New Mexico House Democrats Elect Egolf As Leader - The Associated Press
New Mexico House Democrats have chosen a new leader now that they'll be the minority in that legislative chamber.
Democratic representatives over the weekend elected Rep. Brian Egolf of Santa Fe to serve as the House minority leader when the Legislature begins its 2015 session on Jan. 20.
Egolf defeated three other candidates to win election on the first ballot Saturday as House Democrats reorganized after the Nov. 4 election saw Republicans win a majority of the House.
Democratic lawmakers also elected Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton of Albuquerque as minority whip and Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero of Albuquerque as caucus chair.
The current House speaker, Rep. Ken Martinez of Grants, will remain in the Legislature, but he decided against seeking a leadership post again.
New Mexico Commission Makes Gila River Decision - The Associated Press
New Mexico's most powerful water planning commission has voted to take advantage of federal funding to build a diversion and storage system along the Gila River.
The Interstate Stream Commission also decided during a meeting Monday in Albuquerque that some of the money will go toward other projects aimed at stretching the drought-stricken region's water supplies.
The commission's vote comes after more than 200 meetings, volumes of public comment and a lawsuit that challenged the transparency of the planning process.
Under a 2004 settlement with Arizona, New Mexico is entitled to an average of about 4.5 billion gallons a year.
Supporters say New Mexico has a rare chance to develop a new source of water, but critics say the price tag of diversion could reach $1 billion.
Ruling Sides With Navajo Presidential Candidate - The Associated Press
A Navajo Nation presidential candidate has won a round in a case challenging his qualifications.
Onetime presidential hopeful Myron McLaughlin sought to have Russell Begaye removed from the race.
McLaughlin says Begaye wrongfully benefited from Navajo Nation Oil and Gas Company funds and questioned Begaye's loyalty to the tribe.
The Navajo Office of Hearings and Appeals sided with Begaye in a ruling Monday. Hearing officer Richie Nez says Begaye's actions as a shareholder representative for the company did not constitute disloyalty. He also says Begaye received money he was owed for attending meetings.
The ruling is subject to appeal. McLaughlin's attorney didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Begaye is set to face Joe Shirley Jr. for the tribe's top elected post.
Lawmakers Want $50M Into State Development Fund - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal
Lawmakers and Gov. Susana Martinez are asking that millions of dollars be added to a state fund in the hope of creating more jobs.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the legislative Jobs Council is recommending that $50 million be earmarked for a state "closing fund" in the coming year.
That sum is more than triple the $15 million appropriated this year.
Lawmakers say closing funds in other states are much bigger and give them an edge in courting businesses and developing jobs.
The fund comes from discretionary grant money made available under the Local Economic Development Act.
Motorcyclist Killed After Collision In Belen - The Associated Press
New Mexico State Police say a 16-year-old boy has died after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a vehicle in Belen.
Authorities say a motorcycle driven by Tanner Wooley hit the passenger side of a car at the intersection of Third and Reinken shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday.
Wooley was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver, 33-year-old Dejohni Orndorff, was treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
State police believe alcohol may be a contributing factor in the accident.
Woman's Child Abandonment Conviction Overturned - The Associated Press
An appellate court ruling says it's not a crime under New Mexico's child abandonment law to put a 2-year-old child to bed in a locked bedroom and ignore the child's cries during the night.
The state Court of Appeals overturned Jennifer Stephenson's child abandonment conviction in a Santa Fe County case.
She'd put her son to bed and went to sleep in her own room. During the night, he climbed onto a dresser, which tipped over and pinned his legs.
Stephenson took the boy to a hospital in the morning after the father discovered the boy was pinned.
Doctors said the boy's injuries indicated he'd been pinned for hours and would have been screaming.
The appellate court said Tuesday it's not abandonment when a person means to return.
1 Dead, 1 In Custody In Raton Shooting - The Associated Press
Authorities say they have arrested a man suspected of fatally shooting another man in a Raton neighborhood.
Police say officers responding to calls of shots fired shortly before noon Saturday found the victim with multiple gunshot wounds.
The victim was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Investigators took 21-year-old Anthony Garcia into custody.
Garcia faces one count of murder as well as multiple other counts, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and abuse of a child.
Garcia is currently being held at the Vigil Maldonado Center.
The victim's identity has not been released.
Police did not say what was the motive behind the shooting,
New Mexico Commission To Make Gila River Decision – The Associated Press
The Interstate Stream Commission is set to vote today on how to manage the state's share of the Gila River.
The vote comes after more than 200 meetings and complaints about transparency.
The commission is facing a December 31st deadline for deciding whether to accept federal funds to build a diversion and storage system along the Gila.
Under a 2004 settlement with Arizona, New Mexico is entitled to an average of about 4.5 billion gallons a year. Up to $128 million in federal funding would be available if the state builds a diversion system, or about half that if other water projects are pursued.