Albuquerque Mayor Announces Run For Re-Election - Associated Press
Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry says he has a passion for the city and he's going to run for re-election.
Berry and challengers Pete Dinelli and Paul Heh filed their paperwork with the city clerk on Tuesday, officially kicking off the mayoral race.
Later this week, their names will be drawn to determine the order in which they will appear on the ballot.
Election Day is Oct. 8. If no candidate gets 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election will be held Nov. 19.
Berry is Albuquerque's first Republican mayor in more than 20 years. The businessman is known for his low-key style.
Dinelli, a Democrat, served previously as city attorney and chief public safety officer.
Heh, a Republican, is a retired Albuquerque police sergeant. He served nearly 25 years with the department.
Iowa Plant Drops Horse-Slaughter Plan - Associated Press
An Iowa company is dropping plans to slaughter horses in the wake of a federal judge's ruling that temporarily banned the practice.
The company's president, Keaton Walker, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he couldn't afford to wait for more court deliberations.
His company, Responsible Transportation, was given federal approval to slaughter horses at the company's Iowa plant starting Aug. 1.
But a judge issued a temporary restraining order after animal-welfare groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, sued.
The case sparked a national debate about how best to deal with tens of thousands of abandoned horses.
Walker says the Iowa plant will convert to a beef-only operation and seek new federal approval.
The lawsuit also affects a New Mexico company that plans to slaughter horses.
Feds Delay Review Of Plan To Drop Wolf Protections - Associated Press
Federal officials are delaying a scientific analysis of a plan to drop legal protections for gray wolves across most of the Lower 48 states after three experts who had criticized the proposal were excluded from the review panel.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in June that the wolf should be removed from the endangered species list because it has recovered after disappearing from most of the nation decades ago. The agency wants continued protections in the Southwest.
A private contractor is overseeing a legally required peer review of the government's plan. Last week, the contractor told three scientists they couldn't serve on the panel because they'd signed a letter supporting continued wolf protection.
A spokesman said Tuesday that the Fish and Wildlife Service is reconsidering the review process.
NM Reaches Settlement Over Foreclosure Ads - Associated Press
The New Mexico Attorney General's Office has reached a settlement with a California law firm that will bring to an end misleading radio ads regarding mortgage foreclosure assistance.
Attorney General Gary King says the ads by Granite Law targeted homeowners who were in distress and facing foreclosure. The ads promoted a "national mortgage helpline."
King's office accused the firm of engaging in unfair and deceptive trade practices.
Granite did not admit any wrongdoing but agreed to pay $25,000 to settle the claim. The firm will also stop advertising in New Mexico for at least three years.
King says his office helps coordinate a statewide homeownership preservation program that offers housing counselors and attorneys to those who are at risk of foreclosure.
UNM Partners With VA On Nursing Program - Associated Press
The University of New Mexico's College of Nursing has been selected as one of six schools to participate in the Veterans Affairs Nursing Academy Partnership.
The VA established the program several years ago with the goal of developing compassionate and highly trained nurses who could meet the health care needs of the nation's veterans.
At UNM, undergraduate nursing enrollment, faculty and clinical placement is expected to increase under the partnership. The university says a $5 million grant will fund the partnership over five years.
The college says it's already recruiting and hiring faculty and plans to admit an additional eight students this fall and 16 more in the spring.
The college says a total of 96 new nurses will be funded by the program.