Family Of Man Shot Outside Home Sends Feds Letter – Associated Press
The family of a man shot outside his home as deputy U.S. marshals sought to arrest a homicide suspect nearby has sent a letter to federal officials, saying they have been stonewalled while requesting answers in the case.
State and federal officials have disclosed few details in the officer-involved shooting Saturday that killed 23-year-old Edgar Camacho-Alvarado, except to confirm that he was killed as deputy marshals were attempting to execute an arrest warrant for 25-year-old George Bond.
Authorities say Bond was apprehended several doors down from Camacho-Alvarado's home hours after the shooting.
Camacho-Alvarado's family says he was outside repairing his pickup truck when he was shot.
Robert Gorence, an attorney for Camacho-Alvarado's mother, said Tuesday that the family is seeking to find out why law enforcement opened fire outside their home.
He alleges marshals shot Camacho-Alvarado multiple times in the back, according to the Albuquerque Journal. He plans to sue.
Drought Threatens Return In New Mexico After Dry Stretch – Associated Press
Even though parts of New Mexico were hammered by heavy snow at the end of December and again in late January, forecasters say meaningful moisture has been scarce and drought is threatening to creep back into the state.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service in Albuquerque met this week with state and federal water managers to discuss the outlook. They're still holding out hope that the super El Niño that was expected to bring snow and rain to New Mexico this winter will deliver something before fizzling out.
Brian Guyer with the weather service says precipitation for January and February is on track to come in below normal and record temperatures last week helped to dry out the state even more.
Suit Planned Challenging Peabody Mine Clean Up Funding – The Associated Press
An environmental group plans to sue financially-troubled coal giant Peabody Energy, claiming it doesn't have the money to make good on its promise to clean up its mines in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming.
The Steamboat Today newspaper reports that WildEarth Guardians notified the St. Louis-based company Monday that it intends to file a lawsuit claiming it is violating the federal mine reclamation law. It's required to provide 60-days notice before filing suit.
The group says the costs could end up being shifted to taxpayers.
The company says it has an excellent restoration record and that its ability to pay for its own cleanup work was reaffirmed last year in all the states where it does so. Some states require that companies post bonds to pay for reclamation work instead.
Oklahoma Company Withdraws Drilling Request In New Mexico – The Associated Press
An Oklahoma-based oil company has pulled its application to drill an exploratory well just west of one of New Mexico's fastest growing cities.
SandRidge Exploration and Production LLC sent a letter to the Sandoval County Planning and Zoning Department on Tuesday saying it was withdrawing its request.
The company did not offer an explanation but thanked the county for the time it spent considering the request.
The county commission did not vote on the issue last week and instead sent it back to the planning department after residents and environmental groups voiced concerns about water pollution.
Some critics also raised questions about the company's finances.
At last week's meeting, the company suggested it could revise its application to clarify some of the county's concerns.
Judge Approves $1B Settlement Between US And Tribes – The Associated Press
A judge has approved a nearly $1 billion settlement between the Interior Department and Native American tribes over a decades-old claim that the government failed to adequately compensate tribes while they managed education, law enforcement and other federal services.
U.S. District Court Judge James Parker in Albuquerque gave the agreement final approval Tuesday — about five months after federal officials and tribal leaders announced they had reached a deal to settle the case for $940 million.
The lawsuit accused the Interior Department of not paying tribes millions of dollars in federal contract costs to oversee federal Bureau of Indian Affairs programs and services dating back as far as the 1970s.
Nearly 700 tribes and tribal agencies are expected to claim compensation from the agreement, with payments ranging from $8,000 to as much as $58 million.
Navajo President OKs Bill For Water, Sanitation Projects – The Associated Press
Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye has approved legislation to fund dozens of water and sanitation projects across the reservation.
Thousands of Navajos live without running water or access to good quality drinking water. Begaye says the bill will ensure Navajo communities have sufficient water and foster economic development.
The tribe will use $180 million over five years for the projects. The money comes from the principle of a fund established with a $554 million settlement from the federal government in a lawsuit alleging mismanagement of the tribe's natural resources revenue.
Expenditures from the tribe's Sihasin Fund require approval by at least 18 tribal lawmakers.
About $65 million of the funding would go to the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority in the form of a loan.
Santa Fe Archbishop To Host Immigration Forum In Albuquerque -
By Russell Contreras, Associated Press
Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester is scheduled to host a forum around the subject of immigration days after traveling to the border to hear Pope Francis.
The immigration symposium is slated Wednesday at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Albuquerque.
The forum comes after Wester heard Pope Francis celebrate Mass from a Ciudad Juarez field last week. Wester joined other U.S. bishops on a levee on the U.S. side of the border but didn't visit Mexico.
Pope Francis spoke on immigration and repeated his call on the faithful to turn attention toward the poor and vulnerable.
Ciudad Juarez, on Mexico's northern border across from El Paso, Texas, was the last stop in the pope's schedule 5-day visit to Mexico.
Man Linked To Richardson Advisor Scandals Declares Bankruptcy – Santa Fe New Mexican
A man linked to investment scandals during the administration of Gov. Bill Richarson has filed for bankruptcy.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Marc Correra and his father, Anthony Correra, are among the defendants in a civil suit filed by the state related to fees they received for directing New Mexico funds to specific investments. The suit contends those deals benefitted political contributors to Richardson.
That suit seeks millions of dollars from numerous defendants. It’s unclear what will happen now that Marc Correra has filed for bankruptcy. Under the bankruptcy code, legal actions to recover money from filers are put on hold.
Air Quality Concerns Prompt Safety Pause At Nuke Dump – Associated Press
The manager of the federal government's nuclear waste repository in New Mexico has halted work because of poor air quality in parts of the underground facility.
Officials with Nuclear Waste Partnership announced the "safety pause" late Monday after monitoring instruments carried by workers detected elevated levels of carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds. Work won't resume until a plan is developed to ensure worker safety.
The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant has been closed since February 2014 when an inappropriately packed drum of waste from Los Alamos National Laboratory popped its lid and released radiation. Parts of the facility were contaminated.
Attorney General Backs Sentence Against New Mexico Official – Associated Press
New Mexico's attorney general is urging a judge to uphold probation requirements against disgraced former Secretary of State Dianna Duran.
The attorney general's office on Tuesday objected in writing to Duran's request to reconsider, reduce or eliminate probation requirements that she speak four times a month to civic groups or schools, perform community service work and obtain authorization for in-state travel.
Duran's attorney says the public speaking amounts to public shaming rather than rehabilitation, and that Duran will be in danger judging from threatening online comments.
The attorney general says there are no credible threats against Duran and that speaking will help her and her audience.
Duran pleaded guilty to felony charges for using campaign donations to fuel a gambling spree. She has served a one-month jail sentence.
Company Cancels Plans For Fracking Wells In Rio Rancho – KOB-TV, Associated Press
A company that sought a permit for fracking near Rio Rancho has withdrawn its application.
KOB-TV reports that Oklahoma-based SandRidge Energy did not offer an explanation, but last week the Sandoval County Commission declined to make a final decision on the issue.
In January, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denying SandRidge's two requests to drill an exploratory well west of the city's limits.
The recommendation says SandRidge did not provide enough information to support the zoning change.
Critics of the plan say the wells would be too close to residential areas.