New Mexico Regulators Settle Fate Of Coal-Fired Power Plant – The Associated Press
State regulators have adopted a plan that calls for closing part of a coal-fired power plant in northwestern New Mexico that serves customers across the Southwest.
The 4-1 vote by the Public Regulation Commission came Wednesday after years of public meetings, protests and legal challenges that reached the highest courts in New Mexico.
The debate has centered on how the utility that runs the San Juan Generating Station plans to replace the lost capacity. Public Service Co. of New Mexico says a mix of coal, nuclear, natural gas and solar power would be most economical option for ratepayers.
Some environmentalists had pushed for the closure of the entire plant and for more renewable energy to be added to the grid.
Under the plan, the utility says customer rates will increase by about $10 a year starting in 2018.
Duran To Start Sentence On Friday Jail - The Associated Press
Former New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna Duran has agreed to a 30-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to charges involving the siphoning of money from her election account to fuel a gambling addiction.
Duran's attorney Erlinda Johnson notified a state district court in Santa Fe today of her client's decision. Duran is set to start serving the sentence on Friday.
The case has led to calls for a major overhaul of the state's campaign finance and ethics laws.
She has to pay a $14,000 fine, make restitution of nearly $14,000 to campaign donors, serve five years of probation, perform 2,000 hours of community service at charities, and give in-person apologies to campaign donors with appearances before school children across the state.
Albuquerque's Embattled Police Union President Resigns – The Associated Press
The president of Albuquerque's police union has resigned from her leadership post after authorities say she abused a teenage relative.
Stephanie Lopez was arrested last week on charges of child abuse and bribery or intimidation of a witness.
A criminal complaint filed by a Bernalillo County Sheriff's detective says Lopez repeatedly struck the teenager during a dispute over a utility shut-off warning.
A spokeswoman for the Albuquerque Police Officers Association on Wednesday confirmed Lopez's resignation as union president.
Lopez, who is 40, is a patrol officer with the Albuquerque Police Department. The department placed her on paid administrative leave after her arrest Thursday.
Lopez has pleaded not guilty to charges.
She was released the morning after her arrest after posting a $5,000 bond.
Advocates Eye Vigils To Push New Mexico License Compromise – Associated Press
Immigrant advocates are planning to hold statewide vigils to push a "two-tier" proposal regarding New Mexico driver's licenses.
The Santa Fe-based Somos Un Pueblo Unido announced Tuesday the group will hold vigils in support of a compromise passed last session by the Democratic-controlled state Senate. That bill would allow state residents to obtain federal REAL ID-compliant licenses or keep non-compliant ones.
State lawmakers are expected in January to begin work on revising a state law that grants New Mexico driver's licenses to immigrants regardless of status.
The move follows a decision by the federal government to deny New Mexico an extension from imposing tougher federal requirements on state driver's licenses.
A GOP-led House proposal would grant REAL ID compliant licenses and allow some immigrant to obtain driver's permit cards.
Albuquerque Schools Settles With Man Banned From Meetings – The Associated Press
Albuquerque Public Schools has settled a lawsuit with a man who was banned for board meetings for "disruptive behavior" and subsequently filed a lawsuit claiming his First Amendment rights had been violated.
Charles MacQuigg will get $480,000 in attorney's fees and $95,000 in damages to settle his lawsuit.
Board members said they took the action because MacQuigg would shout out during board meetings, hover over administrators and once donned an elephant mask that made employees and members of the public feel uncomfortable and unsafe.
APS board President Don Duran declined to comment Monday.
Last year a judge ruled against the Albuquerque Public Schools board's decision to expel MacQuigg, granting him an injunction to return to the meetings.
MacQuigg says he will no longer regularly attend meetings because he is done fighting APS.
Santa Fe Mayor Proposes Cultural District To Fight Fake Art – The Associated Press
Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales is proposing a cultural district to cut down on vendors selling faux Native American art.
Gonzales has proposed an ordinance that would require vendors within the district to disclose the origins of their artwork or face the loss of their business license.
The proposal comes less than two months after a federal sting operation that resulted in the arrest of three New Mexicans who were charged with violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act by allegedly conspiring to sell Filipino-made jewlry as Native-made.
According to data from the University of New Mexico, counterfeit art may make up as much as 40 to 90 percent of the Native arts market.
The city ordinance on creating a cultural district will be open for public comment.
Advocates Eyes Vigils To Push New Mexico License Compromise – The Associated Press
Immigrant advocates are planning to hold statewide vigils to push a "two-tier" proposal regarding New Mexico driver's licenses.
The Santa Fe-based Somos Un Pueblo Unido announced Tuesday the group will hold vigils in support of a compromise passed last session by the Democratic-controlled state Senate. That bill would allow state residents to obtain federal REAL ID compliant licenses or keep non-compliant ones.
State lawmakers are expected in January to begin work on revising a state law that grants New Mexico driver's licenses to immigrants regardless of status.
The move follows a decision by the federal government to deny New Mexico an extension from imposing tougher federal requirements on state driver's licenses.
A GOP-led House proposal would grant REAL ID compliant licenses and allow some immigrant to obtain driver's permit cards.
Student Arrested After Bomb Threat At A Farmington School – The Associated Press
Police in Farmington say a student has been arrested after a bomb threat at a middle school.
They say a written threat was found on a wall in the boys' restroom at Hermosa Middle School and reported to police about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The school was placed in a preventative lockdown for about 45 minutes until police completed a thorough search.
Police say several students reported a possible suspect to the school resource officer.
An investigation was conducted and the 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of making a bomb scare and interference with the educational process.
Police say one is a fourth-degree felony offense and the other is a misdemeanor.
They say the unidentified student is being held at the San Juan County Juvenile Detention Center.
Federal Data Shows State Ranks Near Bottom In Graduation Rates – Santa Fe New Mexican
New Mexico graduation rates continue to languish near the bottom nationwide according to new data from the U.S. Department of Education.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports only the District of Columbia had a lower rate of students completing high school. New Mexico’s rate was 68.5 percent for the 2013-14 school year, unchanged from last year. The national graduation rate was 82.3 percent.
Officials with the state Public Education Department say the data does not factor in updated statistics, which they say would put the graduation rate at 69.3 percent. That still puts New Mexico second to last nationally.
A PED spokesman said the state has one of the fastest growing graduation rates in the country. There was a 7-point increase in graduation rates between 2011 and 2013, according to the New Mexican.
Tab For Secretary Of State Inquiry Tops $17K – Associated Press
Even though impeachment proceedings never got off the ground for former New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna Duran, legislative officials say the price tag for a special committee to begin investigating has topped $17,500 so far.
The officials said Tuesday an attorney hired to brief the committee has been paid more than $14,400 and lawmakers received about $3,110 as per diem and mileage for a Sept. 28 meeting.
The bill could go up since the committee is expected to meet at least once more to close out its business.
Duran resigned and pleaded guilty in October to charges involving the use of campaign donations to fuel a gambling addiction. She was sentenced Monday.
She rebuffed calls for her resignation when she was first charged, and lawmakers responded by establishing the committee to investigate the possibility of impeachment.
APS Lawsuit Costs District $863,000 – Albuquerque Journal
Albuquerque Public Schools has settled a lawsuit with a longtime critic who was banned from board meetings for $480,000 in attorney fees and $95,000 in damages.
But the Albuquerque Journal reports that total cost includes the $288,000 the district spent to fight the lawsuit. The district insurance police will cover half a million dollars of that. The plaintiff, Charles MacQuigg, is a retired teacher who was banned from APS board meetings for what officials said was disruptive behavior.
MacQuigg said the decision vindicates him and APS officials said they stand by their decision to ban him from meetings. APS Board President Marty Esquivel said some board members felt unsafe.
MacQuigg took numerous photos of APS employees at meetings, wore a mask at one point and spoke out of turn. He filed suit against APS in 2012. A judge granted an injunction in 2014, according to the Journal, that allowed MacQuigg to return to board meetings.
Police Release Interviews With Accused Road Rage Shooter – Associated Press
The Albuquerque man accused of opening fire during a road rage dispute and killing a 4-year-old girl told police he didn't mean to hurt anybody when he fired his gun.
Albuquerque police on Monday released lapel camera video, interviews and documents relating to the investigation that led to the arrest of Tony Torrez in connection to the shooting death of Lilly Garcia.
Torrez has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, assault and tampering with evidence in the Oct. 20 shooting.
In recordings from police, Torrez said he fired warning shots and did not mean to hurt anyone. He said hurting Lilly was a "total accident" and asked police to tell her family that he is sorry.
AG Seeks Protections For Some El Paso Electric Customers – Associated Press
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas says he wants to see a decrease in the monthly bills for a majority of residential customers who depend on El Paso Electric.
Balderas made the comments as state regulators weigh a rate hike proposed by the southern New Mexico utility.
A public hearing on the proposal was held last month and briefs are due this week. It's unclear when the hearing officer could make a recommendation to the full Public Regulation Commission.
El Paso Electric is asking for an increase of its base rate for thousands of customers in southern New Mexico. The revenue that would result would pay for infrastructure that already has been built.
Balderas says he wants to ensure that low-income residents don't see increases larger than high-use customers.
Student Arrested After Bomb Threat At A Farmington School – Associated Press
Police in Farmington say a student has been arrested after a bomb threat at a middle school.
They say a written threat was found on a wall in the boys' restroom at Hermosa Middle School and reported to police about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The school was placed in a preventative lockdown for about 45 minutes until police completed a thorough search.
Police say several students reported a possible suspect to the school resource officer.
An investigation was conducted and the 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of making a bomb scare and interference with the educational process.
Police say one is a fourth-degree felony offense and the other is a misdemeanor.
They say the unidentified student is being held at the San Juan County Juvenile Detention Center.
Senators File Proposal To Reform New Mexico's Bail System – Associated Press
A bipartisan contingent of state senators is sponsoring a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at reforming New Mexico's bail system.
The senators prefiled the resolution Tuesday. If approved by the Legislature and voters, it would amend the New Mexico Constitution to give judges more authority to deny bail for dangerous defendants.
Supporters say the proposal would address the threat to public safety resulting from language in the Constitution that requires courts to permit bail for virtually all defendants, no matter the threat they may pose if released.
The change would also allow pre-trial release of low-risk defendants who are being held simply because they don't have the means to make bond.
The lawmakers behind the effort are Democrats Peter Wirth and Linda Lopez and Republicans Sander Rue and William Payne.
New Mexico Governor Meets With Energy Stakeholders In Colorado – Associated Press
Gov. Susana Martinez has made a quick trip to Colorado to meet with energy stakeholders from New Mexico and Mexico to discuss the region's energy future.
Specifically, they're looking at ways in which to better export energy from New Mexico into Chihuahua.
Tuesday's meeting in Ignacio had area producers, federal government officials from Mexico, Chihuahua officials, and New Mexico officials in attendance.
It was held at a Southern Ute tribal facility.
The state is paying for Martinez's trip.
Improving New Mexico's energy infrastructure is a key element of the governor's State Energy Policy and Implementation Plan.
New Mexico's port at Santa Teresa continues to grow as a key corridor for trade between the U.S. and Mexico.