Senators Welcome Fines For Nuke Repository Mishaps – The Associated Press
New Mexico's two U.S. senators are welcoming more than $54 million in penalties being levied against the U.S. Department of Energy for numerous violations that resulted in the indefinite closure of the nation's only underground nuclear waste repository.
The state Environment Department on Saturday announced it was imposing the penalties for 30 state-permit violations at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in southeastern New Mexico and at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Sen. Martin Heinrich issued a statement over the weekend saying the state's action is warranted. He also said the fines shouldn't jeopardize completion of the environmental cleanup at Los Alamos and at the repository in Carlsbad.
Similarly, fellow Democratic Sen. Tom Udall said the state's action shows why state environmental authority is needed over WIPP waste operations.
NM DA Denies Wrongdoing In Bribery Investigation – The Associated Press & The Albuquerque Journal
A New Mexico district attorney who authorities say is suspected of violating state law and reimbursing burglary victims to protect her son says she did nothing wrong.
Bernalillo County's District Attorney Kari Brandenburg told reporters Monday that she never broke any laws but declined to say if she offered burglary victims any money.
According to police documents, Brandenburg allegedly contacted victims in two burglaries and a larceny case involving her son, 26-year-old Justin Koch.
The Albuquerque Journal reported that police believe there is probable cause to file felony charges against her.
Brandenburg says she's never deviated from acting ethically and morally while in office.
For months, Brandenburg has been under scrutiny for failing to prosecute any officers linked to a string of Albuquerque police shootings since 2010.
Democrats Pick Padilla As New Mexico Senate Whip - The Associated Press and Santa Fe New Mexican
Majority Democrats in the New Mexico Senate have chosen Sen. Michael Padilla over two rivals as their whip.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Democratic senators picked the 42-year-old Albuquerque businessman on the second ballot during voting Sunday.
Sens. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces and Linda Lopez of Albuquerque also ran for the whip position being vacated by Sen. Tim Keller of Albuquerque. Keller resigned from the Senate following his election as state auditor.
Senate Democrats also decided that Sen. Michael Sanchez of Belen will continue as majority leader while Sen. Jacob Candelaria of Albuquerque will return as caucus chairman.
Judge Ousted By Voters Is Trying To Stay In Office – The Associated Press & The Albuquerque Journal
An eastern New Mexico judge who lost a retention election last month is trying to stay in office by seeking appointment to fill the vacancy.
Voters in Quay, De Baca and Harding counties on Nov. 4 rejected District Judge Albert J. Mitchell Jr.'s attempt to remain in office, but the Albuquerque Journal reports there's no law that explicitly says judges can't be appointed to fill vacancies created by their losses in retention elections.
Mitchell and fellow Tucumcari attorney Donald Schutte are the only applicants for the resulting vacancy.
A nominating commission is scheduled to meet Thursday in Tucumcari to make a recommendation to Gov. Susana Martinez.
The state Supreme Court last week refused to bar the nominating commission from considering Mitchell's application because of his retention election loss.
Oil Prices Expected To Lower New Mexico Revenues - The Associated Press
State finance officials are expected to brief lawmakers on revenue estimates that will provide the foundation for how much money the Legislature can spend on budget increases in the upcoming session.
The Legislative Finance Committee will be meeting today in Santa Fe.
A dip in the price of oil is expected to affect what New Mexico has to work with. Finance and Administration Secretary Tom Clifford has said a $1 change in oil prices can cause a $6 million change in revenue for the state's main budget account.
The state relies heavily on taxes and royalties from energy production, with a little over $1.1 billion in revenue coming from oil and gas last year. The state peaked at $1.2 billion from energy taxes in the 2008 budget.
New Mexico Recount Remains On Hold Over Procedures – The Associated Press
Both sides in the race to be New Mexico's land commissioner, one of the most powerful positions in state government, are negotiating how a recount will be conducted in hopes of avoiding a showdown before the New Mexico Supreme Court.
Several hundred votes separate Republican Aubrey Dunn and incumbent Ray Powell, a margin so small it triggers an automatic recount under state law.
The recount — scheduled to start Monday — was put on hold after Powell filed a petition with the court. The Democrat took issue with the procedures ordered by the state canvassing board.
At issue is how many ballots are used to test the vote tabulating machines that would be used in the recount.
If no agreement is reached, the court has scheduled another hearing Wednesday.
Bernalillo County District Attorney Investigated - The Associated Press
Bernalillo County's district attorney is facing accusations that she offered to reimburse burglary victims to keep her son from being implicated as a suspect.
The Albuquerque Journal reported yesterday that Albuquerque detectives say there is probable cause to file felony charges against District Attorney Kari Brandenburg.
According to police documents, Brandenburg allegedly contacted victims in two burglaries and a larceny case involving her son, 26-year-old Justin Koch.
An Attorney authorized to speak for Brandenburg, says she has never deviated from acting ethically and morally.
Albuquerque Ranks Among Country's Best Beer Cities - KUNM & The ABQ Journal
The beer scene in Albuquerque is one of the best in the nation – according to a new list.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the website Livability.com has ranked Duke City No. 4 on a new list of the 10 best “beer cities” in the country.
The story also notes the success that the city’s breweries have had at the Great American Beer Festival. Marble earned Small Brewery of the Year honors at this year’s event.
The Albuquerque area has about 20 microbreweries, and the scene is growing.
Livability listed Canteen Brewhouse, Chama River and La Cumbre as the city’s best breweries. As for best beers in the city, it named brews from Marble, Canteen, and Bosque Brewing.
Albuquerque In Negotiations For Downtown Ice Rink - The Associated Press and KOAT-TV
Albuquerque officials are in final negotiations to have an ice rink in Civic Plaza.
KOAT-TV reports that Mayoral Chief of Staff Gilbert Montano says the rink could mean an exciting venture that will inspire more people to come downtown.
Montano says a tribal government entity already has an ice skating rink in storage.
The city would borrow the rink at no cost.
Montano declined to say which tribe was working with the city.
Officials will announce in a week whether residents can expect a rink.
Albuquerque Store Clerk Shot During Robbery - The Associated Press
Police say an Albuquerque convenience store clerk has been shot and the suspect, who is still at large, has been linked to several other robberies.
Albuquerque police spokesman Fred Duran says a male entered the store Sunday morning and attempted a robbery.
Duran says the clerk was shot once in the chest and the shooter fled on foot.
The condition of the clerk is unknown.
The shooter is described as Hispanic, 5-foot-9 and with a thin build. Duran says he was wearing a dark hoodie and a red bandanna over his face.
Artesia Widow Sues Medical Helicopter Service - The Associated Press
The family of an Artesia man who died while en route to the hospital is suing the medical transport helicopter service that transported him.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Saturday that an attorney for 64-year-old Michael Campbell's widow has filed a wrongful death complaint in state District Court.
According to the complaint, Campbell went to a hospital Jan. 8 with a fever and difficulty breathing. Doctors recommended he go to an Albuquerque hospital.
The complaint accuses the medical team on a TriStateCareFlight helicopter of not realizing they were low on oxygen until they were in the air.
The family says Campbell went into cardiac arrest and died as a result of negligence.
State Approves Kirtland Petition For Incorporation - The Associated Press
The community of Kirtland is one step closer to incorporation.
The Farmington Daily Times reports that the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration approved Kirtland's petition to incorporate last week.
Residents will vote in a January 6th election on whether to become a town. Kirtland is currently governed by San Juan County.
Obtaining incorporation status would mean Kirtland officials could have a town council, bid for more state funds and collect gross receipts taxes from local businesses.
San Juan County treasurer Mark Duncan says Kirtland could collect $300,000 in taxes in its first year.
If residents approve incorporating the 337 acres of land that make up the area, Kirtland could operate as a town by July.
Residents have made three previous attempts to incorporate the town.
Utah State, UTEP To Meet In New Mexico Bowl - The Associated Press
Utah State will face UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 20.
It's the second selection to the bowl for the Conference USA Miners, who lost to BYU in 2010, and their first since postseason berth since then.
UTEP secured its first winning season since 2005 with a 24-21 win over Middle Tennessee.
The Aggies are making their fourth straight bowl game appearance, including back-to-back wins in the Potato Bowl in 2012 and Poinsettia Bowl last season. Utah State was 6-2 in the Mountain West Conference this season, and it's won five of its last six games.