Federal Appeals Court Halts Horse Slaughter - Associated Press
A federal appeals court has temporary halted plans to resume domestic horse slaughter.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver on Monday issued a temporary injunction barring the Department of Agriculture from inspecting the plants.
Slaughterhouses in New Mexico and Missouri had hoped to start up as soon as this week after a federal judge in Albuquerque on Friday threw out a lawsuit by The Humane Society of the United States and other animal protection groups. The lawsuit alleged the Agriculture Department failed to conduct proper environmental studies when it issued permits to the slaughterhouses.
The groups filed an immediate appeal and won the emergency injunction.
The order continues the on-again, off-again plans to resume domestic horse slaughter six years after the last big slaughterhouses closed after Congress cut funding for inspectors.
Report: 118K In NM Qualify For Insurance Subsidies - Associated Press
A health care policy group estimates 118,000 New Mexicans may qualify for federal subsidies to help them buy health plans through a newly established online marketplace.
The nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation said 17 million Americans will be eligible for tax credits that can lower the cost of insurance purchased through exchanges operated by states and the federal government.
The credits are available to people with incomes from about $23,600 to $94,200 annually for a family of four.
New Mexico has implemented a state-run computer system to sign up small businesses for insurance but initially is relying on a federal exchange website for individuals.
The foundation estimates 193,000 New Mexicans are potential exchange customers because they are uninsured or buy their own insurance rather than getting it through employer-sponsored coverage.
No Confidence Vote For Bernalillo County Treasurer - Associated Press
Bernalillo County commissioners have approved a vote of "no confidence" in treasurer Manny Ortiz during a special Board of Finance meeting.
County commissioners and top county administrators have been critical of Treasurer Ortiz's investment practices that have tied up the county's cash in long-term investments.
They say that limits cash flow and subjects the county's investments to market conditions that cause the portfolio to lose value.
Commission Vice Chair Debbie O'Malley and Commissioner Lonnie Talbert pushed for the "no confidence" vote Monday.
Commissioners also voted to limit the investment authority of the treasurer until a new investment policy is approved, possibly by year's end.
The treasurer is limited to investing all monies not needed for daily county operations in those investments that mature in six months or less.
8 In Race To Become Next Chairman Of Hopi Tribe - Associated Press
The race to become the next leader of the Hopi Tribe has drawn eight candidates, including the current chairman and vice chairman.
Hopis will narrow down the list Wednesday in the primary election, sending the top two vote-getters on to the general election on Nov. 20.
Two of the four candidates for vice chairman also will move on.
Hopis elected former elementary school principal Le Roy Shingoitewa (seen-GOY'-tee-wah) as chairman four years ago. The tribe's former health director, Herman Honanie (ho-NON'-ee) was chosen as vice chairman.
They took the jobs during a time of political chaos.
The two men now are running against each other to lead the 12,000-member tribe that has faced challenges with financial investments, securing water rights and finding new sources of revenue as coal royalties decline.