in his bone marrow and the only thing that kept him going was the steroid Prednisone. His doctor kept trying to wean him off of it, but he would become very weak and lose so much weight, they put him back on.
 
As time went on, each day he would beg me to help him out of his pain and suffering. He would grab my hand and say, “if you loved me, you would help me.” 

Vegas Voice President Ray Sarbacker being sworn in as “Flotilla Staff Officer/Public Affairs”by the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary attended by his, and The Vegas Voice family on March 28th.
 
Congratulations Ray!

Attention!
 The Vegas Voice proudly salutes new Flotilla Staff Officer Ray Sarbacker. Saluting the new officer is (L.to R.) Vegas Voice Golf columnist Mike Landry, Publisher Dan Roberts & Project Manager Bill Caserta

By Angel De Fazio, BSAT (Consumer advocate/watchdog)

On March 7th, the following was read into the record at the Governor's Committee on Energy Choice.

After spending 33 hours and 12 minutes over ten days, monitoring the PUC’s recent investigatory workshops about the energy choice constitutional amendment, a parsing of the language used, leads to one take-away point: the vague language induced Nevada voters to believe they would have both lower rates and energy choice.

The Vegas Voice presented its guardianship seminar at Las Vegas Councilwoman Michele Fiore’s “Ice Cream Social” on February 26th. The event was sponsored by Councilwoman Fiore and the Las Vegas Police Protective Association.
 
Seated with the councilwoman (centered) is Vegas Voice political editor Rana Goodman, Publisher Dan Roberts and Project Manager Bill Caserta.

By: Judy Polumbaum/The View
 
If you grew up in Las Vegas and stayed, or left and later returned, no doubt you quickly can come up with a list of attributes that fuel your fondness for this city, and just as quickly can make another list of what bugs you about the place. You may be disgruntled, or pleased, or both, about how your hometown has changed.
 
If you came here as a mature adult and stayed, you presumably like this city, but you may have forgotten why. Characteristics that strike the visitor as marvelous tend to fade once you’ve settled in – not the obvious tourist attractions, but subtle properties like the quality of the light, the expanse of the sky, the rust-rippled mountains standing at attention, the desert’s vast spectrum of amber, indigo and tawny hues. Nevertheless, you also have your lists of pros and cons.
 

By: Rana Goodman/ Political Editor
 
With the new year, we will be turning several new pages in where we see our senior advocacy going. These changes hopefully will allow seniors in need of a safer, happier place if, they need assistance of any kind.
 
I started to tell you about our Elder Hub concept in another column, let me tell you more now. With the help of some of our volunteers, we will soon begin collecting information to begin listings for our “4 Rs” - “Resources, Review, Referrals & References.”  
 
In the past, we have been contacted on a regular basis for referrals to care facilities, attorneys, assisted living communities, group homes and such. Our idea and plan is to have a team of our volunteers check out all senior facilities - including cleanliness, care, costs and treatment of residents, etc. and make up a referral directory.

By: Dan Roberts/Publisher
 
It’s been a very rewarding year.
 
Now I don’t mean financially; be assured that no one will ever confuse The Vegas Voice with any Fortune 500 Company. My partner Ray and I proudly continue our business practice of being the “best there is” in not making any money.
 
No, I mean a rewarding year in wanting to wake up every morning and “seize the day.” And looking back, its amazing what we accomplished in 2017.

Derek Uehara with political editor Rana Goddman and publisher Dan Roberts at the Republican's Men's Club Luncheon on November 7th. The Vegas Voice has endorsed Derek's candidacy for Nevada State Treasurer. His press release is below. 

For more information on Derek, visit: derekfornevada.com

​By: Richard Black/Guardianship Concerns

Much of the recent drama in Washington, D.C. leaves me shaking my head in disbelief. Politicians from the President on down seem to be primarily concerned with self-promotion and partisan backbiting. Is anyone truly committed to protect and aid the average citizen - especially our vulnerable and elderly?  

Recently we got some relief. 

On October 19, 2017 President Trump signed the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act into law. Portions of this bill has been proffered in federal legislation since 1986 when the Associated Press did its ground-breaking 2,200 case expose on the rampant abuses found nationwide in adult guardianships.  

More than 20 bills have been proposed since then to insure federal protections for adults under guardianship. All were killed due to the successful lobbying efforts by the various state bar and the American Bar Association lobbyists, and state and national guardianship associations.