LANL Cuts Corners On WIPP Waste - The Santa Fe New Mexican
Los Alamos National Laboratory officials took shortcuts when preparing nuclear waste for shipment to the nation’s only underground nuclear waste storage facility. That’s according to an investigation by The Santa Fe New Mexican.
The paper reported this weekend that changes in the treatment of waste went undocumented and resulted in an explosive combination of toxic materials.
According to public records, LANL officials failed to emphasize the dangers and neglected to provide critical information to Waste Isolation Pilot Plant officials.
In February, one of the LANL drums stored at WIPP burst open and leaked radiation into the facility, then out ventilation shafts, contaminating at least 20 workers.
The drum would not have been cleared for transport to WIPP – or storage there – had lab officials described its contents accurately.
Force Figured In Some Albuquerque Police Firings - The Associated Press, The Albuquerque Journal
More than a quarter of the Albuquerque Police Department officers fired in recent years were dismissed as a result of an incident in which force was used.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that 17 Albuquerque officers have been fired since 2010 and that five of those firings involved use-of-force allegations. Other considerations also figured in the cases.
The 12 dismissals that didn't involve use of force included six officers fired for policy violations and four who were indicted in criminal cases. The final two officers were still in probationary periods, and they were dismissed without stated reasons.
Use of force by Albuquerque officers figured a recently approved agreement between the city and the U.S. Department of Justice.
The agreement calls for numerous changes to department policies and practices.
Santa Fe Judge Tosses Citations Under Old Pot Law - The Associated Press, The Santa Fe New Mexican
Santa Fe's city judge is dismissing citations issued by police for misdemeanor marijuana violations because the City Council has decided that people possessing small amounts of pot should instead be charged with a civil infraction.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that city employees were caught by surprise when the council August approved a new ordinance outright instead of having voters decide the issue.
The new ordinance took effect in September, but city employees didn't have new forms ready to charge violators with a civil infraction instead of a criminal violation.
Municipal Court Judge Ann Yalman says she's been dismissing citations filed under the old law because she no longer has jurisdiction.
Police say they'll stop sending misdemeanor citations to Municipal Court.
Las Cruces Council To Meet On Minimum Wage Changes - The Associated Press, The Las Cruces Sun-News
The Las Cruces City Council is set to meet over a proposed repeal of a minimum wage ordinance.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that city councilors will have a first-reading Monday of the repeal as well as possible changes to a second minimum wage ordinance that passed in September.
In New Mexico, the current minimum wage is $7.50 per hour.
In June, the council voted in favor of raising wages to $8 per hour starting in July 2015 and then to $8.50 an hour in 2016. The second wage hike proposes a higher increase of $8.40 per hour in 2015 and $10.10 by 2017.
Mayor Ken Miyagishima said last month he would like to see the first phase of the second minimum wage take effect Jan. 1.
Police: Math Teacher Pulled Knife On Student - The Associated Press
A New Mexico middle school teacher is accused of threatening a student with a knife for talking during a pop quiz.
Bernalillo Police Chief Tom Romero says Benjamin Nagurski was arrested Friday after school officials took him out of the classroom.
A criminal complaint says the 63-year-old math teacher threatened a student with the knife and told him to stop talking.
The complaint says Nagurski told investigators he only shook the knife in his hand and then apologized.
Nagurksi faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of an unlawful weapon. The school principal told police he had a rounded steak knife, and another knife with a sharp tip and a wooden handle.
Nagurski is jailed on $10,000 bail. It isn't known if he has an attorney.
A school official didn't return a message seeking comment.
New Mexico Dem Tapped To Head Campaign Committee - The Associated Press
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has tapped Rep. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico to head the party's campaign committee.
Lujan, who was elected in 2008, will succeed New York Rep. Steve Israel as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Lujan led the committee's Latino Council this past election.
Pelosi made the announcement through Twitter, saying Lujan's vision, energy and leadership will mean victory for Democrats in 2016.
Democrats lost at least a dozen seats in the midterm elections as Republicans romped.
Police: Suspect Tries To Escape Via Ceiling Tiles - The Associated Press
New Mexico State Police say a woman suspected of stealing a vehicle tried to escape from custody by climbing through ceiling tiles at a hospital where she was being treated.
KOB-TV reports that police say Shylen Salazar got into the ceiling above her hospital bed and hid there for more than an hour before authorities found her.
Salazar had been arrested on suspicion of possessing a stolen truck. She was held in jail, where police say she told the guards she swallowed a batch of drugs to hide them from authorities.
Police say she was rushed to the hospital last week and then attempted the escape.
Salazar is facing charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and escaping from police custody.
It wasn't known if she had an attorney.