NM Land Office Nears Record With $78M In Revenue – The Associated Press
The New Mexico State Land Office has earned more than $78 million for schools, hospitals and other beneficiaries of the state land trust.
September's earnings mark the second-highest monthly revenues in the history of the Land Office. The highest month on record was $79 million in December 2013.
Land Commissioner Ray Powell says his office is working with the private sector, Native American tribes and federal agencies to boost the economic return of trust land through leases, renewable energy development and other projects.
Of the most recent earnings, more than $65 million went to public schools and nearly $2 million went to state colleges and universities.
More than $1.1 million went to special hospitals within the state, while $2.2 million went to public buildings, the state penitentiary and water reservoirs.
Albuquerque Police Complete Camper Shooting Probe - The Associated Press
Albuquerque police say investigators have completed a criminal probe into the fatal police shooting of a homeless man that sparked protests around the city.
The department said Friday that it has submitted documents from the investigation on the death of 38-year-old James Boyd to the FBI and the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office. Both agencies can pursue charges against officers involved.
Albuquerque police also released audio recordings and thousands of documents related to the shooting.
A helmet-camera video of the March shooting showed Boyd, who authorities say suffered from schizophrenia, gathering his belongings before officers opened fire.
The shooting sparked widespread calls for reform of the Albuquerque Police Department, and U.S. Justice Department then released a scathing review of the agency's use of force.
Lawsuit: NM Inmate Attacked While Officers Slept - The Associated Press & The Santa Fe New Mexican
A New Mexico inmate says he was attacked by 10 other prisoners while two on-duty state Corrections Department officers slept.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that 34-year-old Bo Musacco filed a lawsuit this week stemming from the alleged attack in May 2013.
According to the lawsuit, Musacco suffered a collapsed lung during the assault but didn't receive medical care after repeated requests.
Corrections spokeswoman Alex Tomlin said Musacco was treated for his injuries immediately and was transported to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center for further treatment.
Musacco is serving two life terms for gunning down two Albuquerque women on New Year's Day in 2007.
Student Enrollment Jumps In New Mexico Oil Region - The Associated Press & The Hobbs News-Sun
School districts in the heart of New Mexico's oil boom region are reporting record student enrollment.
The Hobbs News-Sun reportsLovington Municipal School District said it had a student enrollment of nearly 3,800 students on its 40th day — the highest spike in enrollment in the district's history.
Hobbs Superintendent T.J. Parks says the total enrollment in his district was nearly 10,000 students on Sept. 16. That's 500 more students accounted for than on the same day last year.
Lovington district officials say bond projects are currently underway to help accommodate the new students, including the addition of classrooms at Llano and Ben Alexander Elementary and the Freshman Academy.
42 Arrested In Undercover New Mexico Drug String - The Associated Press and Alamogordo Daily News
Authorities say more than 40 people in southern New Mexico have been arrested in connection with an eight-month undercover drug sting.
Otero County Sheriff Benny House told the Alamogordo Daily News that 42 people were taken into custody on various drug-related offenses this week from a multi-agency operation.
House says most were arrested for trafficking or distribution of drugs ranging from marijuana, methamphetamine, ecstasy and heroin. He says others were arrested for conspiracy to traffic or distribute drugs.
House says the operation was focused on arresting individuals known for trafficking or distributing drugs.
The sheriff's office didn't have a total for the amount of narcotics seized during the arrests.
Plague, Tularemia Remain Active In East Mountains - The Associated Press
Bernalillo County and Albuquerque health officials are advising people living in the East Mountains area that plague and tularemia continue to remain active.
They say the increased rainfall New Mexico has seen over the last two years has allowed for more vegetation growth and increased rodent populations.
Health officials say a larger number of rodents often lead to more occurrences of both plague and tularemia.
There have been no human cases of plague so far in Bernalillo County in 2014.
However, three dogs, one cat and one rabbit have been confirmed with plague infection.
The most recent plague confirmation was made on Oct. 6.
Tularemia has been confirmed in six dogs, three rabbits, two cats and one human.
That person was treated with antibiotics and fully recovered from the infection.
Student Enrollment Jumps In New Mexico Oil Region - The Associated Press and Hobbs News-Sun
School districts in the heart of New Mexico's oil boom region are reporting record student enrollment.
The Hobbs News-Sun reports Lovington Municipal School District said it had a student enrollment of nearly 3,800 students on its 40th day — the highest spike in enrollment in the district's history.
And Hobbs Superintendent T.J. Parks says the total enrollment in his district was nearly 10,000 students on Sept. 16. That's 500 more students accounted for than on the same day last year.
The jump comes as Lea County continues to see an economic boom for oil and gas.
Lovington district officials say bond projects are currently underway to help accommodate the new students, including the addition of classrooms at Llano Elementary, Ben Alexander Elementary and the Freshman Academy.
US Attorney Damon Martinez To Be Sworn In - The Associated Press
Damon Martinez to set to be sworn-in as New Mexico's next U.S. Attorney.
Martinez, who has served as acting U.S. Attorney, is scheduled to take the oath of office today in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque.
The University of New Mexico graduate has served as an assistant U.S. attorney since 2001 and supervised the organized crime and gang section in Albuquerque. He has also worked on national security, anti-terrorism, immigration and narcotics cases.
Before joining the U.S. attorney's office, Martinez was an assistant state attorney general.
Martinez replaces Kenneth Gonzales, who left the position last year to assume a federal judgeship.
Interior Secretary Pushes For Congress To Act - The Associated Press
U.S Interior Secretary Sally Jewell says the Obama administration will continue to use its executive powers to protect public lands until Congress takes action on a number of stalled conservation measures.
Jewell renewed the threat Thursday while speaking to a few hundred wilderness advocates at a national conference celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.
Jewell told the crowd that preserving landscapes that are representative of America's character and important to local economies in the form of tourism dollars will also help the nation better prepare for climate change.
She says scientists will be able to learn from Mother Nature how to adapt.
In her sweeping speech, Jewell also said Congress needs to authorize the use of oil and gas royalties to fully fund conservation efforts as intended through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.