Bond Set For Woman Accused Of Harboring Convict – The Associated Press & The ABQ Journal
A judge has set a $5,000 bond for one of the women accused of helping two convicts after they escaped from a prison transport van last week.
Michelle Abeyta appeared before Metropolitan Court Judge Sandra Engel on Thursday.
A public defender argued police didn't have probable cause to arrest Abeyta and suggested she was probably scared for her well-being.
The Albuquerque Journal reported that the judge dismissed the claim and imposed the bond after hearing from prosecutors about Abeyta's criminal history.
Abeyta is accused of letting escaped convict Lionel Clah stay at her apartment for two nights before turning him in.
New Mexico Disqualifies 8 Legislative Candidates – The Associated Press
New Mexico election regulators have disqualified at least eight aspiring legislative candidates after reviewing applications and signature petitions, leaving several certified candidates unopposed in primary or general elections or both.
The New Mexico Secretary of State's Office confirmed the disqualifications Thursday.
The developments are unlikely to tip the balance of power in the Legislature because they mostly concerned districts dominated by one party or a popular incumbent. Republicans currently control the House by a 37-33 seat advantage. Senate Democrats outnumber Republicans 24 to 18.
Democratic Sen. Benny Shendo of Jemez Pueblo is running unopposed after former state Rep. Sandra Jeff was disqualified for failing to follow state campaign finance rules.
Home-address discrepancies knocked out Democrat Dell Washington of Belen, who sought to challenge Republican House Speaker Don Tripp of Socorro.
EPA Reviewing New Mexico's Request For Reimbursement – The Associated Press
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is acknowledging the concerns of officials in New Mexico and elsewhere that spring runoff could stir up contaminants left behind by the Gold King Mine spill in southern Colorado.
EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry wrote in a letter to the state's congressional delegation that the federal agency is providing $2 million for long-term monitoring and planning. States and tribes can apply their share to monitoring this spring.
Curry also confirmed the agency is reviewing the state's most recent request to be reimbursed $1.5 million for expenses related to the August 2015 spill.
In early March, the New Mexico congressional delegation told the EPA it had concerns over delays in compensation for expenses and damages caused by the spill, which fouled rivers in three western states.
Report Outlines Disrepair At Native American Schools – The Associated Press
A government watchdog report says federal officials have failed to ensure dozens of Native American schools undergo standard safety building checks each year.
The Government Accountability Office says its review of federally run schools for Native American children found safety hazards ranging from exposed electrical wires to aging dormitory boilers that were blamed for high carbon monoxide levels. The findings were included in a report presented to a congressional subcommittee Wednesday.
The schools under scrutiny are among 180 in some 20 states that fall under the oversight of the Interior Department's Bureau of Indian Education, which has requested $1 billion from Congress in the next budget to overhaul the schools and further improve classroom conditions.
The watchdog report also found 69 schools did not undergo building inspections in 2015 — up from 55 schools in 2012.
New Mexico Regulators Decline To Investigate Power Plant – The Associated Press
State regulators will not investigate the Public Service Company of New Mexico's role in financing the purchase of a coal mine.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the Public Regulation Commission on Wednesday voted to permanently table a motion filed in February by New Energy Economy. The nonprofit had sought an investigation into the details of a PNM subsidiary that loaned Westmoreland Coal Co. $125 million to purchase the San Juan Coal Mine.
PRC general counsel said commissioners likely didn't have the authority for such an investigation since the financing occurred through a parent company and subsidiary of PNM, not through the utility.
A New Energy Economy official called the PRC vote irresponsible.
A PNM spokeswoman says customers will benefit from the savings of the new coal agreement.
Sacred Wind Gets $13.8M Loan For Internet Improvements – The Associated Press
A New Mexico telecommunications company is getting a $13.8 million loan from the federal government to improve internet service.
Members of the state's congressional delegation announced the loan for Sacred Wind Communications on Thursday.
The low-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service is being awarded under a program that aims to improve infrastructure in underserved tribal communities.
With the money, Sacred Wind plans to extend fiber optic cable from Gallup to the Navajo community of To'hajiilee west of Albuquerque.
The project will take three years to complete.
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall said extending the cable will open new opportunities for education, health care and business. Right now, he says only one in five people living on tribal land in New Mexico have access to wired broadband.
Health Provider Plans New Hospital In Santa Fe County – Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
A health services provider is pursuing plans to construct a hospital in Santa Fe County.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Presbyterian Healthcare Services is submitting the project to the city next month for a 277,000-square-foot hospital and outpatient complex. The $135 million project would be built on 40 acres owned by the health care system.
Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center has been the only general hospital in the city.
The center notified Presbyterian Healthcare Services affiliate Presbyterian Health Plan last year that it would no longer serve 1,000 Medicare Advantage patients. Presbyterian Healthcare Services president and chief executive Jim Hinton says that was a challenge.
Company officials on Tuesday say they've also started to expand a 32,000-square foot clinic near Christus.
New Mexico Regulators Seek Guidance Over Recusals – Associated Press
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission is asking the Legislative Council Service to weigh in on how recusals should be handled by the agency.
The request comes in the wake of a power plant case last year in which four of the commission's five members faced recusal challenges. The New Mexico Supreme Court eventually ruled the recusals weren't warranted.
Because the issue could arise again, the commission says a determination should be made regarding what circumstances would warrant recusal of a commissioner and how that member would be replaced in order for a case to continue.
In a resolution adopted this month, the commission acknowledges that legislation is needed for clarification. The Legislative Council Service is the legal research arm of the Legislature and helps to draft bills.
Testimony Begins In Case Against Navajo Nation Lawmaker – Associated Press
An attorney for a Navajo Nation lawmaker charged with misusing tribal funds told jurors Wednesday that the lawmaker's actions weren't criminal.
Jeff Rasmussen made the comment as part of his opening arguments in the trial against Mel Begay.
Prosecutors say Begay funneled nearly $34,000 to his six children. He's charged criminally with conspiracy to commit fraud and submitting or permitting false tribal vouchers.
Prosecutor Marc Lowry says the rules regarding a discretionary fund for lawmakers changed over the years. But he says the constant was that lawmakers had to attest to upholding the tribe's laws.
Begay faces the loss of his legislative seat, jail time and fines if convicted.
Eight jurors are hearing the case in tribal court in Window Rock. It's scheduled to end March 25.
Army To Station Air Defense Unit At New Mexico Missile Range – Associated Press
The U.S. Army will be stationing an air defense testing unit at White Sands Missile Range in southern New Mexico.
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich confirmed the announcement Wednesday. The New Mexico Democrat say the range is a national treasure for the U.S. military due to its terrain, airspace and expertise.
The Air Defense Artillery Test Detachment will be made up of 143 soldiers. They'll be supporting Army missile defense programs that work to put the best equipment in the hands of soldiers deployed around the world.
Heinrich said in a statement that adding a new active duty mission at White Sands is a "big deal" and that he will continue to advocate for a larger active duty presence at the missile range.
OSHA Fines Santa Fe Pot Business For July Explosion – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
A medical marijuana dispensary in New Mexico has been fined for safety violations after an explosion badly burned two workers.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration spent about eight months investigating the July 23 explosion and found a total of 12 serious health and safety violations.
OSHA has ordered New MexiCann Natural Medicine to pay several fines totaling $13,500. Online records show that inspectors verified in January that there were no continuing hazards.
The explosion happened while the two workers were making hash oil, a process that involves soaking marijuana in butane. A report from the Santa Fe Fire Department says the blast was caused when a butane leak met with an ignition source.
Martinez Now Undecided Following Rubio Withdrawal – Associated Press
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez is not ready to endorse another Republican candidate for president after campaigning for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio only to watch him drop out of the race.
A spokesman for the nation's only Latina governor on Wednesday said only that Martinez is proud to have stood by Rubio and will continue to watch the GOP primary race as it unfolds.
Martinez has repeatedly declined to say whether she would vote for GOP primary front-runner Donald Trump if he wins the nomination. She previously denounced Trump when he compared Mexican immigrants to rapists and drug dealers.
Martinez is the chairwoman of the Republican Governors Association, a fundraising arm of the GOP.
Southern New Mexico Farmers Eye Lower Water Allotment – KVIA-TV, Associated Press
Farmers in southern New Mexico are receiving a higher amount of a water allotment than three years ago but less than a third of their normal allotment.
KVIA-TV in El Paso, Texas, reports the Elephant Butte Irrigation District told farmers this week they're scheduled to receive 10 inches of water per acre of farmland this year.
That's higher than the three-and-a-half inches in 2013, but much less than the three feet of water that's considered a full allotment.
A hydrologist credits the wetter winter, and more water shed for the increase this year, but says it hasn't reached its full potential.
Officials say they'll begin releasing water from the Elephant Butte and Caballo reservoirs to farmers in Mesilla and the upper valley and in April and May.
City Councilor Davis Agrees To Support Rapid Transit Project – Albuquerque Journal
An Albuquerque city councilor has decided to lend his support to a proposed rapid transit project but with the caveat that a station will be added to the International District.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Democrat Pat Davis said residents in that area are more likely to use public transit and he’s using his discretionary funds to pay for a design study. Another stop would cost around $400,000 and it will likely be around San Pedro and Central.
The city council is schedule to vote next week on whether they will accept about $70 million in federal funds for the rapid transit project. The city already has about $31 million in other federal money and the remaining funding – about $18 million – would come from city sources.
Meetings on the project have been very contentious, with opponents raising fears about traffic congestion and the impact of construction on businesses. Supporters say it will boost investment in the corridor and improve bus service.