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Headlines: State's Unbalanced Books, Job Training Program...

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Lawmakers Concerned About New Mexico's Unbalanced Books – The Associated Press

New Mexico's top finance officials say the state's checkbook is out of balance to the tune of $100 million.

Department of Finance and Administration Secretary Tom Clifford testified before the Senate Finance Committee on Monday. He says that amount is his agency's best guess at the discrepancy between the state's general cash ledger and what it actually has in the bank.

However, state Auditor Tim Keller says the difference could be hundreds of millions of dollars.

The problem stems from accounting software the state purchased several years ago. Officials say if the state doesn't reconcile its cash accounts, its credit rating and borrowing power could suffer.

Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez and other lawmakers voiced concerns that the missing money could have been used for education and other state needs.

New Head Of New Mexico Child Welfare Agency Lists PrioritiesThe Associated Press

New Mexico lawmakers challenged the incoming head of the state's child welfare agency to ensure federal dollars for services not get returned even as she outlined her priorities three weeks into her post.

Children, Youth and Families Department Secretary-designate Monique Jacobson said her top five goals include executing the agency's tasks, improving communication with law enforcement, growing prevention services, tightening internal financial controls, and working closely with independent contractors.

The former tourism secretary said she is excited and "invigorated" to tackle the challenges ahead, promising to account for every dollar in her new department. Lawmakers expressed support and asked her to act with urgency.

The agency has been hampered in recent years by staffing shortages, an overwhelming caseload and a series of high-profile abuse cases that have drawn criticism.

Official: Provision On Tribal Casinos Might Violate US Law - The Associated Press

A federal official says Indian gambling compacts proposed for four New Mexico tribes might violate federal law by effectively prohibiting an Oklahoma-headquartered tribe from opening a casino in southern New Mexico.

The Santa Fe New Mexicanreports that the director of the Interior Department's Office of Indian Gaming said a provision in compacts proposed for four other tribes could prevent the Fort Still Apache Tribe from opening a casino.

Office director Paula Hart told a legislator that the provision might violate the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act because the Fort Sill Apaches' land falls outside a provision on eligible land.

However, Martinez aide Jessica Hernandez says the provision doesn't affect tribes that aren't parties to the compacts and that each tribe can propose its own compact.

NM Lawmaker Back At Legislature After Husband Sentenced The Associated Press

A northern New Mexico lawmaker who skipped the opening days of the legislative session to attend her husband's sentencing hearing has been sworn in.

House Democrats announced Monday that state Rep. Debbie Rodella of Española took the oath of office after missing a week.

She had attended hearings involving her husband, former Rio Arriba County Sheriff Thomas Rodella.

The ex-lawman was sentenced last week to 10 years in federal prison for abusing a driver in a bizarre, off-duty traffic stop that prosecutors described as a fit of road rage.

U.S. District Judge James Browning said after reading letters from the public, it appeared Thomas Rodella also abused his position in exchange for votes for his wife.

The Española Democrat did not respond to a reporter's question about the judge's comment.

Lawmakers Want To Boost New Mexico Job Training Program The Associated Press

A bipartisan coalition of New Mexico lawmakers is calling for more money to be funneled into a job training program as part of an effort to attract more businesses to the state.

Under the proposed legislation, $12 million would be provided for the Job Training Incentive Program, which helps expanding companies and those that have relocated to the state cover the cost of training or hiring new employees.

State economic development officials say the program is one of the most generous in the country when it comes to training incentives.

Republican House Speaker Don Tripp and Democratic Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen say the legislation marks an opportunity for party politics to be put aside.

More than $8.8 million was spent by the job training program during the last fiscal year.

New Mexico Bill Aims To Reduce Benefits If Workers Are HighThe Associated Press

A New Mexico lawmaker has introduced a bill to reduce workers' compensation in cases when an employee's death or injury results from being drunk or high on the job.

Republican Rep. Dennis Roch of Logan said being under the influence on the job puts lives at risk and the legislation would help protect workers and hold violators accountable.

Currently, an employee is eligible to receive 90 percent of his or her workers' compensation if alcohol or drugs contribute to injury or death on the job. Under the legislation introduced Tuesday, the benefits would decrease by 35 percent to 85 percent.

An Albuquerque Journal poll conducted in September found 67 percent of New Mexicans supported reducing workers' compensation when drugs or alcohol result in injury or death.

New Mexico Jobless Drops To 6.1 Percent In December The Associated Press

New Mexico's unemployment rate dipped for a second straight month.

The state Department of Workforce Solutions reported Monday that that the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December was 6.1 percent.

That's down from 6.4 percent in November and down from 6.6 percent in December 2013.

The department says the state's economy added 13,500 jobs during the year between December 2014 and December 2013, making it the one of the greatest year-over-year monthly increase since the Great Recession.

Old Stash Of Marijuana Found Inside Alamagordo Woman's Van - The Associated Press

An Alamogordo woman drove her van for more than 13 years and didn't know there was marijuana hidden inside.

Melodie Peil told the Alamogordo Daily News she bought a 1990 Chevrolet van at a local dealership in 2001 so she would have room to transport her daughter's children.

Until last Friday, Peil had no idea that on trips to softball games and on vacations out of town she had been transporting 13 ½ pounds of marijuana hidden in one of the vehicle's side doors.

A family friend discovered the marijuana when he removed a door panel to repair a broken handle.

Inside a hole cut in the door was five bricks of marijuana covered in plastic wrap and foil.

Police say the marijuana is so old that it's worthless.

Candidate Withdraws After Tie Vote In Navajo Speaker's Race The Associated Press

A vote to decide the next leader of the Navajo Nation's legislative branch ended in a tie Monday.

Rather than leave the result to chance, Alton Joe Shepherd withdrew his name.

LoRenzo Bates will preside over the Navajo Nation Council for the next two years. The four-term delegate is perhaps most well-known for his work as chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee.

Bates served as speaker pro tem after Johnny Naize resigned in April.

Bates and Shepherd each received 12 votes in runoff for the job. A tie earlier this year for speaker pro tem had been broken by a coin toss.

The selection of a speaker was the first line of business for the 24 lawmakers meeting in their first regular session in Window Rock.

New Mexico To Tackle Campaign Spending Bill The Albuquerque Journal, The Associated Press

A New Mexico Senate Democrat and a House Republican plan to co-sponsor legislation to define the relationship between candidates and political action committees when it comes to campaign finance.

Similar bills have failed in previous years but Sen. Peter Wirth said Monday he is hopeful of passage this year because of bipartisan support. The Santa Fe Democrat said the bill will be introduced following a review by the New Mexico Secretary of State. Republican James Smith of Sandia Park will be the sponsoring the measure in the House.

The Albuquerque Journal reported that super PACs, which aren't supposed to coordinate with candidates, spent millions of dollars on elections in New Mexico last year but there is no law that defines what exactly coordination is.

Lawyer: Slain New Mexico Deputy Had 'Drug' In Wallet The Associated Press

A lawyer for a former New Mexico deputy accused of killing a fellow deputy wants to test of a "white powdery substance" found in the dead deputy's wallet.

John Day, an attorney for Tai Chan, said in a motion last week that he uncovered the substance listed as "drug" during a review of Las Cruces police evidence.

The substance has not been tested.

Authorities say former Santa Fe County sheriff's Deputy Chan fatally shot Jeremy Martin at a Las Cruces hotel in October after they drank at a nightspot and got into a heated argument.

Police say the two deputies were staying at the hotel after dropping off a prisoner in Arizona.

An autopsy report found alcohol in Martin's system but no drugs.

Balloon Crew Hits Halfway Mark In Bid To Break Records The Associated Press

Mission control for an international team trying to break two major ballooning records says the helium-filled balloon has passed the halfway mark of its journey across the Pacific Ocean.

Pilots Troy Bradley of New Mexico and Leonid Tiukhtyaev of Russia set off from Saga, Japan, shortly before 6:30 a.m. Sunday Japan time en route to North America.

The departure came Saturday afternoon at mission control in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It says the balloon has been averaging more than 50 miles per hour and had traveled more than 2,700 miles and was nearing Midway Island on Monday night New Mexico time.

Bradley and Tiukhtyaev are trying to break a distance record of 5,208 miles and a flight-duration record of 137 hours.

State: Around 2,600 Fugitives Nabbed In New Mexico Last Year The Associated Press
 

State officials say around 2,600 ex-convicts accused of violating their parole or probation in New Mexico were captured last year.

The Department of Corrections said last week that the absconders were caught thanks to an aggressive team tapped with finding fugitives across the state. Officials believe that may be the largest number apprehended in a single year.

However, state officials say around 1,700 absconders in New Mexico are still on the run.

Under New Mexico law, the punishment for apprehended absconders is determined by the State Parole Board and the courts.

Corrections Secretary Gregg Marcantel says the absconder project is part of a larger effort to reform the department.

Currently, there are around 7,700 inmates in state prisons.