Business Leaders Throw Support Behind Coal Plant Proposal - The Associated Press
Business leaders are throwing their support behind a utility's plan for dealing with a decades-old coal-fired power plant in northwestern New Mexico that provides power to more than 2 million customers in the Southwest.
The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, Four Corners Economic Development and other groups gathered Thursday in Albuquerque. They warned of economic turmoil if a settlement regarding the plant's future falls through.
The state Public Regulation Commission is close to deciding whether to approve a plan by Public Service Co. of New Mexico to close part of the San Juan Generating Station and replace it with a mix of more coal along with nuclear, natural gas and solar power.
The partial closure will address the federal government's call to reduce haze-causing pollution in the Four Corners region.
Settlement To Change New Mexico's Disability Waiver System – The Associated Press
A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit over claims of wrongly denied or limited services for people with developmental disabilities after the state adopted a new assessment system.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that U.S. District Judge Judith Herrera recently approved the agreement between the state and The Arc of New Mexico, Disability Rights New Mexico and eight individual plaintiffs.
The agreement calls for the state in November to implement a new system for assessing needs.
The lawsuit, filed in January 2014, accused the state of procedural violations under its Developmental Disabilities Waiver program. That program is intended to help those with developmental disabilities obtain access to therapeutic and medical care and other services.
Albuquerque Schools Won't Pay $1.4 Million For PARCC Testing – The Associated Press
Albuquerque Public Schools won't be reimbursing the state education department for this spring's PARCC testing costs.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the school board voted 4-3 on Wednesday night to hold back the $1.4 million reimbursement after audience members at the meeting voiced opposition to PARCC and the new teacher assessments that are partially based on them.
School board members didn't explain their votes. Superintendent Brad Winter and several board members couldn't be reached for comment.
Public Education Secretary Hanna Skandera told The Associated Press on Friday that the district has a responsibility to pay its bills and that there's an expectation for school board members to abide by state and federal laws.
She says she's baffled by the board's decision and that her office is looking at its options.
'Judge Judy' Delivers Speech To Shiprock High School Grads – The Associated Press
The host of the daytime television court show, "Judge Judy," delivered the commencement speech at this year's Shiprock High School graduation.
The Daily Times reports Judy Sheindlin had been announced as the guest speaker after senior Alexus Uentillie won a contest hosted by the "Judge Judy" Facebook page.
Uentillie introduced Sheindlin to fellow classmates at Thursday's ceremony and said her community deserved to have her as a speaker.
Each of the 117 students was given 25 tickets to hand out to friends and family to attend the graduation.
Sheindlin delivered a nearly-20 minute speech to students, sharing tips about how to achieve goals and make a good first impression. She ended her speech by wishing that everyone have a journey that is "a walk in beauty."
Skandera: Less Time On Testing To Help New Mexico Schools – The Associated Press
New Mexico's top public school official says a decision to reduce the time students spend taking tests based on the Common Core standards will make a difference in the state.
Public Education Secretary Hannah Skandera and members of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for Colleges and Career, or PARCC, governing board voted this week to reduce the testing time by about 90 minutes.
They also decided to narrow the testing window to once a year.
Rolled out earlier this year, the testing sparked intense opposition from teachers, parents and students.
Skandera says the changes address criticisms that the testing requirements took away from classroom instruction.
The head of the Albuquerque teachers' union says there are still concerns whether the tests adequately measure critical thinking and problem solving skills.
$6M Settlement For Family Of Albuquerque Man Shot By Police – The Associated Press and KRQE-TV
The family of a schizophrenic man who was fatally shot by Albuquerque police in 2011 has settled a federal civil rights lawsuit for $6 million.
A New Mexico judge ruled last June that two police detectives weren't acting in self-defense when they punched and shot 27-year-old Christopher Torres after a fight in the backyard of his northwest Albuquerque home.
The judge also said the use of deadly force violated Torres' constitutional rights.
KRQE-TV reports the Torres family won a similar suit in state court but the payout was capped at $400,000.
The case then went to federal court where there is no limit and the family settled for $6 million.
Authorities say Torres was shot while police were serving an arrest warrant on a felony charge of aggravated auto burglary.
Bernalillo County DA Wants Fed Probe Into Albuquerque Police- The Associated Press
A New Mexico district attorney who drew national attention for seeking murder charges against two officers wants federal authorities to probe Albuquerque police's bribery investigation into her.
Bernalillo County District Attorney Kari Brandenburg told reporters Thursday that she has asked the U.S. Attorney's Office in Albuquerque to look into the Albuquerque Police Department's investigation.
Last week, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas said he would not to prosecute Brandenburg over allegations of bribery and intimidation of witnesses.
The investigation began after her son Justin Koch was accused in late 2013 by friends of stealing from them. Police say they suspected Brandenburg had contacted the friends and talked about reimbursing them.
Albuquerque police say the investigation was thorough and the information was passed onto the Attorney General's office.
New Mexico Public Defender Gets $400K Emergency Loan - The Associated Press
The New Mexico public defender's office will be able to continue providing legal representation to hundreds of people across the state.
The state Board of Finance on Thursday approved a $400,000 loan for the office. The emergency money will allow contract lawyers to be paid to represent the poor.
Chief Public Defender Jorge Alvarado sought nearly $600,000 for services to some 1,600 people through the end of the fiscal year. He had hoped to lift a hiring freeze but that will likely continue.
In other action, the board denied a request by the Administrative Office of the Courts for $750,000 in emergency money largely for magistrate court operations throughout the state.
Board members suggested the office tap available money in another fund.
Hispanic Ranchers Cite Discrimination In Grazing Suit - The Associated Press
A federal judge is weighing whether to let a case move forward in which a group of Hispanic ranchers is suing the U.S. Forest Service over a decision to limit grazing on historic land grant areas in northern New Mexico.
The ranchers claim the agency is discriminating by trying to push them from land that has been worked by their families for centuries.
U.S. District Judge James Browning heard arguments Thursday on a motion by the Forest Service to dismiss the case. He's expected to make a decision by September.
The ranchers say at stake is a piece of Hispanic culture and the economic viability of several northern New Mexico communities that depend on access to surrounding lands for everything from grazing to fire wood.
The lawsuit centers on a 2010 decision to cut grazing on the Jarita Mesa and Alamosa grazing allotments.
Nursing Home Chain Asks Judge To Dismiss NM Lawsuit - The Associated Press and Santa Fe New Mexican
A Texas-based nursing home chain has asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the New Mexico Attorney General's Office, calling it a case of "greed and opportunism."
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Preferred Care Partners Management Group says lawyers from the Cohen Milstein law firm in Washington, D.C., pushed New Mexico to sue.
The lawsuit claims the company keeps staffing levels so low that it is impossible to provide good care to residents.
But Preferred Care points to a New York Times article about lawyers who lobby AGs to sue large companies in exchange for a percentage of any cash award. It mentions former AG Gary King's case against Preferred Care.
Current AG Hector Balderas fired back at the company, saying his office is trying to protect the state's most vulnerable populations.
Judge Declares Mistrial In Portales Homicide Case - The Associated Press and Portales News-Tribune
Prosecutors say it'll take up to 6 months to set a new murder trial for a Portales man after Judge Stephen Quinn declared a mistrial.
The Portales News-Tribune reports Marvin Silva is charged with hitting 25-year-old Marco Bonilla in the head with a hammer during a fight in November 2009. Seven witnesses testified for full day Wednesday before Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Stover says the pathologists who conducted the victim's autopsy couldn't be brought to court.
Stover says one pathologist moved out of state and another was deployed with the military.
Defense attorney Gary Mitchell says it's vital to bring the original pathologist to court.
Mitchell didn't join the state in subpoenaing the pathologists. Stover says Quinn declared a mistrial because the defense didn't have an opportunity to carry out a subpoena.
Justice Department Eyes Voting Reforms For American Indians - The Associated Press
The U.S. Department of Justice wants to improve access to voting for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Justice Department officials said Thursday the department would seek legislation requiring states with Native American reservations or other tribal lands to locate at least one polling place in a venue selected by tribal governments.
The department sent a letter to Congress with a legislative proposal that also would require states to make voting machines, ballots, and other voting materials and equipment available at these tribally located polling places as they are at other polling places.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch says the changes are needed because "significant and unnecessary barriers" for American Indians and Alaska Natives who seek to cast ballots.
Public Events Not Part Of Clinton's Albuquerque Visit Plans - The Associated Press and Santa Fe New Mexican
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is planning a $2,700 per plate fundraiser for her visit to Albuquerque next month.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports former Albuquerque mayor Martin Chavez has spent months with the Clinton campaign and says the candidate likely won't hold any public events in states that don't have early primaries.
Most party nominations are clinched before the New Mexico primary, set for June 2016.
The June 3 breakfast is being hosted at the home of former U.S. ambassador to Spain and longtime Democratic fundraiser Ed Romero.
Republican Party officials issued a statement Wednesday criticizing the closed-door event. The only conservative candidate to schedule an appearance in New Mexico is Carly Fiorina, who will be the keynote speaker at a $200-per-plate fundraiser on May 30.
53 People In 9 States Sickened After Eating Raw Tuna - The Associated Press
Health officials are investigating a salmonella outbreak likely linked to raw tuna that has sickened 53 people in nine states.
The California Department of Public Health said Thursday that 31 of the cases are there. Other affected states include Arizona, Illinois, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
Ten people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
The source of the outbreak is unknown, but most who fell ill reported eating sushi containing raw tuna.
Salmonella is a bacteria and the most common source of food poisoning in the U.S. It causes diarrhea, cramping and fever.
Health officials say the elderly, young children, pregnant women and people with weak immune systems should not eat raw fish or raw shellfish.
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty To Meth Trafficking In New Mexico - The Associated Press
An Arizona man is facing a five-year sentence in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine in New Mexico.
Prosecutors say 31-year-old Emery Lee Begay, of Lakeside, entered his plea Thursday in federal court in Albuquerque.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Begay will be sentenced to 60 months in federal prison followed by at least three years of supervised release.
Begay and a co-defendant were arrested in October 2014.
Authorities say Begay delivered more than 22 grams of methamphetamine to undercover officers in Socorro County, New Mexico.
Begay has been in federal custody since his arrest and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
Ex-Top Female Boxer Holm Schedules Next UFC Fight - The Associated Press
The world's former No. 1-rated female boxer has scheduled her next Ultimate Fighting Championship bout.
The UFC announced Thursday that undefeated Holly Holm will face Farmersville, California teacher Marion Reneau on July 15 in San Diego.
Currently ranked tenth in the world in the bantamweight division, the New Mexico-born Holm is coming off her first UFC win over Raquel Pennington in February.
Holm, a 33-year-old Albuquerque boxer turned mixed martial arts fighter, signed with the world's largest mixed martial arts promotion last year after months of negotiations.
Fans had hope Holm's signing and entry into UFC would led to an eventual fight with UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.