More Spills Reported As New Mexico Oil Production Increases – The Associated Press
The volume of oil produced in New Mexico increased by nearly a quarter during the last fiscal year, but a review has found that the volume of industry-related spills jumped by more than 60 percent.
The findings are part of the state Oil Conservation Division's annual performance report card, which is prepared by legislative analysts.
Mangers with the agency say the growth of both production and the volume of spills could be the result of new technology that brings more oil and associated waste to the surface.
They also say older infrastructure in New Mexico's oil fields — from pipelines and storage tanks to production facilities — is more susceptible to leaks and spills.
The agency also reported a 22 percent increase in inspections during the last fiscal year.
New Mexico Secretary Of State Eyes Tossing AG In Fraud Case – The Associated Press
An attorney for New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna Duran is asking a judge to disqualify the state's Attorney General's Office from Duran's pending fraud case.
Duran's lawyer Erlinda Ocampo Johnson filed late Wednesday a motion, arguing Attorney General Hector Balderas has a conflict of interest since he and Duran have sparred in the past. Johnson wrote it seems Balderas has a "vendetta" against Duran.
Attorney General spokesman James Hallinan says there is not conflict of interest and the office will address the matter in court. Hallinan says the Attorney General's Office also will no longer represent the Secretary of State's Office.
Duran is charged with funneling campaign contributions into personal bank accounts and later withdrawing large sums while frequenting New Mexico casinos.
She has pleaded not guilty.
Mayor Vetoes Albuquerque Measure On Marijuana Penalties – The Associated Press
Mayor Richard Berry says he has vetoed an Albuquerque City Council measure to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
The council voted 5-4 along party lines last week in favor of making it a civil offense to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, with Berry vowing to veto the legislation.
He vetoed the measure on Wednesday, saying he has a "hard time signing any legislation that preempts federal law" and that his oath of office requires him to uphold the Constitution.
State law for marijuana possession carries penalties of up to 15 days in jail and fines up to $100.
State Treasurer Accused Of Sexist, Racial Comments – The Associated Press & The ABQ Journal
Gov. Susana Martinez's administration is terminating a deal it made with state Treasurer Tim Eichenberg's office, claiming that Eichenberg has made inappropriate comments to and about state employees.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that State Personnel Office Director Justin Najaka in a September letter to Eichenberg, said the agreement to provide human services assistance to the treasurer's office will end Oct. 15.
Najaka has accused Eichenberg of making sexist remarks to staff and contractors for the State Personnel Office, which is managed by Martinez's appointees, and commenting on the race of treasurer's office employees.
Eichenberg in a written statement denied the allegations, calling them a person attack.
Najaka also cited the treasurer's lack of communication with Personnel Office regarding personnel matters in canceling the agreement.
FBI Statistics Show Violent Crime Down In New Mexico – The Associated Press
FBI statistics show the violent crime rate in New Mexico improved slightly in 2014 but remained significantly higher than the national rate.
The figures released this week also identify Espanola as the New Mexico city with the highest violent crime rate, due to a relatively high number of aggravated assault arrests in the small northern New Mexico city. All but 42 of the city's 265 violent crimes were classified as aggravated assault, while there were no new murder or non-negligent manslaughter cases in the community.
The Espanola Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Statewide, there were roughly 597 violent crimes per 100,000 people — almost two times the national rate.
Attorney: Utilities Not To Blame For New Mexico Wildfire – The Associated Press
A defense attorney says it would have been difficult for utility workers to identify as a hazard the aspen tree that fell onto a power line and sparked one of the largest fires in New Mexico's recorded history.
Attorney Al Green used photographs of the tree in his opening statement Thursday in a case that will determine whether two utilities should be held liable for the Las Conchas fire.
Green dismissed claims that the Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative acted negligently.
He says the utility has a tree-trimming program like other rural coops across the country and was abiding by its permit with the U.S. Forest Service to keep the right of way clear.
The June 2011 fire scorched more than 240 square miles of tinder-dry forest, destroyed dozens of homes and threatened one of the nation's premier government laboratories.
McKinley County Allocates Liquor Tax Funds For Detox Center – The Associated Press & The Gallup Independent
McKinley County commissioners have allocated liquor excise tax funds for a detox center in Gallup.
The Gallup Independent reports that the resolution approved by the board Tuesday comes after the Navajo Nation Department of Behavioral Health announced that it would no longer operate the Gallup Detox Center.
Gallup officials approved a temporary agreement last month putting Na'nizhoozhi Center Inc. in charge of operations at the facility for five months starting in October.
County Attorney Douglas Decker says the county's resolution will allocate about $500,000 in liquor excise tax money and some of the projected revenue from fiscal year 2016 to pay for operations at the detox center. The remaining $378,000 in liquor excise tax revenue projected to come in 2016 remains unallocated.
Opening Statements Scheduled In Wildfire Liability Lawsuit – The Associated Press
Investigators determined a rotting tree that fell onto a power line sparked what would quickly become one of the largest fires in New Mexico's recorded history.
Attorneys are scheduled to make opening statements Thursday in state district court in a case that will answer whether two electric utility companies should be held liable.
The trial is expected to last six weeks.
The Las Conchas blaze started June 26, 2011. It scorched more than 240 square miles of tinder-dry forest, destroyed dozens of homes, threatened one of the nation's premier government laboratories and blackened nearly two-thirds of Bandelier National Monument along with areas held sacred by Native American tribes.
There are more than 300 plaintiffs in the case, which consolidates several lawsuits filed in the wake of the fire.
Testimony To Continue In New Mexico Teacher Evaluation Fight – The Associated Press
Testimony is scheduled to continue in a legal challenge against New Mexico's teacher evaluation system.
Former Public Education Department assistant secretary Pete Goldschmidt is scheduled Thursday to face cross examination in Santa Fe over how well the evaluation system is working. Goldschmidt helped draft the evaluation system.
The American Federation of Teachers New Mexico and the Albuquerque Teachers Federation are seeking an injunction to halt the use of student test scores while their lawsuit against the evaluation system moves forward.
The unions say the evaluation system is forcing veteran educators to retire or have their licenses jeopardized. They want the evaluation system tossed.
But Public Education Department spokesman Robert McEntyre said the suit is a quote - disappointing distraction - from the agency's mission of providing a quality education to every child.
Forest Service Adds 7 Air Tankers To Firefighting Fleet – The Associated Press
An Albuquerque company is one of three to be awarded an exclusive contract by the U.S. Forest Service to provide seven Next Generation Airtankers for fighting forest fires. That’s according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
10 Tanker Air Carrier in Albuquerque will supply one of those planes. Neptune Aviation Services in Montana will supply four of the tankers and Aero-Flite in Washington will supply the other two.
The center in a statement Wednesday says that doubles the number of the Next Generation Airtankers in the Forest Service fleet that can fly faster and carry more retardant than older firefighting aircraft still in use.
Forest Service officials say the agency is making progress modernizing its fleet of large air tankers.
Police Designate Areas To Pick Up Goods Bought On Internet – The Associated Press
Albuquerque officials are designating police substations as exchange sites for people buying and selling merchandise on Internet sites like Craigslist.
The so-called "Exchange Zones" will be in the parking lots at each of the six area command substations. Officials say the sites eventually will be monitored by security cameras that officers can see in real time.
Police say the Northwest Area Command across from Cibola High School should have cameras within the next few months.
Mayor Richard Berry and police say the goal is to reduce potential danger for buyers and sellers.
New Mexico Readies For Annual International Balloon Fiesta – The Associated Press
Hundreds of colorful hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes and from all over the world will be lifting off this weekend for the start of the 44th annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
The nine-day fiesta — one of the most photographed events in the world — will begin Saturday just after the sun rises as wave after wave of balloons take to the sky as part of the first mass ascension.
The Super Bowl of hot air ballooning is how longtime pilot Scott Appelman describes it. He says there's nothing like having a launch field crowded with tens of thousands of spectators as 550 balloons lift off.
Then there are the special shape rodeos, balloon glows in the evenings, flying competitions and splash-and-dash flights along the Rio Grande.
Data Shows Violent Crime Increase In Albuquerque – The Associated Press
Federal statistics show violent crime increased slightly in Albuquerque last year, while rape and murder numbers in the state's largest city went down.
FBI statistics released this week reflect a steady increase in Albuquerque's violent crime rate in recent years. Mayor Richard Berry said at a news conference Wednesday that the city aims to work with lawmakers and corrections officials to make changes in the system that might reverse downward trends.
Police Chief Gorden Eden says repeat offenders are responsible for a significant amount of crime in Albuquerque, though he did not cite specific statistics.
Last year, there were 883 violent crimes per 100,000 residents up from 775 the previous year, due to increases in aggravated assaults and robberies in 2014.
More than a half-million people live in Albuquerque.