New Mexico Governor Rebukes Trump On Border-Fence Plan – The Associated Press
New Mexico Gov. Susan Martinez is expressing fundamental differences with presidential candidate Donald Trump on his proposal to build a bigger wall along the southern U.S. border and make Mexico pay for it.
Martinez told the Associated Press on Tuesday that building fences can impact the U.S. economy and relationship with trading partners in Mexico and farther south.
The chairwoman of the Republican Governors Association confirmed comments made behind closed doors as she traveled last week to a Republican gala in New York City attended by Trump, and a Republican Governors Association fundraiser in Florida.
Martinez is frequently mentioned as a potential vice presidential pick. She says she understands the need for a secure border as a former prosecutor who has lived near the border for some 50 years.
The Latest On The Ongoing Investigation Into The Escape Of Two Inmates In New Mexico - The Associated Press
A union representative says an officer had recognized that two New Mexico guards were fatigued the day a pair of violent felons escaped, and told them they could take naps as they worked a more than 18-hour shift transporting inmates across the state.
Miles Conway, a union spokesman, said yesterday that the Department of Corrections telling guards to sleep while another drives "flies in the face of policy." His comments came about a month after inmates Joseph Cruz and Lionel Clah fled a prisoner transport van.
The guards logged more than 10-hour shifts in the days leading up to the escape in New Mexico, where Corrections officials have wrestled with a severe staffing shortage.
Officials are conducting an internal investigation into the escape. Conway says the union's review has consisted largely of consulting with its members.
New Mexico Plans To Sue Over Wolf Releases – The Associated Press
New Mexico is planning to take legal action against the federal government after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service quietly revealed its intention to release more Mexican gray wolves into the wild.
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish confirmed Wednesday that its lawyers have filed a notice of intent to sue over the proposed releases.
Last year, the state denied the agency permission to release wolves, but federal wildlife managers countered that they had a responsibility to help the endangered species recover and that releases were part of that effort.
The plan was posted Monday on the agency's website for wolf recovery efforts. It calls for releasing a pack with pups in New Mexico and cross-fostering pups with packs that are already in the wild.
Federal officials have argued that releases and cross-fostering are the preferred methods for improving the genetic diversity among the wild population in New Mexico and Arizona.
Virgin Galactic Team Returns To Spaceport America – The Associated Press
A team of pilots, ground crew and mission control specialists with Virgin Galactic is busy at Spaceport America, running a series of ground and air exercises in preparation for future commercial flights.
The focus is on WhiteKnightTwo, the aircraft that will one day help carry the company's rocket ship and paying tourists to the edge of space.
Virgin Galactic chief executive George Whitesides was standing on the tarmac Wednesday watching as WhiteKnightTwo landed. He says there will be a series of touch-and-go's and landings at the spaceport as part of this week's exercises.
Whitesides says the team of about 20 was happy to be working in New Mexico.
A full mission simulation is planned for WhiteKnightTwo on Thursday as ground testing on the company's rocket ship continues in California.
Drug Task Force In Southwestern New Mexico Facing Scrutiny – The Associated Press
A drug task force in southwestern New Mexico is facing scrutiny over the handling and storing of evidence by law enforcement officers.
The Silver City Sun-News reports that Sixth Judicial District Attorney Francesca Estevez says she is aware of possible irregularities surrounding the federally-funded Region VII High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Drug Task Force.
Estevez says officials have been told of allegations of lack of internal controls and a lack of policies or procedures involving evidence.
Officials say some cases involved missing incident reports.
The Region VII Drug Task Force is made up of local law enforcement officers assigned to investigate and prosecute drug trafficking in Grant, Hidalgo and Luna Counties.
Planned Parenthood Abortion Drug Prescriptions Net Complaint – The Associated Press
New Mexico's board of nursing is investigating a complaint that a Planned Parenthood nurse prescribed an abortion drug in violation of state law.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the complaint says the nurse practitioner who prescribed the abortion medication violated the law that stipulates licensed physicians alone can perform abortions.
Planned Parenthood spokeswoman Whitney Phillips said in a written statement that nurse practitioners are not performing surgical abortions.
The statement references a 2007 lawsuit ruling that said nurse practitioners who prescribe the abortion drug mifepristone do not violate the state criminal abortion law.
Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved new labeling guidelines for mifepristone that gave women 70 days from the start of their last period to begin the medication.
The previous timeline was 49 days.
Governor: Social Media To Broadcast Lenient DUI Sentences - The Associated Press
The governor of New Mexico says social media feeds will soon tell you if drunken driving offenders are let off too easy.
Gov. Susana Martinez announced yesterday a program that will use citizen watchdogs to monitor court hearings by state judges who are routinely lenient in drunken driving cases.
Staffers with Mothers Against Drunk Driving will serve as monitors. They'll send details about lenient sentences to state officials, who will identify repeat offenders and the judges in tweets or Facebook posts.
Martinez says the program aims to show the failure to crack down on those convicted of multiple DUI violations.
It comes as police departments from New England to the Southwest have taken to social media in recent years to post booking photos of suspects.