A federal appeals court has ruled that Nevada has the right to ban certain advertisements of legal brothels, saying it doesn't violate the First Amendment of free speech. The decision overturns the ruling of a federal district judge, who held the state did not have the right to impose the restrictions on advertisements after a suit challenging those limits was brought by Las Vegas CityLife, the High Desert Advocate and brothel operator Bobbi Davis. "Nevada has tailored its restrictions on advertising to attain a reasonable fit between ends and means," the opinion reads. CityLife editor Steve Sebelius says he was surprised and disappointed by the ruling. "Given the fact that it is a commodity, I think it's inappropriate for the state to restrict First Amendment-protected advertising about that commodity," he says. READ MORE from Sebelius on his CityLife blog.

Continue ReadingFederal Court: Nevada Can Ban Brothel Ads

Steve Sebelius will soon have an additional hat to wear. On top of his job as CityLife's editor, he is joining the local TV station Channel 8 as part of its investigative team; he will also appear on-air twice a week to discuss politics, and cover and analyze the 2010 elections. Sebelius says his TV commentary will not be ideological, but it will be contextual. "I'm not going to deny I have an ideological point of view, it would be foolish and intellectually dishonest," Sebelius says. "But when you are a professional journalist, you have the obligation to be fair. My role is not to argue with these newsmakers, but report what they do and put it into context for people."

Continue ReadingLas Vegas CityLife Editor Picks Up a TV Gig