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In a special session that lasted less than nine hours Monday, lawmakers approved a series of budget Band-Aids to cover the $340 million hole in the state's finances.

The Assembly and state Senate speedily ratified bills to cut $73 million from state programs; transfer $77 million that was in other state accounts; change the way mining, sales and rental car taxes are collected; and take out a $160 million line of credit on a pool of local government money.

But lawmakers warned that more serious budget modifications lie ahead when the next regular session starts in February.

Gov. Jim Gibbons gave a hint of what's to come on Tuesday, when he announced that his budget next year will not include any raises for public school teachers and state employees.

MONDAY

'MAD DOG' SITS DOWN

Future Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux announced his retirement at baseball's winter meetings in Las Vegas.

The Valley High School graduate and loyal Las Vegan finished his Major League Baseball career with 355 wins.

Maddux, who never liked to talk about himself much anyway, exited with trademark humility. "I don't really know a whole lot about anything, but I feel like I know a few things about baseball," he said. "I'm going to miss it, and hopefully I won't miss it too much."

TUESDAY

CO-DEFENDANTS FREED

As O.J. Simpson settled into his new life as a Nevada prison inmate, four men who helped him with last year's hotel room holdup walked out of court free men.

Michael McClinton, Walter Alexander, Charles Cashmore and Charles Ehrlich, who each pleaded guilty to reduced charges and testified for the prosecution, received suspended prison sentences and probation for their roles in the Sept. 13, 2007, armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers at Palace Station.

WEDNESDAY

RECORD GAMING DROP

Nevada gaming officials announced that October saw the largest ever monthly drop in gaming revenue.

The record 22.3 percent decline pushed gaming revenue to its lowest one-month total since April 2005. It also marked the 10th straight drop in monthly gaming revenue.

THURSDAY

NEXT STOP LAYOFFS?

Clark County School Board members voted to accept economic assumptions that would require $120 million in budget cuts for the 2009-10 school year.

If the school district proceeds with the recommended cuts, as many as 1,000 jobs would be eliminated, including administrators, teachers and support staff.

Funding conditions could change, though, depending on action taken by the Legislature in early 2009. The district's final budget won't be approved until May.

FRIDAY

LETTER HOAX ARRIVES

A nationwide hoax landed in Nevada when suspicious letters containing white powder were found at Gov. Jim Gibbons' Las Vegas office and at the mailroom of the Capitol in Carson City.

The letters, which prompted lockdowns and evacuations, were linked to a national investigation into packages received by more than 30 governors.

All were sent from the same Texas city and found to be harmless.