Scientists Outline Research Wish List For Nuclear Energy – The Associated Press
Engineers and researchers from national laboratories and universities around the country are trying to narrow the list of critical research problems the nation needs to address when it comes to nuclear energy.
The group gathered at the University of New Mexico is expected to detail its findings Thursday.
The group includes representatives from UNM, Colorado State University, Texas A&M and Sandia and Los Alamos national labs.
The U.S. Department of Energy sponsored six workshops around the country this week. The outcomes are meant to guide the agency as it decided what research to fund.
The DOE is particularly interested in how nuclear technology fits in with affordable electricity generation and renewable energy, safety and national security and the environment.
The agency is also looking for innovative ways that existing technology can be applied to nuclear energy.
Gov. Martinez: Protesting Students Need To Return To Class - The Associated Press
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez says students protesting a new required exam have a right to march but they need to return to class.
The Republican governor told KOAT-TV in Albuquerque on Wednesday that the new rigorous test is the best option for New Mexico students.
She says so far the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers exam, or PARCC, is working.
Martinez says when it's time for class, students need to stop protesting and return to their seats.
Her comments come as hundreds of high school students across the state walked out of schools this week to protest the PARCC.
The backlash came as millions of U.S. students started taking the rigorous tests aligned with Common Core standards that outline math and language skills that should be mastered in each grade.
Lawsuit: Albuquerque Police Violated Rights In Shooting - The Associated Press
The estate of a man who was shot and killed by Albuquerque police is suing the department over allegations of civil rights violations.
The lawsuit filed this week in Albuquerque District Court says infrared police helicopter video in the 2013 fatal shooting of 41-year-old Parrish Denison conflicts with an officer's account.
Authorities say Denison, whose name is spelled Dennison in police records, was shot by officers following a two-hour search and chase. Police say he had pointed a gun at officers during the chase involving stolen goods.
The lawsuit says the video shows Denison didn't point a gun before the shooting.
An Albuquerque police spokesman declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Court records showed Denison had felony convictions for burglary, drug trafficking and burglary plus other arrests that didn't result in convictions.
New Mexico House Panel OKs New Requirements For Sheriffs – The Associated Press
A proposal that would tighten eligibility rules for all sheriffs in New Mexico has cleared its first hurdle.
The House Safety and Civil Affairs Committee voted unanimously Thursday to approve a bill that would call for sheriffs to have at least seven years of professional experience in law enforcement.
Under the proposal, sheriffs cannot have been convicted on a felony and must be a certified law enforcement officer.
The New Mexico Sheriff's Association supports the changes.
Current state law allows anyone to run for sheriff.
The move comes after former Rio Arriba County Sheriff Thomas Rodella was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for abusing a driver in a bizarre, off-duty traffic stop that prosecutors described as a fit of road rage.
NM Senate Passes Bill To Test Race Horses For Illegal Drugs – The Associated Press
A bill to rein in illegal doping of horses that take to New Mexico's race tracks has passed the Senate.
The legislation by Sen. Mary Kay Papen was approved 39-3 Wednesday. It now moves to the House.
Regulatory changes in the state's horse racing industry continue and come after a 2013 New York Times investigation highlighting drug use, horse deaths and jockey injuries at tracks across the nation, including in New Mexico.
Gov. Susana Martinez signed into law last year another bill that allowed for testing more horses for illegal drugs and imposition of tougher sanctions for violations.
Papen's bill requires the New Mexico Racing Commission to follow the Association of Racing Commissioners International guidelines for handling pre-race, post-race, out-of-competition, and necropsy testing of samples taken from race horses.
Court Ruling Sends Navajo Mine Expansion Bid Back For Review – The Associated Press
A federal judge says the impacts of burning coal at a northwestern New Mexico power plant must be considered in deciding whether its sole supplier can expand mining operations.
Environmental groups sued the federal Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement in 2012. At issue was the approval of a 714-acre expansion of the Navajo Mine and the agency's claim that the mine isn't harming the environment or people's health.
U.S. District Judge John Kane in Colorado ruled this week that the agency's analysis of the indirect impacts of the mine expansion wasn't sufficient.
The Office of Surface Mining now must review its decision. Spokesman Christopher Holmes didn't immediately return a message Thursday seeking comment.
A Navajo Nation company owns the coal mine. Spokesman Erny Zah declined comment.
A Million Gallons Of Water Lost In Eunice As Line breaks - The Associated Press
Officials in the southeastern New Mexico city of drought-stricken Eunice say a waterline break has spilled between one to two million gallons of water.
The Hobbs News-Sun reports that the break occurred Tuesday but workers were unable to reach the waterline Wednesday morning because of muddy grounds caused by rain.
The waterline runs from the city's water fields near Hobbs to Eunice
Public works workers located the problem in a break in the line on ranch property north of Nadine.
The break comes on the heels of a water ordinance recently passed by the city council to conserve potable water supplies.
New Mexico House Panel Eyes New Requirements For Sheriffs - The Associated Press
A New Mexico House panel is set to consider a proposal that would tighten eligibility rules for all sheriffs in the state.
The House Safety and Civil Affairs Committee is scheduled Thursday to debate a bill that would call for sheriffs to have at least seven years of professional experience in law enforcement.
Under the proposal, sheriffs cannot have been convicted on a felony and must be a certified law enforcement officer.
The New Mexico Sheriff's Association supports the changes.
Current state law allows anyone to run for sheriff.
The move comes after former Rio Arriba County Sheriff Thomas Rodella was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for abusing a driver in a bizarre, off-duty traffic stop that prosecutors described as a fit of road rage.
NM Senate Oks Buying Lottery Tickets Using Debit Cards - The Associated Press
You might be able to buy a lottery ticket in New Mexico using your debit card in the future.
The Senate voted 25-16 to pass a bill to move in that direction in an effort that supporters say will help boost lagging ticket sales and thus pump more lottery money toward college tuition scholarships.
The legislation does away with a requirement that 30 percent of gross lottery revenues be transferred to the tuition fund. It now calls for officials to transfer net revenues monthly for deposit into the fund.
The bill by Democratic Sen. John Arthur Smith of Deming garnered debate with some lawmakers saying it was risking funds that were required to be transferred, while supporters said allowing debit card use would be good for lottery sales.
NM House Votes To Expand Solar Power Tax Credits - The Associated Press
You might soon be able to get a tax credit even if you are leasing a solar power system for your home or small business.
The New Mexico House of Representatives on Tuesday unanimously approved the legislation by Republican Rep. Sarah Maestas Barnes of Albuquerque. It now moves to the Senate.
Currently, a tax credit applies only to purchase of a solar panel system, not leasing one. Both solar thermal and photovoltaic systems are covered.
Maestas Barnes says the tax credit "extends the availability of solar technology and promotes the use of clean energy to all New Mexicans."
The bill is applicable to taxable years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2015. Tax credits will not apply for installations completed after Dec. 31, 2016.
NM Senate Passes Bill To Test Race Horses For Illegal Drugs - The Associated Press
A bill to rein in illegal doping of horses that take to New Mexico's race tracks has passed the Senate.
The legislation by Sen. Mary Kay Papen was approved 39-3 Wednesday. It now moves to the House.
Regulatory changes in the state's horse racing industry continue and come after a 2013 New York Times investigation highlighting drug use, horse deaths and jockey injuries at tracks across the nation, including in New Mexico.
Gov. Susana Martinez signed into law last year another bill that allowed for testing more horses for illegal drugs and imposition of tougher sanctions for violations.
Papen's bill requires the New Mexico Racing Commission to follow the Association of Racing Commissioners International guidelines for handling pre-race, post-race, out-of-competition, and necropsy testing of samples taken from race horses.
City Of Hobbs Launches New Low-Powered Radio Station - The Associated Press and Hobbs News-Sun
The city of Hobbs has launched a new, low-powered radio station aimed at giving residents updates, emergency alerts and general information.
The Hobbs News-Sun reports that KHBX 99.3 FM will provide information to residents within a 4.7-square mile area
Ron Roberts, director of the city's information technology department, says he began working on the station in the basement of city hall about a year ago. The city says the station received a low-power FM radio license in January.
The station will have no music or paid commercial advertising, only changes to city ordinances and services or upcoming, city hosted events, emergency alerts as well as weather reports from the National Weather Service.
New Director Appointed To Head New Mexico State Library - The Associated Press
New Mexico has a new state librarian.
Cultural Affairs Secretary Veronica Gonzalez announced the appointment of Kathleen Moeller-Peiffer as director of New Mexico State Library beginning in early June.
Gonzales said Moeller-Peiffer has 37 years of experience in library and information science, most recently serving as New Jersey's deputy state librarian for lifelong learning.
She has spent the past 11 years with the New Jersey State Library, working in programming, management, administration, and budgeting for 300 public libraries.
Moeller-Peiffer has a master's degree in library and information science from Florida State University and a bachelor of arts degree from the University of South Carolina.
New Mexico Increasing Trust Land Grazing Fee By 20 Percent - The Associated Press and Roswell Daily Record
New Mexico's fee for using state trust land for grazing is going up by about 20 percent.
The Roswell Daily Record reports that state Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn has set the per-animal per-month fee at $4.80 starting Oct. 1, up from $3.99.
Dunn said record-high cattle prices figured into the increase. The commissioner sets the rate by considering market conditions and using a formula determined by New Mexico State University.
The state's fee increase will raise the total income to land trust beneficiaries to just over $8 million. There are 8.7 million acres included in the agricultural leasing program.
Trust land is used for the benefit of public schools, universities and other public institutions.
Navajo Lawmaker Firm On Stance Against Legalizing Marijuana - The Associated Press
A lawmaker on the country's largest American Indian reservation has introduced a bill to reaffirm the tribe's stance against legalizing marijuana.
Navajo Nation Council Delegate Edmund Yazzie says legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational use contradicts Navajo values and tradition.
His bill introduced this week comes in response to an announcement last year by the U.S. Department of Justice to allow American Indian tribes to grow and sell marijuana within certain guidelines.
Navajo lawmakers can take action on Yazzie's bill after a public comment period.
Yazzie has said legalizing marijuana would drive up crime rates and drug addiction on the vast reservation that extends into New Mexico, Utah and Arizona.
Other tribes across the nation are cautiously debating whether to approve marijuana sales and use.
Planted Chile Acreage Dropped 10 Percent In New Mexico - The Associated Press
Federal officials say planted chile acreage in New Mexico dropped 10 percent last year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday that final production numbers came in at 58,700 tons in 2014 compared to 65,000 the previous year.
The value of New Mexico chile was estimated at $38.7 million, compared to $49.5 million in 2013.
Farmers blame the drop on drought, labor shortages and other market changes.
In addition, the department said there was a decrease for all varieties in acreage harvested from the 2013 crop year. Paprika harvested acreage dropped from 3,400 acres in 2013 to 3,100 harvested acres in 2014.
Woman Pleads Guilty In Las Vegas Mortuary Embezzlement Case - The Associated Press and Las Vegas Optic
A 63-year-old woman accused of embezzling more than $200,000 from a northern New Mexican mortuary over a three-year period will be sentenced next month under a plea agreement that will keep her out of prison.
The Las Vegas Optic reports that former Rogers Mortuary employee Molly Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement last month.
The agreement provides for a nine-year sentence but calls for the sentencing judge to suspend or defer the sentence or to conditionally discharge the conviction if Martinez stays out of trouble.
It also calls for five years of probation and requires Martinez to pay $20,000 in restitution when sentenced plus any other restitution to be determined by probation officials.
In exchange for her guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to drop a fraud charge.