New Mexico Pushes For Remedies In Wake Of Mine Waste Spill
Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press
New Mexico's top prosecutor says the federal government and Colorado have made little progress in remedying widespread damages from the 2015 wastewater release from a mine.
Attorney General Hector Balderas sent letters this week to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and Colorado officials as New Mexico's threat to sue the agency, the neighboring state and two mining companies remains on the table.
Balderas says New Mexico reached out to officials to discuss independent monitoring and remedial measures in the wake of the spill, but he's concerned about the lack of progress.
Balderas says New Mexico's requests have been disregarded and minimized.
The EPA didn't comment directly on the letter, but stated that it takes responsibility for the cleanup of the release of 3 million gallons of wastewater from the Gold King Mine.
Ken Salazar To Campaign For Hillary Clinton In New Mexico – The Associated Press
Former Interior Sec. Ken Salazar will visit New Mexico to campaign for Hillary Clinton in an effort to win over Hispanic voters.
The Clinton campaign announced on Thursday that Salazar will launch the "Hispanics for Hillary" initiative, starting in Bernalillo at Abuelita's New Mexican Kitchen.
The former Colorado senator will swing through the state on Saturday, with additional stops in Santa Fe, Espanola and Taos. On the way, he will be accompanied by Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico.
New Mexico holds primary elections on June 7. Sen. Bernie Sanders is holding rallies across the state on Friday and Saturday. Salazar served as interior secretary from 2009 through 2013.
New Mexico has the highest percentage of Hispanics of any state in the nation.
Protests To Target Trump Stump In Nation's Most Latino State – The Associated Press
Liberal groups are organizing protests targeting Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump's visit to New Mexico — the state with the highest percentage of Hispanics in the nation.
ProgressNow New Mexico, led by Albuquerque city councilor Pat Davis, has scheduled a demonstration in Albuquerque's Civic Plaza across the street from where Trump will hold a Tuesday rally.
The group says other organizations will join them for "anti-Trump games" and with "anti-Trump signs or costumes."
Trump's campaign website announced he will hold a rally Tuesday evening at the Albuquerque Convention Center as New Mexico prepares for its primary on June 7.
He has drawn strong criticism for his past comments about Mexican immigrants. Fellow Republican and New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has even denounced him.
Albuquerque police are preparing for multiple demonstrations, including possible disruptions inside the convention center.
Long Lines Await Sanders At New Mexico Rally – The Associated Press
Supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders are filing into a rally after waiting up to eight hours under the high-altitude sunshine at a community college in northern New Mexico.
College student Gabriel Pacheco of Albuquerque said Friday that Sanders is being held back unfairly by superdelegates who support Hillary Clinton.
The 19-year-old says he has persuaded his father and grandfather in a traditional Democratic family to vote for Sanders.
Eighty-two-year-old Sculptor Penny Truitt of Santa Fe says she'll vote in New Mexico's June 7 primary "without having to hold my nose for once."
The majority of New Mexico's nine superdelegates back Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary.
Town's Former Police Chief Convicted Of Stalking, Battery – The Associated Press & The Roswell Daily Record
A small southeastern New Mexico town's former police chief has been convicted of stalking and battery charges in a case that a prosecutor said involved abuse of authority to pursue women.
A jury convicted former Dexter Police Chief Mario R. Contreras of petty misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor stalking. He was acquitted Thursday of another stalking count, and two other battery counts were dismissed.
New Mexico State Police began investigating after women complained that. Contreras stalked them, made crude gestures and touched them inappropriately.
District Attorney Andrea Reeb said Contreras harassed and intimidated women and that she'll ask the states to revoke his law enforcement certification.
The Roswell Daily Record reports that defense lawyer S. Doug Jones Witt said Contreras was just flirting and that he'll appeal the convictions.
Sanders Seeks Out Democrats In Heavily Hispanic New Mexico
Morgan Lee, Associated Press
Sen. Bernie Sanders is courting Democratic voters in the heavily Hispanic state of New Mexico with a trio of public rallies scheduled ahead of the state's primary. He's the first presidential candidate to visit the state, with Donald Trump soon to follow.
Trump To Stump In New Mexico, Nation's Most Hispanic State – The Associated Press
Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has scheduled his first campaign appearance in New Mexico — the state with the highest percentage of Hispanics in the nation.
His campaign website announced Thursday that Trump will hold a rally Tuesday evening at the Albuquerque Convention Center as New Mexico prepares for its June 7 primary.
Trump's scheduled visit comes after New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, a fellow Republican and the nation's first Latina governor, has denounced him for his past statements about Mexican immigrants and Mexico.
As governor, Martinez has visited Mexico a number of times to promote trade. She has said she wasn't ready to support Trump and wants to hear about his plans to protect the state's military bases.
Prison Healthcare Company Says Contract Won't Be Renewed – The Associated Press
The company that provides health care services to the New Mexico Corrections Department says its contract with the state is not being renewed.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Corizon Correctional Healthcare notified employees this week that the company won't get another four-year contract.
State officials rejected both Corizon and Wexford Health Sources during a six-month bidding contest for the contract. Corizon replaced Wexford in 2007 and both companies have come under scrutiny over the quality of health care services they provided to the state's 7,000 prison inmates.
A Corizon spokeswoman says the company has been honored to provide care for New Mexico's incarcerated for the last nine years.