Albuquerque Police Eye Ferguson Developments – The Associated Press
Albuquerque police say they're monitoring developments as a grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri, mulls whether to indict a police officer who fatally shot an unarmed teenager in the St. Louis suburb.
An Albuquerque police spokesman says the city is preparing for possible protests and unrest following a decision.
Albuquerque has seen its own string of angry demonstrations following the March police shooting of a homeless camper and more than 40 police shootings since 2010.
Bill Bradley, who has helped organize Albuquerque demonstrations, says a coalition of groups will hold a peaceful rally at 6 p.m. the day after the Ferguson decision.
Attorneys for the family of the slain 18-year-old, Michael Brown, are urging restraint by protesters and police when a decision is announced about whether Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson will face criminal charges.
Convicted NM Ex-Sheriff New Trial Effort Hits Snag - The Associated Press
A federal judge has tossed a claim that a key witness wasn't truthful in a case involving a convicted former northern New Mexico sheriff.
U.S. District Judge James Browning ruled Thursday that Michael Tafoya did not lie in his testimony about former Rio Arriba County Sheriff Thomas Rodella.
Attorneys for Rodella are seeking a new trial over claims two key witnesses lied in their testimony.
Rodella was found guilty on Sept. 26 of brandishing a firearm and deprivation of rights against Tafoya following a four-day trial.
During the hearing in Albuquerque, Browning did allow Rodella's lawyers more time to gather evidence against another witness.
Rodella faces 17 years in prison at his sentencing set for Dec. 26.
No Charges For Officers In March Police Shooting - The Associated Press
Bernalillo County's district attorney says a New Mexico State Police officer and Albuquerque police officer won't face charges in connection with the shooting death of a 22-year-old man during a standoff.
District Attorney Kari Brandenburg said Friday that there was no probable cause to bring charges against either of the officers.
Authorities say New Mexico State Police SWAT officer Shane Todd shot and killed Kendall Carroll during a four-hour standoff in March at an Albuquerque apartment complex.
Albuquerque officer Michael Hernandez also exchanged gunfire with Carroll but did not hit him.
Investigators believe that Carroll previously had deliberately shot an Albuquerque officer in the lower back after the officer responded to an assault call.
Judge Oks New Mexico Prison Inmates Settlement - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal
A federal judge has approved a settlement under which New Mexico will pay $750,000 to approximately 500 current and former prison inmates who were forced to strip and sit front to back for long periods.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that District Judge Christina Armijo approved the settlement Thursday, more than a year after the sides reached the agreement following months of negotiations and two mediations.
The class-action lawsuit was filed in 2011 after inmates claimed they were subjected to the so-called "strip and straddle" practice in 2009 and 2010 at the Los Lunas Correctional Facility.
Officials said the practice used to control inmates during unrest or emergencies has been halted, and a Corrections Department lawyer said it won't resume.
The settlement provides per-inmate payments ranging from $528 to $2,114.
NM Water Panel To Get Gila Recommendation - The Associated Press
The staff of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission is scheduled to deliver its recommendation on whether a diversion and storage system should be built along the Gila River.
The commission is discussing the river's future at its meeting Friday in Silver City.
Under the Arizona Water Settlement Act, New Mexico faces a Dec. 31 deadline for deciding whether to divert a portion of the river or invest in conservation measures aimed at stretching the region's water supply.
Opponents argue a diversion project could result in a billion-dollar boondoggle. But municipal leaders and farmers in southwestern New Mexico say diversion would provide some assurance in times of drought.
The staff's recommendation comes after years of discussion and a flurry of recent engineering and economic studies by paid consultants.
NM Democratic Chairman To Step Down - The Associated Press
The chairman of New Mexico's Democratic Party, who led the party during its recent historic loss of the New Mexico House, won't seek a second term.
Sam Bregman announced in a recent email that he was taking full responsibility for losses among Democrats.
Republicans gained control of the New Mexico House for the first time in six decades and Gov. Susan Martinez was re-elected by a wide margin.
The Albuquerque attorney wrote that despite the losses he was still proud of the state's Democratic candidates.
No new chairman candidates have come forward.
Lea County Faces Lawsuit In Death Of Gay Man - The Associated Press
The family of a gay New Mexico man who was abducted and brutally beaten to death is suing a sheriff's office for not protecting him.
A lawyer for the family of Leon Sanchez filed a federal lawsuit last week against Lea County Sheriff's Department and accused the agency of not properly investigating the case.
According to the lawsuit, authorities were notified in November 2011 by a security company about an alarm at the Lovington home of 49-year-old Sanchez. The lawsuit says a deputy who responded arrived to an empty house, saw unfinished meals but cleared the call.
Deputies say Sanchez and 44-year-old Frank McClain were later found dead in a nearby pasture.
The family is seeking an unspecified amount in damages.
Lea County Manager Mike Gallagher and Sheriff Mark Hargrove did not return an email from The Associated Press.
Statewide Election Canvass Set For Nov. 25 - The Associated Press
The State Canvassing Board is to meet later this month to approve results of the general election and order a recount in the race for state land commissioner.
It will be the first recount in a contest for a statewide office since New Mexico enacted a law in 2008 for automatic recounts when the margin between the top two candidates is less than one-half of 1 percent.
The board is made up of the governor, secretary of state and chief justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court and is scheduled to meet Nov. 25th.
Unofficial returns in the land commissioner's race show Republican Aubrey Dunn with 51.1 percent of the vote, ahead of Democratic incumbent Ray Powell by 1,353 votes.
Push For New Mexico Right-To-Work Law Anticipated - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal
A Republican legislative leader says the GOP's capture of majority control of the state House means New Mexico may enact legislation to bar labor contracts that require workers to be union members.
Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle says passage of right-to-work legislation would help New Mexico compete in economic development with neighboring states which already have such laws.
While Republican Gov. Susana Martinez supports right-to-work legislation, the Albuquerque Journal reports that it's unclear whether Martinez will make it a priority during her second term.
Democrats still control the Senate, but union leaders say they expect a push to pass right-to-work legislation.
Carter Bund of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees says union leaders hope some Republicans will join Democrats in defeating the legislation.
Flake, Udall Working To Open Cuban Travel, Trade - The Associated Press
U.S. Senators Jeff Flake of Arizona and Tom Udall of New Mexico pledge to continue working to open U.S. travel to Cuba and trade with the island country.
Flake and Udall just returned from a three-day Senate Foreign Relations Committee trip to Cuba.
During the visit, the senators met with Cuban officials, religious and business leaders to discuss the impacts of the embargo and travel restrictions on American and Cuban families.
Udall says "the time is right to rebuild business and cultural ties" between the countries.
Flake says "it's time to take common-sense steps to support entrepreneurs, expand the participation of U.S. businesses in the Cuban economy and lift the ban on non-Cuban American U.S. citizens travelling to the island."
Navajo Fluency Requirement Remains Unchanged - The Associated Press
A bid to resurrect a bill that would let Navajos decide which political candidates are fluent in the tribe's language has failed.
Navajo President Ben Shelly vetoed the bill last month, saying it would benefit one presidential candidate who was disqualified for failing to show he could speak fluent Navajo.
Navajo lawmakers took up a measure to override the veto Thursday during a special session in Window Rock. It failed to get enough votes to pass.
Lawmakers approved another bill to stiffen penalties for crimes on the reservation.
They sent a bill supporting a land divide between the Navajo and Zuni tribes back to a council committee.
Still left on the agenda are proposals to impose a junk food tax, and address term limits for the tribal president and lawmakers.
Navajo Court Hears Challenge In President's Race - The Associated Press
Attorneys in a case challenging a Navajo Nation presidential candidate's qualifications sparred yesterday over loyalty to the tribe.
Onetime presidential hopeful Myron McLaughlin filed an election grievance against Russell Begaye earlier this month, seeking to have Begaye removed from the race. It stems from Begaye's time as a shareholder representative for the Navajo Nation Oil and Gas Company.
Arguments resume today in Window Rock.
Begaye, who replaced a disqualified candidate, faces Joe Shirley Jr. in the Dec. 23 presidential election.
Santa Fe County Woman Gets Prison In Son's Death - The Associated Press
A 25-year-old Santa Fe County woman has been sentenced to prison on convictions stemming from her 3-year-old son's beating death in 2011.
Tabetha Van Holtz of Pojoaque was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty in March to charges of child abuse and abandonment resulting in great bodily harm in Leland Valdez's death.
Van Holtz was sentenced to nine years in prison but two years were suspended and she'll get credit for time spent under home arrest. With credit for good behavior, she could be released within two years.
Van Holtz's then-boyfriend, Steven Gallegos, was sentenced July 29 to 17 years in prison in the boy's death.