PRC Chief Of Staff Resigns Amid Records Lawsuit Controversy – Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
Days after the Public Regulation Commission was criticized for a public records lawsuit they quickly withdrew, the commission's chief of staff will resign.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Vincent Martinez submitted his resignation Wednesday, which will be his last day in the office. He will remain on the payroll until Aug. 28.
He received criticism for his handling of a lawsuit filed against The New Mexican that sought to prevent publication of some confidential documents accidentally given to a reporter as part of a response to a public records request. Later, the commission voted to drop the lawsuit.
Commissioners say Martinez's departure is unrelated to the lawsuit. They say the commission will immediately start the process of naming an interim chief of staff.
Navajo Nation President Poised To OK River Water For Crops – The Associated Press
Federal officials say the quality of San Juan River water on the Navajo Nation has returned to what it was before a spill at a Colorado gold mine sent toxic sludge into the waterway.
The U.S. Environmental Protection agency says that's based on a review of data collected over a week near Hogback, New Mexico.
Tribal spokesman Mihio Manus said Thursday that President Russell Begaye is considering lifting the tribe's advisory against using river water for irrigation on Saturday. Begaye is planning to meet Thursday with farmers in Shiprock to discuss how to flush irrigation canals.
The EPA says it will provide technical assistance.
Manus says the tribe has completed its own testing of the San Juan River but did not immediately release the results.
APS Staff To Receive Paid Leave While Serving In Legislature – The Associated Press & The ABQ Journal
The Board of Education has approved a policy that will allow Albuquerque Public Schools employees who are state lawmakers to receive paid "political leave" while they work in the Legislature.
The plan approved Wednesday comes after years of debate over the merits of such pay.
Board member Barbara Petersen tells the Albuquerque Journal the new policy could inspire more APS employees to become lawmakers, which would serve as a benefit to school districts.
But board member Peggy Muller-Aragon, who was the only member to vote in opposition of the plan, says she has concerns about the city's taxpayers having to fund legislators' paychecks.
The board got rid of paid political leave in 2012 after reports surfaced about a lawmaker's salary, which she drew as APS' coordinator of vocational education.
New Mexico Confirms Case Of Plague In Bernalillo County – The Associated Press
State health officials say they have confirmed the first human case of plague in Bernalillo County.
The New Mexico Department of Health said Thursday that tests show a 65-year-old man from there does have the plague.
Officials are not releasing his name. This marks the second case in the state this year. A 52-year-old woman in Santa Fe County died from the disease last month.
Plague is a bacterial disease from rodents that is typically transmitted to people through bites from infected fleas or direct contact with infected animals.
Symptoms include sudden fever, chills, headache and weakness.
There were two human plague cases in New Mexico last year.
Albuquerque Looks To Replace Flickering Route 66 Sign – The Associated Press & KRQE
While Route 66 became a thing of history decades ago, New Mexico is letting it go dark now.
KRQE-TV reports that the neon sign for Route 66 up Central in Albuquerque won't be lit anymore since portions of it don't illuminate, including one of the sixes. The sign was built about 10 years ago and is meant to welcome visitors along the historic Route 66.
City officials say the archway is an ongoing problem, with repairs necessary every few months to replace bulbs in portions of the sign. The city spends about $25,000 every year to maintain the neon signs.
They say they haven't fixed the blinking sign on Central near Coors because they are planning to upgrade the sign's light system with better technology.
New Mexico Court Issues Opinion On Retention Question – The Associated Press
The New Mexico Supreme Court says any district judge who fills a midterm vacancy must stand for a nonpartisan retention election in the sixth year of what would have been the predecessor's term.
The court issued its opinion Thursday, saying its finding is consistent with the intent of the state Constitution.
The question stems from the case of former District Judge Sheri Raphaelson, who was ordered by the court to step down last year after losing a retention election.
Raphaelson was first elected in 2010 to complete another judge's term. She did not garner the votes necessary for retention in 2014.
Raphaelson had unsuccessfully challenged the election results by saying she didn't have to stand for retention in the first place because she was initially elected to fill a midterm vacancy.
PNM Seeks Secrecy Order For Certain Documents – Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
Public Service Company of New Mexico is asking the Public Regulation Commission for a protective order declaring certain documents confidential even before it files its latest request to increase electricity rates.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports a PNM spokeswoman said in a statement Tuesday that the utility isn't trying to keep any documents secret, but wants the order in place to ensure that the discovery process runs smoothly as parties seek information related to the rate proposal.
PNM, the commission and two mining companies recently sued The New Mexican over the release of "confidential documents" related to the company's controversial plans for the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station.
The commission hasn't yet decided on the protective order request.
PNM plans to file its rate request by Aug. 27.
New Mexico To Create Medical Claims Database – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
In hopes of making choosing health care easier, New Mexico is creating a database with detailed information for all types of medical claims.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the State Human Services Department is expected to award a contract next month for a consultant to help the agency plan the database, which will have information on payment claims from private insurance companies and public payers, such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Officials say the database will have information such as where prices are higher, what health plans have the best discounts and which parts of the state have more access to specialists.
The plan comes after the Legislature passed a law requiring the state Health Department to make hospital-specific cost and quality of care information accessible by 2017.
Latina Advocate Once Honored With Rosa Parks Gets Marker – Associated Press
A Latina advocate, who was once honored with Rosa Parks, now has her own historical marker.
New Mexico State University this week unveiled a marker for Maria Gutierrez Spencer near campus.
The educator and bilingual education activist developed groundbreaking curriculum in Las Cruces and Silver City and was an advocate for Hispanic and American Indian students.
She won three national awards for excellence in education.
In 1984, Spencer was honored by the Wonder Woman Foundation with Parks.
She died in 1992.
Expert: Convicting New Mexico Officers Of Murder A Challenge – Associated Press
Experts say it will be a challenge for prosecutors to convict an Albuquerque police officer and a retired detective of murder after they were ordered to stand trial in the fatal shooting of a homeless man.
Michael Benza of Case Western Reserve University School of Law says officers are rarely sent to prison for on-duty shootings because the law gives them protection based on their perceptions during dangerous encounters.
Benza says that if defense lawyers convince jurors that the officers felt afraid, it will be difficult to get convictions.
A judge ruled Tuesday that Officer Dominique Perez and former Detective Keith Sandy should stand trial. They face charges of second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter in the 2014 death of James Boyd, whose shooting was caught on video and sparked national outrage.
Economic Impact Of Kirtland Base Dips As Jobs Increase – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
Jobs are up even as local economic impacts dip by $500 million for Albuquerque's Kirtland Air Force Base.
The Albuquerque Journal reports 2014 impact data from the financial analysis office of the 377th Comptroller Squadron shows the base contributed $7.6 billion to the Albuquerque economy, about 3.1 percent less than predicted.
Base commander Col. Eric Froehlich said during a meeting of community leaders Tuesday that the base is up by 774 jobs, mostly at federally contracted Sandia National Labs.
He said economic impacts are likely down due to automatic budget cuts in 2013 that kicked in when Congress couldn't agree on how to reduce debt.
Froehlich said the cuts limited improvements to facilities and infrastructure.
Cause Sought In Deadly New Mexico Scaffold Collapse – Associated Press
Authorities say six construction workers injured when a six-story scaffold collapsed outside a New Mexico medical center have been released from hospitals.
One worker remained hospitalized Wednesday. That person's name and condition wasn't immediately released.
Meanwhile, investigators began work on trying to determine what led to the scaffolding collapse that killed one construction worker and injured seven others.
New Mexico Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials were at the site in Rio Rancho a day after 21 feet of scaffolding buckled and collapsed from the top down.
Work on a second patient tower at Presbyterian Rust Medical Center began last year.
Albuquerque Looks To Replace Flickering Route 66 Sign – KRQE-TV, Associated Press
While Route 66 became a thing of history in decades ago, New Mexico is letting it go dark now.
KRQE-TV reports that the neon sign for Route 66 up Central in Albuquerque won't be lit anymore since portions of it doesn't illuminate, including one of the sixes. The sign was built about 10 years ago and is meant to welcome visitors along the historic Route 66.
City officials say the archway is an ongoing problem, with repairs necessary every few months to replace bulbs in portions of the sign. The city spends about $25,000 every year to maintain the neon signs.
They say they haven't fixed the blinking sign on Central near Coors because they are planning to upgrade with sign's light system with better technology.