Albuquerque Officials Briefed On Scathing Taser Audit - The Associated Press
Albuquerque City Councilors briefed on a recent scathing state audit that uncovered a cozy relationship involving a former police chief and Taser International have varied opinions on the review.
Some want to look into tightening the city's procurement codes, while one questions how much disclosure is necessary by city officials and workers who might work as contractors.
Two councilors last year requested a risk review after becoming concerned about a nearly $2 million no-bid contract for body cameras and video storage software awarded to Arizona-based Taser.
State Auditor Time Keller briefed elected officials Monday on the yearlong review that found a rampant disregard and circumventing of the city's competitive contract process. He urged the city to require the highest level of disclosure.
Fans Push To Preserve Jim Morrison's New Mexico Home – The Associated Press
Fans of Jim Morrison, the late singer for The Doors, are in a push to preserve his childhood home in New Mexico.
KOAT-TV reports that a group of fans want his northeast Albuquerque home designated a historical site.
Historian and fan Anthony Gomez says because Morrison spent important years in New Mexico's biggest city, his childhood home should be protected as a remembrance.
The 1960s singer of hits such as "Light My Fire" and "Riders on the Storm" lived in Albuquerque from age 12 to 14 while his father worked at Kirtland Air Force Base. The young Morrison attended Monroe and Wilson middle schools.
His family later moved to Alexandria, Virginia.
The Melbourne, Florida-born Morrison died in July 1971 at the age of 27 in a Paris bathtub.
US Court Dismisses Appeal of Sandoval County Election Order – The Associated Press
A federal appeals court has dismissed an appeal of a judge's order that required Sandoval County to use more election polling places and machines in the 2014 election.
The Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday said the case is now moot because the 2014 election has already been held.
A U.S. District Court judge had ordered Sandoval County to increase polling places and machines after voting precincts were consolidated into voting centers for the 2012 election.
That resulted in hours-long lines at polling places in Republican-leaning Rio Rancho, an Albuquerque suburb that is the county's most populous city.
The judge called that a "complete disaster."
The county had appealed, but the 10th Circuit declined before the 2014 election was held to accelerate its review of the case.
Santa Fe Opera Announces 2016 Season, Millions In Upgrades – The Associated Press
Officials with the Santa Fe Opera are celebrating tens of millions of dollars in upgrades at the opera house as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Nestled in the foothills surrounding New Mexico's capital city, the open-air opera has embarked on a $35 million effort to improve everything from the box office to spaces backstage that haven't been touched since 1968.
General Director Charles MacKay says the initial phase is done and ready for the first performance on July 1.
MacKay detailed the lineup for the 2016 season during a news conference Tuesday. There will be five different operas, including Puccini's "La Fanciulla del West."
MacKay says the opera is in good shape financially and expects to have a balanced budget this year. Ticket sales are just slightly behind last year.
New Mexico Woman In Flashing Lights Free Speech Lawsuit - The Associated Press
A New Mexico woman cited for flashing her headlights at an oncoming car with police officer inside says the ticket violates her free speech rights.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Mariah Martinez filed a motion last week alleging the city of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, is violating the First Amendment rights of drivers by pulling them over for flashing their lights or honking their horns.
The local ordinance sets a penalty of up to 90 days in jail.
Martinez's lawyers say cars are equipped with horns and lights for communicating. They also argue that the ordinance is instilling fear in Rio Rancho drivers, chilling this form of speech.
A city spokeswoman said the city doesn't comment on pending litigation.
Court Says Trial Of Sheriff's Deputy For DWI Can Continue – The Associated Press
The state Supreme Court has rejected a sheriff deputy's claim of double jeopardy in a DWI case.
The Santa Fe New Mexicanreports that a state Supreme Court justice wrote Monday that it is difficult to piece together exactly what happened after Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Deputy Abraham Baca of Canjilon was arrested on suspicion of aggravated DWI five years ago.
Documentation about the case's dismissal in a lower court is incomplete and the judge later said he would not have acquitted Baca without more evidence.
The District Court says the dismissal was a matter of procedural error and that Baca is not being made to stand trial twice for the same crime.
Baca's attorney Ben A. Ortega says he will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.
Most New Mexico Teachers Still Rated Effective Or Better - The Associated Press
State officials say nearly three-fourths of New Mexico's teachers rated "effective" or better under a much-debated evaluation system partly based on student achievement.
The New Mexico Public Education Department announced Monday that around 47 percent of teacher evaluated were deemed effective while 24 percent were graded highly effective.
Around 2.5 percent were rated "exemplary."
About 26 percent of teachers were graded "minimally effective" or "ineffective."
According to the report, a slightly smaller percentage of teachers rated as "effective" or better compared to last year.
Public Education Secretary Hanna Skandera told The Associated Press the report is a "game changer" since it utilized data like teacher attendance and surveys, although districts can decide how that information is used.
Earlier this year, a state appeals court refused to block New Mexico's teacher evaluation system amid criticism from some educators and union officials.
Navajo Nation Bill Proposes Ban On Single-Use Plastic Bags – The Associated Press
A Navajo Nation lawmaker wants his colleagues to consider banning retailers on the reservation from single-use plastic bags.
Legislation that's up for public comment would ban plastic bags and impose a fee on paper grocery bags. It encourages retailers to provide reusable bags at little or no cost, or provide boxes to customers.
Jonathan Nez, the tribe's vice president-elect, is sponsoring the bill in the Navajo Nation Council. He must find a co-sponsor before he's sworn in as vice president on May 12 for the bill to move forward.
Violating the ban more than once would carry a financial penalty.
Arizona lawmakers recently voted to make it illegal for cities to impose bag bans, but the law doesn't affect the Navajo Nation or other American Indian tribes.
Woman Files Suit Claiming Flashing Lights Free Speech - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal
A woman who flashed her headlights at an oncoming car and was cited by the driver of the vehicle — a police officer — is challenging a city ordinance about driving in a way that distracts motorists and disturbs the peace.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Mariah Martinez filed a motion last week alleging Rio Rancho is violating the First Amendment rights of drivers by pulling them over for flashing their lights or honking their horns.
The ordinance sets a penalty of up to 90 days in jail.
Martinez's lawyers say cars are equipped with horns and lights for communicating. They further argue that the ordinance is instilling fear in Rio Rancho drivers, chilling this form of speech.
A city spokeswoman said the city doesn't comment on pending litigation.
Los Alamos Lab Worker Seriously Burned In Accident - The Associated Press
A Los Alamos National Laboratory employee is in critical condition after being burned in an accident that also sent eight other workers to the hospital.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that lab spokesman Kevin Roarke says the accident happened around noon Sunday and is being investigated.
Los Alamos Medical Center Director of Marketing Mary Beth Maasan says one patient was transported to the burn unit of the New Mexico University Medical Center and another was admitted to the Los Alamos hospital in stable condition.
Seven others were treated and released.
The accident was at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, a late 1960s building that contains a linear accelerator.
The center has been cited for safety issues, including a 2012 incident when a worker unknowingly opened a canister containing uncontrolled radioactive material.
Roswell Woman Is Accused Of Abandoning Her Son At A Cemetery - The Associated Press and KOB-TV
Authorities say a Roswell woman is accused of abandoning her son at a cemetery last weekend.
They say Loraine Olivas is being held at the Eddy County Detention Center on suspicion of child abuse, abandonment and interference with a child abuse investigation.
It was unclear Monday if she has a lawyer yet.
KOB-TV reports that an Amber Alert was issued for the boy while police searched for Olivas on Saturday.
A short time later, a woman called police after finding the child wandering and crying alone at Lake Arthur Cemetery.
Carlsbad police located Olivas about 5 miles out of the town after she ran out of gas.
A criminal complaint states Olivas told police she left the child at his father's house, but the man says that did not happen.
Clovis Police Investigate Child's Death As Homicide - The Associated Press
Clovis police say they're investigating the death of an 18-month-old boy as a homicide.
They say the child's mother brought him to the Plains Regional Medical Center early Monday. The boy was unresponsive and emergency room staffers were unable to revive him.
Police say the child had multiple suspicious injuries, which prompted the investigation.
Police Captain Patrick Whitney says details of the injuries are being withheld so as not to jeopardize the investigation. He also declined to release the child's name.
The Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque will do an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Police are interviewing the child's mother, other children from the home and other possible witnesses. State child protective services officials have also been notified.
Carly Fiorina To Headline New Mexico GOP Fundraiser - The Associated Press
Former technology executive and GOP presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina is headlining a fundraiser for the Republican Party of New Mexico.
Fiorina, likely the only prominent woman to seek the GOP nomination, is scheduled to speak at the "Silver Elephant Event" in Albuquerque on May 30.
The state party uses the annual fundraiser for Republican candidates in New Mexico and comes months after the GOP gained control of the state House chamber.
The 60-year-old Fiorina chose a nationally broadcast morning network news show on Monday to announce her candidacy, and she also posted a video.
The former chief executive of Hewlett-Packard Co., appearing on ABC's "Good Morning America," said she understands "executive decision-making."