EDITORIAL: Keeping sage grouse off endangered species list saves West

Washington seldom passes up a chance to bring the heavy hand of federal power crashing down on state and local authority. That's precisely why Nevada leaders and those in other Western states have worked so hard for so long to preserve the greater sage grouse, a ground-dwelling bird that environmentalists want protected under the Endangered Species Act. If the bird is ever listed as threatened or endangered, it will severely limit land use throughout the region and greatly harm the ranching and energy industries.