Denver Prosecutors Seek Arrest Of Former Deputy Superintendent - Albuquerque Journal
Prosecutors in Denver are seeking an arrest warrant for the former deputy superintendent of Albuquerque Public Schools.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Jason Martinez is facing felony charges in two criminal cases. The first involves child sex abuse and the other is a felony domestic violence incident.
Martinez was released on bail and was supposed to get permission from officials to leave Colorado. A district attorney in Denver is trying to get a judge to revoke Martinez’s bond. If that is signed, a warrant will be issued for his arrest.
Martinez was hired in June and resigned last week after it was revealed that he never went through a background check.
New Mexico Official Plans School District Probe – Associated Press
New Mexico's attorney general is launching an investigation into how the school system in the state's largest city hired a high-level administrator who faces child sex abuse charges.
Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Monday his office will look into why Albuquerque Public Schools' safety protocols were breached and Jason Martinez was hired in June before a background check was completed.
Martinez resigned abruptly last week. It later surfaced that he faces felony counts of sexual assault on a child in Colorado.
In a statement, Superintendent Luis Valentino said he welcomed the investigation by Balderas and believed the safety of staff and students was important.
Board member Steven Michael Quezada said a vote Thursday will either retain or keep Valentino.
Moya Files Whistleblower Suit Against APS – Albuquerque Journal
The former chief financial officer of Albuquerque Public Schools has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against Superintendent Luis Valentino, the APS Board of Education and the state Public Education Secretary.
The Albuquerque Journalreports that Don Moya contends he was targeted because he didn’t support Gov. Susana Martinez’s political agenda. The lawsuit alleges Valentino promised Moya the deputy superintendent job, but then hired Jason Martinez in June after meeting with Gov. Martinez and PED Secretary Hannah Skandera.
Moya was put on administrative leave on Aug. 7 after he protested plans by Jason Martinez to funnel work to a Denver technology company.
Martinez refused a background check during his time with APS and is facing child sexual abuse charges in Denver.
The office of Gov. Martinez called the allegations absurd. Skandera denied the claims. An APS spokeswoman said the district doesn’t comment on pending litigation.
Navajo Farmers Reject Use Of Water After Mine Spill – Associated Press
One of the largest communities of Navajo farmers along the San Juan River has voted to keep irrigation canals closed for at least a year following a toxic spill at a Colorado gold mine.
Navajo President Russell Begaye has asked several tribal communities to weigh in on the move.
Shiprock Chapter President Duane "Chili" Yazzie says Friday's unanimous decision by more than 100 farmers was heart-wrenching and guarantees the loss of many crops.
He says farmers are concerned about soil contamination and want to ensure future generations can farm the land.
Tribal spokesman Mihio Manus says the Navajo Nation EPA will have test results from soil samples later this week.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Navajo Nation EPA have said the river water is safe for irrigation, based on surface water testing.
Utility Managers Push For Conservation Even As Drought Eases – Associated Press
Severe drought has disappeared from New Mexico, but water managers in the state's largest cities aren't giving up on their push for residents to conserve.
Watering restrictions remain in place in Albuquerque, and the conservation officer for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority says the message about watering wisely will not go away anytime soon.
Water use in Albuquerque by mid-August was 1.1 billion gallons lower than it was last year.
Santa Fe also has recorded its lowest demand in years this summer and has reduced use by a couple million gallons per day during peak times.
Las Cruces is moving ahead with its conservation program. The city marked a new low of 166 gallons per person per day last year and is on track to meet conservation goals again this year.
Taos Hospital ER Evacuated After Patient Dies From Poison – KOB-TV, Associated Press
A New Mexico hospital's emergency room has had to be sealed off after a patient consumed a fatal dose of prairie dog poison.
Officials at Holy Cross Hospital say staff and patients were evacuated early Monday as a precaution.
They say all employees have been cleared of any contamination and are being monitored and no other patients have been affected.
The hospital is continuing to accept patients, but emergency patients are being treated in the day surgery area.
KOBreports the patient's death resulted in the possible release of phosgene gas.
The man reportedly consumed 1 ½ pounds of prairie dog poison at his El Prado home in a suicide attempt.
He was transported to the hospital by his brother.
The man's name hasn't been released yet.
Albuquerque Mayor Urges Forest Service To Withdraw Proposal – Associated Press
The mayor of New Mexico's largest city is urging the U.S. Forest Service to withdraw consideration of a potential wilderness designation that he says would limit the public's access to a popular recreation area bordering Albuquerque.
Mayor Richard Berry sent a letter to the supervisor of the Cibola National Forest on Monday. He says the way the plan stands now would completely dismantle existing trails for outdoor enthusiasts.
The mayor says the mountain biking and hiking trails in the foothills area encourage residents to lead a healthy lifestyle and are part of a natural attraction that helps to set the city apart.
As part of an effort to revise its outdated forest plan, federal policy requires the Cibola Forest to identify and evaluate lands and determine whether to recommend any areas for wilderness designation.
'Fastest Nun In The West' Faces First Test In Sainthood Push -
By Russell Contreras, Associated Press
An Italian-born nun who challenged Billy the Kid, calmed angry mobs and helped open New Mexico territory hospitals and schools is facing her first test for Sainthood.
The Archdiocese of Santa Fe is hosting Tuesday a "first inquiry" in Albuquerque to present evidence on why Sister Blandina Segale should become a Saint.
Last year, the archdiocese received permission from the Vatican to open her "Sainthood Cause."
Segale, a nun with the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and an advocate for Hispanics and Native Americans, founded schools in New Mexico and St. Joseph Hospital.
Her encounters with Old West outlaws later became the subject of a CBS series "Death Valley Days" episode, "The Fastest Nun in the West."
She worked as an educator and social worker in Ohio, Colorado and New Mexico.
Emails Show Santa Fe Officials Planned To Fire Police Chief – The Associated Press
Santa Fe's former police chief says he voluntarily retired 13 months into the job, but emails show officials were planning to fire him.
The Santa Fe New Mexican obtained the emails through a records request related Eric Garcia's departure. The newspaper reports City Manager Brian Snyder was getting ready to fire Garcia, and that he and Mayor Javier Gonzales agreed on a plan to replace him with current interim chief Patrick Gallagher.
Matt Ross is the mayor's spokesman who emailed a draft news release and accompanying talking points memo that lists issues that may arise, including a statement from four police lieutenants accusing Garcia of wrongdoing.
Instead, a July 28 news release was published saying Garcia was retiring.
Both Garcia and Ross maintain that the former chief left voluntarily.
New Mexico Rolls Out Work Rules For Food Stamps – The Associated Press
New Mexico is pushing back the timeline for certain low-income adults who will have to meet work and job-training requirements to remain eligible for food stamps.
State Human Services Secretary Brent Earnest told The Associated Press on Tuesday his department decided to delay implementation of the requirements and make some changes in response to concerns voiced during recent public meetings.
Social service advocates have argued that many people stand to lose their benefits because there aren't enough jobs or meaningful training opportunities in the poverty-stricken state.
The final rules will be published Friday, and Earnest says the delay in implementation will give the state and the 60,000 recipients who will be affected more time to prepare.
The requirements will be phased in starting Jan. 1 for adults without children. Adults who are responsible for children under the age of 13 will be exempt.