New Mexico Lawmakers To Meet On Secretary Of State Case – Russell Contreras, Associated Press
A panel of New Mexico lawmakers investigating fraud, embezzlement and money laundering charges against Secretary of State Dianna Duran are slated to meet for the first time.
The House Special Investigatory Committee will gather this morning at the State Capitol in Santa Fe as part of impeachment proceedings. The bipartisan panel will discuss the hiring of special legal counsel, rules for the investigation and a hearing schedule.
The Legislative Council recently cleared the way for the committee to begin its work by approving up to $250,000 in state funds to finance the effort.
Duran has been accused of funneling campaign contributions into personal bank accounts and later withdrawing large sums of money while frequenting casinos around the state.
She has pleaded not guilty to the charges in state court.
New Mexico Tribe Appeals Ruling On Casino Dispute With State – The Associated Press
Lawyers for an American Indian community in New Mexico are asking a federal appeals court to overturn a lower court ruling that blocked them from going through the U.S. Interior Department instead of the state for a gambling compact.
Attorneys for Pojoaque Pueblo told the Denver-based 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday that the state didn't negotiate in good faith when they tried to draw up a new compact.
A state lawyer told the court New Mexico officials have a right to make sure gambling is conducted on terms acceptable to the state.
The appeals court didn't say when it would rule.
Federal law requires tribes to have compacts with the state to operate casinos.
Pojoaque's negotiations with New Mexico broke down in 2013 and its compact expired in June.
Jury Selection Begins In Civil Case Over New Mexico Wildfire - The Associated Press
It will be up to jurors to decide whether two utility companies should be held liable for a 2011 wildfire that destroyed dozens of homes as it raced across more than 240 square miles on its way to becoming one of New Mexico's largest blazes.
Jury selection began Monday in Bernalillo before state District Judge Louis McDonald. The trial is expected to last six weeks.
The Las Conchas fire started when an aspen tree fell onto power lines that stretched through national forest land in the Jemez Mountains.
Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative operated and maintained the power lines. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Inc. provides the cooperative with electricity and is also named as a defendant.
There are more than 300 plaintiffs in the case, including property owners and insurance companies.
Legislative Analysts: New Mexico's Economy Still Recovering – The Associated Press
Legislative analysts say New Mexico's economy shows some signs of recovery but continues to struggle compared with those of neighboring states and the country as a whole.
The Legislative Council Service also said Monday that "a lot has to go right" for a recent forecast projecting modest revenue growth for the next five years to hold.
That forecast called for $293 million of additional revenue in the next fiscal year, but the service said factors determining whether the forecast stands up over time include oil prices and China's economy.
The service said the recovery from the Great Recession continues in slowly and unevenly, taking nine years to approach employment levels last seen in 2006.
That's a slower recovery than those of the rest of the country and neighboring states.
Shelter Struggles To Keep Pickup Site For Homeless – The Associated Press and KOAT
Trash issues are making it a challenge for an Albuquerque shelter to keep pickup sites for homeless individuals and officials are looking to the city for help.
KOAT-TV reports Joy Junction has had to stop using two sites due to the trash and mess left behind by some of the homeless individuals.
Group founder Jeremy Reynalds says this public issue can't continue to be kicked down the road. Shelter officials planned to discuss options with city officials on Monday.
The Civic Plaza and downtown library have been suggested as possible alternatives.
New Mexico Gets Federal Grant To Target Methamphetamine – The Associated Press
The New Mexico Department of Public Safety is getting a $561,000 federal grant to combat methamphetamine trafficking and related violence.
The U.S. Justice Department announced the funding Monday.
The Justice Department says the money for New Mexico is included in more than $6.1 million being provided through an anti-methamphetamine program to seven state-level law enforcement agencies dealing with high seizures of precursor chemicals, finished methamphetamine and laboratories.
The Justice Department says the state agencies will use the money to investigate illicit activities related to the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine.
Diocese Of Gallup Brings In $161K From Auctions – The Associated Press & The Gallup Independent
The Diocese of Gallup has walked away with less than $161,000 after selling nearly three dozen properties at auctions in Albuquerque and Phoenix.
The Gallup Independent reports that documents submitted by diocesan attorneys to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court say the sales total for both auctions was about $225,000. The two businesses hired by the diocese to promote and conduct the auctions earned about $65,500.
Most of the properties were sold for far less than their actual or assessed values. The highest sales price at the Phoenix auction was $26,000, and the remaining properties sold for between $110 and $7,700. Four properties at the Albuquerque auction sold for five-figure prices, and the others ranged from $121 to $4,400.
The diocese faces more than $2.7 million in costs related to its bankruptcy case.
Albuquerque Reforms Shelter Policy For Dogs Deemed Dangerous - Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
Albuquerque is changing policies surrounding its animal shelters following a report that found dangerous dogs were being adopted.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Mayor Richard Berry announced late last week that Animal Welfare Department executive director Barbara Bruin would no longer have the authority to choose which dogs get euthanized.
Berry also signed legislation Friday that will add four additional behavioral and adoption specialists to the department.
Investigative reports released earlier this month found the department failed to give prospective dog owners crucial information about some dogs, leading to some people or other pets being harmed.
The legislation also establishes a new position of deputy director.
That person will be charged with reviewing the department's programs.
'Breaking Bad' Actor Helping Co-star In New Mexico Election – Associated Press
Two "Breaking Bad" stars who tried to nab drug lords in the fictional AMC-TV series are trying to shake up the New Mexico political scene in real life.
KOB-TV reports Dean Norris, who played DEA agent Hank Schrader on the show, is campaigning for Steven Michael Quezada, who is running for the Bernalillo County Commission. Quezada played DEA agent, "Gomey," in the series.
Norris was back in Albuquerque last week urging residents to register to vote. He then attended events with Quezada.
Quezada is currently an elected Albuquerque Public School board member. He’s one of four candidates seeking a District 2 commission seat.
Quezada says Bob Odenkirk, who played a sleazy lawyer Saul Goodman on "Breaking Bad" and spinoff "Better Call Saul," will also campaign on his behalf.
Educational Curriculum Created Based On 'Manhattan' Series – Associated Press
The television show "Manhattan" and an educational provider have developed a curriculum based on the series and the history of the atomic bomb.
The network announced last week that the educational program will offer teachers tools to help students learn more about the secret World War II-era plan called The Manhattan Project.
Officials say toolkits will include a teacher's guide, student activity sheets, and Common Core Standards.
WGN America executive vice president Brian Dollenmayer says the series "Manhattan" can spark a vibrant conversation in the classroom.
The show is set in the 1940s during The Manhattan Project and follows the lives of the scientists who built the world's first atomic bomb in Los Alamos.
"Manhattan" is scheduled to begin its second season October 13.
Scouts, Pilot Survive Small Plane Crash In New Mexico - Associated Press
Three boy scouts and their pilot are alive after a small plane crash in New Mexico.
KRQE-TV reports that the four-seat 1952 Beechcraft crashed in Belen on Saturday morning, about 2 miles from its final destination.
Scouts Levi Jensen, Talon Bennett and Jacob Brooks were flying with a pilot they knew from church as part of the work required for them to earn an aviation badge.
The plane left the Belen airport around 10:30 in the morning and flew to Albuquerque. On the way back when the scouts realized something was wrong.
They told KRQE-TV that the pilot was calm and focused as he tried to land, but the plane clipped a bush near a dirt road and started to spin.
Valencia County Sheriff's deputies are investigating.