2 Jesuit Provinces Release 153 Names Of Accused Abusers - Associated Press
A Roman Catholic Jesuit province which covers New Mexico, 12 other southern and central U.S. states, Puerto Rico and Belize – says it has found “credible allegations” of sexual abuse involving 42 priests and other ministry leaders dating back to 1955.
A second province, Jesuits West, covering 10 western states announced a list of 111 priests and other ministry leaders dating back to 1950.
Most of the men cited are deceased and others are no longer Jesuits.
U.S. Central and Southern Provincial Ronald Mercier said the "storm" facing the Catholic church must be confronted with transparency and he called for the church to focus on caring for survivors and preventing future abuse.
USGS Puts Bull's-Eye On Permian Basin With New Assessment - By Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press
Some of the largest energy companies in the U.S. have already invested billions of dollars on claims up and down the Texas-New Mexico state line, tapping one of the nation's richest and most prolific oil and natural gas regions.
Now the stakes just got higher, as the U.S. Geological Survey announced Thursday that portions of the Permian Basin could hold even more promise.
The agency pegs that potential at more than 46 billion barrels of oil and some 280 trillion cubic feet of gas, or the largest continuous oil and gas resource potential ever assessed.
But the agency's geologists acknowledge that more study would be needed to determine if it would be profitable to go after the resources.
Still, industry groups are encouraged and say the assessment underscores the activity that's already happening in the basin.
New Mexico High School Students Mark Shooting Anniversary - The Daily Times, Associated Press
Students and teachers are marking the one-year anniversary of a shooting that claimed two lives at a New Mexico high school.
Officials tell the Farmington Daily Times that the students at Aztec High School want to focus "on life and coming together" for the anniversary.
They'll start the day with breakfast, group art projects, and talking with the first responders called to the shooting scene that happened exactly a year ago Friday. They also have the option of speaking with therapists.
On the morning of Dec. 7, 2017, authorities say a 21-year-old gunman entered the small-town high school near the northwest corner of New Mexico, and fatally shot two students — Francisco I. Fernandez and Casey J. Marquez. He then fired randomly in a hallway and a computer lab, before killing himself.
District Attorney To Review High School Halloween Incident - Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
The Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office says it will conduct a review of Albuquerque Public Schools' documentation and records concerning an incident where a teacher allegedly cut the hair of a Native American student and used a racial slur against another Native American student.
A spokesman for the district attorney told the Albuquerque Journal the office made its formal request Thursday to review the complete incident in its entirety.
Superintendent Raquel Reedy, during an APS board meeting on Wednesday, apologized on behalf of the district and said she is working on a cultural sensitivity plan.
Termed-out New Mexico Governor Is Picky With Pardons - Associated Press
Gov. Susana Martinez has pardoned three people so far during two terms in office in a state with a robust history of forgiveness by governors.
The governor's office this week confirmed that Martinez issued three pardons in 2012 and no others. The out-going Republican governor’s two immediate predecessors each pardoned scores of people for a variety of convictions.
A former district attorney and death penalty proponent, Martinez has until the end of the year to act on pardon requests.
City Of Albuquerque To Sue Bus Manufacturer - KOB-TV
The city of Albuquerque is going to sue the company that manufactured electric buses for a rapid transit project.
KOB-TV reports Mayor Tim Keller made the announcement today, saying the company, BYD, had failed to address safety concerns and meet contract obligations.
City officials say the buses didn’t meet inspections and had multiple malfunctions.
Judge Recuses Himself In Case Of Man Who Killed 5 As A Teen - Associated Press
BYD responded to the announcement in a statement saying they acted in good faith and are considering their legal options.
A court spokesman says a New Mexico judge has recused himself from overseeing the case of a man who shot and killed five family members when he was 15.
Spokesman Sidney Hill confirmed that Children's Court Judge John Romero recused himself today. It was supposed to be the final day in a hearing to determine whether 21-year-old Nehemiah Griego should be sentenced as a juvenile or an adult.
Romero had been tasked with making the decision based on whether he believed Griego had proven receptive to years of psychological treatment while in the state's juvenile justice system.
University Of New Mexico Fires Deputy Athletic Director - Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
The University of New Mexico has fired its deputy athletic director as officials say more changes are coming to the athletics department.
The Albuquerque Journal reports deputy athletic director Brad Hutchins will receive a $175,000 buyout that was negotiated down from the $225,000 stipulated on his contract.
Athletic director Eddie Nuñez says Hutchins signed termination papers Wednesday.
He says he will be announcing other changes in coming days and weeks, noting the university will be "discussing additional guidelines and policies consistent with building the kind of athletic department we believe is expected."
Hutchins did not return the newspaper's call or message seeking comment.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Hutchins thanked university and athletics staffs for the opportunity to work alongside them.
Lawsuit Accuses Hobbs Police Of Wrongful Arrests - Associated Press
Three New Mexico police officers have been accused in a federal lawsuit of wrongfully detaining a man as he stood near a parked car on a residential street, and arresting another after he asked officers why they had interrupted their family gathering.
The lawsuit stemming from a June encounter was filed this week on behalf of Shamus Wright and Kentoine Penman. Both are black, from Hobbs, members of a family that had been planning a reunion for the next day.
The lawsuit says an officer approached Penman and another relative because they were not standing on the sidewalk.
Moments later, Wright asked the officers why they were on the scene. He was accused by police of "interjecting himself" and not identifying himself.
A Hobbs police spokesman did not immediately return a call requesting comment.
Torres Small Kept Money Edge In Us House Race In Final Days - Associated Press
Federal documents show newly elected Democratic Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small continued to vastly outraise her GOP opponent in the final days of a closely watched U.S. House race in southern New Mexico.
New Federal Election Commission filings show Torres Small raised more than $875,000 from the last two weeks of October until the end of November. Meanwhile, Republican state lawmaker Yvette Herrell pulled in around $270,000 in the same time period.
Overall, Torres Small raised almost $4.4 million to flip a congressional district held by outgoing GOP Rep. Steve Pearce. Filings show Herrell took in $1.5 million.
Torres Small defeated Herrell after absentee ballots in Doña Ana County put her over the top. Herrell has refused to concede and her campaign is examining those absentee ballots.
Filings show Herrell had $196,151 cash on hand as of Nov. 26.
US Senators Request Reports In Death Of Transgender Migrant - Associated Press
Three U.S. senators want federal officials to publicly release information about the circumstances surrounding the death of a Honduran transgender migrant while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Roxsana Hernandez died in May at an Albuquerque hospital where she was admitted after showing symptoms of pneumonia, dehydration and complications associated with HIV.
The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator confirmed Thursday it has yet to complete an autopsy report.
New Mexico Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Sen. Kamala Harris of California sent a letter this week to border and immigration officials.
The three Democrats requested documents related to Hernandez's death after an attorney representing the woman's family threatened to sue over claims she did not receive adequate medical care and was physically abused.
Immigration authorities maintain Hernandez wasn't abused while in their custody.
New Mexico Governor Revamps Website To Tout Accomplishments - Associated Press
The public website for the governor's office in New Mexico has undergone a makeover to highlight economic accomplishments and spending on public education during the eight-year tenure of Republican Gov. Susana Martinez as a Democrat prepares to succeed her.
The governor's office cites a $2 billion budget surplus by combining two years of estimated state government income that hasn't materialized yet.
Those estimates were made in August as oil production in the New Mexico hit an all-time high and will be revised next week. Government economists say the state's recent revenue growth is mostly tied to the energy sector.
The website notes a $450 million increase in state spending on public education since Martinez took office. Martinez is appealing a court order that seeks greater resources for struggling public schools.
New Mexico Regulators Delay Racino Vote - Associated Press
New Mexico regulators are putting off a decision regarding the state's sixth and final license for a new horse racetrack and casino after one of the contenders went to court to seek a preliminary injunction.
The commission voted unanimously Thursday to table the license issue, and it was not immediately clear when the panel would take up the matter again.
Chairman Ray Willis said it was in the best interest of the commission to seek legal advice before going forward.
Attorneys for Hidalgo Downs, a group that wants to build a racino in southwestern New Mexico, filed a petition in court last week in an effort to put the brakes on the process. The filing contends the commission has not done enough to study the issue.
The state's five existing racinos have voiced concerns about adding a sixth venue.