Martinez: Democrats' Emails 'Attempt To Stereotype' Latinos – The Associated Press
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez says leaked internal Democratic National Committee emails showed an "attempt to stereotype" Latino voters.
The Republican and the nation's only Latina governor said Monday that Hispanics care about the same issues as other voters and the Democratic don't understand the diversity among Latinos.
Martinez comments come after hacked and leaked emails appear to show Democratic officials referring to Hispanic voters as "the most brand loyal customers." The emails also called for Democrats to "own the Hispanic loyalty" in states like New Mexico during the 2016 election.
Wikileaks posted a cache of 19,000 internal communications on Friday, including some that suggested party officials had favored Hillary Clinton over rival Bernie Sanders during the primaries.
New Mexico Governor May Reconvene Legislature – The Associated Press
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez is contemplating the need for a special Legislative session to address dwindling state operating reserves.
Martinez on Tuesday said her office has been working for weeks with executive agencies and a key legislative committee on how to resolve the state's fiscal imbalance and that a solution may involve a short, pre-negotiated Legislative session.
New Mexico is one of several states dealing with general fund declines linked to reduced energy prices and production.
The Republican governor spoke at a meeting of the State Investment Council. The council has postponed decisions on shifting investments in a $220 million Tobacco settlement fund that might be used to replenish state operating reserves.
New Mexico Lawmaker Eyes 'Right To Die' Bill Amid Court Loss - The Associated Press
A New Mexico state lawmaker is pushing for a law to allow terminally ill patients to end their lives with help from doctors.
Rep. Bill McCamley is scheduled Tuesday to discuss his proposal before a Legislative committee in Albuquerque and could launch the beginning of a heated debate going into the next legislative session.
McCamley says a task force on the bill will submit ideas.
Last month, the New Mexico Supreme Court refused to overturn a state law preventing doctors from ending the lives of terminally ill patients. The state's assisted suicide law classifies such act as a fourth-degree felony.
The case involved a Santa Fe woman with advanced uterine cancer who wanted courts to clarify New Mexico's laws preventing her from ending her life and putting doctors at risk.
Payment For Jury Duty Lagging In New Mexico County – The Associated Press & KOAT
Some New Mexico jurors have been left waiting for their pay because money in the payment fund ran out.
Court spokesman Tim Korte told KOAT-TV that the fund that pays jurors is the same one that pays English interpreters, and the Bernalillo County has had to hire more interpreters than expected.
Jury duty pays $6.75 per hour in addition to mileage.
Court officials say it usually takes up to six weeks for jurors to be paid. KOAT-TV says it obtained a receipt showing that one juror who served in March wasn't paid until July.
Korte says the priority is to provide interpreters for defendants and jurors. He says anyone still waiting on a check for jury duty can expect to receive it soon.
New Mexico Permanent Funds Shrink Amid Energy Bust – The Associated Press
Rainy day funds overseen by the state of New Mexico have been drawn down by almost 2 percent during the past year as spending on public education and infrastructure projects outpaces investment income and revenues linked to the oil and natural gas industries.
The New Mexico State Investment Council said Monday that assets declined by $386 million to $20.19 billion for the 12-month period ending June 30. Most of those assets are held in the state's Land Grant Permanent and Severance Tax funds that help fund public schools and infrastructure projects across the state.
Preliminary figures for the fiscal year show a positive return on managed investments of about half of 1 percent — well below targets. Investment council spokesman Charles Wollmann says assets declined because distributions outpaced inflows.
Supreme Court Sides With State In Financial Settlements – The Associated Press
The New Mexico Supreme Court will not intervene in settlement agreements that pave the way for the state to recover $1.3 million in connection politically influenced investment deals dating back to the administration of former Gov. Bill Richardson.
New Mexico State Investment Council spokesman Charles Wollmann said Monday that a flurry of recent actions from the Supreme Court mark significant progress in the state's efforts to hold accountable people who profited improperly from state investments.
The court orders represent a setback for former state pension fund officer turned whistleblower Frank Foy in his fight with the State Investment Council over its handling of settlements with investment firms that paid their way into managing state funds.
Dine College To Add 3 New Degree Programs
Dine is adding three bachelor degree programs as part of an ongoing effort to expand the school's undergraduate offerings.
The Daily Times reports that the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools approved Dine College's proposal to add programs in biology, psychology and secondary education on July 1.
Dine College already offered Bachelor of Arts in business administration and Bachelor of Arts in elementary education and 19 associate degree programs and six certificate programs.
The college received funding from a federal Title 111 grant and a $2.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to help fund the programs.
Two new certificates will also be offered in the fall: computer technology and geographic information systems.