Scholars Urge More Research On Future Of Colorado River – Associated Press
A coalition of scholars from across the West is urging the federal government to partner with the National Academy of Sciences to study the future of the Colorado River.
Among the topics: Is climate change leading to reduced stream flow?
Twenty-three scholars from Western universities sent a letter Tuesday to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.
Owen Lammers, executive director of Living Rivers and Colorado Riverkeeper, says the federal government needs a wider breadth of scientific research to ensure it is prepared for all water flow scenarios for the next 50 years. His group believes the government is relying on opportunistic projections.
Secretary Jewell is expected to receive the letter Wednesday.
PACs Bring In Big Money To Kick Off 2016 Election Season – The Associated Press
Some of New Mexico's top elected leaders and dozens of political action committees have collected more than $3 million in campaign donations in the last six months in preparation for a yearlong battle that will determine control of the state Legislature.
All 112 legislative seats are up for election in 2016, and Republicans are looking to maintain their majority in the House and win at least a few seats to give them control of the Senate.
In 2014, the GOP took control of the House for the first time in six decades.
Democrats are looking to take back the House, but the latest campaign finance reports filed with the secretary of state's office this week show Republican groups have an early edge when it comes to financial support.
State High Court Decides Against Discipline For Judge - The Associated Press & The ABQ Journal
New Mexico's Supreme Court will not discipline a Bernalillo County judge despite a recommendation from the Judicial Standards Commission for a fine and two-year probation.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the disciplinary process started after an Albuquerque detective said 2nd Judicial District Judge Jacqueline Flores gave him a false name in 2013 when she refused to grant an arrest warrant in a domestic violence case.
The court ruled there was no clear, convincing evidence that Flores engaged in wrongdoing.
Sanchez: Immigrant Driver's License Repeal Still Won't Pass – The Associated Press
Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez says any GOP-sponsored bill aimed at repealing New Mexico's immigrant driver's license law won't make it to the Senate floor next session. Again.
One of state's most powerful Democratic legislators told The Associated Press on Tuesday that even if it did, there wouldn't be enough votes to pass the proposal supported by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez.
Martinez campaigned last year on repealing a state law that allows immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally to obtain New Mexico driver's licenses. She says the law opens up New Mexico to fraud.
But since taking office, the proposal has failed a number of times to pass the State Legislature.
Sanchez says the repeal is just one of the many "wedge issues" pushed by Martinez.
Battle Looming Over Colorado Immigrant Driver's Licenses – The Associated Press
Colorado immigrant advocates say there are long delays in a new program to give driver's licenses to immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.
A coalition of immigrant rights groups announced this week they would be pressuring lawmakers to open more offices to issue the specialized driver's licenses and identification cards. But they'll likely have a difficult time convincing Republicans, who dislike the program and have gained control over half of Colorado's Legislature.
Three offices in the state handle appointments for the licenses given to those in the U.S. illegally or with temporary legal status. Applicants are waiting months to get one.
Immigrants are charged more than legal residents, and the fees they pay fund the program.
Ten states (including New Mexico) and the District of Columbia have such programs.
Furloughed Inmate Fails To Return To Dona Ana County Jail – The Associated Press
Dona Ana County authorities say a convicted felon has failed to return to jail after being allowed a five-day furlough to be with his family.
County sheriff's officials have obtained a warrant for the arrest of 44-year-old Ernesto Espinoza.
He was serving a 90-day sentence at the county Detention Center for felony drug possession.
A judge allowed Espinoza a furlough on Sept. 25, but he never returned to complete his sentence.
Authorities say Espinoza has a criminal history of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and resisting or evading arrest.
He's now facing a jail escape charge.
Ringtail At Carlsbad Caverns National Park Had Rabies – The Associated Press
A ringtail whose unusual behavior prompted a temporary closure of one entrance to the cave at Carlsbad Caverns National Park had rabies.
Park officials say that determination was made by the New Mexico Department of Health and Science in Albuquerque.
Ringtails are small wild mammals that related to raccoons and are largely nocturnal and normally skittish around humans. The one spotted last week at the Natural Entrance to the cave was in the open and approaching visitors on Wednesday.
The park closed the Natural Entrance for about four hours as a precaution, but visitors still could enter the cave by using an elevator.
Albuquerque Voter Turnout Worst Since 1974 – Albuquerque Journal
Last week’s municipal election in Albuquerque set a record for low turnout.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that just 8.2 percent of voters went to the polls. That was the lowest since 1974 and officials are debating how to improve those numbers.
Mayor Richard Berry called for wider civic engagement and possibly consolidated elections. Under state law, school elections can’t be held at the same time as other elections.
Others are calling for automatic voter registration and making it easier to vote on the day of elections, as well as creating a more comprehensive voter database.
Political Science Professor Timothy Krebs of the University of New Mexico told the Journal that turnout in local elections is declining nationwide.
New Mexico Supreme Court Vacancy Attracts 8 Applicants – Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
New Mexico officials will soon meet to consider several applicants who are vying to fill the spot of retiring state Supreme Court Justice Richard C. Bosson.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the Judicial Nominating Commission will meet Oct. 19 in Santa Fe to review the eight applicants during a public meeting. The panel will then send a list of recommendations to the governor.
Bosson is himself a member of the nominating commission.
The commission released a list of the candidates on Friday. They are: appeals court judges Michael E. Vigil and Linda M. Vanzi, Albuquerque state district judge Judith K. Nakamura, 5th Judicial District judge Gary L. Clingman, former state district judge Samuel L. Winder, district attorney for the 12th Judicial District Diana Martwick and Santa Fe lawyers Paul W. Grace and Frank Susman.
Trial Opens For Colorado School Official Charged With Abuse – Associated Press
A man whose hiring led to the resignation of Albuquerque's school superintendent is on trial in Denver for allegedly sexually abusing two boys.
Jason Timothy Martinez was arrested in the abuse case in 2013. Martinez was later hired in Albuquerque, which never completed a background check on him.
The incident led to the resignation of Luis Valentino.
In opening arguments Tuesday, a prosecutor said the two victims came from families that have been weakened by drug abuse, poverty and incarceration, and that made them the "perfect targets."
The defense argued the evidence included lies, including from the boys' parents.
Dissatisfied Residents Petition To Dissolve New Mexico Town – Las Cruces Sun-News, Associated Press
Dissatisfied residents in Sunland Park are petitioning to dissolve the government in their southern New Mexico city.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that two Sunland Park city councilors have been arrested in recent weeks -- one for marijuana possession and another for providing alcohol to minors.
A group organized by 16-year Sunland Park resident Sam Gutierrez had a petition to disincorporate the city approved by Dona Ana County Clerk Lynn Ellins. Now they must collect approximately 1,400 signatures from registered voters.
Ellins says the group doesn't have a deadline for collecting signatures.
Sunland Park Mayor Javier Perea says he is taking the petition seriously and other residents should, too.
According to Ellins, enough valid signatures would result in a special election to determine whether the city should be dissolved.
US Reports Sharp Drop In Use Of Force By Border Agents – Associated Press
The government says U.S. Border Patrol agents and border inspectors used physical force far less frequently in the last year compared with previous years, even as the number of assaults on authorities rose.
Customs and Border Protection on Tuesday reported 768 incidents in which authorities used force during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. That’s down 26 percent from the previous year and 37 percent from 2013.
Authorities were assaulted 390 times during the last fiscal year, up 5 percent from the previous year but down 17 percent from 2013.
The numbers come amid intense scrutiny from critics who said authorities have been too quick to draw guns and other weapons. The agency says it's revamped training, launched new protocols to review cases and focused on being more transparent.
Susana PAC Fares Well In Fundraising – Santa Fe New Mexican
Gov. Susana Martinez’s Political Action Committee has raised and spent large amounts of money this year.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that her PAC has raised more that $331,000 since April and spent about $288,000. That’s according to a finance report filed yesterday with the Secretary of State’s office.
Among contributors giving more than $10,000 was former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as well as his wife. They own a home in El Prado near Taos. Others included Cliff Skiles of Dalhart, Texas, Builders Trust of New Mexico and Frank Yates Jr. of Santa Fe.
The PAC paid consultant Jay McCleskey’s company $128,512 and also paid $20,000 to Public Opinion Strategies, where Nicole McCleskey, his wife, is a partner.
Tuesday’s campaign finance filings were the first since criminal charges were filed against Secretary of State Dianna Duran.