Week in Review: Top News, May 26

In a surprise move, the Clark County School Board selected Interim Super­intendent Pat Skorkowsky as the district’s new superintendent in a 7-0 vote.

Complaints alleging open meeting law violations were filed with the state attorney general’s office, springing from the lack of an agenda item announcing that such a vote would take place.

The board made the decision Tuesday night, considering no other candidates and refusing pleas from board President Carolyn Edwards to slow down in choosing the leader of the nation’s fifth-largest district who would oversee a $2 billion budget.

Edwards then announced Friday that the vote would be cast again on June 3, the same day Skorkowsky’s contract is to be negotiated.

“We don’t think we did anything wrong,” said Edwards, who maintains the vote was legal.

Monday

Stolen iPad recovered

Police found the iPad stolen from 15-year-old Marcos Arenas in a robbery that authorities say led to his death.

The two men arrested in the case, Jacob Dismont, 18, and Michael Solid, 21, were ordered held without bail. A preliminary hearing was set for June 7.

Dozens of friends and family members attended a funeral Friday for Arenas.

Tuesday

Gun checks get support

A bill requiring background checks for private-sale gun purchases won approval in the state Senate on a party-line vote with Democrats in support.

It was next to go to the Assembly, where Democrats also hold an advantage.

At a rally, Gilles Rousseau, whose daughter Lauren was among six educators and 20 first-graders killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December, supported approval.

“Lauren died doing what she loved, teaching young children,” he said. “And she died in her classroom, while bravely trying to protect her children from danger.”

Gov. Brian Sandoval has not indicated whether he’ll sign the bill if it passes.

Wednesday

Suspicions close U.S. 95

A “suspicious device” in the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 95 that was found by workers prompted officials to close the freeway for two hours.

A robot approached the pipe-shaped device, inspected it, and blew it up. Police described the device as inert, though they did not say what it was.

Thursday

The will of the people

Lawmakers passed two controversial measures along to the voters: a proposed mining tax and same-sex marriage.

Voters next year will be asked if the mining industry’s limit on the taxes for extracting precious metals should be repealed.

The repeal would allow the 2015 Legislature to consider raising the 5 percent tax.

Legislators also OK’d a constitutional amendment that would allow voters to legalize gay marriage. It will need a second legislative approval in 2015, however, before voters can make their voices heard.

The proposal would remove Nevada’s current prohibition on same-sex marriage from the state constitution, and add new language recognizing same-sex marriage.

Friday

Federal funds at risk

The Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital made strides toward keeping its federal funding.

The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced it has approved a plan of correction submitted May 6 by the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services, which oversees the Las Vegas hospital.

However, the mental health facility still faces the risk of losing millions of dollars in federal funds in the wake of an unannounced inspection by federal officials and also could face penalties in a separate federal investigation.