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Headlines: Senate Rejects Chandler For UNM Regent, Language Requirement For Navajo President...

Navajohistory via Wikimedia Commons

Navajo Council Approves Referendum On Language Requirements The Associated Press

Funding for the long-delayed Navajo presidential election took a back seat Friday to a provision that would allow voters to decide whether candidates should speak and understand the tribe's language.

Navajo language fluency has loomed over the election ever since a candidate was disqualified last year for failing to prove he met the requirement for the tribe's top post.

A bill approved by the Navajo Nation Council could remove that requirement through a reservation-wide vote that hasn't been scheduled.

The tribe's election office had requested nearly $318,000 to conduct a general election for the presidency. Under the bill, the referendum vote gets first priority for funding.

The bill now goes to President Ben Shelly for consideration. In the past he has supported a vote by the Navajo people on requirements for political office.

Senate Rejects Confirmation Of Chandler As UNM Regent - The Associated Press

The New Mexico Senate has rejected one of Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's nominees for the University of New Mexico Board of Regents, and another regent has resigned in protest.

The Senate on Friday voted 23-17 along party lines against confirming former eastern New Mexico prosecutor Matthew Chandler.

The vote followed a combative committee hearing earlier in the day where Democrats rallied against Chandler.

Jamie Koch, whose reappointment as a regent was confirmed by the Senate earlier this week, fired off a resignation letter to Martinez.

He disagreed with the committee's rationale for refusing to confirm Chandler because of his "political activity."

The former state Democratic Party chairman asked the governor to accept his resignation, saying he didn't think he could continue to serve having himself spent many years involved in Democratic politics.

Colfax County Sheriff's Deputy Arrested On Drug Charge The Associated Press

A sheriff's deputy in northeastern New Mexico has been charged with attempting to possess cocaine with intent to distribute.

Deputy Vidal Sandoval of the Colfax County Sheriff's Office was arrested Friday.

Authorities say they began to investigate Sandoval last summer after two men complained an officer seized marijuana and cash from them during a traffic stop without giving a receipt.

They said Sandoval later pulled over vehicles containing undercover officers and offered to escort their drugs and money through Colfax County in exchange for money.

Sandoval is accused of accepting cash last month for escorting an undercover officer with a vehicle that was carrying cocaine from Colfax County to the New Mexico-Colorado state line.

It's unclear whether Sandoval has a lawyer.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.

Man Convicted Of Murder In 2005 Death Of Boy In Clovis The Associated Press

A jury has found a man guilty of murder in the 2005 death of a 10-year-old boy at a home in Clovis.

Authorities say 36-year-old Noe Torres was part of a gang that fired several bullets into the home that led to the death of Carlos Perez.

Jurors deliberated less than two hours before reaching Friday's verdict.

The child was shot in the head while sleeping in his bedroom just one day before his 11th birthday.

Prosecutors say Torres is the last of five people to be convicted in the case.

Torres had fled from authorities, but was eventually arrested in Mexico and returned to the United States.

Gov. Susana Martinez issued a statement saying Friday's verdict was overdue justice for the Perez family.