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Today's News

  • EDITORIAL: Why was it burdensome?

    Often, people accuse the media of having an agenda. And in the Optic’s case, they are absolutely right. Our agenda is simple: Promote open government.

    On Jan. 26, Las Vegas resident Leith Johnson submitted a public records request to the city government for “all records pertaining to the collection of the one-fourth of 1 percent gross receipts tax specially to be applied to water.”

    She asked, “How much has been collected since the (tax) law was passed? How much interest has been earned on the money? How has any or all of it been used?”

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  • HU to have book exchange

    February is Library Lovers Month, and Highlands University’s Donnelly Library is offering anyone in Las Vegas a chance to exchange books they’ve read for brand-new reads.

    Associate librarian Ying Griego said anyone in town can participate in the free book exchange and may take as many books as they bring in. A dropoff box is now in place at the information counter until Feb. 23. The book exchange will take place from Feb. 24-28.

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  • Others may have known

    A woman claiming to have been sexually harassed by Robertson High School Principal Richard Lopez said she had been harassed previously by Lopez and that she only reapplied for the job because a Las Vegas City Schools board member said Lopez would not harass her a second time.

    The woman’s attorney, Merit Bennett, said the school board member knew about Lopez’s alleged harassment.

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  • Stocks

    Stocks & Financial Ticker

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  • City officials trade barbs

    City Councilman Andrew Feldman says he still doesn’t have the documents from the case against the now-fired utilities director, George Du Four.

    In pushing to dismiss Du Four last week, Mayor Tony Marquez said the director had violated city ordinance by approving adjustments to customer bills. He provided no other details.

    Feldman and Councilwoman Diane Moore voted against firing Du Four, while council members Morris Madrid and Cruz Roybal supported the dismissal. Marquez broke the tie in favor of firing Du Four.

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  • Official addresses crossing issue

    A public official has stepped forward to assume responsibility for safety measures at the Rio Arriba railroad crossing where Michael Esquibel was killed in January — the second fatality in four months.  

    Ironically, the official taking responsibility is acting outside of his organization’s jurisdiction.

    New Mexico Public Regulation Commission member Jerome Block said that he was working to get safety measures for the site.

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  • Health service offered for students

    The Las Vegas City Schools checks children suffering from asthma as part of its health program.

    The Las Vegas City Schools district has been holding an asthma fair for the past seven years at the Cardinal School-based Health Care Center at Sierra Vista Elementary for children who have been diagnosed with a disease that can be brought under control with the proper treatments.

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  • 5-member council idea pushed

    Las Vegas City Council members Cruz Roybal and Morris Madrid strongly supported the initiative in 2005 to reduce the council from eight members to four.

    Nearly 90 percent of voters passed the measure during a special election that year. Now both Roybal and Madrid said the city may want to consider upping the number to five.

    The idea came up during a discussion last week on the formation of a commission to make significant changes to the nearly 40-year-old charter, which serves as the city’s constitution.

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  • Birds make home at refuge

    The snow may have melted in Las Vegas, but snow geese are still blanketing the Las Vegas Wildlife National Refuge.

    An estimated 4,000 geese (Canada and snow geese) are using the refuge as a winter home.  

    The geese feed in crop fields that are planted by the refuge’s staff for the geese’s benefit.

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  • COLUMN: Governmental salaries

    Salary cuts have been a major topic throughout our nation during this time of financial crisis.

    The discussion is headed by Wall Street executives of bailout companies who raked in a reported $18 billion in bonuses. That incurred the wrath of President Barack Obama, who called it shameful.

    Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill has introduced legislation to hold executive salaries and benefits to no more than the $400,000 salary of the president of the United States. President Obama is suggesting a cap of $500,000.

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Copyright © 2013

The Las Vegas Optic is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in San Miguel County and Las Vegas, NM, and the surrounding area.