Defeated NM Dem Governor Hopeful $690K In Debt – The Associated Press
New Mexico Democratic gubernatorial challenger Gary King not only lost by a historical margin against Republican Gov. Susana Martinez. Records show he was left with a nearly $700,000 debt.
Campaign finance disclosures filed Thursday showed that King's unsuccessful big left him with $691,000 in unpaid bills and an ending balance of only $6,500.
Meanwhile, Martinez reported spending more than $574,000 from Nov. 1 to Thursday and had an ending balance of $246,000.
In the final days of the campaign, Martinez collected $92,000 in contributions while King raised $42,000, of which $25,000 came from personal loans from the Democrat.
Martinez, the nation's only Latina governor, garnered a 15-point re-election victory over King last month. It was the largest margin of victory ever for a Republican governor candidate in New Mexico.
Ex-Officer Sentenced In Fatal Accident – The Associated Press & The ABQ Journal
A former Albuquerque police officer has been sentenced to 90 days in jail for causing a wreck that killed a 21-year-old woman.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Adam Casaus was sentenced on Friday after being found guilty of misdemeanor careless driving. He originally was charged with reckless driving and faced nine years in prison but was convicted of a lesser charge.
Casaus was driving a marked police SUV while off duty on Feb. 10, 2013 when he crashed into a car in northwest Albuquerque. Ashley Browder, who was 21 years old, was killed. Her younger sister was driving and was seriously injured.
Casaus initially claimed he was looking for a drunken driver. He was fired from the police department.
Navajo High Court Takes Challenge In Election Case - The Associated Press
The Navajo Supreme Court has rejected arguments that a hearing officer who ruled in favor of keeping a presidential candidate in the race was unqualified.
Onetime presidential hopeful Myron McLaughlin had challenged Russell Begaye's candidacy by alleging financial improprieties and questioning his loyalty to the tribe.
Richie Nez of the Navajo Office of Hearings and Appeals ruled in favor of Begaye last month.
McLaughlin appealed to the high court and presented a new argument. He says Nez shouldn't have presided over the case because he wasn't state-bar licensed as required by tribal law.
The justices said they presume that Nez's appointment by the tribal president was proper and legal, or that he was serving as a de facto judge.
Written arguments on the appeal are due within the week.
NM Legislative Panel To Discuss Police Reforms - The Associated Press
A New Mexico Legislative panel is set to get an update on an agreement to overhaul the Albuquerque Police Department.
The Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee is scheduled Friday to discuss a U.S. Justice Department blueprint over police reforms.
Representatives from the APD Forward Campaign, a group aimed at fostering community conversations on the coming changes, are expected to tell lawmakers about plans to adopt reforms.
The Justice Department and the city of Albuquerque recently signed an agreement to revamp the police agency following a harsh report into use of force.
Accountant Sentenced To Prison In Fraud Scheme - The Associated Press
A northern New Mexico accountant faces over nine years in prison after being sentenced on convictions stemming from a scheme to defraud the state and federal unemployment insurance systems.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says 42-year-old Jasonn Gonzales of Velarde was sentenced Thursday to 9.25 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He also was ordered to pay over $800,000 in restitution.
Gonzales pleaded guilty in August to charges of conspiracy, mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.
A federal indictment accused Gonzales and a co-defendant of registering fraudulent companies and of fraudulently filing $1.3 million of fraudulent unemployment claims in the names of real people without their knowledge.
Water Woes Among Topics For 8 Governors In Vegas - The Associated Press
Facing ongoing drought, growing populations and dwindling supplies, Western states are talking about capturing every drop of water with projects like dams and diversions.
But some think competition could erode regional cooperation seen as crucial to managing the scarce resource.
Eight Western governors meeting in Las Vegas this weekend are due to talk about water quality and quantity.
Water managers from seven states come to town a couple of days later to talk about making sure 40 million people living in the parched Colorado River basin don't go thirsty.
Conservationist Gary Wockner of the Denver-based advocacy group Save the Colorado says he thinks states and cities are beginning to jostle for position amid a fear of empty buckets.
He calls it a fight for the last legal drop of water.
New Mexico High Court Explains Judicial Pay Ruling - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal
The New Mexico Supreme Court says governors must veto entire sections of the state budget in order to erase specific funding that is included but not itemized.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the Supreme Court on Thursday released an opinion explaining its June 11 decision that judges across the state were entitled to a 5 percent pay raise because Gov. Susana Martinez didn't eliminate money for it with a veto.
The written opinion now serves as legal precedent for other cases.
The Supreme Court said that to properly veto the judicial pay raises opposed by Martinez, she had to veto the entire appropriation for all judicial salaries and benefits.
House Oks Defense Bill With New Mexico Provisions - The Associated Press and Santa Fe New Mexican
A defense policy bill approved by the U.S. House and sent to the U.S. Senate includes several provisions on New Mexico historical and conservation topics.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the bill would transfer management of the Valles Caldera National Preserve to the National Park Service.
It also would create an historical park preserving sites at Los Alamos and elsewhere where the atomic bomb was built, and it would designate 45,000-acre Columbine Hondo Wilderness Area north of Taos.
The House's vote of 300-199 on Thursday sends the measure to the Senate where some Republican senators don't like the addition of various provisions to expand wilderness areas.
Fundraiser Set For Lone Hobbs Survivor Of Crash - The Associated Press and Hobbs News-Sun
The family of a 14-year old Hobbs boy who was the lone survivor in a deadly Texas Panhandle crash is holding an online fundraising campaign.
The Hobbs News-Sun reports relatives for Luis Torres are trying to raise funds for pending funeral and hospital expenses.
The Texas Department of Public Safety says 30-year-old Ryan Painter of Corpus Christi died when his pickup crossed the center line shortly before midnight Saturday north of Vega and struck an oncoming Chevy van.
The van was carrying the boy's father, his mother, 20-year-old sister; and 10-year-old sister.
Doctors say Luis suffered multiple injuries including a broken left femur, spinal injuries, severe lung contusions and small heart and brain contusions.
The campaign is on gofundme.com.
Suspected Gunman In Hours-Long Hunt Found - The Associated Press
Albuquerque police have arrested the suspect that launched a massive manhunt.
Spokesman Tanner Tixier says the man's identity is not being released because he has not been charged with a crime yet.
Police on Monday put Manzano Mesa Elementary School on lockdown for several hours as they searched for the man. Sandia National Laboratories and nearby businesses were also locked down during the four-hour manhunt.
Police had received reports that a man holding a rifle and a handgun was acting suspiciously. Some callers said he was hiding behind trees as if a sniper. Nobody was injured.
Tixier said the man was found in custody in Sandoval County on an unrelated matter yesterday.
New Mexico Sues Nursing Home Chain On Care, Staff – The Associated Press
New Mexico's attorney general is suing a major nursing home chain over allegedly poor care. The lawsuit argues that facilities' thin staffing made it impossible to address resident needs.
The lawsuit's legal strategy could be applied in other states. It targets eight nursing homes run by Preferred Care Partners Management Group, the country's tenth-largest nursing home chain.
The company says it has no immediate comment.
New Mexico says the hours worked by nursing assistants at Preferred Care's facilities were insufficient to meet residents' needs. The lawsuit says understaffing left residents with soiled linens and unable to eat or drink without help.