In his continuing fight against deep budget cuts proposed by his own state’s Republican governor, the controversial chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education has obtained letters of support from three other Western states’ chief executives — all Democrats. The letters, described in a news article by Sunbelt Digital Media, were sent by Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, and Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana, after discussions with the chancellor, James E. Rogers.

Mr. Rogers, who plans to step down next year, and Gov. James Gibbons have locked horns several times over the budget cuts. Public colleges and universities in numerous states have been dealing with shrinking appropriations, and are bracing for further cuts as state revenues continue to fall in the struggling economy. —Charles Huckabee