Gov. Martinez Disagrees With Trump Comments On Judge – Associated Press
Gov. Susana Martinez is joining a chorus of Republicans in criticizing Donald Trump for his claim that a federal judge is not qualified to preside over a case because of his Mexican heritage.
Martinez spokesman Chris Sanchez says the governor is concerned by and strongly disagrees with the presumptive GOP presidential nominee's claim that U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel cannot preside fairly over a case involving Trump University because the judge is of Mexican heritage and Trump wants to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. Republicans including U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan have strongly criticized Trump's remarks.
Martinez is at the forefront of GOP efforts to help elect Republican governors in fall elections, as the chairwoman of the Republican Governors Association. Martinez has not endorsed Trump.
Court Sets Limits On Homeless Man's History In Officer Trial – Associated Press
A judge has set limits on what parts of a homeless man's criminal history can be disclosed to jurors when the two officers charged in the man's death stand trial.
A New Mexico judge ruled Thursday that defense attorneys will only be able to bring up the parts of James Boyd's criminal past that the officers knew about on the day Boyd was shot. He had been arrested multiple times before the March 2014 shooting.
Retired detective Keith Sandy and former officer Dominique Perez have been charged with second-degree murder in Boyd's death.
Video from the shooting showed Boyd appearing to turn away before Perez and Sandy opened fire. Authorities have said Boyd threatened officers with two knives.
The officers' trial is set for September.
Carlsbad Current-Argus Welcomes New Managing Editor – The Associated Press
Senior reporter Jessica Onsurez is the new managing editor at the Carlsbad Current-Argus.
Onsurez succeeds Aaron Bracamontes, who is taking on the newly created role of audience analyst and content strategist for members of the Texas-New Mexico Newspapers Partnership.
A native of Loving, the 31-year-old Onsurez joined the Current-Argus in 2013. She won reporter of the year honors two years in a row.
Robert Moore is the editor of the El Paso Times and vice president of news for the newspaper partnership. He said Onsurez is one of the Southwest's most promising young journalists and she has a passion for covering important stories in her home community.
Onsurez was a Peace Corps volunteer and worked with former U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici as an executive assistant before joining the Current-Argus.
Euthanized Zoo Tiger Had Been Suffering From Liver Cancer – The Associated Press & The ABQ Journal
Albuquerque zoo officials say the facility's only tiger was suffering from liver cancer before being euthanized.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that a necropsy conducted by the ABQ BioPark zoo found that Scout, a Bengal tiger, had a large liver tumor and advanced liver cancer.
The 18-year-old tiger was euthanized Wednesday after showing a loss of appetite and weight over the last few months.
Officials say Scout weighed 325 pounds in his prime but had dropped to 220 pounds.
Zoo curator Tammy Schmidt says the tiger was a "wonderful ambassador."
Scout came to the zoo as a 6-month-old cub from a zoo in North Dakota in 1998.
The animal's death leaves the zoo without any tigers.
Zoo officials are in the process of trying to get new tigers.
New Mexico To Invest $1.8M For Water Infrastructure – The Associated Press
The New Mexico Economic Development Department is investing $1.8 million to build a drinking water well that will serve the area around the booming border community of Santa Teresa.
The governor's office announced the funding Thursday and listed a number of business ventures that stand to benefit, from FedEx Ground's new logistics facility to MCS Frames' distribution center.
The funding will be distributed through the Local Economic Development Act, which serves as a closing fund to help recruit new businesses to the state and help those already here to grow.
Officials say the fund has grown to $56 million in the last few years.
Gov. Susana Martinez says Santa Teresa is a strong example of the power that comes from investing in infrastructure to help communities harness their potential.
Senators Push For Wilderness Within New Mexico Monument – The Associated Press
Almost a half-million acres in southern New Mexico were designed as a national monument two years ago, and now members of the state's congressional delegation are pushing for portions of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks area to be set aside as wilderness.
While praised by environmentalists, the effort is reigniting the concerns of local law enforcement about their ability to access the area.
The legislation introduced by Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, both Democrats, would set aside more than 376 square miles — or nearly half of the monument — as wilderness.
The senators say the legislation strikes "the right balance" between border security and conservation.
An association that represents border sheriffs from Texas to California is reviewing the proposal. The group has been concerned about the ability to ensure public safety and investigate matters under local jurisdiction.
Ex-Dona Ana County Worker Gets Prison In ID Theft Case – The Associated Press
An ex-document technician at a southern New Mexico county clerk's office has been sentenced to 18 months in prison in connection with a check-cashing scheme.
Prosecutors say 43-year-old Maria Ceniceros also was sentenced Friday to three years of supervised release.
Ceniceros, of Anthony, pleaded guilty last October to theft of government property and aggravated identity theft charges.
She was arrested in the case in May 2015.
Ceniceros admitted to accessing a voter registration database at work for the names, birth dates and social security numbers of 111 people whose identities were used to file fraudulent federal income tax returns.
Three other document technicians at the Dona Ana County clerk's office also were arrested in the case and accused of knowingly notarizing falsified documents.
Judge Declines To Dismiss New Mexico's Nursing Home Lawsuit – Associated Press
A state district judge has declined to dismiss a novel lawsuit filed by the New Mexico attorney general's office against one of the nation's largest nursing home chains over allegations of inadequate care.
Judge Sarah Singleton this week issued an order denying the nursing homes' motions to dismiss the case.
Lawyers for Texas-based Preferred Care Partners Management Group argued that the lawsuit was a case of greed and opportunism. They said a Washington, D.C., law firm pushed the state to sue.
Attorney General Hector Balderas vowed Thursday his office will not back down, saying some of New Mexico's most vulnerable residents suffered from a lack of care.
Prosecutors contend the company keeps staffing levels so low that it's impossible to provide good care.
A trial is scheduled for April 2018.
Group In Trump Protest Says Staffers Getting Death Threats – Associated Press
An advocacy group that sought to organize a peaceful anti-Donald Trump protest in Albuquerque that later turned violent says its staffers are getting death threats.
The Albuquerque-based Southwest Organizing Project said this week the group is taking precautions after staffers received the racist emails and phone calls.
The nonprofit has come under scrutiny by Trump supporters who blame the organization for a riot last month outside a Trump rally in Albuquerque.
Javier Benavidez, executive director of the advocacy group, says the organization doesn't condone violence and worked to keep the demonstration peaceful.
Police say rioters threw rocks at police and caused thousands of dollars in damages.
Businesses have raised $12,000 in reward money to arrest riot suspects.
The Southwest Organizing Project was one of many groups involved in the protest.
Martinez-Affiliated PAC Targeted Candidate In Disputed Race – KOB-TV, Associated Press
A political action committee tied to Gov. Susana Martinez sent out $10,000 in fliers targeting a candidate in an election where a recount is now likely.
KOB-TV reports Advance New Mexico Now reminding voters about allegations surrounding Scott Chandler, who is running against Vicki Chavez for the Republican slot in House District 32. He is trailing her by 16 votes and election officials are preparing to recount ballots in the race.
Chandler owns Tierra Blanca Ranch where teens alleged they were beaten and starved. He has not been charged with a crime but is facing several lawsuits around the allegations.
Chandler led Chavez in early voting before the fliers went out, but lost to on election day.
Kari Fresquez of the New Mexico Secretary of State's Office said this race and one other finished within a margin of less than 1 percent that triggers a recount. The winner of that race will run against Democrat Candie Sweetser of Deming in November.
Democrat Mary Hotvedt of Piños Altos led Karen Whitlock by 31 votes out of 3,487 counted. The winner will run against Republican Rebecca Dow of Truth or Consequences.
The recounts still must be authorized by the New Mexico State Canvassing Board.
Euthanized Zoo Tiger Had Been Suffering From Liver Cancer – Associated Press, Albuquerque Journal
Albuquerque zoo officials say the facility's only tiger was suffering from liver cancer before being euthanized.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that a necropsy conducted by the ABQ BioPark zoo found that Scout, a Bengal tiger, had a large liver tumor and advanced liver cancer.
The 18-year-old tiger was euthanized Wednesday after showing a loss of appetite and weight over the last few months.
Officials say Scout weighed 325 pounds in his prime but had dropped to 220 pounds.
Zoo curator Tammy Schmidt says the tiger was a "wonderful ambassador."
Scout came to the zoo as a 6-month-old cub from a zoo in North Dakota in 1998.
The animal's death leaves the zoo without any tigers.
Zoo officials are in the process of trying to get new tigers.
Obamas Headed To Carlsbad, Yosemite For Father's Day Weekend – Associated Press
President Barack Obama is taking the first family on a mini-vacation to Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico and Yosemite National Park in California during Father's Day weekend.
The White House notes the trip is taking place as the National Park Service nears its 100th birthday. The administration is using the trip to highlight Obama's efforts to preserve land through the creation of new national monuments.
Yosemite has been a part of the National Park Service since it was established, with more than 4 million people visiting in 2015.
Carlsbad was established as a national monument in 1923 and contains more than 119 caves.
The White House is announcing the trip with a Facebook video of the president visiting Yellowstone and other national parks earlier in his presidency.
Former Albuquerque Police Sergeant's Certification Revoked – Associated Press
The New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Board has voted to revoke the certification of a former Albuquerque sergeant who was involved in a deadly traffic crash in 2013.
The board made the decision in the case of Adam Casaus during its meeting Thursday in Farmington.
Casaus was off duty while driving his patrol car with its emergency lights on when he ran a red light and crashed into an SUV, killing a woman and seriously injuring her sister.
The police department fired Casaus, who initially claimed he was looking for a drunken driver. He was later convicted of misdemeanor careless driving and sentenced to 90 days in jail.
The victim's family has sued Casaus, claiming that he wasn't conducting government business when the crash occurred.
New Mexico To Invest $1.8M For Water Infrastructure – Associated Press
The New Mexico Economic Development Department is investing $1.8 million to build a drinking water well that will serve the area around the booming border community of Santa Teresa.
The governor's office announced the funding Thursday and listed a number of business ventures that stand to benefit, from FedEx Ground's new logistics facility to MCS Frames' distribution center.
The funding will be distributed through the Local Economic Development Act, which serves as a closing fund to help recruit new businesses to the state and help those already here to grow.
Officials say the fund has grown to about $65 million in the last few years.
Gov. Susana Martinez says Santa Teresa is a strong example of the power that comes from investing in infrastructure to help communities harness their potential.