Category: News

County commission reverses course, bans fireworks

County commission reverses course, bans fireworks

From the Las Vegas Optic The San Miguel County Board of Commissioners voted to ban certain types of fireworks at a special meeting Monday, reversing a decision made by the commission earlier this month. Citing concerns about fire danger and prolonged drought conditions, the commission voted unanimously to restrict the sale and use of “missile-type…

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Man accused of taking woman at gunpoint arrested

Man accused of taking woman at gunpoint arrested

From the Las Vegas Optic A Las Vegas man who police say kidnapped a woman at gunpoint in April has been arrested. The woman was found unharmed. Forty-year-old Eric L. Vigil, who is also known as “Eric Builder” and “Scare Bear,” was arrested June 7 in rural San Miguel County following a months-long search. Police…

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Lawsuit alleges prosecutor was fired after raising concerns about judge

Lawsuit alleges prosecutor was fired after raising concerns about judge

From the Las Vegas Optic A whistleblower lawsuit filed Wednesday accuses former San Miguel County District Attorney Richard Flores and current District Attorney Tom Clayton of terminating a prosecutor for raising concerns about a judge presiding over a case. The suit centers on two 2019 criminal cases heard in Fourth Judicial District Court by then-state…

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Former LCC employee fired for pot use sues for wrongful termination

Former LCC employee fired for pot use sues for wrongful termination

From the Las Vegas Optic Luna Community College is facing a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a former employee who alleges Luna violated his state constitutional rights by firing him for using medical cannabis. At the center of the lawsuit is an employee’s right to use medical cannabis, and whether an employer can terminate someone…

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Here to stay?: Measures implemented during pandemic could become commonplace in court system

Here to stay?: Measures implemented during pandemic could become commonplace in court system

From the Las Vegas Optic As cases of the coronavirus began spreading across the country in early 2020, San Miguel County officials were busy making preparations, anticipating that the virus would spread to New Mexico, and to the county. New Mexico reported its first case March 11, 2020. Eight days later, San Miguel County reported…

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