New Mexico's Ex-Secretary Of Taxation Gets Court Hearing – Associated Press
A New Mexico judge is considering whether to try a former state Cabinet secretary on embezzlement and corruption charges.
Former Taxation and Revenue Department secretary Demesia Padilla is appearing in state court Monday for a hearing on whether evidence is sufficient for a trial to go forward.
State prosecutors alleged that Padilla advocated as taxation secretary for abatement of a tax penalty against a former client of her accounting firm.
Padilla became the state's top taxation official under Republican Gov. Susana Martinez in January 2011. She resigned in 2016 after a law enforcement raid on tax department offices.
Complaints to a fraud hotline at the Office of the State Auditor and unsigned letters from state employees touched off the investigation. Padilla has not entered a plea.
Navajo Nation President Endorses Former Leader Over His VP – Associated Press
The Navajo Nation president is endorsing a man he beat for the job in the last election cycle to succeed him.
Russell Begaye announced his endorsement of Joe Shirley Jr. on Monday at a campaign event in Albuquerque.
He says Shirley, who served two terms as president, has the experience to guide the tribe through an economic blow when a coal-fired power plant on the reservation closes next year.
Shirley is facing Begaye's vice president, Jonathan Nez, in the Nov. 6 election.
Nez and Begaye distanced themselves months ago as they campaigned separately for the presidency. Begaye placed fifth among a record field of 18 candidates.
Nez's campaign manager, Clara Pratte, says she doesn't expect the endorsement to have a major impact. She says Begaye is not a popular president.
Group Walks Miles To Remember Missing Native American Women – Associated Press
A more than 100-mile walk along a Navajo Nation highway that sought to raise awareness of domestic violence, and cases of missing and murdered women and girls, has left organizers hoping the trek spurs more discussion.
The annual walk from Window Rock, Arizona, to Shiprock, New Mexico, this month was the ninth organized by a local father and son who aim to bring attention to social issues on the Navajo Nation through the event.
The Farmington Daily Times reports that the walk began Oct. 13 at Veterans Memorial Park in Window Rock and ended Oct. 20 in Shiprock.
And while the journey's focus centered on the high volume of cases in Indian Country overall, it was specifically dedicated to Ashlynne Mike, an 11-year-old girl who was kidnapped and killed in New Mexico in May 2016.
Insurer Denies Liability For Claims Of Embezzlement Victims – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
Another insurance company has gone to federal court in New Mexico to avoid paying millions of dollars in claims from victims whose trust funds and savings were embezzled.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the Cincinnati Insurance Co., based in Fairfield, Ohio, is seeking a declaratory judgment that the company isn't liable for coverage of the losses because the insurance policy it sold to Desert State Life Management of Albuquerque doesn't cover the "wrongful acts" by former Desert State CEO Paul Donisthorpe.
Donisthorpe, who is not in federal custody, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to federal criminal charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
A proposed class action lawsuit filed on behalf of victims is still pending in federal court, as is a lawsuit filed by Evanston Insurance Co., which provided "professional liability" insurance for the firm.
Recent Violent Crime In Española Raises Officials' Concerns – Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
Española officials are gathering to talk about why there has been a spate of violent crimes in recent months, including several homicides.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Mayor Javier Sanchez, police, educators and local charities met Monday to discuss stemming community violence.
Sanchez says there have been four killings since he was elected in March. He says that's a shocking rate for a town with a population of 10,000.
The most recent case was the Oct. 4 shooting death of 18-year-old Cameron Martinez.
Police say suspects mistook Martinez for someone else and opened fire as he was riding in another vehicle.
Seven people, all between the ages of 16 and 22, have been arrested.
Participants in this week's conference plan to hold more meetings to talk about solutions.
New Mexico Voters To Finally Decide On Ethics Commission -Associated Press
It will be up to New Mexico voters to approve a constitutional amendment that would allow for the creation of an independent ethics commission.
The proposal is on the ballot this year, after many years of debate in the Legislature over establishing such a panel to address complaints involving state officials, legislative employees, lobbyists and government contractors.
New Mexico has had a string of public corruption scandals over the last 13 years, with two state treasurers, two state senators, a secretary of state and a deputy insurance superintendent going to prison on criminal charges.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the number of states with ethics commissions has steadily increased in recent years, leaving New Mexico as one of only six without a commission.
Torres Small Keeps Huge Money Advantage In Key US House Race - By Russell Contreras, Associated Press
Federal documents show Democrat Xochitl Torres Small continues to vastly outraise her GOP opponent in a key U.S. House race in southern New Mexico.
New Federal Election Commission filings show water rights attorney Torres Small raised $803,650 during the first two weeks in October while Republican state lawmaker Yvette Herrell pulled in $147,779. That's a more than five times advantage in money raised for an open U.S. House seat that could help determine which party controls Congress.
According to the filings, Torres Small's campaign reported having $1,003,194 cash on hand on Oct. 17. Records show Herrell had $406,459.
Democrats are hoping that Torres Small can flip the traditional GOP-leaning congressional district that sits along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Democrats have long targeted the heavily Hispanic congressional district.
Seasoned Politicians Face Off In Navajo Presidential Race - By Felicia Fonseca, Associated Press
On the vast Navajo Nation, the needs are many: more police officers and better pay, housing, social services, roads and water.
With the expected closure of a coal-fired power plant and mine on the reservation next year, financial resources will dwindle.
The task of replacing roughly one-third of the tribe's revenue will fall heavily on whoever Navajos choose to be their next president.
The contenders are Jonathan Nez and Joe Shirley Jr.
Both have spent years in politics as county supervisors, tribal lawmakers and in the tribe's top elected office. Nez is the current vice president and Shirley a former two-term president.
At a recent presidential forum at Arizona State University, the two expressed similar priorities.
About 98,000 Navajos are registered to vote in the Nov. 6 election.
40 Desert Bighorn Sheep Released To The Sacramento Mountains - Alamogordo Daily News, Associated Press
New Mexico wildlife officials have released 40 desert bighorn sheep to the Sacramento Mountains — an area where the animal has been absent for nearly a century.
The Alamogordo Daily News reports the transplantation of the sheep was orchestrated by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish over the weekend as part of an effort to expand the desert bighorn's range.
Around 100 members of the public and wildlife enthusiasts attended the releases on Saturday and Sunday and formed wings alongside the sheep trailers to help usher the sheep into the mountains.
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish conservation officer Andrew Armendariz says the sheep population introduced into the Sacramento Mountains was made up of ewes and rams of various sizes and ages.
Governor Dedicates New Veterans' Cemetery In Angel Fire -Associated Press
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has dedicated a new $3.2 million veterans' cemetery in Angel Fire.
The dedication Friday makes it the third cemetery constructed under the Martinez administration for veterans who live in rural areas throughout the state.
The Angel Fire cemetery will serve veterans and their families in northern New Mexico who live too far from the state's two Veterans Affairs national cemeteries.
The Fort Stanton State Veterans Cemetery in southeast New Mexico opened last November.
Another state veteran's cemetery in Carlsbad is in the pre-construction phase.