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Layoff notices began to go out last week to 204 city employees in North Las Vegas, the first of what could be a wave of firings by local government entities hit hard by shrinking revenue and state budget cuts.

The layoffs will hit most city departments, as officials slash positions to save the $33.4 million North Las Vegas needs to make it through the next fiscal year.

The Clark County School District is facing the possibility of cutting 1,077 positions if alternatives aren't found to resolve a $141 million gap.

Clark County and the city of Las Vegas also are considering sizeable layoffs if they can't get bargaining units to accept wage cuts. Said one North Las Vegas employee after he was let go on Wednesday: "It feels like we're on the Titanic waiting for it to go down. It's a feeling of absolute helplessness."

Monday

Reid hits the road

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid launched his re-election campaign from his hometown of Searchlight, cheered on by more than 100 supporters.

Friends, neighbors and longtime Democratic backers gave the 70-year-old Senate majority leader a sentimental send-off as he officially began his bid for a fifth term.

Tuesday

Gibbons: state will sue

Gov. Jim Gibbons intensified his fight against new federal health care regulations by selecting outside counsel to represent Nevada in a lawsuit that seeks to block the law.

By executive order, the governor named an all-volunteer legal team to join 14 other states in a lawsuit against the reforms just signed into law.

Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said the governor lacks the authority to pursue the litigation.

Wednesday

The Ensign effect

Rep. Dean Heller renewed accusations that U.S. Sen. John Ensign is dodging questions surrounding an extramarital affair and could be hurting Republican candidates.

In comments on a Northern Nevada political talk show, Heller, R-Nev., stopped short of calling for the resignation of Ensign, also a Republican.

But Heller did reignite claims that the senator's woes will damage Republicans' chances to reclaim power in both Nevada and Washington, D.C.

Thursday

Facebook threat

A Las Vegas firefighter's Facebook-posted declaration about wanting to shoot Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak prompted Mayor Oscar Goodman to vow "justice" and police to launch an investigation.

Goodman didn't say what penalty the city might mete out against firefighter Joy Sager, who wrote of wanting "to shoot Sisolak in the (groin)" on a Web page that bashes local newspaper coverage of firefighters.

She later apologized to Sisolak.

Sager was responding to Sisolak's recent criticism of firefighters.

Sisolak said he has received other threats.

Friday

Fall from balcony

Police released new information suggesting a woman charged with felony child neglect after two toddlers fell from a third-floor apartment balcony may have been drunk at the time.

Nicole Taylor, 36, told police she drank four 24-ounce cans of beer Wednesday as she watched her 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old granddaughter.

She told detectives she put the children in the bedroom for a nap about 1 p.m. and "must have fallen asleep" herself, the arrest report says.

Both children were hospitalized but were expected to survive their injuries.