WEEK IN REVIEW: Top news

The 77th session of the Nevada Legislature opened Monday with tears and talk of harmony, but it couldn’t completely escape the ongoing drama involving troubled Assemblyman Steven Brooks, D-North Las Vegas.

Senate Majority Leader Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas, supplied the emotion. He wore his father’s shoes and teared up while talking about his dad during the opening day ceremony, at which he became the first Hispanic to be Senate majority leader in Nevada.

Afterward, Senate Minority Leader Michael Roberson, R-Las Vegas, shook Denis’ hand and agreed that harmony should mark this session.

A similar spirit of cooperation was on display in the Assembly, but questions lingered over Brooks, who initially appeared ready to take a leave of absence, then decided to serve, was voted out of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, and finally announced he was taking a three-week break.

Monday

Schools land on list

Principals and up to a dozen staff members will be replaced at three “chronically underperforming” schools in the north valley, according to Clark County School District officials and letters sent home with students.

District officials chose to add Cimarron-Memorial High School, Sunrise Mountain High School and Wilhelm Elementary School to a list of 10 other struggling schools to boost student achievement, but the new additions will not receive any extra funding.

Tuesday

More trash talk

Clark County commissioners moved forward on changes to trash and recycling pickups but left open the potential for another showdown over the issue in the next few months.

The board changed the county code to allow for weekly trash and recycling pickups in unincorporated Clark County, a decrease in trash pickup but an increase in recycling.

Commissioners decided not to approve an agreement with Republic Services, the private trash company, until later.

Wednesday

constable trouble

A Las Vegas constable deputy is facing a police investigation for shooting a dog and an internal investigation over accusations of harassing an 18-year-old woman.

The accusations are against Deputy Luis Rendon, who was hired by Las Vegas Township Constable John Bonaventura despite a history of run-ins with the law, the Review-Journal has learned.

The woman said the deputy showed up at her east valley home dozens of times and once touched her inappropriately.

She and her boyfriend said the incidents stopped after Jan. 22, when Rendon shot and wounded the couple’s German shepherd, Pongo.

Thursday

Manhunt hits Vegas

The massive manhunt for a fired Los Angeles police officer who went on a shooting rampage that left a police officer and two others dead in Southern California spilled over into Las Vegas, where federal and local law enforcement converged on a southwest valley home.

Clark County property records show the wanted man, Christopher Dorner, 33, bought the home in 2007 at 724 Loughton St., off Blue Diamond and Fort Apache roads.

Friday

police kill suspect

Las Vegas police shot and killed one man and wounded another near Clark High School around 3:30 p.m.

Police said they were searching for a man suspected of shooting his girlfriend in the head earlier in the week. The suspect, at the apartment complex with another man and a woman, fired on officers as they approached.

Officers returned fire, killing the suspect and wounding the second man, who did not shoot at police.