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Headlines: Rains Boost NM Reservoirs, APD Criticized Over Award, Espanola Officer Justified ...

Laura Paskus

Rains Boost Level Of New Mexico Reservoirs - The Associated Press and Las Cruces Sun-News

Reservoirs in southern New Mexico have gotten a much needed boost thanks to late summer rains.

The levels at Elephant Butte and Caballo reservoirs have climbed in recent weeks as a result of runoff from the rain making its way down arroyos and other channels that drain into the lakes.

With 41,000 acre-feet of extra water, the Las Cruces Sun-News reports Elephant Butte's volume increase by nearly 25 percent.

Lakes around New Mexico have dropped to record lows over the past couple of years due to unprecedented drought conditions.

Despite the rain more than 60 percent of the state is dealing with some level of drought.

However, New Mexico has made strides from just three months ago, when drought covered nearly all of the state.

APD Criticized For Honoring Cop Who Has Shot Three People - The Albuquerque Journal

Two Albuquerque councilors this week criticized the APD for honoring an officer who has shot three unarmed men over the past decade.

According to the Albuquerque Journal, the city settled over the most-recent shooting in 2011 for $900,000.  That shooting was highlighted by the U.S. Department of Justice when it found issues with APD’s use of force history.

Sgt. Sean Wallace was awarded for outstanding service.  The award was not connected to any of the shootings and he was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in all cases.

City Councilors Diane Gibson and Isaac Benton questioned the wisdom of an award for Wallace.  Gibson said she found it disturbing and unsettling. 

Two of the three shootings were with APD and one with State Police, where he shot and killed a Chimayó man in 2004. A grand jury cleared him but the state still paid $235,000 to settle a wrongful-death suit. In 2011, Wallace shot Alan Gomez, whose father, Michael, later became a leading reform activist.

Prosecutors who reviewed the case said Wallace shot based on a belief that Gomez was armed and preparing to harm hostages.

In the DOJ report, however, investigators said Gomez was not actually armed and that “a reasonable officer” would have known there was not an immediate threat.

The city of Albuquerque admitted no liability when settling the case.

Police shooting of Espanola Teen Justified - The Associated Press

A northern New Mexico prosecutor says a grand jury has determined that an Espanola police officer's fatal shooting of an El Rito teenager was justified.

District Attorney Angela "Spence" Pacheco announced the grand jury's finding during a news conference Wednesday in Santa Fe.

New Mexico State Police concluded its investigation into the shooting of 16-year-old Victor Villalpando last month. Pacheco then forwarded the evidence to the grand jury.

An Espanola police officer shot Villalpando on the morning of June 8 after the youth called 911 and said there was a suspicious person who needed help.

Authorities have said the youth was shot after he pointed a toy cap gun at officers who responded.

Ex-Campaign Manager To Be Sentenced In Email CaseThe Associated Press

A former campaign manager for Gov. Susana Martinez is set to be sentenced by a federal judge in Albuquerque for stealing the governor's email and lying about it.

Jamie Estrada faces up to a year and one day in federal prison. He has asked a court to sentence him to probation rather than prison.

His sentencing hearing is scheduled for this afternoon before District Judge William P. Johnson.

Estrada pleaded guilty in June to charges of unlawful interception of electronic communication and lying to FBI agents. He provided the hijacked email to the governor's political opponents.

"Game Of Thrones" Author Campaigns In New Mexico - The Associated Press

"Game of Thrones" author George R. R. Martin says he's "astonished" by low voter turnout in elections.

Martin rallied voters and raised money yesterday for New Mexico Senator Tom Udall.

About 150 people attended a rally at which Martin spoke, drawing a contrast to elections in this country and the king on the "Iron Throne" in his novels that inspired the hit TV series.

If people don't vote, Martin said, "you really can't complain about what happens afterward if the wrong people win election."

California Food Producer To Expand In New Mexico - The Associated Press

A California-based food producer plans to expand its operation to New Mexico.

State and local officials say Flagship Food Group will open a manufacturing plant in Albuquerque. Dozens of workers will be hired within the first year, and the plant could result in as many as 300 jobs over the next few years.

The Bernalillo County Commission recently gave initial approval to a $10 million industrial revenue bond package that would finance equipment and building improvements.

The county says the package will allow Flagship Foods to take advantage of certain tax breaks.

The company plans to make 505 Southwestern and other food products at the new location. The products include salsas and sauces that use New Mexico green chile and other locally grown products.

Pact To Return Police Officers To Santa Fe Schools - The Associated Press and Santa Fe New Mexican

Police officers will be stationed in Santa Fe high schools again after a hiatus lasting longer than a decade.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the school district board Tuesday night approved an agreement with the city to place school resource officers at Capital and Santa Fe high schools.

Officials say the armed and uniformed officers will be responsible for school safety. They'll also build relationships with students and staff members and help with truancy issues.

The district first placed police officers on school campuses in the city in the early 1990s, assigning plainclothes detectives to middle schools.

A principal at the time said the police presence decreased the threat of violence in the schools. However, the program was canceled later that decade because of staffing shortages.

Convictions Erased For Man Seeking To Stay In US - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal

Years of litigation has resulted in a court order erasing several 1990s misdemeanor convictions for an Albuquerque man from Mexico, a development that could help him remain in the United States.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that a District Court judge on Tuesday vacated Martin Ramirez's convictions for marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and concealing identity.

The judge acted in the wake of a June state Supreme Court ruling that said Ramirez could claim he had received ineffective legal representation when he pleaded guilty back in 1997.

A key issue is whether he was told of possible immigration consequences.

He now has a date before an immigration judge as he strives to remain in the United States where he married a U.S. citizen who has since died.

Flu Shot Clinics Get Underway Around New Mexico - The Associated Press

New Mexico has already recorded its first flu case of the season, and health officials have scheduled dozens of shot clinics from one corner of the state to the other.

But it's too early to predict how severe the flu season will be this year.

State health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated.

The University of New Mexico Hospital says its flu clinics have been postponed. Officials say manufacturing issues have delayed delivery of the vaccine.

Nearly 459K Attended 2014 New Mexico State Fair - The Associated Press

Preliminary figures show nearly 459,000 people attended this year's New Mexico State Fair.

The event ran from Sept. 10 through Sept. 21.

Fair officials say it's the highest attendance so far under the 12-day format implemented in 2012 instead of a 17-day run.

Last year's attendance was about 392,000.

This year's attendance was attributed to a number of factors including affordable admission prices and good weather for most of the fair along with more concerts and rodeos.

Sample Ballots Available At State Agency Web Site - The Associated Press

Voters in New Mexico's general election can preview their ballots using the secretary of state's web site.

The sample ballots will show the lineup of candidates in a voter's precinct along with constitutional amendments, bond issues and in two counties there will be advisory questions about lowering penalties for possessing marijuana.

Voters need to type in their name, county and date of birth to download their sample ballot from the agency's web site.

Voting started Tuesday at county clerk's offices and election officials began mailing absentee ballots to voters who requested them. Early voting opens at more locations on Oct. 18.

Ballots Run Short For Early Voting In Navajo Races - The Associated Press

The Navajo Nation has run out of early ballots for tribal races in some areas.

Navajos can walk in to election offices around the reservation and vote early for tribal president, lawmakers and other offices.

Election official KimmethYazzie said Tuesday that some offices are out of ballots for specific communities. Those include Shiprock in northwestern New Mexico and Fort Defiance in northeastern Arizona.

Yazzie says the tribe received only a partial shipment of ballots, allowing 20 for each of the 110 communities. He says more will be delivered by Friday.

Walk-in voting ends Oct. 31.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 20. Those must be returned by the general election on Nov. 4.

New Mexico Tribes Win Federal Housing Grants - The Associated Press

Several Native American communities throughout New Mexico will share more than $4.8 million in federal grants to improve housing conditions and boost community development.

The grants were announced this week by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The list of grantees includes the Mescalero Housing Authority, the Northern Pueblos Housing Authority, the OhkayOwingeh Housing Authority and the pueblos of Jemez, Zuni and San Felipe.

Dozens of low-income tribal members at San Felipe and Zuni are expected to benefit from the grants. San Felipe will use its share of the money to rehabilitate 20 homes, while Zuni will redo 18 housing units owned by tribal members.

Jemez Pueblo plans to do mold remediation and prevention on 10 adobe homes within its housing program.