Albuquerque Voters Decide On Proposal For Police Chief Hires – Associated Press
Albuquerque voters have approved an amendment to the city charter that requires the mayor to submit future picks for police and fire chief to the City Council for approval.
The measure was on the ballot in Tuesday's municipal election.
Councilor Ken Sanchez co-sponsored the ballot measure proposing to give the City Council more authority over fire and police chief hires, saying earlier this year that it would help with ongoing police reform in Albuquerque.
City officials and Justice Department officials agreed to a settlement after a scathing federal report last year outlined a pattern of excessive force by police.
Voters Approve Tax Boost For BioPark, Charter Amendments – Albuquerque Journal
Albuquerque voters approved a hike in the gross receipts tax rate to fund improvements at the BioPark.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that the initiative will boost the gross receipts tax rate to 7.31 percent from 7.18 and is expected to raise about $255 million over 15 years. Voters also approved about $119 million in general obligation bonds for other projects such as parks and infrastructure.
In the city council races, Democrat Pat Davis won an overwhelming majority for the district covering Nob Hill and the Southeast Heights. Incumbent Brad Winter, a Republican, won re-election. Democrats retain a 5-4 majority on the council.
The election saw record low turnout, according to the Journal, with just eight percent of eligible voters going to the polls. It was the lowest percentage in 40 years.
Official: Stopping Teacher Evaluations Would Hurt Students – The Associated Press
A witness for the New Mexico Public Education Department said during a hearing that if a judge stops the state's new teacher evaluation system it would negatively impact students and the school system in general.
American Federation of Teachers New Mexico and the Albuquerque Teachers Federation are seeking an injunction to halt the use of test scores while their lawsuit against the evaluation system goes through the court system.
A Santa Fe judge is hearing arguments over whether the state should stop its use of test scores in the evaluations.
On Tuesday, Director of Educator Quality for the Public Education Department Matt Montano testified that the state could lose federal funding and its waiver for certain federal No Child Left Behind Act mandates if the evaluations stop.
The hearing is scheduled to continue Thursday.
Bankruptcy Judge Questions Gallup Diocese's Closed Auction – The Associated Press & The Gallup Independent
A bankruptcy judge has ordered attorneys for the Diocese of Gallup to explain why their property auction wasn't made public.
The Gallup Independent reports Judge David Thuma says the diocese may not have conducted a public auction, which is required by federal bankruptcy rules.
The diocese hired Accelerated Marketing Group and told their CEO Todd Good to bar anyone except qualified bidders from entering the auction. Good says they have discretion as to how to conduct the sale.
Judge Rules Santa Fe Can't Ban Sale Of Small Liquor Bottles – The Associated Press
A judge has struck down a Santa Fe ordinance that would have banned the sale of small bottles of Alcohol.
First District Judge Sarah Singleton ruled Tuesday that the law conflicted with the state Liquor Control Act. The ordinance would have banned selling liquor in bottles of 8 ounces or less, but Singleton says it's up to the state to determine what sizes are allowed.
The law was meant to reduce litter and was supported by Mayor Javier Gonzales and the majority of city councilors. But liquor stores strongly opposed it.
Liquor store owner Kathleen Ortiz, the spokeswoman for seven stores who opposed the ban, says the ruling is "a big relief."
City Councilor Signe Lindell sponsored the ordinance and says Tuesday's decision is disappointing.
New Mexico OKs Medical Marijuana Farm Near Roswell – The Associated Press & The Roswell Daily Record
The New Mexico Department of Health has approved several applications to grow medical marijuana in the state, including a hotly debated proposed farm near Roswell.
An attorney for Pecos Valley Pharmaceuticals told the Roswell Daily Record this week that the company was a recipient of the sole license granted in Chaves County.
The proposal by Pecos Valley Pharmaceuticals seeks to turn a former dairy processing plant near Roswell into a place to grow marijuana. That plan has drawn scrutiny from some Chavez County commissioners.
In addition to the license for Chaves County, the state health department also approved eight licenses for Bernalillo County, one for Santa Fe County, one for Taos County and one for Valencia County.
Officials Cancel Gas Balloon Race Due To Weather – The Associated Press
Officials have cancelled the 20th America's Challenge gas balloon race, marking only the second time in race history that weather has grounded the competition.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta organizers made the announcement Wednesday. The decision was made in the interest of safety since wet and unstable weather continued to hang over New Mexico.
Seven teams from the U.S., Germany, France, Poland and Spain had been set to participate. They were initially scheduled to launch Saturday but unfavorable weather forced a series of delays.
Organizers simply ran out of time since race rules called for the launch window to close Wednesday before midnight.
Event Director Johnny Petrehn expressed his regret that the race had to be cancelled and said he hopes the pilots will return for the next challenge in 2016.
NM Governor Weighs In On Union Fees For US Supreme Court – Associated Press
Gov. Susana Martinez is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling allowing public-sector unions to collect fees from employees who decide not to become union members.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Martinez argued in an 18-page brief that the fees violate employees' free-speech rights.
The Republican governor has clashed with labor unions since her election in 2010. She recently backed legislation that sought to block unions from collecting so-called "fair-share" fees, but it died in New Mexico's Democrat-controlled Senate.
The Supreme Court case involves several California teachers who object to having to pay union fees.
Labor unions argue that the fees are fair because nonunion employees benefit from union-negotiated contracts.
New Mexico OKs Medical Marijuana Farm Near Roswell – Roswell Daily Record, Associated Press
The New Mexico Department of Health has approved several applications to grow medical marijuana in the state, including a hotly debated proposed farm near Roswell.
An attorney for Pecos Valley Pharmaceuticals told the Roswell Daily Record this week that the company was a recipient of the sole license granted in Chaves County.
The proposal by Pecos Valley Pharmaceuticals seeks to turn a former dairy processing plant near Roswell into a place to grow marijuana. That plan has drawn scrutiny from some Chavez County commissioners.
In addition to the license for Chaves County, the state health department also approved eight licenses for Bernalillo County, one for Santa Fe County, one for Taos County and one for Valencia County.
Arborist Testifies In Wildfire Case About Utility Standards – Associated Press
A certified arborist says an electric cooperative wasn't following industry standards at the time an aspen tree fell onto a power line, sparking one of the largest wildfires in New Mexico's recorded history.
Kevin Eckert testified Tuesday in a civil case that'll decide whether the co-op and the transmission company that supplies it with power should be held liable for the 2011 Las Conchas fire.
Attorneys for more than 300 plaintiffs say negligence by the two companies is to blame.
Eckert testified that a trained inspector would have spotted the tree as a hazard and there's no indication the co-op had trained inspectors or a documented vegetation management program.
Defense attorneys challenged Eckert, saying most of his experience was with investor-owned utilities, not co-ops. They have also argued in court documents that the co-op had a tree trimming program.
Feds Propose Protection For Minnows In New Mexico, Arizona – Associated Press
The federal government is proposing to list two minnows found in New Mexico and Arizona as threatened.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the headwater chub and a population of roundtail chub are at risk of extinction in the foreseeable future.
The agency is taking public comment on critical habitat designation until Dec. 7.
The headwater chub is dark gray to brown with silvery sides. It's found in drainages, tributaries of the Verde River and parts of the upper Gila River.
The Fish and Wildlife Service wants to protect the roundtail chub found in the lower Colorado River basin in Arizona and New Mexico. The minnow is olive-gray to silver with a lighter belly.
Threats to the fish include predation, habitat destruction, mining, water pollution and climate change.
Officials Say Gas Balloon Race In Question Due To Weather – Associated Press
Officials say the 20th America's Challenge gas balloon race delayed this year by weather must launch by Wednesday night. Otherwise, it won't happen.
According to Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta organizers, seven teams from the U.S., Germany, France, Poland and Spain plan to participate in the distance race, initially scheduled to launch Saturday in Albuquerque.
But showers and thunderstorms have forced delays.
Rules say the launch window for the race must close Wednesday before midnight.
Weather conditions are taken into consideration for Albuquerque and east of New Mexico where balloons sail to their destination. Last year, the balloon that travelled the farthest made it to Kentucky.
Pilots will meet at noon Wednesday with race officials to discuss whether or not the race is a go.
United Co-Pilot Passes Out, Diverting Flight To New Mexico – Associated Press
A United Airlines flight from Houston to San Francisco had to be diverted to Albuquerque after the co-pilot passed out.
Albuquerque airport spokesman Dan Jiron says air-traffic controllers got word shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday that the plane would be landing after the first officer, who is second in command, had a medical episode. The plane landed without incident around 8:20 a.m.
Jiron says the co-pilot regained consciousness and was able to walk off the plane to be transported to a hospital. Jiron had no details about the co-pilot's condition or what may have caused the episode.
United was aware of the diversion but didn't immediately comment.
It comes a day after an American Airlines captain became gravely ill while flying from Phoenix to Boston. He later died.
Master P To Visit Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta To Promote Show – Associated Press
Hip-hop mogul Master P is going to help close out the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
The rapper and his family are scheduled to visit the gathering of balloons Saturday to promote his new show on REELZ, "Master P's Family Empire."
The show, set to launch in November, will follow the single dad as he navigates raising his youngest children while his oldest carve out entertainment careers.
Master P, whose real name is Percy Miller, says the show is about making it cool to watch good, positive, family TV.
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is set to end Sunday.
