Reporters’ Notebook

LAS VEGAS CITY COUNCILWOMAN LOIS TARKANIAN apparently has stepped on the path to enlightenment.

The Soka Gakkai Buddhist Community Center was recognized by the council last week, and Tarkanian gave it her personal endorsement.

"I don't know what happened, but I went there a few times and suddenly felt more peaceful," she said.

ALAN CHOATE

LOIS TARKANIAN ALSO HAD AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE at Thursday's Southern Nevada Water Authority board meeting, when she interrupted a discussion about a weed-removal project to ask what was meant by "exotic plants."

Exotic in this case means non-native and unwanted, an official explained.

"She was confused with exotic dancers," joked fellow board member Steve Kirk. "We don't want to remove those."

HENRY BREAN

OVERHEARD ON THE SCANNER: "I like young chicks, unless you think that's creepy."

WITH BUDGETS IMPLODING and layoffs imminent, how does Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman keep morale up among the city's employees?

"I kiss all the men and women on the elevator, give them a pat on the rear end," he said.

(Note to sexual harassment attorneys: He was joking.)

ALAN CHOATE