Local News

An area man has been found guilty of pistol-whipping his girlfriend in one incident and throwing her off a recliner in another, officials said.

District Attorney Richard Flores reported that Russell Gonzales was convicted recently in a jury trial in District Court. He was convicted of aggravated battery against a household member with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault against a household member with a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence, Flores said.

The head of a state agency has determined that a former Luna Community College employee has enough evidence to show he was a victim of discrimination.

On May 20, Francie Cordova, director of the state Human Rights Division, issued a “probable cause” determination in the case of Hans Kuss, a former Luna student services counselor.

The discrimination was based on race, national origin and retaliation, Cordova states.

Robertson High School’s administration told students that attendance at a religious ceremony was mandatory, a move that may place the school in conflict with both state and federal law.

The ceremony, a baccalaureate, was held May 19 at Immaculate Conception Church in Las Vegas. The Rev. George Salazar gave the greeting, the prayer of invocation and the benediction. The Robertson High School choir and band also performed at the event.

City Councilman Morris Madrid contends that rumors are hurting the morale and credibility of city government.

During his council member’s report at last week’s meeting, Madrid said that some were alleging that he wasn’t operating in good faith because he missed two council meetings during a recent week, but he said he had problems with the notification for the meetings, suggesting that the city may have violated the state Open Meetings Act.