Temporary Injunction Issued On New Mexico Teacher Evaluation – Associated Press
A Santa Fe judge has issued a temporary injunction against New Mexico's teacher evaluation system amid an ongoing legal fight between teachers unions and the state.
State District Judge David Thomson ruled Wednesday that state Public Education Department couldn't use the newly adopted teachers evaluation system to punish or reward teachers until the lawsuit goes to trial in April.
American Federation of Teachers New Mexico and the Albuquerque Teachers Federation sought an injunction while their lawsuit against the evaluation system goes through the court system. They say the evaluation system is forcing veteran educators to retire or have their licenses jeopardized.
Public Education Department spokesman Robert McEntyre says the suit was a "disappointing distraction" from the agency's mission of providing a quality education.
Federal Monitor: No Agreement Yet On Use-Of-Force Policy – The Associated Press
An independent monitor says Albuquerque police are at odds with his team on how to revamp the department's use-of-force policy.
Court-appointed monitor James Ginger told a federal judge Thursday that there's no agreement on a new policy and that is among the things delaying reform.
The Albuquerque Police Department is one of several agencies nationwide that are under court-ordered agreements with the U.S. Justice Department. Federal officials found Albuquerque officers routinely used excessive force.
Ginger says timelines established by the settlement between police and the Justice Department also have been delayed because his contract wasn't approved until months after the reform agreement took effect.
Despite the disagreement over the use-of-force policy, Ginger noted that police are in compliance with goals up to this point.
Judge Denies Mistrial For Man Accused In Homeless Murder - The Associated Press
A judge has denied a motion for mistrial in the case of a 20-year-old man accused of fatally beating two homeless men in Albuquerque last year.
Judge Briana Zamora's decision comes after the attorney for suspect Alex Rios said Thursday that three jurors appeared inadvertently in television news footage during the first day of testimony. While the trial resumed Thursday afternoon, she dismissed the three jurors who inadvertently appeared on TV.
State laws forbid jurors from being filmed or photographed out of concern for protection of their identities, and to ensure objectivity during testimony and deliberations.
Rios and two juveniles are accused of attacking Allison Gorman and Kee Thompson as they slept in a vacant lot.
Rios' attorney says he didn't participate in the beating.
He faces murder charges in the July 2014 attack.
Sentencing Memo Asks That Duran Be Spared Jail Time – The Associated Press
Attorneys for former New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna Duran say she is getting treatment for her gambling addiction and ask that she not be sentenced to time behind bars following her guilty plea to embezzlement.
Duran pleaded guilty last month to felony embezzlement charges and four misdemeanors. She is accused of siphoning thousands of dollars from her election account to help pay for gambling. Sentencing is set for Dec. 14.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that in a sentencing memorandum, Duran's attorney argues she should be spared prison time due to her long career in elected office, the potential cost to taxpayers and that she is working on her addiction.
Duran served as a state senator for 18 years before being elected secretary of state in 2010. She resigned last month after her plea.
Man Accused In Albuquerque Policeman's Death Indicted Again – The Associated Press
An ex-convict accused of fatally shooting an Albuquerque police officer two months ago has been indicted on narcotics trafficking and firearms violations.
Federal prosecutors announced Thursday that 34-year-old Davon Lymon is charged in a three-count indictment with distributing heroin on Sept. 11 and Oct. 2 along with unlawfully possessing a firearm in Bernalillo County on Oct. 2.
They say Lymon is prohibited from possessing firearms after being convicted previously of felony offenses in two state court cases.
Lymon was arrested hours after Officer Daniel Webster was shot multiple times during an Oct. 21 traffic stop outside a pharmacy.
The 47-year-old former Army Ranger died eight days later in a hospital, having suffered gunshot wounds to his upper body and jaw.
A judge has ordered Lymon to remain jailed pending trial.
Albuquerque Plans Celebration For UFC Champion Holly Holm – The Associated Press
The city of Albuquerque is working to finalize plans for a celebration for UFC women's bantamweight champion Holly Holm when she returns to her hometown.
A celebration and parade for the fighter is planned for Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. in downtown Albuquerque. Holm will be honored in a ceremony at Civic Plaza after the parade.
The City Council declared November "Holly Holm Month" after she captured the belt from the previously undefeated Ronda Rousey on Nov. 14 in Australia.
City officials say Sunday's celebration will double as a donation bank for winter clothing to benefit the Albuquerque Rescue Mission and Albuquerque Christian Children's home.
Officials Seek Tougher Penalties To Protect Social Workers – Associated Press
New Mexico child welfare officials are asking state lawmakers to consider legislation that would establish tougher penalties for offenders who assault or batter social workers.
The proposal was among several presented by the state Children, Youth and Families Department during an interim legislative committee meeting in Santa Fe on Wednesday.
Officials say the agency's field workers have difficult and dangerous jobs and the proposal would ensure CYFD workers are treated the same as other health care workers and police officers.
The agency also proposed expanding the "Baby Brianna" law to allow for a punishment of life in prison for anyone who intentionally abuses a child regardless of age or whether the child dies as a result of the abuse.
Magistrate Judge Suspended By State Supreme Court – Associated Press
The New Mexico Supreme Court has suspended Aztec Magistrate Court Judge Connie Johnston after she ordered a court clerk who wouldn't leave her courtroom to be arrested and jailed for contempt.
The Daily Times reports Johnston was suspended Tuesday pending a state Judicial Standards Commission investigation.
Johnston ordered Army Verholst to be held in criminal contempt and jailed for 30 days because she refused to leave her courtroom. The New Mexico Supreme Court reversed the contempt order.
Verholst's attorney says his client refused to leave because she didn't want to leave another clerk alone with Johnston, whom he says previously threatened another clerk.
Johnston says court clerks have previously filed complaints against her, but all of the complaints have been unfounded. She claims she was being targeted for harassment.
Martinez Proposes New Economic Development Fund For Training – Associated Press
Gov. Susana Martinez is proposing that the state establish a new fund to quickly pay for training and certification of workers for specialized jobs with companies expanding or relocating in New Mexico.
Martinez said the $1.25 million fund would help the state compete for economic development and be used only when an expansion or recruiting of a large company wouldn't be possible without fast development of the needed workforce.
The governor's office said examples could include pharmacy technicians, specialized bilingual employees, machinists, welders, computer programmers and software developers.
According to Martinez, the money would be spent with the New Mexico college or university most suited to quickly providing the required training.
The Economic Development, Workforce Solutions and Higher Education departments would jointly administer the program.
Medical Examiner Gives Autopsy Details In Homeless Deaths – Associated Press
A New Mexico medical examiner says an autopsy shows one of two homeless men attacked in a vacant lot last year suffered hemorrhages and stab wounds and likely died from multiple blows to his head.
Dr. Sophia Rodriguez testified Wednesday on the first day of the murder trial for Alex Rios, a 20-year-old accused along with two Albuquerque teenagers in the fatal beating of Allison Gorman and Kee Thompson.
Police say the victims, who were Navajo, were attacked as they slept.
Jurors were shown graphic autopsy photos of Gorman's body and face, which was covered with multiple lacerations, bruises and cuts.
Rodriguez says Gorman was beaten so badly that bone protruded through a wound under his right eye.
Rios is charged with murder, the delinquency of minors and other crimes in the July 2014 attack.
Defense attorneys say there's no physical evidence linking their client to the deaths.
Possible Mountain Lion Sighting In The Rancho Viejo Area – Associated Press
Authorities are warning the public about a possible mountain lion sighting in the Rancho Viejo area.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Animal Control Division cautions people to be aware of a possible roaming mountain lion in the vicinity of the Santa Fe Community College and the Institute of American Indian Arts campus.
An area resident told sheriff's officials Wednesday about seeing a mountain lion in the area of the Rancho Viejo subdivision.
Authorities say residents should keep an eye on their domestic pets, keep food sources indoors and keep their dogs on a leash while on a walk.
Judge Calls Supreme Court Appointment Constitutional – Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
A state District Court judge has thrown out a lawsuit disputing the appointment of District Court Judge Judith Nakamura of Albuquerque to fill a vacancy on the New Mexico Supreme Court.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that District Judge David Thomson ruled on Tuesday that Nakamura's appointment was constitutional.
Former attorney Stuart Stein, of La Cienega, argued her selection is unconstitutional and that the process was illegally rushed.
Gov. Susana Martinez chose Nakamura, a former chief judge in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court, to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Richard Bosson.
Stein argued that starting the process before Bosson's last day in office violated the state constitution.
Thomson said Stein had raised a good point, but that moving efficiently to replace a judge who has announced his retirement is allowed.
NM Lawmaker: Targeted Attacks On Cops Should Be Hate Crimes – Associated Press
Lawmakers are expected to consider a proposal to add law enforcement officers as a protected class to New Mexico's hate crimes law in the next legislative session.
The proposal went before a legislative committee Wednesday as lawmakers consider a number of justice system reforms following a string of high-profile crimes in the Albuquerque area.
The shooting deaths of two police officers this year are among those crimes.
Rep. Nate Gentry, an Albuquerque Republican, is pushing the legislation that would amend the state hate crimes statute.
He says it's become clear "that our protectors need additional protection."
His proposal comes as law enforcement advocates say outrage over officer-involved shootings and officers' use of force has sparked anti-police rhetoric in the U.S.
New Mexico Lawmakers Mull New Bill Studying Hemp Production – Associated Press
A Democratic New Mexico senator wants the state Department of Agriculture to adopt rules for researching and growing an industrial version of marijuana's non-intoxicating cousin.
Sen. Cisco McSorley introduced legislation on Wednesday that would open up the opportunity for New Mexico farmers to possibly grow hemp after the state study.
The Albuquerque Democrat last year sponsored a bill aimed at legalizing the selling of hemp and licensing of farmers to grow the crop. That proposal would have established fees and set up state regulations for the processing of hemp to be distributed.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez vetoed a version of McSorley's bill and said there were inconsistencies in it and federal law.
Her office has not said if she supports the new proposal.