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Headlines: Recent APD Hires Linked To Shootings, Nuclear Cleanup Costs...

Randy Montoya

Report: Feds To Exceed Costs For Cleaning Up Nuke Waste – The Associated Press

A government watchdog says work to clean up radioactive waste at one of the federal government's premier nuclear laboratories is costing more than expected.

The Government Accountability Office says by the end of the last fiscal year, the National Nuclear Security Administration spent about $931 million to remove contaminated equipment and soil from Los Alamos National Laboratory.

That's $202 million more than the agency's 2006 estimate.

The GAO says in a report released Monday that the nuclear agency is also on track to outspend the latest cost predictions and needs to improve its estimates to better reflect current conditions.

Federal officials acknowledged the uncertainty though since a radiation leak last year forced the indefinite closure of the government's only underground nuclear waste repository in southeastern New Mexico.

Report: Recent Albuquerque Police Hires Linked To Shootings - The Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal

A new study says Albuquerque officers hired between 2007 and 2009 accounted for 39 percent of the shootings during the past five years.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that hiring came a time when Albuquerque police lowered its requirements in an effort to raise the force's ranks and put more officers on the streets.

A report completed by the Civilian Police Oversight Agency also found that officers who are white males were involved in a disproportionate number of shootings during the period studied.

The report detailed several patterns of the 51 Albuquerque police officers who shot at someone in 42 recent police shootings.

The report comes as the U.S. Justice Department and the city of Albuquerque await a federal judge's decision to overhaul the force amid excessive force cases.

More Than 40 Seek Albuquerque School Superintendent Job - The Associated Press

More than 40 applicants from New Mexico and across the country are seeking to become the next superintendent for Albuquerque Public Schools.

Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education released Monday the names of the applicants and said the deadline for applications has been extended to March 31.

Among those who have applied for the job are New Mexico Voices for Children Executive Director and former Public Education Secretary Veronica Garcia. Georgia State Superintendent John Barge and Houston Independent School District Chief School Officer Michael Cardona also have applied.

Finalists will be selected and will participate in community forums in April.

Former superintendent Winston Brooks resigned from the post in August after the board bought out the last two years of his contract.

Albuquerque Police: 1 Dead, 6 Others Hurt In Park Shooting - The Associated Press

Police say they're still trying to identify any suspects in a shooting at an Albuquerque skate park that left a teenager dead and six others injured.

They say Sunday night's shooting at Los Altos Park appears to be gang related and involved more than one shooter.

Albuquerque police identified the person killed as 17-year-old Jaquise Lewis.

They say one person remains hospitalized in critical condition and five others have non-life threatening injuries.

Police say two vehicles were towed from the scene as investigators arranged to get search warrants.

The shooting and its aftermath drew a large crowd, prompting officers to concentrate on crowd control.

Police say some people who may have witnessed the shooting aren't being cooperative over possible concerns about retaliation.

New Mexico Governor In Washington DC To Talk Economics - The Associated Press

Republican Gov. Susana Martinez is in Washington, D.C., to talk business.

Martinez is participating Monday in a panel discussion on opportunities for investing in manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture in rural states.

It's part of a two-day conference organized by the U.S. Commerce Department and Select USA to bring together investors from around the world, government officials and others.

Martinez's office says she plans to address the American Bankers Association Summit on Tuesday before returning to New Mexico.

The governor is fresh off a bitter legislative session in which lawmakers failed to approve nearly $270 million in public works projects, many of which included infrastructure improvements around the state.

Lawmakers did approve a $6.2 billion budget that included money for attracting businesses to New Mexico. The budget is awaiting Martinez's approval.

California Man Gets Prison Sentence In Bank Fraud Scheme - The Associated Press

A California man has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison in a multi-state bank fraud scheme case and ordered to pay more than $30,000 in restitution.

Prosecutors say 31-year-old Kevin Cohn, of Rialta, also was sentenced Monday to three years of supervised release after serving his 33-month prison term.

They say Cohn and two other men were accused of perpetuated a scheme in January 2014 to defraud a bank.

The men allegedly used counterfeit debit cards to purchase items from U.S. Post Offices in New Mexico, Arizona and Texas.

Prosecutors say Cohn pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in a plea agreement in December.

He's been ordered to pay $30,514 in restitution.

Cohn's co-defendants previously pleaded guilty in the case and have been sentenced.

Albuquerque Police: Homeowner Fatally Shoots Intruder - The Associated Press

Police say a homeowner in southwest Albuquerque fatally shot an intruder.

According to police, a caller told a 911 dispatcher that her husband had shot someone trying to break into their residence Monday morning.

Responding officers found a dead person with a knife lying next to his body.

Police say their preliminary investigation indicates the intruder was trying to enter the residence without permission and was shot by the homeowner after a brief struggle.

The homeowner's identity is not being released and police say they're trying to confirm the identity of the dead person.

Hobbs Police: 82-Year-Old Man Dies After Bike Hit By A Car - The Associated Press

Authorities say an 82-year-old Hobbs man is dead after the bicycle he was riding was hit by a car.

Hobbs police identified the victim Monday as Eulalio Segundo.

They say the accident occurred about 5:45 p.m. Sunday and the crash is being investigated.

Police say the Segundo was trying to cross the street and was hit by a car and later died from his injuries.

The 45-year-old driver of the car wasn't injured.

Ag Expert Warns Of Invasive Pest Near New Mexico - The Associated Press

An invasive aphid that attacks sugarcane and sorghum crops could be headed to New Mexico.

An entomologist at New Mexico State University, Jane Pierce, issued the warning to New Mexico farmers on Monday. She says the pest has been moving westward from South Texas into the Panhandle.

Pierce says the sugarcane aphid was spotted near Amarillo, Texas, last year and could be in New Mexico by now.

Experts will be keeping a close eye on sorghum fields and the common weed called johnsongrass throughout eastern New Mexico.

If the aphid is spotted, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture can apply for permission to use the most effective insecticides.

Pierce says the aphid can reproduce rapidly and be carried by the wind.

New Vietnam Veterans Memorial Opening In Las Cruces - The Associated Press and KVIA-TV

A grand opening is set for a new Vietnam Veterans memorial in Las Cruces.

KVIA-TV in El Paso reports that the monument at Veterans Memorial Park will officially open March 28, but won't be completely done for a while.

The monument will honor all New Mexicans who served in the Vietnam War, and will feature the names and faces of the nearly 400 killed in action from across the state.

When complete, the monument will also feature a Red Cross Huey helicopter, positioned as if coming into land.

Fundraising efforts are still ongoing.