State Senate President Accuses Assistant Of Embezzling – Associated Press
The New Mexico Senate president is accusing a longtime assistant of embezzling thousands of dollars in campaign funds.
Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen made the allegations in amended campaign finance reports filed with the Secretary of State's Office.
Sandra Fish of New Mexico in Depth compiled a spreadsheet of amended reports that list Siddall as the payee on thousands of dollars in expenses classified as embezzlements from both Papen's Senate account and her political action committee.
The Dona County District Attorney's Office says no charges are currently pending against Stephen Dale Siddall, who was also Papen's former campaign treasurer. A District Attorney's Office spokesman confirmed Siddall is the subject of a different case of possible credit card fraud.
Papen said an investigation is ongoing.
Court To Weigh If Teen Who Shot Family Gets Adult Sentence – Associated Press
A judge will decided this week whether a teenage boy who shot his parents and three young siblings to death at their Albuquerque-area home should be punished as an adult.
The Albuquerque Journal reportsthat a hearing is scheduled to weigh whether Nehemiah Griego should be sentenced as a juvenile and get treatment or face a possible lifetime prison sentence.
Griego pleaded guilty in October in state children's court to two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of his parents and three counts of child abuse resulting in death in the slayings of his three younger siblings.
He was 15 at the time of the January 2013 shooting.
The teen told detectives that he was angry with his mother and had been having homicidal thoughts.
Pecos Wilderness Expansion Plan Draws Opposition – Associated Press
A proposal to fold thousands of acres into the Pecos Wilderness area northwest of Santa Fe is drawing resistance from nearby residents.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that a group of people living in and around the village of Penasco, which is near forest involved in the proposed expansion, have been strongly opposed to the idea.
State lawmakers and wilderness advocates have thrown their support behind expanding the Pecos Wilderness, which includes 220,000 acres, by 30 percent with another 78,000 acres.
Residents say they are worried about still being able to hunt or gather wood if management of the forest changes.
Supporters of the plan say the proposal allows for a 14,000-acre "special management area" outside of Penasco for those activities.
Pecos Wilderness first received federal protection in 1964.
Democratic Leader Faults New Mexico Governor For REAL ID 'Panic'- Associated Press
A New Mexico Democratic leader is faulting Governor Susana Martinez for spreading "panic" over air travel uncertainty because of the federal REAL ID Act.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez said Friday the Republican governor lied about New Mexico residents soon needing passports to board a commercial air flight and should have been working with lawmakers on a solution.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Friday that New Mexico passengers could continue using their current state IDs until early 2018.
After that, New Mexico residents would need a REAL ID compliant license or a passport to board a commercial flight unless lawmakers change state law.
New Mexico May Put State Pay Raises On Hold- Associated Press
New Mexico government pay raises may be put on hold because of low energy prices and weak state revenues from the oil and natural gas sector.
A legislative budget proposal released Friday would increase state spending by $232 million for the coming fiscal year.
The recommendation from the Legislative Finance Committee came with a warning that it may need to withhold $78 million in new spending intended for pay raises if energy prices remain low.
The committee's budget proposal forms the foundation for spending decisions when lawmakers convene for a 30-day session on January 19.
The $6.47 billion budget plan focuses new spending on Medicaid, education, early childhood programs, public health, workforce development, economic growth and public safety.
Ex-Records Keeper Files Lawsuit Against Albuquerque Police- Associated Press
A former records keeper has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the Albuquerque Police Department, saying top officials demanded he unlawfully deny public records requests related to high-profile cases, including some stemming from officer-involved shootings.
Reynaldo Chavez's lawsuit says he was fired from his job as APD records custodian last year after he objected to officials' orders to delay or withhold responses to records requests from the media and others without justification.
Chavez says in the lawsuit filed Monday that he was ordered to deny or stall the release of records related to the James Boyd shooting and other cases.
The lawsuit names Chief Gorden Eden, Assistant Chief Robert Huntsman, former assistant city attorney Kathryn Levy and others.
A police spokeswoman and city attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Mayor Signs Letter To Support Officer's Burial At Arlington - Associated Press
Albuquerque's mayor has signed a formal letter in support of a burial with full military honors for Officer Daniel Webster at Arlington National Cemetery.
Webster was shot and killed in October during a traffic stop.
He was 47 years old and an eight-year veteran with the Albuquerque Police Department. Before becoming a police officer, he was an Army Ranger, with deployments to Bosnia, South Africa and Iraq.
Hundreds of police officers attended a funeral for him in early November in Albuquerque.
Mayor Richard Berry on Friday signed the letter in support of having him laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, with his office saying it's the wish of his family for him to be buried there.
Conservation Officials: New Mexico's Snowpack Above Average- Associated Press, Santa Fe New Mexican
Conservation officials say the snowpack in New Mexico's mountains is rebounding from last year's dismal showing.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the Natural Resources Conservation Service released an initial water supply forecast Thursday that shows every one of the state's river basins with an above-average snowpack.
December's snowfall pushed precipitation totals for the month to 137 percent of the 30-year average.
The abundant snow is good news for New Mexico's ski industry, farmers and municipal water managers.
Meteorologists say the strong El Nino weather pattern is responsible for increased moisture in the Southwest.
The Natural resources Conservation Service will release a new water supply forecast each month until May. It will use the latest snow survey data to predict how much water will be available through summer.