News

Immigration Debate Stirs Campaign For New Mexico Governor – Associated Press

The campaign for New Mexico governor is playing out on Capitol Hill, where competing candidates are engaged in the national immigration debate as members of Congress.

New Mexico Jail To Scan Inmates' Eyes To Verify Identity- Associated Press & Albuquerque Journal

A New Mexico detention center is looking to use iris scanning technology to verify the identities of inmates coming in and out of the jail after it mistakenly released an inmate who was posing as his cellmate.

New Mexico Senators Plan Visit To Border Detention Facility – Associated Press

New Mexico's Democratic U.S. Senate delegation plans to travel to the border with Mexico to highlight objections to President Trump's policy of separating immigrant children from parents who are detained while attempting to illegally cross into the U.S.

Lawmakers Prepare Criminal Justice Reforms For Next Governor – The Associated Press

New Mexico state lawmakers say they are setting a course for criminal justice reforms in anticipation of a new administration in 2019.

Panel Cites More Safety Issues At New Mexico Nuclear Lab – The Associated Press & The Santa Fe New Mexican

An independent panel that monitors federal nuclear installations around the United States has documented more safety issues at Los Alamos National Laboratory's plutonium facility.

New Mexico Lawmakers Challenge Navajo Water Compact – Associated Press

Republican New Mexico lawmakers say the state Legislature never signed off on an agreement awarding water rights from the San Juan River to the Navajo Nation.

Ten lawmakers from districts stretching from the northwest of the state to Albuquerque on Friday asked the New Mexico Supreme Court to suspend the water settlement until the Legislature can enact, reject or modify the pact. 

New Mexico National Forest Says No To Geothermal Drilling – The Associated Press

Underground pockets of boiling water and steam that could have been tapped to produce electricity are now off limits as one national forest in northern New Mexico has said no to the prospect of geothermal development.

GOP Candidate Would Replace Teacher Evaluations – The Associated Press

New Mexico's Republican candidate for governor is calling for an immediate suspension of the state's embattled teacher evaluation system that he describes as badly broken.

New Mexico Governor Supports Family Separation Policy – The Associated Press & The ABQ Journal

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez's says she supports the federal government's decision to separate children from parents accused of crossing the border illegally.

The Albuquerque Journal reports Martinez firmly backed the Trump Administration's zero tolerance effort during her visit to the border this week.

New Mexico AG Seeks Resignation Of Embattled Prosecutor – The Associated Press

A southwestern New Mexico district attorney has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a 2016 traffic stop, and now New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas wants her to resign.

Search Continues For Mistakenly Released Albuquerque Inmate – The Associated Press

Authorities continue to search for an Albuquerque jail inmate who was mistakenly released early.

State Rep Enters Not Guilty Plea In Drunken Driving Case– Associated Press

A New Mexico lawmaker has pleaded not guilty to a drunken driving charge.

A court filing shows Republican Rep. Monica Youngblood, of Albuquerque, entered the plea ahead of a scheduled arraignment hearing, which has now been waived. Her next court hearing is scheduled for July 11.

Universities, Research Firm Win $2.5B Los Alamos Contract – The Associated Press

The U.S. government has awarded a team of two universities and a research firm with offices around the world a $2.5 billion-a-year contract to manage Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Republican Gov. Martinez Attacks GOP Nominee For Congress – The Associated Press Republican

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez says the GOP candidate in a closely watched Congressional race in southern New Mexico may not fairly represent the state.

Lujan Grisham To Face Pearce In November Race For Governor – By Morgan Lee, Associated Press

New Mexico Democrats chose three-term U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham as their nominee for governor Tuesday in hopes of reclaiming the state's top office after two terms of Republican control.

Heavily contested primaries like New Mexico’s congressional races can sort of tear parties apart, UNM Professor Lonna Atkeson said. That’s especially true when outside organizations start pumping money into candidates. "To see the groups come in and spend a lot of money with candidates who largely have the same ideological agenda is interesting."