Reporters’ Notebook

MEXICAN NATIONALS WHO RECENTLY WERE ARRESTED for holding illegal immigrants hostage until they could pay their inflated smuggling fee made threatening phone calls to the captives' relatives.

The tactic didn't always have the desired effect.

According to the criminal complaint, hostage-taker Angel Rigoberto Uribe-Ibarra dialed the wife of one immigrant and informed her that her husband would be killed if she didn't come up with the money. As the complaint explained, "The wife told Uribe-Ibarra to go ahead and kill her husband."

ADRIENNE PACKER

FORMER LAS VEGAS PLANNING COMMISSIONER David Steinman was honored for his service Thursday, and he had something interesting to say about the difference between the planning commission and the Las Vegas City Council.

Steinman served as an interim councilman until June. On the planning commission, he said, he knew the gritty details of the projects he voted on, but he found himself relying on the commission's work when he was on the council.

As a councilman, he said, "you don't know much about what's going on."

ALAN CHOATE

WHEN STREET PERFORMER SUZE BANASIK WENT TO JAIL in March, other inmates wanted to know what she had done to land in the slammer.

To their inquiries she sheepishly replied, "I was playing guitar."

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada filed a federal lawsuit last week on behalf of Banasik and another performer, who claim Las Vegas police have been harassing them on the Strip and violating their First Amendment rights.

Both performers accept tips but don't solicit them.

When asked how she makes a living, the 45-year-old Las Vegas woman said, "My parents support my dream of being a broke musician."

In other words, she lives with them.

CARRI GEER THEVENOT

CHARLES ANDERSON, DIRECTOR OF FOOD SERVICES for the Clark County School District, has trouble sleeping because of work-related stress. He likes to keep a note pad by his bed so he can jot down ideas when inspiration strikes.

"I wake up in the middle of the night with ideas on how to save money. The staff loves it when I bring my notes in," Anderson said. "It was written in the dark. My handwriting is not good to be begin with."

JAMES HAUG

IN A UNANIMOUS VOTE ON TUESDAY, the Henderson City Council accepted the results of the June 16 recount that upheld Mayor Andy Hafen's slim victory over Steve Kirk.

First, though, Kirk put on a show of mock bitterness. As City Clerk Monica Simmons gave a synopsis of the recount, Kirk interrupted by saying, "Yeah, yeah, we know the results. Let's move on."

Once the laughter died down, the council voted to accept the recount results, prompting Hafen to note, as the mayor usually does, that "the motion passes."

"Dang," Kirk said.

HENRY BREAN