New Mexico Officials Call For Removal Of Confederate Symbols – KOB-TV, Associated Press
Albuquerque officials are calling for Confederate symbols in the city's Old Town Plaza to be removed.
KOB-TV reports that State Sen. Bill O'Neill, a Bernalillo Democrat, Albuquerque City Councilman Isaac Benton and Procession Ministry Elder Mike Jefferson Sunday asked for the three Confederate plaques, flag and confederate cannons to be removed from the Plaza
, which they say is a tourist destination.
The Confederacy briefly occupied Albuquerque in 1862. The battle flag hangs in the plaza along with flags from Spain, Mexico, the United States and the State of New Mexico to represent the city's five governing entities since 1706.
The request for removal comes as many cities have decided not to fly the Confederate battle flag in the wake of the Charleston church shooting that killed nine people.
Methane Hot Spot Prompts Delegation To Ask For Quick Action – The Associated Press
Members of New Mexico's congressional delegation are pointing to a hot spot of the potent global-warming gas methane over part of the American Southwest, saying federal officials need to move quickly on upcoming standards for curbing waste in oil and gas production.
The Democratic members of the delegation sent a letter to the federal Office of Management and Budget on Monday. They're asking for prompt consideration of new rules being developed by the Bureau of Land Management and the Environmental Protection Agency.
They argue that natural gas resources are going to waste through venting, flaring and leaks and that's leading to tens of millions of dollars in lost revenues for states and the federal government.
They're also concerned about methane pollution over the San Juan Basin.
AP Exclusive: 'Breaking Bad' Actor Runs For Albuquerque Seat – The Associated Press
"Breaking Bad" actor Steven Michael Quezada (keh-ZAH'-dah) is jumping in a heated race for county commissioner in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Quezada, who played DEA agent Steven Gomez in the hit AMC-TV series, told The Associated Press on Monday that he will make a formal announcement on Tuesday that he's seeking the Bernalillo County Commission seat.
The 52-year-old actor and comedian says he's joining in the race because he feels someone like him can make a difference in the district which includes the historic Hispanic South Valley and an area where developers are seeking to build new homes. At least three others are running for the seat.
The Bernalillo County Commission recently voted to approve a planned community despite activists' fears the development would take water away from nearby communities.
Quezada is a member of the Albuquerque school board.
State Struggles To Fine-Tune Naloxone Regulations – The Associated Press
At the same time as New Mexico is exploring naloxone as a way to decrease overdose deaths, the state's Board of Pharmacy is working to increase regulation of the drug.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the state's overdose deaths increased by 20 percent last year. Meanwhile, public health workers say naloxone -- which can counter the effects of opioids -- is becoming harder for people who are at risk of an overdose to access.
The Department of Health says it is revising its guidelines on prescribing naloxone to address a procedural gray area that has complicated operations at shelters and recovery centers. Currently, rules require a direct consultation between the patient and a nurse or physician.
The health department did not respond to specific requests for comment.
Academic Seeks Death Certificate For Outlaw Billy The Kid - The Associated Press
An Arizona university professor is taking his pursuit of a death certificate for Billy the Kid to New Mexico's highest court.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that historian Robert J. Stahl filed a petition Friday with the New Mexico Supreme Court to order the state's medical examiner to create the document.
Stahl says he hopes the court will order the Office of the Medical Investigator consider evidence validating William H. Bonney's death.
According to most accounts, the Kid was fatally shot by Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner in 1881. But some claim Garrett shot someone else and the Kid took up ranching or escaped to Texas under an alias.
Stahl was told he'd need a court order for a death certificate to be issued.
SUV Falls Into Sinkhole In Albuquerque Street – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
An Albuquerque woman found herself and her car in a sinking situation after a waterline broke in the city's uptown neighborhood.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Lynn Parsons was on her way to the grocery store Saturday afternoon when her SUV fell into a sinkhole on Indian School Road.
The vehicle sunk into the street up to the driver's side window with water flowing everywhere.
Parsons says bystanders helped get her and her belongings out of the vehicle.
Police spokesman Daren DeAguero says nobody was injured.
The car was taken out with assistance from two tow trucks.
The Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority says the road will take several days to fix. In the meantime, there may still be water outages and low pressure in the area Sunday morning.
Santa Fe School Lowers Tuition For Community College Grads – Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
The Santa Fe University of Art and Design is allowing graduates of the local community college to enroll with a tuition discount.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Santa Fe Community College grads can register at the university this fall and pay just above $10,000 annually.
That is a 66 percent drop for higher-tuition programs and 45 percent less for the school's lower-tuition programs.
The rate applies to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts programs.
University president Larry Hinz says the collaboration will help put the community college students who want to get an arts degree stay on an affordable path without having to move out of Santa Fe.
Martinez To Attend Republican Governors' Meeting – Associated Press
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez will be in Colorado for a few days.
Her office announced Sunday afternoon that she's traveling to the mountain resort city of Aspen for the Republican Governors Association summer meeting.
Martinez, a Republican and the nation's only Latina governor, was elected vice chair of the group late last year. The association will be paying for the governor's travel.
Martinez is scheduled to return to New Mexico on Wednesday.
Academic Seeks Death Certificate For Outlaw Billy The Kid – Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
An Arizona university professor is taking his pursuit of a death certificate for Billy the Kid to New Mexico's highest court.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that historian Robert J. Stahl filed a petition Friday with the New Mexico Supreme Court to order the state's medical examiner to create the document.
Stahl says he hopes the court will order the Office of the Medical Investigator consider evidence validating William H. Bonney's death.
According to most accounts, the Kid was fatally shot by Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner in 1881. But some claim Garrett shot someone else and the Kid took up ranching or escaped to Texas under an alias.
Stahl was told he'd need a court order for a death certificate to be issued.
ABQ Homebuilder Rutledge Killed In Suspected DWI – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
A prominent homebuilder was killed while riding his bicycle Sunday afternoon by a man Albuquerque police say was drunk and driving wildly through the gated Tanoan community.
Reed “Bart” Rutledge worked with his family’s company, Rutledge Homes, reports the Albuquerque Journal. His company built high-end houses in some of the city’s most exclusive areas for 50 years, including in High Desert and other foothills locations. Colleagues praised him for his integrity and contributions to the community.
Police arrested Coulter Cook on a charge of vehicular homicide, according to Albuquerque police spokesman Simon Drobik said. Cook refused a Breathalyzer test, so results of a forced blood draw are pending.
Bill In Navajo Nation Council Seeks To Name Acting Top Judge – Associated Press
A bill in the Navajo Nation Council would designate the tribe's longest-serving judge as acting chief justice.
Herb Yazzie left the post earlier this year and tapped Eleanor Shirley to oversee the tribe's Judicial Branch until a successor is named.
Lawmakers say the law doesn't allow for that. A measure introduced last week seeks to place Allen Sloan in the top judicial post.
The 57-year-old Sloan has been a district court judge on the Navajo Nation for 26 years and is serving in the Tuba City district. He became a member of the Navajo Nation Bar Association in 1981 and was at a private practice for eight years before becoming a probationary, then permanent tribal judge.
Former Farmington Police Sergeant To Serve As Judge – Farmington Daily Times, Associated Press
A former Farmington police sergeant has been appointed a magistrate judge.
The Daily Times in Farmington reports that Pat Cordell will begin his term at the end of this month as judge for Division 5 at the Farmington Magistrate Court.
Cordell was appointed by Gov. Susana Martinez to replace James Mosberger, who resigned last month to spend more time with family.
Cordell worked for Farmington police from 1990 until he retired in 2010.
He now plans to resign his positions as vice chairman of the San Juan County Republican Party and chairman of the San Juan County Crime Stoppers program.
Cordell says he will seek election to the judgeship in next fall.