Page 2 - Van Wamel News Today

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Unions and a school bus company blame each other for a school bus driver strike that shut down much of the public school transportation serving 3,500 students in Las Cruces. Drivers picketed the office of southern New Mexico district school bus contractor STS New Mexico on Thursday, demanding better pay and working conditions, the Las Cruces Sun-News reports .

The Las Cruces Transportation Federation Local #6341 bus driver union votes to authorize a strike if a new contract cant be reached.

Investigators said the abuse began Thursday evening and lasted through much of the night. The victim surreptitiously slipped the note to one of her two elementary school children, with instructions to pass it on to the bus driver, Trujillo said. Alvarado is accused of threatening to kill the woman and trying to suffocate her with a pillow and then a shirt. Investigators also allege that he took her cellphone to prevent her from calling for help, Trujillo said. The abuse may have occurred in the...