9th Judge Recuses Self From Case Vs Ex-New Mexico Lawmaker – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
Another judge has recused himself from the public corruption case against former New Mexico state Sen. Phil Griego.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that with District Judge David Thomson's recusal from the case, all nine judges in the Santa Fe-based judicial district have now either been excused or recused themselves.
That puts the case on temporary pause until a judge can be assigned from outside the 1st Judicial District.
State Attorney General Hector Balderas has filed 10 criminal counts against Griego including fraud, perjury, tampering with public records, and bribery.
Prosecutors say Griego used his role as a senator to orchestrate the sale of a state-owned building near the state capitol in downtown Santa Fe.
Griego's resignation in March 2015. He has pleaded not guilty to fraud, bribery and other charges.
Senate GOP To Subpoena EPA Chief In Colorado Mine Spill - The Associated Press
Senate Republicans vowed Tuesday to issue a subpoena to force the head of the Environmental Protection Agency to appear at a field hearing in Phoenix next week on a toxic mine spill that fouled rivers in three Western states and on lands belonging to two Native American tribes.
Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso said the Senate Indian Affairs Committee will vote Wednesday on a plan to subpoena EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.
Barrasso chairs the Indian Affairs panel, which is conducting an April 22 hearing on the 3-million gallon spill at Colorado's abandoned Gold King Mine. The Aug. 5 spill contaminated rivers in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, as well as in the Navajo Nation and Southern Ute Reservation.
Daniels Sworn In As New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice – The Associated Press
Charles W. Daniels is the newest chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court.
Daniels was sworn for a two-year-term Monday. The chief justice serves as both a judge and an administrator, presiding at hearings and conferences but also overseeing personnel, budgets and general operations at all state courts. The lead justice also advocates for the judiciary before the legislature.
Justice Barbara J. Vigil had held the title since 2014.
Daniels joined the court in 2007 and also served as chief justice from 2010 to 2012. Before joining the court, he worked for 38 years as a lawyer and taught at The University of New Mexico Law School.
Las Vegas, N.M, Eyes 'Damn Authentic' Campaign For Tourism – Las Vegas Optic, Associated Press
A northern New Mexico city hopes a "so damn authentic" campaign brings in new tourists.
The Las Vegas Optic reports the city of Las Vegas, New Mexico is set next month to launch a new marketing effort that highlights everything from the city's recreational hot spots and the ghosts that allegedly roam the town.
City officials and Santa Fe-based Cisneros Design unveiled the new "so damn authentic" advertising campaign last week and said the slogan will be used on everything from print ads and billboards. The city also will revamp its tourism website and push a social media campaign.
The campaign plans to collect hundreds of stories about Las Vegas and post them on a new DamnAuthentic.com website that is scheduled to go live on May 1.
New Mexico Tourism Department To 'Certify' Certain Products – Associated Press
The New Mexico Tourism Department says it will allow some state businesses to use the popular "New Mexico True" brand on their products.
State officials said Tuesday it will launch a New Mexico True certified program to highlight businesses that are uniquely New Mexican.
To earn a certification, products must be 100 percent made in New Mexico, animals and livestock must be raised in New Mexico, or products must be grown in the state.
Gov. Susana Martinez says the program is aimed at drawing more attention to products from the state.
Four years ago, the New Mexico Tourism Department unveiled the New Mexico True campaign, which promised tourists that they would encounter "adventures steeped in culture."
Electricity-Rate Increase Plan Spurs Protest In New Mexico – Associated Press
Environmental activists staged a protest in Santa Fe as state utility regulators consider a proposed 14 percent rate increase by New Mexico's largest electric utility.
Public hearings began Monday on the proposal from Albuquerque-based Public Service Company of New Mexico to increase annual revenues by $124 million. The environmental group New Energy Economy rallied about 50 people under a morning drizzle to protest PNM's plan outside the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission.
Consumer advocates object to PNM's new ownership stake at the Palo Verde Nuclear Station in Arizona along with investments in pollution-control equipment at the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station. PNM says its investments are cost-effective.
PNM also wants to revamp customer bills as it seeks to ensure recovery of infrastructure spending amid declines in anticipated energy sales.
New Mexico Authorities: Baby Girl Abducted In Car Is Located – Associated Press
Authorities say a 9-month-old girl who was abducted while inside a vehicle stolen in Albuquerque has been located along with the vehicle.
They say the search continues for the man suspected in the abduction.
Bernalillo County Sheriff's Deputy Felicia Romero says Ariana Smith was last seen in an SUV that was stolen around 2 p.m. Monday.
Romero says the child was found several hours later and has been taken to a hospital to be evaluated.
The vehicle allegedly was taken by 23-year-old Leighraughnzo Benally.
Romero says Benally is an acquaintance of the baby's mother and he allegedly took the SUV "with the full knowledge that the child was in the vehicle."
US To Provide $1.5M To Replace Flood-Damaged Ruidoso Bridge – Associated Press
The federal government is providing $1.5 million to Ruidoso to replace a bridge severely damaged by flooding back in 2008.
Members of the state's congressional delegation say the Federal Emergency Management Agency funding will replace 75 percent of the cost of replacing the Close Road bridge.
The new bridge will replace a temporary one built after the flooding.
Sen. Tom Udall announced the funding Monday along with Sen. Martin Heinrich and Rep. Steve Pearce.
Udall said in the statement released by his office on that he welcomes the funding but wants to find out why it was delayed.
UNM Med Student Says He Was Punished For Obama Facebook Post - Russell Contreras, Associated Press
A University of New Mexico medical student says the school unfairly punished him for a Facebook post that was critical of President Obama's re-election and compared Democrats to Nazis.
A lawsuit filed last week in federal court claims Paul Hunt's free speech rights were violated after the school forced him to revise his profanity-laced, anti-abortion rant in 2012 and still left negative references about the episode in his academic file.
His lawyer says the references could jeopardize his chances at getting into a good residency program after graduation.
But attorneys for the University of New Mexico School of Medicine say Hunt violated the school's social media and professionalism policies. The lawyers say he was given due process to address the complaints.
Hunt is seeking an unspecified amount in damages.
Four Corners College Adopts 'Indigenous Peoples Day' – Daily Times, Associated Press
A Four Corners college that borders the Navajo Nation is joining the ranks of higher-learning institutions across the country in recognizing "Indigenous Peoples Day."
The Daily Times in Farmington reports San Juan College recently approve the change following a resolution by the Associated Students of San Juan College.
The action came after a group of students approached the student government last year with concerns about Columbus Day and shared its reasons for recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day on campus.
The college does not list Columbus Day on its academic calendar, and the campus in Farmington remains open during the federal holiday.
According to the student government resolution, adopting Indigenous Peoples Day is "not to be misconstrued as an effort to supplant any existing federally recognized holidays."
Carlsbad Caverns To Be Featured On Postage Stamp – Carlsbad Current-Argus, Associated Press
Carlsbad Caverns will be featured on a postage stamp in honor of the National Park Service's 100th anniversary.
The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports that the stamp will be released on June 2 and formally introduced at a ceremony at the World Stamp Show-NY 2106. Each of the National Parks depicted on the stamps will also have their own dedication ceremony.
Carlsbad is the fifth of 16 total National Park Forever Stamp images to be revealed. Other featured national parks include Acadia National Park, Arches National Park, Assateague Island National Seashore and Bandelier National Monument.