Hundreds Of Teens Register To Vote In New Mexico Primary – The Associated Press
Hundreds of New Mexico teenagers are capitalizing on a new state law that allows 17-year-olds who will be 18 the day of the election in November to vote in the June primary.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that more than 800 teens in New Mexico have registered to vote in June with more than half registering as Democrats. The deadline to register to vote in state primaries is May 10.
New Mexico's new law puts the state among about 20 states that permit 17-year-olds to cast ballots in party primaries.
As the change takes place in a presidential election year, young voters say they are particularly motivated to vote.
Pay-To-Play Settlement Hearing Kicks Off In New Mexico – The Associated Press
A New Mexico district court is considering whether to accept a $24 million settlement from an investment firm in a pay-to-play scandal that took place during administration of former Gov. Bill Richardson.
Judge Louis McDonald has scheduled three days of hearing beginning Monday on the settlement offer with Chicago-based Vanderbilt Capital Investors.
It would be the largest payment to date in a scandal that put state investments in the hands of money managers in return for payments or political favors.
The judge must first consider whether to dismiss competing claims to recover state funds filed by whistleblowers.
Retired state pension fund officer Frank Foy says taxpayers are due far more money than the settlement offers. New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas disagrees and considers the settlement reasonable.
UNM To Cut 16 Education Center Jobs Across State – The Associated Press
The University of New Mexico is cutting 16 positions across six education centers to save on operating costs.
The Daily Times in Farmington reports that UNM spokeswoman Dianne Anderson says the affected jobs are in Bachelor and Graduate Field Centers at education centers in Farmington, Gallup, Los Alamos, Taos, Valencia and Santa Fe.
Anderson says employees involved in recruiting, advising and operating the centers are not affected.
University officials say there will be a limited number of new roles to address some of those responsibilities.
They say a shifting of duties to the school's enrollment management division from its extended learning division led to the job cuts.
UNM Board of Regents President Jack Fortner says the cuts do not mean the university doesn't care about those communities.
Carlsbad Mental Health Center Workers Cleared Of Fraud
Medicaid fraud charges against three employees of a defunct Carlsbad mental health center have been dismissed.
The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports that an Eddy County Magistrate Court judge ruled last week that there was insufficient evidence that the trio knowingly committed fraud.
Attorney General Hector Balderas indicted Noel Clark, Darril Woodfield and Michael Stoll in June 2015.
They were facing five counts related to Medicaid fraud, one count of fraud and four counts of falsification of documents.
Attorneys for Clark and Stoll say their clients are pleased with the outcome.
An attorney for Woodfield did not immediately return comment.
Judge Daniel Reyes Jr. is binding over co-defendant Carlsbad Mental Health Center on six counts related to Medicaid fraud.
Attorney Kenneth Dugan says the corporation expects to win a favorable judgment.
More People Accessing Mental Health Services In New Mexico–Associated Press
The number of people accessing behavioral health care services in New Mexico is growing, inching up almost 5 percent over a one-year period.
The Human Services Department released the data Monday, saying the increase stems partly from the expansion of the state's Medicaid program to ensure more low-income people have coverage and access to everything from primary care doctors to psychologists.
New Mexico residents have flocked to Medicaid since eligibility was broadened in 2014. Now, more than 850,000 people — about 40 percent of the state's population — are enrolled.
According to the latest data, more than 153,000 people used behavioral health services in 2015. That's nearly double the number in 2014.
Human Services Secretary Brent Earnest says the latest figures indicate the growth curve is beginning to level out.
Whistleblower Would Seek Chunk Of Settlement — Associated Press
The Latest on New Mexico's settlement offer in a pay-to-play scandal under former Gov. Bill Richardson (all times local):
1:20 p.m.
An attorney says whistleblowers would deserve up to 30 percent of a proposed settlement between New Mexico authorities and a Chicago-based investment firm.
Albuquerque-based attorney Victor Marshall said Monday that his client deserves between 25 percent and 30 percent of any funds recovered by the state in a scandal that put state investments in the hands of money managers in return for payments or political favors under former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
Marshall represents former state pension fund officer Frank Foy in independent whistleblower lawsuits aimed at recovering kickbacks and wasted investments on behalf of New Mexico taxpayers and teachers.
The New Mexico attorney general's office is seeking to dismiss Foy's competing lawsuit against Vanderbilt Capital Investors so that a $24 million settlement can go forward.
Planned Intel Job Cuts Create Uncertainty In New Mexico City — Associated Press
Intel's plan for massive job cuts is creating uncertainty in one of New Mexico's largest cities.
The giant chipmaker is expected to unveil details this week that could determine the future of the company's plant north of Albuquerque in the city of Rio Rancho.
Intel announced last week it is cutting 12,000 jobs — about 11 percent of its workforce. The move is part of the company's effort to reorganize amid declining personal computer sales.
Business leaders worry massive job cuts at the Rio Rancho plant could affect central New Mexico.
The state already is seeing lower revenues because of an oil downturn in eastern New Mexico and falling natural gas prices in the northwestern part of the state.
Intel also has large campuses in Portland, Oregon; Chandler, Arizona; and Santa Clara and Folsom, California.
52,000 New Mexico Youth Have Had Parent Imprisoned— Associated Press
A new report says 52,000 children in New Mexico have had a parent serve time behind bars at some point in their lives.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation report released Monday shows New Mexico is one of a six states where 10 percent of youth have a parent who has been incarcerated.
Only Kentucky and Indiana had higher rates. The national rate is 7 percent.
The non-profit New Mexico Voices for Children says the report underscores the need for reforms that could include directing judges to consider the impact a sentence could have on a defendant's child, and measures aimed easing a parent's reentry into society after prison.
State Department of Corrections figures show there are currently more than 7,000 inmates in the state's prison system.
Albuquerque Schools Won't Cut Current Teaching Positions— Associated Press, Albuquerque Journal
Albuquerque Public School officials say teachers will not be laid off despite a proposal to save money by hiring fewer teachers.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that APS officials say they're trying to cover a projected $9.5 million shortfall in state funding. They expect to save $3.3 million by hiring fewer teachers in response to declining enrollment, but say they won't remove any current teachers.
Some schools might lose vice principals and other support staff who are hired based on formulas tied to enrollment, saving $1.2 million.
APS Executive Director of Budget and Strategic Planning Debora Warren says enrollment may continue to decline this summer and administrators have to plan staffing levels now. She says the district will be more conservative than usual in estimating how many teachers are needed.
Funding Cut Puts UNM Specimen Collection At Risk— Associated Press, Albuquerque Journal
A museum at the University of New Mexico maintains the world's largest archive of frozen tissue samples, but a recent National Science Foundation decision put the specimens at risk.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the NSF last month indefinitely suspended a program that funds maintenance of biological research collections like the half-million specimens at UNM's Museum of Southwestern Biology.
Scientists argue that such collections enable a wide range of research, from the impact of climate change to how species evolve. They say some specimens would be irreplaceable if lost.
NSF normally doles out between $3 million and $5 million in grants each year to organizations that maintain natural history collections. The agency announced the suspension March 16, saying it needed to keep a flat budget and review grant programs.