New Mexico Legislature Heads Into Final Stretch – The Associated Press
New Mexico lawmakers are scrambling to wrap up work on dozens of bills before noon Saturday, and some significant initiatives are still hanging in the balance.
A $6.2 billion budget bill is still sparking last-minute bickering among Republicans and Democrats.
And the fate of hundreds of millions of dollars in capital outlay projects is still undetermined, as is a bill aimed at boosting state lottery sales.
The session has been historic, with the GOP wielding control in the House for the first time in decades. But with Democrats leading the Senate, the chambers found little common ground on abortion rights, social promotion, a right-to-work initiative and driver's licenses.
Still, both sides have come together on some issues, including bills bolstering protections for children and expanding penalties for offenders.
NM House Concurs With $6.2 Billion Budget Bill - The Associated Press
The New Mexico House of Representatives has unanimously concurred on a $6.2 billion spending proposal for the next fiscal year.
Lawmakers voted 67-0 Friday to agree with Senate amendments to the budget bill largely unchanged from what the House passed last month.
The spending plan includes pay raises for new teachers and state police. Most department budgets remain flat, but education, the state's child welfare agency, public safety, tourism and economic development get more money.
Gov. Susana Martinez and lawmakers have highlighted education as a priority with some of the lowest performing schools in the nation. The bill calls for a $37 million bump for education initiatives.
Adopting a budget was a must-do assignment for lawmakers before the session adjourns Saturday. The bill now goes to Martinez for her signature.
Deming School Employee Accused Of Embezzlement – The Associated Press
An employee with the Deming public school district has been accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from two fundraisers at Bataan Elementary School.
Luna County Sheriff's Capt. Jose Martinez tells The Deming Headlight that 45-year-old Felicita Villa was charged this week. He says she's been ordered to appear in magistrate court.
It was not immediately clear if Villa had a lawyer.
According to a sheriff's report, school officials said they suspected Villa of taking more than $2,400 from a fundraiser that she had been in charge of.
Sheriff's officials say they also learned about $1,580 was missing from a separate fundraiser.
Villa initially denied taking the money during an interview with Martinez, but authorities say she later confessed to using the money to pay bills.
Albuquerque Schools Revamp Schedules For Next Year - The Associated Press
Administrators in New Mexico's largest public school district have announced a schedule change they hope will lead to more academic success.
Albuquerque Public Schools announced the new high school schedule Friday. It will take effect when classes start in the fall.
The schedule is a hybrid of the choices the district considered earlier this month.
It calls for seven 50-minute class periods on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. There will be four 90-minute class periods on Wednesdays and three 90-minute periods with early dismissal on Thursdays.
The early dismissal will allow teachers time for professional development.
School officials say the change allows students to see teachers in their core English and math classes four days a week.
The new schedule also is expected to save the district up to $4.6 million.
2 Navajo Officers Injured In Shootout That Killed Colleague – The Associated Press
Authorities say two Navajo Nation police officers were injured in a shootout on the Arizona-New Mexico border that killed one of their colleagues and a gunman.
Tribal spokesman Deswood Tome said Friday that Officer James Hale was shot in the leg Thursday night, and Officer Herbert Frazier was shot in the shin.
Tome identified the officer killed as Alex Yazzie of the tribe's Shiprock, New Mexico, police district. Officials previously said an officer was killed.
The chase and shooting occurred after police responded to a report of a man armed with an assault rifle who was holding his family hostage near Shiprock.
Tome says 24-year-old Justin Fowler fired at an officer then fled to Red Valley, Arizona, where he was killed by tribal police after he opened fire.
San Miguel County Picks Nominee For Vacant Senate Seat – The Associated Press
Commissioners named Hugh Ley of the Pecos area as their choice to fill the Senate District 39 seat during a special meeting Friday.
Six counties make up the district. Gov. Susana Martinez will choose someone to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Democrat Phil Griego once she has nominees from all the counties.
Santa Fe and Bernalillo County have nominated Democrat Liz Stefanics, a former state lawmaker and a current member of the Santa Fe County Commission.
Lincoln and Torrance counties submitted the names of two Republicans earlier this week.
Valencia County is set to meet Friday afternoon.
New Mexico House Panel Oks Mental-Illness Treatment Bill - The Associated Press
A New Mexico House panel has passed a proposal that would require some residents with severe mental illness to receive court-ordered outpatient treatment.
The House Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to forward the measure on to the full House.
The bill has the support of mental health advocates.
It would allow judges in some counties to order patients to take medication and undergo treatment if they are deemed a danger to themselves and their community.
The sponsor, Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen, described the measure as a modified version of New York's Kendra's law.
That measure was named after Kendra Webdale, a 32-year-old woman who was pushed in front of an oncoming subway train in 1999 by a man battling untreated schizophrenia.
Police Shootings Of Mentally Ill Reveal Gaps In Care - The Associated Press
Mental health advocates say a series of deadly encounters between police and the mentally ill show more must be done to offer care that prevents explosive moments of crisis.
The National Sheriffs' Association says at least half the people shot and killed by police each year have a mental health disorder.
The problem has been highlighted recent confrontations, including two police shootings in Dallas, another in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that triggered large demonstrations.
Advocates say police crisis intervention efforts and diversion courts are helpful in stemming the violence, but more changes are needed, such as modifying state laws that prevent mandatory psychiatric care until a person poses a danger.
Others criticize a hodge-podge of state health systems allow too many people to fall through the cracks.
NM House Approves Gambling Compact As Deadline Draws Near - The Associated Press
The New Mexico House of Representatives has approved a gambling compact negotiated by American Indian tribes and Gov. Susana Martinez's office.
The House voted 61-5 Thursday in favor of one of the last remaining big-ticket items on the calendar before the session wraps up Saturday. The compact still needs the approval of the U.S. Interior Department.
The compact is the result of three years of negotiations among Martinez's office, the Navajo Nation, the Mescalero and Jicarilla Apache tribes, and the pueblos of Jemez and Acoma.
Among other things, the agreement allows casinos to stay open around the clock and to offer complimentary food and lodging.
The Legislature was under pressure to act this session because the current compact with the Navajos and three of other tribes expires in June.
NM Senate Panel Approves Two-Tier Driver's License Bill - The Associated Press
A New Mexico Senate committee has approved a two-tier driver's license bill, sending it on for a full Senate vote.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to approve the measure that calls for two distinct licenses, allowing people in the country illegally to still have driving privileges.
The bill by Republican Sen. Stuart Ingle of Portales and Democratic Sen. John Arthur Smith of Deming calls for one driver's license that complies with federal requirements and another that does not.
The House last month rejected an amendment akin to the long-serving senators' proposal and approved a bill to end the state's practice of giving driver's licenses to people even if they can't prove they are in the country legally.
More than 100,000 licenses have been issued to foreign nationals since 2003.
New Mexico Supreme Court Denies Senate Vacancy Petition - The Associated Press
The New Mexico Supreme Court has denied an emergency petition that was filed in an effort to speed up the process for filling a state Senate vacancy.
The court issued a brief order Thursday but offered no explanation for the decision.
Anthony and Jennifer Trujillo of Santa Fe County and Rick Lopez, chair of the Torrance County Republican Party, filed the petition Monday.
They sought to force Bernalillo, Santa Fe, San Miguel and Valencia counties to call emergency meetings so nominees could be chosen for the seat left vacant by the abrupt resignation of Democratic Sen. Phil Griego.
Bernalillo County nominated Santa Fe County Commissioner Liz Stefanics on Wednesday. The other counties plan to meet Friday to name their selections.
Gov. Susana Martinez will choose from the list of nominees.
Bill To Limit Lobbying By Former Officials Stalls In Senate - The Associated Press
A measure that would keep former elected leaders and other state officials from lobbying for two years after leaving their government positions has stalled in the New Mexico Senate.
The bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Jim Dines of Albuquerque cleared the House last week, but the Senate Rules Committee voted 7-1 Wednesday to table the measure.
Supporters say it's aimed at bringing more integrity to government.
But the Albuquerque Journal reports that skeptical senators argued lawmakers would be denied a valid career path after leaving the Legislature.
A number of other states have similar lobbying limits in place, and Gov. Susana Martinez had voiced support for the proposal.
Martinez imposed a similar moratorium to keep administration officials from lobbying executive state agencies or the Legislature for two years after leaving their jobs.
New Mexico Senate Oks Bill To Overhaul Powerful Water Panel - The Associated Press
The New Mexico Senate has approved legislation that would revamp the membership of the power Interstate Stream Commission.
The bill sponsored by Democratic Sen. Peter Wirth of Santa Fe cleared the chamber Thursday on a 28-13 vote. It now heads to the House for consideration.
Under the measure, there would be new criteria for appointing commissioners and one of the positions on the panel would have to be filled by a conservation advocacy organization.
The Office of the State Engineer has argued that changing the commission's membership would cause disruption in its operations as New Mexico faces one of the most severe droughts in over a century.
Supporters say the bill would provide more political and geographic balance in addition to requiring a minimum of professional water resources experience.
New Rule Clears Way For NM Oil Producers To Reuse Water - The Associated Press
New Mexico regulators have adopted a rule allowing oil and gas developers to reuse water produced during drilling operations.
The state Oil Conservation Commission says the rule will reduce the industry's use of fresh water by promoting recycling and reuse. The rule includes requirements for the storage of so-called produced water and for the protection of fresh water sources.
Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Secretary David Martin described the provisions as common-sense.
The commission approved the rule following a public hearing. It will take effect March 31.
Critics say the rule offers another way for companies to store contaminated water.
Pete Dronkers with the nonprofit Earthworks tells the Santa Fe New Mexican that the goal should be to eliminate the use of all fresh water in drilling operations.
Official: Navajo Police Officer, Gunman Killed In Shooting - The Associated Press
Officials say a Navajo police officer and a gunman are dead following a shooting Thursday in the Four Corners region of northern Arizona.
Tribal spokesman Rick Abasta says police responded to reports of a man armed with an assault rifle holding his family hostage near the northern New Mexico town of Shiprock.
He says the suspect fired on an officer and then fled the scene, setting off a manhunt that stretched into nearby Arizona.
Abasta says that around 10:30 p.m., the office of Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly received word that the suspect shot and killed one Navajo officer and wounded another.
He says the suspect was also killed in the shooting near Red Valley, Arizona.
The wounded officer was treated at Shiprock Medical Center, but there was no word on a condition.
No other information was immediately available, including names.
Las Cruces Man Gets Federal Prison Term For Drug Trafficking - The Associated Press
A Las Cruces man has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison in a prescription drug trafficking case.
Prosecutors say 21-year-old Kyle Mendenhall also was sentenced Thursday in a Las Cruces federal court to three years of supervised release after serving his prison term.
They say Mendenhall was a member of a Las Cruces-based prescription drug trafficking ring.
He and six other men were charged in a 14-count indictment in December 2012.
According to the indictment, the defendants used fraudulent prescriptions to obtain more than 2,800 Oxycodone pills and 390 Adderall pills from pharmacies in Las Cruces and Alamogordo.
Prosecutors say Mendenhall pleaded guilty in December 2013 to conspiracy and drug distribution charges.