Proposal To Expand New Mexico's 'Three-Strikes' Law Advances – The Associated Press
A proposal to expand the New Mexico's "three-strikes" law for sentencing habitual offenders has cleared another hurdle.
The House Judiciary Committee voted 7-4 on Tuesday in favor of the bill filed by Rep. Paul Pacheco.
The Albuquerque Republican says the current "three-strikes" law in New Mexico includes crimes that already can result in life sentences and is so narrow that no one has been convicted under it since it was enacted two decades ago.
His proposed changes to the three-strikes law would add new crimes to the list that make defendants with at least three prior convictions eligible for life sentences, including voluntary and involuntary manslaughter.
Democrats say they were concern the bill as written would target nonviolent offenders.
The bill now goes before the full GOP-controlled House.
Office Of The State Auditor To Investigate Town Of Estancia – The Associated Press
The Office of the State Auditor plans to conduct a special audit investigation of the town of Estancia.
The probe concerns a $33,000 financial discrepancy in the town's fiscal 2015 annual financial audit.
According to the state auditor, the town notified the office about concerns with cash balances in various accounts.
Estancia received a "disclaimer of opinion" on the audit, meaning the town failed to support its financial statements.
State Auditor Tim Keller says Estancia's citizens deserve to be assured that their public funds are accounted for properly.
Estancia is now included on the state auditor's "at risk list."
New Mexico Cult Leader Could Be Getting Out Of Prison Early – The Associated Press
A cult leader convicted of sex crimes in 2008 may be closer to being released early from a New Mexico prison after being diagnosed with skin cancer.
A hearing was held Tuesday in state district court in Taos for 74-year-old Wayne Bent, who has been in prison for nearly seven years.
A judge told lawyers for both sides to get together with the state Department of Corrections and try to agree on conditions of release for Bent within 15 days.
Bent was sentenced to a decade in prison after being found guilty of inappropriate sexual behavior with two teenage girls at his northern New Mexico compound.
He also was convicted of second-degree criminal sexual contact with a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
New Mexico AG Investigating The MLK State Commission – The Associated Press
The New Mexico Attorney General's Office has launched an investigation into the Martin Luther King, Jr. State Commission.
Agents conducted a search warrant at the African American Performing Arts Center in Albuquerque on Tuesday but officials declined say what agents sought.
New Mexico Attorney General's Office spokesman James Hallinan confirmed that the office was conducting an investigation surrounding the Martin Luther King Jr. State Commission. He declined to comment further.
Commission executive director Kimberly Greene did not immediately respond to an email. A phone message to the commission was not immediately returned.
The state agency promotes diversity and works to reduce violent activity by juveniles.
It also conducts the MLK Annual Youth Conference and Youth Leadership Conference.
Gov. Martinez Eyes Bill Aimed At Ending Uber, Lyft Stalemate – The Associated Press
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez is asking lawmakers to consider a bill aimed at regulating ride-booking companies like Uber and Lyft.
The Republican governor put legislation on her official call Tuesday and asked lawmakers to pass a bill to show that such companies are welcome in New Mexico.
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.
Plan Calls For Boosting Forest Restoration Around New Mexico – The Associated Press
More than 140 square miles of overgrown, fire-prone areas around New Mexico have been thinned over the last several years, but state forestry officials are telling lawmakers they need more funding to continue the work.
The Forestry Division is seeking another $4 million in capital funds to expand a statewide watershed restoration program.
Acting State Forester Eddie Tudor told members of a House committee Monday that his agency is on track to complete several projects by the end of the year.
However, he says there are more areas that still need to be treated, including parts of the Santa Fe watershed.
Tudor says both state and federal land managers will be meeting this spring to identify other projects that have the potential to improve water quality and benefit entire landscapes.
GOP-Sponsored New Mexico REAL ID Fix Clears Another Hurdle – Associated Press
A GOP-sponsored bill that would make New Mexico compliant under the REAL ID Act and allow some immigrants to obtain driver's permit cards has cleared another hurdle.
The proposal passed 7-6 on Monday in the House Judiciary Committee along party lines after a nearly three-hour meeting.
The measure passed despite charges of racism from immigrant advocates.
A Democratic lawmaker invoked the Holocaust in a Trump reference during a heated debate over the bill. Rep. Antonio Maestas says Trump will send people away in “boxcars” and told New Mexico Republicans that “Trump is the leader of your party.”
New Mexico currently allows immigrants in the country illegally to obtain driver's licenses and this bill would only allow them get the driver's permit cards.
It was the first of at least two proposals state lawmakers are examining to get New Mexico in compliance with the federal REAL ID Act.
Already, some federal facilities have stopped accepting New Mexico driver's licenses.
Solar Industry Urges Extension Of New Mexico Tax Credit – Associated Press
Time may be running out for an extension of New Mexico's rooftop solar tax credit as legislators weigh whether to forgo $5 million in annual state revenues to encourage more generation of solar energy by households, farms and small businesses.
The tax credit offsets up to 10 percent of costs for new solar energy systems and expires at the end of the year. A bill to extend the credit through 2024 cleared its first hurdle on Monday with approval by a House energy committee.
Republican Gov. Susana Martinez declined last year to sign a similar bill approved by the Legislature. House Republicans are divided on this year's bill.
The solar industry and other proponents of the tax-credit extension say it would bolster employment in the renewable energy sector.
New Mexico's Largest City Marks All-Time Low For Water Use – Associated Press
Residents in New Mexico's largest city have reached a record low when it comes to per capita daily water use.
Water authority board chair Maggie Hart Stebbins says the numbers for 2015 show the Albuquerque area is making strides in preserving the city's groundwater resources.
The water authority announced Monday that per capita daily water use reached an all-time low of 127 gallons per person last year. That's a decrease of 7 gallons from the year before.
Utility officials say overall water use is at levels comparable to the early 1980s, when the population was much less. The utility produced about 30.7 billion gallons of water last year.
Officials also say above-average precipitation in 2015 helped to keep usage down.
Espinoza Preparing For Possible SOS Run – Santa Fe New Mexican
Republican Rep. Nora Espinoza is collecting signatures to run for secretary of state.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Espinoza, who has served five terms in the House from Roswell, is the only known Republican seeking the office.
Brad Winter was appointed acting secretary of state last year by Gov. Susana Martinez after former Secretary Dianna Duran resigned in disgrace. A primary election will determine who will serve out the remaining two years of Duran’s term. Winter has said he won’t run.
Democrat and Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver is running as well. She lost to Duran in the 2014 election. She and Espinoza have very different views on issues such as photo ID laws for voters, something Espinoza has strongly supported.
Espinoza must gather 2,000 signatures before the Feb. 2 deadline to run.
Albuquerque Bus Ridership Drops For First Time In Decade – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
Fewer people are riding the bus in Albuquerque for the first time in a decade.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that ridership for the city's buses and vans fell 5 percent in 2015, to a four-year low of 12.4 million. The decline in 2015 follows years of growth, with ridership growing 46 percent over the last 10 years.
Albuquerque transit system director Bruce Rizzieri says lower gas prices are likely to blame, with cheaper gas allowing more people to drive.
According to data from the American Public Transportation Association, bus ridership across the country fell 2 percent in the most recent fiscal year and total ridership on public transit, which includes rail, trolleys and buses, was flat.
About 700 Immigrant Children Now Staying At Holloman Base – KOAT-TV, Associated Press
About 700 immigrant children from Central America are now staying at Holloman Air Force Base.
KOAT-TV reports that the children arrived in Alamogordo on Sunday.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter directed Holloman Air Force Base to be the first of three temporary shelters to open in New Mexico, Colorado and Florida.
The children are being housed in a vacant building on base previously used by the 4th Space Surveillance Squadron.
The children are between the ages of 14 and 17 and are from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Officials say they will likely not stay on the base more than a month.
State Public Defender Office Seeks Huge Budget Increase – Santa Fe New Mexican
A House committee resisted efforts by the state Law Offices of the Public Defender to garner a huge budget boost.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports the agency requested a budget increase of nearly $44 million above its current annual budget of about $48 million. Chief Public Defender Jorge A. Alvarado said the increase is crucial to pay contract attorneys in 15 counties where there is no public defenders office, especially in light of numerous bills in this session that would toughen criminal penalties.
The House Appropriations and Finance Committee voted to accept the recommendation of Gov. Susana Martinez’s Administration of no budget increase for the agency, but the New Mexican reports there is an understanding that legislators could fund certain line items at a later date.
The Legislative Finance Committee recommended only a 5 percent increase for the office, or about $2.4 million.
Alvarado warned the committee members that underfunding public defense could lead to wrongful convictions, unfair trials and more cost to the state.
Albuquerque Settles Animal Welfare Suit – Albuquerque Journal
The city of Albuquerque has settled a lawsuit by a former Animal Welfare manager who sought a report about allegations the city adopted out dangerous animals.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Jim Ludwick complained to the Office of Inspector General in 2015 that dogs known to be dangerous had been adopted out of city shelters. That triggered an investigation by a private firm.
The city refused to release the report to him or the Journal for more than two months, but finally did so last September.
Ludwick’s suit charges that the city has a “pattern and practice of denying requests for investigatory reports.” City officials denied those allegations
Audit Of Navajo Tribe Shows Mismanagement Cost $10.8 Million – Gallup Independent, Associated Press
An audit of 23 of the Navajo Nation's 110 chapters has found that mismanagement cost the tribe $10.8 million in lost revenue related to internal controls and compliance with Navajo, state and federal laws.
The Gallup Independent reports that according to the audit presented by the Navajo Nation Office of the Auditor General, the bulk of that lost revenue came from deficiencies in internal controls.
The 23 chapters were audited between 2012 and 2015.
The auditors reported that the chapters lost the largest portion to incomplete fixed asset inventories, which showed 31 audit problems amounting to more than $2.9 million. Auditors found the chapters had incomplete property inventories, unreported assets in financial reports, uninsured property and other issues.