Local News

Jerome Block Jr., the Democratic for the state Public Regulation Commission, on Thursday presented an invoice from a Las Vegas band for a performance that never happened.

The Wyld Country invoice on May 31 was addressed to the Committee to Elect Jerome Block Jr., and it listed a charge of $2,500 for a five-hour performance. The document didn’t indicate which day the event occurred.

San Miguel County Clerk Paul Maez, a Wyld Country band member, said he was surprised when the campaign paid the group in early June. He confirmed the invoice.

Landmark Media Enterprises LLC, parent company of the Las Vegas Optic, announced this week that, because of difficult credit markets, it has largely suspended the process to sell its remaining businesses.

The process was launched in January and led to the sale in September of The Weather Channel Companies and some smaller sales. Landmark announced earlier this month that its agreement to sell WTVF-TV in Nashville was canceled because the buyer lost its financing.

Frank Batten Jr., Landmark’s chairman and CEO, cited the economy as the main reason for the decision.

Las Vegas City Schools board member Ramon “Swoops” Montao told his colleagues last week that discussions about his residency is a “ridiculous” waste of time.

During a regular board meeting, Montao said he would not step down from his post and intends to serve out the two years on his third term, which ends in 2011.

Even before Michelle Obama campaigned for her husband in Las Vegas on Tuesday, a mock election among elementary and middle school students racked up a big win for the Democratic candidate.

Gloria Ortega-Romero, who is organizing the elections, said every presidential election she, along with the secretary of state’s office, are involved in includes educating kids on the election process in the United States. County Clerk Paul Maez delivers the voting machines to the schools.