Man’s Death In Police Custody Ruled A Homicide – Albuquerque Journal
The Office of the Medical Investigator has ruled the death of a man held by Bernalillo Police a homicide.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Ben CdeBaca died by cocaine intoxication complicated by restraints used by officers according to his autopsy.
CdeBaca was arrested at a Wal-Mart in Bernalillo last September after he was involved in a car wreck and then destroyed several televisions.
Officers handcuffed CdeBaca and shackled his legs and placed him face down on the ground near a police cruiser but he continued to thrash around and reportedly bit an officer’s leg.
Officers put a spit shield on his face but a Rio Rancho sergeant said the mask covered his nose and mouth. He reportedly shouted “I can’t breathe,” and went limp after the shield was put on him.
Albuquerque Utility: No Rate Increases For Water Users – The Associated Press
One of New Mexico's largest water utilities has unveiled its budget proposal for the next fiscal year and no rate increases are planned.
The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority detailed the utility's plan Monday. The budget includes $67 million for infrastructure projects — $8 million more than last year.
Chief financial officer Stan Allred says rate increases over the past few years are being largely dedicated to infrastructure improvements.
The American Society of Civil Engineers has estimated that New Mexico will have more than $1 billion in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needs over the next two decades.
Bill Conner with the New Mexico Rural Water Association says most of the systems in the state are rural community systems so keeping up with infrastructure demands has been a challenge.
Supreme Court Case Raises Questions About Tribal Convictions – The Associated Press
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether federal felony charges can be filed against defendants who were previously convicted of multiple domestic violence counts in tribal courts that didn't provide attorneys.
The case set to be heard Tuesday marks a critical test for tribal courts — particularly those without the money to hire public defenders — at a time when Congress has begun broadening federal authority to prosecute violent crimes in Indian Country.
In domestic violence cases, a decade-old law has sought to combat high assault rates on reservations by transferring cases involving offenders with multiple convictions to the federal courts for possible stiffer punishments.
That statute is being challenged on the contention that defendants must be guaranteed counsel in tribal courts if their cases are ultimately grounds for stiffer penalties in U.S. courts.
Western Dramas Pack New Mexico Production Studios – The Associated Press & The ABQ Journal
New Mexico's soundstages are at capacity as television production ramps up in the state.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that according to the New Mexico Film Office, there were recently eight TV productions filming in the state, meaning every studio in Albuquerque and Santa Fe are or were full.
Film Office Director Nick Maniatis says this is the first time so many shows have been in the state at once, bringing unprecedented money to the state.
According to the Albuquerque Film Office one week of filming a TV production funnels $1 million into the community.
Shows recently filmed in New Mexico include western-themed shows such as Netflix's "Longmire," AMC's "Preacher" and "From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series" by the El Rey Network.
Farmington Shoots Down Hospital's Plans For Solar Project – The Associated Press & The Daily Times
Farmington officials have voted not to allow a hospital to build a solar farm, though San Juan Regional Medical Center had already purchase the panels.
The Daily Times reports that the City Council voted against a zoning change that would have allowed the hospital to install more than 6,000 solar panels on a 12.-acre plot of land adjacent to the facility.
Previously, the Planning and Zoning Commission had unanimously recommended the council grant the hospital's request. But at the Tuesday council meeting some officials said they were concerned about having a major utility by a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area.
Hospital officials can appeal the decision in court or find another location for the farm, though officials say the medical center doesn't own enough property elsewhere for such a large project.
New Mexico Court Rules Against State In National Guard Case – The Associated Press
The New Mexico Supreme Court has ruled that the state can be sued under a law protecting military personnel in their civilian employment and reinstated a National Guard soldier's award of $36,000.
Phillip G. Ramirez Jr. sued the state over his 2008 firing from the Department of Children, Youth and Families after he returned from a National Guard deployment.
A jury ruled that Ramirez's military service was a reason for actions that the state agency took against him and that his rights were violated when he was fired.
The Court of Appeals overturned the jury's award to Ramirez, ruling that the state had immunity from his claim.
However, the Supreme Court's decision last week says legislative action waived the state's immunity. The decision reinstates the jury's award.
New Mexico Congressman Honors Vets With Solo World Flight – The Associated Press & The Hobbs News-Sun
A New Mexico Republican congressman is attempting a solo flight around the world to honor war veterans.
The Hobbs News-Sun Newspaper reports that U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce has nearly completed a worldwide expedition but his plane was sitting in a hangar in Spain this weekend while waiting for the weather to improve.
The 68-year-old began the planned 16-day trip on March 27, departing in his 1998 Mooney M20M Bravo from Las Vegas, New Mexico.
The original 21-leg flight plan had Pearce flying West to Hawaii through Asia on to the Arabian Peninsula then to Spain, Portugal, and eventually back to the U.S.
In Thailand, he left a memorial for veterans made by the Isleta Pueblo, one of 19 American Indian pueblos in New Mexico.
Police: Vehicle Crashes After Border Patrol Chase; 4 Held – The Associated Press
Authorities in Las Cruces say four people have been arrested and a fifth person may remain at large after a vehicle crashed following a pursuit by the Border Patrol.
New Mexico State University Police say the individuals ran onto the Dona Ana Community College campus but were arrested within a few minutes of the Monday morning crash on Interstate 10.
The community college's central campus is located next to both the larger NMSU campus and I-10.
University police say there's no indication that the fifth person who may be at large is either armed or dangerous to the community.
Information on the pursuit wasn't immediately available. A Border Patrol spokesman said he had no information, and the New Mexico State Police didn't immediately respond to an inquiry.
Visits To New Mexico National Parks See Gains – Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
National parks and monuments across New Mexico saw sharp increases in visitors last month.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that White Sands National Monument and Carlsbad Caverns are among the parks that saw a rise in March.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park spokeswoman Valerie Gohlke says people have come despite the broken elevators.
Carlsbad received more than 51,000 visits, the best for the month of March since 2008.
White Sands near Alamogordo recorded more than 71,000 visits, the highest since 2002.
The National Park System is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
Gohlke says the marketing tied to the centennial, including an offer of free admission to fourth-graders and their families were likely factors.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates New Mexico's national parks annually draw 1.6 million visits.
No Rate Increase Planned By Water Utility – Associated Press
The water utility serving Albuquerque and Bernalillo County will see a $10 million boost in its budget next year but residents won’t see higher bills.
The Albuquerque Journal reports this is the first time in four years there will not be a rate increase and it comes even as water use reached a record low in 2015.
Stan Allred, chief financial officer with the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, said previous rate hikes have brought in the revenue needed to do infrastructure repair and equipment to add fluoride to the water.
The decision to add fluoride has been controversial. The equipment would be installed at the San Juan-Chama Drinking Water Plant if the water authority board approves that plan.
New Mexico To Start Testing Zika Samples In State – KOAT-TV, Associated Press
New Mexico health officials are looking into the ability to do their own tests for the Zika virus as early as next month.
KOAT-TV reports that the New Mexico Department of Health recently started running test samples in its Albuquerque lab.
States have been sending potential samples to the Centers for Disease Control's lab in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Officials say having the state conduct its own tests means New Mexicans could receive results much quicker.
Department spokesman Dr. Paul Ettestad says the state lab is still trying to make sure it can adequately perform the testing.
Student Group Calls U. Of New Mexico Seal Offensive – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
University of New Mexico's official seal depicting a Spanish conquistador and a frontiersman is drawing accusations of racism from Native American students.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Native American students in the Kiva Club as well as members of advocacy group The Red Nation call the seal offensive.
The seal is stamped on all diplomas and is present at most school events.
Oceti Sakowin tribe member and UNM doctoral student Nick Estes said to use the current seal on diplomas earned by Native Americans is an insult.
UNM President Bob Frank says the seal is familiar to many, but that he'd be open to discussing the students' ideas.
The university's diversity council and its vice president for equity and inclusion are taking steps to work with the concerned students.
Restoration Projects At Questa Mine Up For Discussion – Associated Press
State and federal officials will be gathering in northern New Mexico later this month to begin discussions about restoration projects aimed at offsetting damage stemming from mining operations in Questa.
The state, the U.S. Forest Service and Interior Department will be seeking public comment during an April 27 meeting regarding projects that would benefit groundwater and other aquatic resources in the area.
The ideas will be evaluated and included in a draft environmental assessment.
Any projects that are selected would be funded from a natural resources damage settlement that was approved by a federal judge in September 2015.
The agreement required Chevron Mining Inc. to pay $4 million for restoration work and transfer 225 acres of land in Taos County to the Bureau of Land Management.
New Mexico Graduation Rate Dips For 2014-15 School Year – Associated Press
New Mexico saw a dip in the number of students who earned diplomas last year, but state education officials say the graduation rate for 2015 is still an improvement over levels reported a few years ago.
Figures released Friday by the Public Education Department show the statewide graduation rate dropped about 1 percent to 68.6 percent.
Albuquerque and Rio Rancho saw declines as did schools in the Las Cruces district, but officials reported an improved rate in Santa Fe.
Districts in Bernalillo, Bloomfield, Clovis and Española all saw rates increase by 5 percent or more.
In Belen, high school principal Rodney Wright was ecstatic about a more than 14 percent increase. He said the success will be celebrated but teachers and staff will continue to work to track student progress.