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Local News

  • Agency: District corrects problem

    West Las Vegas has corrected problems with its last area of deficiency in the Head Start program, according to the federal government.

    Patricia Brown, acting director of the federal Office of Head Start, notified the school district in December that it now is complying with regulations related to nutrition services.

    “(Director) Joseph Griego has brought us in full compliance. I’m very happy with the work he and the staff have been doing. We’re in great shape,” West Superintendent Jim Abreu said.

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  • Youth panel questions police plan

    Members of a youth panel on Monday expressed concerns with an effort to put officers in the schools, despite the police chief’s arguments in favor of campus security.

    The Las Vegas Youth Commission, a city entity, took up the issue at its monthly meeting, with more than 30 people in the audience at the city’s recreation center.

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  • Sex crimes suspect gets 9th DWI

    A man accused of sexual crimes was arrested last month for the ninth time on a charge of drunken driving.

    Jose Leroy Valdez, 50, of Las Vegas was charged with DWI; resisting, evading and obstructing officers; failing to give immediate notice of an accident; and careless driving.

    According to state police, officers responded to a crash with injuries on Seventh Street and Dora Celeste Drive.

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  • Students take part in cultural event

    Students from the United World College put on a show that was part song, dance, comedy and political statement as they presented “This is Africa” during African National Day 2008.

    The large audience enjoyed the always-popular dance titled “Gumboots,” where dancers dressed in coveralls rhythmically slap knee-high rubber boots. The skit “AIDS Monologues” called attention to the plight of HIV in Africa and Angolan dancers performed a lively number.

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  • Officials: Make Las Vegas more inviting

    A few years ago, a magazine writer wanted to interview Elmer Martinez, the city’s community development director, by phone. She had already visited Las Vegas.

    The trouble: She hadn’t gone beyond Grand Avenue.

    As such, Martinez said he wouldn’t have the interview with the writer until she came by Las Vegas and toured its historic downtown areas. She took him up on the offer and realized that her story wouldn’t have been complete without Martinez’s advice.

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  • Officers plan criticized

    Las Vegas Police Chief Gary Gold said some people are opposing the city’s efforts to lobby state lawmakers for money to pay for officers to work in both local school districts.

    He said he would try to address concerns at the monthly meeting of the city’s Youth Commission at 6 p.m. today at the recreation center. Joann Marquez of the city’s community development department said some of the youth members had questions about the proposal.

    “They want to know how it’s going to affect them,” she said.

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  • New Mexico's Democratic caucuses are set for Tuesday

    New Mexico Democrats will vote in presidential caucuses Tuesday, one of 22 states voting that day.

    This is a chance for Democrats to decide on the two remaining candidates — Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Even dropped-out candidates’ names will still be on the ballot such as Gov. Bill Richardson and Sens. Chris Dodd and Joe Biden

    All other Republican and Democratic races will be decided in the June 3 primaries. The caucus is being organized and paid for by the New Mexico Democratic Party, with the state government having no role.

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  • Residents eye Grand Avenue alternatives

    Residents discussed options for improvements to Grand Avenue from University Avenue to Seventh Street on Thursday.

    The state Department of Transportation presented a number of options for the project. Officials said the project already has $2.75 million, but more money is needed to complete it.

    The goal of the project is to slow down traffic on Grand Avenue, so visitors realize that Las Vegas consists of three historic downtown areas.

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  • Councilman's service celebrated

    Mayor Henry Sanchez said City Councilman Macario Gonzalez didn’t want a big to-do for his departure after more than two decades on the council.

    He got one anyway.

    As part of the council’s meeting Wednesday, Sanchez and others at City Hall organized an event honoring the Ward 1 councilman, who started with the city 21 years ago. The event had been in the planning stages for a year.

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  • HU, Luna showcase programs

    College Night 2008 moved to the city’s recreation center this year to accommodate the hundreds of students coming to Las Vegas from all over the state. Buses and cars from Alamo, Las Cruces, Silver City and Las Vegas crowded the large parking area surrounding the center.

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