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Google To Repay State $1M, Assistant Land Commissioner Resigns

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Google To Repay New Mexico $1M For Subsidiary ClosureAlbuquerque Journal, Associated Press

Officials say Google Inc., will repay New Mexico nearly $1 million in economic assistance funds after announcing it was pulling a subsidiary out of the state.

The Albuquerque Journal reports New Mexico Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela said Monday that Google has agreed to repay that amount under clawback provisions.

The Mountain View, California-based Google announced last week that Titan Aerospace was leaving its facilities at the Moriarty airport, where it has been developing a solar-powered drone. The company will move to the San Francisco Bay Area, said Angie Welling, Google public policy and government affairs manager.

The state's investment included $995,000 for infrastructure improvements at the Titan site. Google acquired Titan last year for an undisclosed price.

The company has about 40 employees here. Moriarty Mayor Ted Hart said he is working with state officials to find other jobs in New Mexico for the employees who don’t want to leave the state.

Assistant Land Commissioner Resigns Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press

State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn has asked Jim Lane to step down as assistant commissioner in connection to allegations of sexual harassment during his time as director of the state Department of Game and Fish.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Lane stepped down Monday, due to the recent disclosure of private files.

Dunn says "dirty politics" helped disclose the contents of Lane's personnel files. In the files it shows that Lane resigned from Game and Fish in 2013 after a subordinate accused him of sexual harassment.

Lane's resignation came nine days after the Santa Fe District Attorney alleged Lane made sexual comments to Game and Fish's human resources director, including lewd text messages.

Lane did not return requests for comment.

EPA Chief: Mine Spill 'Pains Me'The Associated Press

The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said today her department takes full responsibility for spilling 3 million gallons of mining waste that turned a southwest Colorado river an unnatural shade of orange, adding it "pains me to no end."

Gina McCarthy made the comments as her agency comes under increased scrutiny after federal and contract workers accidentally unleashed the spill last week while inspecting the abandoned Gold King mine near Silverton, Colorado.

McCarthy expressed regret that the spill occurred.

Officials affected by the spill have characterized EPA's initial response as too slow and too small. It took about 24 hours to first notify some downstream communities of the accident and the agency originally underestimated the volume of the spill.

The plume of pollution has since flowed at least 100 miles downstream to New Mexico, where towns and cities have been forced to close their intake valves to protect public water supplies.

Court: Placitas Horse Herd Could Be Considered 'Wild'The Associated Press

An appellate court has ruled that a horse herd in the mountain hamlet of Placitas could be considered wild, drawing praise from an advocacy group.

The Albuquerque Journal reports the New Mexico Court of Appeals recently ruled the herd couldn't be simply rounded up under state law and must go through DNA testing.

The ruling means a lawsuit filed by the Wild Horse Observers Association will go back to a lower court in a dispute that has entangled residents in the affluent community.

Advocates for the horses want the animals to continue roaming freely in Placitas. Other residents say the horses have damaged the land and are a safety hazard.

New Mexico Livestock Board executive Director William Bunch says the state will try to comply with the ruling.

NMSU Revises Campus 'Freedom Of Expression' PolicyThe Associated Press

The New Mexico State University Board of Regents has approved a new campus "freedom of expression" policy after complaints from students.

The recently approved polices expand public forums to include some indoor areas and identifies content-neutral times.

A task force met regularly throughout the 2014 fall semester and hosted an open forum on Oct. 16 to gather feedback from the public.

Task force co-chair Hiram Davis says the revised policy statement ensures that 'freedom of expression' is clearly understood, respected, and supported across the NMSU campuses.

The new policy goes into effect Sept. 4.

Cosmo The Lion Dies At Albuquerque ZooThe Associated Press

An African lion at the BioPark Zoo in Albuquerque has passed away after a two-month battle with lymphoma.

Cosmo, who had been at the zoo since 2004, was found dead early Monday. He was 18 years old, surpassing the median life expectancy for male lions in zoos by two years.

Mammal supervisor Shelly Dicks says Cosmo was a favorite among staff and described him as a "sweetheart."

Cosmo had kidney dysfunction and was diagnosed with lymphoma in June.

The Albuquerque zoo acquired Cosmo from the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Indiana. He had been saved from a meth lab in Missouri, where he was used as a guard animal.

Man Convicted In A Fake Driver's License Ring In New Mexico Associated Press

A man has been convicted in a fake driver's license ring in New Mexico and could face up to 124 ½ years in prison when he's sentenced in November.

Prosecutors say Tin Cheung was found guilty on 77 counts Monday.

Cheung was accused of helping dozens of people in the country illegally get New Mexico driver's licenses.

He was among six defendants charged with forgery, conspiracy and other charges.

They were accused of running advertisements in New York newspapers in 2009 and 2010, promising New Mexico driver's licenses for $1,500.

The defendants also allegedly leased multiple Albuquerque apartments and used those addresses for the false documents.

The New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division ultimately cancelled each fraudulently obtained driver's license.

Albuquerque Recycling Rates Up But Mayor Pushing For MoreAlbuquerque Journal

Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry and other city leaders want residents to recycle an additional two pounds each week.

The Albuquerque Journal reports this comes after word that the city’s recycling rate is up, but it’s still missing its target every month. That has resulted in financial penalties and the program’s costs have outpaced revenue by $375,000.

However, the city used to require a $1.2 million subsidy.

To boost recycling rates, new blue recycling bins will be installed at Tiguex Park in Old Down. Other parks could be next if the pilot program does well.

Recycling in Albuquerque more than doubled from 2011 to 2015 after the city provided blue recycling bins for households.

NMSU Revises Campus 'Freedom Of Expression' Policy Associated Press

The New Mexico State University Board of Regents has approved a new campus "freedom of expression" policy after complaints from students.

The recently approved polices expand public forums to include some indoor areas and identifies content-neutral times.

A task force met regularly throughout the 2014 fall semester and hosted an open forum on Oct. 16 to gather feedback from the public.

Task force co-chair Hiram Davis says the revised policy statement ensures that 'freedom of expression' is clearly understood, respected, and supported across the NMSU campuses.

The new policy goes into effect Sept. 4.

Monkeys Had Six Escape Tries At An Albuquerque Lab - Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press

Federal officials say monkeys from a research facility on an Albuquerque Air Force base nearly escaped six times last year.

The Albuquerque Journal reports U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors found the monkeys had gotten loose in the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute on Kirtland Air Force Base. The report says the animals had to be lured back into cages with food, among other recapture methods.

A March USDA report says escapes pose safety risks for personnel and animals.

New training and lock systems were implemented after a male rhesus broke the lock on his cage in October of last year. Staff members had to dart the animal.

The lab was fined $21,750 in 2011 for Animal Welfare Act violations.

Lab officials say the inspections helped the institute to improve practices.

States Seek To Block Water RuleAssociated Press

New Mexico is among 13 states asking a federal judge in Bismarck to block a new rule that gives federal authorities jurisdiction over some state waters.

North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem filed a motion late Monday seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent the rule from taking effect on Aug. 28.

Stenehjem said he was hopeful a judge will grant a hearing on the injunction within the next few days.

North Dakota is leading a lawsuit filed on June 29 challenging the Obama administration rule that gives federal agencies authority to protect some streams, tributaries and wetlands under the Clean Water Act.

Stenehjem said the “Waters of the U.S.” rule by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers is “unnecessary” and “unlawful.” He said it does nothing to increase water quality in North Dakota and other states.

The Latest: Spill Prompts New Mexico To Declare EmergencyAssociated Press

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has declared an emergency that frees up state funds to address a massive spill of wastewater from a Colorado mine into the Animas and San Juan rivers.

Federal officials say more than 3 million gallons of water tainted with lead, arsenic and other heavy metals contaminated the rivers following last week's spill.

Martinez on Monday said she was heartbroken and called it an environmental catastrophe.

She joined other officials in criticizing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its lack of communication and transparency after a cleanup crew supervised by the EPA accidentally breached a debris dam at the old mine in southwest Colorado on Wednesday.

Under the governor's order, $750,000 in state funds will be available for well testing, long-term studies and other efforts.

The amount is in addition to $500,000 in emergency funds the New Mexico Environment Department requested and received Friday.