NM school now Native American Baccalaureate school - The Associated Press
A Navajo high school has become the first Native American International Baccalaureate school in the country.
The Farmington Daily Times reports Navajo Preparatory School had its application approved last month to become an International Baccalaureate World School.
The accreditation means the school can offer an academically challenging program with an international emphasis.
The program will mean students who participate can get a year's worth of credits and potentially start their first year of college at the sophomore level.
Navajo Prep will be the fifth school in New Mexico to offer the program.
Navajo Prep Executive Director Betty Ojaye says the program will be taught starting in the 2014-15 school year.
Bill repealing NM driver's license law stalls - The Associated Press
A bill that would have stopped New Mexico from granting driver's licenses to most immigrants without proper documentation has stalled in the Legislature.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the legislation could not overcome a tie vote Saturday afternoon among the House Labor and Human Resources Committee.
House Speaker Kenny Martinez, a committee member, and three other Democratic members voted against the bill, which is backed by Gov. Susana Martinez.
The bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Paul Pacheco of Albuquerque, would allow temporary driver's licenses for certain immigrant youths but stop the state from granting licenses to other foreign nationals without proper immigration documents.
Speaker Martinez says the measure would take away licenses from nine classes of legal immigrants.
Senate panel to examine fairgrounds casino deal - The Associated Press
A Senate committee plans to take a look at operations of the State Fair and the award of a 25-year lease by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's administration to a racetrack company to build a larger casino at the fairgrounds.
The Senate Rules Committee is scheduled Monday to hear from former State Fair Commissioner Charlotte Rode, who has spoken out against the handling of the 2011 lease that allowed the construction of the larger casino by the Downs at Albuquerque.
Martinez critics contend the lease was rushed through to benefit Martinez political supporters. However, the governor's office has said political contributions didn't influence decisions on the fairgrounds lease.
The committee chairwoman is Sen. Linda Lopez of Albuquerque, who is among five Democrats running for governor against Martinez this week.
Lawmakers call for brewery district in Albuquerque - The Associated Press
Two New Mexico state senators are seeking to highlight a "brewery district" in Albuquerque.
Senators Tim Keller and Daniel Ivey-Soto, both Democrats from Bernalillo, are co-sponsoring Senate Memorial 81, which would officially establish a Brewery District in the city.
Keller says Albuquerque has a legitimate, industry-driven neighborhood of breweries.
He says the legislation would recognize the cluster of breweries that have had a positive impact on the local economy and social scene.
According to the New Mexico Brewers Guild, more than 65,000 barrels of beer were produced statewide last year. There are also at least two dozen microbreweries in New Mexico that have contributed to employment in their surrounding communities.
Old photo of Santa Fe police chief ID'd - The Associate Press
Santa Fe police now know the identity of a former police chief in an old black-and-white photo.
Police had asked for the public's help in identifying the man after they found his portrait stored in a basement.
Administrators say they knew he was once police chief but nobody in the department could place him.
The son of Armando Larragoite then told KOB-TV that it's his father in the photo.
A copy of Larragoite's obituary shows the same picture found by Santa Fe police.
Alfonso Larragoite says his father, who died in 1991 at age 82, was loved by the department.
He says the elder Larragoite also served as Santa Fe undersheriff and a city councilman.
An elementary school in Santa Fe was named in his honor.