Week in Review: Reporters’ Notebook

North Las Vegas Mayor Shari Buck apologized for forgetting to call on Las Vegas Councilman Stavros Anthony when it was his turn to speak at a joint meeting of officials from the two cities held Wednesday.

"Stavros, thanks for not saying you were gonna have me whacked," Buck said.

That inspired former mob lawyer-turned-Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman to remind Buck that "there's only one person on this council who could" have her whacked. And it isn't Anthony.

LYNNETTE CURTIS

Several observers wondered aloud what might happen when a dozen egos, er, City Council members got together at the North Las Vegas Library to discuss consolidating some city services. As it turned out, they all kept their comments relatively brief.

Even North Las Vegas Mayor Shari Buck was surprised.

"I think it's pretty remarkable to have 12 politicians in the room and to have such short dialogue," she said.

LYNNETTE CURTIS

Looming budget cuts at UNLV attracted the attention of nationally syndicated talk show host Rush Limbaugh last week.

Limbaugh picked up on media reports of UNLV President Neal Smatresk saying the school might declare a form of bankruptcy and Provost Michael Bowers nearly breaking down while discussing the cuts.

Rush had no sympathy for Smatresk and Bowers.

"Fantasyland has come to a screeching halt. You just got transferred to Literalville, same place I live," he said.

To be fair, though, Limbaugh probably lives in one of Literalville's nicer neighborhoods.

According to Forbes magazine, he earned $54 million in 2009.

That's roughly $6.5 million more than what UNLV may be forced to slash from its budget over the next two years.

HENRY BREAN

TWEET OF THE WEEK: @SenEnsign (U.S. Sen. John Ensign) Sadness in the Ensign household. Tater our Guinea pig has gone to Guinea pig heaven. Dog, 2 cats, 2 birds left.