News

Vigil planned for mother killed in apparent road rage attack

Tuesday, February 17th, 2015, 8:01am

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The family of a woman who died in an apparent road-rage shooting outside her Las Vegas home is organizing a candlelight vigil Tuesday night.

Matthew Meyers, son of 44-year-old Tammy Meyers who was taken off life support Saturday night, said a gathering was planned for 7 p.m. in the parking lot of Walter Johnson Junior High School.

The location is where Tammy Meyers was reportedly teaching her 14-year-old daughter how to drive late Thursday night before police say Meyers nearly collided with another car on their way home. Police say the car followed Meyers home and someone inside fired shots including one which struck the mother of four. The family says Meyers' 23-year-old son fired back before the gray or silver 4-door sedan fled.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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Submitted by 8 News NOW

Monday, February 9th, 2015, 3:46pm

LAS VEGAS -- The Clark County School District is combing through vaccination records after the recent measles outbreak at Disneyland. Letters have been sent to parents whose children don't have the required immunizations.

Students are only exempt if they have a religious or medical exemption on file with the district. The district is giving students a few weeks to update their records or they won't be allowed back in school.

At 3 years old, Santiago is just months away from having to get his next set of vaccinations.

"He cries a lot," said his mother Karen Ponce. "It's a pain, it's a pain."

But it's a pain this mom is willing to endure.

Per sate law, Santiago must have updated shots to attend pre-k or kindergarten

"He doesn't understand, you know, and we know that we have to do it," she said.

The Clark County School District is cracking down on student vaccinations.

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Submitted by Barrett Tryon, Social Media Editor

Monday, February 2nd, 2015, 5:27pm

LAS VEGAS — An employee with Givens Elementary School is no longer with the Clark County School District after "inappropriate behavior," the school district said on Monday.

The incident was discovered before winter break.

"CCSD police and school staff immediately conducted an investigation to protect students and staff and took appropriate action," the district said in a statement.

The district noted school police "are confident that this behavior did not impact students."

Details surrounding the incident were not revealed.

Givens Elementary School is located just west of the 215 and north of Charleston Boulevard.

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Submitted by Barrett Tryon, Social Media Editor

Monday, February 2nd, 2015, 1:14pm

LAS VEGAS — A detective for Metro Police has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to a news release.

Police say Detective Russell Backman was found asleep at the wheel near Hualapai Way and Sahara Avenue around 4 a.m. on Sunday.

He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and booked at the Clark County Detention Center, police said.

Backman has been with the department since 2000 and works in the organized crime bureau.

Metro said it has launched an internal investigation into the incident. Because he works undercover, police said Backman's mug shot won't be released.

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Submitted by 8 News NOW

Friday, January 30th, 2015, 4:05pm

LAS VEGAS -- This year, the Clark County School District took on the largest technology project it's ever attempted. Infinite Campus is an online portal that keeps parents in the loop on student progress.

However, only about one-third of CCSD parents are using the portal that launched five months go.

Parents using Infinite Campus can get updates in real time on their child's grades, test scores, classes and even if they're tardy.

"I really like being able to access my kids grades and see all the missing assignments," said Erica Reynolds, CCSD parent.

For the most part, parents say the system is working.

"I think that's one of the really great things," Reynolds said. "You have instant access to what your kids are doing."

But while parents like Reynolds are logging on regularly, most parents are not using the system.

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Submitted by 8 News NOW

Wednesday, January 28th, 2015, 10:16pm

LAS VEGAS -- The superintendent of the Clark County School District took a daring ride on the Slotzilla Wednesday. It was to draw attention to the biggest teacher shortage in the district's history.

There are more than 600 open positions in Clark County, but CCSD says it hopes to hire more than 2,600 new teachers to ease overcrowding.

The district's plan to add teachers to growing classrooms in the valley involves recruiting locally and from across the country. The first way they plan to do this is through their Alternative Route to Licensure course.

Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky said with special training anyone with a Bachelor's degree is eligible to become a teacher.

“We will help them change their career and change their life in the process,” Skorkowsky said.

Teachers say it's a constant struggle to make sure each student is getting one-on-one attention.

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