Records: $24,000 In Bonuses For State's VA Leaders – The Associated Press
Five top administrators in the Veterans Affairs' health care system in New Mexico received more than $24,000 in bonuses in 2013 despite complaints from veterans about lapses and delays in care.
Documents obtained by The Associated Press through a Freedom of Information request show the director of the New Mexico system collected more than $8,700 in 2013.
Nearly 100 other employees — from emergency room doctors to surgeons — shared more than $2.4 million in performance pay last year.
Bonuses for VA administrators nationwide have been a point of contention since investigators following up on whistleblower complaints discovered large-scale improprieties in the way hospitals and clinics around the country scheduled veterans for appointments.
Tens of thousands of patients, including veterans in New Mexico, waited months to see a doctor.
Democrat Holds Money Edge In Attorney General Race - The Associated Press
Candidates for governor and other offices are disclosing their fundraising as campaigns prepare for the closing stretch to Election Day.
New finance reports show Democrat Hector Balderas holding a more than 8-to-1 campaign cash advantage over Republican Susan Riedel.
Balderas spent nearly $335,000 in the past month, leaving cash-on-hand of almost $602,000 as of last week. Riedel had a balance of about $70,000 after spending more than $161,000.
The latest finance reports filed with the secretary of state's office cover campaign fundraising and spending from Sept. 2 through Oct. 6.
In the governor's race, incumbent Republican Susana Martinez had cash-on-hand of $3.8 million at the start of September while Democratic challenger Gary King reported a cash balance of nearly $158,000.
The gubernatorial candidates are to file new reports today.
Group Raises $1 Million For Legislative Races - The Associated Press
A political committee helping Democrats in legislative races has raised nearly $1.1 million in the past month.
A new campaign finance report shows that labor unions were the top donors to Patriot Majority New Mexico, giving about $987,000.
The group is a "super PAC" that's free from campaign contribution limits because it independently advocates the election or defeat of candidates.
The PAC received $400,000 from a committee of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, $337,500 from a National Education Association political fund, and $200,000 from an American Federation of Teachers' political committee.
Patriot Majority spent almost $764,000, and had cash-on-hand of almost $898,000 as of last week.
The group has been sending mailers and airing radio ads in races that could determine whether Democrats retain their House majority.
Disqualified Navajo Candidate To Remain On Ballot - The Associated Press
The name of a disqualified Navajo presidential candidate will remain on the ballot, and the election will proceed as planned November 4th.
The Navajo Board of Election Supervisors voted 7-to-1 in favor of holding the elections as scheduled and keeping Chris Deschene on the ballot.
Last week, a tribal hearing officer disqualified Deschene as a candidate after he refused to demonstrate whether he is fluent in Navajo, as required by tribal law. Two of Deschene's primary opponents filed grievances over what they say is his lack of fluency.
Deschene says he's proficient in the language and is being singled out.
UNMH Gets Vaccine, Shot Clinics Back On Track - The Associated Press
University of New Mexico Hospital is back on track with this year's public flu shot clinics after manufacturing issues delayed delivery of the vaccine.
The hospital says the first drive-thru clinic will take place as scheduled Saturday in northeast Albuquerque.
Officials say they received a small shipment of vaccine two weeks ago and that was set aside for vulnerable patient populations.
Another shipment arrived last week and more doses are expected be delivered later this month, allowing the hospital to move forward with the free clinics.
A hospital spokesman says people still have time to get vaccinated since flu season typically ramps up in December and peaks later in the winter.
The New Mexico Health Department is also holding vaccination clinics around the state.
Lea County Sets New Gross Receipts Tax Record - The Associated Press and Hobbs News-Sun
It's only few months into the fiscal year and a booming southeastern New Mexico county is already seeing record-breaking gross receipts tax numbers.
The Hobbs News-Sun reports that Lea County officials report September saw gross receipts tax revenue of $1.6 million. That tops last year's September numbers by more than $500,000. Officials say July and August also saw gross receipts tax revenue higher than last year's numbers.
Gross receipts are defined by the state as the total amount of money businesses receive through selling or leasing of property or goods in New Mexico, or through performance of services.
The news comes as the county's biggest city — Hobbs — broke a gross receipts tax record in August. The booming eastern New Mexico oil and gas town reported $7.87 million in gross receipts tax from July business activity.
Farmington Sees Rise In Drunken Driving Arrests - The Associated Press and Farmington Daily Times
The Farmington Police Department is on track to reach a five-year high in its number of drunken driving arrests.
The Farmington Daily Times reports that so far this year police have made 550 arrests for driving while under the influence and are on track to finish the year with about 730 arrests.
In 2011, the department made 653 such arrests, the highest number in the past four years.
Police Chief Steve Hebbe attributes the increased arrests to better officer training and a recent spike in 911 calls from people reporting suspected drunken drivers.
Jewell To Visit New Mexico For Wilderness Meeting - The Associated Press
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell will be among the dozens of officials and conservation experts gathering in New Mexico this week for a conference aimed at celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.
Jewell is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the conference Thursday.
Organizers say the conference is the first national gathering of wilderness advocates, educators, students and researchers in 25 years.
Other speakers include astronaut Joseph Acaba, Native American educator Greg Cajete and author Terry Tempest Williams.
The Wilderness act was signed into law in 1964 and an initial 9.1 million acres were set aside. Since then, Congress has added more than 100 million acres to the nation's wilderness preservation system.
There are more than 750 wilderness areas across the country, including many in New Mexico.