Reporters’ Notebook

WHILE A GROUP OF PHOTOGRAPHERS WAITED AT THE REAR ENTRANCE TO THE BOULDER DAM HOTEL for the arrival of presidential candidate Bill Richardson on Tuesday, one of Richardson's handlers asked the photojournalists to disperse.

The photographers protested and asked why they were being asked to move.

Upon his arrival, the campaign rep explained, the Democrat would go directly to the restroom. The campaign didn't want any pictures circulating of the New Mexico governor entering or exiting the loo.

A speaker entertaining the crowd during the wait said off-handedly: "I wish he was here right now."

"He is here!" someone responded.

The crowd cheered loudly as Richardson entered the room, forcing him to skip his bathroom break.

Richardson went on to speak for about 10 minutes and take questions for 35 more minutes, shifting his weight from one foot to the other the entire time.

K.M. CANNON

A REVIEW-JOURNAL REPORTER RECENTLY DISCOVERED ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY. When you call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a voice tells callers wishing to continue in English to press 1. A voice in Spanish then says something.

After a caller presses 1, the next prompt states: "If you are using a rotary dial phone ..."

FRANCIS McCABE

WAS IT POSSIBLE DICK CHENEY JUST COULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF LAS VEGAS? A tipster Friday afternoon said Air Force Two had been seen landing at McCarran International Airport about 3 p.m.

Well-connected Republican sources, who had feted Cheney in Summerlin just a week before, were mystified by the claim.

Air Force Two isn't an aircraft but a designation given to whatever plane the vice president is on, like a call sign. The plane that alighted at McCarran was a government plane identical to the one that brought Cheney to Vegas -- it could even have been the same plane -- but was not carrying Cheney, and thus was not Air Force Two.

It was carrying Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and a bevy of U.S. and European Union lawmakers the congresswoman was bringing to town for the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue, an airport spokesman said.

No wonder Republican sources didn't know anything about it.

MOLLY BALL

THE COURTHOUSE ELEVATORS, A FREQUENT TOPIC OF COMPLAINT AT THE REGIONAL JUSTICE CENTER, began audibly announcing floor levels last month.

For those who don't know, it's not unusual for the morning line for one of the six elevators to stretch across half the length of the ground floor. Professionals can be heard screaming at cutters and dryly chastising those who cram into already packed elevators to go to the second or third floors, which are served by escalators.

In a packed elevator Tuesday, an unaccustomed rider made an irritated remark about the elevator stopping on each floor on its way to the ground level.

"But at least it's talking to us now," said Thomas Pitaro, a Las Vegas defense attorney and frequent elevator rider. "I'm waiting for it to say: 'We are broken.'"

K.C. HOWARD

ONE PARISHIONER DIDN'T GET ENOUGH OF THE LICENSED STRIPPER who busted through the doors of Guardian Angel cathedral during Sunday Mass two weeks ago wearing only a T-shirt.

The Boulder City man sent a letter to a reporter containing an invitation for the woman to make a repeat appearance at the church, a photograph of the letter-writer and his phone number.

"I would love for you to be my guest at Mass this Sunday at 11 a.m. Please call me and tell me you'll be my friend. ... Your best friend you have today -- was at one time a stranger. ..."

The church member made no mention of recommended attire for the occasion.

BETH WALTON

LAS VEGAS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS REALLY LIKED a report about the ongoing drought and water resources they received Wednesday, even though it scared their pants off.

They took turns praising Pat Mulroy, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, after she reviewed the now-familiar litany of water woes -- the drought, lower levels in lakes Mead and Powell, the need to pipe in groundwater from Northern Nevada so that we're not so reliant on Colorado River water, how conservation efforts are working but will never be enough.

"That was a great report, and I'm very upset now," Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said. "I won't be able to sleep as well as I did last night."

ALAN CHOATE

U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE JAMES MAHAN TOOK HIS SAFETY INTO HIS OWN HANDS after a disgruntled defendant threatened to kill him a few years ago. Although Mahan carried a concealed weapon off and on before the incident, the Las Vegas judge said he has carried one "steadily" ever since.

Last week, Mahan pulled back his jacket to show a reporter the semi-automatic handgun he was wearing on his hip. "I'm not John Wayne or anything like that," he told the reporter, who had asked to see the firearm.

CARRI GEER THEVENOT