Reporters’ Notebook

SO, LAS VEGAS MAYOR OSCAR GOODMAN ISN'T RUNNING for governor. Since he's a betting man, who would he put money on now that he won't be in the race?

That question was put to him during a news conference announcing his decision.

"If I had my druthers?" Goodman said. "Peyton Manning."

ALAN CHOATE

AT LEAST ONE TUMMY MUST HAVE BEEN GRUMBLING at Monday's meeting of the Metropolitan Police Department's Fiscal Affairs Committee.

"Are there any further additions or deletions from today's menu? Er, menu. Agenda?" panel chairman Jim Hammer said, prompting chuckles throughout the room.

"I'm hungry," he said, throwing his arms out. "I haven't had breakfast yet."

Donuts anyone?

BRIAN HAYNES

A SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSION ON UPDATING THE SCHOOL DRESS CODE burned up 83 minutes of meeting time Thursday. There were worries about teens wearing fashionably torn jeans to school. But there also was concern that parents would not return school surveys about a more restrictive dress policy.

School Board member Deanna Wright said not even circus tricks would prompt families to participate in the survey.

School officials "could ride unicycles ... and they still were not going get that (response)," Wright said.

JAMES HAUG

CARL JOHNSON, THE PRINCIPAL OF GRAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, does not want families to fear telephone calls from school so he has told teachers that their first call to a student's home should not be negative. In fact, he has told staff that they should make at least three positive calls before making a negative phone call.

The principal's phone policy was not so reassuring to parent Sondra Gomez.

"You've made the three phone calls. Now I'm nervous for the fourth one," Gomez said at a School District committee meeting.

JAMES HAUG