Albuquerque To Award $2M In Contracts To Combat Homelessness – The Associated Press
The city of Albuquerque will award more than $2 million to six nonprofit organizations to help address homelessness and mental health issues.
Mayor Richard Berry announced the funding Tuesday. He says this shows Albuquerque has a heart for the most vulnerable and that it backs up its concern with substantial resources.
Almost half of the money will help with improving access and distribution of food to the homeless and other at-risk people. The funds will go to the Roadrunner Food Bank, St. Martin's and the First Nations Community Health Source.
St. Martin's will get another $625,000 to provide housing and case management services to an additional 60 homeless people with severe mental illness.
Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless and the Supportive Housing Coalition will get funds for housing and case management.
Panel Nominates Santa Fe County Commissioner For Senate Post – The Associated Press
Bernalillo County has nominated a Democratic commissioner from Santa Fe County to fill a vacant state Senate seat.
Bernalillo County commissioners said Wednesday their choice of Liz Stefanics will be forwarded to the governor, who will make a final decision after receiving nominations from five other counties covered by Senate District 39.
Republican Gov. Susana Martinez is awaiting nominations from Santa Fe, San Miguel and Valencia counties. Lincoln and Torrance counties submitted the names of two Republican nominees on Sunday.
The vacancy is the result of the abrupt resignation of Democratic Sen. Phil Griego over an ethics violation that stemmed from his role in the sale of a state-owned building in Santa Fe.
Martinez had wanted to name a replacement before the end of the legislative session on Saturday.
Judge Rules In Favor Of New Mexico's Closed Primary System – The Associated Press
A New Mexico District Court judge has upheld the state's closed primary system against a challenge from an independent voter.
State District Judge Denise Barela-Shepherd said in the ruling issued Wednesday that the state legislature had not exceeded its authority when it set up the process
Currently, only Republicans and Democrats can vote in primary elections — something critics say contributes to low voter turnout.
Albuquerque resident David Crum sought to allow people the right to pick a party on the day of the primary so they can vote.
Turnout dropped 8 percent in the state's June primary election, with only one in five Democratic and Republican voters casting ballots.
Crum's attorney, Ed Hollington, says he plans to appeal the case all the way to the New Mexico Supreme Court.
Fired Officer In New Mexico Minivan Shooting Gets New Job – The Associated Press
A fired New Mexico State Police officer who made national headlines after he shot at a minivan full of children near Taos has a new job.
Taos Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe announced this week that Elias Montoya was one of two new deputies hired out of a pool of 17.
The 12-year veteran was fired in December 2013 after an internal investigation into his use of force during an October shooting. Video footage showed Montoya firing into a van with five children inside during a chaotic traffic stop.
The driver of the minivan, Oriana Farrell, of Memphis, Tenn., faced a number of charges, including aggravated fleeing.
Montoya was later offered his job back at New Mexico State Police but chose to resign instead.
Hogrefe says Montoya's record remains clean and he deserved another chance.
New Mexico Governor Vetoes Racehorse Drug Testing Bill - The Associated Press
Gov. Susana Martinez has vetoed a racehorse drug testing bill that required New Mexico's horse racing regulating body to follow the guidelines for testing set up by an international umbrella organization.
Roswell Republican Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell's bill was unanimously approved by both chambers of the Legislature.
In her veto message to the House, the governor said she finds the legislation "unnecessary and potentially detrimental."
Martinez said that even without it the New Mexico Racing Commission's testing procedures "already meet or exceed the standards" set by the Assn. of Racing Commissioners International.
She said language in the bill "weakens standards by not allowing for the commission to adopt regulations that exceed" the guidelines.
The veto on Tuesday was the first of the legislative session by Martinez.
Senate Panel Tables Renewable Energy Standards Bill - The Associated Press
A Senate panel has tabled a measure that called for reducing the amount of renewable energy sources utilities would have to tap to provide electricity for their customers by 2020.
The Senate Conservation Committee voted 6-2 to keep the bill from advancing.
The measure sponsored by Rep. Larry Scott, R-Hobbs, cleared the House by just one vote last week.
Utilities are facing higher renewable-energy standards this year as numerous states and the federal government push for a reduction in the use of fossil fuels for generating electricity.
New Mexico's standard increased from 10 to 15 percent at the start of the year. It will hit 20 percent in 2020.
The legislation would have eliminating the higher requirement.
Renewable energy supporters say the standard has been working in New Mexico.
Senate Approves Bill To Keep NM On Daylight Saving Time - The Associated Press
The Senate has passed a bill to try and keep New Mexicans from springing forward and falling back every year when it's time to adjust clocks.
The Senate voted 28-10 Tuesday to approve Sen. Cliff Pirtle's bill to stick with daylight saving time year-round.
The Republican farmer from Roswell says changing the clock twice a year is an unnecessary inconvenience.
Some senators referred to the bill as a "family time bill" and a "working man's bill."
Pirtle's bill now moves to the House. If the measure is approved and signed into law, it does not mean the time will be permanently set.
The federal government would have final say by moving New Mexico to Central Standard Time zone and allowing it to keep its clocks unchanged.
Effort To Get Social Promotion Bill Heard In NM Senate Fails - The Associated Press
An attempt to get the full New Mexico Senate to vote on a social promotion bill has failed.
Republican Sen. Bill Sharer of Farmington late Monday asked the bill be removed from Senate committees for a full Senate vote.
The motion failed on a party line 24-17 vote. The bill is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Public Affairs Committee Tuesday.
The legislation is backed by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez. Her plan to end social promotion has faced opposition from Democrats, who say it does not lead to better students.
House Republican leaders say Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez has delayed a vote on a "failed policy of social promotion" bill that passed the House more than a month ago.
Sanchez says it needs to follow the process.
Stun-Gun Rounds In Albuquerque Police Shooting In Question - The Associated Press and KRQE-TV
Stun-gun rounds fired before a deadly Albuquerque police shooting that sparked protests around the city may not have worked.
KRQE-TV in Albuquerque reports Taser International six months before the shooting warned users of XREP rounds, fired from a discontinued X12 shotgun. The warning said the rounds used "after its expiration date may result in malfunctions and lack of effectiveness."
Albuquerque police shot and killed 38-year-old James Boyd during an hours-long standoff in March 2014 after an officer fired the XREP rounds and it did not subdue the homeless camper.
Video of the shooting showed Boyd, who authorities later said suffered from schizophrenia, appearing to surrender before officers opened fire.
Two officers now face murder charges.
A lawyer for one of the officers say the failure of the weapon will play a key role in the criminal defense.
New Mexico Unemployment Rate Drops To 5.9 Percent In January - The Associated Press
New Mexico's unemployment rate is down.
The state Department of Workforce Solutions reports that the seasonally adjusted rate in January was 5.9 percent, down from 6 percent in December and 6.7 percent in January 2014.
The department reports that the state's nonfarm employment had 10,200 more jobs in January compared with January 2014, an increase of 1.3 percent.
According to the department, education and health services led the January increases in employment.
Overall, nine industries added jobs while four lost jobs in January.
New Mexico Rate Of Obesity Among Third-Graders Decreases - The Associated Press
New Mexico health officials report continued progress in reducing childhood obesity.
The Department of Health announced Tuesday that the rate of obesity among third-graders in 2014 was 18.1 percent, down from 19.9 percent in 2013 and down from 22.6 in 2010.
The department also says the obesity rate among kindergarten students in 2014 was the lowest since the state began collecting data in 2010.
Health Secretary Retta Ward says there's more work to be done but that officials are encouraged by the downward trend.
Ward points to benefits from a program that promotes physical activity and healthy eating.
Employee Of Men's Lodge In Alamogordo Accused Of Embezzling - The Associated Press
Authorities say an employee of a men's lodge in Alamogordo has been arrested and accused of embezzling more than $9,200.
Alamogordo police say funds were embezzled from the Fraternal Lodge between April 2014 and December 2014.
Police officers obtained a magistrate court arrest warrant for 46-year-old Jorgen Hallbeck.
Hallbeck was arrested Tuesday and booked into the Otero County Detention Center on a $15,000 bond on suspicion of embezzlement, which is a third-degree felony.
It was unclear if Hallbeck has a lawyer yet for his case and his job title at the lodge wasn't immediately available.
Suspect Wanted In 2008 Killing Of Albuquerque Man Arrested - The Associated Press
Authorities say a suspect wanted in connection with the 2008 killing of an Albuquerque man has been arrested in Mexico.
The U.S. Marshals Service took custody of Mario Jerardo Talavera last Friday.
Talavera now has been booked into New Mexico's Otero County Prison Facility in Chaparral on suspicion of murder, drug trafficking and kidnapping.
Federal prosecutors say Talavera and two associates allegedly killed 53-year-old Danny Baca over a drug deal gone wrong.
They say Baca's burned and bullet-riddled body was found in the West Mesa by the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department.
U.S. Marshals determined Talavera had fled to Mexico. He recently was located in the city of Cuauhtemoc.
Talavera then was arrested by Mexican authorities and deported to the United States.
AG Balderas: New Mexico State Will Be In Elite Eight - The Associated Press
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas is picking New Mexico State's men's team to go to the NCAA's Elite Eight and New Mexico State women to win it all.
The state's Democratic top cop says 15th seed New Mexico State will shock the sports world by beating Kansas, Wichita State and Butler before falling to unbeaten Kentucky in the men's tournament.
The New Mexico State men's basketball team is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year.
Balderas, a New Mexico Highlands graduate, predicts that that 16th seed Aggies will defeat Baylor in the women's NCAA finals. To do so, the Aggies will have to beat No. 1 Maryland in the first round.