UPDATED: Board Accepts Albuquerque School Chief's Resignation - Russell Contreras, The Associated Press
The board that oversees New Mexico's largest school district has unanimously voted to accept the resignation of its embattled superintendent, who hired an administrator charged with child sex abuse.
Board members voted on Luis Valentino's fate Monday following a controversy that has enveloped Albuquerque Public Schools just two months after he became its superintendent.
Valentino hired Jason Martinez to head the troubled district's instruction and technology division. But the district never completed its background check on Martinez, who was charged two years ago in Colorado with sex assault felonies involving two children.
Martinez has resigned.
Valentino became superintendent in June and hired Martinez before he took over.
Lawmakers Discuss Impeaching NM Official Accused Of Fraud – The Associated Press
Democratic Leaders in the New Mexico House of Representatives are taking aim at the state's top elections official after allegations of fraud, embezzlement and money laundering were leveled against her.
House Democrats said Monday they want to begin the impeachment process against Republican Secretary of State Dianna Duran. They've asked Republicans, who hold the majority in the chamber, for a meeting.
Duran is facing a 64-count complaint from the state attorney general that accuses her of funneling campaign donations into personal accounts and withdrawing hundreds of thousands of dollars at casinos around the state.
Duran's attorney says she looks forward to addressing the allegations in court.
The secretary of state's office declined to comment on the charges Monday, saying only that the staff would continue to carry out the duties of the office.
Injunction Against Federal Water Rule May Expand – The Associated Press
A federal judge in North Dakota is allowing arguments over the scope of his injunction blocking a new rule that would give the federal government jurisdiction over some smaller waterways.
U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson in Fargo last week issued a temporary injunction requested by North Dakota and 12 other states to stop the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers from regulating some small waterways under the Clean Water Act.
The EPA said the injunction applied only to the 13 states that sued. But North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, who filed the injunction request, says his reading of the ruling was that it applied to all 50 states.
The judge gave attorneys until Tuesday afternoon to file briefs on the issue.
NM Auditor Questions Spending Under Former Border Sheriff – The Associated Press
A state audit says lack of oversight in the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department allowed high-ranking officials to use federal grant money to boost their overtime pay.
State Auditor Tim Keller on Monday released the report reviewing how federal funds meant for enhancing law enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border were managed under the Dona Ana County sheriff in 2012 to 2013.
The audit report suggests the former sheriff's officials flexed their normal work schedules to earn time-and-a-half of their hourly rate, without having to seek any additional approval.
No policies were violated, but Keller says a lack of financial controls raises concerns over transparency in how federal grant dollars are used in New Mexico.
The audit was requested by Dona Ana County Sheriff Enrique Vigil, who took office this year.
New Mexico Lawmakers To Get Update On Gila River Project – The Associated Press
Legislators will be getting an update on the Gila River diversion project in southwestern New Mexico from state and federal water managers.
The Legislature's Water and Natural Resources Committee is meeting Monday and Tuesday in Silver City.
The Gila project stems from the 2004 Arizona Water Settlement Act, which provides for the diversion of up to 14,000 acre-feet of water from the river each year.
The act provides for $128 million in federal money for the project, but critics say costs could balloon to $1 billion.
University of New Mexico researcher Jim Brooks says the Interstate Stream Commission's decision to go ahead with project was based on incomplete information and flawed analysis.
The commission has defended its decision, saying exhaustive research supports New Mexico receiving additional water from the Gila.
NMSU Helps Mexican Universities With Extension Programs – The Associated Press
New Mexico State University and the University of Arizona have partnered to help several Mexican universities increase their ability to develop and deliver extension programs to rural Mexico.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that members of the NMSU Cooperative Extension Service and representatives from 19 Mexican universities traveled to Washington, D.C., in August to meet U.S. Department of Agriculture officials and congressional staff.
Later in the month NMSU officials visited the University of Chihuahua, University of Guanajuato and four University of Guadalajara campuses for training visits.
Mexico's secretary for agriculture, livestock, rural development, fisheries and nutrition is funding the initiative, which has helped 57 rural communities thus far.
Secretary Of State Accused Of Embezzlement, Money Laundering – Associated Press, Santa Fe New Mexican
New Mexico's Democratic attorney general has filed a complaint in state district court, accusing Republican Secretary of State Dianna Duran of embezzlement, money laundering and other campaign-finance violations.
Attorney General Hector Balderas' office filed the 64-count complaint in Santa Fe late Friday afternoon.
According to the document, the attorney general's investigators say they uncovered behavior that included the transferring of large amounts of cash from Duran's personal and campaign accounts as well as cash expenditures at casinos throughout the state.
Duran’s attorney, Erlinda Johnson, sent an email to the Santa Fe New Mexican indicating she has concerns about how Balderas used the grand jury process during the investigation and that she would push for dismissal of the case in court.
This marks the latest in an ongoing feud between Balderas and Duran over the reporting and enforcement of the state's campaign finance laws.
In February, the two announced a joint task force to study the issue, but months later Duran accused Balderas of submitting three late campaign finance reports.
VA Health Officials Say New Mexico Patients Wait Times Down – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
The managers of the agencies that provide health care and disability benefits to New Mexico veterans say wait times for medical appointments and disability claims have improved.
Andrew Welch, New Mexico VA Health Care System director, and Chris Norton, regional director for the Veterans Benefits Administration, told the Albuquerque Journal that notable progress has been made in the past two years.
Welch says as of last month, the average wait time for a primary care appointment was about seven days.
Norton says his office has cut the wait time for veterans' disability claims from more than a year to about 130 days.
An Associated Press report identified New Mexico as one of the worst-ranked states for delayed appointments.
Albuquerque Police Detective Shot By Fellow Officer Suing – Associated Press
An Albuquerque police officer is suing the lieutenant who shot him in a botched undercover drug bust.
An attorney for Jacob Grant, says he will need medical care for the rest of his life. He filed a lawsuit in state District Court this week against Lt. Greg Brachle, Albuquerque police and the city.
In the lawsuit, Grant says Brachle shot him nine times during the January bust outside a McDonald's.
The documents allege that Brachle continued firing despite pleas from a wounded Grant, who was crawling away from him.
Grant also says Brachle has a history of erratic behavior.
City Attorney Jessica Hernandez says officials take Grant's claims very seriously but they have a duty to defend themselves against the allegations.
Grant is seeking an unknown amount of punitive damages.
Judge Blocks New Federal Rule On Jurisdiction Of Waterways – Associated Press
A federal judge in North Dakota has blocked a new rule that would give the federal government jurisdiction over some state waters.
U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson of North Dakota issued a temporary injunction last week against the Obama administration rule. The rule gives the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers authority to protect some streams, tributaries and wetlands under the Clean Water Act.
Thirteen states, including New Mexico, asked Erickson to suspend guidelines they say are unnecessary and infringe on state sovereignty. The federal government says the new rule clarifies ambiguity in the law and makes it easier for the states to manage some waterways.
The other states involved are Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, South Dakota and Wyoming.
Trial Begins For Stepfather Charged In Boy's Beating Death – Associated Press
A child abuse trial is about to get underway for the stepfather of a 9-year-old who authorities say was kicked to death by his mother, even after authorities were alerted to the boy's appeals for help.
Stephen Casaus faces charges including intentional child abuse resulting in death and tampering with evidence in the December 2013 death of Omaree Varela.
The brutality of the beating and revelations that police and state child services had been tipped to abuse at Omaree's home sparked criticism of the Albuquerque Police Department and the state's Children Youth and Families Department.
Gov. Susana Martinez launched policy changes into how child welfare investigations are handled in the state.
Jury selection in Casaus' trial is scheduled for Monday in Albuquerque.
The boy's mother will stand trial separately.
Lottery Features Albuquerque Artist's Day Of The Dead Images – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
The latest scratchers from the New Mexico Lottery will feature Day of the Dead images created by Albuquerque artist Sean Wells.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Wells created six different paintings for the lottery. The colorful art shows skeletons doing quintessentially New Mexican things, like riding in a hot air balloon.
Wells sells her prints at the Albuquerque Railyards on weekends and says she also teaches classes about the origins of the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos.
The Santa Fe-raised Wells says she didn't get her start drawing skeletons: growing up, she presented traditional retablo paintings at the Spanish market.
Wells has also created images for Day of the Dead-themed beer label Cerveza de los Muertos, a Mexican craft beer sold internationally, and for wine label La Catrina Vino.
Boil Water Advisory Lifted For System Near Santa Fe – Associated Press
The New Mexico Environment Department's Drinking Water Bureau has lifted a boil water advisory for a system in Santa Fe County.
An advisory was lifted Saturday after new samples from the Las Campanas system came back negative for E. coli bacteriological contamination.
The advisory was issued Thursday as well as one for the Vermejo Park Headquarters system in Raton.
Initially, the E. coli was detected in repeat drinking water samples from each system.
Las Campanas is a community public water system that serves about 400 people some 10 miles west of Santa Fe.
Users had been advised to boil the water for five minutes before drinking, cooking, dishwashing and bathing.
