NMSU Officials Propose Tuition Increase, Budget Cuts – Las Cruces Sun-News
New Mexico State University officials are proposing tuition increases and budget cuts to cope with a smaller budget in the upcoming fiscal year.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that NMSU administrators are expected to ask the Board of Regents to approve one of three tuition-increase scenarios for the 2016-17 school year. Tuition increases in the proposals range from zero to 5 percent and budget cuts range from $7.4 million to $10.6 million.
The state Legislature cut higher education spending by $5.1 million, reducing the NMSU system's budget for fiscal year 2017 by $1.2 million.
NMSU's total approved budget for the main campus is about $531 million.
The Latest: Feds Offer $10K Reward For Each Fugitive – The Associated Press
Federal officials are now offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the capture of each of the two convicts who escaped from a prison transport van in southeastern New Mexico.
New Mexico State Police Chief Pete Kassetas announced the partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service during a news conference Friday in Albuquerque.
He says tips have come in from as far away as Texas and California and that the reach of the federal Marshals Service will help as the manhunt continues. He says all tips are being vetted.
Kassetas says there's no doubt convicted murderer Joseph Cruz and fellow convict Lionel Clah have been receiving help while running from authorities.
Authorities warned that Cruz and Clah should be considered armed and dangerous.
Police Oversight Board Votes To Fire Officer – Albuquerque Journal
The city of Albuquerque’s Police Oversight Board voted to fire a lieutenant accused of shooting an undercover officer in a botched drug bust.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the vote was 6 to 1 and the recommendation now goes to Police Chief Gorden Eden. But the officer at issue, Lt. Greg Brachle, filed for retirement this week.
Detective Jacob Grant was undercover in January 2015 when he and another officer made a drug buy near Central and Tramway. Brachle shot Grant multiple times.
The chairwoman of the oversight board, Beth Mohr, said Brachle gave no commands before opening fire. Grant survived but he is suing the city.
This was the first case of an officer-involved shooting reviewed by the civilian body.
Udall Pushes VA To Restore Confidence In Health Care System – The Associated Press
The head of the Veterans Affairs Department says he has visited two dozen medical schools to recruit more employees and his agency has hired more than 1,400 doctors over the last two years.
VA Secretary Robert McDonald was questioned Thursday by U.S. Sen. Tom Udall during a budget hearing in Washington, D.C.
The New Mexico Democrat wanted to know what the agency was doing to regain the trust of veterans in the wake of a scandal sparked by allegations of secret waiting lists and scheduling concerns at VA facilities across the country.
New figures released by the VA show wait times at clinics in New Mexico have improved since the beginning of the year. As of March 1, less than 6 percent of appointments were delayed 31 days or longer.
Albuquerque School Board President Survives Heart Attack – The Associated Press
The president of Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education has undergone triple bypass surgery after suffering a heart attack.
KOAT-TV reports that Dr. David Peercy suffered a heart attack on Thursday while playing handball. He was taken to a hospital for surgery and is expected to be released Sunday.
District officials say Peercy was revived with a defibrillator before being taken to the hospital.
Officials say his prognosis is good and that he hopes to return to Board of Education meetings beginning March 16.
Man Launches State Rep. Campaign While On Ankle Monitor – KOB-TV, Associated Press
An Albuquerque man is campaigning for a state representative seat despite the monitor on his ankle.
KOB-TV reports that Democrat Christopher Berkheimer is looking to unseat incumbent Rep. Christine Trujillo, also an Albuquerque Democrat. He is currently in the Community Custody Program for violating a protection order against him.
On Wednesday, Berkheimer said the protection order was meant to keep him from seeing his daughter. He chose to visit her at Christmas anyway. He said he expects a judge to get rid of the protection order at a hearing later this month.
Berkheimer also has prior charges of DWI, battery, and resigned from his judgeship in New Mexico in 2007 amid sexual harassment allegations.
Trujillo was unavailable for comment.
Westmoreland Coal lays off workers at San Juan Mine – Farmington Daily Times, Associated Press
Westmoreland Coal Co. has laid off an unconfirmed number of workers at San Juan Mine.
The Farmington Daily Times reports that Westmoreland Executive Vice President of Operations Joe Micheletti on Wednesday confirmed that there was a workforce reduction at the Farmington mine.
Micheletti declined to say how many workers were laid off or comment on the types of jobs that were cut.
Westmoreland San Juan, a subsidiary of the Colorado-based Westmoreland Coal, purchased the San Juan Mine from BHP Billiton New Mexico Coal on Feb. 1 for $127 million.
Udall Pushes VA To Restore Confidence In Health Care System – Associated Press
The head of the Veterans Affairs Department says he has visited two dozen medical schools to recruit more employees and his agency has hired more than 1,400 doctors over the last two years.
VA Secretary Robert McDonald was questioned Thursday by U.S. Sen. Tom Udall during a budget hearing in Washington, D.C.
The New Mexico Democrat wanted to know what the agency was doing to regain the trust of veterans in the wake of a scandal sparked by allegations of secret waiting lists and scheduling concerns at VA facilities across the country.
New figures released by the VA show wait times at clinics in New Mexico have improved since the beginning of the year. As of March 1, less than 6 percent of appointments were delayed 31 days or longer.
New Mexico Names New Public Safety Chief – Associated Press
The governor of New Mexico has appointed Scott Weaver to lead the Public Safety Department amid a statewide manhunt for a convicted murderer and another violent inmate who fled from a prisoner transport van.
Gov. Susana Martinez announced Thursday the promotion of Weaver to secretary from acting secretary.
Weaver will oversee the State Police, Motor Transportation Police and the Law Enforcement Academy. He previously managed state forensics laboratories in Santa Fe, Las Cruces, and Hobbs, and was a State Police officer from 1994 to 2015.
Weaver helped brief reporters Thursday on the search for the two fugitive prison inmates and the State Police investigation into their escape. State officials said prisoners Joseph Cruz and Lionel Clah went missing between Roswell and Las Cruces and should be considered armed and dangerous.