Police Shootings, Politics Top NM Headlines – The Associated Press
Officers surrounded James Boyd as they tried to talk him into surrendering from his campsite in the Sandia foothills. He told officers he didn't want to come down because he feared police would shoot him.
The standoff dragged on for hours, with Boyd threatening to kill officers at one point. Video from a helmet camera shows him gathering his belongings in an apparent agreement to surrender. Officers then opened fire.
The footage went viral, sparking violent demonstrations.
The shooting and efforts to overhaul Albuquerque's troubled police force were among the stories that dominated headlines in 2014.
There was also the re-election of Gov. Susana Martinez, the shifting of power in the state House, a radiation leak at the nation's only underground nuclear waste dump, and an immigration overload that put Artesia in the national spotlight.
Albuquerque Journal's Website Attacked - The Associated Press
Officials at the Albuquerque Journal say they have notified federal authorities that the newspaper's website was hacked.
It happened Wednesday morning when someone replaced the top story about the 1971 slaying of a state police patrolman with material that expressed support for Islamic militants and warned Albuquerque residents that their secrets were being collected through mobile devices.
The website was taken down for several hours and the material was removed. The original story about the murder case was reposted when the website came back online.
The Journal's director of information systems, Monty Midyette, says the newspaper's servers were not breached and the alterations appeared to be limited to the one story.
The FBI says it was not aware of any other website attacks in New Mexico on Wednesday.
Albuquerque Police Bonuses Spark Criticism - The Associated Press & The ABQ Journal
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Some Albuquerque officials say they are troubled that top staffers in the city's police department are getting salary bonuses.
The Albuquerque Journal reported Wednesday that city councilors say retention bonuses are meant for rank-and-file officers, not department executives.
The city council received data this week showing a request for $1 million in annual retention pay for more than 100 officers, including Police Chief Gorden Eden and some deputy chiefs.
The city last month adopted legislation offering up to $12,000 to officers within one or two years of retirement. The measure is an effort to help with an officer shortage.
A police spokesman says Eden is declining the bonus.
The Albuquerque police union says it supports officers of any rank receiving pay for which they are eligible.
Navajo Nation Council Tables Election Funding Bill - The Associated Press
Navajo lawmakers have temporarily set aside legislation that would have funded a special presidential election.
The Farmington Daily Times reports that the Navajo Nation Council on Tuesday tabled a bill requesting more than $280,000 in election funding.
Delegate Walter Phelps motioned for the legislation to be considered Dec. 30, giving the council more time to deal with other bills related to the election.
The Navajo Nation Supreme Court ruled Dec. 17 that the special election must be held by Jan. 31.
The presidential race was separated from the Nov. 4 general election after Chris Deschene (des-CHEE'-nee) was disqualified in a language fluency case. Begaye replaced him.
Russell Begaye replaced Deschene but became the subject of a grievance that has since been dismissed by the court.
$1M New Mexico Lotto Ticket Expires Wednesday - The Associated Press
Someone in New Mexico may have an early Christmas gift in the form of a $1 million lottery ticket.
KOAT-TV reports that Wednesday is the deadline for a winning New Mexico Lottery ticket to be claimed.
New Mexico Lottery CEO David Barden says now is the time for residents who played the lottery in a drawing Sept. 27 to search their homes and cars for the ticket.
Lottery officials say the lucky ticket was bought at 1:57 p.m. at a Circle K in northwest Albuquerque.
They say it's unknown if the ticket's buyer lives in New Mexico or out of state.
The winner needs to get to the lottery by close of business and sign for it.
Mother, Son Die In Fire Near Farmington - The Associated Press and Farmington Daily Times
Firefighters say a 4-year-old boy and his mother died after their mobile home in San Juan County caught fire.
The Farmington Daily Times reports that authorities say mother and son were killed in the fire early Tuesday just south of Farmington.
Aldeena Lopez, the boy's paternal grandmother, says the fire started around 12:30 a.m. and trapped her 26-year-old son, his wife and her two grandsons.
She says her son broke a window and got his 6-year-old son out.
Lopez's son was taken to San Juan Medical Center for treatment and is alert.
San Juan County Fire Chief Doug Hatfield says preliminary evidence indicates a wood-burning stove caused the fire.
Hatfield says owners of wood-burning stoves should keep the stove pipe clean and have a working smoke detector.
Kirtland Man Wanted In Woman's Kidnapping, Beating - The Associated Press
Authorities in Kirtland are searching for a man accused of kidnapping, beating and hitting a woman with his car.
The San Juan County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that deputies have an arrest warrant out on 27-year-old Brandon Lee for aggravated battery, kidnapping and assault with intent to commit a violent felony.
Sheriff's spokesman Cory Tanner says Lee allegedly forced 30-year-old Crystal Begay into his car Saturday afternoon and battered her using brass knuckles.
Authorities say he beat her further when she did not have a debit card to make an ATM withdrawal.
Tanner says Lee ran over Begay after she jumped from the vehicle. The victim was able to flee and get help from a passing motorist.
According to Tanner, the suspect and the victim do know each other.
1 Dead In Shooting At Albuquerque Apartment Complex - The Associated Press
Police are investigating a fatal shooting of a man at an Albuquerque apartment complex.
Authorities say they received reports yesterday afternoon of gunfire and seeing a wounded man at the Sun Pointe Park apartments.
Police say responding officers located a man in his 20s with a gunshot wound to the chest.
The man was taken to a hospital, where he died a short time later.
The name of the victim has not yet been released.
Man Who Twice Fled Authorities Escapes From UNM Hospital - The Associated Press
A man who led authorities on recent stolen vehicle chases in east Albuquerque and near Tijeras has escaped from a hospital and fled in a stolen van.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office says Jason Smith escaped from University of New Mexico Hospital around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
After allegedly stealing a van near the hospital, police chased Smith for a short time before calling off the pursuit.
The van later was found by police near Milne Stadium.
Sheriff's officials say Smith fled the van still wearing his hospital gown.
He was arrested and hospitalized Dec. 10 after fleeing from deputies for the second time in two days.
Smith is facing charges of aggravated fleeing, aggravated battery and assault on a peace officer and receiving a stolen vehicle.
New Mexico Airlines Working To Get Back In Air - The Associated Press and KOAT-TV
A small airline that serves several New Mexico communities and recently grounded its planes is working to get back up and running.
KOAT-TV reports that New Mexico Airlines has at least one operating airplane a week after it voluntarily grounded its fleet to address mechanical issues.
An FAA spokesman won't say what mechanical issues New Mexico Airlines is fixing. But confirms the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the small airline in connection with maintenance problems.
New Mexico Airlines is based in Albuquerque and also serves Los Alamos and Carlsbad.
The New Mexico Airlines CEO says he expects all planes to be back in the air eventually.