House Panel Schedules Meeting In Secretary Of State Case – The Associated Press
The panel of New Mexico lawmakers that will be investigating fraud and other charges against one of the state's highest ranking officials as part of impeachment proceedings has scheduled its first meeting.
The House Special Investigatory Committee will meet Sept. 28 at the State Capitol in Santa Fe. The bipartisan panel will be discussing the hiring of special legal counsel, rules for the investigation and a hearing schedule.
The Legislative Council on Tuesday cleared the way for the committee to begin its work by approving up to $250,000 in state funds to finance the effort.
Secretary of State Dianna Duran has been accused of funneling campaign contributions into personal bank accounts and later withdrawing large sums of money while frequenting casinos around the state. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Fraud Charges Against New Mexico's Secretary Of State –Associated Press
Embattled New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna Duran has made her first visit to her office since being charged more than two weeks ago with fraud, money laundering and other counts.
Duran dropped by Tuesday following her arraignment in state district court in Santa Fe.
A spokesman for the secretary of state's office, Ken Ortiz, says Duran met with her top staffers to discuss upcoming deadlines and projects related to the 2016 election season.
The office oversees enforcement of the state's election and campaign finance laws.
Duran is accused of funneling some $13,000 in campaign contributions to personal bank accounts and withdrawing large sums of cash at casinos around the state.
She pleaded not guilty to the 64 counts outlined in a criminal complaint filed by the state attorney general's office.
Officer Charged In Shooting Faces Police Department Hearing – The Associated Press
An officer charged in the on-duty shooting death of a homeless man is expected to face a hearing to decide his fate on the Albuquerque police force.
Officer Dominique Perez has remained on administrative leave for more than a year and amid public protests calling for his firing.
Perez, who is 34, is one of two officers charged with second-degree murder after opening fire on James Boyd in March 2014. A tentative trial date has been set for August 2016.
Defense attorneys have maintained that the officers fired at Boyd because he had threatened and posed a danger to police.
In video footage, Boyd is shown turning away from officers with two knives in hand as shots are fired, ending an hours-long standoff in the Sandia Mountain foothills.
Injunction Sought On New Mexico Teacher Evaluations – The Associated Press
Two New Mexico teachers union are seeking an injunction to halt the use of student tests as part of the state's teacher evaluation system.
Lawyers for the American Federation of Teachers New Mexico and the Albuquerque Teachers Federation are scheduled Wednesday to make their case before a Santa Fe County district judge.
The unions say the evaluation system is forcing veteran educators to retire or have their licenses jeopardized. They want the evaluation system tossed.
Public Education Department spokesman Robert McEntyre called the suit a "disappointing distraction" from the agency's mission of providing a quality education to every child.
He says previous attempts to undermine the evaluation system already have been rejected by state courts.
Another New Mexico Lawmaker Addresses Spending Questions – The Associated Press
A New Mexico lawmaker who's the latest to be questioned about campaign spending is calling for a review of all finance records filed by elected officials and candidates.
Rep. James Roger Madalena made the statement Wednesday after it was confirmed that the secretary of state's office was looking into his filings.
The Democrat from Jemez Pueblo reported spending campaign money on surgery expenses, attire from a Nike factory store and satellite TV service.
Madalena chalked it up to "clerical errors and honest mistakes." He fired back at critics who raised questions about his filings and leveled his own accusations at Republican lawmakers.
New Mexico's campaign finance reporting system was thrust into the spotlight more than two weeks when Republican Secretary of State Dianna Duran was accused of misusing contributions to cover spending at casinos.
Teen Accused In New Mexico Homeless Killings Takes Plea Deal – The Associated Press
A 16-year-old charged with two others in the beating deaths of two homeless Navajo men in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has taken a plea deal.
The teen pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder and related charges in an agreement that caps his potential sentence at 20 years. However, the deal offers the possibility of release when the teen turns 21.
As part of the agreement, the teen agreed to testify against the other suspects next month. Police say the teen was 15 at the time of the attack.
Prosecutors say the three teens killed 44-year-old Allison Gorman and 46-year-old Kee Thompson in July 2014.
Police reported cinderblocks were among the things the 15-year-old said the trio used to beat the men for over an hour.
The Associated Press isn't identifying the teen because of his age.
EPA Chief: Agency Did Not Shirk Responsibility In Mine Spill – The Associated Press
The head of the Environmental Protection Agency is dismissing complaints by Republican lawmakers that her agency downplayed the seriousness of a toxic mine spill that fouled rivers in three Western states.
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy called the spill caused by her agency "tragic and unfortunate." She said the EPA has taken responsibility to ensure that 3 million gallons of rust-colored sludge released into Colorado's Animas River is cleaned up. The Aug. 5 spill occurred during excavation work at an inactive gold mine near Silverton, Colorado.
Republicans charge that EPA is treating itself more gingerly than if a private company were responsible for the spill, which sent lead and other heavy metals rushing toward communities downstream.
McCarthy said Wednesday "there's no way EPA should have downplayed this. I certainly did not."
Julian Castro To Headline New Mexico Democratic Fundraiser – The Associated Press
Department of Housing and Urban Secretary and rising Democratic star Julian Castro will headline a fundraiser for the Democratic Party of New Mexico.
The party announced Wednesday that Castro will speak at a Sheraton Uptown dinner in Albuquerque on Oct. 16.
A former San Antonio mayor, Castro is a rising star in the Democratic Party and is frequently discussed as a potential vice presidential candidate in 2016.
President Obama raised Castro's national profile in 2012 when he chose him as the keynote speaker for the Democratic National Convention.
Since then, Castro has been a popular speaker at national conferences focusing on minority issues.
2 Officers Booked At Albuquerque Detention Center — Associated Press
Two Albuquerque police officers expected to stand trial in the on-duty shooting death of a homeless man last year have been booked on second-degree murder and other charges.
They are not being held.
Defense attorney Sam Bregman confirmed his client Keith Sandy, now a retired detective, was booked Tuesday at Metropolitan Detention Center.
Jail records show Officer Dominique Perez was booked and released Monday.
Both entered not guilty pleas to charges last week during an arraignment hearing where a judge ordered them to arrange to be booked, but not held.
Video from March 2014 shows James Boyd was shot as he turned away from officers.
Defense attorneys say the officers shot Boyd because he posed a danger to police.
A trial has been set for August 2016.
Albuquerque College Removing Emergency Call Boxes – Associated Press
Emergency call boxes are being removed from an Albuquerque college campus, an action school officials say is meant to cut down on expensive maintenance and repair costs.
KOAT-TV reports the tall blue poles with "push for help" buttons dispersed throughout Central New Mexico Community College have served as resources for students who might need to call for help. The devices are now covered with gray sleeves or bolted over with metal.
Student Angela Fredlund says the boxes are there for students who don't have access to a cellphone and are in need of help. She says she doesn't think the change is safe.
But school officials say the technology is outdated and have cited costs as a reason to remove the boxes.
$100 ATM Cards For New Mexico Teachers Face Union Face Resistance — Associated Press
New Mexico school districts are giving teachers state-issued $100 debit cards to help buy classroom supplies, but one union is urging teachers to be cautious in accepting the offer over concerns the fine print may put teachers' licenses at risk.
Albuquerque Teachers Federation President Ellen Bernstein said the cards being distributed this week are "an insult" to educators because they come as districts face teacher shortages.
The union isn't taking an official stance on the cards, but union leaders are encouraging teachers to send Gov. Susana Martinez a signed postcard in protest.
New Mexico Public Education Secretary Hanna Skandera said the purpose of the debit cards is to help teachers who often use their own money to buy school supplies. Skandera said she is "utterly disappointed" the Albuquerque Teachers Federation isn't supporting the cards.
Injunction Sought On New Mexico Teacher Evaluations – Associated Press
Two New Mexico teachers union are seeking an injunction to halt the use of student tests as part of the state's teacher evaluation system.
Lawyers for the American Federation of Teachers New Mexico and the Albuquerque Teachers Federation are scheduled Tuesday to make their case before a Santa Fe County district judge.
The unions say the evaluation system is forcing veteran educators to retire or have their licenses jeopardized. They want the evaluation system tossed.
Public Education Department spokesman Robert McEntyre called the suit a "disappointing distraction" from the agency's mission of providing a quality education to every child.
He says previous attempts to undermine the evaluation system already have been rejected by state courts.