Civil Rights Concerns Headline Latino Farm, Ranch Gathering – Associated Press
Leaders of minority farm and ranching groups say the U.S. Department of Agriculture hasn't done enough to address discrimination and civil rights violations that have affected Latinos and women.
They're expected to discuss the issue during a news conference today as the National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association kicks off its annual meeting in Albuquerque.
Groups representing black and Native American farmers and ranchers also are expected to attend.
The Latino association pointed to a 2013 federal review that showed the U.S. Forest Service in New Mexico and Colorado wasn't complying with several civil rights requirements.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has said addressing civil rights is part of a broader effort toward cultural transformation within the agency, but critics say that transformation has yet to happen.
Attorney General Cuts Ties With Secretary Of State's Office – The Associated Press & KOB
The state attorney general's office says it will no longer provide Secretary of State Dianna Duran's office with legal advice or handle campaign finance complaints referred by Duran's office.
KOB-TV reports Attorney General Hector Balderas in a letter Tuesday said Duran's office would have to find alternative legal representation while the criminal case against Duran is pending. Duran is facing fraud, embezzlement and money laundering charges.
Balderas has also returned 31 campaign finance civil complaints to Duran's office and recommended that the cases be referred to district attorneys.
Duran said in a statement that the move by the attorney general's office was political.
The attorney general filed a 64-count complaint against Duran Aug. 28, alleging Duran funneled campaign donations into personal accounts and falsified campaign finance reports.
Lawsuit Claiming DEA Paid New Mexico Man In Crack Tossed – The Associated Press
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a New Mexico man who says federal agents wrongfully supplied him with crack cocaine, reigniting his addiction to the drug.
U.S. District Judge Martha Vazquez dismissed the lawsuit Wednesday and said the law doesn't allow for damages when a person's own wrongful conduct is the cause of injury.
Aaron Romero says he was unknowingly targeted during an undercover investigation because he was a struggling addict and did not know he was helping agents break up a Las Vegas, New Mexico, drug operation
The 39-year-old sued the Drug Enforcement Administration and its agents in July 2014 seeking $8.5 million in damages.
Romero's attorney, Erlinda Ocampo Johnson, did not immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press.
New Mexico Councilor In Troubled City Arrested At Meeting – The Associated Press
A councilor in a troubled New Mexico border city has been arrested on misdemeanor drug charges in the middle of a special council meeting.
Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office says Sunland Park councilor Sergio Carrillo was taken into custody Monday at city hall and the arrest stems from a traffic stop on Sunday.
The 29-year-old Carrillo was charged with possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
It was not known if Carrillo had an attorney.
Earlier this year, a former mayoral candidate in Sunland Park pleaded guilty to extortion for secretly recording an opponent receiving a lap dance from a topless woman.
The city drew national attention in 2012 after news of the recording became public.
State Land Chief Won't Negotiate On Hunter Access Fee – The Associated Press & The Santa Fe New Mexican
The man who oversees millions of acres of New Mexico land says he won't negotiate over a proposed increase to hunting fees.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that State Land Office director Aubrey Dunn told the State Game Commission on Tuesday that he will consider a lesser fee increase but won't meet to negotiate with the commission's director.
Commissioner Elizabeth Atkinson Ryan told Dunn he's being too stubborn by shutting down negotiations, while commissioner Garrett VeneKlasen believes Dunn is singling out hunters.
VeneKlasen says oil, gas and grazing leases should also increase.
Dunn says he will consider charging the Department of Game and Fish $2 million over a three-year period for hunting access. His initial proposal was $2 million per year, up from the current $200,000 per year.
Appeal Heard In Dispute Over Ten Commandments Monument – The Associated Press
A New Mexico municipality that wants to keep a 6-foot-tall Ten Commandments monument outside city hall told a federal appeals court the structure is not government speech because it was privately funded.
Attorneys for the city of Bloomfield made their case Wednesday before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. They're trying to overturn a 2014 federal judge's order to remove the monument on grounds it violates a constitutional ban on using public property to support specific religions.
Two Bloomfield residents who practice the Wiccan religion say the monument offends them. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on their behalf, calling the monument government speech.
In Oklahoma, a Ten Commandments monument outside the Capitol is being removed after the state's high court ruled it unconstitutional in June.
New Mexico State Fair Attendance Up From Previous Year – Associated Press
Preliminary figures show attendance at the most recent New Mexico State Fair topping last year's number.
Fair officials say 460,468 people visited the fair during its 11-day run, from Sept. 10 through Sept. 20. That's an increase of more than 2,000 over last year's attendance of 458,379 when the fair lasted 12 days.
Paid attendance this year was 414,932 compared with 420,624 last year.
Fair manager Dan Mourning says promotional efforts, the reputation of the fair and a new midway operator added to the success.
Reithoffer Shows Inc. began a multi-year contract this year to operate the carnival. Fair officials say they're expecting a 10 percent increase in revenue from the carnival this year.
Next year's state fair will be held Sept. 8 through 18.