Judge Dismisses Charges Against Entrada Protestors – Santa Fe Ne Mexican
A judge dismissed charges against three men who took part in protests against the annual Santa Fe event celebrating the reconquest of the city by the Spanish after a 17th century Indian revolt.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Municipal Judge Pro Tem Ann Yalman on Monday said the allegations against Chad Browneagle, Julian Rodriguez Jr. and Trenton Warden were too vague.
Santa Fe Police charged the three with trespassing in a public street. Charges are still pending against three other protestors accused of criminal trespass.
Prosecutors dismissed felony charges against another protestor, Jennifer Marley. She was accused of striking police officers with signs.
Attorneys for the protestors say their clients were targeted for the content of their speech. The annual Entrada includes a costumed re-enactment of the return of Don Diego de Vargas in 1692, following the Pueblo Revolt when Native Americans drove out Spanish settlers.
Northwestern New Mexico Community No Longer Must Boil Water – Associated Press
A boil-water advisory that marked the start of a water crisis in San Juan County more than a year ago is ending.
The New Mexico Environment Department confirmed Tuesday it is lifting a water advisory for residents of the Harvest Gold subdivision.
State regulators say the drinking water was exceeding safe standards for turbidity. But water samples now show no sign of contamination or unsafe turbidity levels.
The June 2016 advisory had warned residents to boil tap water before using it for cooking, cleaning or drinking.
The Harvest Gold water system serves 460 customers in the Crouch Mesa area.
AV Water Company previously owned Harvest Gold. Now, it belongs to the Apple Orchard Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association.
Tribal Leaders Take Aim At Oil And Gas Development - By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press
Tribal leaders from throughout New Mexico are taking aim at oil and gas development — this time spurred by a proposed ordinance that would regulate drilling across hundreds of square miles of one sparsely-populated county.
Sandoval County, home to a dozen tribal nations, currently doesn't have any rules for the industry. The county commission has been working for the last two years to craft regulations that would apply to drilling in unincorporated areas.
After a contentious meeting last week, a final vote is set for January.
Tribal leaders have joined with environmentalists to voice their frustrations.
The opposition comes as tribes around the U.S. organize around land-use issues, from a pipeline in North Dakota and a disputed national park designation in Utah to a battle over cultural sites in New Mexico.
Bernalillo County Sheriff Addresses Fatal Home Shootout – Associated Press
The Bernalillo County sheriff says he doesn't know if deputies knew the mental health history of a man who died following a shootout in Albuquerque.
Sheriff Manuel Gonzales released more details Monday about the Nov. 10 shooting which killed 50-year-old Matthew Scudero.
Scudero's family says authorities visited him before to provide mental health resources.
Deputies were called to a mobile home after Scudero's father reported his son had pointed a gun into his mouth.
Upon their arrival, Scudero threatened to shoot them.
Gonzales says Scudero then fired two shots and five deputies returned fire.
A SWAT team later found him dead of gunshot wounds.
The fatality came a week before deputies shot and killed two people in a stolen vehicle.
Gonzales also denied that deputies need to wear body cameras.
Council Approves Audit Of Court-Appointed Police Monitor – KRQE-TV, Associated Press
The Albuquerque City Council has authorized an audit of the court-appointed monitor overseeing reform efforts for the city's police department.
The council on Monday approved a resolution to appropriate $25,000 to the city's Office of the Internal Audit to review the work by James Ginger.
The city hired Ginger in January 2015 after a federal judge appointed him as an independent monitor under the settlement reached between Albuquerque and the U.S. Department of Justice.
As of June 2017, the city has paid Ginger more than $3 million.
City attorney Jessica Hernandez tells KRQE-TV that the audit will help the council determine a budget for Ginger moving forward.
The action comes a week after a federal judge dismissed the city's motion claiming that Ginger was biased against the police department.
Lewis Vying For State Auditor Job Vacated By Former Opponent – Albuquerque Journal
Outgoing Albuquerque City Councilor Dan Lewis is seeking to fill the job being vacated by the man who defeated him in a recent runoff for mayor.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Lewis has applied to fill the State Auditor position that Tim Keller will leave on Nov. 30 as he begins his first term as mayor of Albuquerque.
Lewis is one of five people applying for the job. He works for Desert Fuels, a wholesale petroleum supplier. Gov. Susana Martinez is taking applications through Dec. 1 and will select someone to serve out the rest of Keller’s term, which expires at the end of 2018.
The other applicants are Emily Oster, who directs compliance and quality control in the State Auditor’s office, accountants C. Jack Emmons and Loretta Valencia, and Patrick Stewart, who serves on the state Public Accountancy Board.
Ski Areas Delay Or Limit Openings – Albuquerque Journal
Warm weather is delaying the start of the ski season in New Mexico or limiting how many areas will be available.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Ski Santa Fe has postponed its planned Thanksgiving Day opening to Dec. 2 and will only open some parts of the mountain unless there is more natural snow.
Taos Ski Valley will have a limited opening this weekend and officials hope to open every day starting Dec. 8. Taos will rely mostly on man-made snow initially.
However Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort has already opened and Red River Ski and Summer area is opening Wednesday. Other ski areas are planning on December opening dates, weather permitting.
The Journal reported record-high temperatures are likely on Thanksgiving Day and warmer weather will continue into next week.
The National Weather Service says higher elevations will continue to see warmer temperatures as the jetstream carrying cooler temperatures tracks north of the state.