Libertarian Gary Johnson Launches Presidential Bid – Associated Press
Libertarian politician Gary Johnson is running for president a second time after winning more than a million votes in 2012.
Johnson announced his candidacy for the Libertarian Party nomination Wednesday at the New Mexico state capitol in Santa Fe.
The two-time New Mexico governor and pioneering proponent of drug decriminalization wants to wipe out the federal deficit and hold the line against spending on Medicare, Medicaid and the military.
Johnson says he could wind up sharing the debate stage with Democratic and Republican nominees in the fall if a lawsuit succeeds against the private Commission on Presidential Debates.
Johnson initially ran as a Republican in 2012 before dropping out ahead of the primaries and securing the Libertarian nomination.
He won nearly 1.3 million votes, or 1 percent votes cast.
Las Cruces OKs Funding For Mental Health Study – KVIA-TV, Associated Press
The Las Cruces City Council has unanimously approved a feasibility study that would look into building a public hospital to treat those suffering from mental illness in the city.
KVIA-TV in El Paso reports councilors voted Monday to contribute $25,000 for the study.
Mental health advocates at the council meeting expressed the need for a state-run facility in Las Cruces that provides long term care.
Once the results of the study are released, the city and county will then decide if they will ask the state legislature for money. There is no timeline on when a state-run facility could be built.
Officials estimate it could be years down the road.
New Mexico Sees Continuing Drop In Teen Birth Rates – Associated Press
New Mexico is maintaining a trend of declining teen birth rates.
The state Department of Health announced Wednesday that vital records show an overall 57 percent drop between 2000 and 2014 for teens 15 to 17 years old giving birth.
Records also show a 48 percent decrease of teen birth rates for 15 to 19 year olds in that same period.
The state's decrease in the rate of 15-19 year olds giving birth in 2014 has brought New Mexico down from leading the national rate.
Officials say the state now is ranked fourth largest for teen birth rates.
Health Secretary Retta Ward says the state must work harder to get better results.
Ward says teen births are a common driving factor of generational poverty.
Bill Richardson Cited Following Santa Fe Fender Bender – Associated Press
Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is facing a citation after police said he rear-ended another vehicle in downtown Santa Fe and left the scene.
According to a police report released following Wednesday's incident, Richardson's vehicle hit the other vehicle twice.
Richardson contends it was just a tap, but the other driver told police the second impact was strong enough to push the car into the intersection.
No one was hurt, but city spokesman Matt Ross says Richardson was cited for following too closely and failing to report an accident.
The police report classified it as a hit and run.
Richardson spokeswoman Caitlin Kelleher said the former governor spoke to police after the fender bender.
Richardson said he regretted the incident and told police that he would fix any damage.
Public Defender Files Whistleblower Lawsuit Against Department – Santa Fe New Mexican
A Santa Fe public defender has filed a whistleblower lawsuit claiming he faced retaliation from the Public Defender’s Office.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Damian Horne raised concerns that financial strains in the office impeded his ability to represent a client adequately.
His client was a former luxury housing developer, William “Kal” Kalinowski, who was indicted on fraud and embezzlement charges. Horne said the complex case required more resources than were available in the Public Defender’s office.
Horne, a veteran, claims his post-traumatic stress disorder from his military service was triggered by threats of violence, a required psychiatric examination and other actions in the office after he filed a motion claiming he didn’t have enough time, expertise or resources to defend his client.
He was placed on paid administrative leave and is seeking damages under the New Mexico Whistleblower Protection Act, including anticipated loss of benefits, retirement funds and attorney’s fees.
Paula Maynes, an attorney for the Public Defender’s Office, said Horne is still employed by the agency and has not lost pay.
Rob Mead, a deputy chief public defender, declined to discuss the case but said the office has been underfunded for decades. However, he said those issues will likely be solved within a few years.
UFC: Holly Holm Will Get Another Fight Before Rousey Rematch – Associated Press
UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm will take another fight before her much-anticipated rematch with Ronda Rousey.
UFC President Dana White announced the plan Wednesday night on Fox Sports 1, the UFC's corporate broadcast partner.
Holm beat Rousey in November for one of the biggest upsets in recent sports history.
Holm also agreed to a recent contract extension with the UFC.
Holm was reluctant to wait until Rousey finished filming two movies this year before their presumed rematch, which was expected to be at UFC 200 in Las Vegas in July.
The UFC apparently hears Holm's concerns, so White says the Albuquerque-based champion will get another fight in the interim, likely pushing back the date of her rematch with Rousey.
White didn't announce a date or opponent for Holm, but former title contender Miesha Tate is the most logical choice.
UNM Researchers To Include Drug Users In Hepatitis C Study – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
Researchers in New Mexico plan to reach out to drug users for inclusion in a nationwide study of hepatitis C treatments.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the University of New Mexico will receive $2.3 million to compare two models for treating the virus, which is often transmitted when people injecting drugs share needles.
The project is funded by the Washington D.C.-based nonprofit Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The research institute says injection drug users rarely get the most effective hepatitis C treatments.
UNM is one of eight places that will participate in the $14 million five-year study, treating an estimated 1,000 people nationally.
Hepatitis C infects up to 35,000 people in New Mexico and is the leading cause of liver transplants.
Albuquerque Holding Hearing On Bosque Path Plans – Albuquerque Journal
The city of Albuquerque is schedule told hold a meeting tonight to gather public input on a plan for a multiuse path in the bosque along the Rio Grande River.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Mayor Richard J. Berry and the city council have been at odds over the issue, with councilors pushing for more public input. Berry vetoed that proposal.
Work is supposed to begin in February and be completed by April, but parks department officials are still seeking input. The trail is supposed to provide easier access for wheelchairs, strollers and walkers.
The meeting will begin at 5:30 at the Los Duranes Community Center.
Bernalillo County Clerk To Run For Secretary Of State – The Associated Press
Maggie Toulouse Oliver, the top elections official in New Mexico's most populous county, says she will run again for the Democratic Party's nomination for secretary of state.
This will mark Oliver's second run for the office.
She was defeated in 2014 by Republican incumbent Dianna Duran, who resigned from the position last year after being prosecuted for using campaign donations to fuel a gambling addiction.
Oliver has been vocal in recent months about the need to boost transparency within the state's campaign finance reporting system. She has said any reforms will require clear, consistent regulations that are enforceable.
Republican Brad Winter is currently serving as secretary of state after being appointed by Gov. Susana Martinez following Duran's resignation. He says he has no intention of running for the position.
Police Release Video Of Bill Richardson After Crash – The Associated Press
Newly released police video shows politician Bill Richardson feigning ignorance briefly before acknowledging to a Santa Fe Police officer that he rear ended another car at low speed and did not pull over.
The City of Santa Fe released the lapel-camera video on Thursday in response to a request by The Associated Press.
In the video Richardson initially asks a police officer if he had hit someone while driving. The officer tells Richardson of the accident and points out damage to Richardson's bumper. Richardson then acknowledges that he lightly hit another car.
A witness identified Richardson's yellow Jeep after the fender bender Wednesday morning at 8:10 a.m. in downtown Santa Fe. That helped police track down the former New Mexico governor and U.S. diplomat nearby.
Assistance Offered To Those Who Lost Livestock In Storm – The Associated Press
Ranchers and farmers in southeastern New Mexico may be able to recoup some of the costs of livestock lost in Winter Storm Goliath.
The Roswell Daily Record reports that state Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Wittes and officials from the Farm Service Agency met with producers in Chaves County on Wednesday to discuss options to ease the burdens.
Ranchers and dairy producers will be able to apply for emergency relief through programs made available through the 2014 Farm Bill, with payments equal to 75 percent of the market value of the livestock on the day before the animals' death, as determined by the U.S. secretary of agriculture.
Wittes says it's important that livestock owners document everything and contact their county Farm Services Agency as soon as possible.
Martinez Revives Right-To-Work Debate In New Mexico – The Associated Press
Republican Gov. Susana Martinez is reviving the right-to-work debate in New Mexico, saying she'll include the issue on the agenda for the upcoming legislative session.
She made the announcement Thursday during a panel discussion before a crowded room of business leaders, elected officials, higher education representatives and others who gathered for an Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
The governor called it a no-brainer, saying adopting a right-to-work law would make the state more competitive when it comes to attracting businesses.
Business leaders argued many out-of-state companies don't consider New Mexico as a possible place to do business because it lacks such a law.
Under the measure that failed to pass last year, nonunion employees would not have had to pay union fees as a condition of employment.
New Mexico State Seeking Tax Refund From 2011-14 Road Games –The Associated Press
New Mexico State University is seeking a tax refund for its out-of-state athletic events from December 2011 through 2014.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the school filed a lawsuit last week against the state and its secretary of taxation and revenue seeking more than $282,000 plus interest for "overpayment of governmental gross receipts taxes."
The suit says out-of-state games amount to interstate commerce and can be deducted from governmental gross receipts according to state statutes.
The university says it erroneously paid governmental gross receipts tax on payments for out-of-state games during the three-year span and filed for a refund in June.
The State Taxation and Revenue Department told the school in November that its refund was rejected.
NMSU filed suit Dec. 29 in Santa Fe County's First Judicial District Court.