Study Critiques APD Lapel Camera Policy – Albuquerque Journal
A new report finds policies on using lapel cameras in the Albuquerque Police Department are confusing and impact officers’ actions interacting with people on their beats.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the University of New Mexico’s Institute for Social Research recently submitted the report to the city, although it was announced over a year ago.
Police officers told researchers they found the policy confusing and as a result they tended to cut short conversations with people while on duty and were less likely to be lenient with low-level crime issues.
The report is one of the first in the country to investigate on-body camera systems by police. It recommends setting clear policies on when to record, doing more training with officers and monitoring lapel camera use. It also recommends ditching a policy of recording all citizen encounters.
APD is working on a new lapel camera policy as part of reform efforts sparked by a Department of Justice investigation.
Report: PED Grading System Favors Affluent Schools – Associated Press
A new analysis finds that a grading system created by the state tends to give high marks to more affluent schools and punishes those with more special education students, English language learners and those from low-income families.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the study by the Legislative Education Study Committee bolsters arguments that poverty undermines students’ ability to learn. There have been concerns and criticisms of the A-F grading system since the legislature passed the law in 2011.
The grading system has been a key part of Gov. Susana Martinez’s education reform agenda. A 2013 report by Los Alamos physicists, statisticians and mathematicians was critical of the method of evaluating schools.
Robert McIntyre, spokesman for the Public Education Department, called the legislative report “incredibly flawed.” He notes it does not mention that 60 percent of all schools have grades that went up or stayed the same.
New Mexico Lawmakers Look To Curb Opioid Addiction – The Associated Press
With one of the highest drug overdose death rates in the nation, New Mexico has been working for years to curb what has now been identified by the highest levels of government as a national epidemic.
The state was the first to require all licensed clinicians to undergo extra training for prescribing painkillers, but now lawmakers are looking for new ways to quell the growing addiction to opioids.
A Senate committee is scheduled to take up legislation Thursday that calls for increasing education about the addictive dangers of opioids.
The bill also requires insurance companies to cover medications that deter abuse and the state corrections department would have to consider medication-assisted treatment for inmates.
The House version of the bill cleared its first hurdle earlier this week despite concerns about the potential price tag.
Uber, Lyft Bill Fixing New Mexico Impasse Heads To Committee – The Associated Press
A bill aimed at welcoming and regulating ride-booking companies like Uber and Lyft is going to a key House panel.
The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled Thursday to debate a proposal that regulate the companies amid confusion in the state.
The legal status of the companies has been in limbo in the state since they began offering services in 2014. The companies say the state's Motor Carrier Act doesn't apply to them because they don't operate as commercial taxi businesses.
Uber and Lyft offer an online service that allows people with cars to connect with people seeking rides.
Traditional taxi companies say ride-booking services still need to be regulated.
Rep. Monica Youngblood, an Albuquerque Republican, is sponsoring a bill that would allow the companies to operate legally in New Mexico.
Redistricting Proposal Clears First Committee – Santa Fe New Mexican
A proposed constitutional amendment moving the power of redrawing legislative districts from lawmakers to a commission passed its first hurdle.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the bill passed unanimously through the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee.
Every 10 years, after the national census, New Mexico redraws districts for Congress, the state Legislature and other elected offices. Critics argue the process is too politicized.
The proposal introduced by Democratic Rep. Carl Trujillo of Santa Fe would amend the state constitution to create an independent citizen group that would be in charge of redistricting.
Finger Print Provision Scuttles Deal On Immigrant Licenses – Associated Press
Leading Republicans in the New Mexico Legislature are insisting that immigrants who are in the country illegally provide finger prints when applying for a special driver identification card, under amended legislation designed to make state driver's licenses compliant under federal regulations for identification.
Republican House Majority Floor Leader Nate Gentry on Wednesday described as a deal killer a Senate amendment that stripped finger-printing provisions from House-approved legislation.
Pressure is mounting in the Legislature to pass a fix that meets federal security requirements under the REAL ID Act.
A Senate committee has passed a measure aimed at making the state compliant. It would allow all New Mexico residents to apply for REAL ID-compliant licenses or obtain a "driver's authorization card."
Bill Requires Background Checks For All School Employees – Santa Fe New Mexican
A bill requiring background checks for all school employees in New Mexico, even longtime workers, passed the House Education Committee.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the current law exempts employees hired before 1998 from background checks if they have worked for the same district since that time. House Bill 127 sets a deadline of July 1, 2017 for all employees to have background checks with fingerprints.
A Public Education Department official told lawmakers that about 20 percent of public school employees fall under that loophole. State Auditor Tim Keller found at least 12 districts had some issue with improper background checks.
The issue came to the fore last year when it was revealed an employee hired by Albuquerque Public Schools was facing criminal charges in Colorado and a superintendent in Mora faked his credentials.
Committee members sought removal of language mandating employees to tell supervisors if a colleague has a misdemeanor or felony charge.
Senate Panel Approves Amended Measure For Teacher Raises – Associated Press
New Mexico teachers at various levels would see minimum salaries increase under an amended proposal approved by the Senate Education Committee.
The panel voted Wednesday to advance the measure despite concerns that legislative finance leaders may not be able to find money to pay for the salary hikes due to evaporating revenues.
The bill's sponsor, Democratic Sen. Mimi Stewart of Albuquerque, says the initial proposal had called for phasing in base-pay increases over four years at an estimated cost of more than $155 million.
Stewart is now proposing the bill cover just one year at a cost of nearly $7 million.
She says New Mexico needs to include the salary minimums in state law as part of an effort to boost recruitment and retention. Some lawmakers voiced concerns about it being an unfunded mandate.
New Mexico AG Opposes Potential Utility Rate Increase – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
The New Mexico Attorney General's Office is opposing a prospective rate increase for the Public Service Co. of New Mexico.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that PNM has requested a 14.4 percent increase to its annual base revenue.
PNM requested the increase of about $123.5 million last August. That would raise the utility's state-generated income to about $981.5 million per year by increasing base rates paid by about 500,000 New Mexican customers.
The revenue pays for all the company's operating costs and investments in the electrical system, as well as a return on profits for shareholders.
The attorney general has called for PNM to reduce its new revenue requirements to $27 million.
A March public hearing on the topic is expected to be contentious.
Bills Race Into New Mexico Legislature, Fight Long Odds – Associated Press
A flurry of bills is being introduced as the doors swings shut on new legislation in New Mexico's capitol.
The deadline for new legislation passed on Wednesday. Even so, blank "dummy" bills were handed out to party and committee leaders to ensure legislative compromises may be written at the last minute.
Most of this year's 600-odd bills and 40 proposed constitutional amendments are doomed to fail.
Legislators in Santa Fe say that's a good thing and shows that burdensome bills are being refined or discarded.
Former Administrative Law Judge Pleads Guilty To Fraud – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
A former New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administrative Law Judge accused of embezzling more than $500,000 has pleaded guilty in federal court.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Juanita Roibal-Bradley on Tuesday pleaded guilty to 12 counts of wire fraud from defrauding an estate and to defrauding the Social Security Administration of more than $40,000 by receiving disability benefits.
The former administrative law judge is accused of falsely advertising her services as a lawyer to the estate holders when she was prohibited from privately practicing the law. She then transferred funds from the estate into her personal bank account.
Roibal-Bradley served as a judge from 2003 to 2007.
Holly Holm's Trainer Has One Of His Champ Belts Stolen – Associated Press
Nationally known MMA trainer and former world champion kickboxer Mike Winkeljohn says he wishes he could have confronted the burglars who broke into his shed and took one of his championship belts.
Winkeljohn told reporters Wednesday that the belt was from a win early in his career and he had it stored in a drawer in an unlocked shed.
Because of its sentimental value, he's offering a $500 reward for its return.
Winkeljohn is one of UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm's trainers and he's a partner in the Jackson-Wink MMA academy in Albuquerque.
Police released photos of the suspects who were caught on security cameras. They can be seen getting out of a white sedan and approaching Winkeljohn's home in Albuquerque.
Police say the theft is part of a string of burglaries in the area.
New Mexico Senators Push For Expanded Hours At Border Port – Associated Press
New Mexico's two U.S. senators are urging federal officials to expand the hours of operation at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry.
Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich sent a letter Wednesday to the head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Their request targets northbound commercial traffic.
Southbound hours were recently extended as part of a yearlong pilot project.
The senators say the area already has gained a reputation as a fast-growing international trade center and longer hours of operation would clear the way for expanded economic opportunities on both sides of the port.
In the New Mexico Legislature, Democrat Rep. Bill McCamley also has proposed a measure calling for northbound hours to be extended until midnight for at least a year.