Embattled NM Official Proposes New Campaign Finance Rules – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
A New Mexico official facing criminal charges for misusing campaign contributions is proposing new campaign finance rules.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Secretary of State Dianna Duran's office plans to present a slate of proposals at a public hearing on Friday, including some that regulate how candidates can spend money donated to them.
Duran will have the final say on the new rules and her office wants them in place before next year's election.
Her office was already working on the package when Attorney General Hector Balderas charged Duran with fraud, embezzlement and other crimes in August. He says she used campaign money for personal spending, including at casinos.
Duran has pleaded not guilty and rejected calls to step down.
NM Justices: Police Flyover Of Man's Home Unconstitutional – The Associated Press
The New Mexico Supreme Court has ruled a flyover of a Taos County man's home during a state police investigation into marijuana-growing operations amounted to a warrantless search of his property.
The Supreme Court's ruling Monday overturns an appeals court ruling that found aerial surveillance of Norman Davis' property was valid under the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures.
The 2006 aerial search led state police to conduct a ground search of his Carson-area home and seize 14 pot plants found in a greenhouse.
The search was part of a state police operation that included the participation of the National Guard and state Game and Fish officials.
Authorities said the ground search was conducted with the reluctant consent of Davis after a spotter in the helicopter saw vegetation in Davis' greenhouse and plants outside.
Most States Show Increase In High School Graduation Rates – The Associated Press
The Education Department says high school graduation rates for most states continue to improve.
Many states also are showing gains for black and Hispanic students.
The department says preliminary data show graduation rates up in 36 states for the 2013-2014 school year. The biggest gains were in Delaware, Alabama, Oregon, West Virginia and Illinois.
Five states had declines, including Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Oklahoma and New Mexico. The District of Columbia also slipped.
Eight states were flat; Idaho did not have complete numbers to report.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan says the nation appears to be on track to take another step toward higher graduation rates. The nation's overall graduation rate is 81 percent, an all-time high.
Final data is due next spring.
Prosecutors Hone In On Human Trafficking, Money Laundering – The Associated Press
Top prosecutors from several U.S. states are looking to bolster relationships with their counterparts in Mexico to tackle a rise in human trafficking and money laundering.
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas says drug running and weapons smuggling continue to be dangers along the border, but organized crime is becoming more sophisticated and is seeing higher profits from human trafficking.
Balderas joined attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Rhode Island and Kansas for a special gathering in Mexico City last week. A grant from the U.S. State Department funded the visit.
The focus was on improving the sharing of information among law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border as well as more training for prosecutors.
Balderas says Mexico will be a critical partner in the effort.
Bankruptcy Judge Frustrated With Gallup Diocese Case - The Associated Press & The Gallup Independent
A judge says he is getting frustrated as a New Mexico diocese nears its second year in bankruptcy court.
The Gallup Independent reports that U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David T. Thuma said during a Thursday court hearing that he's not pleased the Diocese of Gallup's case is still going on.
He agreed to the diocese's request to postpone its final hearing, originally scheduled for next month. He scheduled a status conference in its place.
Thuma hasn't yet ruled on a request from Phoenix attorney Robert E. Pastor, who represents 18 people who say they were sexually abused by the diocese's clergy.
Pastor wants to pursue two or three sexual abuse lawsuits filed in Flagstaff before the Gallup Diocese declared bankruptcy, but a stay currently prevents civil cases against the diocese after the final bankruptcy hearing.
New Motion To Go Before City Council For Indigenous Holiday – The Associated Press
Albuquerque's City Council president plans to introduce a measure that goes further in ensuring the second Monday of October each year is recognized as Indigenous Peoples Day.
The move comes a week after Council President Rey Garduno faced criticism from Councilman Dan Lewis, who will motion to censure Garduno for hastily introducing a political proclamation for the holiday that falls on the same day as Columbus Day and for publicly criticizing councilors who didn't sign it.
Six signed and three did not.
Lewis' censure motion and Garduno's push for an Indigenous Peoples Day resolution are on Monday evening's Council agenda.
Albuquerque observed Indigenous Peoples Day for the first time last week through proclamation, which typically represents a celebratory document less permanent than a resolution.
Resolutions can undergo more lengthy Council discussion, and the mayor signs them if passed.
New Treatment Plant Running At Site Of Colorado Mine Spill - The Associated Press
A temporary treatment plant has begun cleaning up polluted water flowing from the Gold King Mine in southwestern Colorado after an accident sent millions of gallons of waste into rivers in three states.
The Environmental Protection Agency said Monday the $1.8 million plant is processing up to 800 gallons per minute, including water flowing from the mine and water stored in ponds.
The EPA says the plant costs about $20,000 a week to operate. The agency says it has now spent nearly $14.5 million cleaning up after the Aug. 5 spill.
An EPA-led crew inadvertently released about 3 million gallons of waste tainted with heavy metals when heavy equipment breached a debris dam inside the mine. Rivers in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah were polluted by the spill.
Mora Superintendent Accused Of Faking Credentials – Las Vegas Optic, Associated Press
New Mexico's Public Education Department is investigating whether the Mora Independent School District superintendent, who used to manage the agency's licensure bureau, falsely obtained his license.
The Las Vegas Optic reports a five-month investigation by the newspaper found several discrepancies in Charles Trujillo's background.
The newspaper said Friday that Trujillo submitted a fake transcript from Highlands University.
It states he earned a master's degree in guidance and counseling in December 2004.
The university registrar's office says Trujillo never obtained a master's degree.
A master's or doctorate is required to get an administrative license from the Public Education Department.
Trujillo did not immediately respond Sunday to messages seeking comment.
George Trujillo, his uncle and chairman of the Mora school board, says his nephew was vetted when hired to be superintendent.
Albuquerque Police Chief: Officer Shortage To Only Worsen – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
Albuquerque's police chief says an officer shortage in the department will likely get worse before it gets better.
Chief Gorden Eden told the Albuquerque Journal on Sunday that the number of rank-and-file officers will shrink for another year, despite an increase in the size and number of police academy classes every month.
According to Eden, there are 135 fewer officers than the 1,000 that is authorized.
Another factor is the number of officers eligible for retirement will outpace academy graduates until 2017.
Legislation that would have allowed retired police officers to return to work while still collecting a pension stalled in the state Senate this year.
The shortage comes at a time of reforms after the U.S. Department of Justice faulted police over allegations of excessive force.
Navajo Nation Lawmakers Convene For Fall Session – Associated Press
Navajo Nation lawmakers are gathering this week in Window Rock for their fall session.
Monday is set aside to hear reports from the tribal president, leaders of the legislative and judicial branches, and others.
Lawmakers start taking up bills on Tuesday.
One piece of legislation asks lawmakers to approve a reservation-wide vote on spending the principal from a trust fund valued at more than $1 billion.
Another bill seeks a loan to buy new aircraft for use by tribal officials.
The legislative session is scheduled to end Friday but could be cut short if lawmakers finish the agenda early.
Organizers Say Albuquerque Lantern Fest Will Shine – KOAT-TV, Associated Press
Organizers of a lantern festival at an Albuquerque racetrack say the event will proceed despite county officials' permit concerns.
KOAT-TV reports that Bernalillo County officials say the Sandia Speedway's permit does not allow for events that aren't race-related.
However, organizers say nothing in the permit explicitly says all events have to be race-related.
Lantern Fest director Spencer Humiston says he has contacted the county and hopes it reconsiders.
Scheduled for Nov. 14, Lantern Fest brings together people with lanterns to create a light-filled spectacle. The event will also have music, dancing and food.
Humiston says more than 2,500 people have already bought tickets.
He says he will refund tickets if Lantern Fest gets shut down.
He says organizers may put on a race to avoid cancellation.
Residents Complain About Piñon Pickers On Private Property - KRQE-TV, Associated Press
Neighbor complaints have the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office reminding piñon pickers to stay off private property.
KRQE-TV reportsdeputies can cite pickers who trespass on private land to get piñon nuts. The sheriff's office is planning to install a billboard that will tell people where they can pick along Interstate 40.
Bernalillo County Sheriff's Deputy Aaron Williamson said there are no public facilities in the area. Residents say trespassers have used the land as a toilet, and some have reported people leaving trash behind and stealing crops.
Williamson says private property runs alongside state forest land in the area, leading to calls each year from residents who say people are crossing the line.
More rain this year has led to a bigger piñon nut crop.