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Boyd Family To Get $5 Million, Suspected Cop Killer Gets 11 Years For Violating Probation...

Albuquerque Police Department

Albuquerque To Pay $5M To Settle Lawsuit In Police ShootingThe Associated Press

The city will pay $5 million to the family of a homeless man who was fatally shot by Albuquerque police officers last year.

The settlement was announced Friday by an attorney representing the family of James Boyd.

James Boyd was killed during a March 2014 standoff near a tent in the mountains where he had been camping.

Video showed Boyd appearing to surrender. But authorities said Boyd was schizophrenic and hadn't received proper treatment and video footage showed him holding two knives when he was shot.

The incident sparked angry demonstrations around Albuquerque with protesters calling for reform after several deadly police shootings.

Boyd's family filed a lawsuit in June 2014.

A special prosecutor announced last month that two police officers will be charged with second-degree murder in the case.

U.S. Considers Changes To Government Coal Program - The Associated Press

Federal officials will host a series of public meetings this summer on the U.S. government's coal program after criticism that corporations are profiting off publicly-owned reserves of the fuel at the expense of taxpayers.

Thursday's announcement comes as coal companies and their allies in Congress have tried to thwart the Obama administration's initial attempts to change longstanding industry practices.

That includes recent legislation from Montana U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke that would block an Interior Department proposal to overhaul coal royalty payments.

Under rules in place since the 1980s, companies can sell coal to affiliates and pay royalties to the government on that price, then turn around and sell the coal for more overseas.

The public meetings are planned in Washington, D.C., Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico.

Man Awaiting Trial In Rio Rancho Fatal Shooting Gets PrisonThe Associated Press

A man awaiting trial in the fatal shooting of a Rio Rancho police officer has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for violating his probation.

Prosecutors say 28-year-old Andrew Romero was given the maximum sentence Thursday.

They say Romero has a lengthy criminal history that includes a manslaughter conviction.

He originally was charged with receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle in November 2013.

Court records show Romero also has faced charges of drug trafficking and armed robbery.

Romero could get life in prison without parole if convicted in the May 25 shooting death of Officer Gregg Benner.

He's pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and nine other charges.

At the time of the shooting, Romero was wanted for failing to participate in a court-ordered drug treatment program.

Virus Attacks Clovis News Journal WebsiteThe Associated Press & The Portales News-Tribune

The Clovis News Journal is working to figure out how a virus attacked their website and caused it to shut down.

The Portales News-Tribune reports the newspaper's Creative Services supervisor Shawn Luscombe says the virus Crytpowall had been cleared from the site Thursday morning, but then returned. The website was down most of Wednesday night and Thursday.

Luscombe say the virus works by encrypting files on a computer and holding them for ransom.

City of Clovis and Curry County officials were trying to clean up a computer virus they believe they got from accessing the newspaper's website.

Luscombe says no readers had indicated that their computers were infected by the virus, but they didn't know the extent of the damage.

Group, Journalist Sue For Release Of IDs Of Pot ProducersThe Associated Press

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government and a freelance journalist have sued the state Department of Health, saying the agency is violating the state's public records law by keeping secret the names of licensed medical marijuana producers.

The lawsuit filed in state District by the foundation and journalist Peter St. Cyr (seer) says the department is withholding the information under a regulation not authorized by law.

The lawsuit asks the department be ordered to release the information.

Department spokesman Kenny Vigil said the agency cannot comment on pending litigation.

Foundation Executive Director Susan Boe said the foundation had no choice but to sue when the department refused to change its position.

The suit does not seek release of identities of patients who produce marijuana for their own use.

Hatch Police Officer Is Accused Of Use-Of-Force ViolationThe Associated Press

Dona Ana County Sheriff's detectives are investigating an alleged use-of-force violation by a Hatch police officer.

Authorities say bond was set at $10,000 for Officer Mariano Fraere after his arrest Thursday.

A criminal complaint charges the 42-year-old Fraere with battery and false imprisonment in an incident involving a 30-year-old man who was in police custody on June 10.

According to court documents, Fraere was assisting another Hatch officer who encountered a group of men who were drinking.

During the encounter, the 30-year-old man reportedly became verbally abusive toward the Hatch officers.

Fraere arrested the man and took him to a jail holding cell.

The man continued to verbally harass Fraere and allegedly was forced to the ground and suffered facial injuries.

Fraere has been placed on administrative leave with pay.

Tax And Revenue Secretary Named As Subject Of InvestigationThe Associated Press

The head of the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department has been identified as the subject of an investigation into potential criminal activity.

State Auditor Tim Keller had forwarded allegations of wrongdoing by top department officials to state prosecutors Thursday, but he didn't identify anyone.

In a letter to Gov. Susana Martinez, Keller names department Secretary Demesia Padilla. The letter was released to The Associated Press and other media Friday following a public records request.

A department spokesman had dismissed the claims as unsubstantiated. Martinez's office questioned the political intent of the investigation.

Keller says an anonymous tipster alleged that Padilla might have improperly influenced a tax audit of a former client. Keller also asked Martinez to address any retaliation against tax employees.

Flood Damages Popular Northern New Mexico Retreat CenterThe Associated Press

A northern New Mexico retreat suffered at least $500,000 in damage when a heavy summer downpour hit the area this week.

Hundreds of people were at Ghost Ranch when the storm swept through arroyos Tuesday night, washing away pottery wheels, wooden weaving looms, a heavy cement mixer and a clay press.

A handful of structures were destroyed, including the new Fiber Arts Studio. Ghost Ranch Executive Director Debra Hepler says they'll have to be rebuilt elsewhere.

No one was injured.

Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu (AH'-bee-kyoo) is in the heart of Georgia O'Keeffe Country, up the Chama River Valley and past Espanola (ehs-pan-YOH'-luh). The late artist regarded it as the best place in the world.

Ghost Ranch offers spiritual retreats, workshops and landscape tours. Its picturesque cliffs draw locals for hiking.

New Mexico AG To Partner With Water Research Center - The Associated Press

State Attorney General Hector Balderas says he doesn't want New Mexico communities to be pitted against one another as water resources dwindle and an interstate legal challenge over the Rio Grande looms.

So Balderas announced Thursday during a visit to Las Cruces that his office is partnering with the Water Resources Research Institute at New Mexico State University.

Balderas says the goal is to be more innovative when dealing with water planning and the use of water in general.

He also wants to find a reasonable resolution to the fight with Texas over the Rio Grande but still protect the rights of New Mexico citizens.

As part of the partnership, the attorney general's office is investing $1 million from its consumer protection fund in the water research institute.

Man Awaiting Trial In Rio Rancho Fatal Shooting Gets Prison - The Associated Press

A man awaiting trial in the fatal shooting of a Rio Rancho police officer has been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for violating his probation.

Prosecutors say 28-year-old Andrew Romero was given the maximum sentence Thursday.

They say Romero has a lengthy criminal history that includes a manslaughter conviction.

He originally was charged with receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle in November 2013.

Court records show Romero also has faced charges of drug trafficking and armed robbery.

Romero could get life in prison without parole if convicted in the May 25 shooting death of Officer Gregg Benner.

He's pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and nine other charges.

At the time of the shooting, Romero was wanted for failing to participate in a court-ordered drug treatment program.

Court Rejects Claim For Overtime Pay For Home-To-Work Travel - The Associated Press

The New Mexico Court of Appeals has ruled that workers aren't entitled to overtime pay under New Mexico's minimum wage law for travel between their homes and job sites.

The case involved workers who were based in Artesia but who traveled at least an hour a day to and from job sites in the Permian Basin oil field in southeastern New Mexico.

The Court of Appeals' June 25 decision upheld a trial judge's pretrial ruling in favor of the workers' former employer, J.W. Drilling Inc.

The workers contended they were entitled to overtime because the travel required them to work over 40 hours a week.

The appellate court rejected the argument, ruling that it would expand the state minimum wage to include requiring employees to compensate workers for travel time.

Court Rules In Favor Of Worker In Medical Marijuana Case - The Associated Press and Santa Fe New Mexican

The New Mexico Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of an injured worker in a medical marijuana case.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the recent decision marks the third time in a year the court has sided with a medical marijuana patient in a workers' compensation claim.

According to the ruling issued in late June, a patient in the medical marijuana program who is injured on the job must be reimbursed by an employer for the expense of marijuana used for treatment.

Appellate Judge James Wechsler wrote that a workers' compensation judge was correct in ruling that American General Media, which owns several radio stations in New Mexico, had to reimburse Sandra Lewis of Albuquerque.

The company had argued that the state's medical marijuana law created a conflict with federal law.

Police Arrest Alleged Accomplice In Motel Shooting - The Associated Press

Police have arrested a man suspected of being an accomplice to the would-be robber who was shot and killed by a former CNN staffer at an Albuquerque motel.

Officer Tanner Tixier confirmed Thursday that 30-year-old Skyy Barrs was arrested. He's facing murder charges for allegedly being involved in criminal activity that led to the death of 27-year-old Tomorio Walton.

Police say it was Walton who tried to rob former CNN anchor Lynne Russell and her husband, Chuck de Caro, a former CNN reporter, the night of June 30 while they were staying at a Motel 6 on the city's west side.

Video surveillance shows Walton forcing his way into their room. Walton fired at de Caro, who shot back despite being wounded.

Authorities say a source told investigators Barrs and Walton planned to commit a robbery that night.

Police Search For Suspects In Native American Jewelry Theft - The Associated Press and KRQE-TV

Police are investigating the theft of pieces of Native American jewelry that are turning up in Albuquerque pawn shops.

KRQE-TV reports 400 pieces of Joan Caballero's collection, some more than a century old, were taken from a storage locker July 1 while she was out of town.

Santa Fe Police Lt. Andrea Dobyns said a chain, lock and video surveillance cables were cut before the items were taken. She says Caballero's unit was the only one broken into.

Officers found some of the pieces Monday while searching Albuquerque jewelry stores and pawn shops. Police say the business owners have been cooperating with investigators.

Caballero is a former appraiser on PBS's Antiques Roadshow. She says hundreds of items are still missing and have a total value between $40,000 and $100,000.

Hatch Police Officer Is Accused Of Use-Of-Force Violation - The Associated Press

Dona Ana County Sheriff's detectives are investigating an alleged use-of-force violation by a Hatch police officer.

Authorities say bond was set at $10,000 for Officer Mariano Fraere after his arrest Thursday.

A criminal complaint charges the 42-year-old Fraere with battery and false imprisonment in an incident involving a 30-year-old man who was in police custody on June 10.

According to court documents, Fraere was assisting another Hatch officer who encountered a group of men who were drinking.

During the encounter, the 30-year-old man reportedly became verbally abusive toward the Hatch officers.

Fraere arrested the man and took him to a jail holding cell.

The man continued to verbally harass Fraere and allegedly was forced to the ground and suffered facial injuries.

Fraere has been placed on administrative leave with pay.

Charges Filed Vs Man Accused Of Firing At Albuquerque Police - The Associated Press

A man accused of firing shots at Albuquerque police and trying to steal a car at gunpoint is facing federal carjacking and firearms charges.

Federal prosecutors filed a criminal complaint Thursday in their case against 21-year-old Justin Brouillette of Albuquerque.

Brouillette was arrested Wednesday and police say he's wanted on four felony warrants including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

It was unclear Thursday if Brouillette has a lawyer yet and his initial court appearance hasn't been scheduled.

A criminal complaint charges Brouillette with attempted carjacking, using and brandishing a firearm during and in furtherance of a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Court records show Brouillette has two felony convictions for receiving or transferring stolen vehicles in New Mexico's Bernalillo County.

Arizona Woman Pleads Guilty In New Mexico Drug Case - The Associated Press

An Arizona woman has pleaded guilty to federal narcotics trafficking charges in New Mexico.

Prosecutors say 27-year-old Serina Josephina Rivera, of Sells, entered her plea Thursday in federal court in Albuquerque.

Rivera and a woman from Phoenix were arrested in April 2014 and charged in a criminal complaint with possession of methamphetamine and heroin with intent to distribute in Bernalillo County.

New Mexico State Police say they recovered seven bundles containing nearly six pounds of methamphetamine and three pounds of heroin that was concealed in a vehicle pulled over for a traffic stop.

Prosecutors say the women were driving the drugs from Phoenix to Dallas, Texas.

They say Rivera faces up to 20 years in prison when she's sentenced.

The sentencing hearing hasn't been scheduled yet.

Body Of 61-Year-Old Man Is Found In Las Cruces Garbage Truck - The Associated Press

Police in Las Cruces are investigating the death of a man whose body was found in a city garbage truck.

Officers were called to an area behind a supermarket about 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

Police say the body was in the garbage truck hopper where solid waste is held for transport to a transfer station.

They say the 61-year-old man appeared to have an injury to his head and was pronounced dead at the scene.

His name is being withheld until his family can be notified.

Police say foul play isn't suspected at this time.

Detectives believe the man was rummaging through a commercial trash bin behind the supermarket when the refuse truck arrived to collect the trash.