APS Seeks $575 Million In Bond Election – Albuquerque Journal
Albuquerque Public Schools is looking for more than half a billion dollars from voters in a bond election on Tuesday.
The Albuquerque Journal reports funds would go to a number of projects, including two new schools, computer upgrades and internet infrastructure, and school renovations.
About $375 million of the funds would come from property taxes and $200 million from general obligation bonds. If voters approve the proposals, property taxes would not increase, but if they vote no, taxes would drop by about $275 on a home worth $208,000 according to the Journal.
Over 9,500 people have already cast early votes, five times more than is typical in bond elections. Brian Sanderoff of Research & Polling Inc. said bond votes usually pass. But voters seem upset about issues with early voting sites in this election, and with the buyout of another superintendent last year, so he said results are less certain this time.
Spain Offers Citizenship To Relatives Of Persecuted Families – Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
New Mexico residents descended from Jewish families who fled Spain during the religion-driven Inquisition can claim Spanish citizenship thanks to a new law.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the law administered by the Spanish Ministry of Justice gives descendants until Oct. 1, 2018 to apply for a passport.
The law was created to recognize the expulsion of Jews between 1492 and 1498.
Attorney Luis Portero de la Torre represents the Ministry of Justice and says successful applicants will be able to live and work in Spain as well as other countries in the European Union.
Portero is traveling to different countries meeting with groups to explain the application, which requires documentation and background checks.
An estimated 70,000 applications are expected to be filed.
State Suspends Audit Into MLK Commission Amid Investigation – The Associated Press
The state auditor is suspending an audit into the Martin Luther King, Jr. State Commission and calling for the Department of Finance Administration to take over the panel's day-to-day financial operations as its executive director faces accusations of possible fraud and embezzlement.
New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller sent a letter Monday to commission chairwoman Karen Montoya, saying the move to involve DFA is necessary for the commission's small remaining staff.
The commission promotes diversity and organizes events around Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
State Attorney General Hector Balderas confirmed his office was investigating the commission last week, the same day agents were seen moving documents and computers from the commission's office in Albuquerque.
A day later, search warrants detailed checks issued to executive director Kimberly Greene and what's believed to be a forged invoice for more than $51,000.
Medicaid Edges Out Political Agendas In New Mexico - The Associated Press Writer
Rising costs for health care linked to the expansion of Medicaid in New Mexico are crowding out initiatives sought by Gov. Susana Martinez.
She was only the second Republican governor to break ranks with GOP allies and expand Medicaid. Now Medicaid looms over nearly every state spending decision as lawmakers meet in Santa Fe to craft a budget.
Leading legislators say the governor's signature spending initiatives on law enforcement and education will be squeezed by a $78 million funding need for Medicaid next year as states pick up a portion of the full federal subsidy. Medicaid enrollment extends to 36 percent of the state's population.
Over a dozen states that opted to expand Medicaid have seen enrollments surge beyond projections, straining budgets.
Police: Robbery Suspect Shot By Officers Was Santa Fe Man – The Associated Press
Authorities say an armed robbery suspect fatally shot by Santa Fe police at a motel last week was a Santa Fe man who had a gun in his possession and several thousand dollars of cash in his belongings.
New Mexico State Police on Monday identified the man shot by officers Wednesday night as 31-year-old Herman Flores.
State police said several thousand dollars of cash was stolen during a holdup of a Wal-Mart store near the motel and that video confirmed the robber carried a handgun.
A motel guest who witnessed the later shootout between police and the suspect said the suspect fired first and that police returned fire.
5 Finalists For New Mexico Tech Presidency Visiting Campus – The Associated Press
New Mexico Tech says the five finalists for its presidency are visiting the Socorro university and that the Board of Regents will make a selection on Feb. 19.
The finalists are visiting the campus this week for forums with faculty, staff and others.
They include Kate C. Miller, dean of geosciences at Texas A&M, and Stephen G. Wells, president of the Desert Research Institute of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Other finalists are University of Toledo engineering Dean Nagi, Naganathan, University of Texas-El Paso former engineering Dean Richard T. Schoephoerster and Ronald L. Elsenbaumer, a senior advisor to the president of the Economic Development at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Current President Daniel H. Lopez has led the school for 23 years.
SunZia Fights Green Energy Requirement For Transmission Line – The Associated Press
The group in charge of a proposed $2 billion transmission line that would carry electricity generated by wind and solar in New Mexico the Arizona and beyond is fighting against a requirement to guarantee it will put renewables on the line.
The Arizona Daily Star reports that opponents of the 515-mile-long SunZia Southwest Transmission Project want 50 percent of one of two lines to be set aside for only renewable energy.
SunZia officials say such an order would violate federal law forbidding power lines from discriminating against energy suppliers.
The power-line proposal is slated to go before the Arizona Corporation Commission in Phoenix on Tuesday, where commissioners will consider the renewable requirement while weighing whether to grant a certificate authorizing constructing.
Senate Committee OKs Bill On Mexican Gray Wolf Release – The Associated Press
An Arizona Senate committee has passed a measure requiring prior approval for the release of Mexican gray wolves into the wild.
Sen. Gail Griffin of Hereford sponsored the legislation requiring the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to approve any release of a Mexican gray wolf. The measure prevents release near state trust land or private property and requires a full DNA profile of each released wolf.
About 110 Mexican gray wolves roam a portion of Arizona and New Mexico nearly two decades after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released 11 wolves.
The Senate Natural Resources Committee passed Senate Bill 1243 on a 6-1 vote.
The Sierra Club's Arizona chapter opposed the measure saying the commission has previously blocked recovery efforts. A commission spokesman says it supports Mexican wolf recovery.
Proposal To Pay New Mexico Lawmakers Clears Committee – Associated Press
A bill that would provide a base salary for New Mexico lawmakers has cleared one committee.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that legislation that would give legislators a salary of about $45,000 made it through its first legislative committee Saturday, but it went through without a recommendation for approval.
New Mexico has the only unsalaried state legislature.
The proposal was submitted to the state House of Representatives by Republican Terry McMillan of Las Cruces.
Approval looks unlikely because legislative salaries are not part of initial budget recommendations from the governor and legislature.
Some lawmakers such as Democratic Rep. Antonio "Moe" Maestas say a salary would increase the pool of talent to fill the seats.
Maestas says few people can afford to serve in a citizen Legislature.
New Mexico Senate Attempts To Slowdown Bills In Committees - Russell Contreras, Associated Press
Bills that rapidly moved out of the GOP-led House will likely slow down as they move to the Democratic-controlled Senate.
That's because Senate Democrats have assigned bills related to REAL ID, strengthening three strike laws and closing child pornography loopholes to three committees.
Republicans say the moves show that Democratic Majority Leader Michael Sanchez is trying to kill legislation he doesn't like. They say the assignments are "vindictive" since the bills are supported by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez.
But Democrats say they are only properly vetting the bills to examine their fiscal impact at a time when expected revenues will be lower than anticipated.
Proposals over making New Mexico compliant under the federal REAL ID Act are expected to draw the most attention in Senate committee hearings.
Republican Joins Dem Lawmakers To Advance Open Primaries Bill – Santa Fe New Mexican
A Republican representative has crossed party lines to join Democrats in pushing for open primaries in New Mexico.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Rep. Jim Smith of Sandia Park, chairman of the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee, broke ranks and the bill move out of committee on a 5-3 vote.
Only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in primaries in the state. A constitutional amendment proposed by Democratic representatives Stephanie Garcia Richard and Antonio “Moe” Maestas seeks to change that. They say it will increase interest in government among younger voters.
The bill would have died without Smith’s vote. It now moves to the House Judiciary Committee.
Albuquerque Firefighters Contain Fire In The Bosque – Associated Press
Albuquerque firefighters working through Saturday night contained a fire in the Bosque near Tingley Beach.
The Albuquerque Fire Department says about 30 firefighters were still working Sunday to stamp out hot spots.
The blaze, which was less than 5 acres, broke out just before 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
Callers who reported it initially described it as a campfire.
At one point, 50 firefighters were tackling the fire.
Neither Tingley Beach nor the BioPark were affected.
Albuquerque fire spokeswoman Melissa Romero says the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Probation For Albuquerque Woman Who Left Nephew In Hot Car – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
An Albuquerque woman whose 2-year-old nephew died after she forgot him in a hot car won't have to go to prison.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Sandra Rodriguez Miramontes, who was 19 when the 2012 incident occurred, pleaded guilty last week to two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Miramontes will get four years of probation followed by a conditional discharge.
Defense attorney David Serna told the newspaper Friday that the conviction won't stay on her record if Miramontes completes the probation.
Miramontes took an Alford plea, where a defendant maintains innocence but admits there is enough evidence for a conviction.
A conviction would mean she would face deportation.
She was initially indicted for child abuse resulting in death, which carries a mandatory 18-year sentence.