ICE Yet To Brief Jail Administrators On New Program –The Associated Press
County jail administrators say they've gotten no direction on a now 4-month-old Homeland Security plan targeting people suspected of immigration violations.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman told the Albuquerque Journal that the agency has been in contact with sheriffs and now plans to brief county jail administrators on the voluntary program.
Unlike other states that put sheriffs in charge of county jails, New Mexico's county-hired administrators run the facilities and can notify ICE that an inmate of interest is headed for release.
Luna County Detention Center Director Matt Elwell chairs the New Mexico Association of Counties Detention Administrators Affiliate. He said one jail administrator out of 21 at a recent meeting in Ruidoso said ICE had been in contact about the new plan.
Court Denies Petition In New Mexico Power Plant Case – The Associated Press
The New Mexico Supreme Court has denied a petition that sought to disqualify members of one of the state's most powerful regulatory panels from deciding the future of a coal-fired power plant.
The unanimous decision came about an hour after lawyers made their arguments during a packed hearing Monday afternoon.
The justices did say the case would warrant a higher level of scrutiny upon appeal.
The environmental group New Energy Economy had argued four Public Regulation Commission members have created at least an appearance of being biased through public statements about a plan to shutter part of the San Juan Generating Station.
An attorney for the group told the justices the decision making process has become political.
Attorneys for Commission Chairwoman Karen Montoya and Commissioners Patrick Lyons, Lynda Lovejoy and Sandy Jones rejected the accusations.
Interim Detention Center Chief To Push For More Cameras – The Associated Press
Deputy manager Tom Swisstack says he will focus on more accountability in jails while he serves as interim Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center chief.
Former chief Phillip Greer resigned due to un disclosed personal reasons a week after surveillance video surfaced of corrections officers allegedly using a Taser and mace on a female inmate.
KOAT-TV reports that a national search is under way to find a permanent replacement for Greer. Swisstack says he expects that process to take months.
Swisstack says he is working to make the jail safer for guards and inmates, with a push for more cameras in the jail, a finalized use-of-force policy and an internal affairs unit to hold corrections officers accountable.
New Mexico GOP Majority Leader Eyes Criminal Justice Reforms – The Associated Press
House Majority Leader Nate Gentry wants state lawmakers to take up new criminal justice reform measures amid a string of high-profile crimes involving repeat offenders.
The Albuquerque Republican unveiled proposals on Monday aimed at requiring harsher penalties for intentional child abuse and developing a criminal database to help judges. Gentry also wants a bill to allow cities to pass curfews laws targeting minors.
The upcoming Legislative session in January is expected to see a number of proposals, from strengthening the state's "three strikes" law to allowing the state to impose forced treatment for some suffering from mental illness.
Two repeat offenders this year are suspected of fatally shooting a Rio Rancho and Albuquerque police officer prompting calls for reform.
Passenger Traffic Still On Decline At Albuquerque Airport – The Associated Press & The ABQ Journal
Passenger traffic at the Albuquerque International Sunport appears likely to go down in 2015, which would mark the eighth straight year of decline at New Mexico's largest airport.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that as of September, activity at Albuquerque was down 4.8 percent from last year.
The decline in passengers is accompanied by fewer flights through the airport. The average number of daily departures has fallen by about 40 percent since 2008.
Sunport spokesman Dan Jiron says recent forecasts predict small dips in traffic before things begin to level out in 2017.
But an industry analyst says the airport is very accessible, one of the most important metrics for the business. It offers direct flights to Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle and New York.
Martinez 'Confident' Adviser Did Nothing Wrong – The Associated Press
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez says she's confident a close political adviser did nothing wrong and called allegations of fundraising violations "cheap shots."
The Republican governor told The Associated Press in a statement that she's aware of complaints being raised and said they came from political opponents who have tried to attack her previously.
Her comments come after the Santa Fe New Mexican reported that the FBI has interviewed some state Republicans about Martinez's fundraising activities and the governor's political consultant, Jay McCleskey.
Democratic Party of New Mexico executive director Joe Kabourek has said Martinez keeps McCleskey as her top adviser "because he gets his hands dirty for her."
Martinez said she trusts the justice system will investigate the allegations and reject "these types of political cheap shots."
Indictment Accuses Livestock Auction Managers Of Fraud – The Associated Press
Prosecutors have announced that managers of a southeastern New Mexico livestock auction face charges in an alleged fraud scheme.
The 9th Judicial District Attorney's Office in Portales says the 139-count indictment alleges that Calvin Pareo and Darcie Pareo purchased cattle at the High Plains Livestock Auction at certain prices and then changed the prices after the auction.
According to the office, livestock inspectors estimate that over 13,000 sales tickets were altered, fraudulently depriving dairy owners and buyers of over $2 million.
An attorney representing the Pareos and other defendants in a related civil case did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the criminal charges.
The civil case involves a federal government lawsuit alleging fraud. A defense filing in that case contends its allegations are inaccurate and unsupported.
Feds Release Environmental Study On Transmission Project – The Associated Press
Federal officials say the impacts of a proposed transmission line between New Mexico and Arizona would be minimized under an alternative supported by agencies in both states.
The Bureau of Land Management released its environmental impact statement for the Southline Transmission Line Project on Monday.
Officials say the preferred alternative would avoid negative effects on grape growers and national defense operations near Wilcox, Arizona. The route near Tucson also was moved to avoid residential and economic developments.
In southern New Mexico, the route near Lordsburg now more closely follows existing infrastructure.
The BLM still needs to make a final decision on the project. That could happen early next year.
Developers say the 360-mile-long line would improve reliability of the electrical grid and help bring more electricity generated with renewable resources to regional markets.
Broker Settles With Bernalillo County For $215,000 –The Associated Press
A broker accused of breaching its duties and contributing to an investment crisis at the Bernalillo County treasurer's office has settled the allegations.
The Albuquerque Journal reported yesterday that state officials say Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. will pay $215,000 as well as change its internal policies for investing public money.
The state auditor released a special review in November 2014 that detailed risky investments by the county treasurer's office.
The state Securities Division proposed banning Oppenheimer and another broker from trading securities in New Mexico.
The county was forced to sell investments at a $17 million loss last year to restructure its portfolio and gain liquidity.
Securities Division Director Alexis Lotero says the department is pleased that the investigation means more oversight for investment.
Rhode Island Latest State Poised To End Vets' Homelessness
- Michelle R. Smith, Associated Press
A push to end homelessness among veterans in Rhode Island is on track to do so by the end of the year.
It comes amid nationwide push by the Obama administration and Zero: 2016, a campaign by the nonprofit group Community Solutions.
In August, the federal government declared Connecticut the first state to end chronic homelessness among veterans. New Orleans, Houston and a handful of other cities have also ended it. Community Solutions says New Mexico is also on track.
Nearly 50,000 veterans were homeless nationwide before the effort.
In Rhode Island, they're using a "housing first" strategy, which prioritizes getting people into permanent housing. They also make a list of every person without a home and rank people by how vulnerable they are to dying on the streets.